There is no better Friday than when I know I get to go to dinner and drinks with Erin. Dinner/drink nights with Erin have made me the happiest girl in the world for the last six months. OOH, and I might even get eggs in the morning!!!

Yes, I am the luckiest girl in the world. I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Today I went to my Speaker training for Cinequest, and now I'm super excited for the festival to start AND wondering if I will actually get through it all. Working 6 hours a day and then introducing an average of two films each night plus Q&A, PLUS taking notes to write the reviews when I get home. I have 40+ hours scheduled just for working Cinequest, not counting the extra movies I'll be seeing as an audience member. YIKES! The good news is I was blessed with another press pass that I am forever grateful for. In return, I review the films and post interviews with the filmmakers over at CQ Central. You should go visit it.

Erin took me on a super fun bike ride Sunday morning. She got me farther up the hills than I have ever been and I only stopped once. It makes me happy! I'm getting better at flying back down the hills, but the most fun is going up them. It was both fun and funny, I thought, with us both decked out in our bike kits riding with each other. Sometimes next to each other talking and laughing, sometimes with her behind me while I shielded her from the wind. I just want to ride my bike all the time now and I WISH IT WASN'T RAINING HERE now. BOO.

Cinequest starts Tuesday so if you want to hear from me you might need to head over to CQ Central and also Metblogs if you want to read what I have to say. I'll miss my bicycle, my diet, and Erin, but I'll be busy and happy watching film.

Good things that have happened today:

I have all clean clothes now.
I am just under 190 today.
My best friend is the best friend ever.
My kitties love to sit by me.
I get to stay home and do my work while watching crappy TV shows.
I have a ton of good food in the kitchen.

That's a lot of good things. I just needed to list them out. I was headed over the edge earlier, but I think I'm going to be okay after all.

So I got my bike in a day long shopping spree that makes me exhausted just thinking about it. Erin and friends at Concept Cyclery definitely set me up. I got a beautiful Twin 6 bike kit, a new Orbea Aqua bike fitted perfectly to my own body, new Speedplay pedals, new bike shoes, gel gloves, cute socks and numerous other accessories. I'm like a real cyclist now!

BUT, it was exhausting.

So this morning Erin rode over and we went out on our bikes. Oh, first I went out and practiced getting my shoes in and out of those damn pedals and it was pretty much just as insane as I had anticipated. But there was no way I was going to fall over in front of Erin, so I practiced and practiced.

Not really enough, because things didn't go quite so well with Erin. But mostly okay. :)
So we went on our ride, and the first thing I've noticed is that this bike is so much FASTER than my poor mountain bike. I weighs about 20 pounds less too I think, but there is a definite difference in speed. I could mostly keep up with Erin this time although my heart rate was going through the roof on some of our climbs and I wasn't comfortable enough on downhills to not brake the entire time. Oops.

But overall I loved the bike, actually I LOVED the bike. I love my kit and my gloves and my bike and my crazy bike-riding friend. We rode 15 miles of up and down hills and she says that she wasn't going slow for me, but she did have to stop for me to catch my breath at least once. But I'll get better at that. What made me happy was my legs weren't hurting at all and I had a fantastic workout, and I just need to practice a lot more with those pedals.

Then we drove to Gordon Biersch for a big lunch and some rewarding Bloody Marys. It was a very, very nice lunch, though I think we were both pretty tired. But lots and lots of laughter.

We went home and I eventually crashed into a nap on the couch. Now I'm up and all my muscles are aching, but I took some Advil and we'll see how I feel in the morning.

I can't wait to get back in the saddle, and I can't wait until our next ride together. I just want to be as good as she is, and be able to ride and ride and ride. With no fear.

HAPPY

I'm going riding on my brand new bike with all my brand new gear!
SEE?

Today I'm going to Concept Cyclery to get a road bike. I don't know what brand yet, just that it's going to cost a lot of money. Haven't made a big purchase for myself in a long time, and this will probably be the last in a long time, but it will be good for me in the long run. I can't continue with triathlons with my big mountain bike! If this bike could help me take 10 minutes off my time in the Mermaid Triathlon I would be really happy, but I was planning on taking 10 minutes off even without a new bike... so hopefully I'll be even faster! And the triathlon in June will definitely require a road bike.

I never really thought about paying this much for a bicycle before, but I never really spent much effort on the bike either. I'd say it's definitely my weakest leg, but maybe that's because I didn't have the road bike. It's the only leg that requires actual equipment.

And Erin promised we'll ride more together once I get it, starting tomorrow. While I always feel terrible that I'm so slow compared to her, maybe the bike will help me keep up with her. She's been doing great with her swim workouts, which she hates, and I am SOOO proud of her. She inspires me, and I know I inspire her too. We might get into a lot of trouble together, and I know I don't always encourage her to make the right choices, but in some ways we are really good for each other. I never dreamed I'd find someone who was as competitive as I am but who I wouldn't want to kill. Somehow we push the right buttons with each other, and that's not easy dealing with someone like me.

On the other hand, in the last six months I haven't been the irritable bitch I used to be. So something must be going right.

So it's Super Bowl Sunday and, like any other year, I really couldn't care less. In the past it meant that Scott and I could go to the Red Apple Cafe and it would be empty, but today it just meant that the grocery store was packed when I went to go buy some fish.

Tried to muster up some interest in it, but I have none, and probably partly due to a cold that is definitely getting the better of me, although Airborne has so far stopped it from going further. At the moment. I'm not averse to a Super Bowl party, well mostly, and if there were someone here who cared I'd cheer along. But there's not, so I'm not. Ok, I'm secretly cheering for the Saints because Erin told me to, but... meh. But Erin is home watching the game and doing her work, and I'm here fighting a cold and reading (TV is off)...

Which makes me happy because I'm re-reading The Penelopiad and remembering what an AWESOME book this is. It's one of those books that is so great you just feel like you're in love with it. And I am, I am in love with this book. Margaret Atwood can write some crap sometimes, but Handmaid's Tale and The Penelopiad will forever make her The Greatest as far as I'm concerned.

I'm supposed to be reading Flatland, by Edwin Abbott, but I printed it out from the computer and left it on the couch and THE DAMN CAT PEED ON IT, AGAIN. So instead of printing another copy, I'm taking some literary medicine in the form of The Penelopiad.

I realize this entry is all about "I'm sick," "I hate/am apathetic towards the SuperBowl," and "F***ing cat!" but still, all in all, I'm pretty happy, so that's the category this entry is listed under. On Friday I went to dinner with Erin, and we didn't have that much to drink, but somehow the combination of types of drinks we had was pretty deadly. Well, not deadly enough to prevent a couple hours of fun before we crashed in bed, but I felt very lucky to not feel any worse than slightly tired and cranky the next day. Then she made me a lovely dinner Saturday evening and we had a nice quiet time at home. Today, I am sick. We must pay for our happiness sometimes, I guess.

So drinking tea, reading my book, listening to the cat snore, and just hoping that I'm not really sick tomorrow. That is my update, that's all there is for now.

My toenails have the very prettiest orangey polish on right now. I have the most prettiest feet ever today.

Still sleepy, but...

You know what? I don't look half bad when I wake up in the morning.

So the good news is that Kathy had her surgery yesterday and her family says she is doing great. Of course, all the hard work is yet to come, so you should still keep her in your thoughts please.

I'm back on track with my training, after taking a week off and also gaining a pound or two on top of the 5 I gained over holidays. When the new small clothes are no longer fitting, it's time to head back to the gym. I supposed I'll have to do this the rest of my life if I want to stay fit. Oh well, I do like it after all.

Cinequest is in full-speed-ahead mode, and I'm busier than ever these few weeks before the festival. So many movies to watch and review, and I've gotten a lot of interviews with filmmakers this year. Some filmmakers are sending me even more screeners. I think the CQCentral site is going to be a great place for festival goers this year.

And now I'm waiting for Erin to get here for a visit. Haven't seen her in a week!
Everyone have a great day!

Went to dinner with Erin, had a very good time and a good talk, also many drinks, in no condition to write. Just... she makes me happy, that's all. You hear that Erin? You make me happy. You will always be my best friend. I hope I remember most of our conversation in the morning, and if not, at least the feeling that I do make you happy in some ways too.

So... Happy Tuesday! And Happy Wednesday!

And now it's time for me to write her her nightly email.
Good night.
Love,
Me.

Well that felt good, and was all for the best.
Should have been smart like that in the beginning.
#crypticblogentries

It's a busy day, kicking off more busy weeks ahead, but at least I still have five days free ahead of me.

Today I got up and swam, though the pool was more crowded than it's ever been and we were stuck four to a lane! I can't get in a good workout like that!!! There was no way to get a non-stop time for my 800m when I had to keep stopping to wait for other swimmers. And my lane had two slow swimmers and one swimmer who swam all over the rest of us. I left early, but I did get in a tough workout (and wrenched my shoulder in the process).

Went home and took my weight for the Quadrathon weight loss challenge, I did drop a pound since last night as I figured I would. It's ON NOW, kids. I want those gift cards and I want new running clothes!!

Now I'm going to get that sweeping done that didn't happen yesterday and then head back to the gym for a 7 mile run. Not terribly happy about it, but I know I can do it and it will be good for me. Just have to be careful not to trip on the treadmill and hope my iPod batteries last.

So far I only have one dinner request, from my friend Mary, and that's good. A week of time to myself (and nursing a body that will likely be suffering from cramps soon) will be good for me. I wish I knew when press night is for the next SJ Rep show, I think it has to be Friday or Saturday and I need time to plan for it (i.e. convince someone to go with me).

The entry below is just my annual book list, and it can be reached by that link to the right ---> as usual. My poor 2009 list was pathetically short, but I started the year with a broken brain, went through some certifiable crazies, experienced incredible life changes, and finally got things back on track. I expect the list will be much longer again this year. Also, I'll be trying out some SciFi books which will, for the most part, be new to me.

Enough procrastinating. A seven mile run is out there with my name on it.

Dinner tonight, bike shopping tomorrow, dinner tomorrow night, and then finally seven days with no plans. At the moment.

My resolution to drop television hasn't really worked, it was easier to do when everything was a repeat. Now all the good shows are on again.

And The Bachelor is finally so ridiculous that it's actually quite good.

I had to cancel my Cinequest Happy Hour this week, declined a play invitation, and sort of decided with Erin that we won't go to another play that's in San Francisco. I was feeling sort of overwhelmed after going from zero to 160 in two weeks. It will be nice to have a week off, and then the SJ Rep starts their next show.

Avenue Q was awesome. Everyone should see it if they get a chance.

Buffy is psyched because she passed all her classes this semester. Barely, but she passed.

Spike is doing fine, and rarely home, so we all get along really well and the bathroom is staying clean.

I think that's it. I've been sort of too busy to have anything to write about.

Let's just say I'm deliriously happy, still, and leave it at that.

Things are crazyyyy!!!
I really can barely keep track of my social/work obligations.

Tonight I go out with Erin to see Avenue Q and dinner before. I was given free tickets to review the show, and we're super excited. Erin's had some tough times this week, and this will be a perfect show to cheer her up. Dinner and drinks and Avenue Q, lots of laughter... what more could we ask for?
Tomorrow I go to a Cinequest Happy Hour.
Friday I'm going to dinner with a friend.
Saturday we might go shopping for a road bike for me.
Saturday evening I might get a home cooked dinner by a friend.

So my only free day is Thursday? Perfect, I can watch Real Housewives of OC/New York!!

Coming up I have several things going on with Cinequest and a show for the SJ Rep for review (The Weir). Erin's going to have to suck it up and come with me to that one whether she likes it or not.

I was hoping things would get better after the Holidays. It's looking like 2010 is shaping up to be the best year ever, in every aspect of my life.

Next on the list: Must find a new full-time job. Preferably with Cinequest. But just about any place would be great.

Oh, also, because this is my blog and I can write what I want to, I heard these comments last night:

"I love Pischina. I love her laugh, I love her voice, I love her hair." ~~ unnamed awesome drunk girl
"Pischina, have you lost even MORE weight since the triathlon??" ~~ quite a few people

I am still fat, and sort of hate the pictures taken of me last night, but it's always nice to hear lovely things about yourself.
:)

Happy Birthday Jarrod

Went to a birthday celebration for my friend Jarrod last night. Even better, we were celebrating the arrival of Ginger from Tennessee, his girlfriend. Jarrod is from Tennessee too, I met him at Cinequest last year. Mr. Snarky-the-whole-world-hates-me Jarrod. In the Spring he decided to move to the Bay Area and we were happy to have him. But then his arrival was delayed... and delayed... and his internet posts started to get all schmoopy and lovey-dovey and joy-to-the-world... And my friend Jason and I were like, "What the hell happened to Whaley??"

Turns out he had met A Girl. THE girl. And didn't want to leave her. And so sarcastic Jason and love-hating Pischina decided to put a stop to this. "Get rid of her! Get out here! Ya loser!" we shouted across the internet to him every day.

Finally he arrived in California and loved it here. Except for the missing girl. So in July she came to visit and I took them to the beach. Oh My. SUCH LOVE. It was impossible to be snarky about love when you saw those two together. Immediately I started working to convince Ginger to move here with Jarrod. I certainly didn't want Jarrod to leave California, but Ginger was obviously a huge piece of Jarrod now. So obviously she needed to stay!

She had to leave. But they continued their long distance relationship. Until... she bought her one-way ticket to California! Awww, I have a tear in my eye right now. They are SO CUTE together you have no idea. And if ever someone really could change another person, Jarrod is 100 times the person he used to be.

So let me tell you, all is right in Jarrod-land right now. As it should be. I wish Jarrod's happiness on everyone!

So anyway, we (Cinequest friends) all went out to have some drinks with them last night and had a good time. Some of us got plastered (Jason), some of us did not (ME). Well, the entire thing was being broadcast over the internet by our friend Chris, so there was no way in hell *I* was going to get stupid. Mostly there was just much laughter.

Good times with good friends. And friends in love. It was nice.

Well I made it through the holidays, although just barely.

I knew this year would be the hardest of all. I've had Scott to kind of cushion the holiday blues the last four years, but this year I would have to face it all myself. I knew that this would be a good thing, possibly a big step towards finally healing, but I also knew it would be hard. I told Erin my feelings in November and asked her to be prepared for a lot of tears.

WOW. Good thing I warned her, and good thing I was prepared for it myself, because the enormity of my emotions hit on a much larger scale than I had anticipated.

I'm not going to go into details here. I will overall say that I can understand why the suicide rate goes up during the holidays - I was nowhere near suicide, but the enormous loneliness and feeling like you don't matter in the world AT ALL during Christmas, when you don't have anyone to celebrate with, it is just about as powerful a loss as you can experience.

I don't need comments on this, especially advice on how to get through it. If you have not experienced going through the holidays alone you will never ever understand it. I am just glad it is over with, I am glad I had Erin to lean on when she was available (family obligations prevented us from spending it together, though she went out of her way to make sure I was okay) (I never was, haha), and I hope TO GOD that things are different next year. I don't want to go through that ever again.

However, it's a new year coming up! A new FULL year of me finally being myself for the first time in my life. The happiness as far as that goes is off the charts.

Hold on, let me check.

Yep, still happy.

I don't really know how to get any happier than this. Win the lottery maybe. But not if I had to trade for this.

I just chopped the hell out of everything in the back yard that can be chopped. Yes, Everything.

Haven't done yardwork in a long time. I forgot how great it is for the soul to go outside and just destroy everything. Not that I have any issues right now that need chopping, because I (mostly) don't. But it still felt good.

Lawnmower wouldn't start again. Nothing new there.

But I went to OSH early this morning and got a wheeled trashbin and hedge clippers and a chopper. And then, instead of my long bike ride (next week I guess!), I just went at everything. All the overgrown rose bushes, and that stupid vine tree that's beautiful for one week out of the year and a gigantic mess the rest of the year.

So now it's all chopped. And laying in the lawn. My legs are all scratched to bits by falling rose bushes (I was wearing shorts). But my arms feel good.

Now it's time for lunch. I'm thinking spaghetti.

Buffy wants us to have a Mommy-Daughter Day, which really is 17 year old girl code for "Take me to the mall and empty your bank account". We're so not doing that.

However, it's 9:30am and I'm seriously not ready for anything yet. It would be nice if the sun came out. I have yard work I want to do. I have a swim at 1pm. I really wanted to get to Trader Joes or relax at Peet's with my reading, but don't know if I'll get around to it. It's looking too cold to stalk the dog park.

...Ten minutes later and I'm still staring at this screen. I think I better start with a shower. Then get a move on to somewhere from there.

Oh, totally forgot! The first birthday present was to myself, even though I didn't appreciate it at first.

I had already planned what I was going to wear today, my new jeans plus a pretty white blouse I have. But when I went to get dressed... white blouse didn't fit! Total tent on me! Good grief, like I have a bunch of clothes in my closet that fit right now. But I found one of my new blue henley shirts that fit. It's not as nice as a blouse and I wouldn't have worn it but Buffy had said I looked really pretty in it the other day. So my present was an even smaller body, even though it meant changing clothes at last minute. And Erin liked it, so that's all that matters.

And also, Buffy was at her dad's today, but when she came home she told me the painting she was doing for me wasn't ready yet so she wrote me a letter instead. GOOD LORD that girl is the funniest thing I've ever given birth to. Here, I must share it with you:

Dear Mother,
Tis' your day of birth! Happy Birthday young maiden, you look mighty spiffy for your age, I must say. You're a beautiful, young, white woman in America. You live in San Jose with all the lame people, but you're cool. You belong in Santa Cruz because you're cool. Just saying :D I said "cool" twice... thats not good sentence structure. Oh well.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hope you have a very happy Birthday, and you deserve the best.
I LOVE YOU! <3 Buffy

"What kind of drugs were you ON when you wrote this?" I asked her.
"NONE!"
"Don't tell me you weren't on drugs when you wrote this!"
"I just like talking in an English accent!"

Yes, she's been studying Shakespeare. And also, she wants me to move with her to Santa Cruz - did you get that? I don't even know what to do with this letter, it's so silly it boggles the mind. I have no idea what the painting is that she's making for me. But I'm sure it's going to be totally Buffy.

In April 2009 I wore a size 22 pant IF there was an elastic waist.

This week (November 2009) I went to Macys because my size 16s were literally falling off my hips, and I had to hold them up as I walked.

I bought two new pair of size 14.

They are not exactly tight.

In fact, I probably should have bought size 12. But I couldn't quite believe the 14s were really ON me, so it never occurred to me to get a smaller size. I even tried one size 16, just in case, which was totally ridiculous.

So now I have two new pair size 14s which are quite roomy, give me space for a good dinner in my belly, and which probably won't fit next month.

I lost two more pounds today.

But this is NOT me complaining.
:)

Through too many very long conversations (many of them under the influence of wine... or vodka) Erin knows that I write on the internet, and is doing her best to get the supreme password out of me - Not gonna happen, haha. She doesn't know she could easily find this particular site, yet.

She asked last night if I had given her a pseudonym, which made me laugh because of course I did! No, Erin is not her name. There are a couple different reasons for this (as always, with internet writing). I won't go into them here, but one of the main reasons is that we have mutual friends who would be shocked (Shocked, I say!) to find out we are seeing each other now. Not mad or disapproving, but at least one of them might be hurt and a little jealous. So, no real name here.

Anyway. It was wierd when she asked me about her name last night. I usually put a lot of thought into the pseudonyms I use here - I think the names I choose help me keep connected with the real person and also portray to you who that person really is. Erin fits her. But what would YOU think about a name someone else gave you?

She likes it. And that made me happy. She seemed to really approve - although she made it clear that she believes she has an awesome real name (and she does! it's as beautiful as she is!). But it made me happy that she likes the name I gave her.

Are you sick of this love-mush babbling yet? I'm sure you will be soon.
:)

Erin is making me halibut for dinner.

*HEAVEN*

Shall we get started?

Since the triathlon ended I have been a little lost. Well, obviously, since I made some drastic changes, heh, but seriously... I have no goals. The school goal isn't working for me, this Mass Comm thing is boring beyond tears and I'm not sure I couldn't get the exact same job with or without the degree. Without my triathlon training schedule I couldn't even get workouts done. And as happy as I am with Erin, there are complications there that prevent any goal setting at the moment, or that even set things one step backward for every two forward (but I'm still incredibly, impossibly happy) -- you know, the way most relationships work.

It's like life is at a standstill. Things I want to move forward either aren't going anywhere or I have no control over their direction. So... lost.

So I've gone back to training for a triathlon. I don't know which one, any one. As far as I know there aren't any until Spring, but I really enjoyed the workouts and they helped keep me focused on life. So back I go. In fact, I've been doing more than before -- which isn't any harder because without the extra weight the workouts are easier. So I swim Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and take a spin class in the evenings. Bike Monday and Friday mornings, run in the evenings. Wednesday has been an off day as I usually work in a visit with Erin in the afternoons - but I swim on the days we can't visit. Weekends are whatever I can get to... biking in the morning, swim or spin in the morning, running in the evenings.

Oh yeah, this entry got boring quick, didn't it. Well... this stuff is making me happy and it's keeping me focused, even though there is no goal at the end. Yet.

Tomorrow is Spend the Day with Erin day. Hurray! haha...

I guess I don't have much else to say. I am adjusting to other changes I've made and I'm still waiting for some direction to come into my life. Hopefully I get some sort of focus soon.

Erin is at concert right now with her old college friend... she just texted me a happy face because she's having so much fun. It put a giant smile on my own face. I love seeing her happy.

It's been a sad and emotional week. Physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting.
I think, I THINK, that Scott is okay now. We had a nice dinner this evening and I am sure we will have many more. I hope he can start healing now, he at least showed a lot of humor for the situation this evening.

Unfortunately, and shame on me, I believe a certain relative of his has been reading this site. And if this is indeed where she found the news -- I hope you understand how much I loved (and love) him. I understand if the family is mad at me... well, no, you shouldn't be. We loved and cherished each other for seven years, through richer and poorer, in sickness and in health -- and you KNOW this. I never hurt him until this and would have done anything to avoid it. And I will for SURE miss you and the rest of my surrogate family. But... I do understand. Please understand my side now.
That said, I think he and I are on our way to being friends again, and I'm happy. This weekend I will be working out and doing yard work Saturday, hanging out with Erin on Sunday. After this emotional week, I think I can be happy this weekend. So let the weekend begin! FINALLY!!

Yes, still deliriously happy. Happier every day. My head may explode from happiness.
But it's a wierd kind that I can't quite talk about yet. "(As honor, for the time being, commands)" as Donald Justice says. I'm not ashamed, I'm not afraid to say it out loud, but you all cannot be the first to hear it. So I need to take care of some things first.

I don't know when that will be. But I cannot keep it inside for long.

In the meantime, I am Happy.

It really can't be overrated.

Still feeling very happy. Where did all this happiness come from? I don't know, but there it is. I see no reason to chase it away.

Today Erin and I are going to go see Bright Star. Super romantic!! Can't wait!! And maybe go out to eat after.

Still deliriously happy. Happier every day. That is all I have to say for now.
:)

I know I don't pay enough attention to this. A long time ago I once wrote that the time you have to spend writing about your life is an opposite ratio to the time you spend living it.

I have been living my life. I am extremely happy right now. I have made some huge decisions, and these will require some drastic changes in my life. But they will all be for the good. They ARE all for the good.

All I know is that I am happy right now and I only see happiness in the future. No matter what.

Maybe someday I'll have more time to write about it.

The last two weeks have had some ups and downs, but mostly ups and that has been nice.

I was stressed out about the unknown-ness of school, but that turned out to be for naught; school is going to be easy this semester (EASY! Grad School!!) and I'm looking forward to a 750 word essay I have due in two weeks. I've made quite a few friends in class already and they seem to like me a lot. I guess it is nice having friends, isn't it.

26 days until the triathlon. I've lost enough weight now that the workouts can be really intense and actually get work done instead of just burn calories. I almost wish I had one more month to get these great workouts in, but then again, it's my FIRST triathlon and not necessarily my LAST triathlon, right? I'm enjoying the workouts so much really, I know I will happily continue with them. I got back in touch with a friend from high school and it turns out he does sprint tris all the time, that's when I realized this doesn't have to be over in three weeks - I can do more and get better and faster!

Then again, I'm pretty emotional about finishing this. It's a goal I've always had in my head, and when I used to run and bike all the time it was a goal I really wanted but didn't have time to train for. And then after that weight gain I kind of thought that that life was over... but it turns out it isn't. I'm back to my old (young) self again. Granted, I still have 50 lbs to lose, but I can see the old (young) me in the mirror again. And now I'm about to accomplish a goal I've had forever, something most people NEVER DO. So on the one hand I'm going to cry when I cross the finish line, and on the other hand I'm going to cry because my mom never knew what I've managed to do. I hate when these accomplishments come up, because that's when your parents are supposed to say they're proud of you, you know? And they so would be. They would be CRAZY proud. So that's hard. Really really hard.

I'm going to cross that finish line and just fall into the sand sobbing with happiness and sadness, heh, I just know it.

I accomplished a lot this year, I really did. Just losing this small portion of the weight is such an accomplishment and I'm so proud of myself for that. I tried so hard for such a long time and nothing worked. I don't know why it worked this time. But it did. And then I stuck it out! I stuck it out and kept going all this time, and I've kept to my workout plan (with some bumps on the way) and now here we are, almost 25 lbs down and a new strong body.

So on November 11, 2008, I wrote a list of 25 things I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime. I've already nearly accomplished EIGHT of those things! In less than ten months!! These were really important things to me, and I did them, I got them done. There are the ones I'll be crossing off this year:

1. Finish my BA in English Literature
DONE!

4. Buy a convertible Mercedes
Well, this one was a total accident, but it's sitting in front of the house!

11. Get back to my normal weight and I would like to accomplish this in the next 12 months
I have 50lbs to go, but my body shape has changed dramatically, and my face has changed dramatically. I would be happy to stay right where I am - but I'm going to finish off the 50 lbs.

12. Have some sort of writing, any writing at all, published
I write for Metblogs and I've been ghost writing articles for a newsletter in Aptos.

13. Wear stiletto heels – and look smashing
I bought them but haven't had occasion to wear them yet - but I HAVE been wearing high heels, and I DO look smashing. :) And that makes me HAPPY.

14. Work for Cinequest
I'm not employed by them (yet) but I've done a lot of work for them and they all know who I am. Halfdan Hussey quoted my writing in his closing remarks at the festival this year. I've had an amazing time with everyone and felt like a superstar when so many people were looking for ME to talk to. Working with Cinequest this year actually changed my life a lot, although most people don't realize how much.

16. Complete a sprint triathlon (next Summer?)
OMG YOU GUYS I'm REALLY GOING to DO IT!!!

19. One year go to Mark Jacquet’s famous Halloween party
I never could bring myself to go before because I didn't want everyone to see how much weight I had gained. This year, I think I'm going to make it. And that makes me happy.

On top of all this, I think because of all this, an incredible new friend has come into my life too, and she makes me very happy also. She was always my friend, but now we have the time and opportunity to be closer... and you know there are not a lot of people I can stand to be around for long periods of time, so it's not easy for me to be friends with people. This one, I like having around. She's definitely a keeper.

WOW, I managed to say a LOT this time, eh? I'm not even procrastinating for anything, haha.

This morning did my swim workout and it went well FINALLY.

Then I took Buffy to take her senior portraits and OHMIGOD YOU GUYS they are unbelievably beautiful and cute. The test pics I took are nothing like what the photographer got. I was kind of grumpy about the price but when I saw the shots in the photographer's camera I got SO EXCITED.

So then I went to work, where everything was broke today, AND it was hot.

Starting to be less freaked out about the triathlon and more freaked out about school starting, and if it will be hard, and how much work it will be, and juggling my schedule. But... I've done it before, I'll do it again.

Tomorrow I go out with a good friend who I don't get to see enough of, and I'm super happy and excited. We're going to the movies. It will be nice to spend time with her.

And time for bed.

just so ya know, I am finishing my second bloody mary now.

Today was beach day with Buffy and friend, and it was a little eye opening regarding the triathlon. That damn triathlon is easy on paper, and my training is going fine, but every time I go out and perform the actual leg the reality sets in.

That swim is going to be damn hard.

So it was a beautiful day at the beach, and we got into the water right away. I asked Buffy to try to swim to the end of the ship with me (because the swim leg is all the way around the ship). So we set off, even though the water was super cold today. We got maybe halfway to the end when a seal popped up in the water right next to Buffy. She is TERRIFIED of sharks, and her first reaction was to scream bloody murder and declare the swim OVER. So we headed back. Man, that was a hard swim back. It seems like you swim and swim but don't move at all!

Eventually we got back and Buffy said she was done with the water, but she got over it in a couple minutes. I begged her to go back out on the boogie boards, to see if we could paddle out to the end of the ship and back. She finally agreed.

So on the boards we went, looking out for seals. We followed one of them for a while but it got tired of our slow swimming and finally left us. Then we came upon a kind of small one that wasn't dead, but certainly didn't look in good shape. It was just kind of floating in the water, had GIANT numbers burned into its side and a tagged fin. We only knew it was liave because it sometimes put its nose up in the air. I don't think it was going to survive. So we kept paddling and paddling, and Buffy started getting more and more freaked out, and the ship was obviously a lot farther out than it seems from shore. We got ALMOST to the end of the ship this time when Buffy said she'd had enough so we started kicking back, but again I was kicking and kicking and didn't seem to be going anywhere. Obviously if a shark HAD come, we would have been a nice easy snack.

Eventually Buffy started kicking and paddling and she moved way ahead of me, but my board was too slick and I couldn't paddle, just kick. I kicked and kicked and kicked, and had to keep looking over at the ship and pier to see if I had moved AT ALL. The water just pushed us back one stroke for every two we made. I was moving, but at a really slow pace. Eventually I finally got back to shore.

It was rough. It's going to be a longer swim than I had anticipated. I'm definitely going to go out and swim every weekend until the race.

So then we stayed on shore and boogie boarded. I was just playing in the deeper water when the waves started building up, and I got toppled twice. It was fun, I didn't get hurt, just a few upside down summersaults. The second time I got a bunch of sand in my face so I stood in the water trying to splash it out of my eyes and I heard Buff yelling "MOM. Your BOOB." So keeping my eyes closed I just adjusted my suit back. I was facing the ocean so no one saw but Buffy.

Our friend said she was laughing and laughing at my summersaults, but I didn't care. It was FUN. We had a good time - even though the swim was tough - and I can't wait to go back again.

Pictures up on Flickr.

Since this blog is about the only thing I can't update from my phone now, I'll type today that tomorrow (SATURDAY) we're going to the beach! Me and Buffy. Oh, and her friend. Mm. We're going off to Seacliff to boogie board and attempt to swim around the triathlon swim leg. And generally burn off as many calories as possible. Then it will be off to Santa Cruz for school supplies and dinner, and back home.

And that's all the update there is for now.

My new toy

So I bought a new Verizon HTC Ozone yesterday and almost wish I was a phone person so I could talk on it more, haha. But I'm not, so don't call me. But this morning I woke up and the first thing I saw was my new phone, so first I checked Twitter and my email, then I called Scott, then I checked Twitter again, then I downloaded the FaceBook app and then I looked at FaceBook and checked Twitter again and next thing I knew it was 8:30 in the morning.

Uh oh.

So I got dressed this morning, and something didn't feel quite right, like something vague was hanging inside my shorts. So I put my hand up the shorts leg and felt...

my too big underwear. Yes. WAY too big, and hanging off my ass. The waist elastic was keeping them actually ON, but the rest of it just hung.

I was HAPPY, but also - ICK.

So today we went to Victoria's Secret and bought five pairs of cotton 5/$25 bikini underwear that are two sizes smaller.

WOOOOOO!!

Okay, so Buffy came home this afternoon after spending the weekend at her dad's... and she immediately noticed the clean house. Why yes, yes I did tell her that I cleaned it. And then told her in return, she had to do the dishes.

I like this scam.

So recently I've been realizing that Buffy graduates next Spring, and my plan had always been to move over to the beach by Scott when she graduates. But now I know she probably wants to go to the college by our house, so I can't just kick her out and go. She could go to her dad's, but... I just don't want her to, heh.

But today she asked me if moving to Santa Cruz was still the plan, and I said I wanted to, and she said she wants to go to the college that's over there! It's just as good, if not better, she could still live with me, we'd be over by the beach - it's PERFECT!!!

So now I'm super excited for the year to be over, and I'm going to start pricing little condos over there. This makes me super happy.

Tomorrow is my swim workout, and I'm not so happy about that. But I know it will get easier every time I actually do it.

I'm sorry Little Blog for ignoring you so much. I've been experiencing this thing called Life. Also, I've been writing other places, too many. Seems every aspect of my life is recorded in a different place.

Every morning I'm at the gym, tomorrow I have to run 45 minutes, not sure I like that idea BUT I've lost 23 pounds so far so I can't complain. Now there is no ignoring that I have lost a lot of weight, it's pretty damn obvious. And honestly it FEEEEEEELS so much better. I can sit with my knees curled up on the couch again, so many things are comfortable now, and of course exercising is so much easier.

Then I have work in the afternoons, and then the evenings have been pretty busy with meeting friends; either Cinequest friends, old friends, school friends, whatever. It's been fun, though it might be more fun if I didn't feel guilty about leaving the kids to make their own dinner.

But Spike told me he actually cooked his own real dinner last night while I was at Aptos. He made porkchops, some kind of rice AND corn muffins! I was pretty proud of him PLUS the kitchen was clean. ALSO the entire rest of the house was clean too, like spic and span and mopped. Wierd, but I'm proud of him.

School starts soon. I'm not so excited about the great unknown that is school this time. We'll see how it goes. For now, I'm not thinking about it.

The triathlon is eight weeks away. Getting very very very close. I can't believe I'm eight weeks away from checking off another life goal. It's exciting and scary, but I'm just concentrating on the preparation for now. But in eight weeks I'll be able to say I've completed a triathlon!!!!!

Buffy is Buffy, she's having a nice vacation and takes Senior pictures on the 11th. Still preparing for roller derby.

I am sort of amazed at the clean house around me right now.

OH! Scott is fine too. I didn't actually forget about him here, I just left his house. Good weekend. Very good. We're instituting another change in our relationship, and in a way not a change at all. We still live 50 miles apart, we are still happy together. We have hands down the wierdest relationship of anyone I know - and yet IT WORKS. For almost seven years now it WORKS. We have outlasted MARRIAGES. The change we have decided on is going to remain private, but it's something that never could have been considered if we didn't trust in each other as partners completely. So making a decision that would break up any other relationship may actually make ours stronger. And that's all I have to say about that. Except that I am happy, and so is Scott.

I'm not sure but I think that's about it for updates. Really the only thing going on is work and working out, and then meeting with friends in the evening.

And now I go to bed to get ready for the morning run.

I'm on vacation! Just a little one, I go back to work on Wednesday. But I have four days off! And not one second of trouble planned! Four whole free days without trouble planned?? (oh wait maybe a slight bit on Monday but that's not for public knowledge) (never mind). So the plans are:

Saturday: Gym. Pool float time. No Doubt/Paramore concert
Sunday: Gym. Pool float time. (oh wait, no, Buffy wants to go to beach, so that's possible)
Monday: Gym. Pool float time.
Tuesday: Beach day with friends! A Cinequest friend of mine just moved here from Tennessee, and left his girlfriend behind (they only met right before he left, and they're all in love and it's all TRAGIC now). But she is here visiting now! First time in California! And they want to go to the beach, so I told them I would take them. So Tuesday, the beach. We're going to were the triathlon swim leg is, and she's a swimmer, so I'm hoping she'll swim it with me. That way I can completely freak myself about about the swimming part too.

Oh, did I not tell you about the bike course? Okay, I'll do that next. But for now... Vacation time!

The Triathlon is exactly 11 weeks out. And I'm prepared.

A decade ago I mentioned that how interesting your life is, is directly correlated to how much time you have to spend writing about it. And so as you can see, I'm just busy. Mostly being obsessed with training.

Also with watching Big Brother. As usual, we have Showtime on every night now from 9pm to midnight. And you know what? I don't know how these people function out in normal society. I think the hamsters this year are likeable for the most part - I mean I wouldn't want to be stuck in a house with any of them for three months but I wouldn't want to be stuck with any of you either - but seriously, no one is really despicable.

But they ARE stupid. Or Stupid, with a capital S. I SERIOUSLY don't know how they function out in real life. I haven't really seen how they are portrayed on the CBS show yet, I just see the real uncensored hamsters on Showtime and I just don't know what to say. Can you imagine if we have a final two of Laura and Jordan? My head would explode trying to make sense of their conversations. Not to mention all the INAPPROPRIATE sex talk. OMG. Your daddy must be SO PROUD of your ass licking stories. And your co-workers. Nice. I've never discussed this stuff with my own friends, never mind ON TELEVISION.

Tomorrow: Off to the SJ Rep for a Second City show.
Thursday: Unofficial Cinequest Happy Hour with film friends.
Friday: Off to Aptos
And every day: Triathlon training. It's highly addictive.

Guess WHAT??

CHICKEN BUTT!!

This nonsense brought to you by someone who has to write something for a paycheck so therefore needs to procrastinate.
Thank you for your time.

Looks like another busy weekend ahead. For a woman who Buffy only recently said needed to "get out of the house more" (and she was right) I suddenly find myself with a very full social calendar.
Friday I have either the Cinequest Happy Hour or I'm going to listen to some jazz with Scott.
Saturday I'm going to be an extra in a movie along with Buffy and some of her friends.
Sunday Buffy and I are going to be Non-Skating Officials (NSOs) at the downtown Roller Derby bout.

And somewhere in there I WILL get to the gym too. Fun!!

Just too tired to type anything today. I think I'll skip gym tomorrow and just rest.

This morning I rode the Expresso Bike for 11 miles really hard, and then walk/ran an uphill 5K. Including an elliptical warmup and a walking cooldown, it was nonstop cardio for 93 minutes.

The rest of the day I sat on couch. Because I deserved it.
:)

And now I fall dead asleep.

LONG weekend.

Went to Aptos on Friday, where it was freezing and I had packed mainly shorts and tank tops, so I wore the same running pants and gym shirt for 48 hours. Watched "Night at the Museum" which was better than I expected. Drank a lot of wine. And then came home around noon today.

But no time for rest! Took a shower, went to gym, Bike sprinted 5 miles, ran 2.5 miles. Went home, took another shower. Drove to Morgan Hill for Scott's niece's graduation party from law school. Had a great time with the family, enjoyed myself very much (lots of wine too of course) and met Scott's father again. We met for the first time last Christmas but he didn't remember. That's okay, he's pretty up there in age, and I think I probably look a lot different now. But... it soon became clear that something, I'm not sure what, but something wasn't going right in his head, whether it was the drink or the age or what, but I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure that he thought he and I were together. That is, Scott's dad may have thought I was HIS girlfriend. Like, he even invited Scott to come visit us in Texas. And asked him if he was okay with... us. And I'm sitting there with a smile like, "Um, okay... Wait, What?"

Aside from that, when I first arrived, there was a big to-do about my weight. Scott's neice is my facebook friend, so she knew I had lost weight, but seemed surprised and pleased anyway. But her dad, my former boss, took one look at me outside and did a double take: "WOAH, did you lose a lot of weight???" And he was very proud of me. And everyone was very proud of the triathlon that I'll be doing in September. I invited Renee, but she'll be studying for the bar exam and doesn't think she'll have time to train. But Scott's aunt, in her 60's, was very excited about it. So she might join me.

It was a good party and a nice time with pseudo-family and friends.

I did have a surprise this weekend though. For the last year whenever Scott and I walk out of the Aptos Coffee Shop I would see my reflection in the window of the very cute little dress shop next door. And every single time I would cringe in horror at what I saw. So Saturday I saw myself and thought "How cute, the warped glass makes me look thin again," and then I thought, Wait, it never was warped before, and then I saw my reflection was holding my rain jacket closed around me - and that jacket never even closed before, it was always too small and never came close to meeting around my body. I looked down at myself, and sure enough, my jacket was overlapped across my body. I started laughing. "What?" said Scott. "LOOK!" I pointed at the window. "I have a WAIST!" He just laughed at me, but I couldn't help but look in amazement at the COMPLETELY DIFFERENT girl looking back at me. There was an actual waist on that girl. Instead of this completely round elephant who had been looking back at me, there was a regular, normal sized and shaped girl looking back at me.

And so I became best friends with the mirror this weekend. Every chance I could get I was back in front of the mirror making sure that there was indeed a waist on my reflection. And there was!

Ah now it's sleep time.

Back on November 11, 2008, I was tagged in FaceBook with the following:

RULES:
1. List 25 things you want to do while you’re alive. They don't have to be the top 25, just 25. Don't list obvious or simplistic ones like "Fall in love" or "Find true happiness".
2. List them exactly in the order you think of them
3. Tag the first 25 people who come to mind. Tag the last 25 people who posted on your wall. Tag the last 25 people you talked to in real life. IT DOESN'T MATTER! Just tag 25 people, or 26 if you're feeling rebellious, or 27...oh whatever just list AT LEAST 25 people.
4. Ask each of them to do this survey.
5. Upload a random picture. Do not explain it whatsoever.
6. No cheating!

And so I did. And since I wrote that list, the things just keep getting checked off or are deeply in progress:

THINGS I WANT TO DO IN LIFE:
*In the order I thought them up

1. Finish my BA in English Literature (DONE!)
2. Get a Masters in any subject
3. Live to see my children become happy, healthy, self-supportive adults
4. Buy a convertible Mercedes (DONE!)
5. Live on my own in my own little condo with no kids, no man, no anybody, for at least a few months of my life
6. Visit Italy: Milan, Tuscany, Venice, Rome
7. Visit Tokyo where my parents were married
8. Live in any other country for at least six months: first choice Italy
9. Live in Mexico or Spain for at least 3 months and live on tapas and ponche. And sex, of course.
10. Go on a cruise all by myself
11. Get back to my normal weight and I would like to accomplish this in the next 12 months (20% there and there's no way I won't finish this goal)
12. Have some sort of writing, any writing at all, published (SJMetBlogs may not pay me, but that's my byline)
13. Wear stiletto heals – and look smashing (Haven't worn them yet, but I sure did buy them!)
14. Work for Cinequest (Working on it!!)
15. Run a marathon – w/Team in Training of course
16. Complete a sprint triathlon (next Summer?) (To do on September 27th!)
17. Live in a house on the beach
18. Ride Amtrak around the United States
19. One year go to Mark Jacquet’s famous Halloween party (Planning on this year!)
20. Visit Barcelona
21. Visit Australia
22. Own an Expresso Bike
23. Play the oboe in a group again
24. Play in a pit orchestra again
25. Get a job that uses my degree (Working on this too!)

I'm happy I made that list. It really does reflect what I wanted to do, and I love that I can now check things off. I am really excited about a lot of things. I can't wait to see what happens.

So with all the discovering of clothes in my closet that haven't fit me in years and years, I decided to go through every single piece in the closet and the dresser and start cleaning it all out.

I sort of had a lot of clothes.

You see, I have skinny clothes, for Fall and Winter.
I gained weight, I had a new wardrobe for Fall and Winter.
I switched jobs requiring different dress, new wardrobe for Fall and Winter.
More weight gain, new wardrobe for Fall and Winter.
Increased weight gain, new wardrobe for Fall and Winter.

I'm not sure how I managed to have all these clothes from so long ago. But it was fun going through them, for a lot of reasons.

First it was fun because there were SOOOOOOOOOOOO many cute things that fit me now. At the top of my weight gain it was impossible to find cute clothes. It was just a matter of clothing yourself, covering yourself. But now I have actual CUTE things.
And then it was fun because there were so many really cute things that I WILL fit into again. So many beautiful skirts and sweaters. So pretty.

And then there were memories with some. This is the sweater my mom gave me for my birthday the year before she died (keep). These are all the colorful pants I wore after I started weightlifting and lost a lot of weight before my gall bladder operation (toss). OMG these are the cute little skirts I used to wear when I visited Will (keep). Here's a pair of jeans that will fit me now - OH! They're Bedazzled! (TOSS) This is the sweater I wore the night the house burned down and I had to wear it for 48 hours after. It still fits and it's a nice sweater, but every time I see it I think "That's the sweater I wore the night the house burned down." It got tossed. Here are the clothes I wore for my mother's funeral (toss).

I also apparently have kept every single piece of loungerie that I have ever owned since I was 18 years old (!!!!!!!!!). Here is what I wore when I had Armando come over to my house (age 18) to tell him this was the last time, the end (HAH). Here is the gown I wore on our wedding night. Here are the summer silk shorties I used to wear around the house when Jason J came to visit. Here are the very naughty lacy things I wore for Will. Crazy. Really crazy. I just keep all of it in one drawer, and that drawer never gets opened, so they've just sat there all these years.

I tossed all of it.

And then I started going through drawers that I knew had my smaller clothes. And I found my running clothes from ten years ago. OH, I love you running shorts! I love you running tank! I have missed you running pants! I love you so much cute running shirts! AND Hello to all my running bibs!! It was really thrilling. Even more so because they were no longer forgotten memories, they were actual running clothes that I can ALMOST wear again.

I filled a lot of bags, with fat clothes and just plain crazy clothes (Bedazzled jeans? REALLY Pischina???) I kept my beautiful sweaters from this winter because they're practically new, I love them, and you can wear big sweaters. I have a lot of beautiful cashmere sweaters from my mother that I need to take to get cleaned, and they'll be ready for me next winter. I have a LOT of shorts that fit me, just in time.

It was good to go through everything. It felt good to toss the loungerie. Toss the funeral clothes. Toss the ugly fat clothes. Toss the clothes that remind me of the fire, or even of bad times with Joe. I think especially it was good to toss the fat clothes. It almost felt like preparing for graduation. This weight came on during school, school is over and now it's coming off. Time to get rid of everything. Toss the old books and notepads, toss the fat clothes.

Toss the funeral clothes. Toss the fire clothes.

It's interesting that my happiest times, when I was with Will and Tom, those are my skinniest, cutest, most beautiful clothes. I still have a lot of them. Some I tossed, but I dressed pretty classically at work, so most are still beautiful and current.

I don't know why I never tossed some of this before. I can't really believe that all these clothes made it here after the fire. I know the neighbors washed everything we had and packed them up for us, I would bet that if I had gone through them myself they would have been tossed six years ago. So I guess I just took what they gave, brought them here and hung them all up again. Amazing. But now they're finally gone.

I also realized I was a very stubborn weight gainer. I COULD NOT BELIEVE how many items there were that still had the tags on. UNBELIEVABLE. They weren't my skinny clothes, they're kind of in between. They fit me perfectly now (brand new clothes!!). It appears that as I gained weight, I refused to believe that I wasn't going to lose it, and just bought clothes that I thought I SHOULD fit into. Yeah, smart move, Pischina. On the other hand, NEW CLOTHES!
:)

And so everything is cleaned out. Bad memories are gone. Good memories are intact. And I have lots and lots of new old shorts and running clothes now. I packed up the old fat Pischina that put EVERTHING into school, and now we're getting back the new thin graduated popular runner again.

I have missed her so much. I'm so glad she's coming back.

My Happy Friday Night

So I actually left the house last night, went out and hung out with friends. A LOT of friends.

I've been promoting the Cinequest Happy Hours but had not actually been to one myself. I wasn't planning to go to this one because I had plans with Scott, but Mike Rabehl from Cinequest twisted my arm (not all that much), and then I found out some other Cinequest friends would be there, so I decided to go.

Unfortunately Scott had to back out at the last minute, but I didn't mind going alone since I was going to see a kind of seperate group of friends. I left work and got to Mezcal around 5 or 5:30 and began the Bloody Marys. I only had two, but from what I remember, I may have had one too many. I talk a lot more under the influence of Bloody Marys. :)

I also took pictures and posted about it at CQ Central.

So then my plans were to see the Putnam County Spelling Bee at the SJ Rep. This is a little musical I had never heard of, but had received some Tony awards, and my professor said it was really good. I got... FREE TICKETS... because I write for SJ MetBlogs and when Scott couldn't go my Cinequest friend Marya (producer/actress of Canary, producer/editor of Around the Bay) snapped up the extra one. I knew I would find someone to take the ticket, but honestly she would have been my first choice, so I was really happy to go with her. I may have still been under the influence of the last Bloody Mary when I met up with her at 7:30, but hopefully I wasn't obnoxious. Hee.

So we went to the press table and were handed a giant folder of press info and our two free tickets. I looked to see where in the balcony they were going to put us and then stopped short - "Center Orchestra???" I read. For all the times I've been to the SJ Rep, I didn't even know which doors led to Center Orchestra. So they showed us the way and the usher helped us to our seats... which were DEAD CENTER, about ten rows back. I have seen like a ZILLION shows at the Rep, and have NEVER sat in these seat. So Marya and I just sat there giggling like fools about how lucky we were, and how crazy and awesome this whole thing was.

And it was a really great show. You can read my review of it at SJ Metblogs. When it was over we still laughed at our crazy good fortune - free tickets to the best seats in the house! Also I was just overjoyed to have a friend who was as enthusiastic about going to theatre as I am, now I don't have to drag Buffy to things we both know she won't like (she sure would have liked this show though, and so would Scott). So from now on, when I need a friend to accompany me to the theatre, I'm calling Marya first.

And then we both went home to our families. I was home by 10:30. Not even a late night, but so full of fun and friends and more fun. I'm definitely going to more of the Cinequest Happy Hours, and I wish the SJ Rep season didn't just end. The next show is in August - but you can be sure I'll be hoping for tickets!!

Being a writer turns out to be pretty awesome after all. I highly recommend you all get into it. Also, getting out of the house sometimes is pretty cool too.
:)

Happy Saturday!

Had a great time last night.
I'm off to the gym right now but I'll write about Friday night when I get back.

Meanwhile you can read what I wrote about my Cinequest Happy Hour HERE, and the Putnam County Spelling Bee at the SJ Rep HERE.

And now off to the gym!

Today is going to be Pischina-Fun-Day and I'm not even planning any trouble!
;)

First I was given tickets to go see the Putnam County Spelling Bee at the San Jose Rep so I can review it for SJ MetBlogs. So it was already shaping up to be a fun evening. The kids didn't want to go so I was going to take Scott, but now he has to back out so it looks like I'm taking one of my Cinequest friends. The show is supposed to be lots of fun so I'm happy I get to share with someone!! And you know what? Also happy to have a friend who is as happy to go see a musical as I am.

And then before that, from 4:30pm-7pm is the Cinequest Happy Hour, a little event they're having about twice a month year round now. It's downtown San Jose at Mezcal if you would like to go. I wasn't going to go, but certain Cinequest friends convinced me. And now I'm really excited to go see some of my once-a-year friends and also to get out of the house and have fun.

And on top of that, I had to clean out my closet and pull out some clothes I haven't seen in a couple years so I could find some things that fit! I'm 2-3 sizes down (still fat, but much less so!) and my current clothes will not stay on my hips. I refuse to galavant around downtown holding my pants up with my fist. But my clothes! So pretty! I forgot what pretty clothes I used to have. I'm not down to the REALLY pretty clothes yet, but it's nice to have something cute to wear.

I am a happy girl today, yes I am.

I took some pictures of the flowers in our front yard just so you know our ENTIRE yard isn't a gigantic jungle (only the BACK yard). Also on Flickr are Phoebe-Cat exercising, and Buffy's newly ORANGE HAIR. Yes, RIGHT BEFORE PROM.

My vacuum and lawn mower are both coming home from the repair shop right now!
That 3 year warranty I bought for the vacuum has really paid off. In a year's time it has never spent more than a week in working order. Seriously. I have never used it more than twice without it breaking down. This time they are replacing ball bearings or something like that. It's less than 18 months old.

But now we can vacuum again! And mow that back yard that is about three feet tall. WOOO!

Looking forward to not having to get up and rush to school tomorrow. It's a sleep in day! Not a pajama day though, because I'll probably be going to dinner with Scott. That's okay. I'll be happy with just sleep.

Change for the weekend, no Aptos.
Instead Scott and I are going to go to dinner at Aqui's and hang out for awhile, then he's going home to do some construction on his house this weekend. So I'll be staying home at my house.

That means:
Gardening and tomato planting
House cleaning (?)
MOVIES.

I would like to see: Monsters vs. Aliens, and/or Haunting in Connecticut
I have also rented:
Harold & Kumar Go to WhiteCastle
Get Smart
Kiss Me Kate
Quinceañera
Tropic Thunder

But I'm definitely going to try to get some tomatoes and basil planted this weekend.

The weekend

Today's plan: Work at 10am, get off at 4pm, go to Aptos. Do nothing until Sunday.

What more can we ask?

Cinequest ends, the movie watchers leave and my regular readers don't know it's business as usual again. Eh, they'll be back eventually.

*crickets*

It's Friday and as soon as work is over I'll be heading to Aptos. Actually, I'll be trying to convince Scott to go with me to the play at SJSU, but THEN we'll head to Aptos. I don't think there are any plans for the weekend except we're almost surely going to see Watchmen.

Coraline is coming back to 3D theaters today! WOOOO! Victory over the Jonas Bros!! I'll be seeing the 3D version just as soon as possible.

Finally got over my cold yesterday and did some Wii Fit cardio for the first time. I'm not sure the Wii Fit is up to my level of fitness, obese or not, but I figure if I can get an hour of fun in a day, well, it's an hour of calories burned instead of sitting on the couch. We shall see what happens. Regardless, the Wii is fun.

I have just a bit over 2 weeks to finish up my new major application and get my letters. My goal is to get that done by next week.

But for now I work (and do laundry).

We got our Wii, and I love it. I love playing tennis and boxing on Wii Sports, and I'll even do some bowling sometimes. Then we got Rayman's Raving Rabids, which I played and played until after one week I had beaten it. Then we got Mario Kart, and we keep thinking that we *should* be tired of it, but we're not. And I love that you can play against other people on the internet!! Today we got Raving Rabbids 2, on sale for $14 at Toys R Us. But I'm not ready to start yet because I'm still busy with Mario Kart.

We still need to get Wii Fit. That's the goal. But that won't happen until after payday, or whenever Amazon gets them in stock again. In my non-Wii real life, I'm going to try to get to the gym tomorrow morning.

And so if you want to race me in Mario Kart, send me your console number and I'll add you. It's way better than adding people on MySpace, haha.

I'll see you at the Banana Cup.

A What pass?

OH MY, I may have some very exciting news soon!!!
I'll have an announcement by Wednesday, hopefully it will be a good one...

As soon as the rain stops I think I'll make another addition to the hobby list: Gardening!
That's right, get ready for a vegetable garden this year!

I even thought about getting some houseplants this weekend to practice with - but then I remembered the reason I have no houseplants is that both cats love to eat them. So we'll just wait for the rain to stop.

Cucumbers! Peas! Tomatoes! Peppers!!!

I'm doing laundry and then I'll be off to Aptos. With my books, haha.
I'm now reading, at the same time, New Moon, Kitchen Confidential AND Middlesex. Fun!

To Mariel: Yeah, Anthony Bourdain IS hot. When I first read his book I barely kind of knew who he was. Now I'm so hooked on his "No Reservations" show (I watched a BUNCH of episodes last night!) that I decided to read his book again.

Scott wants to see a movie today but we can't agree on anything. I want to see Doubt or Milk, he doesn't. He wants to see Benjamin Buttons, which I hear is great, but I don't want to sit for three hours in a dark theater (I have to save up my vampire life for Cinequest, haha). We both want to see The Wrestler, but I can't find it at any theaters so I'm assuming it hasn't come out yet. Sigghhhh.'

But there are always books to read!

We had a very nice, quiet, happy evening last night. I made Greek-style quesadillas and mulligatawney soup, and Scott LOVED them both. I kept his bloody mary glass filled, as he's had a hard week, and they did seem to make him happy, haha. Then for dessert I went for simple since dinner was quiet an elaborate cooking extravaganza: Chocolate pudding with Cool Whip and fresh strawberries. It was delicious.

While I cooked Scott watched the "House" episode about his father's funeral, which I had taped for him. Then we watched a couple movies on HBO: Bourne Ultimatum and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. We went to bed just before midnight, but heard the celebrations outside right at midnight. We said Happy New Year and went to sleep.

Woke up around 7am. I made coffee and we watched lots of my music videos on iTunes (he loved the OK-Go treadmill video). Then we watched Chuck and Larry on TV, went to breakfast at the bakery, and he drove on home. I'm spending the day relaxing and waiting for Buffy to come home from her friend's house. Spike is in and out with his friends. Tomorrow I'll head over to Scott's house.

It's a good day so far. No stress (I'm still learning how to deal with it, or with not having it), lots of quiet, and just... rest.

So I asked Scott to come to my house this year for New Years, because even though the house has only been 10% cleaned since school ended I just don't want to spend another New Year's Eve with his housemates. I want to be happy and loud and silly and laughing all night, and it's too quiet with his housemates. And there's no drunkeness or silliness, just a lot of quiet and serious discussions. And... I just want Scott to myself to enjoy our SIX YEAR ANNIVERSARY - whaaaAAAATTT??

Hahahah... no wonder the writing has gotten so boring, who wants to read about happiness?
:)

So tomorrow Buffy will be babysitting for her grandmother and Spike will be... probably sorely disappointed that he can't have a party here when he discovers I'm staying home, haha. But I bet he'll throw something in the garage anyway, and then I get to feed off his energy too. I like being around my kids, I don't really like spending any holidays without them.

So for dinner tomorrow I'm going to make some Greek quesadillas (pitas filled with feta, cucumbers, chopped olives, tomatoes, etc, and fried like a Mexican quesadilla) kind of for an appetizer. Then for dinner, from my new soup cookbook of course, I'm thinking mulligatawny soup, as it has chicken and raisins and should be filling.

But what for dessert? What is a good idea for a dessert like food that we can have later on? Any ideas? Maybe chocolate strawberries? Hmmmmm. I'll have to think. Any ideas?

My plan is to watch movies and maybe play games, but definitely have some alcohol and stay up til midnight. Then sleep in my NICE SOFT WARM bed (the opposite of his bed) and wake up in the morning happy and rested. Go to Starbucks for coffee and books. And maybe a movie later. Yayyyy. I like this idea much better than going to his house, even if it does mean I have to clean my room.
:-D

Friday I do go to his house for the weekend, but I am really happy with the idea of two extra days with my kids, and sleeping in my nice SOFT WARM bed, and hanging out at my house with my cats and everyone I love.

So send in your dessert ideas please! I know everyone is on vacation from blogs during the holiday season, but if you think of something good, let me know!

You guys are awesome, thanks to everyone who gave suggestions to fix the password problem - and TADAAAAH! Problem is gone! I never would have found the problem myself, so thank you Very Very much!

Also, we picked up the car.

It's gorgeous. And Buffy loves it, and I thought it was a fantastic deal for the $3900 we paid for it, but it wasn't fulfilling my own personal Mercedes dreams. So I am going to give it to her when she gets her license. This way I not only didn't waste any money, but I saved a lot of money, as I never could have found her a nice car like this for that amount. Her brother's car cost over $7000. Granted, we've only had it a day, but the drive to our house was 70 miles long, and it drove beautifully. I feel really really good about letting her have it, and no longer embarrassed to tell Scott because now I know I made a good (accidental) choice.

And Buffy gets a Mercedes for her first car.

Today Scott and I went for a walk on the beach at Seacliff and I took pictures. One thing I could not take a picture of was an OTTER swimming in the water! I saw two ducks floating with something big in the water, and I couldn't figure out if it was a large piece of driftwood or a dead seal or something, but then we saw it was an OTTER swimming on its back! I see dolphins all the time at the beach, but I've never seen an otter (in the wild) outside of Monterey, CA or Alaska. The ducks appeared to be following it around waiting for leftovers.

So like I said, no otter pictures, but there are other beach pictures on Flickr now.

BOO! Play was bad. Mojitos were GOOD!

WOOOO, done with everything that is due for the rest of this week.
Thursday night I'm going to see The Taming of the Shrew at the SJSU Theater. I'm going with my two school friends who I went to plays with during the summer, and we're all thrilled that we're free on the same day. But first, Drinks! And since we're not driving all the way to San Francisco this time... Adrienne wants to meet at 5:30 for drinks. Umm, the play doesn't start until 7pm. Well, I guess the play is going to be really really good then, or at least it will be after all the drinks we can drink in an hour and a half.

Yesterday (or this morning) I didn't get to bed until 1:30am, and since I'm done with my school work early today, I'm going to bed now, at 11pm. CRAZzZY! On the other hand, I'll probably end up reading in bed. This is just too early for me. We'll see.

Taming of the Shrew! With drinks!!!

We had a great time in Volcano, although I really would have liked one more full day there. It went by WAY too quick this time.

Friday we started driving around 12:30 and hit no traffic at all. The whole time we were chanting "Meat Pies! Meat Pies!" and couldn't wait to get there and have lunch. We arrived at 2:45 and right away went to Humble Pies - but they were closed! For a funeral! We were really happy it was only closed on Friday. So we just went to the Saloon instead and had the best Bloody Marys EVER and their huge chicken quesadillas. We checked into our room about 4pm after another Bloody Mary for each of us, and had some cheese and crackers and peppered salami that we had brought with us. That evening we went to the Cobblestone Theatre (about 20 steps from the hotel) to see "The Man with the Plastic Sandwich". It was okay, but it's always a good time to just walk to the theater and see a show.

The next day we went to Humble Pies for breakfast and had sausage rolls, meat pies, quiche and coffee. Scott actually wanted PIE after that! So we tried their cranberrie nut pie (YUM) and the pineapple macadamia nut, which we already knew was delicious. We decided to order some pies to take home with us on Sunday. We spent the rest of the day walking around town and reading on our balcony. We went back to the Saloon for Bloody Marys and lunch (fish tacos for me, a philly sandwich for Scott), made dinner reservations at the restaurant, and took a nap. Then, back to the Saloon for martinis (with Hangar One vodka, we didn't like them) and then dinner in the hotel restaurant. Braised oxtail for appetizer, salad, crab and shrimp raviolis for Scott and herbed chicken and rice for me. With wine of course. Then back to our room to watch a movie on my laptop (no TVs in the Bed & Breakfast) and went to bed. Or... actually I think maybe we watched the movie before we went to dinner. I think after dinner we walked around town again and then went to bed.

Sunday we woke up, had breakfast in the restaurant and took another walk. Picked up our pies, fresh from the oven (3 Nut Pie for Scott, Apple and Cranberrie Nut for me), and drove home. We got home around 2:45pm.

It was a very nice, relaxing weekend. I can't wait to go back again.

So Saturday is my birthday, the big 42 (I think, haha).
But it's okay. I ran 2.5 miles this evening, and hope to continue that 5 days a week - so it can't be all bad, right?

I have a smart, polite, employed son in college, a very politically active daughter who is more intent on going to college every day, a loving boyfriend who is more patient than I could ever be, and lots and lots of friends. I'll officially have a BA in English and Comparative Literature in less than 7 weeks, and a well paying job in the meantime.

So bring it on, age 42. I'm ready for it!

YAYYYY, We're going to Volcano again for my birthday! (Not til November)
Back to the St. George Hotel again, and my favorite room, Jim Town (scroll to bottom).

I can't wait. This time I'll have batteries in my camera so I can bring back some good photos. Yayyyy, I can't wait! Three days of rest!

We've had a heat wave since the beginning of August and I'd be a melted puddle of fat and brains and warped textbooks if we didn't have that pool. I'm sooooo ready for summer to be over, but I don't want to say goodbye to that pool. It's been a lot of work, every morning I go out and scrub it down - gotta keep on top of that algae!!! - but it's been worth it. It's been worth every dime I paid, every chemical I've purchased, every hour I've spent dumping chemicals into it and scrubbing it down.

Beyond the heat, it's just been so great for my stress level. Every single day I go out for at least 15 minutes, no matter what, and sit on a raft with a school book or just close my eyes. It keeps me cool inside this house that's over 100 degrees, and it's just so relaxing. I recommend those little above ground pools for anyone who has a little space in their backyard.

So I'm going to miss that pool so badly when it turns cold outside. Guess I'll have to get my stress out by running again, haha.

But for now, it's 100 degrees. So tomorrow we're just hitting the beach.

I took Buffy school shopping today, and while standing in the doorway of Zumies with death metal blasting my ears at ungodly decibels, I looked over at Claires and figured getting my ears pierced would hurt a lot less than waiting for Buffy to pick out some over-priced clothes.

So I walked over and decided to get my one ear pierced on top, something I always wanted but just never got around to. Plus, Buffy would be shocked, haha. But guess what? Six months ago Santa Clara County decided that piercing ear cartiledge was considered a body piercing, meaning you can only get ear cartiledge pierced in actual body piercing/tattoo parlour type places. Which aren't really places I care to get my ear pierced in.

So instead, I decided to get my second set of ear lobe holes re-pierced. They healed over 15 years ago, as they were pierced in an odd angle and it hurt like hell to get studs through them.

So I picked out some 3mm white gold diamond studs and sat in the chair signing the papers. Suddenly I hear, "MOM! WHAT are you doing!!!" and saw Buffy standing there with a priceless look on her face - you just KNOW she knew I was about to embarrass her.

"I'm getting my nipples pierced," I said loudly, in front of several other 16 year old Claire's customers who Buffy probably knew, and I continued signing my papers.

"MOM!" Buffy hissed. "WHAT are you doing!!"

I told her to calm down, that I was just re-piercing my ears, and again I got this hilarious relieved expression on her face.

And then the lady pierced my ears, it didn't hurt a bit, and my ears are all sparkly and pretty now.

Picture to come tomorrow maybe.

But first... SCHOOL IN THE MORNING!!!! YAYYYY!!!! HURRAY!!!!!

Last weekend of summer vacation

Went to a wedding in Aptos yesterday, very low-key and FUN. Definitely had a lot of wine, I hate when they just come in little plastic cups, it's harder to keep track of what you drank then, and all of Scott's students kept bringing me more and more and more. But I'm feeling fine today - not sure about Scott, hahah. Anyway, we had a lot of fun, for sure.

24 hours from now I'll be sitting in class and I CAN'T WAIT. I'm excited about school this year, excited about my classes, and just feeling really focused. Our Literary Criticism teacher really beat us down last semester and had us doubting our abilities, but after taking my Modern English class over the summer I'm feeling much more confident. And being chosen as the one student out of all the university undergraduate english majors to serve on the Curriculum Committee is pretty exciting too. So I'm ready to go.

Buffy starts Tuesday, and she's also excited. To see her friends anyway. And her water polo practice has already started and she's happy about that. Today we go school shopping for clothes for her.

Spike went to a tattoo convention in San Francisco yesterday. I threatened him with packing his bags if he came home with a tattoo. I can't stop him from getting one, he's 18 now, but I paid his entrance fee so I would not be very happy if that allowed him to get a tattoo. He wants a tattoo, he can get a job and pay for it all himself. He came home late last night so I haven't checked him out yet, heh, he better have it hidden on a very private part of his body or I'm going to find it. And he starts school in about 2 weeks.

I'm sad to see the Olympics go, I've enjoyed it more this year since maybe I was a kid. But two more years and we'll have the winter olympics!!!

We had a lot of fun at the play. And the 2 hours 40 minutes did fly by.
First we got there and received discounted drinks from the bar.
Then a theater lady exchanged our balcony tickets for fourth row tickets because since it was Father's Day the theater had not been filled.
THEN it turned out the play, about incest, is just about as bloody as a "Saw" movie. EXCELLENT. You don't see plays like this every day.

The set was beautiful, at the top of the set was an angel who played cello during the play. This was the only music during the production.

So in the play the sister gets pregnant by her brother, and her husband finds out. Threatened with being outed the brother stabs his sister in the heart and she dies. As she lays there dead, he takes his long knife, holds it to her pregnant belly, and THRUSTS it into her, just as the lights go out, spotlight on the Angel who stands up, starts banging out these terrifying notes in a minor key ont the cello, at the same time letting out these horrific SHRIEKS.

I started laughing. It was so damn hilarious - because seriously, when do you see all this in a stage production? Everyone got stabbed to death in the play, at the end there are just dead bloody bodies EVERYWHERE, with the hacked-to-pieces sister laying bloody in the middle of the stage, and even the live characters covered in blood.

I would say 99% of the audience (pretty much everyone but us three) were over the age of 70. I don't know if they knew what the play was about before buying their tickets, but I imagine the shreiking angel gave some of them the frights.

Anyway, we loved it. I'm glad we got the chance to see it. Much fun.

So off I go to see another play today, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, by John Ford. It's back to San Francisco for us (my two classmates and I) and I just found out that it's 2 hours 40 minutes. Jeez Louise, that's a long play. I think I'm done with driving to San Francisco for awhile after this.

But I know we'll have fun!

Scott and I had a very nice quiet time in Volcano as we always do, and it was nice to see a new cafe open called "Humble Pies and Coffee". This place had honestly the best pies either of us had ever tasted, hands down, and would be worth the 2-1/2 hour drive just to get one. They also served meat pies, sausage rolled in pie dough, etc. It was awesome.

All weekend I kept saying we needed to go to the town store to get new batteries for my camera because I wanted to finally take some good pictures of Volcano. We never made it to the store until the last day, right before leaving. We were going to take a quick walk around town (you can walk the perimeter in less than 10 minutes) and take pictures, then go home. So I bought a 4-pack of batteries, put two in my camera...

And it still said I needed new batteries. So I put the other two in, managed to keep the camera on long enough to get one photo, and the camera died again.

I pulled out the battery package and looked at the date: 2004.

Scott started laughing hysterically as I stood there pissed off. "I don't think this is funny," I said, "I wanted to take pictures! You know I wanted to take pictures all weekend!"

"I just think it's hilarious," said Scott,"that we would go into that stupid store and actually believe that any batteries we found would not have been sitting on the shelf for the last four fucking years! Of COURSE they're four years old, look where we are!!!"

And he's right. You stay the weekend at an old mining ghost town, population 80-some people of which you never see more than 15, you don't exactly expect to find new batteries. So we left. But we did have a good time up until then.

I saw two DVDs this weekend, I know I'm behind the times, but I just saw "Juno" and "Gone Baby Gone". I liked them both. I think if you're the type of person who would like "Juno" then you've probably already seen "Juno" so that's all I have to say about that. But "Gone Baby Gone" actually blew me away. That was an awesome story with awesome actors and it was an awesome movie. If you haven't seen that one yet, then you definitely need to see it.

My Modern English class is going well. After calling me "scary smart" last week, and telling the class I was probably going for a law degree, my professor and I have come to a mutual respect and I actually really like the guy. He made a comment that I must have had teaching experience before, and when I said No, he said that I was going to make an excellent teacher. I take that comment with a grain of salt because the class is full of morons who make me look like a genius, but it was a nice compliment anyway. He said he'll be one of my references for the graduate program too. First midterm is tomorrow, so we're flying through this summer class.

Buffy is grounded again, what else is new, yet for all the trouble she gives me I am amazed at how much worse all of her friends are. The majority of her friends are getting straight Fs - yeah, straight Fs. How do you even DO that?? But the good news is that one of them is being sent to a continuation school next year - a pretty tough continuation school full of tough kids, and let me tell you, it couldn't happen to a nicer kid (*snort*) and I can't wait to hear she's getting her ass kicked every single day. Yes Charleen, I do mean Monique. Wahooooooo!!!! hahaha

Sound harsh? Trust me, you don't want that kid anywhere near your own kids.

The weather here is hot, so I am miserable, but I'm enjoying a nice work/school schedule for once and trying to get life and home back in order.

That's it for now.

I'm back home from our San Francisco trip and everyone is safe and sound. We had a great time. We got into the City safely, found the parking garage right away, and then found a nice restaurant for drinks. One martini each (because service was so slow) and then we went to the play.

Which was in Hindu and Farsi.

HAH! The laugh was on us! Some was in english, but most was not, but since we know the story (very very very very well) we knew what was going on. It was a lot of fun. It was a very interesting interpretation of Midsummer Night's Dream, and there were some parts we didn't like but lots of parts we liked a whole whole lot.

Getting back home was a little tougher, since I didn't have reverse directions printed, and San Francisco isn't the easiest place to navigate. But I was SUPER careful of pedestrians (both friends laughed at me for this) and one friend even said I had EXCELLENT, AWESOME driving skills. Take THAT Charleen! Actually, the driving moves I pulled off in attempts to change over four lanes at once, or to maneuver out of the bus lane avoiding the oncoming ambulance and squeezing into a too small space between cars going 40 mph probably would have had Charleen screaming. But see, these friends understood the NEED for driving like this in San Francisco. See, Charleen just doesn't understand that you HAVE to have mad driving skillz like mine in order to drive through San Francisco. (Actually I laughed hysterically every time they yelled "Your driving skills are AWESOME!" because it's not like I hear that very often. Or ever. At all.).

At any rate, we're all home safe and sound, there was no trouble to be had, and we're already planning our next trip.

She has forbidden me from shedding any clothes while in San Francisco, and when I assured her my two friends are both female and lesbian she then forbid me from coming back married.

No fun, no fun, no fun!

"Don't forget," she said, "people have camera-phones now... with VIDEO."

Yes, mother.

She then pointed out several other previous cases of Pischina-getting-into-trouble-in-SF, the least of which was getting a ticket for "almost mowing down 20 pedestrians back there." I had kindly informed the policeman that there were NOT 20 pedestrians back there, but merely around six... but he didn't really seem impressed. It was an expensive ticket.

Then when I informed Charleen that I was the driver for our Bay Area Road Trip Extravaganza (as my fellow student calls it) Charleen told me I needed to have my friends sign a waiver. For what? "Emotional trauma caused by being in a vehicle driven by you."

Now I ask you, what kind of friend would say stuff like this???
*
*
*
*
*
A friend who knows me very very very well. And who has cleared her schedule on Sunday so she can come bail us out of jail if needed.

I actually went to State Farm yesterday just to make sure my car insurance was completely paid up. I'm sure we'll be fine! Just good, clean fun for us! I swear, we'll really be studying at the LIBRARY.

;-D

Monday I picked up my signed Major forms from the English Department and went over to turn in my graduation forms. Three more classes and I'm done! With my BA anyway.

I got my Spenser essay back and received another A with another comment that I need to turn it into a conference paper - that professor is determined to get me to a conference!

Today I confirmed my GRE Exam for Saturday morning. I'm so excited! I can't wait!!!

Sunday I'm going to see Midsummer Night's Dream with two adult females. That may seem a wierd statement, but I realized yesterday that it has been OVER FIVE YEARS since I went out with a FEMALE FRIEND and WITHOUT KIDS. Ever since Eliza moved to San Diego and I started school, I have not gone anywhere without my kids except for a few things with Scott. I've gone to lots of great places and done some great things, and actually I LOVE doing things with my kids, but it feels really great to go out with some adult friends who are not males. I'm going to have to do it more often.

Anyway, the Midsummer Night's Dream show looks incredible, and if you didn't already you really should click the link and watch the preview. I'm super excited even though I have to drive to San Francisco (and my friends will quickly figure out what a mistake it was to assign driving to me, heh), but it's a matinee, and we're going to get drinks before the show. So... there will be good and loud times. Sunday is going to be Fun Fun Fun.

The funny thing is I'm just as excited about taking the GRE on Saturday. I guess because that almost makes me an official graduate student. I can't believe I'm almost there!

Turned in my last paper today. This is the class where the professor hates us all for some reason. As we left I asked if she was going to email comments on our papers since we won't get them back for two weeks. She said, "No, I don't want to do that because you'll just get upset."

Wow. She didn't even LOOK at my paper yet, but she already knows we're getting bad grades. Which... is what we expected from her.

Today she told us that for our final we'll be writing a criticism essay on either this novel or that novel... which means... we have to read BOTH novels before our final????

I hate that class. I'm so glad I'm at least PASSING it.

So that's it, all I have are two more days of classes and then a messed up 2-week long final schedule with some finals at 7:15am and some days I have finals all day long. I just need to re-read a few Canterbury Tales, look over The English Patient, The Waste Land and Great Gatsby, try to review The Faerie Queen, read two novels ...and try not to fail the Spanish final.

I have a solid A in Spanish right now, all I need is a B in the class and I'll be done with Spanish forever. I never thought I'd see this day, that's for sure.

And now I shut down and head out to Aptos.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, chocolate covered strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOOHOO"!
~~unknown

The best part about going to Scott's house on Super Bowl Sunday is that neither of us care either about the game or who is playing. I have no idea who's playing. All I know is that when we go to lunch on Sunday at the Red Apple Cafe there will be no line to sit down. The restaurant will be empty.

Tonight we are going to dinner at some Scottish restaurant in Felton where a band that Scott likes will be playing. Food and music - combined with sitting! WOOOO! And then the weekend will be spent reading for school.

Everyone have a good one!

In other good news: I lost 5 pounds somehow. I don't remember the last time I weighed myself, but I lost 5 pounds since the last time I checked.

I think it's the Bloody Marys I have been drinking. I think I'll go get another one.

I fly to San Diego tomorrow morning and cruise to Mexico! YAYYYYY!

I had my last finals today ---- HURRAY, semester is over!!!
I didn't do really fantastic on my Spanish or Shakespeare finals, but I wrote a great 12 page essay in mythology. I had pretty firm A's before the finals, so I'm going to assume my grades will be okay - and I'll be all right if I get a B, honestly.

Biggest Loser finale was on tonight - I love that show so much and LOVE LOVE LOVE Jillian Michaels. I want her to come yell at me until I lose 50 pounds. I am so glad another season is starting already on January 1. I already cannot wait.

And finally I would like to give Thanks to the Spears family for providing me with so much entertainment in 2007 and for making sure that entertainment will continue on through 2008. Poor Momma Spears... She thought she had finally gotten it done right with her youngest... how embarrassing to be in the middle of writing a parenting book when all this mess happens.

Do I feel bad for them? Not really. Yeah, it could happen to any family... but you have to admit there's an awful lot of stupid in that one. I guess money can buy an education but it sure can't buy brains.

I'm at Starbucks in Aptos finally waiting for my Honey Scott to come visit. I'm soooooo glad it's Friday!!! A whole weekend of Scott, studying, maybe some movies, more studying... and Scott. And no kids. HA.

Pischina-ku is back open!

That old site used to be where I would write one haiku a day, every day before 7am. After awhile I got out of doing it, then I forgot all my Blogger passwords. I always loved my Pischina-ku site though, that's why I kept the link over there on the right.

But today for some reason I tried one more time, and WaLAA! Not only did I get right into Blogger, but it had ALLLLLLLLLLLL my old blogs, like blogs that no one ever knew about, even a blog that I had created to be super de DUPER top secret but that Blogger promptly made a "Blog of the Day" or whatever, haha. Anyway there are all there, and I've been sitting here reading through them, and I am really glad I have them again. I don't need to write there in most of them, it's mostly all pre-Scott, which means Bad News, but some are from the beginning of Scott, and it was really sweet to read. I may have to print all of those out, even the scandalous entries, just so I have a permanent record of them. Thank you Blogger and Internet Gods for keeping all those olllllld entries.

I'm not giving you the links to those old blogs though. Just the haiku one.

Anyway, my school schedule does not allow me to do a daily haiku before 7am, so I'm just going to try to do one every day. Like my original intent - these are not going to be award winning haiku, just something to get my brain started.

But if you wish, go back through the archives, because now that I'm reading my old haiku again, they really bring back a lot of pleasant memories.

Link on the right.

OH! Also, I wrote a new diary entry too.

Spent a lovely weekend in Aptos!! It was especially nice because it's generally 10 degrees cooler - no heatwave there!

Friday evening we ate dinner at Aqui's before driving over to Aptos. Saturday we went to the coffee shop, then Scott went to visit his daughter and I stayed home reading and reading and reading, for Shakespeare and Mythology.

Sunday Scott had kung fu classes all day so I took my books to the BEACH! WHOOOOOO, I need to study that way more often! And guess what, I saw DOLPHINS!!! And SEALS!

I have seen dolphins swim by at the beach before, but much further away. If anyone reading this knows where the "cement ship" is, that's where I was, and the dolphins were swimming by just at the end of the cement ship. But I have NEVER seen seals swimming all around where people are. I have seen them all over the rocks in Monterey, but never in Santa Cruz. But Sunday one came up about five feet from the sand, stuck his head out of the water and just looked at us all for a while! Then I saw a different one swimming down the beach, stopping every so often to look at the swimmers, and then later there was a group of FIVE seals that all popped their heads up to watch us! It was amazing - and something so few people get to see, I felt really lucky to be able to see such a sight.

That evening we went to El Palomar for scallop and prawn tacos, and margaritas, and SO YUMMY MOJITOS!!! Omigosh, believe it or not I have only had a mojito made once from a mix - this one was very hand made from scratch, and it was possibly the most delicious thing I have ever drank. YUMMMMMM.

Then we went to the theater to see "War", and let me save you $10 - This movie was crap. I love Jason Statham, and Scott loves Jet Li... but the movie was crap.

This morning we watched "The Painted Veil" on DVD - now THAT was a good movie. I never would have picked it myself, but I really loved it.
Then we had a great breakfast at the Red Apple Cafe... and then I had to come home. However, the heat wave seems to be over (WOOOOO)! It is still very warm, but just regular hot, not stupid hot.

Okay, that's enough for now. Tomorrow - School and work, yay. Heh.

I didn't really talk about the zoo before, but seeing an elephant on TV just now reminded me.

I saw elephants! Blowing water on themselves!!!

Hee. Yes, I loved the zoo.

We saw beautiful kangaroos, the hugest turtles, giraffes, POLAR BEARS, monkeys...

The hugest bat I've ever imagined, its wingspan was easily 18-24 inches. I never saw a bat that big in a movie. I'd freak out if that thing was flying around my hair.

There were two kinds of monkeys in a huge netted area. They were chasing each other all around. "Oh how Cute!!!" Then one of the monkeys caught another monkey and tried to mount her - against her will - and the uh, penis came out... and the female escaped and RAN. And he chased her! And we realized all the male black monkeys were the ones chasing the females and all the other grey monkeys. The little grey monkeys didn't look that happy - especially when they had their tails grabbed by the black ones. As we left one of the monkeys carefully studied another's behind... we thought we knew what was coming... but no, he just picked a bug out of the butt and ate it.

Ew.

We saw beautiful geckos and other lizards, beautiful birds... we missed the pandas, lions and tigers. But we saw hippos, a rhino, llamas, lots of pigs, hogs and warthogs, some okapi.

I loved it. SO much. We turned a corner and I yelled "GIRAFFES!!!" like a little kid. "POLAR BEARS!!!" "ELEPHANTS!!!"

And the elephant put his nose in the water and gave himself a shower.

It was a good weekend. The wedding was super fun! Although the bride and groom are BOTH super-duper-rich, the wedding was not over the top, it was a very nice wedding that could have been anyone's. I like that, weddings like that focus more on the couple getting married than the display of wealth and excess. It was beautiful. The bride was beautiful, but she's always beautiful. The groom looks more like his dad every day, and his dad is super handsome and was very proud and emotional. They are a good family. I was right at the edge of too-much-wine at the reception, but I did not cross the line, so there was much fun. Spent time with Scott's family and some old co-workers that I see every year at the Christmas party. There were three old female co-workers I was unpleasantly surprised to see, but I was able to get through all three encounters well (by completely ignoring one, having a nice conversation with another, and restraining myself from calling the third a "dumb ignorant bitch" [yes, I was proud of myself]). But I had a good time with the other co-workers and family, and of course with Scott. Pictures on Flickr, though not many and not clear - I promise to get a good camera for Mexico!

By the way - 28 more days!!!!

Okay, I am off to Aptos, see ya'll on Sunday!

Cool morning so far

Today is going to be better because:

1. The house happens to be somewhat cool at 7:30am so I am quickly doing some wash and enjoying myself.
2. As soon as all the wash is done I'm getting the hell out of Dodge and going to nice, cool Aptos.

The only down point of this weekend will be tomorrow. We have another wedding to go to, Scott's nephew, and it's at 2pm in Morgan Hill (or maybe Gilroy, I forget) at the Catholic Church. Morgan Hill and Gilroy are both usually ten degrees hotter than San Jose. So that is not going to be pleasant. But then the reception is at some fou-fou richy-rich country club. So I assume that's going to be air conditioned.

It seems like recently the kids and I have been around a lot of rich people, whether it's parties or weddings or whatever. We have fun and the houses are beautiful, but I think we have just as much if not more fun at pot luck barbecues. I mean, there's something to be said for getting a little dirty and eating homemade mexican food and listening to loud music and also not worrying about accidently breaking a Ming vase that's in the middle of a hallway.

We saw Live Free or Die Hard last night. It was AWESOME. Bruce Willis kicks ass - and so do a couple other characters in the movie, including females.
Buffy: But WHY are the bad guys doing this again?
Me: I have no idea. Just go with it.
Buffy: Okay.
I mean - you don't really need to understand the reason why all the awesome car chases and explosions are happening. You just need to enjoy them.
Buffy: Um, I don't think that's really very realistic, hanging from the plane... and the freeway crashing down...
Me: I know. Just go with it.
Buffy: Okay.
I mean, it was a fun enough movie that you don't care if it crosses the line of believability. It definitely crosses it. You're just having way too much fun to care.
Buffy had not wanted to see it, her friend told her the Die Hard movies were "boring". I told her her friend was full of crap. But Buffy had a fantastic time at the movie. Plus, air conditioned theater, so no one was really going to complain.
So ya'll should go see it too.

Time to go change the wash.

Okay, the swelling is coming down now, my limbs are feeling much better. It looks like I really will get to go to the gym! Yayyy! Remember kids, use sunscreen!

We had an absolutely Wonderful time at the beach today. However.

You would think a 40 year old sun worshipper would finally realize that when you go to the beach for the first time of the year, on a gorgeous sunny day, that you should put sunscreen on. Sunscreen which I had, and which everyone else put on.

Now you may call me Mrs. Reddy McLobster.

(It was still the best day ever, and a wonderfully fun day with the kids)

Also, San Diego was beautiful, from the moment the plane started flying in to it. Beautiful ocean, beautiful boats, trees, parks, birds, delicious food, museums... There are many snippets and details that I will probably think of here and there, but one thing is for sure, I really loved the city. I could easily live there.

I'll have to think of an excuse to bring the kids there soon, heh.

Home again!

I'm home safe and sound!
We had a great time, the wedding was really nice, held at two, get that? TWO Mansions. It was crazy. I wanted to wander the house taking pictures but didn't think it would be polite. So I only took one of each house, hee. Anyway, bride and groom were beautiful and very nice and happy, and we had a good time. Then today I talked Scott into taking me to the San Diego Zoo. We had a great time! Pictures on Flickr. And then we drove to Old Town for lunch where I had the very best tacos I have ever ever EVER tasted. And then we took the plane home.
Also, the flights there and back were the easiest and nicest of the six flights I have taken this year. They were really really great.

Anyway, we're home! Safe but sunburned, but happy with my kids again. Yayy!

Omigosh, in exactly 24 hours my plane with be taking off down the runway!!! Unless there's a delay... I don't want any delays!!

90 minutes later we'll be touching down in San Diego, pick up our rental car, and drive to the Doubletree Hotel Del Mar.

We go to a wedding dinner that evening. Saturday at 2pm is the wedding and Partay!!! And Sunday we have all day to ourselves to explore San Diego in our rental car. Back to the airport at 4pm, and we'll be back home at 7pm.

I think it will be a very nice weekend. And no, you won't be getting any new posts after tomorrow morning!

After writing the post below I looked around for some wood and saw my wooden ruler. I gave it a good pounding with both my fists, heh. But it worked!

Work went well! Got lots of work done!
Body felt great all day after my swimming!
Took Spike to the Dentist - and took a nap in the waiting room! (sitting up, haha)
Drove home - and Phoebe ran in front of the car to greet us! Just like old times!
Brought the Taco Bell in... And Phoebe kept jumping on the table to steal Spike's taco!
WOOOO! The kitty is improving again!
Took Buffy home from swim practice - and she's still behaving!
Realized I'm leaving for San Diego on Friday! Good Times!

Also... watched Paris Hilton on Larry King... I actually was pretty impressed. I really was. Am I crazy? This is the first time I've ever seen her act like a grown up. She stumbled on a few answers, but mostly due to Larry King's idiotic questions. (Seriously? GAWD he was stupid. And looking stupid next to Paris Hilton? Maybe it's time to retire, Larry.) 30 minutes into the interview I realized I was looking at a gorgeous 26 year old woman. Who is not perfect, but certainly seems to see things in a different way now. I'm going to go out on a very precarious limb here and say - I think she will change. The dumb act certainly was dropped this evening. We shall see. But if she does change, if she starts doing charitable work - and I don't even care if she parties, that was never an issue, the stupidity and bringing no value into the world and being a bad example was the issue - well, I may just learn to love her a tiny little bit.

I hope she doesn't screw this up, because if she does I'm going to have to sort through a lot of posts to find this one and delete it so there's no incriminating evidence against me. Ya'll will still love me, right?

A better day so far...

Went to the gym, swam 52 laps, and feel pretty wiped out right now (but also goooood)...
Came to work... donde estan los beach balls? It is very quiet this morning at work! (hee)...
The stock market is doing okay at 10am, so I'm crossing my fingers that downward spiral is over for the week...
The maids come today...

Yes. Yes, so far things are going well. KNOCK ON BIG BLOCK OF WOOD.

I actually got to go to Aptos this weekend, sans kitty cat, and had a very nice time.
We saw "1408" which scared the shit out of me.
Went to Cafe Rio on the beach. After what, four years? they finally changed their menu, and I had the most delicious scallops (wrapped in prosciutto) EVER. Yay for the new menu.
And came home to two very fat, happy, content and not-missing-me kitty cats. Which made me happy, because that is how it should be.

Next Friday Scott and I take a flight to San Diego for a wedding. I am happy happy happy to go traveling again, even if it is just to San Diego. Airports mean traveling far away, rental cars mean freedom, nice rooms in hotels mean good times. Yay for weddings in San Diego.

The following Saturday we go to another wedding for his nephew, the son of my old boss. But it's only an hour away.

As of today, there are only 42 days until the kids and I head to Mexico on a big giant cruise ship - WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Went to the gym this morning, worked out for 1 hour 45 minutes. Yayyyy!
Came to work and finished up a huge project. Yayyyy!

Everyone seems really happy about my cute bathing suit, but not as happy as I am!! I went to just buy something so I could swim, I look like a big fat cow at the moment - and that is not an exageration, so shut up - so I just wanted something that fit. I wasn't sure I would wear have the guts to wear it in public on the cruise, but I wanted something to swim in at the gym.

So I picked out four different ones. The first one fit. So it was a keeper. I looked like crap, but it fit, and when you're big like a cow and round like a ball then you take the one that fits.
The second one looked like... more crap, only worse. So I put that one in the "no" pile.
The other two had skirts. When I first saw the suits I thought "Oh HELL no, I will NOT wear a 'swimdress' ". But I took two and tried them on just in case.

I put the first one on and looked in the mirror and what I saw was cute little me wearing a little sun dress. With almost... wait for it.... a WAIST. It was totally amazing how I looked so cute and adorable in the "swimdress". Buffy was waiting outside so I actually opened the dressing room door (yes, people might even have SEEN) and showed her. She stood leaning against the wall, bored as a 15 year old could be, but took a look at me and said "Wow. That is CUTE." Me: "I know, right?"

So I tried the last one on, and it looked just as adorable. So I dumped the first crappy suit and bought the two swimdresses. I have one pretty blue one and one black & white one. I would definitely wear these to the cruise. I would maybe even wear them to the neighborhood pool. Yes, in public.

They were $78 each, but 30% off, so the came out to $53. But money worth spent as far as I'm concerned. It's not often a fat woman feels cute in a swim suit. It's not often a THIN woman feels cute in a swim suit. So get yourself down to Penneys and check out the swim dresses if you're curious.

I looked online and can't find the exact ones but they look a little like this and this and this. And the best part is, I actually look like the models in the suits - Crazy but true!

In response to Catie's so so SO nice and concerned comment (HEEE) I have to say I have not been bored for one second since Phoebe got sick. I'm sure it probably came across in my minute by minute story telling of her progress, but I have played 24 hour nursemaid to her for about 10 days now. All my days and nights were spent caring for and worrying about her.

To the point that now she acts like a little baby. Like I said before, Phoebe was never a loving cat, she never wanted to sit on your lap or anything. But she was a very social cat, she loved to come and say hi to everyone but then be on her way. Not anymore!!! Now she doesn't want me out of her sight, if I take her outside she just wants to sit on my lap, she meows and meows for us to pick her up. It's quite hilarious really.

Me getting so sick at least stopped me in my tracks and helped me remember what it is to just sit and relax. I've finished two books in the last three days and am getting ready to start another one. Also, Lanie sent me three books from her collection that look really interesting. Now I am really looking forward to just sitting around this summer and reading!!!

This morning Phoebe jumped the baby gate I had put across the front door, and was already getting ready to cross the street when I caught her. Silly kitty!!! The doctor said her walking problems were probably due to a bladder infection caused by the stones. The antibiotics are taking care of that and she is getting better and better, but she still stumbles occasionally. If she can manage to jump the fence in the back yard then I'll believe she's ready to cross the street. For now she remains under house arrest.

Back I go to read some more. I feel so much better today but still am pretty weak. Could be because I have only had that one half sandwich in the last 36 hours. Also, my ribs are terribly sore from throwing up for 5 hours straight. Ugh. Glad that's over!!!

Everyone have a good weekend, I'm out for now!

HOME!

That's right, I'm typing this up on the internet from HOME.
That doesn't mean it will work tomorrow, or even an hour from now, but at the moment... we have contact!!!

I finally managed to look up the repair number for my internet when I was at work today, but could not call until I got home, and I actually had 45 minutes to sit on hold to speak to them when I got home today.

Of course in the middle of that phone call it started working.

So I'm not sure they did anything, but it has been working for five hours now, so I'm going to turn this off and go to bed and hope it will turn on in the morning. Things will go much better if it does.

You see, working from Starbucks forces me to lose over two hours a day because I have to shift my work schedule. And it prevents me from being able to do anything from home, like wait for the glass company to come repair the window. But if it works now, then I get home tomorrow at 3pm and can finish studying. And I can work from home while the glass man comes and not have to miss a day of work.

So that alleviates stress. And so now I REALLY feel better.

Except I do miss my mom. But that's never going to change.

*****

Go see Grindhouse ya'll. You'll have a blast.

It's official. I will spend the weekend after my birthday with Scott in Volcano, CA again, back at the St. George Hotel. That's been our favorite spot so far, and the place that seems to make us happiest, so there we go. I turn 40 on November 8, a Wednesday so Scott will *probably* come up and have dinner with us, then on Friday we will leave on Vacation. Sans kids. WEEEEEEEE!!!!

SOLD the car!
Sister approved the price of the car AND the house, so this week that's sold too!

So I have a bunch of books packed up, and I'm off to Aptos this evening.

I'll be coming back early Sunday to show my mom's car to someone.
My real estate agent is sending buyers back to come up with a higher price, should have an answer on Monday.

This means I may have a buyer for the car and the house by Monday. That would be so great.
It'll really be great to sell that car. If not to this guy, then Charleen may get it. Someone needs to get it, haha - Why no takers for a car that gets around 50 mpg??

I'm going to bed early tonight. Haven't been getting a lot of sleep lately and can't figure out why. Not worried about anything, just keep waking up and tossing and turning.... Wait, I seem to remember some stray cat outside last night that was howling away, I bet that was the problem. Anyway, I sleep really well at Scott's, so I'm hoping to catch up.

Maybe I'll stop by a sewing store and pick up some embroidery kit. That will keep me busy.

The boredom is getting to me, Catie's right, I need a hobby - like finishing one of my quilts or something. So much to do, too tired to to anything when I get off work. Circle of life.

Can't wait until Spike gets home tomorrow, even though I won't see him until Sunday. I miss him.

Okay back to work.

Hey, I finally took a good picture of me. I think it's a good pic anyway.

Right on time, just as promised, Scott is taking me to a bed & breakfast next month in Monterey.

The Pacific Grove Inn
If you scroll down on this page, we're in the Floyd L. Tuttle Room.

We'll be gone August 20-22, and then I start school the next day. It's right near Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf and all that fun stuff. Yayyyy, I like these vacations!

Today the maids come again.
:-D

Look, I made a new banner for the journal: Click Here

Exciting Day

Bad News:
I can't find my glasses and I am down to only one contact in my left eye.

Good News:
I have an eye appointment Friday.

Best News:
I only have to work 20 hours to keep my benefits. I can do a good school schedule around that. Only 14 units, but I made a new plan with 14 units this year, and then 16 and 17 units my last year - I can quit work then if I need to. Or work something else out. But working 20 hours is really really great. Like, the best news I've had in a very long time!!

My house is CLEAN, and it smells like cinnamon (??) and the floors are clean and mopped and vacuumed, and the bathrooms are scrubbed and the kitchen is scrubbed and my bedroom is beautiful and the very long hallway that had not been vacuumed since October is now fun to run up and down. Or to skip down it.

I am glad I stood firm and made them stay. I do feel that I was in the right, since I had a signed quote from someone who had walked into every single room. There are a few things not done real well, and I am 99% sure they are little digs from the maids who were pissed that they had to clean such a horrible place, but I accept that. I would have dropped a toothbrush into a toilet (oops!) myself. Overall though they did a fantastic job and they must have worked very hard.

In two weeks when they come back I expect to have the house even more re-arranged, and they won't be so pissed at all the dirt to be cleaned (because there won't be any dirt to clean) and the house should be spic and span by then. Right now though the house is the cleanest it's been since I started school.

So the maid supervisor came yesterday, which was kind of hilarious because she obviously didn't clean houses, and I really feel sorry for the real maids that are going to come and do the cleaning.

$287 for the first all-over cleaning (this is half the price I was willing to pay, the house is THAT BAD.)
$97 per time for every other week. If I go weekly it will be $88 per time, but I think every other week is fine.

Since we still have a few boxes and piles to get rid of they aren't going to come until next Tuesday. And then every other Tuesday after that. And Tuesday just happens to be the day Scott comes for dinner. :-D
"Why yes Scott, we DID clean the house nicely, didn't we?"

Just kidding, he knows we're getting a maid. Hee. I was telling him this morning that this seemed like a pretty good deal because I have the money. A year ago I never would have considered it. But for now, I have the money, and I don't have the time due to work and school. So the maid has a job for the next four years.

Next item: A personal chef.

Just kidding.

I am so freaking happy that a MAID is coming to my house today I cannot stand it. I feel like I'm waiting to leave for Disneyland right now.

So MerryMaids called me just now and we set up an appointment for June 5 to come give me an estimate. From her range of prices it looks like I'll take an every other week service, and if I completely fall in love with it I'll go for a weekly.

She gave me a tentative price of $180 for the initial cleaning - without actually seeing the house.

I say, "HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, Silly Maids." I'm ready for an actual estimate of $500 when they see the place, it has not been vacuumed since OCTOBER, and the only thing we've done since October is clean the kitchen and bathrooms and squeezed around extra furniture and stacks of boxes, which means there's a lot of little piles of stuff and dirt. It is way beyond anything I could ever catch up on.

But that's what extra money is for, eh? Making your life easier. I don't need STUFF, that's for sure, but I could sure use an easier life. It's finally here.

I got to swim this morning! 60 laps today, until I was about to throw up.

Drove to Aptos and it's a BEAUTIFUL day today.

Received another email from my aunt, my sister has gotten herself written out of the will - the will she was just recently written IN to when my mother died. Stupid, evil, selfish, crazy girl. And my grandparents are still mad at her.

But my grandparents are having a surprise 65th Wedding Anniversary Party next weekend, and the kids and I and maybe Scott are all going to go.

Now I have to read Vindication of the Rights of Women and Aurora Lee for school and rest. Life is good right now.

Essay written, check.
Sister LEAVING, check.
DVR busily recording non-quality programming, check.

Tomorrow is Swimming, and then it's off to Aptos for a REST.
Hallelujah!!!

The Direct TV man is here right now, and he is the CUTEST, most ADORABLE man I have ever seen. He looks JUST like Orlando Bloom but BETTER, and he's nice and sweet and I made him coffee and he was so happy and appreciative.

And because this house is all screwy (only one phone jack, in the kitchen) he has to spend a lot of time here this morning drilling holes and such. Coooool.

I think I'm going to keep him.

"Eighteen years, Eighteen years,
She got one of your kids
Got you for eighteen years...!"

*waves hands in air, dances all around her cube*

So last night I wasn't feeling that hot, emotionally, and not really that great today either, and I wrote a not very happy entry in the Diary, but I also asked for some cookie and peanut brittle recipes, and today I turn on my computer and my guestbook is FULL of recipes for holiday treats!

And how can you not be a little bit cheerier when your guestbook is full of holiday treats?

Thanks Guys. I'm still not feeling great, but you guys definitely help.

I did it yesterday!
Ran 2 miles!
WHOOOOOOOOO

And in 90 minutes I'm off to Aptos!

Also, Charleen's dad is having his second surgery, so keep them in your thoughts. Thanks...

A) The LOUD INSANE CHRISTMAS MUSIC is back, and I would like to know why, when they have reasonably nice Christmas music playing the volume is down low, but when it is a horrid wretching wail of Christmas songs then they turn it up.

B) I watched the end of The Amazing Race (yes, Season 1) last night, and when Kevin & Drew got eliminated I shut the TV off, threw the remote control, and went to make dinner. I was so pissed off! But then Rob & Brennan won, and even better, the Guidos came in third, and even better, the Guidos came in so far back in third they were told to just forget it.

C) Yes Emily, my Amazon list is up-to-date, but remember, I don't need any gifts. You guys just wish me happy holidays and I will be happy. Also, yes my picture link does not seem to be working, but I don't have time to worry about it yet. I'll fix that later.

D) Indian-Guy next to me just turned his radio on loudly to a baseball game, or something like that, and while now I have Celine Dion screetching in front of me and Howard Cosell yelling next to me, still, it's funny.

E) I AM going to start running.

I'm going to go home, stop at StarBucks and get a coffee, sit on the couch and watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Disc 3 of The Amazing Race, and watch Nancy and Emily, and the Evil Guidos, and the Fantastic Bald Guys all night long. Then I'm going to sleep in, make a huge pot of coffee, and clean the house up. And watch my DVDs again.

And that is it. It has been a long week and I'm soooooo happy it's over.

Also... Shut Up. I know I'm the last person on earth to ever see The Amazing Race, but I finally am and now I know why you all loved it. And don't you DARE tell me who won the first season!!!!!

Okay, off I go....

So I finally got my blood donor card in the mail! That means my blood is all safe and sound, and being used to help people, and now I can schedule my next donation. There's a red cross right on the corner by work. Also, the card says I have O+ blood - I never knew my type before. Now I know. And now I can donate more.

But aside from that, I am cuddled up on Scott's couch here in Aptos, with the wireless laptop in my lap, and a blanket over my legs. Sci-Fi Friday is on, and Scott is in the shower. And I am loving that I have three days off.

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

Well, we didn't go see Donny Osmond because I just really didn't want to use the gas to get there. But if he ever came a little closer I will.

I'm just swamped at work. So much so that I cannot quite imagine taking the 16 units I'm signed up for in the Fall semester. I'm hoping things will calm down, but for the moment my mind is working so hard at work that all I want to do when get home is plop myself on the couch and watch DVDs all evening.

I still have not cooked more than three dinners since starting this job. This is a combination of being so tired from work, and the heat from the summer - it really takes its toll in the kitchen.

Spike has been away at camp all week, and as soon as he comes back he is going on a Mexican cruise with Buffy and their dad. So I'm missing Spike a lot. Buffy and I have tolerated each other for the week, until this morning, but I will miss her next week too. It may be a lonely week, or it may just go by really quickly.

This month is not going to get any easier. I have doctor appointments with Scott, his surgery is the 17th, we inter my father's ashes on the 18th, we *think* Scott gets out of the hospital on the 19th, Spike's birthday is the 17th, the kids start school on the 22nd and 24th, I haven't really even gone grocery shopping since the end of May, there's school shopping, I will probably try to buy a new car before the month is out - and somehow I need to fit in a visit with Megs for her birthday, and I have this horrible feeling that I'm not going to possibly fit that in. This actually upsets me quite a bit, but I'm still trying to figure it out.

Today at 5pm I'll be on my way to Scott's, to prepare his house for post-surgery. The living quarters are on the 2nd floor, his kitchen and bath are on first floor, his bed is about four feet high, his dresser drawers are all low against the floor (under his bed) - so his place really is not suited for someone recovering from a hip replacement. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but after he's done healing things should be so much better.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to this weekend. I need to get away from work and all these projects for awhile.

Today we're leaving to pick up Buffy from camp and head on out to the beach!

See ya!

It's so nice spending an entire weekend here in Aptos, especially when I hear it's back into the 90's in San Jose. Ahhhhhh.... Actually, it was even hot here yesterday, up in the mountains and next to the beach it was mid 80's at least - so you know it's hot in San Jose.

Buffy goes to camp today, about 2 miles from Scott's house. This was her dad's weekend though, so I thought I was going to have to drive 50 miles back to San Jose to pick her up this morning, 50 miles back to Aptos to bring her to camp, and 50 miles back home again. Not looking forward to that. But Buffy asked her dad if he could drive her, for once in their lives, and he actually said yes. We are all shocked. So I only have to drive 2 miles up the road to meet her with her sign-in papers and say goodbye to her.

And hello to a lovely quiet week without a 13 year old girl and her drama - Oh no! I must be a horrible mother, eh? Not. Whatever. Anyway, Spike and I are looking forward to a week of quiet, but we'll be very happy to see her again next Friday.

And guess what I'm gong to do now? RUN. I know, can you believe it?? But yes, as soon as this coffee finishes running through me (great visual there, eh?) I'll be off and running down Freedom Boulevard. 1.5 miles to Hiway one, 1.5 miles back. I gotta start somewhere, and it's going to be today.

Besides, did you see all the fantastically cute clothes out now? I want some.

So I'll see ya'll in a bit.

I would like to stop and take a moment to personally thank God for only letting it be 81 degrees today.

Thank You God. I surely appreciate it.

Oooh, "Goin to California" by Pink is playing on the radio. This brings back memories of going to my old YMCA gym - I loved that gym, and this song was ALWAYS playing there.

I miss my gym.

BUT - good news! I got my new insurance card (and two for the kids! they have medical insurance now!) so I can get my doctor's note to work out in this gym! Hurray! I'm making an appointment right away!

I just ordered these curtains for my living room! I have seen them in the store, and I really like them. I really really HATE the 1970s gold drapes that came with the house. I am really really happy right now, I can't wait to hang them up!

See Megs? I bought something for myself!

Hah! There's $60 available in my credit union account! Saved once again by that silly forgotten little account! And now we can eat for the week. Spike will be thrilled!

We'll have to work a little harder keeping track of all our dough from now on, haha!

True to my life as a boring getting-fatter blogger...

I just got taken out to Starbucks for a Caramel Macchiatto by my supervisor. And tomorrow morning is free bagels and pastries again. And yesterday was Carne Asada in the cafeteria.

And I FINALLY got all the documents together to get my insurance card, so I can finally go get my doctor note saying that I can finally go to the gym at my work that is right on the other side of my wall right here!

So soon I will NOT be a getting-fatter blogger! I'll just be a boring blogger! hahahah...

Barbecue = Success.

PMS = Gone.

Everyone is happy again.

Today may or may not be a happy day. The plan is for the kids to leave with their dad and go to Great America, and also spend the night with him, and that means I get to go back to Aptos and spend the night with Scott.

Except that yesterday, when we were driving home, the jeep was doing some wierd things with the steering, to be exact, it didn't want to turn.
It always has a hard time with sharp left turns, I can even do U-turns unless there's six lanes of traffic, but yesterday it suddenly stopped wanting to make any turn of 90 degrees going either direction.

Which isn't good.

And probably isn't good for driving back over Highway 17.

On the other hand, my rent is due, and I have to pay it at a place halfway to Scott's anyway. And the car drove over Highway 17 just fine yesterday, it wasn't until it got off the freeway that it started acting wonky. So maybe it was just tired.

Anyway, that's the plan for the day, to get over the hill to Scott's and pay the rent too. If I can get over the hill and the car is obviously acting up, I can take Scott's spare car back, so that would be okay. But first I need to get that far.

Okay ya'll, Over and out for now.

Vacation - Day 1

Drove to Aptos at 7:30am with the kids and a friend. Met Scott at the coffee shop and hung out for quite awhile because there was absolutely no sun. Not that that ever stops us from going to the beach, but we were having fun with Scott.
Drove to Play It Again Sports to get Buffy a new boogie board.
Went to the beach where it wasn't cold at all, it was pretty nice, but it wasn't WARM. So we dug holes in the sand, and read, and Spike did a sand dragon and a sand mermaid. Then around noon it started to get colder so we decided to go to the movies.

Scott met us there and we saw War of the Worlds.

That movie was well and truly terrifying. At one point I jumped so high in my seat that popcorn flew everywhere. And by halfway through I just wanted the movie to be over because I was just DONE being so scared.

So yeah, I give it five stars (except for a dumb beginning, and a too abrupt ending). Everything but that first and last five minutes was just too too fabulously terrifying.

Okay, nothing much going on here. Nice quiet weekend with Scott. Last week I watched a lot of DVDs (no school is nice, haha).

Lost in Yonkers - I loved it
Shall We Dance - Loved it way more than I expected to
Intacto - Really liked it
Barfly - I actually hated it at first - Scott had recommended it and I was getting ready to smack upside the head for wasting my time but then it turned out to be a really great movie. I give it 5 stars.

In addition, I read and loved Secret Life of Bees,
I'm finishing the last 20 pages of Time Traveler's Wife
and LOVE it,
and I really did NOT like Sixpence House.
Next I'm going to read Grapes of Wrath - which I read in high school, but I want to read it again.

And the only TV we could use to watch our two little channels of TV has broken (it's over 15 years old). We have a TV that works for DVDs, but won't get any channels. I'm torn between buying a new TV and getting cable, or just cutting TV out altogether. We probably won't miss it - all we watched was Desperate Housewives and The Apprentice, and we can certainly live without them. The only problem is the kids are often asked to watch some show for their chool work. But I can send them to their dad's house for that, right? I think we're just going to go without TV. I kind of like life without it.

We're going to the beach Saturday.

And I'm a happy girl.

Oh yeah.

All you can eat Cold Stone Ice Cream.

Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee and cake batter ice cream.

Chocolate and caramel topping.

Cherries.

Whipped cream.

Chocolate chips, walnuts, M&Ms, sprinkles.

Oh lordy, I need a doctor's note for the gym.

Also, Corina got married Saturday and she was beautiful and you can see some pictures over at the Flickr account, but taken with my little camera-phone they aren't that great. Just know, she was Beautiful with a capital B.

Swim Meet this morning!
Then Corina's wedding!
Then it's off to Aptos!

See ya Sunday evening!

My old officemate/boss Corina gets married tomorrow! Hurray!

In response to the lovely Angel:
Don't get me wrong, I love Hot Topic, and yes the Napolean Dynamite T's are great (Love LOVE that movie!) but I wouldn't wear them to work. I would totally wear a little black skirt with cherries hanging from it and a black and red corset to match (No, REALLY!)(but not to work, heh) but I'm afraid my size large butt will not fit into those clothes at the moment.

Actually Buffy and I also had a wonderful time in the store Anchor Blue, they had the cutest clothes at not bad prices and everything was on clearance. I told her I was going to work out as hard as I could at my new job's gym so I could get back into shape quickly and wear those cute clothes.

Also? We went to Old Navy to try on some Super Skirts! Super Skirts! but my ass? does not look good in a Super Skirt! Super Skirt!

Actually, it wasn't even my ass, it was the big ole stomach in front, haha. But I was not depressed, I know I can get it back down again.

And speaking of big, I picked out this really cute little red summer sweater to wear for my first day today (It feels like the first day of school, haha!) and today I put it on for the first time...

And I have some huge boobies peaking out of the neckline, which is quite a scoop neck. I mean, WOW. BOOBIES. They're hard to miss today, believe me.

No, you don't get any pictures.
;-)

I am off to get ready for my New and Improved Big-Girl Big-Salary Job.

Buffy just pulled out a bunch of free tickets to the Greek Festival from her school books, so guess where we're going today after church? WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! Festivals are so much fun when you have money!! It's greek food for us today!!!

We're having a pretty lovely weekend.

Okay, we won the swim meet, or should I say we pulverized them. Wow. Something like 90 - 295. It was close, HAH!

Spike got first in backstroke, second in butterfly and freestyle, and they won both relays.

Buffy got fifth in backstroke and butterfly and fourth in free. But she's swimming against kids a year older than her too, so actually she's doing pretty fantastic.

I got a little sunburn, in very odd patches since I sat in one place and read my book the whole morning. Heh.

And then we went shopping and bought a barbeque and some clothes for the kids for their swim dance last night, and for me for Corina's wedding next week, and also a little froggy welcome mat.

AND we went to Fresh Choice for lunch and we had a really really great day.

And Spike wants to dress me in clothes from Hot Topic.

Okay Spike? Not.

Swim meet today! First official one of the year! So here I am, Saturday morning, been up since 5:30 and it's about time to get down to the pool. Happy Weekend!

Ya know, one thing that makes me REALLY happy about the money I'll be making is knowing that now I can get some little things for some computer people who have been very nice and helpful to me over the years. And birthdays! Presents! And thank yous!

It's just nice. It's nice knowing I can be a giver again, instead of just a taker.

:-D

WOOOOOO, Go me!!!

Finished 98% of my science presentation, due Thursday.

Checked out the last four tapes I need to view before Wednesday's History Quiz.

Re-worked resume and emailed to Friend.

AND... Cleaned out garage to make way for new washing machine.

Have I mentioned this? A friend at work heard that I did not have a washing machine (it's been broke for a year and a half, repair man says no can fix, too old), and she just happens to have a spare machine in her garage. That she's giving to me for free! FREE!!! Her drier had broken so then went to get a new one and there was a great deal on washer/dryer sets so they just got a whole set even though the washer worked fine. And I know that girl, she keeps spic and span house, I know that washer will be in great shape.

So we're leaving to go get it in 20 minutes. And then it will be wash wash wash and absolutely no complaining about it! WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

My essay is 1042 words so far and I still need a conclusion - due tomorrow evening, I'm doing great!
History exam this evening, I've got the chapters down, studying for the essay question today at work.
Science exam tomorrow evening - I'll be cramming the entire chapter in tomorrow at work.
One more 1500 word essay due next Thursday, I'll do that this weekend.

I'm on a roll! And then it's easy from there - only about 4-5 weeks of school left!

Repairman says "Washing machine is ancient JC Penny's brand, cannot get parts any more, all rusted, get rid of it."

But he fixed the oven and we made bisquits last night, yummmm!!!

Scott is in the shower. I need to go study for History.

See ya Guys Later!

Yesterday we took my paycheck and bought groceries. Yay for groceries!!! also, I wrote over 600 words for my essay. Yay for over halfway there! I can write the rest at work... Sssshhhhhh don't tell. I'm writing about a poem called "Movie" by Muriel Rukeyser. I like it.

Scott comes over tonight. Yay for Scott! We will have a good stir-fry dinner. Possibly the oven will be fixed by the repairman today, and maybe even more possibly the washing machine too.

Kids start swim practice this week. BOOO swim practice and having to pick them up every evening. Gas is $2.69 here, I think the kids can ride their bikes the 1.5 miles home, don't you?

I'm going to make a bagel. And eat it.

Science was canceled today due to a sick teacher - WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
My first canceled class! I was pretty thrilled because I had a really interesting project in World Lit that I wanted to work on. I decided I could go to the gym on the way home, but then I remembered the front lawn that could be mowed. I figured mowing with the push mower would be a good workout.

Wow! Was it! It took me a good half hour to mow the front lawn and I was totally huffing and puffing and sweating. With a big ole smile on my face as I watched the lawn get mowed. WHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.... I loved that sound. I came inside, could barely walk or move my arms, and fell into my computer chair, completely out of breath.

LOVED it!!!

Worked on my project, loved that too - computer crashed right in the middle of it but I calmly shut it down, rebooted and spent an hour clearing the crap off it, and now it works fine again.

All in all, things are just going well. Except for the power still being out in half the house and now the oven is broken too... Overall, the important things are getting taken care of.

Things are pretty good right now, poorness and all.

Please, House, don't burn down. Just let me be happy and calm and peaceful for a few months, okay?

Tadaaahhhh!!!!

My new mower!!!!

On sale for $99, and it turns out I had $167 in my credit union account. Spike already happily mowed the back yard, running all over the place, and this weekend we'll get the rest of the yard done. The neighbors won't hate us anymore!!!

Scott didn't understand why we didn't just get the gas mower fixed - but the damn thing is broken ALL THE TIME, I don't know how to fix any machine, and it was costing money always getting it fixed. Now we have a back to basics, sturdy, environmentally friendly, quiet mower that I can use at 6am, 9pm, and isn't likely to break or run out of gas.

Our lawn is safe again. Bring on the sprinklers.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO My new phone! FREE for renewing my contract with Cingular!
And... It's a camera phone!!! And I think I get free text messaging too, but I've just barely unpacked it and plugged it in, so I'll let you all know later.

For now I am getting ready for a short day at work and then drive Buffy to her church retreat in, (SO convenient!), Aptos! So I'll see ya all later!

So with some of my last little extra change left from my student loan (it all went to bills) I bought a new bra from Target, a black Gilligan & O'Malley bra for $10.00 and I LOVED it. I loved it SO much I went back and bought two more... a white one and a RED one.

Do you know that after 26 years of wearing a bra I don't believe I've ever had a red one? Even when I worked at Victoria's Secret?

Well, I have one now.

I realized this week that I haven't cut my hair since school started last August, as a result it's halfway down my back and I have to wear barrettes just to keep it out of my face. Somehow I get away with this even though I'm 38 years old. But I wanted a change.

So this morning I took off 6 to 8 inches, it's right to my shoulders now, and I trimmed my bangs and dyed it a dark Chestnutt brown.

I LOVE it.

No, no pictures, I'm too lazy right now. Or really just too busy with school. Anyway, gotta go study.

And I finally have my permanent bridge! My little fake teeth, all shiny and white and beautiful looking are now permanently cemented to my other teeth, and I didn't have to have any shots and she only hurt me a little (well, a lot but only for a few seconds) and it will never come out and I can chew better and brush my teeth harder and I am just really really really happy it's all over and I never have to go back.

Because I will never ever EVER go back to that particular dentist office again.

Hamilton Beach coffee maker!
Ghiradelli chocolate!
Mocha candle!
Melon candle!
Peet's Coffee!
Ghiradelli coffee!
Pink Sweater!
Artwork!
Olive oil dipping set!
Oil and Vinegar bottles!
Incense!
Wind chimes!
Hyacinth bulbs!
Pop Corn popper with pop corn!
Mean Girls!
Season 6 Buffy!
And lots more!

I don't think I mentioned that the starter went out in the jeep Saturday evening, and the kids and I got a ride home with the tow truck at midnight, but it's not even a crisis because I have my student loan in the bank and can afford to spend a couple hundred dollars to get it fixed.
Not a problem.
We be just like regular people now.

Plus, I get to go to work in a taxi tomorrow. I hope they're on time. Then tow the jeep to the mechanic by my work, have him fix it, and go home in it that night.

Also, I love Scott. Still. Lots.

This lady is my new Idol

I just bought an Anne Taintor calendar, and went to her website which sells the Best. Items. EVER.

I will be back someday to write about my birthday and all other good stuff, but for now I have a history mid term to study for and many many other essays and assignments to complete. So no typing here for a while.

I'll see you after the grading period.

And thanks SO much for all the birthday greetings!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAAAAAY
TOOOOO MEEEEEE!!!!

YAYYYYY!!!!!

*Applause*

"Thank you! Thank you!"

So tomorrow I turn 38 years old and I've decided to get up at 5am and do a run. I think that's a great way to start the day...

Plus I may get to end the day watching Supervisor clean out her desk - now that would be the BEST present!!!

I am happy and proud to say that I pounded a few nails into Supervisor's coffin today myself. Had to. Can't let the opportunity pass, eh?

So Supervisor? You're screwed. Hope I get to be there when you clean out your desk.

See ya Monday!

Oh, one more thing... "Sucks to be YOU!"

Who cares about getting old? Not me!

Four more days until Birthday Time! WHOOOOO!!!!

One week until my birthday!

I love kids who bring home giant bags of candy on Halloween and then give them to ME.

Love them Love them LOVE Them!!!

My extra credit quiz points were just added in for Oceanography and now I have an A-!!! WHOOOOO

I know, I'm boring.

Scott and I are going to a party tonight at a friend's house. Lots of good food and fun.

I have essays to write, of course. Including one on gay marriage - I'll try to keep my rants to a minimum, heh.

Already turned in my absentee voter ballot. Used the company postage meter to pay the postage - I'm sure my Republican boss will understand, heee.

And finally, how must it feel for a certain someone to return to work on Monday and find out she is the laughingstock of the company? I mean, even more than she was before.

Sorry Supervisor, but you nailed your own coffin with this one.

OOH, also I went in to sign the almost-final papers for my student loan. $3500!!! I can get the poor little convertible fixed (it's been sitting in the driveway since February!) and get a washing machine and buy a couple new bras and pay off a couple bills. WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

And only 2.77% interest which the government will pay for as long as I am in school. OH yah, Baybee.

Okay, got my B in Oceanography (*relief*!) and just turned in my 750 word essay on the Presidential Debate (as usual I ran over and turned in over 1000 words), I think I left my American Lit book at work, I only have one discussion posting left for Critical Thinking, but now I think I deserve a nap and a viewing of Dangerous Beauty.

Also, my hair did turn out somewhat red, but I am happy. Mostly a dark brown with burgundy hints. It's fine. I like it.
:-)

After how long? Almost a year? I finally have a new vacuum and don't have to vacuum my entire 1500 sq foot house that's filled with long black cat hair with the VACUUM HOSE. Yes, our roller brush broke so so so long ago, and I've had to vacuum with just the HOSE since then. Needless to say, our house hasn't been getting vacuumed that often - it's a pain in the ass.
But today Target had a sale on the Dirt Devil Jaguar for $45!!! My old vacuum was a Hoover bagless, and while I liked the bagless part, I had lots of problems with the roller brush, and all the Hoover owners I know also have roller brush problems. A new roller brush costs almost $30. Dirt Devil had a bagless for only $10 more, but it required a filter that cost $25 to replace. Uh Uh. So the Dirt Devil WITH bag is what I got, and my house is finally cat hair free again.

I know you all were just dieing to know this.

*****

Also, I did well on my Oceanography exam. I don't think I got an A, but probably a B or C, which makes me happy. I should know by tonight.

I finally got my pictures back at Three65Pics. I had to re-sign up for a gold membership that had lapsed long ago, but I finally had some spare cash, enough to buy enough time to get them switched over to this server. So if you want to see a lot of pictures from July 2002 to... whenever I stopped, heh, go click the link and enjoy. The first two are just blank, my test entries to keep Andrew from deleting the whole thing. There is a little "archive" link on the bottom right of the picture square that you can use to navigate if you wish, or just keep hitting "previous". Pictures of the kids, the pets and the burned up house.

Now I have 30 days to transfer. I wanna thank Megs one more time for giving me this domain so that I can keep those pictures! LOVE you Meg, thank you SO much!

Ah Sleep, Blessed Sleep.

I was able to sleep the whole night through and my tooth didn't even hurt when I woke up (it started again about an hour later though). We went to church and there was some sort of festival there, so we stayed until about 2:30, eating candy (yes, candy), free barbeque burgers and chips, and collected several stickers and bookmarks and bracelets, etc.

Came home and finished my next paper for Critical Thinking (At 7 pages I'm not sure if I wrote too much, I don't seem to have a problem with quantity, that's for sure - hopefully my quality is just as good, heh). Tried to read more in my Survey of Am Lit book and the next chapter of Critical Thinking, but got sleepy and took a half hour nap on the couch.

Went outside to do laundry. Last month when we didn't have any money for the laundromat I took a big ole Rubbermaid bucket and washed the clothes in that. It's so hot in the summer it was a pretty refreshing activity, actually.
(Spike, on seeing me in the back yard: "MOM! Have you lost your MIND???" heee)
It's actually so refreshing that Buffy has been helping me, and even washed her brother's clothes all by herself when he forgot to get them out for me. So now we're saving $40 a month in quarters, and hopefully we'll get a washing machine in the next couple months. And don't worry, we'll have enough quarters by the time it gets cold here.

And now I'm just reading my school books some more. The online classes are pretty damn great, I have to say. I would recommend them to anyone - well, anyone who knows how to use a computer and is willing to do their work. If you're thinking about going back to school but aren't sure if you have the time, I say sign up for one online course and go from there.

And that's it. Back to my reading. It's been a very happy day so far.

I'M BACK AND I'M TYPING FROM HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU PATRICK-THE-COMPUTER-GOD!!!!

Alanis was BeeeeYOOtiful. I LOVED her. I LOVE her. Buffy LOVED her. She was SO AWESOME. I want to see her tomorrow night too!!!! And the next, and the next, and the next... Buffy bought a poster of the Bare Naked Ladies with a naked Alanis in front (at $10 it was the only thing we could afford) and we both had the BEST time. We had lawn seats but got there really early so we were right in front, and with Buffy's smiling happy face and my tear smeared face (it was very emotional for me to see her in person, long story, heh) the usher/gateguard took pity on us and let us sit in the regular seats for a little while!

Oh, and Katherine was closest in her guess about you know what (that I didn't know was going to cause such an uproar, hah), but I cannot talk about it here. I'll tell you when/if it happens, kay?

Well, Spike "forgot" to tell me that our internet has been working since last night, but now FINALLY, I get to tell you...

Buffy and I are on our way to see Alanis Morissette and the Barenaked Ladies RIGHT NOW!!!! At 7pm PST we will be happily singing and dancing away.

See you all tomorrow!

Tomorrow I get off an hour early and travel to Aptos to spend the evening with Scott. Friday mornng we'll get up and go to the coffee shop, then Scott will go to work and I go pick up the kids from camp.
Then we go to the Beach!!!
We'll spend the day there, then Saturday is Swim Finals, then Sunday is Awards.
Then, life gets back to normal.

For now I'm looking forward to one hour less with Supervisor, and a nice quiet weekend in Aptos.

I won tickets to see Alanis Morissette with The Barenaked Ladies at the Shoreline on July 28!!!!!!!!!!
I'm taking Buffy with me and she is SOOOOOO excited, but not as excited as I am!!!!!!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!
We are off to the beach - long story behind this but I'll write about it later.
However, the kids and I are off to have lots of fun, then we'll spend the night at Scott's house (he's in Oregon visiting friends) then off to the beach again.
Ciao!

We won the swim meet, by 40 points!

Buffy got 4th in Breast stroke and 2 First Places in relays,

Spike also got a 4th in (something, heh) and a First in his relay.

Me, I got a sunburn.

Last week

I'm going to write an entry later about this week, but in a nutshell this is where I've been:

I can't see out my contacts anymore so I went to eye doctor and got a new perscription, AND new glasses! My old ones are from the 1980's, big bug-eyed blue plastic frames. I love love love my new ones. I'll take a picture after they come in.

Pischina-Kitty escaped through a window and ran away with a very dorky siamese cat. After 24 hours I managed to catch her, throw her back into the house, and annul that feline marriage right out the window. I'm sure she's now about to become a single unwed mother. Slut. I'm going to be SO pissed if she is.

I woke up with a bad neck the other day, unable to turn my head in any direction at all and it really really really sucked and HURT. Today, after 3 days, I can finally turn it, it only hurts a little.

I am enrolling back into Evergreen College, with possibly some classes at Cabrillo next semester. I am very very happy, the only thing tearing me up right now is deciding where I want to transfer to, San Jose State University or UC Santa Cruz. I would rather go to UCSC but I don't think I'll be living over there at that time. The problem is that entirely different courses are required for each transfer, I just don't want to waste time taking the wrong ones. But I'll probably focus on SJSU since it's most likely I'll still be here. I can always transfer over my senior year I guess (?). But I cannot wait for classes to start. If I concentrate on SJSU then I'll be taking Oceanography and Nutrition at Evergreen, and possibly Mass Media at Cabrillo. Eventually I would love to take all the italian courses at Cabrillo!!!!

Today is the first swim meet. It's 6:20am on a Saturday and I've been up for an hour. It's time to wake the kids.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!

So far it's been a good one for me...

I've lost 4 pounds!!!!

I can't believe it's here already, I am SO freakin happy that it's Friday. Hurray! And Mother's Day too! WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!

So it finally cooled off here, and tomorrow I am off to Aptos. I can't wait.

Also, I finally did my New York City Ballet workout tape, I liked it. Just like ballet class old times, heh. It's not going to help a whole lot, but it is good for a start. This weekend I'm planning to run, and I'm taking my Tae Bo tapes too.

I've lost two pounds.

33 more to go!

I'm going to bed now but remember...

Happy Earth Day!!!
(Tomorrow - April 22)

See how pretty Google is today?

A. Buffy's concert went well and was mercifully only an hour.

B. I may be getting a bonus on Friday, all signs point to $200.

Hurray!!!!!

Of course, it's not for sure, but signs point that way.

WOOOOO My Blog Stock is finally available for trading! Now you should all go to BlogShares and buy my stock (go to my right hand column, all the way at the bottom). At the moment it's at a very very low 79cents/share but you know my value is waaaaay more than that. You know it, Baybee. And go sign up if you aren't already, cuz I want to own a piece of all of you!

Except for Kim, whom I will own all of very very soon..

And for those of you who don't know what BlogShares is, it's FAKE money, fake stocks, etc. It's all a game. No one really makes money. Just didn't want anyone thinking I'm actually asking you to spend money, haha, it's just in fun.

WHEEEEEE

Happy Sunday!!

We are going to church, then we'll do some chores, watch more movies (Rushmore and Orange County) and also go to the library so Buffy and friend can work on their reports. I think it will be a good day.

WOOOOO I just saw the $250 check to PGE was cleared this morning, so cross that problem off the list!

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

Not only can I win tickets to this little concert (they have these little concerts with like 15 people in a very small place and you get to talk to the singer afterward!) but then I get a chance to win tickets to her concert in...

CANADA

Get this, she's opening for the DALAI LAMA in Canada, and the grand prize is a trip there to see her!

SO awesome...

Today we saw "Secret Window" and I thought it was GREAT. Johnny Depp was fantastic too. Scott didn't love it so much, but also figured out the whole ending pretty early. I didn't figure it out until it was done, heh, so I enjoyed it more.

This morning I saw "The Opposite of Sex" which totally different than I expected - for some reason I thought it was a serious movie, not a funny one - but I really loved that one too.

Next we're going out to dinner with Scott's housemates. So far a really nice weekend.

I am home, I got paid, and now we're off to buy Buffy her birthday desk. I found a really really nice one at Target for only $50 - it was better than the more expensive ones! And she really loves it.

Then off to the laundromat...

Then to the grocery store for food - I'm getting lots of yogurt and cranberry juice and fruits and veggies. It's time to start the diet phase of Operation 20 Year Reunion, and not only do I love yogurt and cranberry juice but they make my tummy feel good too.

And we're off...

Happy Sunday!
Spike spent the night at a friend's house and is going to church with him today, so Buffy and I are going to try a different church. Still a Methodist church, but it's down the street from us. We normally drive 20 miles away for the church they've grown up in, that will always be my favorite church where my "family" is. But sometimes closer is better. So today, we try something new.

We are babysitting Charlene's little boy right now, he's 14 months old. and really, he's keeping Buffy busy, she just jabbers away to him and he jabbers back.

Oh yeah, also this weekend I'm hooking up the new VCR that I bought off eBay for $9!!!! I have so many videos that I bought off eBay THREE YEARS AGO that I've never seen because our VCR broke. WHOOEEEEE!!!! We'll be watching all KINDS of movies now!!!

Marci

This is my best friend forever Marci now. We were inseperable from age 9 to 11, and then she moved. We were the "popular" kids back then, and most kids couldn't tell us apart. I always had long long hair, and I cut mine just like hers, in a little pageboy with bangs.

She had the best, nicest family EVER. And it looks like she has one of her own now.

We've only exchanged short emails since last night, "Is this YOU?" "YES!!!" but we'll get in touch tonight or this weekend. It just makes my heart so warm seeing her again, and seeing her so Happy!

I LOVE the internet.

Marci

I just found my best friend from 4th - 6th grade, over the internet.

We are both VERY happy and excited!!!!!

Scott's coming to pick me up and take me to Aptos! He's going to bring me back Sunday and stay with me that night too.
YIPPEEEEEEEE
See ya later!!!

Here comes the Brides... and the Grooms...

Look at all these happy pictures! It makes ME so happy seeing this. It may not last but it's a Step. And even if this huge step gets taken away by President Bush, I have no doubt it will only be a COUPLE years, at most, before it's legal. I felt so helpless not being able to do anything to further this cause, but finally the ball is rolling.

There was a comedian on the radio yesterday, I (unfortunately) didn't catch his name, but he was commenting on gay marriages too. Something like "After 9-11, does anyone even CARE? I mean, isn't banning gay marriage right under 'Are we eating too much garlic as a people' on a list of important topics in our lives? And the president wants to make a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?" He went on and on and it really was funny in one of those if-only-it-weren't-so-serious kinds of ways.

Anyway, I am all sorts of Happy for the people in those pictures.

Okay, PlayStation now works on the other TV. Of course, the first game I got for it is The Angel of Darkness with my beloved Lara.

And in the very beginning of the game, these big black slobbering dogs steal her backpack!!!! Horrors!!!

My Lara has no guns now!

:-)
Yes, I am happily playing away.

I just checked the bank account and the second tax refund is now there! That means with our eBay money and the refund, we get a PlayStation 2 tonight!

Which I realize now is a really good idea because the kids have the week off and this will buy me some time before they kill each other. Or worse, call me at work 27 times a day.

heee

Today Scott and I are going back to Play It Again Sports and buying an elliptical machine for me!!!! It costs $499.00, which means it's probably about a $1000 machine, it has the arm poles (which I don't like anyway, heh) and a digital readout of everything, a heart rate monitor, and about 15 different programs. It comes brand new in a box even!
He and I are going in together on it (he finally talked me into letting him pay) with both our tax refunds. I didn't want him to buy it for me but he convinced me to think about it as "an investment" for him. Meaning that one day soon he'll have a strong buff girlfriend.
"What's really sad," he told me yesterday, "is that if I just say I want to buy it for you you won't let me and get all offended. But if I say 'Hey, you need it!' then you agree with me. But if that's what it takes to make your little brain accept it, I'll do it!" he said laughing.

It was pretty funny. I don't think Scott cares if I'm fat or thin, but he knows I'm unhappy and want that machine. But I hate accepting anything from him, heh, especially now that we're about on our feet again and won't need to borrow money from him anymore. But he convinced me finally that I can't tell him how to spend his money.

Anyway, I get it on the way home today.

Then I go home, take the clothes to the laundromat (new washing machine comes with next week's tax refund), take all the eBay stuff to the post office, and go home to put my machine together. Hurrayyyyy!!!!!!

Oh yeah, and we made $176 on our eBay stuff in two weeks! That means next week we get our PlayStation 2 also!!!

I have decided I'm going to buy this wind chime when I get my refund because when I first saw it I just fell in love with it. This windchime would make me very very happy. And I can hang it on the back patio where we can see it from the kitchen window, the big dining room window AND the family room.

Which reminds me, I have some crystals to hang up too!

Also some more panties. I need more panties and goshdarnit I'm going to get some new ones.

And socks. Big fluffy white socks for the whole family!!!!

Tax Refund!

Oh yeah, and a new washing machine too!

hahaha...

No, there will be no money left for a wedding or saving, we are behind in too many things. But I can repay my mom $500, repay Scott, get the washing machine, my PG&E bill was $230 this month, we're behind on most of our bills, I need to buy the kids' yearbooks, I have a broken Jeep in the driveway... Believe me, that money will be gone in a week.

BUT, it will get us back on track, possibly fix the Jeep so we can eventually trade in both cars for one really great one, repay my mom (important to me), and possibly get a treat for the kids.

Knowing me I'll probably buy some windchimes and a pair of pants, haha, but I will be very very happy just paying off the bills.

$2,250.00 refund, Baybeee!!!!
Plus, she did e-filing and since she'll send it before noon tomorrow my state check will be direct deposited on February 6! And Federal will be deposited February 13!
Just in time for Buffy's birthday!
And bill paying!
And loan paying!

Hurray!!!!

Sometimes after Scott leaves here I feel like I get withdrawal symptoms from the computer.
Come on now, I know I'm not the only one...
But I'm always really happy when I get to sit and post all night.

Also, I told Spike I was going to make fried chicken for dinner (something I do about every 2 years) and he wants to make it himself! WHOOOO!
I get to go running while he makes dinner!

Hurray for sons who can cook!!

I took money from the grocery fund today and bought three plants at $5.99 each. I think it's worth it because I love houseplants. I used to work in a plant nursery and would rescue the poor dieing plants that didn't get bought. I had over 85 houseplants when we got Pischina-Kitty. She ate them all.
Ate them ALL.
Every time I've gotten plants since she's eaten them, right now I have one african violet and a Christmas cactus, that's the only thing she hasn't eaten.

So I bought three more plants today, I'm HOPING they won't be tasty ones. I can't even tell you what they were called, I don't have any more plant knowledge in my brain, haha. But one is a hanging one, so no kitties can reach it!

Any kitties eat these plants and they will get a spanking!!!

I got paid today and put my check in the bank and I am SO happy to say that I have not bounced one check since New Years Day.
I know to some people that is a ridiculous statement, my friend Corina has never bounced a check in her life, but sometimes when you are a single mom with not much money things happen. My New Year resolution this year was to NOT bounce one check, no matter what. This will be extremely hard, but so far so good. Yes, two weeks is a long time for me, heh.
Also, I did borrow some money from Scott, but half as much as usual, and only because I had no money left from the Holidays. I have to remember that I need to keep $100 extra in the bank at the end of the month to cover certain bills. I don't foresee needing any more money from him. And when I get my tax refund back I won't need anything from anyone again.
Anyway, I'm going on and on. What I meant to say was that we got through the last two weeks with $33 worth of groceries and we ate really well. And I still had $6 left in the bank. Now it's time to pay bills. And I'll do just fine!

The real test will be on the 1st when I have to pay rent. The Ex has already "warned" me that he will not have the child support until the 5th. I risk a $100 late fee if I wait for him. I risk bouncing rent if I don't. I haven't decided what to do about that yet.

But...

On the other hand, the kids are at their dad's house tonight so I have peace and quiet and can watch Mystery, Alaska and the The Apprentice on TV later.
I love peace and quiet!!!

Spike is in a school play tonight so I got off an hour early. Now we are sitting at home watching 28 Days Later and eating chocolate covered cherries.

Also, my personal time is about to expire so I'm taking off early every Friday for the next two months. Now I can beat the traffic on the way to Aptos! Yayyy!!!

Last week I got caught in some bad traffic on the way there, and because of the windy mountain road Scott couldn't get hold of me on my phone and was very worried. He had dinner waiting for me when I got there and lots of hugs too.

Good morning! Today is going to be a relaxing day, probably clean up some more stuff, still have to get the old fish tank out of here, clean out a couple corners, then we have to pay the rent and maybe go to the gym.
Otherwise, just sit here and read my new feng shui book and watch movies!
Happy Day!

The kids and I were sitting here this morning at 9:30 getting ready to go to the bakery and there was a loud knock on the door.
Buffy ran to answer it and it was the UPS man with a package!
She handed it to me, it was an Amazon CD-size box.
I was all mad thinking "That $27 book I was waiting for better not be this small!"
But inside was the Radio Sunnydale CD from a friend on a forum I like to visit!
Totally unexpected! It was a great start to the morning!

So far we've gone to the bakery, visited the pet shop and got stuff for our soon-to-be-new beta fish. They were out but expecting a fish shipment this afternoon.
We came home and cleaned out Christmas, set up our new stereo (the radio and CD player don't work but the cassette part does, HAH!) did some laundry and watched the kitties run around.

Now the kids are playing cards and getting along perfectly.

YAYYY!

Friday

We're going to clear out Christmas today. I'm going to set up our new (used) stereo and maybe play Christmas music while we clean since we didn't get a chance to play any during the Holidays, and we'll probably eat more of Kelli's fudge. We'll go to the gym and the mall. And I'm going to hope Mrs.MailLady will bring us the Robin Williams DVD and all my books I ordered from Amazon.
As long as the kids don't fight and make me wish they were back at their dad's house, we are going to have a wonderful day.

I am back! Somehow I made it home driving in the most insane rain storm I have EVER seen, over dangerous mountain Highway 17. Crazy. Anyway, we had a great New Year's, very nice, no hangovers, and now the kids and I are sitting at home doing family things - watching the 7th Heaven marathon, playing with the cats, playing cards, reading books and getting ready to watch movies ("The Truman Show" and "Bend it like Beckham"). Saturday Scott is coming back down and we'll go see Big Fish. We're going to the gym a lot this week. We're going to clean house. And we're going to love each other.
Happy New Year to you all!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I was at work today and Corina gave me $50 so I could buy Scott a laser level. "Go buy your man a good gift," she said.
I love her.
So I did, I got him the level.

Happy Christmas Eve!!!!

Happy Christmas Eve!!!!

Sue picked me up and we went Christmas shopping, then we went to get my car, it started up just fine, I bought a full tank of gas and off we drove home.

The car drove beautifully.

$1000, Baby. If I had had $1000 I would have paid that mechanic to do Nothing.
Otherwise, I was getting ready to have that car towed back home where it would have sat in the driveway until I could sell it to someone for way Under Price.

I am a happy happy girl, I have my convertible back!!!

Time to get Ready

Just got off the phone with Scott, he's sooooo happy for me that the car is okay. He said it didn't make sense to him that it was suddenly broken and he thinks Corina's cousin is probably right. It was nice to have both of us laughing again instead of me being SO bummed and him feeling helpless.

Now it's time for me to take a shower and get ready for SHOPPING! And picking up the Convertible!!! It will be fun spending time with Eliza today.

The kids don't know it but I bought them a bunch of colored cookie dough, you just shape it into whatever and cook it and Wa-LAH! Cookies! I am going to wrap the box, then let them open it today and they can cook while I am gone shopping.

I think this may be a Good Day.

The Jeep won't be looked at until Monday or Tuesday. So I thought I was going to be without a car for quite awhile...

But Corina just called me, she had her boyfriend the mechanic look at the convertible (because neither of us like or trust the mechanic by my work) and he says there is NOTHING wrong with the car. The car has been sitting for two months, and he thinks the oil had just settled to the bottom and needed time to go through the engine, which is what I kind of thought too. Now it's not making any noises, and yesterday it made a HORRIBLE rattle.

Eliza is going to drive me back to it tomorrow, then we're going shopping together to finish Christmas! And the kids and I get to go to church Sunday!!!

Hurray!

It's a really good feeling to finally get the guts to check your bank balance and hope hope hope everything is okay and then to see your balance is $76 dollars!!!! And then I put my pay check in! And we took out all kinds of money and bought tons of food and bought gas and still have a hundred bucks to go Christmas Shopping!!!!
I love having actual dollars in the bank!
It's SO much better than little red negative numbers.

*sniff*

Guys, I'm going to cry, seriously.
Diarist.net Winners

I'll try to write an entry tonight.
*sniff*

I'm back!
Had a great weekend, wonderful Christmas Party, tai chi, chocolate & coffee, shopping, movies...
I'll write about it tomorrow.

Yesterday we changed the TV room around and moved the desk, giving the room a lot more space. AND I cleaned up my desk, and it makes me so much happier to sit here now without staring at that huge unruly pile of papers.
I think I need a plant for my desk now.
:-)

Today...

We're going to church, then the kids will go Christmas shopping with their friend while I run 5 miles at the gym. Then we'll come home and eat more white chocolate/cranberrie fudge.
Hopefully it will be another good day!

It's FRIDAY!!!!!

Okay, I did it, I voted for each category, and seriously, there were some really interesting/entertaining entries.
PLEASE go read them, and then vote!

The Diarist Awards

My Weekend

Read all about Scott meeting my dad, and me using power tools...
HERE.

The Diarist Awards
Now I just need to figure out how to make it a linking button.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so excited that my mom finally gets to meet Scott,
AND
I am so excited to go to his house tonight and celebrate Thanksgiving again.
I love his friends, and I love seeing him happy.
We are going to have SO much fun!

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY BUT LOOK LOOK LOOK!!!!
I am a finalist in the Diarist.net awards!!!
The Legacy Award!!!!!
Okay, I'm going to go to work and try to figure out how THAT happened, in the meantime,
You all better go vote!!!!!!
WOW!
(Vote Here)

Celebrate!!

I just fit into my size 12 jeans for the first time in a year,
AND
Fit into my beautiful soft paisley top that I love.
And yesterday my little button up sweater with the teeny-tiny buttons was not pulling open at the boob area.
I really AM losing weight!
I really AM getting back into shape!!!
Bring on the Turkey!!!!

WOOOOO!!!!
Finally logged Meg's phone number into my cell phone so now I can call her, hurray!!!
Any more phone numbers out there?

Off Day

Today is a running "off" day, so I'm not allowed to run, must give the ole muscles time to heal and regenerate.
It feels wierd just sitting here, eating doritos.
Okay, I'm probably not supposed to be eating doritoes,
But our teryaki chicken and rice isn't done yet.
OH!
Timer just went off! Time for food!

I
Love
This
Layout.

YAYYYYY

Isn't this the most unbelievable layout EVER???? And MoveableType too!
Meg is the Absolutely Very Best Spectacular Fantastic Beautiful Person in the Whole Wide World.

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