Friday Night is alright

This cold Friday night called for staying home, curling up to a good book and a hot cocoa and my feel good easy listening station on Pandora featuring the likes of Michael McDonald, Player, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan & Ambrosia (oh yeah I went there!).  I was born in the late 70's and suspect my mother listened to disco (I  know all of Donna Summer's songs by heart) and Gino Vanelli's I Just Wanna Stop's smooth sounds among others.  I also love listening to easy rockin' music when driving down PCH to Malibu.  Don't ask, I just do..!  My friend Heather gave me Patty Smith's 2010 National Book Award-winning memoir , Just Kids during her last visit to L.A.  I started reading this book which chronicles Patti Smith leaving her home in Jersey, heading to NYC and meeting a curly-haired soul mate, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe who wanted to help her soar.  Both are in their early 20's and their love story is beautiful and tragic as Robert died at 42 in 1989.  The book also serves as a salute to New York in the late 60's and early 70's.  Reminds me a lot of my parents' love story as well as my own coming to Hollywood from Paris and finding my way.  I must admit, after a solid few days of not crying I broke down a few times already and I am only at page 45.  Patty's words just like her music are poetry.  I am certain this book will be adapted into a feature.  For the skeptic I am becoming in love and other heart matters, this is the exact book I did not think I would want to be reading right now but it came into my life for a reason and I can't put it down!!  I had another conversation with the ex. about everything and nothing.  Just further confirmation of his desire to be alone, focus on himself and also his renewed vows for our friendship to remain thru this storm.  I listened because I know I love him and we are each other's best friends.  I gave advice and also spoke of my sadness and struggles.  I was praised as the strongest woman he knows who can survive anything.  It's not because I can take it that I want sorrow to be part of my life I replied.  Grieving over a loss is a process and I am not where I can say I am strong yet.  He also reminded me that time heals all (Thanks dude!  I wanted to say with a sarcastic tone).  It's hard as hell not to want to call him "babe" and for him to call him by my first name feels cold and awkward but this is part of the new phase of this story and I have to just accept it.  There are worse things in life!  I am going up to San Francisco next week and actually looking forward to being in the city with one of my besties, the famous Zel.  We are staying at a fab hotel and I can always use a change of scenery... Speaking of, I am itching to go somewhere exotic and in anticipation of not spending the holidays with the ex, I decided I am saving up for Thanksgiving or Christmas in Fiji or some other exotic island where iPhones do not work!  More motivation to get into a bikini and not look like the pic below....

No....!!

Patti & Robert