Wow. It’s been a really long time since I’ve done this. With my 31st bday quickly approaching, I’m feeling the pressure of last year’s resolution bearing down on me like a repo-man at a garage sale. Did that analogy make sense? Regardless, last year I resolved to do 30 new things during my 30th year. Here’s the list:
1. Go to Yosemite, and camp like an adult. Check.
2. Vegas Roll at RA Sushi. Check (and YUM).
3. Drink better wine and beer. Goodbye 2 buck chuck and Budlight, you’ve been good friends but, alas, it’s time to move on.
4. Go back to school. CHECK! I graduate sometime between Sept and Nov with a BS in Nutrition. I can’t believe it and will be SO proud of myself once I’m done. It’s taken me a long time to narrow the field, but I’ve finally settled on teaching high school. Look out teenage angst!
5. Become a Nanny. This has been the most fulfilling job I’ve had (as of yet). Jackson is amazing and has taught me so much. I can’t wait to have one of my own
6. Buy a new car. I did it, all by myself- car payments and all. It feels great to have adult responsibilities.
7. Clean up my credit. This has been a work in progess since the mistakes of my early twenties but I’m happy to say that I’d qualify for a decent APR if I so desired. The credit bureau’s can suck it!
8. Get a new puppy. Well, she’s a dog now, but Annie is new nonetheless. Rodrigo and I are both happy to have her, and her annoying skin allergies.
9. (Another) new job as Captain for The Abbey Catering and Event Company. It’s pretty fun and, most importantly, it pays the bills.
10. Learn a few life lessons. Relationships are all about practice and figuring out what works (and doesn’t) for you. I think I’ve matured over the years and have made a concerted effort to pick better men and make better choices.
11. Joined a 2 person hiking club. Trissy and I go nearly every weekend with Annie. It’s amazing to me that San Diego offers so much ecological variety.
12. Made new friends- at least 4!
13. Became a regular member of the best dinner club ever! Once a month we indulge in great food, wine, and company.
14. Go to Church. I’ve been attending Mission Gathering Christian Church for over a year now and have only missed a handful of Sundays. It’s awesome to be a part of something that makes me feel connected to God without becoming part of the Religious Judgment Machine. I don’t go to church to judge, I go to feel good about myself and others. One of my favorite quotes is “You Christians are so unlike your Christ.” – Ghandi. Sad, but true.
15. Be comfortable in my own skin. Ok, well actually I’ve been this way for quite awhile, but it’s a biggie and therefore deserves mention. It makes me so sad to hear friends talk about how unattractive or worthless they feel. Everyone has faults, the trick is to focus on the great things and forget about the extra jiggle or other inadequacies that come with life. Confidence is 90% of the battle.
16. Make the Deans and President’s list. This one goes into the school category and is achieved with a 3.85 and 3.95 GPA. Straight A’s is something I never thought I was smart enough to achieve. Turns out that’s one of the things I was wrong about.
17. Reconnect with old friends. This one is a shout-out to Agi, my high school BFF that I lost touch with somewhere in my early 20’s. I’m SO glad to have her back in my life!
18. Go with the flow. This one’s a work in progress, but this year I’ve made significant effort not to plan out every detail of my (and everyone else’s) existence. I’ve tried to live my life by the idea that there is plan for me and it’s not up to me to decide what it is.
19. Be Happy. This is not the first time in my life I’ve been happy- 2008 was a pretty good year, haha- but I am. That’s that.
20. Practice Patience. Huge. I have none. Huge.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Ok, so I have 10 left and until 6/1 to do them. To those that feel adventurous, I need help. I’d also like to replace some of the 1-20 that are filled with sentiment with physically new things. Less talk, more action!

On a side note- it’s so bizarre reading my earlier post. 2008/2009 were filled with the highest highs and lowest lows. I’m glad I made it to the other side and wouldn’t have if not for my close friends and family. As terrifying as it is to be officially “in my thirties” and not just on the cusp, I’m excited about what the next year will bring. 30 was about recovery and personal growth. I’m not sure what the theme of 31 will be, but it’s going to be awesome!

Goings On

Ben and I are doing great. We spent Labor Day weekend at a wedding in LA (see pics) and then last weekend camping with my friends in Julian. There are other things, like work, relationships, kickball and even some more significant details.. but nothing I'd go so far as to blog about.

Here are some pictures from the wedding we went to (Ben's friend Maria got married).

Tag!

Well since I was 'tagged' by Cari, I guess I'm IT!

Seven interesting, but utterly useless and self indulgent facts about moi:

7. Like Cari, I HATE mouth noises. The chewing sound is akin to nails on a chalkboard to me. It gives me anxiety and turns me into a total bitch.

6. Regardless of how hot it is, I have to sleep with covers

5. I have no regrets. I've made tons of "mistakes" but I've learned from every experience and feel as though they've made me a better person.

4. I make random, wierd faces all the time- not to anyone in particular, just to myself...

3. I am the most passionate about exercise and nutrition. I could probably tell you anything you ever wanted to know about either subject.

2. I still have the ashes from when Muffin was cremated.

1. I think I'm partially psychic. Well, not really...however I am oddly in-tuned to specific people and can sometimes tell when somethings about to happen or has happened.


So that's it. Hmm..I'm supposed to 'tag' a couple people, but considering only about 5 people know this blog exists and the majority of them have already completed this questionairre...I'll only tag 1- Auntie, you're it.

The BIG intro

I've been back in the saddle for awhile now. I've been seeing Ben since Ian and I broke up in April. We met through our kickball league and have pretty much been inseparable since. I could honestly spend every second of the day with him... it's great. We spent 4th of July up in LA with his friends and went to his Aunt's bbq in Malibu. True to form, I impressed all of them with my wit and charm..haha

Mom came down last weekend to help out with Rodrigo while I went to Scottsdale and she got to spend time with Ben on Friday and Sunday. They loved eachother, which is fantastic.

His parents are coming down from Sacramento this weekend for the big intro...a little intimidating, but I'm also really excited to meet them.

A little about Ben: He's 33 and an Analyst working in the Counter Intelligence dept for the NCIS. He went to UCLS for his Bachelors and Georgetown for his Masters. He's Jewish (although non practicing) and grew up in Sacramento (went to Jesuit). He's funny, very caring, thinks I'm pretty much the best thing ever, and makes me very happy.

We're planning a trip up to Sac in September, so be on the lookout!

More Fun Times!

Last weekend some friends and I went back to Mexico. It was so beautiful, it was 90 degrees the entire time. It really is nice to get out of town for the weekend...especially somewhere that you don't have cell phone reception!

So I haven't updated in awhile...

2008 is shaping up to be a pretty great year. Here are a few things that have happened so far:

I am still dating Ian. I don't want to jinx anything, so that's all I have to say about that.

Work is going great as well. For awhile it's just been 2 of us in my department- the other being my manager. Needless to say I've had to take on alot of additional responsibility. My efforts have not gone unnoticed. I recently had my year review and was asked to take on even more responsibility training the 2 additions we have to my department. I also recieved a 9% raise, which is pretty awesome. As with any review, they also mentioned what areas I needed to work on. My favorite suggestion was that I "think before I speak." Hilarious.

I've done alot of great things with my friends so far this year as well. Here are a few highlights:

My holiday Christmas party. I am obviously having a good time.














New Years Eve 2008
New Years Eve with Ian














A couple friends of mine have decided to have a baby so we threw them a "Turkey Baster" baby. If you think about it, you'll get the joke.

These are the "Maybe Baby?" pictures:


















And then there was the trip to the River House in Mexico:

















And Finally, Slot Canyon in the Anza Borrego Dessert:

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.