Up-date

So Ian is pretty great. Really. We have another date tonight...we'll see if he can keep this up!

If I didn't write them down, I would lose track

So the last one was a bust..what was his name again?? Oh, that's right Chris. Well, anyway..not a good fit..I think he's a little too carefree for me. Anyway, I've met a new guy.. Ian. I actually met him on Halloween but we've only recently been emailing/talking etc. We have a date tonight..we'll see.

On another note..I'm still dating the chef (it's been a little over a year)..it's getting seriously complicated..he is my Mr. Big.

Another day, another date..

I went out on another date last night...lately i'm averaging about 1/week. I met Chris through my friend Genessa. He's 31 and a civil engineer. It was a good date, we went for drinks and then took Rodrigo for a walk. He's goofy and smart, which I love. We'll see, he's already made it past most of the guys. The fact that I still liked him after our date bodes well for him..:)

Ryan, the afore mentioned date, did not work out so well. Its funny how much of a 'connection' you can have when you're drinking. Needless to say, on our sober date I was less than enthralled. Lackluster.

This is whats wrong with me...

On Sat 11/24 I spent the entire day in the hospital. The night before, I went to bed dizzy. I figured it would be gone in the morning, however, when I woke up it was even worse. I was too dizzy to walk, I had to crawl to the bathroom and then to my phone. I made a few calls to let people know what was going on (just in case i was having an aneurism). When I finally spoke to my friend Trissy, she insisted that we go to the hospital. The best way to describe the feeling is that it was like having the spins when you've had too much to drink.

After spending the day in the hospital, the Dr. told me i had Benign Paroximal Vertigo. Basically I have calcium deposits in my ears and it's throwing off my equalibrium. When i first look at something it's out of focus because my eyes and ears are out of sinc.

It took about 4 days for me to be able to walk again and now, 2 weeks later i'm still dizzy, though not as bad. If it persists through Monday, I'm going to make another appt.

Fun times.

Wednesdate

I have an official date with Ryan on Wednesday. I'm excited. Turns out we have all sorts of random things in common. He's 30, a music teacher and band member. His day job is for Road Runner Sports (coincidence!) and he did his senior project (college) on what it would take for a band to go on tour (touring logistics is what i do these days.) He's also a traveller and has lived in Ireland and all over the country, includinng Ashville, NC and Boston.

I'm gushing alot about someone I haven't even gone out with yet...we'll see.

Date o-rama

So I've been dating...alot. I'm not talking once a week..I'm talking double booking for 1 night. Over the last week I went out on 5 dates, not including the guy I met on Saturday night OR the guy from high school that came out to visit (who ended up being CRAZY and telling me he loves me!).

Busy. I feel like something big is about to happen. It feels like the calm before the storm- in my head and in a good way. Like I've stopped struggling and am finally ready to accept someone into my life. Corny i know.

So far, none of them are it...i have my fingers crossed for the one I met on Saturday though...we'll see.

Some fun stuff i've been doing..

Here are a few pics from my HS reunion, the first on is of me and the prom queen, it's incredibly validating that i look better than she does:)

The next ons is of all the popular boys from HS: Alan McCoy, Jason Smith, Steve Something and Steve Weydert


And finally, one of Chrisy, Anglea and myself- girls i was actually friends with.


Last week I went to Oktoberfest with my friend Alaina. It was such a beautiful day!

Ok, so I know it's been awhile

Well, the fires are here again. I'm in the office right now, but most of my coworkers are gone, due to evacuations. There are two fires right now, one in Witch Creek and the other near Tecate, we're right smack in the middle. The one in Witch creek is about 15 miles away, near my old house- my old roommates have actually been evacuated already. The fire crews haven't gotten any air support because of the lack of visibility, so it's pretty much just the ground crews out there. My fingers are crossed....

Lost and Found

Rodrigo is home. I recieved a call late last nignt, someone saw the flyers. He's so exhausted from his "adventure" yesterday that he's slept all day today. Im thankful. Lesson learned: make sure your pet is wearing their tags with the updated information.

My heart is breaking

Rodrigo is lost. He got out today around noon by somehow managing to crawl under my building and out the front. The mailman saw him around 1, I haven't seen him since 10. I don't know what to do. I've called the animal shelters and Animal Control, I've posted two ads on craigslist and a bulletin on myspace, posted flyers in my neighborhood and canvassed the streets calling out until the sun went down and my voice was so hoarse it hurts to cry. I don't know what to do, except sit here and cry.

Memorial Day

This past weekend, Rodrigo and I joined some friends (about 15) up at the Kern River for some outdoor adventure. It was beautiful! Rodrigo had SUCH a good time, even though he threw up an entire T-Bone!!

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Jerry Falwell died today. He founded the Moral Majority in 1979 and was responsible for many hateful things.

Falwell was widely criticized after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks for suggesting that God allowed them to take place because of the work of civil liberties groups, abortion-rights supporters and other groups. He was quoted on the Christian television program ``The 700 Club'' as saying, according to Cable News Network:

``I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for an American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say `you helped this happen.'''

After the brutal slaying of Matthew Shepard, Falwell created a link where you could view a picture of Matthew burning in hell for being gay. A button was also installed so that the Moral Majority could watch/hear him scream.


Karma.

Come to Mama

I have a date tomorrow night. Hopefully this one will go better than the last. I'm hopefull

Im so happy, I could cry

Paris Hilton was just sentenced to 45 days in the Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF). She will begin her sentence on June 5.

This may be the happiest day of my life.

Where I'm At

I'm moving !!!!! I found an awesome one bedroom apartment close to work. It's spanish style with an arched ceiling and terracotta tile with blue accents in the kitchen. Hardwood floor, 2 giant closets, built-ins, and crown moldings. I love crown moldings, really. The best part is that I'll have my own private back yard, its not huge (bedroom sized) but it's perfect for Rodrigo. As you walk through the front door into the living room, you can see the backyard framed by 2 white French Doors! I'll be able to walk to work with Rodrigo, which will be great for him AND my ass:)

Dating. So exhausting. I'm on match.com, which I actually like. It seems like theres a lot of emailing going on but not too much action. I'm getting tons of emails and "winks." Its surprising how easy to tell through email and/or phone conversations whether or not you have chemistry with someone.

I'll keep you posted.

I've been told...

Ive been hearing for some time now that I look like her. I guess I kinda do..when I wear makeup:)

Yay!

I have a date on Wednesday:)

I went to Blue foot on friday night with Tianna and Marie...looking...nevermind for what. I met Curtis as I was ordering a drink, he was a dork, he made me laugh and he wasn't trying too hard to get into my pants, so I decided to give him my phone #. My experience with meeting guys at a bar is that they seldom call. Either they were too drunk to remember who you are and what you look like, or theyre interest has faded along with their hangover. I only talked to Curtis for about 5 minutes that night, but had a good feeling about him. To my delight he called today and we have a date for Wednesday.

Equally as exciting..I'll be able to wear my SKINNY JEANS!! double yay!

Don't mind me, just venting

Rodrigo gets into things...its what he does. Today, after I left for work, Rodrigo got into a box of pancake mix. It was everywhere, and unfortunately my roommate is the one who had to deal with it. She swept up what she could before she had to rush off to work. I got home around 730, sweaty and tired from the gym, to find what was left of the caked on mess. No problem, Rod is my responsibility and I'm grateful that she did what she could.

Tonight when she got home, she was in a horrible mood and wouldnt stop complaining about the incident.

Her dog has been sick and, because she has a boyfriend (who I recently accidentally saw naked. ew), she cannot be bothered to clean up the throw up, which has been daily, and really really gross. I have been the one mopping up puke. Because Marley and Rodrigo are best friends, Rod has caught this stomach virus and is now throwing up, alot.

Instead of thanking me for taking care of her dog (she's spent the night at home ONCE in the last week) and sympathizing with our poor, sick puppies, she's hiding in her room, irritated.

If anyone's aloud to be irritated, its me.

No, this post does not make me depressed, if anyone in particular is wondering.

The greatest thing EVER

I found this awesome site! Its a place where you can watch any movie, tv show, etc for FREE!! I checked a couple shows/movies out and it was just like watching them on the tv. The movie 300 was on there, it was the only one I noticed with a banner at the bottom, but it was still viewable.

Check it out!


http://tv-links.co.uk/index.do/1

Wax on. Wax off

Helpful Hint:


To remove cooled wax from clothes, furniture, floors, etc, simply place 2 layers of papertowel over hardened wax and iron on highest setting until wax has been heated and absorbed by papertowels:)

um, nice legs

Every morning is the same. Exhausted, lifeless I awake to the sound of ring #10 leaking out of my white chocolate phone. It's musical, I thought maybe, just maybe a light, a whimsical tune would be better than the universally annoying beep beeep beep that normally accompanies the snooze button. I snooze, I admit it. I will not apologize for the extra 25 minutes of sleep that I squeeze out of the quickly escaping night.

Tuesday morning I snoozed. I reasoned, in my unconscious state, that if I sacrificed my morning shower, I could sleep in until 630 and still have exactly enough time to get ready for work. So, at 630 I wake up, dazed and a little confused. I walk towards the kitchen to let Rodrigo out, and to my surprise there is my roommates NAKED boyfriend!!!

Seriously?!

No. Really?!

You're right, a naked glass-of-water run is TOTALLY excusable. No question. However, a naked stare-out-the-window-because-I -feel-like-it is a little alarming to the roommate who's used to stumbling through the house half asleep ALL BY HERSELF.

Needless to say, I keep my robe clutched tightly closed as I ease myself into the day.

Seriously?

I need to get it under control. The waterworks keep coming out of nowhere. Case(s) in poing:

Last night during Gilmore Girls when Lane asked Rory to be her "Lorelei Gilmore" I sobbed

Tonight during Will and Grace when Grace's daughter and Will's son met I cried

Tonight during American Idol when a girl sang "shut up and sing" by the Dixie Chicks- welled up

Last night during A.I when some guy dedicated a song to his grandma- welled up

I was also in a really bad mood all of a sudden when I got home tonight and I cried earlier this week too! WTF

No, its not pms..its def hormonal, but pms is not my m.o

So much has happened...

I'll start with the Soup Swap:

Awesomeness. Around 10 people showed up, we laughed, drank champagne cosmopolitans, we played Cranium, and swapped soup. There was Gumbo, Ginger Yam, Squash, Cream of Pot, Cream of Tomato Basil, Cream of Brocoli, Borsch, and a few others. YUMMY!

I've got a fabulous new job. I'm the transportaion coordinator for Road Rebel. I know, I just can't get away from the road. Sort of symbolic, me be a wayward traveler and such. The company is awesome, I really have a good feeling about it. I was waiting for the right job, one where I truly enjoyed going to work. I see a bright future at road rebel.

And the most important:

Scarlett Eve Valdes was born on Saturday, Feb 17. She's amazing. I've had baby fever for awhile now, it just intesified 10 fold. I'm definately feeling the pressure, brought on by society, my family, and my body, to have a baby.

Sometimes I really am impressed with myself

I can't really take all the credit, I got the recipe off soupcache.com. I altered the recipe slightly to make it my own, but the original idea, sadly, is not mine.

Yam-Ginger soup

4 large yams, diced
4 red potatos, quartered
1 squash (any variety will do)
olive oil
1 yellow onion
3 cloves of garlic
approx 4 knodules of ginger root (pressed)
approx 2tbs white sugar (brown would be good, too)
2tbs salt
1tbs pepper
6cups of water

Slice squash in 1/2, place on cookie sheet face down, with about 2tbs olive oil, lightly salted. bake @350 for 40 min.
In large metal pot, sautee onions, garlic and ginger in olive oil.
Add water, potato, yams, boil until soft.
Strain yams and potato and puree in food processor until mush. Do same with baked squash.
Place all ingredients back in pot, continue to boil until all ingredients are blended.
Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
May need additional water depending how thick you want it.

SO YUMMY

I'm kind of a big deal

This is the view from inside the hummer limosine I was riding in all night last night. It was part of the job, I was escorting a bunch of middle-aged electronics convention goers to their exclusive party at Confidential downtown. I got $100 making small talk and making sure no one fell out of the limo. Tough gig.

Ok, sometimes he IS cute

TGSS

The Great Soup Swap has officially been scheduled for next Sat, Feb 10! What is a Soup Swap you ask? WELL, a SS is the perfect opportunity to show off that famous soup you've been bragging about. Everyone makes 4qts of their favorite soup, separating them into 1 qt containers. Numbers are drawn and we take turns picking out soup 1qt at a time until there are no soups left. The 1st and last soups chosen get prizes! The whole night will be decorated with wine, cheese and a whole lot of fun! At the end of the night, everyone leaves with new and exciting soups to try!

YAY SOUP!

And the beat goes on...

I know, you're right, it HAS been a while since I last posted. Cookies, really, THAT"S what I choose to blog about? To my own credit, they were phenomenal cookies:)

The wait has finally ended, my perseverence has (at long last) paid off. Monday, Fed 12 I start a new chapter of my life working for Road Rebel as the Transportation Coordinator. YAY! RR is a touring logistics company that contracts with various touring groups (ballets, opera, etc). My job will be to arrange transportation between airports, show, hotels, etc, negotiating the lowest rate possible for our clients.

Last week (Feb, 23rd) I started a part time job working for Quantum Productions as operations staff. So far I've had alot of fun with this job, it's easy, no pressure and no responsibility. Here's a peak at some of the events I've worked for Quantum so far:

* Airport pickup- basically just holding a sign and making sure the right people get on the right shuttle.
*Dinner cruise - I made sure everyone was on board and acted as the "go-to" person had the client needed anything.
* Hotel-Seaworld transfer- After the driver and I dropped off the clients at Sea World we spent the next 5 hours hanging out at Balboa Park and Seaport Village!
*Awards Dinner- I made sure the band went on break. We got paid for the whole night even though we were release early!

It's fun, good money, and completly non-committal. A great part time job.

Oh, I've also been crafting. I know I keep promising pictures, but I just cant seem to remember to take them! Sorry Shana! Eventually they'll get done, I swear!

Sometimes I really do think I'm Martha!

So tonight, actually about 30 minutes ago, I decided that I desperately needed sweet. Rummaging around the cupboards and the fridge, I found nothing. Being the creative person I am, I decided to make cookies! This is what I know about cookies: milk, eggs, flour, sugar, baking soda/powder, salt..and I don't really know measurements. No prob, except I dont have milk. So, you ask, how did I make the most amazing OATMEAL cookies EVER?!

I used strawberry Mueslix instead of oatmeal.
Lemon flavored light yogurt instead of MILK ( I kNOW!)
egg
salt (tsp, i think)
tsp of bkg soda and powder
1/2 cup of sugar

bake at 350 until nice and golden. YUM!

craftastic

I'm crafty, it's true. My level of craftiness has increased exponentially since the incorporation of my brand new (to me) sewing machine. NOW, instead of being resricted to projects that involve yarn, paint or glue, I can actually SEW things! Thus far, my beginner sewing projects have included: riced filled, scented heating pads, cloth yo-yo's (like flowers), an apron, a tshirt for Rodrigo, and a cloth-carrying tote. Exciting, riveting even.

Here's a small list of projects I have in mind:

Bracelet for Tianna: Cuff style, probably about 4" long, with a horizontal zipper on the outside for cash, etc and a vertical pocket on the inside for d.l and/or credit cards.

Wallet for Marie: Made of fabric or vinyl ( I can't decide), approx 4"x4" when folded, 8"x4" when unfolded. Unfolded it will have a horizontal pocket running the entire length of the wallet that can hold cash, and two slits on the outside of the pocket that can hold cards. When folded it will have one slit pocket. It will be held together by magnets sewn in strategic places.

For Jane Valdes and Chloe: Animal shaped baby washcloths: Bunnies and/or a Bear. Bunnies: Two pink and 1 white wash cloths sewn together using white for the nose and eyes tail and tooth, pink gingham for the insides of the ears and pink for the body. Bunny shaped. Bear: 2 l.brown, 1 d.brwn, 1 white washcloths and brown and white gingham for inside the ears. I havn't quite worked out the logistics of this one, but same as the bunny basically.

I'd gladly take suggestion for new projects!

Hell Freaking Yes!

Hillary Clinton announced her official candidacy for Presidant in 2008. Awesomness. Her innauguration will mark the first female president in US history and the end of Republican mayhem. For our childrens sake I hope she wins, I'm even considering volunteering to help her campaign.

Go here to read the article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/815617.html

Spoken Word makes me want to throw up.

Lately I've been somewhat of a socialite. That's not what I mean to say, I've really always been a socialite. What I mean to say is, as of late I've become a kind of cultural cat. I go to indie films instead of mainstream movies, wine bars in leiu of regular ones, Henry's and Trader Joes instead of Albertsons and Ralphs.

On Friday night, I agree to go poetry reading at "The Rubber Rose," a sexuality boutique owned by to friends. It was to be the book launch of "The Encyclopedia Project, vol. A-F." The reading consisted of various artists reading their exhausting contributions. Now, I know that I've oft spoken of my love of the written word. WRITTEN, not necessarily SPOKEN. I havn't quite determined the reason for this, it may be a general disinterest in their chosen topics, or perhaps the sound of the over pronounced words coming out of rehearsed mouths, maybe (I'm slightly ashamed to say) it's not disinterest in specific topics, but instead a general disinterest in other people. Yes, I do realize that sounds bad, but its exhausting enough overthinking my own problems and problems belonging to those I care about without involving myself in a total strangers blossoming neurosis. Luckily I was promised a bar afterward. Blue Foot may be the best bar ever. It fits in perfectly with the trendy yet unassuming neighborhoods of North Park and South Park. It's my new favorite.

Saturday night, again with Trissy, Tianna, and Marie in tow, we go to The Ken theatre for some urban culture. Being friends with the manager of The Ken really does have its perks. Free movies, free popcorn, free sodas and access to the deepest, darkest corners of one of San Diegos most haunted places. I'm not joking, it really is haunted, I've personally had an encounter and so have several other people I know. We saw "La Petite Leutenant," a french sub-titled film that when translated means "movie with no plot." I'm being overly critical. The movie had plot, though the subtitles I determined the movie was about police investigation. The problem was, it was simple. Being American, I'm used to American movies. Apparently the French like their movies simple, I'd liken this movie to a whole wheat sandwhich with nothing in the middle, not even mayonaise. But it was free, and I sure do love free and I love the company as well!

Sitting on the Sunny side of the bench

Instead of wallowing in a quagmire of self-pity over the fact that I still don't have a job, I am going to focus on the positive aspects of this state of affairs, because that's the mature thing to do. I'm going to banish my inner teenager to the bedroom, and resist whining about how the world is out to get me.
Essence of Positivity



1. I don't have to get out of bed in the morning if I don't want to.

2. It doesn't matter that I spent two hours in the gym today.

3. Nobody is expecting anything of me urgently.

4. I don't have to deal with idiot colleagues, or the waft of body odor from over confident frat boys.

5. All the emails I currently receive are from people I want to correspond with, except for the spam, but you get the point.

6. Sunday evenings are just another part of the weekend.

7. I don't have to have two separate-but-equal wardrobes: one interview shirt and some black pin-striped pants are coping just fine all by their lonesome in the 'work appropriate' section.

Mission Trails

It's easy to get caught up in the routine of life. Wake up, coffee, breakfast, email, bills. Fancy words for hubbub and monotony. Thankfully I have friends like Trissy who think above the beaches, zoos, museums and various corners of Balboa park, and literally, take the road less travelled. So, Rodrigo in tow, I joined Trissy (aka Tbag), the Girls (Zoe 6, Noah 11), and Marie for a day hiking at Mission Trails.

New Year's Resolution(s)

The end of the year has led me to the conclusion that I am not perfect. Therefore, I have come up with a few New Year's resolutions for 2007. I'm not new to this game, I realize that my determination will soon fade, I choose to view resolutions not as hard and fast rules, but as guidelines to good behavior.

There are a few:

1. Lose 15lbs by being an active person and eating healthy.
2. Write more, work on my portfolio.
3. Stay focused in school.
4. Get a job worth having. I quit Road Runner for a reason, I will not settle. No backwards or horizontal movements, only vertical.
5. Have a well behaved Rodrigo.
6. Be in a mature, adult relationship with someone who's not a jerk.