Where Are They Now?

Jen: Crystal and I are having a bit of a Beachy Keen dry spell, so I thought I'd stop by to explain why :) If nothing else, you'll at least have a little insight into what makes Beachy Keen's authors tick these days!

I have been incredibly busy with a new job, home hunting (still unsure if this home will come in the form of a house, apartment or condo), and intense work over at Haute Whimsy. I've been taking sponsors and doing giveaways on that blog, and while it's great fun, it's also a lot of work!

I'll give Crystal a nudge and get her over here to give her side of the story ;)

Crystal: Sorry! I've been on an ad hoc hiatus lately....there's a LOT going on in the world of Crystal...catching up on 20+ photoshoots from August, organizing a huge fundraiser for a local school, moving to a new apartment, my 40hr a week day-job, and my regular day-to-day upkeep (bills, Avon selling, etc etc etc).....it just seems never-ending right now....I think once I catch up on my backlog of photoshoots, everything else will be a little easier to catch up on as well....plus the move is tomorrow, so once that's behind us then I don't have to worry there either.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel, it's just not here yet. :) :)

Poor Beachy Keen blog, I will reunite with you soon!!! :)

Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner

Jen: Just as so many others, I am heartbroken about Patrick Swayze's passing :( I grew up crushing on him, and my crush turned into unconditional respect as I watched this gentleman do good for the world, love his wife madly and fight his cancer with grace and dignity.

I was constantly amazed by his calmness and positive thinking throughout his battle, even while the disgusting tabloids headlined his impending doom week after week. It's humbling to witness such humanity. I think we're all very lucky to have "known" this man.


Crystal: I never considered myself a "fan" really of his...I didn't dislike him by any means, just wasn't really aware of a lot of his work besides Ghost I think. I never watched Dirty Dancing (gasp!!) and I think that's where a lot of his fanbase grew from, at least from what i can see....

But, I did see an interview with him a year or so ago, along with his wife, and was also amazed at his positive thinking. He was so sure he was going to come out on the other side of this, even though I don't think very many people, if anyone, do....I was also highly impressed that he made a whole tv series while in the midst of chemo and whatever other treatments he was on...that is AMAZING.

I didn't know much about his type of cancer until a friend/co-worker's step-father was diagnosed with it about a year and a half ago or so...she would come to work telling me about the disease and how severe it is, and how quickly it takes hold of the body and ultimately kills people. From the time her step-father was diagnosed (on a routine doctor's visit I think) to the time of his passing, it had been less than a year I believe. It just came through like a freight train and took over his life, and then took his life. It's such a horrible disease and it breaks my heart to know there's not a cure. :(

Rest in peace Mr. Swayze.

Question of the Week 9-15-09

Crystal: I am completely slacking...sorry! I was out of town last week and have been playing catch-up ever since at work...and my after work schedule is a whole other story....I'm just BUSY. I need another word for "busy" because I'm tired of saying it to everyone.

Anyways - question for this week (this is for all of our readers as well!):

What book are you reading right now?

Me? Surprisingly I am reading a book right now...usually my "busy-ness" doesn't allow me the room, but I started reading it on the plane last week and now I need to finish it! So I am currently reading Dean Koontz' Velocity. I love Dean Koontz' books...I've read quite a few to date...although there's many more to read still! I love the mystery books, and his usually entails a bit of supernatural along with the morbidity of human capabilities. So they're half realistic and half "out there"...and a whole lot of 'interesting'. :)

Whatcha reading Jen?? Readers??

Jen: I still need to give Dean Koontz a try. I keep saying I will, but I always forget once I enter the wonderland that is Borders!

I just started reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain! I don't know if you watch his show "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel, but he's awesome! Crass, controversial, politically incorrect and hysterical- I love him!

From my understanding, this book is what put him on the map. It gives you a low-down and dirty backstage pass to what really goes on in high-end restaurants. "A deliciously funny, delectably shocking banquet of wild-but-true tales of life in the culinary trade from Chef Anthony Bourdain, laying out his more than a quarter-century of drugs, sex, and haute cuisine."

I Can Hardly Wait!

{via Michael Hogan Photography}

Jen: I'm writing this from my newly rearranged living room, and this is the first day that I've been able to work from home since the fires in my city here in California! It's so nice to feel the drop in temperature and to smell clean air again!

I'm incredibly excited about the Fall season this year! October has always been my favorite month because of my birthday and Halloween, but this year I'll also be celebrating my niece's first birthday! Between carving pumpkins and eating pumpkin scones from Starbucks, I'm going to have to say that October also brings the best culinary options for me. I recently discovered a salad at California Pizza Kitchen that has some amazing Fall ties, such as baked and chilled acorn squash, dried cranberries and dates in a light champagne vinaigrette- yum! I'm definitely going to be making that throughout the season!

Crystal is on a work retreat right now (lucky her!) but perhaps when she returns she'll be up to sharing some of her reasons for looking forward to Fall this year!

Crystal: I'm afraid I don't share your love of fall. Maybe because I'm a June baby and so summer is therefore my month. :) :)

To me, fall basically means that summer is over. :( :( I don't like the drop in temperature...I prefer the lovely, warm, heat. :)

But, having a child, Halloween is much more fun for me. While I'm not big into dressing up at all, it's so fun to see how happy my son gets when trying on a Halloween costume, saying "trick or treat", and getting all kinds of candy. This year we'll be going to the Disney Trick or Treat event again at Disneyland California...we loved it last year, so we'll be returning....next Friday actually. :)

And I believe we've narrowed down his costume to Peter Pan. We couldn't find one that I liked, and I did find this adorable knight costume from the Narnia: Prince Caspian movie that i loved...but Caydan didn't like it. He wants to be Peter Pan. So we're just gonna go back and get the one from the Disney store as it was the best quality one...but I didn't like the color of it. Oh well, he'll be a cute Peter Pan. :)

Other than that though, fall means football to me....which I am not a fan of, but my fiance is...and he spends most of his time watching it - which means I can't watch my t.v., and we have to base our schedules around game times....this does not make a happy Crystal. :)

Happy Labor Day!

Jen: Happy Labor Day! What is everyone doing today? I'm heading over to my mom's house for a small family BBQ, doing laundry, and then coming home to plan my birthday shenanigans for next month. Low key and relaxing :)

Question of the Week 9-1-09

What makes for a perfect vacation?

Jen: I love getting away more than anything! I don't look for relaxation though (I can do that on my couch). I want adventure and sights, shopping and dining! I love visiting the downtown area in every city I vacation in.

Crystal: I think I'm exactly like you. My vacations usually end with needing a vacation to recoup from my vacation. Even though we use our timeshare places a lot lately, and they're gorgeous with full amenities - the type of place you go to just hang out at the resort and relax...we usually don't spend much time in our rooms or on-site....we usually get in, drop off our stuff, then go to our first destination.

For me personally, I like to plan my dream vacations around amusement parks. I'm a huge amusement park person....and my lifelong dream vacation has been Disney World.......luckily, that dream is FINALLY coming true....28 years later! This December we will be taking a really nice vacation there...sparing no expenses....it's gonna be a blast. I'm so excited. :) :)

Ablaze

Jen: Los Angeles has been having its share of summer wildfires. Last year, San Diego got the brunt of it; the year before was San Bernardino's turn. This time, it's close to our Beachy Keen home :(

One of the two recent/current fires hit my city, and soon to be Crystal's city. It's unnerving to be told by the news and authorities to get your prized possessions and animals ready for a possible evacuation.

Sadly, the current fire further in Los Angeles is still raging, and the lives of firefighters are being lost :( We have a constant reminder of the dire situation in the form of this surreal white cloud-looking smoke that can be seen for hundreds of miles.