June Gloom

I planted a little garden, which had just started to sprout little wildflowers, beans and flowering squash. My first tomatoes popped up. I hung pictures.
I did countless little things you do when you make a place feel like home. (Hell, I even got a little bored with it all at times.)

Then, I got a little letter in my mailbox. A little letter from my neighbor, stating that me living and having guests visit was not mellow enough for my little bungalow. (I could get into the messy details, but I'll spare you.)

And so I sunk deeper into the bungalow. I was very, very quiet. I canceled guests. I bought blinds and closed them tight. I tried to, literally, not make a peep.

But, I was faced with a tough decision when I was shooting the first episode of the cooking show 2 weeks ago: Use a really dark and foreboding kitchen, or use the one in the bungalow. I've been hoping and praying for the cooking show to succeed for so long now, that I had to take a chance. Sure, there would be people in my bungalow, working. But it would be during the day, I'd tell the neighbors, and we'd be working on a KIDS COOKING SHOW! Surely they would understand?

Well, I guess that is considered making a peep. I've been told to vacate my little bungalow.
Ouch.
Damn.
Sigh.
Sniffle and sigh... again.

What I found out was this: the bungalow is actually an illegal rental. The landlords actually don't want anyone in it that is actually going to have a life. I, as I hope you know by now, enjoy living. I enjoy friends, fires in the backyard, open windows, laughing, cooking, playing with Dungee and opening my home to anyone that wants to come visit. It wasn't that long ago I didn't have a home, so I sure like to host folks.

I've been having a hard time with this. A really hard time. I know that finding a new place to live isn't such a big problem in the larger scheme of things, but is there a bigger message behind this? I can't help but wonder... why is it so damn hard for me to get a foothold on this place? Am I not meant to be here? How hard do you fight? Where do I move next? Down the street? Up the coast? To Peru? What's the dog vaccination/quarantine policy in Australia these days?

As you can tell, I'm a bit distressed and confused by it all.

So, in between looking forelornly at my blossoming garden I am trying to edit the first episode of the cooking show, find a new place to live, and keep work coming in, so I can afford to do something about this entire thing.

It's a little gray and foggy in my world right now and I am hoping that one day, soon, I can find a home. A real one.

Life rambles on...

I've been struggling with this concept for a while now, trying to figure out how to best articulate it. But, the longer I wait to write, the more muddled my thoughts become and it starts to become obvious that every single one of us probably knows exactly what I am talking about.

Life is funny this way:
First you dream.
Then you get up the courage to act.
Then you are whisked away in the excitement of challenge and change.
Then everything is new and shiny.
Then you are start to get comfortable.
Then you can finally relax.
Then you love it and settle in.
Then, you wonder, what next?

What is that thing that pops up when you have the things that you thought you wanted to have? That thing in your belly that asks "what next?" It seems as if no matter what we have in life, no matter all of our accomplishments and dreams fulfilled, there is a nagging little something that just won't sit still. (Or maybe this is just me? Nah, I didn't think so...)

I've really been taking this past month to tell that little somebody in my gut "relax, kiddo. Look AROUND! It's all good!"

I'm not saying I'm throwing all my ambitions and dreams out the window. That's not the case at all. I'm just trying to get myself to simply absorb exactly the gifts that are at my feet today, and enjoy them anew.

Usually, to do this, I have to do one of the following: Pretend I never found X or pretend X was taken away.

Let me give you an example. When I have the following thought run through my brain "Should I walk down to see the sunset tonight? Ehhhh, maybe not." I snap myself back into the present and say to myself "Pretend it is 2007 and you are living in Brooklyn and you are dying to go for a nice walk, but it's all city and you can't even FIND the sunset if you tried." BAM! Next thing you know? I'm grabbing Dungee's leash and I am out the door.


Or, the other way... "Should I go surfing?" and my mind snaps me back into the present with "ARE YOU COMPLETELY NUTS NOW?!?!? JUST A YEAR AGO YOU WOULD'VE GIVEN YOUR FIRST BORN TO BE ABLE TO CATCH A WAVE ON YOUR OWN! IMAGINE IF YOU GOT HIT BY A BUS AND YOU COULD NEVER WALK AGAIN!" Next thing I know? I'm paddling out surfing.

These little methods may not be the healthiest or most sane ways to get myself to appreciate the present, but I sure as hell don't have all the answers. All I am is a girl trying to be happy and live life to the fullest.


On that note? I'm off to catch a sunset with Dungee and, by the way, my hair is still wet from surfing.

Life is STILL beautiful, even if we have to smack our brains around a little bit to realize it.
xo
Amanda

Everybody Loves a Comeback Kid

Man! Time has a way of creepin' and flyin' by all at the same time...
I celebrated my one year anniversary in California (last week) by surfing, surfing, surfing!
A funny thing happened, though, I couldn't catch a wave to save my life for almost 4 days. It seemed the ocean had a little message for me: remember what a challenging year it was. Phew! What an adventure! I wouldn't change a single thing, though. Not a one.

Things are flowing here now, in my second year. I'm safely tucked into my beachside bungalow. Dungee no longer is confined to a camper, but can scamper all around my backyard. I've got fresh oranges at my fingertips, birds tweeting overhead and surfboards stacked in every spare corner.
If you would've told me when I lived in Brooklyn that in just a little over a year I would be able to walk down to Swami's and surf (and I could ACTUALLY SURF) I would've said "Shut your mouth!" But, it's true. And boy, am I blessed and boy, do I know it.

I have found a way to sustain my meager little existence. I write for the following websites:
www.fivesprockets.com and www.dailystoke.com
If you would've told me I'd be a writer for a surf website I would've said "NO WAY!" But, yes way. I am. Wonders never cease. I am paid to write about my passions, making movies and shows and surfing.

I also do office work/administrative tasks and video editing for a great guy who donates part of his funds to a village in Nepal. Pretty rad.

I was hired as a ghost writer on a really REALLY amazing book concept!

I am getting LOTS of interest in the cooking show!

I have had the pleasure of hosting Dan, Danielle, Scott, Patrick; and this week, my parents and my friend Doug's dog, Boomer in my bungalow. It's a little tight in here when people visit, but nothing a spare futon mattress doesn't cure.

It's been lovely to share my bungalow with everyone, show them how to pick oranges and squeeze 'em for breakfast, take them on bike rides down the coast and on early morning Zen walks at Swami's...

So, after a year of living here, I have found peace. Peace, happiness, and a bit of stability and a lot of hope. My life, as it currently is, is full. I have people I love, a dog I love, a place I love, jobs I love and plenty of super cruisy waves out my front door.

Last week on my one year anniversary of learning how to surf, I paddled out with Jorma for a Swami's sunset session, and I looked at the beautiful world around me. The cliffs, the metallic shimmery water, the board I hauled from New Jersey, my epic surf mentor rippin' it up and I drank in all the memories of the past year. I sat there and cried out of sheer appreciation of the journey and of even greater appreciation of the present.

If we could all just do that more often. Just take a step back and look at what you have, and really feel how great it is to have simple things in your life, and see how beautiful things like health, friends, family, jobs, passions and hope are. Man, do we all have it made.

So, while last year was "The Adventures of Picking Up, Moving and Following Your Dreams"
This year, I am affectionately calling "Everybody Loves a Comeback Kid"

These are the things that I think when I am surfing...and then, inevitably, I do the one thing I know I have to do...

I turn around and paddle for the next wave coming at me.

FLAT STANLEY!

For my beautiful cousin, Meghan Rose, I took Flat Stanley on a tour of Southern Cali.
The video speaks for itself!

GROMULOUS

GROMULOUS IS CALLING ALL SURFERS!

Got an old board sitting around collecting dings n' dust?

Well, I've just launched a very unofficial charity/feel good thing I call "Gromulous."

Give me your board, I'll repair it lovingly by hand and donate to a kid who is dying to surf and has never had his own board, creating an insta-stoked GROM!

Let's make this world gromulous.

Picture is of first Gromulous recipient, Luca. A 12 year old from Encinitas, who loves skateboarding but "never had my own board." Luca's board was found at a garage sale for $5, repaired by myself and Eddie and donated two weeks ago.

I chose to donate the board on the day one of my high school classmates was buried, the lovely Julie Prenatt Higgins, who was the wife to her adoring husband Sean and mother to 2 little groms growing up in Pennsylvania. First board donated in her memory.

I just picked up my next board this morning at a garage sale for $15, SWEEEEEEET!
Board bought with proceeds from AmandaCurryRocks reader: David Payne!


So, donate your boards to Gromulous, and send me some GROMS!

xo
amanda

Hippy Things I Do Now

I barely use shampoo (maybe once a month).
I squeeze my own orange juice.
I do irie karate kid rock poses on the beach.
I no longer use soap, I steam my face with olive oil and lavender from my garden.
I eat quinoa... A LOT.
I only used sunblock twice this winter, but have to use SPF 15 right now. Heading towards no sunblock in '10!
I buy my clothes at the thrift store (or I get really excited if I find them free on the street).
I mention "The Universe"... A LOT.
I write things in the sand.
I don't use an alarm clock.
I try and see every sunset that I can.
I use Native American Medicine cards to guide me through hard decisions.
I really, REALLY try to "tune in"
I eat brussel sprouts.
I sleep on the floor.
and...I made a dinosaur doll for a newborn baby out of recycled clothing.

Twilight is the perfect time

I've found that twilight is my favorite time of day.
The big event of sunset has passed, the wind has died down, the ocean water is foamy and the beach is literally deserted.
I was recently asked what I do to nuture my soul and I replied "Besides surfing? I take walks on the beach with my dog at sunrise or twilight."
But, twilight has stolen my heart. On these walks, traipsing under the bluff below Swami's I am so calm, peaceful and the universe and it's endless possibilities stretch out in front of me. I have Dungee there, panting for me to throw the ball, a constant reminder to keep myself on earth.
The other day, I did something I had never done before.
In the middle of my walk, I took off my backpack, set down the dog leash and found a boulder that faced the horizon. I perched myself up on the boulder's edge, brought my leg up, attempted to extend it out, kinda wobbled a lot and then brought my leg back, tried to straighten it and lost my balance.
I wasn't very good at whatever this thing was I had just made up doing...
I'm mean, I know OTHER people have done this thing (whatever you call it balancing on a rock in reverse Karate Kid pose), but I hadn't. All I know is I just wanted to keep DOING it.
So, I did. All up and down the beach.
And I did it again tonight, too. With the sun setting in the background I tried my rock balancing thingy. I got a wee bit better than the first time, but that isn't the point.

The point is, on the way back from tonight's walk I just started to sense that by trying to balance myself, I was somehow balancing my place in the world. I had been noticing that my thoughts could rapid fire back to me a lot faster now. Things I thought of, suddenly appear! and Fast!

By the time I walked up the very steep hill to the bungalow with Dungee it was dark. I had the following thought running through my head "The Universe is definitely putting me exactly where I need to be. Stop worrying. Keep balancing your life, finding happiness, surfing, writing and talking those longs walks on the beach and standing on those rocks! For whatever reason, it's all working out, and you are EXACTLY where you need to be at THIS EXACT TIME."

And when I looked up? 10 feet in front of me a car blew the stop sign and flew through the street crossing...
Man, the universe has some amazing timing.