V-BABE

Planning a Wedding Will Rule Your Life

2010-10-11T06:00:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to update on my last post, but first, I just have to say that planning a wedding is really for those who are professional organizers and accustomed to a 100mph life. I can't keep up with my normal schedule on top of all the things that need to be done. When I distribute the work load I feel like I spend just as much time checking up on those with jobs to be sure they're doing the work and doing it the way I want. This must be what it's like to be a manager, thus proving why I don't want to be a manager and why I am willingly doing all the work.

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Back to the purpose of my post. On August 1st I said the I should make it a goal to go somewhere new each month, because I discovered how little I know, cultureally, about where I was born and raised compared to those who just moved here. Since then I have done the following:

I went to Coco Sala in DC for brunch with some coworkers. They sent me a text message at 10:30pm the night before and I didn't see it until 8am the next day. Normally I would decline to such a short notice and distant endevour. However, that morning I was going to be by myself and told myself "just do it damnit!!"
Guido and I went mountain biking, we've done it before, but this time we went on a different trail! Too bad it ended with a broken bike chain in the middle of the woods, six miles from the car...
I want to Hearshy Park in Pennsylvania, I've never been! I wasn't in the cool kids choir that got to go in middle school, so finally I took my chance to go 14 years later...
Guido surprised me with tickets to go see Lewis Black at the Warner theater! It was even a Thursday night show, and we're so not school night partyers.

A few other opportunites have presented themselves in the course of the last 2.5 months, however I've had to turn them down due to wedding planning. I'll be so glad when this is all over and I can think about something else!

New goal

2010-08-01T06:16:00.001-07:00

Once a month, or at least every two months, go some place new. I've lived here my whole life and the new people in my office who have moved here from other states, know more about this place than I do. I need to pretend I just moved here and want to see all the cool stuff.

CatPrint Success!

2010-07-31T08:31:00.001-07:00

After the VistaPrint mistake, I went looking for a new printer. I posted a question on a forum for Designers asking where freelancers go to get their work printed. I've never had to use an outside vender before, and with budget problems most of my customers don't print so I was new to this! Catprint was reccomended to me by one of the commenters. I went their website and was immediately sold. I was able to get an instant quote, customized paper size was cheap, the website was easy to use, and shipping was by far more reasonable than vistaprint. I placed a test order in June to see how all my invitations pieces would look on different types of paper and to test out their work. I placed my order on a Sunday night with seven-day shipping and it arrived at my house on Wed. WOW!! The prints were perfect, the packaging was very well protected and secured, and I felt I got more than I paid for. I will definately be using them for my final prints!!

Oh and they love cats. I love cats! BONUS!My boys.

Vistaprint Mistake

2010-05-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

I had read that the 21-day delivery for Vistaprint had really only taken a week for other people using it to print save the date or wedding invitations. I chose the slow/21-day delivery because the price was more reasonable. Now I'm regretting it. My already month late save the date cards will now be two months late because it's looking like Vista print really is holding on to my order for 21 freaking days. Normally I would have chosen the faster shipping, but I wasn't about to pay $43 for 3 day shipping on an order that cost $46. I wish I had spent more time looking for other printing options, but snapfish wouldn't let me use my own design, and I was in a hurry to get these done since my engagement photos arrived two weeks later than originally promised. Major FAIL on all sides.

After reflecting on my experience with Vistaprint, and reinvestigating what they offer, I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Every little thing came with a fee, stuff was added on that I didn't ask for so I had to remove it, I had to triple check that no boxes were automatically checked that could sign me up for crap I didn't want, the shipping fees are RIDICULOUS, and I'm still waiting to see if the end product was even worth all the annoyances.

Bridesmaid Dresses

2010-05-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

I'm frustrated with online/store shopping! I decided to let my girls pick their own dresses by telling me what fits they like best and sending pictures of dresses they find that they like. The bridal shop dresses are just as expensive as designer dresses. So I went to Bloomingdale's very briefly today to see what they had. I took pictures of three dresses and came home to find them online. For the life of me I cannot find them. Do they just sell random selections at different stores? Do they sell one dress in blue here and in red there?

This Nicole Miller Dress is not sold online in the color I saw it in at the store. The have a similar dress in blue that has an exposed zipper that goes up the back to the neck line. This dress does not have that. To which I say... what the hell.

I also discovered that wholesale places don't actively publish what designer brands they have in stock. You just have to go to the store and cross your fingers. This might end up being a difficult endeavor, but I'm determined to provide my girls with designer dresses they want to buy and even wear again if they so choose.

St. Croix, USVI

2010-04-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

I went to St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands this past week to attend the wedding of by bff's older sister. They graciously invited me AND guido to attend! To make sure I don't forget any of my great Caribbean adventure I'm going to post each day as I remember it :-)

Sunday

Very early flight to San Juan with a two hour layover before landing in St. Croix. The only airline at the time that I could book with was American Airlines. Jet Blue was a tad late on offering flights to San Juan, otherwise I'd be on Jet Blue. I'm surprised American Airlines stays in business when the competition offers so much more and better service for their riders. Their planes show considerable age, the seats have no lumbar support, they charge for food and snacks (I didn't even get a bag of peanuts!) the TV that sat in the aisle rattled the entire 3hr. 50 minute flight I feared it would fall on someone, and the tickets were far more expensive than I've paid in the past. I didn't know they still made planes with wing propellers on them.

As soon as we landed in St. Croix we felt the hot and humid air! While we were waiting in line to get our rental car the bride and my bff arrived to meet us and guide us to our hotel. In case you didn't know, they drive on the left side of the road down there and it was nice to have some practice before driving off on my own! At the airport there is a booth where a woman hands out shots of Cruzan rum to the new arrivals much the way Hawaiians lei their arrivals. Sweet!

We got to our hotel with no problems, The Hibiscus Beach Resort. Great place! I've never had a hotel offer more complimentary services. Have you ever had a hotel give you snorkel gear, fresh beach towels daily, bug spray, breakfast, water bottles in the fridge, and two rum punches for no cost? If you have, your hotel must have cost hundreds more than mine did :-) Our room walked out on the the beach and directly to the water. The water, by the way, stayed consistently 80 degrees. At one point we were so hot and sweaty from just standing outside in the sauna that is the island, that the ocean couldn't even cool us down. It was trippy!

That night was the bachelorette party. Guido and I had diner at H2O, a restaurant connected to our hotel, and then I left later on to catch up with the girls at Bacchuas in Christensted to then go skating. They had reserved the skating rink for their party for the night. What I didn't know was that it was a 70's themed party and the skating rink didn't have roller blades. I'd never used skates before, and proudly didn't fall down once! It was a blast!

Monday

Family Fun Day! The bride and groom put together a big beach party with lots of food and drinks for all the family and friends who'd arrived to their Island home for the wedding. They called it cowboy beach, however they failed to realize that they themselves named the beach "Cowboy Beach" not the local islanders. So no one we asked knew where it was and guido and I had no idea how to find it. We drove around aimlessly for about an hour following driving instructions from various different people. Driving on the left, I had it down now. We did finally make it to the beach located on the other side of the island from where we were staying, and my bff met me with a drink! They had the best fried chicken I have ever had, ever. We floated around in the water, we drank some more, ate some more, and floated more. When people started to leave, guido and I stuck around to check out the rocks and shells on the shore. While standing on an algae covered large rock (can you sense the doom?) I bent over to look at a rock when a wave washed up and then pulled my legs from under me and I landed on my knee and elbow directly in front of a passing group of horse riders that were on a beach tour. It was pretty painful and I was pretty cut up, followed by massively embarrassing bruises. Oh yeah, injured on the first day! :-)

After cleaning the salt off of ourselves we went out for dinner at Salud around the corner from our hotel. The meal was amazing. We got a macaroni and cheese appetizer that was to die for. I am a huge mac n'cheese fan and I would gladly clog my arteries for more of that. We had a rabbit and something entree, it was too freaking yummy to retain any memory of it's details. For dessert we had churros upscale style. I'll never eat another churros and enjoy it because the Salud churros were so good I'll accept nothing less. We went home full and happy.

Tuesday

Crucian Pub Crawl! Guido and I learned what Island time means today. It was scheduled to start at 12pm, but people didn't arrive until like 1. So after scarfing down our lunch and some water to make sure were weren't late we sat around like tools waiting for the pub crawl bus. When the crowd of people did arrive it turned out that the meeting spot was also the first pub spot, so we got drinks with everyone and then got on the bus for the next spot. I don't remember the names of all the places, but I did remember where they were. We stopped at one place in Christensted where all us girls broke away for an excursion at a few jewelry stores to find the best Crucian hook bracelet. The Island has fame for their hand made jewelry and uniquely crafted St. Croix hook, originated at "Sonya's". I got an infinity bracelet and the St. Croix hook for a coworker who so graciously covered all my shifts so that I could go on vacation!

After that stop we moved on the Mount Pelliers Domino Club known for it's beer drinking pig, and moonshine "Mamawanna". They also had a Mamawanna BBQ sauce that guido absolutely loved. He and the bff went to buy some but she was all out of it for the day (we returned later to buy some when she restocked!) The Mamawanna is a honey and spice flavored alcohol that is very strong but still sweet and warm afterwards. It was used in place of champagne at the wedding toast! We made two more pub stops before the last one in Fredericksted called Dog something... we got Pizza and Red Stripe to finish off the night! Guido and I went home exhausted.

Wednesday

Buck Island Tours! The bride and groom arranged for a private boat for everyone to go out to Buck Island for a day of snorkeling and beach bumming. The island is completely protected by the national park service and is the largest underwater preservation site. Only approved boats can go there and docking at the island is limited to a very small area on one side. It was a really exciting snorkeling experience! The bride guided us most of the time and knew where the best stuff could be seen or found. I saw schools of tropical fish, a spiny lobster, a barracuda (before i knew it was dangerous), squid, and lots of other fish and creatures I don't know the names of. I got lots of pictures of it with the underwater camera, I can't wait to see how they turned out! I could have snorkeled for hours. We moved from the snorkel spot to a spot on to the beach where we laid in the sand and floated in the water and acted like bums.

Guido and I went to Bacchus for dinner, the bride and grooms place of work (at least it was? I can't remember) that came highly recommended. It was 2 for 1 wine wednesday so we got two bottles of wine to go with our magnificent meal. The bread and balsamic dip and love butter was amazing. The lobster and creame sauce appetizer was delicious!! I got a twice baked stuffed lobster with white garlic cream sauce that was to DIE for. God was it good. Guido got a veal over horseradish mashed potatoes and almost licked his plate clean. For dessert, we had a bread pudding made for kings. Holy crap it was so YUMMY!!! I did take a picture of my dinner, to be seen on Facebook later. We took our second bottle of wine back to the hotel as we had stuffed our bellies to the brim. We watched a movie in the hotel room and attempted to drink the wine and then passed out in a food coma.

Thursday

Lots of stuff!! We took the car out to go buy some mamawanna bbq sauce and do some island sight seeing. We got a pretty early start to the day and were at Dominio by 10am. On the way there we stopped to get pictures at the site of Columbus' second landing. Once there, it wasn't as awesome as we thought it would be. So we moved on. While driving from the Domino club guido navigated to get us to a lighthouse and some other sight seeing spots. The road map failed to let us know that the road we ended up on was for 4x4s. The map clearly said that it was paved. By the way, my rental was a Yaris. I 4x4'ed the north western shore of St. croix in a yaris and lived to tell! We passed a group of ATV riders on our way down one side of a mountain, I can only wonder what they were thinking. haha! Before we ended up on that road a white bird flew in front of us as if it were showing us the way. It lasted for so long, guido took a picture. Of course it was when we lost sight of that bird that we ended up on the wrong road. Birdie come back!! When we finally made it to paved roads and rejoiced that our car made it through alive, and we started on our way back. We never found the light house.

Once back to our hotel we got suited up for jet skiing!! We had previously attempted to go on jet skis in the bahamas but the weather cancelled that opportunity. We got out there and of course with in the first 30 seconds they're already yelling at me because I had done something wrong. I swear he pointed and said "go out there and spin in circles". So I did. Apparently I went too far. Anyhoo, once we got out of the harbor our guide took off at top speed. So I followed at top speed. THRILLING!! My speedometer read 60-70mph (guido later said I was way off, but I know what I saw, and I know how it felt!) and I jumped over little wave bumps and was like a pro! The jet ski tour was supposed to take us out to find stuff to see but it was going to rain with in the hour so most of the water was dark, BUT the first place we stopped at we saw a dolphin fin, then I saw two of their shadows deep underwater, THEN about 6-7 of them started swimming around us and coming up out of the water. It was AWESOME!! I really hope those photos turned out!

After cleaning up we headed out for the rehearsal dinner at EAT@Cane Bay. I don't think I ate any bad food on this trip. It was all good every where I went. Speeches, toasts, drinks and food, the night was great! the flowers and decoration were so pretty! I can't wait for more photos. Have I mentioned yet how humid the island is? Your body sweats like a glass of water, I didn't bother doing my hair all week, and I showered an average of twice a day.

Friday

We drove out to the western most point on the island called the Point of Udall. It is a monument that was erected in 2000, roman numeral MM, and the pilers look like an M when you stand at just the right angle and as you walk around it the M repeats itself. It is the eastern most point of the United States. Kinda neat, more photos! Then we ventured down the south eastern side of the island and took more photos and enjoyed the view. Got back to our hotel and ate a light lunch before heading out to our own beach for some snorkeling and beach bumming. We swam out to the reef and started to look around when a HUGE swarm of little fish passed by. As we were watching it all I saw down below in the shadows the biggest fish I'd ever seen. I was swimming amongst the Barracudas lunch. I freaked the fuck out grabbed guido's arm and pulled him in the other direction. While swimming as fast and "calmly" as I could, two smaller ones crossed my path as I quickly made a sharp turn to avoid them and continued to the shore. I was shaking with fear, I'd never been so afraid in my life! Guido patted my fearful head as I cut our snorkel time early. We passed a guy on the beach getting ready to go out to snorkel and we told him about the baracudas. Apparently he didn't give a rats ass as he made his way in the direction of DANGER. I'm sure I was just a chicken shit, but whatever it was SCARY!!!

After lounging around in the sand, and swimming in the shallower water we went in to jump start our packing and clean up for the wedding!

The beautiful ceremony was at Sand Castle on the Beach near sun down. The brides dress was hand made in Chile where she and the groom spent 10 months exploring. The dress had a detachable skit that later revealed a tango dress for the reception! The ceremony was just perfect, and everything was beautiful. The only glitch was the homeless homosexual man sitting on the rocks on the shore wearing very little and splashing around in the water drawing a little too much attention to himself. He seemed to enjoy himself, drunk, high, or whatever. At least he was just far enough away that he won't show up in any of the photos.

The reception was held up the shore at Northside Valley in outdoor tents. The cocktail hour hors'durves were yummy! The bride and groom came out and thanked everyone for attending and we all toasted the with our mamawanna shots. They then had their first dance, the tango. They had been learning it in Chile and practicing for the last year for their wedding, it was so romantic and sweet! We ate great food, drank and danced! Just like every wedding should be :-) I think this was a the most humid night to date. I was melting by the time I left, but that didn't keep me from doing the electric slide and dancing like a fool!

Saturday

Guido and I got up early for another early flight and made our way home. We left the hot and humid island and came home to cold and rainy. I miss home! but I also miss the awesomeness of the island. If you ignore the jail bar covered windows and doors, the 5 pm closures of everything due to crime, the pot hole ridden roads, and my favorite: "drinking and driving is legal, but driving drunk is illegal", You'll find that this Caribbean island is a jem to visit. Don't just stop by on a cruise ship, go and stay, there is so much to do!

Mountain Biking

2010-04-12T08:56:00.001-07:00

Guido bought a bike rack so that we could take or bikes to more exciting places! Yesterday we went to Wakefield/Accotink Creek Park. It was awesome! Of course we started out looking like total n00bs as we went the wrong way down one -way bike trails. Guido thought it would be a good idea to bike up this one section of the trail that was winedy and steep and rocky. I didn't want to but then there was someone behind me and I didn't want to hold him up so I got up there as fast as I could and almost had a heart attack. But after that it was all good! No more inclines of the such are allowed. The park is awesome, and we had a lot of fun despite painful butts after the fact. We'll be going back soon :-)

-This- is the best I could find as far as a website goes.

Invitations

2010-03-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

I've been working up my wedding invitations for about 2 months. Designing for yourself is so much harder than it is to design for someone else. 100 Layer Cake has saved my life. It is just the kind of collective inspiration website I need! I think I've finally found a font layout that I can run with. All I have to do now is figure out the packaging...

Cabin Fever

2010-02-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored. I'm bored.

omg... I just want to leave.

MIA

2010-01-11T06:44:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged much in the last year. I got out of the habit of doing it, and I also got pretty busy. 2009 was the best and worst year of my life. So I'll reflect...

Jan-
My year started off with the unexpected loss of my my dog Michigan Belle, and shortly there after, my great-uncle Gary. I miss my Belle so much, and am reminded very often how much a dog completes your life.

Feb-
I visited the doctor several times for various unrelated reasons, gallstone, ear infection, more vertigo, and a UTI. I threw a successful surprise birthday party for Guido! It was a busy and stressful month leading up to the party, but I got it done.

Mar-
I began preparations for my first garden. I started treatment for Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. I applied for a new job in a graphic Design Center. I went to Photoshop World in Boston MA and bought a new Wacom Tablet, and Adobe Lightroom. I got the job I applied for!

Apr-
Guido and I celebrated 6 years together! The new job would open the doors for the real start of my career in graphic design. I started contemplating a new look for myself as I entered a new step in my life. Then I went on antibiotics for a lump on my face and then I was horribly bit by a cat requiring more drugs. Then, surprise surprise, another UTI.

May-
I started getting gel acrylic nails done as part of my attempt to create a "new me", but the old me was good enough for the new me. I started my new job! Sara came to town for a visit! My garden project was going really well. The vertigo doctor said I was healed...for now. Then I became too busy to blog...

June-
Another UTI. I visited my grandmother for her 90th birthday. I got my parents a limo for their 30th anniversary. I went to several training classes for work, and loved all of it. A groundhog destroyed my garden by eating everything.

July-
Proved myself as a good choice for hiring, management provides positive feedback regularly! Planned a trip to Georgia with Guido's family followed by a trip to Michigan to see my other grandmother. My grandmother that I recently visited takes a turn for the worst and goes in to hospice care. The week of my birthday it's looking like I'll be missing my vacations and attending a funeral. The day before my birthday my grandmother dies and my father tells me to continue with my vacation plans. On my birthday, Guido proposes to me! A plan everyone was in on and the highlight of my year! Even my grandmother new, to which she replied with "wonderful" before she died.

Aug-
Returned from a week 1/2 trip of seeing two families and announcing our engagement to everyone! The rest of the month was very busy at work and I pulled a lot of overtime. Another UTI.

Sep-
Still busy at work, hardly around, but loving my job. Our friends deliver their twins starting their "intsa-family" with a bang. Our destination Hawaii wedding idea is turned down by family ...UTI.

Oct-
The month of birthdays. Guido and I got new bikes, and ride them as often as possible. I finished my crochet project that took one year and 56 balls of yarn to complete. More wedding discussions happen but no real plans are made.

Nov-
Sara comes to town on an unexpected visit for her grandmothers funeral. I start my new shift at work, it's scary but then not so bad. Dentist tells me I need braces again to fix my bite. I work on Thanksgiving. Went to PA for belated-turkey day with Guido's family.

Dec-
I officially book a venue for my wedding after visiting several places. I will be getting married October 30th, 2010! The month goes by so fast I barely get Christmas planned. I got braces, I worked Christmas, I bought my plane tickets for the St. Croix wedding. Sara comes to town for Christmas, but has to take me to the doctor because I have another UTI. I went to PA for Christmas with Guido's family, and end up going to the ER because my antibiotics for the UTI are not working and it was a Sunday so no one was open. I worked new Years Eve, and said goodbye 2009!

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Hello 2010.
This year I will plan a wedding, go to a wedding, develop better eating and exercise habits, get new hearing aids, and have a fixed bite! It's going to be an expensive year... the end of 2009 already proved so. Lets just hope that the UTI problem gets solved once and for all. I'll see a Urologist soon with hopes that he can tell me the cause and solution to a lifetime of unexplained recurrent UTIs.

Gettin' hitched

2009-12-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

Now that I officially have a date I can actually start making invitations and such. My dilemma now is, do I go with serif, sans serif, or script? I like a light clean san serif, but then I also like a bold serif. then I saw a cool script font and thought that'd be good. I now understand the importance of having a theme. I am too damn indecisive! grr!

crochet...

2009-10-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

This thing took forever... Each row took 45 minutes, and each square you see is made by 3 rows, the "Basket Weave". I started in October of 2008, and I finished it TODAY! I didn't measure correctly, and it is way larger than it should be and that's a king sized bed. I kept all the yarn wrappers so I could keep track of how much I spent.... $235. Add man hours in there and you've a pretty expensive afghan.

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike.

2009-10-18T14:16:00.000-07:00

New bike! Guido got the same one in orange. It's been pouring down rain since the day they were delivered, but we got a spot of no rain today and took them out! My old bike that I've had since I was 10 (jesus it's old) will be going to bike heaven.

is there another word for busy?

2009-10-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

Wow has it been too long . . . I can't say more than I'm just really busy. Work busy. I come home late and do nothing because I am so tired. Then I spend my weekend doing all the things I neglected to do during the week. I love my job though, it's exciting, and I have people my own age to hang out and talk to. About 6 people got engaged at the same time I did, it was pretty funny :-)

. . . I'm engaged! There are zero things on the wedding planning checklist done. Actually, no there is one thing done "announce your engagement", check. Now that it is actually happening I am clueless of what I want to do, and the one thing I do want to do is disapproved by the money holders. I'm lost!

My garden blog was a bust. So was the garden! A ground hog came in 1 week before harvesting and ate EVERYTHING. It ate all the leaves and none of the veggies so the plant had nothing to help it grow. It was like the groundhog wanted to terrorize the garden. He dug a massive hole in the side of the fence to let me know he was there. I got one cucumber, 2 kohlrab, a ton of pole beans that didn't cook very well, and my pumpkin grew so fast, it finished growing and started to rot before mid august. No Halloween pumpkin for me :-( The garden needed more than I was willing to spend in it. When I own the yard, I will go all out and have a sprikler system, a dog to chase the fat ground hog, attractive looking trellice, mulch and fencing. I will not go cheap on it! Right now the garden looks like shit, so I took no pictures. Crab grass is my second biggest enemy in the garden. That crap won't go away!

HOLY SHIT!

2009-07-23T19:39:00.001-07:00

HE WENT TO JARED!

Tea

2009-06-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

When doing a local search on Etsy.com I found a woman who mixes her own loose leaf tea, Tea For All Reasons. So I messaged her and met up at her house to see her tea collection. AMAZING. She has her own teavana in her house only BETTER.I bought three different samplers, black, white and chocolate. OMG amazing. I'm drinking the white blueberry right now and it tastes like a blueberry. Yesterday I had Chocolate Strawberry..... Talk about indulgence, it was delicious! If you are a tea drinker, I highly recommend that you check her out. If you aren't a tea drinker, this is the best way to discover it. Loose leaf tea is the most natural and flavorful way to experience tea. Just a little goes a long way for a lot of flavor!

humid

2009-06-02T05:47:00.001-07:00

I don't know why I bother dressing up all nicely for the day. It only takes a little bit of humidity to make me look like a condensate-ing glass of water. By the time I reach the front door after walking from my car I looked like I had just worked out. My hair is flat and gross sticking to my neck, my strappy shoes have covered my feat in blisters from the leather sticking to my skin, and everyone can see I sweat through my shirt as thre is a spot on my back. I hate hate hate hate humidity.

Skeksis

2009-05-31T19:20:00.001-07:00

I think armadillos are cute. Just not when you take close up shots of them.... they look more like Skeksis ......

Birthday wish list

2009-05-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

It's so pretty....

birthday is in two months. This officially starts the wish list.

etsy shopping

2009-05-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

How cool is this?? and there are a bunch of people out there making them...

back...

2009-05-22T04:39:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy, mostly just disconnected from the world as I get used to this new commute and life schedule. I get in really early, but the traffic is lighter and the good parking isn't taken yet. I haven't mastered the "do stuff quick" yet but I'm sure I will soon. It's great to work in a studio that has all the fonts and such that I need or want. No limitations! It's all organized and systematic... oh it's beautiful...

So since I'm not used to getting home so late and leaving as early my daily routine is all whacked out. For the last two weeks I'd come home, clean up, eat dinner, watch recorded TV and then I'd realize how late it was and freak out. My computer is rarely turned on. Plus for the last month I've done nothing but yard work and gardening in my free time. It all looks great, but I've also learned the things I should have done, want to do, and won't do again.

New manager told me about a store called "Nordstrom out" or something?? She says it's Nordstroms priced for people like us! So I really want to go and check it out. Anyone up for shopping this holiday weekend? I need to spruce up my dull wardrobe and dress like an "artist". I'm embracing the stereotype, or at least in need of color.

Comics

2009-05-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA for a few weeks. Mostly too busy to do anything. but here is a comic I find hilarious.

haircut

2009-04-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

What should I do with my hair? The style hasn't changed since I first got it at that place Kimberly and I were both conned in to buying gift packages at.

if you swallow the seed

2009-04-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

a watermellon will grow and you'll explode.

Or maybe.... he just inhaled a twig and that is why he has a tumor.....

Hazzard to self

2009-04-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

I've been to the doctor many times in the last year, each visit unique from the last. Last week I noticed a painful bump on my face caused by what my doctor said "a dirty gym" so I got antibiotics for that. Then on Sunday I got bit by a cat. Luckily the antibiotics I'm already on will cover the bite, but my guess is that I'll need more by the time I run out. On Monday I visited the vertigo doctor who said that the right side is all better and now I need to be treated for the left side.

I'm supposed to keep the bite wound elevated to reduce swelling. It's on my right hand. Good luck with that.

Kimberly you haven't blogged in a long time, and never got back to me about crochet day :-(. What are you doing these days!?!?

Happy Hour

2009-04-09T07:27:00.001-07:00

In honor of my getting a new job and leaving, they are going to throw me a farewell -thing-. I've been told to pick a place to go, preferably a place with happy hour deals and an nice sized bar to accommodate a group. I know happy hour specials exist, but for the life of me I can't find info about them online. I'm thinking of a few places, Bonefish, Eggspectations, Cheesecake Factory, and Sweetwater Tavern. This will start at 3 or 4pm which is not a regular happy hour time, but it's how they like to do it here. Suggestions? I'm not looking to go too far away preferably stay on the east side of 28 so that people aren't adding miles to their commute home.

BTW, you are invited, it would be rude of me not to! :-)

New toy

2009-04-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

We took all of our loose change to my credit Union to get it counted for free. Then we went and bought this! yay!! I always wanted one :-)

Orchids for you

2009-03-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

I stopped by an Orchid greenhouse in vienna that after passing it 50 times in the last year I finally found it and went in. Then came out with a Tolumnias volcano. I thought it was pretty and the guy tells me it's a very picky plant and if I sure I wanted the challenge..... yes! I love a challenge. It wasn't like the plant was $80 like the ginormous orchids they had in there, I won't feel out of the money if it dies. It loves sun and warmth and to be misted with water and not soaked or watered like other orchids. he told me to once or twice a week dip it in water and that's it. I'm probably going to put it in the sunroom this summer. It likes to live on bark, so I'm going to find some big peices of bark for it to grow on and maybe hang it on a sunny wall (saw it in a book). The picture I took wasn't worth posting, but when I get a better one I will post it!

Wore it to work today

2009-03-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

Wacom in Action

2009-03-29T14:46:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Tony and the nice camera I bought him, I have good pictures of my new tablet.

Wacom Intuos4

2009-03-28T15:24:00.001-07:00

I got the last one. I also got Lightroom2 for $100 off, but they were sold out so they honored their discount for the event and will have it mailed to me in the next week. I have more pictures for later, but I'm busy reading all the stuff I got and catching up in recorded tv... :D Maricel- I need your addy so I can send you your gift bag!

Photshop World Day two

2009-03-26T13:55:00.001-07:00

Today was an early day, and exhausting. Actually I think I am getting sick if not already sick and that is what is making me drag around. They have t-shits on sale that I wanted to buy but they don't have anymore in size small and I hate big t-shirts. It says "Yes image size does matter". Given the month I just had, I would have proudly worn that shirt to work on monday. I hope they pull out a hidden box of them tomorrow.... After some research I confirmed that the vendor does have the best price on the tablets, so I'll be buying that.

I played around with some Nikon cameras at the Nikon booth. They have two with a touch screen. I'm not sure I like it, it isn't very sensitive and the picture modes took forever to find and I couldn't remember how I got there after I found it. I have no problem with the scroller wheel, it's faster. The cool part was that like wacom, the guys at the booth were just from the company, they weren't selling the products just demoing them so I wasn't being pushed to buy anything just to look at all of them and play with them. I do think the coolpix is the next one I want to get, just not today. Or this month. Or maybe I'll wait for my birthday.... haha

Boston is an expensive place. The shopping district I'm in isn't a normal shopping district. It's more like Tysons two. The sale racks were out out of my price range. If I became a billionaire tomorrow I don't thnk even then that I could justify paying $182 for a scarf. I bought one made of the same material imported from the same country for $24 at a stand in the hall way of the mall.

Tomorrow is the Lightroom classes, I've been looking forward to is since yesterdays class where they went over the cool stuff it can do that is better than bridge. I hope I don't forget everything I learned by the time I'm able to get CS4 at work. It took them 3 months to get me CS2 when I started working there. It should cost less for our materials or we should be paid more. I don't know how some people can afford it all. Someone asked Bert yesterday is he sells his art, and he said "No I'm a homeless guy" Later he said "I make more money talking about how I make my art than I do selling it"..... O_o

Dim Sum

2009-03-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

My dinner at the bar. Luckily I was on my last bite when the woman with the life crisis showed up. She started spilling her guts to all the bartenders about a some guy. She had an accent I couldn't understand all that she was saying, but it was distracting.

Photoshop World part 2

2009-03-25T15:21:00.000-07:00

I found Wifi in my evening class. I'm officially blogging from class. I am hip.

High probability that I'll be coming home with a Wacom Intuos4. They've got a sweet deal on them and I got to play with it. If I had the money and the desk space I'd get a cintiq.

The online galleries class was amazing. It was full of "cheats" for making online photo galleries with out having to know any code. I was in awe at how easy it was. I was ready to go and do it for my webpage right then. if nothing else is cool, that class was worth the whole trip. All you code nerds, shut up, it was exciting for me.

I'm still on CS2 at work, the Photoshop Composite class showed me all the REALLY cool things CS4 does and I'm hoping to return to work with a convincing argument for getting me CS4. I've never used lightroom and now I want it.

The textures class is really neat. Such simple ideas done in an intuitive way time saving way. I wouldn't have thought to do it the way he is teaching. I hope to be able to use these tricks when I return, i already have a project that could use the texture tricks he's showing. He just made a photo realistic wall with cracks, scratches, and chips in it with just filters and effects. I am not worthy. The instructor Bert Monroy is an astonishing digital artist. All the images are NOT photographs but "paintings" done in photoshop and illustrator consisting of thousands of layers. I remember seeing some of his stuff my first year of college, but the newer stuff since then is amazing.

Photshop World Day one

2009-03-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

We'll see if I can keep this up the other two days.

I registered early and got a big bag of stuff! the Convention room doesn't open until 1pm and I'm bound to get even more stuff! I can't wait :-) My hotel only offers free wifi in the lounge, and charges by the half hour or 24 hours in the room. I think that is lame, but they do have a starbucks! score.

Maricel will be excited (and maybe jealous) to hear that there is an anthropologie within walking distance of my hotel. I'm excited about that!!! I happen to be in the center of the shopping district so with that and the hotel bill on my credit card, I might be maxing it this month. haha!

Stinky

2009-03-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

I've been buying the same kind of deodorant for a long time. I opened a new one maybe two weeks ago. At first I thought "did I forget to put it on today?" then I thought, "maybe I'm just overly stressed". Now I'm thinking "I got a dud". I really put it on today, like more than needed, and now I feel smelly. Do you think the manufacturer would give me a new one if I wrote in a complaint?

Photoshop World

2009-03-19T04:44:00.000-07:00

Is next week! I get to meet up with the godparents/aunt&uncle, and on the first day I'll actually have some time to do a little sight seeing. I hope the weather is nice, or at least not raining. My first conference yeah! If I had a laptop I'd bring it with me and blog every 5 minutes like everyone else. lol.

Vertigo Update

2009-03-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

I went back again on friday to do the Epley Maneuver all over again and as we start the first round the doctor starts telling me how if today doesn't improve anything I'll need to get and MRI. When he comes back for the second round I get really dizzy on the last step of the procedure. The doctor gets very excited and and says "I think we're getting somewhere!" Then as I'm sitting waiting for the 3rd round it felt as if something in my brain sunk and went BOOM with dizzy and quickly faded away. I told the doctor this when he returned and he said the stones either finished their journey or plopped back where they were. When he started the 3rd round.... no dizziness.... then on the last step, I was dizzy and the very excited doctor said my "sunk" feeling was probably the good kind! I feel worlds better now than I did after the first visit. I'll be going back again in a month to check how the right side is doing and then moving on to fixing the left side.....

Sakura!

2009-03-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

The food network has now proved that two of my favorite dining locations are the best. Emeril Lagase was at Sakura three times this month! Our waitress said "he's okay, I like you guys better" hahaha I don't know if that means she just likes us or if we're better tippers. lol. YEAH SAKURA! :-)

I got my Apron today!

Thai Basil

2009-03-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

OMG! Thanks to Kimberly for informing me that my favorite place for pad Thai and other Thai dishes is going to be on the Food Network tonight! Better yet, THROWDOWN with Bobby Flay!! YEAH!!!

Go Thai Basil!

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

2009-03-01T18:22:00.000-08:00

Due to my recent visit to a doctor specializing in vertigo treatment I've had the worst headache. I don't feel like doing much of anything because anything involving movement results in a worse headache. It is quite possible that there have been three instances in my life, when I have fallen and hit my head, and experienced a concussion. The results of said possible head injuries may be showing their dirty faces as a "difficult case" for my doctor to fix. Below is an animation of the maneuver I had to go through (not shown is the vibrating device pressed against my head) 3 times with ten minute breaks in between. This didn't succeed the first visit and caused my horrible headache this weekend. Those of you who don't know why this sucks, when you have vertigo or BPPV, turning your head certain ways makes you instantaneously dizzy as your brain thinks you are suddnely spinning out of control. blog totle will take you to the wiki page. I have to go back again in two weeks to do it all over again. :-(

Comics

2009-02-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

I haven't updated in a while and I also haven't had much time to read my comics.... tear. But here are some that I liked and saved from who knows how long ago. The first one makes me think of the bat mobile that does exist in my parents neighborhood. The guy has two, a 1960's version and a 1990's version of the batmobile. I have a picture of it somewhere.

CentreView

2009-02-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

Apparently they have a website.... anyhoo, here's the article about the show this weekend.

Plaze Suite

2009-02-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Those of you who don't know, or could have easily guessed, my mom is a theater major. Now for the first time in like 25 years she is back on stage! This Friday at Mountain View High School she will be performing in Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite" a comedy. The Alliance Theatre is a community group that puts on productions through out the year. There was an article about it in this weeks Centre View!

I'll be going on 2/13, join me for a night at the theatre!

logo hate.

2009-01-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

I really hate the new logo... Pepsi too. What is it with new logos people??

First Snow

2009-01-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

First snow of the year and the season! YAY!

Art Project

2009-01-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

I finished an art project that I've been working on for a long time. Lots of stuff got in the way of me finishing it as well as the trees being a biotch to complete. I used print photos taken at several angles pasted together to make the full view in order to draw it. Reajusting the perspective of the image was difficult, I'm not that great at it to begin with but I give myself points for "getting there". Anyways, I present to you My family Cabin.

The week just gets better

2009-01-14T11:10:00.000-08:00

The day before Belle died, my family was notified about my great uncle who died. It is unfortunate, that I learned more about his death in this news article.

Please don't let things come in threes.

Michigan Belle

2009-01-13T10:52:00.001-08:00

My puppy dog Belle unexpectedly passed away yesterday. She was 2 days shy of her 10th birthday and healthy as a clam. The doctor called me after the necropsy and said it was a haemangiosarcoma in her heart that ruptured and stopped her heart. She was napping when it happened and looked so peaceful when I saw her. I hate that she was taken from me this early and without warning, but at least she wasn't in pain.

First Project of 2009

2009-01-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

Both cats enjoy sitting in the window, but they both fought over the stool that was there. It was Sawyers stool before Ronin came in to the picture. So I got two step stools and made attractive covers for them with their favorite material- fleece.

I am also a horrible photographer.... that or my camera really sucks.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite gifts of 2009, from Guido's mom and dad.

Compost Pail!

Sick days

2008-12-05T05:08:00.000-08:00

I've been sick the last few days. Most number of days in a row that I've been sick since probably the chicken pox. I was doing my hair Tuesday morning when vertigo stepped in and ruined my week! It is a horrible thing and I don't wish it on anyone. I am better today, with the help of meclizine. That shit will put you out! Which is a good thing because I go on the cruise in 3 days!!! Whoo hoo!!!!

Sharepoint

2008-12-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

A horrible horrible idea. Give me HTML. now.

Why should I learn a whole new way to make a blog. Yes it is a blog creator, not a web creator. Better yet, it's full of terms that make no sense. Microsoft... don't re-create the language. It is confusing.

annoyed much? I think so.

Black Friday

2008-11-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

Shoppers gone wild.

Quote of the Day

2008-11-19T10:01:00.001-08:00

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”

--Thomas Jefferson

RIP Cattelya...

2008-11-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

The little Cattelya I tried to save died over the weekend. I originally saved the plant from the cold floor of Lowe's for $5. It thrived for 1.5 years in my house before being victimized by my cat. It spent it's last days peacefully on my desk at work. Goodbye little orchid! I sure did try...

Economy

2008-11-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

Articles like "10 ways to save money" are doing a good job at not stimulating the economy. Today I cut Tony's hair. We saved $20, Joon lost that income for the day. Do I feel bad for saving money or being a part of the economic plummet?

It's kinda twisted.

Quote of the Day

2008-11-06T04:51:00.000-08:00

I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
- Jack Handey

we live in a sad sad world in which I believe that statement.

Oncidium

2008-11-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

I finally found one! I was at Safeway and there it was looking at me saying "save me!!" So I dutifully did. I am taking what is left of the feline consumed cattleya to work with me so that it can safely grow away from my hungry cat.

Here is what it looked like before (the one on the right):

here is what it looked like after being eaten:

Here is what is left... one little sprout trying to regrow from nothing!

Here is the new beauty! A Yellow Oncidium also known as the Dancing lady. The center of the plant was rotting, so I had to cut that out which let me two separate Orchids in the one pot. I don't have enough supplies to separate them in to different pots, but they'll be okay for now.

Before:

After:

Me trying to express skills with a camera.....

I should be next....

2008-10-29T04:34:00.000-07:00

Gordon is a married man now! I got back from N.C on Sunday and haven't had a second to myself. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and I'm so glad it went so well for them. I'm jealous b/c I want a fall wedding like that! It was held at a manor in Louisburg where probably everyone in a 20 mile radius goes to get married because it was perfectly set up for a dream wedding. The landscaping and side walk was laid out for a ceremony and the reception hall next to the manor house had a bar, dance floor, full service restrooms, and a kitchen. My guess was that everything was a packaged deal and all they had to do was pick table cloth colors and food. Awesome. AND- my favorite champagne was served at the toast, double win.

The best part (b/c we women notice these things) of the whole thing was this one moment in the ceremony. Gordon is Scottish his whole family was in kilts and the full get up, and his uncle played the bag pipe. It had stormed and rained all morning and we were convinced they'd move the wedding inside. 5 minutes before starting the rain stopped some guy ran out and wiped all the seats down and we all went out to be seated. It was grey and wet and looked like a true outdoor wedding in Scotland. Mid way through the ceremony they lit their unity candles, and then the sun came out, like CAME OUT. It went from Seattle to LA in 3 seconds. How magical is that??

Hi, my name is....

2008-10-20T06:27:00.001-07:00

If you didn't think PETAs were crazy before.....

Lewis Black

2008-10-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday Guido took me to the Patriot Center for his surprise outing! He took me to see Lewis Black live! It was so much fun, and even the opening act was pretty funny. Since Lewis Black is a politically geared comedian we got to see his show at a peak time in the world of politics. Most of the act wasn't too concentrated on the elections, but he did bash both parties well. My favorite part of the show was his bit about abstinence in schools and how useless it is in todays school system. "We can see how well it work on Palin's child", lol. Guido said he found other shows coming up, so I hope we do this more often!

Mason has finally listened to me and turned one of their parking lots in to a humongous 4 story garage!! Except they decided to do this at the same time they chose to build 5o other things on all the other available lots so parking really is a bitch. There are signs everywhere telling you to go park at Mason lot west, which is about 3 miles away off of Braddock Rd. I can't imagine being a student there right now. If I thought commuting sucked then, holy F does it suck now. Who knows how often a shuttle goes out there. If I lived in that neighborhood surrounding the campus I'd sell my driveway space to students. Easy money.

Comics

2008-10-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Quote

2008-10-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sadly this is something I think of often.

Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.
- Ellen Goodman

Rollerblade

2008-10-15T05:26:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I got a "used twice" set of roller blades, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and a helmet all for $25!! I saw the posting for them on a bulletin board last week and tried to buy them. the guy said he'd bring them on Thursday and he'll call to set up a swap. I called him on Thursday and no answer so I dismissed it. He called yesterday apologetic that he wasn't there he was out sick, but had them with him if I was still interested. So i got them! They were his mothers and he said she doesn't use them any more... or ever from what I can tell. I went around the block yesterday and discovered how hilly the neighborhood is. It was a SCARY roll around the block. I was going down this, what seemed shallow, hill and I was going so fast I knew I was either going to trip on a stick or not make it from one sidewalk to the other when I crossed this street. This kid saw me coming and dodged out of the way, I ran in the the grass to stop my self and almost fell on my ass. I laughed and looked at him and said "that's why you wear pads!" some teenage couple across the street saw it happen and was laughing and I knew I must have looked ridiculous! It was so much fun I laughed too! The last hill home I knew was going to SUCK. it was actually steep. I tried to weave to slow it down but once I got to the end I just aimed for the grass and I was going to fast the grass stopped me too quickly and I did a falling roll landing back on my feet. it was so graceful I am not counting it as a fall! hehe. Tomorrow I'm going a different route. I need to learn how to stop. I just couldn't get the breaking thing to work right. The only thing I don't like about them is that they clip in the back and it's harder to tighten it at such an odd angle.

The Gardener

2008-10-13T14:42:00.001-07:00

For more on "Double Jointed Green Thumb" adventures.... go here!

Etsy

2008-10-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

Three of my first purchases at this website. I could bankrupt myself there... but I hold back... :-) I bought the necklace and the earrings and then the purse was hand made to my requested specifications. LOVE. I'm really really determined to try and make time for creating stuff to sell. I know I can do it!

Ronin

2008-10-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Kitty has finally been named. We couldn't agree on a name. I wanted Ninja, he wanted Darth Vader. So we compromised on another warrior name. Ronin Warrior Kitty! A Ronin Warrior is also known as a Black Knight. Black kitty is an asian black knight. works for me!

Sawyer and Ronin are chill pals now. Ronin's tongue is too big for his mouth, it sticks out a lot :-)

Baby Kitty!!

2008-10-08T05:04:00.000-07:00

I got my kitty yesterday! I just hope hope hope pray Sawyer finds this new kitty to be really cool. He was acting all weird about it yesterday... I got the kitty for him to play with!! Now for pictures- (mine is god awful.)

Big GRR

2008-10-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

F everyone.

Since when is Carey a boys name? I know it can be, but seriously... three times in one week I get something that says "Mr." before my name in an email. My responses are not of the friendly tone, and get signed with my full title. I'm used to people mispronouncing my last name, but not confusing my sex. wtf?

Garden- 2009

2008-10-06T05:40:00.000-07:00

The home I'm renting has a nice plot of land. It also has an already established garden! Since moving in I've done lots of work on weekends to prepare it for next years big fest! Since we moved in in the summer the owners didn't grow much (one tomato, one pepper, and some herbs) and it was unattended to. Basically it became a gigantic weed garden. It took two weekends to remove all of the weeds that had grown to be 3 ft tall!! My dad came over with his tiller to cultivate the dirt. What we discovered was that the soil is very rocky. Not just a few pebbles but like big 'ole rocks. The tiller kept clanging in to them and flinging then out of the dirt. So this past weekend I de-rocked the garden. I only got half way through. Two full driveway sealant sized buckets of rocks! Those were just the ones I could easily puck up. If I really wanted to I'd go out there and sift the dirt. Since it took 2.5 hours to do half the garden, I'll just let it go...

The garden plan. Here is the original, that will be updated because my dad suggested I switch the tomatoes with the peppers since that area is along a fence and tomatoes grow very tall. It is a 17x15 foot area of land! The herb garden is an already established garden. there is a hefty sized basil plan there. I already trimmed it and they are being hung to dry in the covered porch. the rock area is a rock/chicken wire defense line that was built with the garden to keep rabbits and gophers out. It's a pretty hard core defense line. I will probably have more veggies than I know what to do with. So expect gift offerings from me. ALSO, if you'd like to see something in the garden in exchange for helping me maintain it (like weeding) I'll take those requests :D. Why do you think there are beets in my garden? (yuck) haha.

Saturday Night Live

2008-10-06T05:37:00.001-07:00

SNL, you delivered SO WELL! I am quite pleased with the parody :-)

"For all you playing a drinking game, MAVERICK!" **pantomimes opening a can of beer**

HAHA!

VP Debate

2008-10-03T05:19:00.001-07:00

I'm not usually one to talk about politics ever, but I watched the debate b/c if SNL is going to be funnier I might as well see the source.

What I got from the Debate.

Biden knew the answer to every question, he was ready. Palin knew the answers to all of the questions she wanted to answer, and answered them as though she were campaigning not debating. She was articulate, shaky at first, very nervous, and said things I didn't agree with or I felt were dumb. Biden used his short time to answer the qustion they were asked to answer as well as covering the off topic issue that Palin brought up. Seriously, I think she only answered 2 of the questions asked. I was excited to hear Biden's place on same sex marrige but then when specifically asked they both said they do not approve it. At least Biden said he agrees that civil rights should be honored no matter your sexual preference. Palin didn't answer the question. She just said that people don't agree with her and that's okay! *wink*. She winked a lot and it bothered me. I felt that Biden's moment of getting emotional was real, I'm sure some people will probably try to say it wasn't but he didn't play it up, it was short and to me a real pull on his heart. I'm not overly excited about anyone, but I know I'm not excited about McCain or Palin. Throughout the debate I kept looking for SNL material. Biden smiled and laughed a lot when she spoke, and Palin said stuff like "getcha!" "by-gum" "golly" crap like that. My mom talks like that when she's being condescending. So to me Sarah Palin was being condescending to America. Oh, and that's another point, she sure bashed the hell out of America... I don't get the impression she likes it, or that she realized how poorly she spoke of us.

Bring it on SNL!

WANTED

2008-09-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

Help with picking or finding a name.

It is family tradition to name all animals after literary/historical figures. I have a name in mind for the new kitty but I fear the potential confusion of words that rhyme with it: "Huckleberry Feline". It would pair perfectly with Sawyer. I want a name that I can twist to be cat like. Here are names we've had.

Smoke Filled Room- A secret political gathering, he was a Siamese.
Ruddy Kipling- Named for Rudyard Kippling. He was a ruddy cat.
Fiorello LaGuardcat- Name from the historical figure as well as the musical, Fiorello LaGuardia
Michigan Belle- My grandfather worked for a phone company called "Michigan Bell"
Sterling North- Named for the author and the fact that he is silver and copper in color (silver+copper=sterling silver)
Toonces the Driving Cat- Another Siamese. Named for the SNL skit my mom is obsessed with.
Tom Cat Sawyer- Named for Tom Sawyer of Mark Twain's novel, and he came to me as a tom cat.

I invite all clever ideas!

Armacat

2008-09-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

My cat is spoiled. I bought him this great big cat tree and he loves it! Yesterday I submitted an application to adopt "Jedi Paws" on petfinder. He's too cute :-) Beautiful amber eyes and a white spot in his neck just like Sawyer! I hope they get back to me soon. I'm anxious for a second kitty. In other kitty news.... Sawyer ate one of my cattelya orchids... started with a nibble and then I came home to half a plant. I even sprayed it with bitter apple and he must have thought I was seasoning it for him b/c he decided it tasted better that way. All my orchids have been moved out of kitty reach. I need a new orchid now :-( Maybe I can use this as an excuse to go hunting for the perfect oncidium! :D

lolcatz best of

2008-09-28T17:40:00.001-07:00

This couldn't be closer to the truth....

Messenger Bag

2008-09-23T05:12:00.000-07:00

I go through purses a lot. Nothing ever satisfies my purse needs. So now I'm going to see if a messenger bag is for me. Problem is there are so damn many!!! I'm going to try and find one on etsy. Handmade fun.

First day of Fall

2008-09-22T04:55:00.001-07:00

Happy First Day of Fall! I love fall. Colorful leaves, cool air, and festivities. I already got a pumpkin! October is always a busy month for my family. Both families have birthdays, all in the same week too. Of course, it's the same weekend as Gordon's wedding. He stole my ideal wedding weekend! I guess I can settle for earlier Oct, or November.

I bought a cat tree. Once assembled I'll be one step closer to getting myself a 2nd cat. Tony's rules! (?) He wants a black cat, he didn't think the cat I wanted was cool looking.... whatever... All white with blue eyes and airbrushed orange markings? pretty cool looking to me.

I bought a new pair of shoes this weekend and I think they are cute as hell. I'm wearing hem now! :D

BONES with Caesar Milan

2008-09-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Anyone watch Bones? I don't really watch it regularly, but I caught the second half of it because I saw Caesar Milan as the guest star playing himself. I thought his role was a little out there. His script was pretty ridiculous and I'm sure he felt it was too, but the focus of the episode was underground dog fighting, so I'm sure he didn't care that they made him look god-like with his powers of dog whispering. As long as the message got to people that in dog fighting the dog always loses, he probably did care what they wanted him to do. The end of the episode was so emotional, and for me, powerful. The main character said everything I would have said to the situation. I don't normally get teary eyed from tv but because of the topic I got a bit emotional.

I recommend seeing the episode. It's not just a story about a dog fighting, veterinary ethics come in, and convenience euthanasia. Topics that ruffle my feathers quite a bit. The episode is called "Finger in the Nest"

moon roof

2008-09-17T10:39:00.001-07:00

I just have to say it is such a nice day outside that I look forward to the end of the day where I can open my moon roof and let the wonderful fresh air blow in. If I had a hammock here at work, I'd be napping in it right now.

100

2008-09-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

hehehehehehehehe

Comics

2008-09-10T04:31:00.000-07:00

Two posts in a row! I found the following to be quite funny. When I get my tack board, I hope to print out all of my favorite ones and completely cover it.

I remember singing this song in 3rd grade. Now it's stuck in my head.Because a baby goat is called a.....

Just like when people order a triple pounder, super sized fries and a diet coke.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

2008-09-10T04:19:00.000-07:00

It might be a little early to say it is Fall, but the best season of best Starbucks drinks has finally arrived! I went in today to get just coffee and saw that the Pumpkin Spice latte was here! Leaves instantly changed colors and cool air started to blow. It was fall in my mind! For $3.80, about $2.60 more than my cup of coffee, I got a psychedelic trip in to a wonderland of fall colors!

I can't wait for winter, peppermint mocha!!

cold air=good Starbucks. Those that do- please give me gift cards now, not at the end of this wondrous season. THX!

Scion tC

2008-09-06T18:40:00.000-07:00

I bought it. The drive home was scary! dark, rainy, an a-hole almost killed me. But it is safe in the garage and this coming week my requested ad ons come in! weeeeeeeee!

Automobiles

2008-09-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

I have been car shopping for the last few days. I'm in a rush because I went to Carmaxx. I was not aware that if you do not come back in 7 days your original deal is not only no longer valid and the car needs to be reassessed.... but they also knock 500-1000 off the original offer. Since they offered me a good deal on my car I'm now in a bug hurry. I've test driven:

Nissan Altima Coupe
Nissan Sentra
Mini Cooper
Toyota Solara
Scion tC
(later today) Honda civic

Last night I went to test drive the solara and took a peak at the scion sitting in the show room. It wasn't even in my interest but the car actually looked pretty cool. Last night I was almost dead set on it. Several issues come up with choosing the car for me. 1) the 2009 coupe comes with bluetooth and it VERY cool, but you have to get the upgraded leather coupe in order to get it. I hate leather seats so much more than I like the blue tooth. 2) The Sentra is nice but I's a very standard car. I am trying to make my first car purchase count, make it cool and make it last forever. 3)The mini cooper is cool a all hell. They only had one car available for me to test drive. the test drive was in no way an example of the car i would by. It was a $30k pimped out supercharged mini cooper, 0-60 in a snap. WAY FUN. But it will take 8 weeks for my cooper to come in. 4) The solara drives so smoothly, but I drove the v6 not the 4 cylinder that I would have purchased. It's also the biggest coupe I've ever seen. It's longer than the 4runner by I think 4 inches. So I've pretty much axed that car. 5) The scion is more fun than I thought. It is iPod friendly and comes standard on all scions. You can use the stereo to control the play settings on the iPod v.s using the iPod buttons. It is as customizable as the mini. However, it is still a "cheap" car. The show room car was $29K after all the alterations were done. mini is the same way only a mini is a BMW not a Toyota. German cars are hot. I'm going to test drive a civic later so I can have all my small cars covered. Though I don't think I'll consider it.

I don't know what what I'm doing. My bank has a sweet deal where they find me a car I want and get me a member discount for it. I asked them about the coupe (just to see if its worth it) and it so is. However they don't do it for minis b/c those cars are too customizable. I don't get dealer incentives and I don't see the car until it is delivered after paper work is done. Last night I was really sold on the scion. At lunch I was sold on the mini. Right now I'm waiting for Sound Solutions to open so I can ask them how difficult or "damaging" having blue tooth installed is. I know a speaker has to be placed and then there is the issue of buttons. I don't want to do anything that is going to really alter the car.

HALP.

Comics

2008-09-02T11:14:00.001-07:00

Farewell For Better or for Worse. This past Sunday was the last new strip, and like a sitcom or a soap, the author/creator wrapped up the storyline for each character and said she'll be revisiting older strips to try alternate endings.... we'll see how that goes.

These, however, were hilarious.

If only I could bus post grade school. You young'ins don't know how good you have it.

I watched the "then" cartoons as a kid and grew up to be a fine citizen. I think the internet is more worrisome than an impolite dinosaur.

If only... if only....

California 08

2008-08-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

I am back and sad that my trip was so short. I'm still working on getting pictures, but here is one (stolen from Sara) to keep up with the tradition of drinking my lawn. I am so California. :D

Google Maps

2008-08-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

I was checking out my weekend trip to CA and I found something interesting in the aerial view....

33.602206, -117.898866

Check it out!!! zoom to the max :D

CAKE

2008-08-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

Any Cake fans out there? They're going to be playing in Baltimore on Oct. 2nd....?

The madness of the -oodle

2008-08-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

an -oodle is a dog mixed with a poodle then renamed something other than what used to be known as a mutt. The phenomenon began about 5 years ago. At least that is when I first noticed people coming in with made up breeds of dog. "Hi! I'm here with my maltipoo!" ... "a what what?" Personally I can't stand it. All it does is encourage more back yard breeders to do what they do. Increase the over population of animals. It's a mutt. Two different breeds of dog that mate create MUTTS.
Go to the shelter they have them for much cheaper there, and you could save a dog from death row!

Anyways, this rant was sparked by a funny comic I read today :-)

Car woes

2008-08-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

I officially own my car now, after going back to the DMV. Except it wasn't without difficulty because I had to call my dad to come in be present. I can only hope that it made the DMV folk want to shat their pants when he came in all demonstrative and Mr. Dan-the-man like. They made me cry I was so frustrated with them!!!

Then on Sat I took my car in for it's 75k mile check. Then they came out and said "brake pads, rotors, steering fluid, and brake fluid all need to be replaced. That will be $1000". I paid for the oil change and left. I was talking about buying a new car this fall anyways, and I was going to put that off a little longer... but why spend that much for a car worth $4k if I'm going to sell it soon? At least I get to own my car for a little bit..... :-(

DMV

2008-08-08T07:19:00.001-07:00

I was so pissed off when I left the DMV this morning that I couldn't make a comprehensible sentence to explain to tony why I was so pissed. It's my car, all I want to do is put it in JUST my name. My dad doesn't want his name on it any more, he only co-signed the loan.... i paid it all and that has been paid off for almost two years. Every time I go to the DMV they tell me something different, or that I need to do this or that or I did this and that wrong. This time around, my title wasn't valid, it was void at some point b/c of something I can't remember the steam spewing form my head fuzzied the whole thing.

Tony just came home. He's gone now, but he came to make sure I wasn't destroying anything in my fit of rage, and to look at the paper work I had. It's all sorts of weird. It's got me wanting to sell my car now just to make it easier. Out of sight out of mind. Even though last night I was thinking my original plan of a new car this fall should be pushed another year...... I'm going to go watch ER for 2 hours while I wait for my dad to come over with garden tools. Pictures to come soon once it actually looks nice here :-)

Tax free weekend

2008-08-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

My birthday gift of a shopping spree amounted to more than I would have gotten had this weekend not been the tax free holiday. So I got about $300 worth of clothes for less!! Yay sales and yay no taxes. I love it! :D Thank you Tony! <3

This comic is for Tony.... hehehe (b/c he hates blogs)

Spelling

2008-07-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that I may have been spelling a word wrong for a long time and look like an idiot. But upon inspection... it's spelled two different ways.

How do you spell 'hurray'....'hooray'

Fine dining

2008-07-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

I could *head desk* at any moment that is how exhausted I feel.

Tony and I went to Sakoontra this weekend and it is now our new favorite Thai place... next to Thai Basil. Pra Ram Long Song is now my new dish. I could eat it every day. Satay in entree form :D. Their house dipping sauce for the spring rolls was also wonderful. The real seller was the mango sticky rice. Never had such good rice in my life. Their coconut cream sauce is amazing. As stuffed as we were Tony was ready to order more b/c it was that good. I thought he didn't like Sakoontra and when I asked him later, he couldn't remember why. Sticky rice wins!!

Twenty-Four

2008-07-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

Thank you Tony Carrillo for this perfect comic strip! ....To be posted annually.

PROMOTED!

2008-07-21T04:24:00.000-07:00

I got the raise! WHOO!!

Women

2008-07-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

It was a peeve of mine in college and I'm sure I've written it up before, but part two of this is my new material.

Many times when I'm in the ladies room I'll hear a girl come in talking on her cell phone, continue the conversation on the toilet, at the sink, and as she walks out the door. To me that is not something you do. "Can you excuse me for a second my stall is out of paper". Peeve two. Squatters. I know a lot of germaphobes won't sit on a public toilet. However, maybe if you aimed your pee in the middle -piddle in the middle and the seat will be neat- the seat wouldn't be so nasty. There is this great invention called seat covers. All public restrooms provide them. Use one of these and you won't have to squat over the toilet and piss all over it, thus ruining the sanity for the next person. Plus pissing on the seat then hinders the purpose of the seat cover due to moisture+tissue=ruined. Maybe it's just my building, and the people here piss where they please.

Starbucks has smoothies now. I went in this afternoon to get something to wake me up b/c I've been dragging all day. It looks like they are trying to complete with the smoothie places. I got a chocolate banana "thingy" as the barista called it. They must have just started today b/c she was clueless as to what it was. It was good! A whole banana, chocolate protein powder, milk, and an optional espresso shot. Only comes in grande, and the cup says "Vivanno". Without the green straw you wouldn't know it was Starbucks.

Moving is stressful. I just want to put everything away right now, but Tony wants to do it low and slow.....

And a big thank you to Maricel for free greenie samples! woot!!

Deaf

2008-07-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Moved

2008-07-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

We've spent most of our time opening all the boxes looking for one -thing- and then never finding it. As of 10:30pm last night we couldn't find the toaster. At least all of my clothes got unpacked before the end of yesterday. I'll be MIA again until I get my life organized.