packing!!!

why, oh why do I have so.much.crap?! I thot I could do a major purge and I did give a bunch of scrap supplies away, but I wasn't able to part with much else. wow! lots of attachment!

ok, I did trash those dried out markers and the cassette tapes from my days of teaching aerobics. and I thot about purging my videos and my paper scraps (yes, I save all pieces! its a disease, I tell ya!), but what if I need that one piece of purple and I got rid of it???

I'm so excited, Pamela took me over to the condo today to measure for my new fridge and dryer. in the kitchen, there's a corner cabinet with one of those spinning rack thingys so you have more space to store stuff (pots and pans). there aren't very many drawers however, so I'm gonna have to figure something out for my cooking utensils!

thanks to Robby, the dubins and the cute girl baristas (ok, the guys too!) at the Starbuxs near the office for saving me boxes! thanks to Kris for coming over on Saturday to help pack the kitchen!

my cuticles are wracked and my back is talking to me, but I accomplished a lot this weekend. hopefully, I won't stress as moving day gets closer!!!

p.s. I can't wait to...

put some socks on and go sliding across my shiny floors, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

(I'm not dancing in my underwear, however! yes, you guessed it! THAT is the reason why! ; .)

The Reveal

I snitched these pixs from the realty company's flier since I forgot to take my camera the last time I visited my condo! I get my keys in about 25 days! Not looking forward to purging, packing, and cleaning my current abode, but its a necessary evil I suppose. Out with the old, in with the new, whoohoo!!!

Still processing. Seems unbelievable! I now own my own piece of California.

Bedroom. Note the closet straight ahead to the left. That's for all my art/craft supplies.*

5 stairs to this room...At the landing on the left is the black & white floor tiled* washroom with the washer and dryer*, to the right is the bathroom.

Kitchen. Cherrywood*...yum! Travertine floor*. All new appliances (dishwasher!!!),
lighting, faucet.
Split sink* and garbage disposal*!!!

Living & Dining room, laminate flooring*, sliding glass door to the deck. That wall* ahead is the perfect spot for my flat screen tv. Ok, once I buy it! Later, maybe in a few years!!! LOL!

The walls are painted a light butterscotch, with crown molding*!

Garage* and a half!!! My Dad is already planning what he will store here! LOL!!!

There's also a pool and a spa, lots of trees, and lots of green. sigh : .)

(*Huge selling points for Linda, hee! : .)

Just call me the Happy Homeowner!!!

Tagged by the the Sweetest Cupcake!!!

Eight Things I Am Looking Forward To:

1) MOVING INTO MY NEW HOUSE! ETA...EOM!!
2) Summertime!
3) Visiting my Dad in Texas.
4) Running Disneyland Half Marathon in September.
5) Taking more art classes!
6) Watching the True Blood series (Netflix)
7) More ADVENTURES!!!
8) Season Premiers!

Eight Things I Did Yesterday:

1) Went to Starbuxs!!! (No one should be surprised!)
2) Had lunch with Gail, Estor & Kris.
3) Looked at these for living room wall decoration (flock of birds & collage tree...the baroque frames are cool too) because...
4) I SIGNED PAPERS FOR MY CONDO PURCHASE!!!
5) Chatted with Pamela.
5) Talked to Aldien & Karen on the phone.
6) FaceBooked.
7) Fell asleep on the couch!
8) Had a panic attack!!! (See #4)

Eight Things I Wish I Could Do:

1) Run further, faster!
2) Go back to Kauai.
3) Make really good wine.
4) Meet my soul mate & fall in love!
5) Make a living doing ART!
6) Know that I am enough.
7) Learn to speak French, Spanish, & Japanese
8) Live near my Dad.

Eight Shows I Watch:
((regularly? or have watched? how bout fav shows?))

1) Ghost Hunters
2) Paranormal State
3) Ghost Whisperer
4) Supernatural
5) A Haunting
(Do you see a theme here?!)
6) Bones
7) House
8) Ace of Cakes

Eight Bloggers I am Tagging:
Please play along!!! : .)

swoon!

adam lambert does TFF! omg!!! i have JUMPED on the AL bandwagon! (but definitely not the AI bandwagon!!! LOL!!!)

make!

megan-angel

this was maker faire weekend! talk about alternative. I'm sure you've never seen so many urban hippies and techno-nerds in one place.

fun, fun, fun!

I went with these cool kids!

mary & megan

cece, fi & scott

we saw:

flame throwing
rockets
metal sculpture
steampunk
fashion shows
striped tights and wristlets (how eighties!)
alternative crafts
multi-cultural fuds
coke fountains
a life-sized mouse trap
leggo cities
and mucho technology

what a day!

it was a good distraction from what was going on, on the other side of town! I put a bid on a condo! in the ensuing panic, where I regretted my decision and tried to talk myself out of such a commitment, the voice of reason pointed out that it was a good investment (what's my money doing anyway?), and I would have a place of my very own!

I'm already considering cool vinyl wall decor, bar stools, a new dining set (Ikea, of course!), and drapes, and rugs. its been so long since I allowed myself to imagine decorating a home. this place has granite counter tops, travertine flooring, all new brushed metal appliances, the cutest laundry room with a black and white checkered floor, a deck, crown moulding, wood floors, and best of all...a garage! tres exciting! pray that the realty company accepts my offer!!! if they do, I'll post photos!!!

for the week, all day "effective communication" training on monday and tuesday. I'm so looking forward to that, NOT! I think I'm already really good at blah, blah, blah! haha!

gotta get in some workouts, score keeping at the basketball tourney at work, lunch with Gail & Estor and hopefully finding out about the condo!

happy week y'all!!!

channeling my inner Sharmaine!

I love Sharmaine!!! I love her artistic style, her words, the pictures of her kids, her generosity.

I asked if I could have a copy of this photo she took, so I could scrap it, and she sent it to me right away!!! I don't know if I did it justice. this piece still feels like it needs something.

you can practice the masters, but you may not achieve the results. of course...I'm not Sharmaine, hee!!!

lyrics from Pearl Jam's Wishlist. ooooh Eddie! : .)

a lazy weekend so far. I ran yesterday, watched movies, ate lots, looked at condos. after looking at so many really grody places, everything I looked at yesterday was wonderful!!! I think I'm gonna put in a bid!!! yay!!!

today, the Red Wings are trouncing the Blackhawks. (it looks like it might be another Detroit/Pittsburgh match-up for the Stanley Cup!!! I am rooting for the Penguins. I think they were robbed by the Red Wings last year!!!) I hit the gym, Starbucks, did some grocery shopping (great deal on prawns!!! delectible mouthfuls of shrimp!) I have homework, and may work on some other layouts...time to rock it!

happy Sunday!

I just can't stand it!!

teeheeheehahagigglegigglesnort!!!



dude obviously watched A LOT of Mtv!!

be careful what you wish for!

last week I was daydreaming about wine tasting, but who wants to do that alone???

next thing I know, I receive an email from Gail asking if I'd like to go wine tasting with she and Corey.

it rocks when you get what you want!

we tasted a rosé, a chard, 2 different pinot noirs, and a wonderful blend called Montmartre. there was lunch too! enjoyed with the sunshine and the breeze, overlooking the Silicon Valley.

some pics...I forgot my camera, but who know that bright light would make all the difference in the quality of the shots using my cell phone!

The tasting room...Savannah-Chanelle Vineyard

ceiling lights

chardonnay vines

the house of the original owners and the picnic area

procrastinating now. maybe just trying to hang onto the after effects of such a lovely afternoon (thanks Gail & Corey!) instead of being responsible and doing my homework. ok, just procrastinating, lol!!!

be here now

playing around with paints again.


made this mini art card using my new Martha butterfly punch. yeah, I know, I need another punch like I need a hole in my head. but I had a coupon. 40% off, baby!!!

finally taking Dina's online class.

dina is my new favorite artist : .)

so far, learned new paint/texture techniques, a bit of collage, and some journaling tips. way fun!

I'm trying to stop hoarding and use some of my extensive stash of paper. for instance, this chocolate wrapper! its way cool, juicy colors and graphic make me happy! and gee, it has my name on it!!! just need to add journaling, which will include things I did the day I created the page. whee!


notes on the last post, the squirrel vid...awhile ago, my Dad's neighbor Mr. Weaver brought his bebe son over, excited to share the fact that son could say his name. "say your name, say your name," Mr. Weaver repeats. my Dad says, "hey squirrel" which is what he called everyone, and Darrin says "hey SQUIRM!" (he had/has a bit of a hearing problem.) so, its been squirm ever since! hee!!! laughing. giggle, giggle! Mr. Weaver was quite frustrated. indubitably!

squirm!

Proof that if you try hard and have a little help from your friends, you can accomplish anything!



Thanks Caity! Via YouTube.

should, should, should, should, should

This piece was supposed to be about relinquishing the shoulds.

It really looks like I'm depicting the bride of shoulds instead - barbed wire tiara, tangled should bouquet and all. A marriage made in hedoublehockeysticks! (Kinda like my last one! haha!!!)

Its Sunday evening.

I sit here contemplating some more shoulds.

I should dust my room.
I should cook dinner.
I should get this crap out of my living room.
I should eat healthier.
I should fill out those new mortgage forms.
I should go running.
I should pay some bills.
I should watch that netflix movie.
I should do more art!
I should stop buying craft supplies!
I should pack up that stuff for Suzie-Q.

The list goes on...

I should do some more work on my shoulds. LOL!!!

I did complete a piece in honor of National Scrapbook Day (which was Saturday)...

Scrapped my fav pix of eeebie jeebie. Julie (a bloggy pal from SiStv) sent me the placemat so I could scraplift her piece. I had fun playing with cork and painting the dragonflies.

I used to visit the Cooke-Willis' after exercise. Ian loved my aerobics shoes, would waddle over, put 'em on and walk around the house. He also loved this one particular tie dyed leotard I had. He'd lift the edge of my shirt and check to see if I was wearing it and say "I lay on your stommy?" Then we'd get on the floor and he'd lay across my stomach. I know, I never figured out why he was so fascinated with that leotard! The color, the sweatiness? Maybe it was just the bonding!

I do miss that little pot belly and those sweet curls!!! He's way too big to lay across my stomach now, LOL!

ok.

Other stuff this weekend??? Pretty boring and lame, so I'll spare you the agony and not list it all here! I've been hanging around the house. (Avoiding large, germy crowds and bacteria laden gym equipment. Don't want to get H1N1 Influenza.) Watched lots of gud movies and hockey!

Looking forward to another art class, volunteer project at Second Harvest fud bank, running amok, and maybe some more art. I might even be able to delete some more shoulds ; .)

oh wow!

You could win this gorgeous kit!!!

Go here until May 1st and check out this wonderful new kit club!!!

(I made it there via Amy's blog!)

Doncha just love giveaways?! I know I do!!!

Run Linda Run!!!

This is the view I will be enjoying bright and early tomorrow morning. Its time again for the Santa Cruz Half Marathon! Wheeee!!! I anticipate an easy run, me and Eddie V. and his soul wrenching voice, enjoying Cali's gorgeous weather. I only hope it doesn't get too hot b/4 the end of the race, the temp. is expected to be in the 80's manana.

I didn't go look at houses today. I did a couple of drive bys yesterday, but didn't see anything worth dragging my Realtor to. I'm kinda burnt out. This house hunting thing is like dating. You go "date" all these houses, you get all excited about the prospect, and then the reality sets in and there's just something wrong with all of them. sigh. LOL!!!

So, with all my free time today, I did some creating. That was such a great feeling. Btwn training for the race and my art classes, I haven't been motivated to produce anything. I had this idea knocking around in my head to make my own floral embellishments. My original idea didn't pan out, but I did finish these two pieces, the first one using the hand-made flowers...They're punched out of stamped paper, stippled and edged with ink, then small flowers layered over the larger and stitched.

Me & the Sistor, circa 1969.

This second piece, I used a template made from the punched paper and stippled and stamped the flowers to make the background. I stamped and inked the butterflies and did some stitching on the paper with dark green jute.

Me & Nancy at her parent's 50th wedding anniversary party in Oregon 2007.

You can click on the pixs to see the detail.

Post race tomorrow...Dinner at the Andrews, a belated Easter celebration. I sure hope we're not having lamb, ewwww...

Then I am sure I am gonna crash!

oh, and 5 good things...

1) the kindness of Julie/BMWgirl at SiStv.
2) txt from Sean, who was with the family @ the Happiest Place on Earth.
3) my DYSON! who woulda thunk I could LoVe a vacuum cleaner!
4) Kath
5) 47 ppb exhaled Nitric Oxide (instead of 190!)

bootie is bootie

OMG!!!

I LOVE THIS!!!

moving on...

this asthma can just bite me.

9 miles!!! whee!!!

redirection

first there was the sneezing.

then some itching.

then there was the wheezing.

and trouble breathing.

on thursday, I went to that allergy and asthma specialist.

and aside from continuing to be allergic to dust mites, cat dander, and every grass and tree pollen in the santa clara valley,
(I got retested)

I had a 190 ppb measurement of exhaled nitric oxide, which means I have really bad asthma.
(a "normal" measurement is less than 20 ppb.)

no joke.

I know...how is it that I have asthma and can run???

evidently, I've had it my entire life and my body had compensated.

so, that means 2 inhalers, and allergy shots twice a week.

I bot a dyson b/c I need to vacuum every week,

and I should wash sheets and comfortor every two weeks.

(domestic goddess is not on my resume, I haven't kept this schedule b/4 now.)

a total culture change.

the dyson is pretty cool, tho' as far as vacuum cleaner technology is concerned.

I should be done processing this in about 2 weeks.

and then maybe I can get over being dramatic about what's happening to me...AGAIN!!!

yeah.

sunshine on my shoulders, makes me happeeee!

This picture has nothing to do with this post, but how cute is this Mickey Mouse Gnome?! Yeah, you have a smile on your face, admit it!!! LOL!!!

This reminds me that I still haven't posted any pixs of the Happiest Birthday on Earth! I'll just add it to the list of "Things to Do!" Its a looooong list!!! eee!!!

I'm so excited that its "spring break." I finished my class and am anxiously (ok, not really) awaiting my grade. I've decided that I don't like online classes much, the experience left me missing interaction with the instructor and classmates. I was going to take the quarter off, but I signed up for Color! An entire class about the fundamentals of color and their application! whee!!! Try to contain your excitement!

Sitting here enjoying a London Fog, contemplating the rest of my day, all this time for ME!!! I've already been to the gym instead of running. Been having issues with my breathing, allergy related, I'm sure, so I'm trying to avoid the outdoors as the wheezing is way too intense during my training. Horrible timing. I just signed up for the Santa Cruz Half Marathon. I waited until past the halfway point in the training schedule to make sure my back would take the added mileage, and low and behold, I think I have exercise induced asthma. (sigh.) The appointment with the asthma specialist won't come soon enough, I've missed two longer runs (6 and 8 miles) 'cause I've been worried about my breathing and other workouts b/c I'm not dealing well with another setback.

Tomorrow, I'll be out and about with the realtor looking at houses. (I didn't mention I was house hunting did I?) Got my pre-approval! Been out a couple of times looking at properties already, but practicing non-attachment. I'm still certain I am too immature and not responsible enough for such a big commitment, but so far, this has been a great learning experience!

Signing off with my 6 good things... I've been slacking on my lists again...

1) Seeing my Linda and a visit from my Sean!
2) A hug from D!
3) Keeping score at the 3 on 3 Basketball tourney at work (LOL! I really know nothing about basketball!) So much fun to watch!
4) Sunshine
5) Subversive cross stitch, hee!!!
6) Twilight on DVD, I've already watched it 4X's!!! swoon!

Swell Tape

you read me! TAPE!!!

decorative packing tape! swoon!!!

oh, come to me my pretty!

I want!!!

check it out!

spring cleaning?

its time for the annual spring clean-up in these here parts.

I call it time to re-decorate your house early american garage sale style.

I am always amazed at the sheer amount of CRAP that ends up piled up on the streets of our fair city. you are allowed to put anything out (yard waste, broken furniture, old bbqs, drywall, office supplies, fish tanks, stuffed toys...you get the picture!), except hazardous waste, explosives, and ammunition (b/c we all have a stockpile of bombs, bullets and dynamite in our garages!) for disposal and the city brings front loaders and huge trucks to haul away your no longer wanted junk. (of course, we pay for this service via our electric bill.)

I am also amazed at the huge piles in front of the same houses year after year. where do they keep all of that stuff? you'd think that after one year, their pile would be smaller. maybe they invite their friends and family to dump their unwanteds too!

the annoying thing about this "event" is everyone and their brother, aunt, uncle, sister, and pregnant cousin of the drummer of Def Leppard scavenges the piles. they drive slowly along the streets, holding the rest of us up, darting in and out of the road. they must lose their heads in the excitement of the find!!! jerks. makes running difficult. why anyone wants OPJ (other people's junk) is beyond me. I like a deal too, but I don't want someone else's icky cast offs! I guess that's just me! I'm thinking tho' if you were in college, what a perfect way to decorate that frat or sorority house. then again, I live right by Santa Clara University. I bet the student's parents pay for feng shui decorators and would be aghast at early american garage sale.

anyway, I was gonna take some of my own photos of junk for your viewing pleasure, but this pix is much more entertaining.

image by Geoff Kirk-Smith, animator.

the best little eugoogalizer ~ IM with Kath

Part of the humor here lies in the delay in response...

KL: did D or I tell you about the memorial service he's holding for his virtual monkey?

LP: nooooo.

LP: omg

LP: hysterical

KL: omg - it is sooooo funny.

KL: So, he bought a monkey on maple story for $5 (plus an elvis wig for the monkey to wear).

KL: followed him around in Maple Story, but would expire after 3 months.

KL: Well, it expires next week.

LP: $5 for a VIRTUAL monkey? wth?!

LP: so he's planning a memorial b/4 it happens?!

LP: too funny!

KL: so, on his own, he invited all his little friends to a memorial service for his monkey.

LP: lol

KL: i know - isn't that a rip off!

LP: still laughing!

KL: Anyway, he already told me what he's going to say - a eulogy.

KL: “Here lies my monkey. If he had lived, I would have named him Phil.”

LP: a "eu ghoul a gee!"

LP: phil!

LP: lol

LP: snorting

KL: “He was a good monkey. He always peed with I told him to.”

LP: teeheeheehahahagigglegigglesnort!

KL: I know!!

LP: lol

KL: sorry to make you snort!

KL: Oh, I was dying when he told me

KL: trying to keep a straight face cuz he was sooo serious.

LP: crying now.

KL: he invited some kid in australia that he plays with on-line and a friend from school

KL: Bob asked if you could make the monkey throw poop and D said unfortunately no, but that would be soooo cool.

KL: I guess you could send it outside to pee

KL: oh, deep breath!

LP: OMG!!! practically "peeing" my pants!

LP: they already think I'm strange around here!

KL: I know - I had to turn away from him as I was driving - thought I'd crash into a parked car!

LP: I've seen the gorillas at the San Diego Zoo throw poop! Oh, the wild animal park

KL: I know!

LP: these orangutans were having sex the last time.

KL: you think a virtual monkey would too!

KL: for 5 bucks at least

LP: have sex?

KL: rotfl!

LP: for $5 bucks

KL: the oldest monkey profession.

LP: that's cheap!

KL: besides turning an organ crank.

LP: lololol...aaaahhhhh, hee hee hee!!!

KL: oh - that didn't come out right

We dissolved into hysterics after I called Kath on the phone and I told her this story!!!

Laughter is Awesome!!!

~ photo from How To blog

I'm just not that into you

i went to see the movie today. save your $8.75 matinee ticket price. it was a bit insipid. o.k. it was a lot insipid.

what else?

march is a family birthday month. my cousin erik, me, my aunt ginny (erik's mom), and my mom have birthdays the 1st thru the 4th. I also share my march 2 b-day with jay osmond, jon bon jovi (swoon!), and dr. seuss. what's weirder is that my dad and his old neighbor mr. weaver, share a birthday, and my sistor and mr. weaver's son share a birthday.

have you heard that theory that people die near their b-days? my mom died march 27. my good friend loretta was born and died in august.

thinking of mom made me go looking for pictures and i found this reprint (click on the photo to see it bigger). that's my mom on the left. i think she's 14 or 15 in this photo. the woman who is second from the right is my aunt machiko, who along with mom's oldest brother, uncle mitsuroku, raised my mom. a. machiko and u. mitsuroku are both still living. i have no idea how old they are...in their 80's at least!


more trippin'd own memory lane...recently, my 2nd grade bff found me on facebook. soooo ironic, for the past 10 years, she's been living in the town i (mostly) grew up in. i had no idea.

another friend from high school also found me on fb. jim and i hung out together, but wouldn't see each other for awhile. then, i would think of him, and in a day or two, the phone would ring, and it would be him. jim and i went to his grad night at disneyland in 1983. for some reason, i have his graduation pixs. i had been saving them all this time, in case i ever saw or heard from him again. last week, i was thinking of jim, and lo and behold, he sent me a msg on fb.

in the past, i didn't have a kind word for social networking, but i'm happy to be reconnected with these friends.

this weekend, i must do my taxes (i flaked last week), finish homework for my art class, run 7 miles, go to step class, eat some cupcakes, watch another movie, do some other art. but let's be realistic...i might finish my taxes and homework. and its certain that i'll eat a form of junk fud.

i'm invited to saturday dinner at the yees, so i get to hug my "little" sis, tease brother alex, and eat really good fuds cooked by gail and corey! i can't wait.

oh, you should check this out...hysterical!

korean happy cow audition

this one too...do you wanna marry a cow?

and this one!

ok, last one

teeheeheehahagigglegigglesnort!!!

good cheese comes from happy cows!

the aftermath

nuf' said!

rnrgrrl's wish

I know, I should post the pixs of the Happiest Birthday on Earth, but I was working on homework today (the assignment is to use the golden ratio) and I just had to post what I came up with for composition class. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out!

I'm still holding on to the hope that I can train for and run Disneyworld Marathon 2010. Third time's the charm, right?! (I've signed up for and paid for the race twice already and have not been able to go to DW and run!) This wish presented the subject matter for my piece.

I was inspired by the work of Dina Wakley, who's online Art Journaling 101 class, I hope to take in the near future. She does gorgeous textured, painty, and layered work.

Aahhhh, I so love it when the vision in my head translates itself to paper! : .)

Happiest Birthday on Earth!!!

happy birthday to me,

happy birthday to me,
happy birthday dear phinner
happy birthday to me!!!

Shan and I are off to celebrate at Disneyland!!
teeheeheehahahagigglegigglesnort!
ya just gotta love it!!!
: .)

home again, home again jiggity-jig!

I'm back from Sac!

I already miss my friends!

These boys! They are soooo grown up!!! That's my kid Eeebee Jeebee (Ian) on the left. He's really Karen's (youngest), but while she was pregnant, I teased her that since she already had three, he should be mine : .) Connor is on the right.

Karen's the BFF. I've know her since her oldest Trevor was a speck. Over 21 years now. She was my rec aerobics instructor in college. I introduced myself to her in our biology class. She hasn't been able to get rid of me since! haha! There's also Sis (Amanda), the world's most beautiful girl!

It was a busy, high energy weekend...driving all over Sac, Starbucks runs for me of course (Karen goes to the local coffee shop!), Connor's HS baseball game, Ian's indoor soccer game, walking the dog, some shopping, book club where there was scintillating conversation and a discussion of the current book they read, The German Boy, used book store, carting kids, lunch with Roger (Facebook, remember?), freezing, sneezing, and wheezing. (Karen has cats!), dinner at Applebees. We talked again about me moving up there. I told her if she could find me a job, I'd be there in a second!!!

Altho' the weekend was a little too busy for my tastes, after all, I spend most of my free time on the floor in my living room, I miss that woman and certainly those kids, and a weekend is never enough time to get in everything we want to do!

Trying to get myself motivated for the work week, but there's more excitement to look forward to! The birthday trip to DISNEYLAND in T minus 6 days!!! lalalalalala!!! whee!!! Anticipation building!

road trippin'!

do you sometimes feel like you are recycling your post titles???

I've been remiss in my posting. lacking motivation and subject matter, but I've actually done something fun recently, so I thot I'd pay a visit to the ole bloggity.

my Dad was in So. Cal this weekend, and I decided to wander down yonder to visit with him and hang in the old 'hood. the trip was ... exhausting. you would think that cities with 7-9 lanes of freeway wouldn't have traffic, but first hand experience states otherwise. the typical 7-8 hour trip took 11.5 hours. president's weekend traffic? inclement weather? whatever it was, I sat in 30 mile per hour traffic for 3.5 hours. to travel 73 miles. sigh. next time I'm flying!

the trip back ... 6 hours and 10 minutes, go figure! glad I came back on Sunday. the main artery btwn Northern and Southern California was closed yesterday (Monday) due to snow on the pass. I would have been stuck for probably more than 11.5 hours freezing my tushy off, wondering if I'd ever get home!

anywhoo...my old neighbors the Weavers let make use of their guest room and I got to spend time with this gorgeous young woman.

I've known Kiley since she was a glimmer in her parents eyes and she's grown into such a cool person! we talked about: politics, human nature, world travel, cooking, nutrition, photography, life plans, moving out, buying houses. great conversations! we went wogging, we went to Starbucks, to Target, to the scrapbook store, grocery shopping. it.was.so.relaxing.and so.much.fun to be with her! (and please, just ignore my googly-eyed stare!)

as for Pops, I helped him clear out his storage...ok, not really, haha! we chatted, I bot him lunch, and we just occupied the same space. that was really nice too.

such a gud weekend!

I'm off to Sacramento this Friday, to visit the BFF and have lunch with an old high school classmate who found me on FaceBook. I'm kinda excited!

oh, and then for my 29th (for the 16th time : .) birthday the following weekend/week, I'm off to DISNEYLAND!!! whee!!! Shan and I have reservations at Bleu Bayou for a celebratory dinner and she bot tickets for premiere seating and dessert for Fantasmic. eii! I can't wait!!!

I hope all is well in your world!!!

Go BANANAS!!!

Ya all know how much I like ice hockey, right?! Well, the NHL All Star game is on right now, and while the actual game is boring, I'm digging on the commercials...



Still ROTFLOL!!! teeheeheehahahagigglegigglesnort! oh, oh, oh!!!

I don't really hate bowheads, uh I mean cheerleaders, but ohmygosh!

My very own sistor was a cheerleader in high school!

Whoops!

I wasn't supposed to let that slip!!!

No worries, she doesn't read my blog anyway...ahahaha!!!

(There is no psychology, nor wishful thinking going on here, NONE I say! LOLOL!)

Slumdog Millionaire...Go see it!!! awesome!!!

Oh, and most of you already know...Dr. B (my gyne) gave me the all clear and he'll see me next year, YAY!!!

procrastination is my middle name

sitting here contemplating some TTV photography, but there are all these instructions for building the contraption so you can shoot photos with your digital camera thru the Dualflex, so I am not motivated. don't wanna think that hard...pathetic huh? I am so LAZY!!! I think I need to talk to the Cupcake, so she can 'splain it to me, LOL!!!

ok, now its 4 hours later and I haven't accomplished anything else except posting daily cards at a skosh more...oh and watching a marathon of sorts of Paranormal State, new episode tonite!!! the obsession continues! LOL!!!

I haven't had much to say lately, hence no posting, but I have had a ton of happy experiences, so that's what you're gonna get today.

1) my violet bloomed! did I mention that previously? I don't usually make things bloom, quite the opposite, altho' I continue to try to grow green things.

2) I spent an evening with the Pixie Girl and her bro (building Starwars Legos). she was hanging in the dark hallway outside bro's room, b/c she obviously knew she wasn't welcome. she kept bringing books by and showing me the pages and pointing out characters. later in the evening, she came inside the door and leaned against the wall with her piggy and sucking on her two fingers. again, cause she knew she wasn't welcome there. she's such a smartie, I saw the cogs going and she walks 1/2 way into the room, picks up one of the lego pieces and walks forward and hands it to me. next thing I know, there's this tiny bum sitting on my knee. all the while, bro is yelling at her to get out of his room and I keep saying, "she's not doing anything, its okay if she hangs out with us." then, with a little wiggle, I had the cutest girl sitting in my lap! ooooh, I just love that story! LOL!!! oh, and I think I deserve an engineering degree b/c heck, it takes a lot of brainpower to build modern Lego structures!

3) had an enjoyable dinner with the Kunimotos. oiishi-des!!! Donna is the best cook! marinated chicken, kahlua pork, rice, and pasta salad. mini bits of cake, and sugar cookies I made for D's daughter. oh yum!!!

4) ran 5 miles, took 2 cycle classes, elliptical, and rode bikes with the boys at lunch last week, whee!!!

5) tea and chat with Jack.

6) bot a new external hard drive to back up my computer.

7) phone calls from my Linda and Karen, the bff.

8) lunch date with (the other) my Linda, quality time spent!

9) Dr. Steve said I should go ahead and start the Linda P. Intuitive 1/2 Marathon Training Program in preparation for Santa Cruz 1/2 m in April. keep your fingers crossed that there won't be any deterrents to my training.*

I know there's more, I just can't remember right now.

oh, a kinda weird event...I opened an account on Facebook 'cause the running/biking boys asked me to and people from my past have found me. people that I'm not sure I necessarily want to know in the present. hum...trying to figure out how I feel abt this. v. weird.

now that I think about it, another weird thing. did you know bouillon cubes in Spanish cost less than bouillon cubes in English? I wonder why that is??? they're the very same thing.

*I'm supposed to get the results from my doc on Wed. or Thurs. so I'll finally know whether I have no or easily resolved female related worries or I have to prepare to fight the big "C."

want to contemplate why we have this day off (Dr. King and civil rights activism, especially b/c of recent events on an Oakland train platform) and cook dinner. easy peasy evening.

Faux Buxs

In my ongoing efforts to reduce my expenses (read: break my daily Starbucks addiction) and to reduce my carbon footprint (because I don't like the idea of contributing to landfills with all those paper cups and lids), I've been experimenting at home with recipes for chai and tea lattes.

So far I've had no success with the tea lattes, today however, I think I've hit on a decent replacement for SBuxs chai lattes. They don't taste exactly the same, but they're a reasonable facsimile.

To make a 16 oz. drink...

Brew the tea, using 2 tea bags and a cup of water
(You probably could get away with 1 tea bag)
Heat 1 cup of milk to boiling
Mix the two together
Add 1 oz. vanilla syrup

Viola, Faux Buxs Chai Latte! Does the success give me an excuse to buy this? hee!!!

I suppose you could make this with sugar-free syrup if you like, but I prefer real sugar over chemically broken sugar.




Other excitement...Here are pixs of the cards I made for the LOVE ATC swap over at SIStv. Gorgeous staging, if I do say so myself!!! LOL!!!

I'm feeling a bit passive-aggressive about the swap because I've sent the swap hostess two emails asking for information for mailing the cards to her and have not received a response. Now, I'm not interested in mailing the cards at all, but unfortunately, that wouldn't affect her much. The 35 other individuals in the swap wouldn't get a fair trade for their hard work however. So, I asked for help from the other participants instead. I made sure I pointed out in my posting on the SiStv message board that the swap hostess isn't responding to me.

Yeah, I'm being a brat!

Been dragging my heels today, I have homework and I can't seem to get started. I've found so many other more fun distractions to engage in...packing my X-mas ornaments, dusting, doing laundry, picking lint off the floor. Ooooh, Eddie's tanks needs to be cleaned too!!!

Five good things for today:

1) Early am email from Ragged!
2) This youtube video as seen on grrl + dog's blog generating the best gut chuckles! (Sorry, dark humor!)
3) Faux Starbuxs Chai Lattes!
4) Kinesiotape!
5) Mineral make-up!

Happy Sunday!

word

I'm typically a fan of words

words like

propinquity
ubiquitous
omphaloskepsis

today I heard some words that I didn't like so much

polyp
endometrial biopsy
pre-cancerous hyperplasia
endometrial caNCER
uterine CANCER

how about

FUCK

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I came across this post, this morning...

10 year olds in my brain b/c I've been thinking about this exact same thing. or...maybe its that satellite that circles the earth, reading minds, then beaming the same thots in our collective heads for a mass resolution...

anyway, your thots on the subject???

Diving for Pearls, January 4, 2009.

Happy Sunday!

New Year's Aspirations

on the 31st, I flipped through this book to find a jumping off point for my journaling that day. for January 1, Sarah Ban Breathnach made mention of listing your "aspirations" instead of resolutions. I really liked the idea of aspirations because how many times have I not kept up with my resolutions? I don't want to be resolved to complete this list, being resolved feels to me like you have no control. I aspire to complete the list, and...

1) reduce my carbon footprint.
2) embrace change, seek solutions, and make improvements in mind, body, spirit.
3) be present...stop dwelling in the past and focusing on a future that cannot be determined.
4) plan and execute an adventure. I'm looking (again) at vacationing in southern AZ or UT and TX.
5) constantly be aware of, and re-write negative inner dialog.
6) meditate.
7) do daily morning pages in my journal.
8) stop using so many commas, hee!

oh, and maintain my "5 good things for today" : .)

other than thinking a lot, guess what else I've been doing?! art (no surprise!), wrangling with PMS, hittin' Starbucks (try the London Fog Tea latte, yummm!!! I'm in heaven!) & journaling, meditating (practice makes perfect, right?!), running errands, planning trades (Ragged, I finally know what I'm gonna make you!), calling & chatting with friends, exercising (75 minutes of step class yesterday, YES! Go Sue!!!), taking lots of photos, and eating.

oh, Paul and I had fun in the city on Monday. since it took 30 minutes to drive a half a mile to find parking, which we didn't, we decided to go eat lunch and then journey to Ghiradelli Square for sundaes. to burn the calories, we also hiked to Pier 39, enjoyed the sunshine and the barking sea lions. Paul was a good sport, posing for multiple photographs! I spent Tuesday with the x-sis-in-law petting the dog, scrapping, eating, and watching movies. Wednesday is a blur at this point, oh New Year's Eve...cooking and couching. On Thursday after the workout, I spent a lovely hour with Sue, chatting and having tea, a much enjoyed interlude.

as for art...I finished the rest of the pages from my December Daily album (25 days of X-mas album).

in the month of December, I spent 3 hours a week at the chiropractor's office. it felt like I was there every day! dr. Andre's office manager decorated with these gorgeous, glittery mini poinsettias.

on the 14th, I contemplated making cookies, so I got out some supplies to inspire me.

recorded the day with mme. cupcake! sweet!!!

actually baked the cookies!!! mrs. Woodard's fabulous recipe is in the background, let me know if you want it.


yes, that is a Starbuxs java jacket! cute, yeah?


this is the x-mas card I rcv'd from the boss and a pix of the poinsettia she gave me & the co-workers.


peace, love & reindeer! an example of one of the three types of cards I made and mailed this year!!! LOL!


the day I got my good little car back!!! oh, I was soooo happy!!!


goofy self-portraits from x-mas day! embracing the holidaze!


I was inspired by Jann Saulsberry, whom I met online at SiStv to re-start doing daily (atc) cards...I have no idea how long I can keep it up. also, because I wanna be just like the cool kids, I picked a word to focus on this year, optimism and included it on the first card. can I live up to the word, I dunno? I still can't decide if it should be optimism, or optimistic. I have optimism, or I am optimistic??? hummm...


finally, a little emotive art (click on the pix to see the detail). I love that anatomical heart. and the swirls. and the stitching. and the red. very much : .)

the belly is yelling, "feed me!" so I think I'll get to cooking dinner! I'll leave you with my 5 good things for today...

1) quiet, thotful moments
2) London Fog tea lattes
3) a Facebook message from a high school classmate
4) rain, altho' we need much more
5) optimism : .)