BECAUSE It happened in Fort Wayne....

#SMH I want to tell you a story, a true story. Last Sunday night there was a fight in a bar that the team out here visits....time and again. And someone got stabbed....

Oh and I heard it was all over a girl. Wasn't that how the Trojan War was rumoured to have started?

Anyway, back to the story. The person who was stabbed was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance with the family of the victim following right behind in their car. It was then that they were gunned down, both the ambulance and the family car. They opened fired and shot both the ambulance driver and all four family members. They were in critical condition as of last Monday morning when I heard the news in a cab ride from the airport to the hotel. 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are you serious?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!

Are YOU serious?!?!?!?!!?

Good thing the Marriott is only a block away. I suddenly feel very unsafe here. Violence is never the answer guys....unless it's your little brother. Kid!!!! Aaron i love you, the joke is meant for someone else on the west coast. 

TGIF! And a Friday update: my "shop my closet party" is postponed...again. campus has a kayaking devo tomo. Which actually works out perfectly bc then I can spend my Saturday at sbux working! If your kids want to grow up and be accountants, highly discourage them. 

From us to you with all our love,

Two best friends and city liberty

BECAUSE...Iphone 5 is coming out!

too bad I'm on the company's contract and won't have an upgrade til next year. what the what the what the.

Linda sent me this video because apparently all she thought about was me watching it. I was pretty excited until I watched it myself.

what the what the what the.

I'm not going to talk to her for a week. I'm fake-mad-at-her. KID. I can't wait to go home and see my liddo one. and watch a movie with her. I think we'll watch Monster-in-law. 

For a giggle:

from us to you with all our love,
two best friends and city Liberty

BECAUSE 11 years ago..."it happened to New York"

I remember exactly where I was 9/11 morning. I think everyone who was old enough to hold a memory does. There was a special on TV last night and after 20 some minutes, I was starring at the screen-weeping. I'm spending this 9/11 out of town but in the cab ride home last Friday from LGA, I saw the two light beams shooting into the night sky from downtown Manhattan. My heart jumped a beat and a rock was caught in my throat. My nose started to tingle and then my eyes got a little wet.

photo crd: New York's Sixth

I'm so proud and honored to be called a New Yorker. New York is more home to me than any place I've ever known. I made Jesus Lord here, I met my best friends here. I graduated college here, and I started my first big-girl career here. I've grown into the woman that I am in this city. I owe you so much.

I woke up this morning feeling sick to my stomach. Every year today I feel sick to my stomach. I'm finding it very hard to concentrate at work today....

My prayers go out to all the families who lost friends and loved ones. My prayers go out to the city in mourning today. I pray for peace and comfort. I pray for forgiveness and everything else we haven't the strength to muster on our own.

"Now God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness" -William Shakespeare

Phil. 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - The Bible

God bless America. God bless my beloved New York.

from us to you with all our love,
two best friends and a quieted NYC

*edit*
What a NY mom wants her daughters to know about 9/11

"There was nothing more horrific than what happened that day, but there was also a determination and understanding among New Yorkers that we were in this together. As much as it happened to America -- as much as politicians still try to use it for their own purposes -- it truly happened to New York......

And I want my daughters to know they should be proud to be New Yorkers, but not take for granted this amazing city full of different cultures, languages, food, energy and opinions. I know I never will."

----------------------------------------------
I've given up trying to work...I can't think even think straight....we've not forgotten. We won't forget. But we will forgive as God forgave us. NY, I wish I was home.

BECAUSE...my week went like this

Sun: Church in LA, lesson on work. Point number 1: Work is normal. Point number two: Work is hard (it's suppose to be) Point number three: Work is expected. Very fitting for Labor Day weekend. Sushi for lunch and off to the beach in Newport. Interesting car ride home that lasted 2 yrs, I mean 2 hrs. 

Mon: Lots of reading in the morning, brunch, toured USC (Yes I'm going back to college. Kidding. I'd sooner die) drove to LAX. Another interesting car ride. 

Tues: Went to work, left work. (at 7pm) skype date with LA

Weds: Couldn't go to midweek bc a binder was delivered around midday and due at 6am the next morning

Thurs: partner flies back to philly, everyone breathed easier, too bad someone else didn’t go with him. *fuming*

Fri: weird storm rolled by fort wayne but we got home on time. On the Chicago-NY leg, they played season 2 esp 1 of Suits. United, I'm proud of you. You bring me home and provide quality entertainment while doing it.

Sat: Peter visits and I stuff myself all day with Asian food. Squeezed in some vintage shopping, bought another bowtie. Didn't buy the green chair. Household said no. I don't like being told "no". 

Sun: first day teaching for the fall semester. I want to have a baby. Now. I'll settle on a puppy though. Breaking the news to the girls tonight after I land in Indiana.

Lalala

I mean, woof woof woof!

From us to you with all our love,

two best friends and city Liberty

BECAUSE there's nothing in Ft Wayne besides food...

oh btw....to work all of that off I've taken up exercising. Here's the hotel tub, I mean pool.

I kid you not....if I pushed off one end, I'd touched the other without a single stroke/kick

the pwc team going to dinner, oh look! i'm the only girl. kill me

and thats why i get take out and eat it on my king size bed like the king that i am.

BECAUSE I'm the luckiest girl...

luckiest girl in the whole wide world.

BECAUSE you didn't know...

That I prayed for twin siblings and God answered my prayers almost a decade ago and can't wait to have my own kids one day because they bring delight to my soul. When I say kids, I mean daughter because she will be the best dressed baby in the E. Village. #kidswag

That I used to hop around my backyard until it's too dark to see catching baby toads and bringing buckets home to my horrified mother

That I don't fold my non-work clothes. My best friend knows that and gives me the dirtiest looks when she comes over to MY apt and open up MY drawers to borrow MY clothes.  #SMH

That I had pet baby ducks growing up who followed me around everywhere I went because they do, in fact, imprint

That I wouldn't be caught dead in sneakers unless you caught me at the gym on the treadmill

That I care all too much what people think of me but will still dress however I want. I don't believe the phrase "you can't pull that off". Fashion is and will be my preferred self-expression

That food brings me JOY like nothing else. Wait, you do know that. 

That I have an extreme affinity for pickles, avocados, and black cherries. Not all in one meal obviously... 

That my roommate calls me "momma" bc I cooked for her for the whole first year we lived together, pry about her personal life esp when it comes to boys, and nag her incessantly

That I have feet phobia and believe that there is no such thing as having too many pairs of shoes

That I have never had a real/live Christmas tree but am looking forward this Christmas because apt E1 SHALL make room for one. If we have to eat on the floor for a month or two, so be it (looking forward to decorating it with the girls to "under the mistletoe") #Beiberfever #I'maBelieber

That for a month straight last winter, I listened to Justin Bieber's "Under the Mistletoe" on the way to work (on repeat)

That (this one's controversial) I really didn't read through my benefits and options in my offer and signed on the dotted line then picked my retirement/insurance/etc randomly. Also that Turbo does my tax----step. 

That I'm freakishly and embarrassingly strong: in the physical-can-lift-impressively-heavy-things sense

That I will literally weave and dodge the throngs of NY to avoid cigarette smoke on the sidewalks. HOW RIDICULOUS, I mean seriously?!?!?! Seriously?!?!?! My blood boils just thinking about smelling it. 

That I still fit into GAP Kids and until recently owned things in my closet marked 14/16 from there. 

That if you are visiting/moving into NYC and are looking for a church, I'd like to invite you to church - free brunch on me after

That I think weight gain during Thanksgiving is expected, mandatory, and totally worth it. I look forward to it every. Single. Year. 

That my favorite blog to read is Rockstar Diaries #welcomebacktoNYC

That I want my husband-to-be to play the piano for me as I walk down the aisle to him before joining me before our friends, family, God, and the dude that will pronounce us husband and wife.

I'm bored at Chicago O'hare-traveling has become my life. But I will see *her loser brother* soon. Kid. Relax. TGIF and have a lovely and wonderful Labor Day weekend. 

P.S. I hear the models are all in town and strutting down the streets of New York like nobody's business. Cheers to the kickoff of NY Fashion Week and my favourite season of the year. 

From us to you with all our love,

L on her way to sunny Los Angeles