Soooo...my story continues..now don't get me wrong, it's great to be surrounded by hundreds of restaurants in a city that's busy and full of young people - all the time... two universities are within a few blocks of each other, and plenty of students attend summer school. There is a very small window of "quiet" here...early morning, and that's it!  

Me, I'm pretty outgoing, have no problem talking to people and mixing in; until it's time to eat!  Suddenly i'm uncomfortable and, basically, uncomfortable!!!  I've scoped out restaurant after restaurant, night after night, looking for something not loaded with university students. Couldn't find it. Call me crazy, but i wasn't willing to sit myself down, look at a menu that might as well be chinese...sorry, i couldn't resist...in a crowded place where all the good seats have already been taken!  Sitting in the back is not my idea of fun. i eventually wound up back at the apartment, hungry. one night i literally ate a nectarine for dinner. no shit. it was in the house...and  trust me, i wasn't at all pleased with my new introverted personality. i was hungry!

New day, i decided i don't care where i go or how crowded it is, i'm going!  so i set out for lunch - me, my camera, and my new set of balls...and i did it...don't ask me what i ate, i couldn't tell you...but i can tell you it was the taste of pushing past my fear that was the most flavorful!  the school kids started coming in. i sat there and enjoyed my meal; my new found confidence and i enjoyed a meal..i felt so good, i walked around those back roads, smiled at everyone, and even had a conversation with a guy who thought i looked hungarian...his words...

I could mention the part where a girl literally whipped out her straightening iron at the table and started straightening her bangs, but would you believe me without pictures?  trust me, it happened. I couldn't believe what i was seeing. plugged it into an outlet behind her, and went to town. good thing her food came shortly thereafter, who knows what could have been next!

You can't make this stuff up...

Until tomorrow, josimhaeyo...

Donna.