I loved my day off in New Haven Connecticut, the home of Yale University.
Janine came in to stay with me-one of the great reasons I love her so much- she's not a lazy friend!
We enjoyed the insanely beautiful weather, the green trees, the beautiful architecture of the school, and each others company of course :)
The neighborhood was very quant and encouraged me to relax and smile. Sitting under a campus tree, students went on with there 2nd day back at school while the bells on the clock tower chimed songs. The sun was happily shining over us partnered by a sweet breeze keeping the weather perfect... I found myself completely content...
After walking and enjoying the day, Janine and I returned to my cozy hotel room for some girl talk, red wine, and eyeliner before we met up with Matty for dinner. We ate next door to our hotel at a tapas restaurant called "BARCELONA", a gift from the food gods to set an amazing tone to our night.
We enjoyed some sexy food, gorgeous wine, and lots of laughs. THe vibes stirred up our desire to continue into the night. Being that it was a Friday night in New Haven college town how could one resist? We didn't. In fact we gathered more troops and headed to a dueling piano bar on the corner. Now the minute they wanted to charge $5 at the door, Janine and I looked at each other and said "NO". With a little nudge from our friends, we forked over the first "entry fee" both Janine and I had paid in um.... years...
Walking into the place I was quick to notice the college fashion crowding the room. Polo shirts or bland button downs on the guys and the standard "cute top" and denim on the ladies... clearly not presenting any sense of the word "hip", however I believe this helped to set the tone on what turned out to be a fantastically fun night. Sometimes those random spots that you would NEVER be present at can present some fun surprises. Before we departed this live, karaoke piano playing bar, I had a friend go up and perform a song, another friend perform "how to steal a shot from a drunk beer bellied college girl" on stage, while the rest of us stayed back hooting and singing along to all of the nonsense being played. Awesome. I truly felt like I was in school minus the over consumption of nasty liquor that plays a big role in those years. The night ended peacefully and with solid memories of good times in Yale's home town.
I have a lot of respect for knowledge and am quite addicted to obtaining limitless amounts of it moving forward in my life. Maybe this is why I used to love to read the encyclopedia as a kid? School is one way of receiving it but not always the best way for everyone...
I did get high grades for most of my younger years in school and then suddenly became bored with the redundancy of how school operates so my attention drifted more to surfing, my move to Hawaii,my love for music, and being free...
Years after high school I find myself more interested in learning than ever before in my life. I did not run to college after I graduated high school, I ran to the islands and lived my dream... When that dream morphed into a new one, one of living in excitement surrounded by different people and opportunities, I packed my bags and made NYC my home for several years... At this point in my life I feel I am in the best place to take some classes if I choose to, grasp the information out of the books that I read, make room for more interesting knowledge that makes me a more accomplished person. Had I have been forced into trying to do that sooner I don't feel I would have truly reaped the benefits of it all, I would have simply wasted time and money...
Being around one of the greatest university's reminded me that following my instincts was the best thing I could have done for my life. Some people like to plant it in the minds of young kids that if they don't attend school they will be losers. Quite the contrary... Being street smart and learning how to grow on your own terms of INDEPENDENCE does not equal being a loser in fact I feel it means that from an early age one might have some true insight on how to prioritize in life and carry the ambition to build success in their lives. Who really knows what the "right" way is? I never cared about the answer to that and still don't, I prefer the sharpest way. I just think you need to find a purpose and passion in life, explore it and have integrity behind all that you do...
Inspiration can be found in places least expected and Knowledge comes from a journey not a venue :)
XOX R
Fall officially came when my tour ended... that official date is exactly 2 weeks ago. since my tour ended i have had 4 days off at home by the beach again... ahhhhh... surfed the very next day of my return and enjoyed my favorite sushi again :) i only had 2 days after returning to the beach before i had to head back to the city...yes... NYC! yay!! a nice short but perrrfect trip to work on a client for Regis and Kelly's show and then just enjoy my time back in the city with Janine, Karen, and Brendan! Janine made me the most amazing dinner and we splurged on 3 bottles of wine together... FUN is an understatement... Currently Im in Nashville, TN, a new city that I have yet to embark on but one that looks like it will become a more frequent destination in my career. So many things have taken place since my last stop on tour in Oklahoma City. The break down: returning home, visit my girls in NYC,a successful ad shoot for MEK Denim, a sore throat, a stress fracture on my foot, going completely brunette and LOVING it :), and a touch down in Nashville where i will be hanging for the next 3 nights to paint on one of my special clients... 
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