Friday:
I wake up this morning and read about it being a special Shabbat because it is the 25th Yartzheit of the Rebbe. It makes me think about how I have been stuck in this depressed place and how the Rebbe really promoted being positive. We have a picture of the Rebbe in our kitchen that talks about how he promoted the thought of “think good and it will be good.” When I started reading the words of the Rebbe it resonated with me and gave me some comfort and something to hold on to. It’s a bit of a double edge sword because I don't feel like I can commit to an Orthodox conversion so I feel a bit left out of something important to me, but at the same time it has been central to my life and the life of my family. Bottom line though is that this very important anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe was the kick in the butt that I needed to really try to be positive. It can be so hard to turn things around, to leave behind the comfort of being stuck even though it is a bad place. This gave me the reason to feel like I am starting over. Kind of like a New Years of sorts.
I ran 6 miles around Burbank while Norm drove the girls to Anime Expo. I stumbled on the coolest park. I was running up a street and see this huge arch. It is a really cool park. There is a playground, baseball field, a library in an amazing building, a historic home and Japanese garden and tea house. There are very clean bathrooms and a few different trails. Norm and I return to the park to do some hiking. We decide on the motorway and surprised to find permanent markers for something called the Verdugo Mountain 10K. We hike to the saddle and realize we could keep going. I know this connects to Stough Nature Center. After looking around we head back down.
Starving I text our youngest to ask about going to get pizza at Whole Foods. We decide this is a great idea! The Whole Foods in Burbank has some many amazing options! They even have two vegan options. Take note Phoenix Whole Foods, you could do better.
We stop at a grocery store called Pavillions to get some food for Shabbat. Knowing that there is a Chabad close by I am pretty sure we will be able to get challah here. Not only do they challah, they have Pas Yisorel challah! (Think of Pas Yisorel as extra special kosher. It has to do with the overseeing done by the Rabbi but I am not going into that now.) I also pick up Shabbat candles because I knew mine would melt on the drive to LA.
When we get home we decide to kick back and watch Netflix. We start watching the Staircase and now I want to do nothing with my life but watch this show, even though I know the ending.
We had a lovely Shabbat dinner and the kids walk Katie through what to do at her first Shabbat. After dinner we are all just hanging out and there is another earthquake. As it starts I call out “earthquake!” to the kids but it goes on for a long time and seems to get pretty strong. I call all the kids to come stand in a doorway in the middle of the house in case things start falling down. These earthquakes are so crazy!
Nick and I were meant to meet up at 6am for a run in the San Gabriel’s, but around 12:30pm I wake up sneezing and can’t stop. After about 10 sneezes my nose is running while also stuffed and it’s burning like I need to sneeze. Of course I have no allergy medicine with me. I spend hours feeling miserable and unable to sleep. I am almost sitting upright in an effort to try to breathe. I text Nick and let him know there is no way I am going to make it. I am not going to be getting up to run at 4:45 when it is 3am and I still awake and struggling to breathe. I look up a 24 hour CVS and start thinking about hauling myself up there, but fortunately fall asleep.
I wake up this morning and read about it being a special Shabbat because it is the 25th Yartzheit of the Rebbe. It makes me think about how I have been stuck in this depressed place and how the Rebbe really promoted being positive. We have a picture of the Rebbe in our kitchen that talks about how he promoted the thought of “think good and it will be good.” When I started reading the words of the Rebbe it resonated with me and gave me some comfort and something to hold on to. It’s a bit of a double edge sword because I don't feel like I can commit to an Orthodox conversion so I feel a bit left out of something important to me, but at the same time it has been central to my life and the life of my family. Bottom line though is that this very important anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe was the kick in the butt that I needed to really try to be positive. It can be so hard to turn things around, to leave behind the comfort of being stuck even though it is a bad place. This gave me the reason to feel like I am starting over. Kind of like a New Years of sorts.
I ran 6 miles around Burbank while Norm drove the girls to Anime Expo. I stumbled on the coolest park. I was running up a street and see this huge arch. It is a really cool park. There is a playground, baseball field, a library in an amazing building, a historic home and Japanese garden and tea house. There are very clean bathrooms and a few different trails. Norm and I return to the park to do some hiking. We decide on the motorway and surprised to find permanent markers for something called the Verdugo Mountain 10K. We hike to the saddle and realize we could keep going. I know this connects to Stough Nature Center. After looking around we head back down.
Starving I text our youngest to ask about going to get pizza at Whole Foods. We decide this is a great idea! The Whole Foods in Burbank has some many amazing options! They even have two vegan options. Take note Phoenix Whole Foods, you could do better.
We stop at a grocery store called Pavillions to get some food for Shabbat. Knowing that there is a Chabad close by I am pretty sure we will be able to get challah here. Not only do they challah, they have Pas Yisorel challah! (Think of Pas Yisorel as extra special kosher. It has to do with the overseeing done by the Rabbi but I am not going into that now.) I also pick up Shabbat candles because I knew mine would melt on the drive to LA.
When we get home we decide to kick back and watch Netflix. We start watching the Staircase and now I want to do nothing with my life but watch this show, even though I know the ending.
We had a lovely Shabbat dinner and the kids walk Katie through what to do at her first Shabbat. After dinner we are all just hanging out and there is another earthquake. As it starts I call out “earthquake!” to the kids but it goes on for a long time and seems to get pretty strong. I call all the kids to come stand in a doorway in the middle of the house in case things start falling down. These earthquakes are so crazy!
Nick and I were meant to meet up at 6am for a run in the San Gabriel’s, but around 12:30pm I wake up sneezing and can’t stop. After about 10 sneezes my nose is running while also stuffed and it’s burning like I need to sneeze. Of course I have no allergy medicine with me. I spend hours feeling miserable and unable to sleep. I am almost sitting upright in an effort to try to breathe. I text Nick and let him know there is no way I am going to make it. I am not going to be getting up to run at 4:45 when it is 3am and I still awake and struggling to breathe. I look up a 24 hour CVS and start thinking about hauling myself up there, but fortunately fall asleep.
This was the best Challah I have ever had!
This is the amazing library building at Brand Park.
There is a lot to see at Brand Park. I didn't get a good shot of the tea house.
You know I am planning to come back for this race.
Norm was a fan of the bench at the top.
Ha!
The wild flowers were so beautiful!
Saturday:
I wake up a little after 6am and my allergies seem a bit better. I know that when I am running my allergies won't bother me so I have a cup of coffee and head out the door. I think my hamstring is a little unhappy with all the sudden climbing so I try to stay as flat as possible. Definitely not getting a long run done today. I leave and realize I really need to pee, but someone is in the shower so I decided to run Brand Park where I went yesterday because I know it is a mile and a half and I can use the bathroom. From there I head to Brace Park which was my original destination. Brace Park is a beautiful shady park. The bathrooms are super clean. I don't think the bathroom at my house is this clean. I use the bathroom, drink some water and head back to the house. You really could just run park to park here. It’s pretty amazing.
The girls are still at the house. Norm takes them to Anime Expo while I shower and eat. We decided to visit Descanso Botanical Garden. But first we stop for allergy medicine. At the garden Norm and I get in free since I am employee at the Botanical Garden in Phoenix so we only pay $6 for the teenager. The garden is so freaking beautiful. If you are in LA you should definitely go. We loved the Ancient Forest. I could have stayed there all day. The rose garden is also so amazingly beautiful.
We come home and have lunch and watch more Netflix. We also make a run to Yummy Cupcakes. I am going to miss that place! Ava texts and wants to come home to eat, change out of cosplay and head back to the expo. So that’s what we do. I do the dishes while Norm drives her back to the expo.
I wake up a little after 6am and my allergies seem a bit better. I know that when I am running my allergies won't bother me so I have a cup of coffee and head out the door. I think my hamstring is a little unhappy with all the sudden climbing so I try to stay as flat as possible. Definitely not getting a long run done today. I leave and realize I really need to pee, but someone is in the shower so I decided to run Brand Park where I went yesterday because I know it is a mile and a half and I can use the bathroom. From there I head to Brace Park which was my original destination. Brace Park is a beautiful shady park. The bathrooms are super clean. I don't think the bathroom at my house is this clean. I use the bathroom, drink some water and head back to the house. You really could just run park to park here. It’s pretty amazing.
The girls are still at the house. Norm takes them to Anime Expo while I shower and eat. We decided to visit Descanso Botanical Garden. But first we stop for allergy medicine. At the garden Norm and I get in free since I am employee at the Botanical Garden in Phoenix so we only pay $6 for the teenager. The garden is so freaking beautiful. If you are in LA you should definitely go. We loved the Ancient Forest. I could have stayed there all day. The rose garden is also so amazingly beautiful.
We come home and have lunch and watch more Netflix. We also make a run to Yummy Cupcakes. I am going to miss that place! Ava texts and wants to come home to eat, change out of cosplay and head back to the expo. So that’s what we do. I do the dishes while Norm drives her back to the expo.
Margarita and Rocky Road
Norm went for the classic
Sunday:
I get up and go for a run feeling a little sad that this is my last run in California. We check out of the Airbnb and take the girls to Anime Expo. We decided to check out a Japanese Garden in Van Nuys and also find an amazing place to do some running next time I’m in LA. The garden was small but pretty. Then we went back to get the girls and drop my youngest with my ex-husband. We drove back and forth across LA 4 times! Then the long drive home.
I get up and go for a run feeling a little sad that this is my last run in California. We check out of the Airbnb and take the girls to Anime Expo. We decided to check out a Japanese Garden in Van Nuys and also find an amazing place to do some running next time I’m in LA. The garden was small but pretty. Then we went back to get the girls and drop my youngest with my ex-husband. We drove back and forth across LA 4 times! Then the long drive home.
This flower was insane! It didn't even look real!
