Today, while I was out buying cat food and trying to figure out what to have for lunch, I decided to do some things I've never done before, but have been meaning to do for quite some time.

First of all, I went to the Psychic Eye bookstore that is less than two blocks away from my apartment. It's kind of hard to believe it took me that long to get over there! When I walked inside, a friendly girl asked if I needed any help. I let her know I was just browsing. As I moved away, she and a co-worker resumed their conversation about karma. I took my time exploring the entirety of the store. It is bigger than I thought it was from the outside, and it's packed full of interesting things. I felt very self-conscious and hyper, probably due to anxiety I've been feeling lately, as well as excitement/nervousness over being in an unfamiliar place.

I heard a woman come in the store and say to the sales girl, "What's wrong?" She said nothing was wrong, but the woman was insistent, saying she knew something was bothering her. She seemed like she worked there, too, and like she thought of herself as quite intuitive with her friends/co-workers. I wondered if that lady might see me and talk to me too and insist I have a conversation with her, in some eager display of good customer service. Feeling all hermit-y, that idea scared me, but she soon moved to another room, and I relaxed a bit. I touched lots of things while I was browsing, but for a while, nothing really stood out. Then I came across these beautiful sets of amethyst crystals and one of them in particular caught my eye. When I picked it up and held it in my hand, I felt really calm. I loved the shape and look of it. I checked out the others just to make sure of my decision, and none of the others were quite the same. I claimed the one that appealed to me most as my own, and felt happy as I carried it around the store. I also decided to buy a 3-pack of mini smudge sticks - they all smell so good! And then I came across this really cute little book called The Angel and the Frog, a Fable. I began reading and the main character is this toad trying to understand himself. I thought at first that I shouldn't get it, since I was getting the other two things already. I put it back in the shelf, and that just felt wrong. So I pulled it back off the shelf, and felt that sense of protective guardianship over it. It was my book - I adopted it! I am really happy with all my purchases.

The other thing I decided to finally do is have lunch at the Indian restaurant super close to my apartment. I love Indian food - how have I not been there before today?? I just walked in and told the guy I'd never been there before, and he told me about the food and that it was buffet style and to try anything I wanted, and sit wherever I wanted. I did, and he was right - the food was incredible. The garlic nan that they brought to my table was so warm and nice. And the chicken tiki masala was simply amazing. I had two glasses of water as I ate, and slowly read my book. I had a fun little fantasy in my head in which people around me thought I was a famous actress trying to be discreet in this small neighborhood, wearing my baseball cap, eating with only my book for company, seeking solitude from my crazy Hollywood lifestyle. Those kinds of thoughts entertain me sometimes!

Anyway, my book about the toad kept getting better and more interesting! I can't wait to read the whole thing! I hope it stays good all the way through.

And I'm glad I saw the bookstore finally, too. I will likely go back there again. It has a very different feel to it than my previous psychic store I loved visiting, Dolphin Dreams, in the Bay Area. Dolphin Dreams had a very open feel to it, with lots of blue colors, and lights, and windows. This Psychic Eye shop has a darker feel, with deep reds and dark wood shelves, low lighting, hardly any windows, and really cool Indian music playing.

That was a funny observation from today - the Psychic Eye store played Indian music, and the Indian restuarant played disco!

I'm glad I got out today and did some new things. Sometimes I spend too much time in my head, lulling over thoughts again and again, and that has a tendency to bring me down. I was doing that recently, and having some new experiences today reminded me that activity and getting outside is often just the thing to cheer me up and rejuvenate my spirit.