Would you choose a so-so apartment in a nice neighborhood or a nice apartment in a so-so neighborhood? Option 1: I love this quiet neighborhood, but the apt is older and a $300 more expensive whereas Option 2 the newer apartment is cheaper, but so-so neighborhood by freeway with few trees. I'm reading up on average, low-income blocks have 15.2% less tree cover and are 1.5⁰C hotter than high-income block. This is important considering this city will get to 100-degree weather very often!

On my morning run, I noticed a food cart selling tamales! I circled back later to buy some and they're the best ones I've never had. I love little discoveries like this!

We had a really good honest talk about healthy boundaries today. I personally felt like I was getting too attached to him and neglected things at home since I was wrapped up in his world. He didn't feel that I was getting too attached which was good. But while I have loved and haven't felt this type of deep connection with a good man in a LONG time, I actually asked if we could back off a bit. It started to get too gray area for me with me seeing I'm in different environments and roles (friend/mentor,etc.) We've been texting daily for about a month now and have had a few phone calls in between and I think I started to develop a crush on him. We just had a super honest chat and he shared with me his thoughts and feelings very openly. He respects my decision and we both decided to take space to recalibrate. He's a really good man, but I need to really focus on my life right now.

I'm sending her a song called,"Top Knot Turn Up". Haha I love dancing to this song with the perfect title.

Do you have any good news from the past week? I would love to hear it! Mine is I saw one of my dear friends today and we went to the zoo!

Coming off an intense therapy session (LOTS of tears), I knew I had to get out town asap for bday. Drove to favorite beach to have lunch at my fave roadside joint. While there, I found myself in 3 genuine spontaneous conversations with 3 different groups - we all found at least one thing in common! I was on fire conversationally which is weird for mostly introvert. My fave was the guy (J) with his Dad. J sweetly asked firstly, if he could sit at my empty table, then we all started to chat, found out about 4 cool similarities between us. Then many jokes I was laughing the entire meal, I said how much I enjoyed their banter back and forth between 'em, I even made some dorky dark jokes which they got right away. Then I did something I never ever do, I asked him for his email! Seems like were vibing and we all parted with goodbyes. It felt like J had a longer gaze, but so hard to tell if there was curiosity or interest. I just truly loved every minute with them which was so unexpected!

I had the best dream last night. I was at a casual gathering / party with a bunch of old friends from high school. But we were all the age we are now (late 40s, early 50s). And we were just totally relaxing and enjoying hanging out and having fun, catching up. There was even a litle sexy time with an old FWB, who I have nothing but fond memories of. In a weird, but awesome, twist, an old boyfriend (post high school), who was a borderline-abusive, stalker, a-hole appeared and I punched him in the face and he disappeared like in a video game. I know, crazy. But it was just a really good dream that seemed to last a really long time, and I've been thinking about it all day. I love when that happens.

I'm so sorry that your mom is telling lies on you and hurting you that way! I posted about not talking to my family but it's nothing in comparison to what she is putting you through. You deserve so much love and I hope you are getting it!

I just started doing a few hours a week volunteering for a local dog shelter's social media...and oh. my. fucking. god. I did my time in customer service, somehow I thought replying to public queries on Facebook (mostly) for a dog shelter would be fine. So naive. First thing on each dog's descriptor is a request to DM if you are interested in the dog because comments on images are sometimes missed. Which everybody ignores, usually by asking questions about the dog that are answered in the descriptor. It's also mentioned that we're a big shelter and most people are just volunteering so please be patient. The amount of people I've had just sending the worst, most snotty, impatient responses ever is crazy. If you can't handle a few hour's response time with patience, how the fuck you going to handle a potentially traumatised dog that needs patience, time and space as well as love, care and training? People are so nuts and entitled.

I randomly met him on an app by attending one of Live classes. I had popped into his class one before but it felt too chaotic with his instruments all over the place. But for some reason that time I stayed and have been lovin' his classes ever since. He does a variety of music, reflection, and fun exercises to engage the audience. He's truly a master facilitator something I'd love to learn more about. Then we started messaging multiple times a day, I took his Zoom improv class, and later spoke on the phone. I think it must have been weird for him to only have connection through long online messages but no clear idea of what I looked like then actually seeing me on Zoom. He said he was taking me all in. I really didn't know how to react to that. But I'm enjoying this genuine connection with a kind guy, but don't want to overthink it.