The New Adventures of Me

I can see clearly....

2008-08-10T17:47:00.000-07:00

I got glasses! Hooray for clear vison! I can see colors, words, street signs-praise the miracle of sight!

Hey Buddy, park it over there!

2008-08-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday deserved a little adventure, and while gas prices are going down...I still couldn't afford to make it a day trip somewhere cool. So I thought I would go wander through Herman Miller Park, an amazing urban oasis that houses the zoo, some wicked waterways, and the Japanese Botanical Gardens.

I really like the park because I think this is what Central Park might be like. A huge green play land filled with trees and all the other parky stuff right smack dab in the middle of the city. You can hear all the city noises but look at neat nature bits.

The Japanese Gardens are my favorite. Just a small area that you can wander through, and they have tons of purple flowering plants, little bridges over tumbling water, and pagoda's. I even saw a turtle sunning himself on a rock! But he was camera shy.

I would have loved to stay longer, but it was freaking hot out. Definitely an activity for early morning or October.

Run Forest, Run!

2008-08-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

I went running this morning. Yes, that's right. I am a runner. I run. Hey, let's go over there. Why walk? Let's run.

Lately my soul had been having this urge to just take off running whenever I am walking somewhere. Or thinking about walking. I just had this glorious image of me running down the street, pony tail bobbing, and lean muscular legs glistening with dew. But I kept telling myself, "Silly soul...we don't run! You can't have your chunky bits flying everywhere!" But my soul did NOT want to listen.

Instead, it kept waking me up at 6am, urging me to run. "NO!" I would tell it. So last night, I waited up till 1130pm and then finally hit the hay-thinking that I could have a nice relaxing morning with no alarm clock.

HA HA HA HA NO. I was awake at 7am. I layed in bed till 730am then stopped fighting. I got my workout pants, tank top, running shoes, iPod, and headed out the door.

There is a commercial zone right behind me, and I thought that would be perfect since there would be no one there to see me flail about gasping for air like a fish trying to fling its self off of a fishing boat. So I went there, walkted there first, then found a good song on the iPod and took off-I actually made it through a whole song! Then I walked a little, then I ran a little, then walked more, then ran, then tried to make it through another whole song...almost did....then walked, then ran the last little bit back to the light where I had to cross. It was encouraging because there was a lot of construction going on back there and yeah, I couldn't just WALK past the men that I didn't know but I pretended were watching.

I hurt. All over. My legs, my butt, ankles, abs...all of it. But I liked it! It was so nice to be outside! Don't worry mom, I had my cell phone and a wicked right hook in case anyone decided to mess with me. But it was warm and beautiful, I even saw a duck! We quacked for a moment then I headed on.

Bring on the marathons....

Yeah no. :)

Daily Emotion

2008-08-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

Being excited that Diet A&W Root Beer really DOES taste like the original!

Who Ya Gonna Call?

2008-08-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

For those who know me, you might recall that my fascination for things of the "after this life" nature is usually pretty present. I scare myself silly watching Ghost Hunters, and when I am feeling worldly; Ghost Hunters International.I am consistently thinking that at some point in my life, I will have a brush with a "life challenged" being or see something fly across my room.

Last night was no exception.

I come home after a hard day of work and stopping by WalMart. I had bought a toilet brush and some cleaning solution and I was ready to make my tub and toilet shine. So, after some scrubbie scrubbie here, and some scrubbie scrubbie there, I feel that toilet is clean enough, get bored, and toss the brush in the shower-at the VERY back of the tub.

I come in later that night, kill a baby cockroach (stun and flush) that was lounging in my shower, and notice that the toilet brush is pushed ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FRONT OF THE SHOWER. Now, boys and girls, what do you think is my first thought?

Yup, that I had a bathroom ghost. So I immediately call Erin, and tell her the whole story. Lovable skeptic scamp that she is, she asks if it could have rolled there. "NO!" I loudly inform her-the brush is F-L-A-T. Just to prover her wrong, I pick up the brush, drop it down the back of the tub as I had before, and watch it slide...

all

the

way

the

front.

Whoops.

And this is why I am not a Ghostbuster. Who ya gonna call? Not Marissa!

The Creation of Adam

2008-08-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

You know when you have those moments when you look up at the sky, and you are dead sure that a booming voice is about to come out and give you some sort of direction, greeting, or just overall general statement of well being?

I looked up at that sky and waited...but I got nothin.

Next time.

Scary Storm Times

2008-08-04T12:38:00.001-07:00

Wandered out at quarter to eight on Sunday morning and was greeted by an eerie sight... Dark sky above, with a hint of sunrise underneath, no birds chirping, and no one else on the road really.

Nothing scary but the rain, but still seemed a little odd...

Defensive Driving is Hilarious!

2008-08-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

I think the slogan should be "Your driving is so awful...it's funny!"

Oh defensive driving, will you ever not be hilarious?

Barnaby's Cafe

2008-08-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

Lunch today was at the lovely Barnaby's Cafe. Very cute little cafe with a wonderful waiter who let me color!

Who doesn't love coloring?! They have lots of selections-everything from salads to grilled chicken to cold sandwiches to lasagna to burgers. I had a turkey and cranberry mayonnaise.

And they made it into a face!

It's a contemplative sandwich.

It's thinking that I'm going to eat it!

Very good sandwich...moist and yumtastic.

And most importantly, the end coloring product. This is stuff that goes on the fridge people!!

Could it be more perfect?!

2008-08-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Lookin at the sunshine, having a non fat, sugar free vanilla latte, a little hummus, and playing on the internet on a Friday afternoon....

Nope. :) Happy Friday!

Birds Eye View

2008-07-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

You know you work high up when you see clouds.

This is the view that William Wonderful has of the weather right now-from the 56th floor.

Another Restaurant Review

2008-07-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Another day...another review. How delicious!

Will and I went last night for Indian food. We went to a place called India's and while their service and atmosphere were very good, I felt the food was a little lacking.

Don't get me wrong, it was good. But I keep searching for the Indian food that leaves me saying "WOW". It just didn't seem to have the flavor I was looking for. But, they did get points with me because their billboard said "Currying on the tradition". He he he.

We giggled, we ate, we overall had a wonderful meal (when the company is amazing, you can't but help have a good time!) and then we decided to check out another little place...Crave Cupcakes.

Now seriously, I'm like a shark in shallow water when it comes to cupcakes. I love them. I especially love the mini's. There was a place in West Seattle that shuddered when I walked in because I would get one of each. They are the perfect size for tasting! I think Will got a little concerned when I started humming the Jaws shark music under my breath when we pulled in-but lucky for him...there were no mini's. Only the full size ones and we had a limited selection of 4 kinds...and I still couldn't make up my mind.

Ended up sharing a chocolate on vanilla, and it was totally delish. Very moist, heavy bottom (Hey! You are what you eat!) and creamy frosting. And perfect for splitting. Well..sort of. I could have attacked one alone easily, but I am still showing him I'm a lady.

Post cupcake bliss.

My Restaurant Reviews

2008-07-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

So I have decided that when I try a new place... I need to review it so other people can live vicariously through me. Because let's face it...I do a lot of cool stuff.

Last night, I met a new friend at Cafe Caspian, a Persian restaurant.

What is Persian food you ask?

The Legendary Cuisine of PersiaExperiencing the cuisine of Persia is a delight to the palate as well as a journey through history that takes one back more than 3,000 years into one of the world's oldest and most influential cultures. The origins of most traditional Persian dishes are so old that their recipes had to be inscribed on clay tablets. The enduring appeal of these dishes is legendary, prompting Cyrus the Great to conclude that the ancient Persians could conquer other tribes as much with their cooking as with their prowess.
This was at least partially confirmed some 200 years later when Alexander the Great conquered the Persian empire but was personally won over to Persian cooking. His Macedonian soldiers, on their return home, carried with them into the Mediterranean area the exotic foods of the Persians, enabling the Greeks and later the Romans to enliven their foods with saffron, lemons, pomegranates, and pistachios. After Alexander, Persia crossed paths with other major world cultures - the Oriental in the 13th century with the invasion of the Moghuls, and the European in the 12th and 13th centuries with the arrival of the Crusaders. In the process, Persia not only absorbed food customs from other cultures, but introduced her own into other countries. So as you enjoy Persian food for the first time, be prepared for it to have a surprising familiarity to you. Enjoy the legend!

So we started off with the hummus platter. Umm...hummus YUMMUS. It is a really light and flavorful dish, and they serve it with feta cheese (yes please) and sweet onions. Served with their homemade flat bread I don't think I let my dinner companion eat much of it. I would growl every time she made a move for the hummus.

I then had the chenjeh (check out my pronunciation), which was chunks of marinated and grilled beef with different spices, white rice, and grilled tomatoes. Amazing, so good. Not heavy at all, and a nice light flavor.

I am contemplating going BACK for lunch and spending $18 just to have it again....

Over all.... A+. Cute little place, not busy at all, and...present wait staff. Wouldn't call them attentive but I really didn't care. I got nervous when people would come near the hummus.

It All Ties Together

2008-07-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

So this morning, I stop by and get the mail at work before going up. And to my delighted surprise, I have a mom card! Made me giggle and I loved the line. I will use that in the future!

And then I check my horoscope:

Today's Gemini Horoscope: Jul 22, 2008
Take advantage of this bright sunny day, dear Gemini, and have fun. There are plenty of reasons to get out of the house and explore the world around you. Although getting up and going out may seem like a great deal of effort, you will be incredibly glad once you do. A good time is not likely to fly though the window and land on your lap; you need to get out there and find it for yourself. Getting out is much easier when you have a partner in crime.

I loved the connection. Hmm...where to?!

Hey...it kinda looks like someone lives here....

2008-07-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Well my online family...I have been making my little apartment a little more homey. And it's been really fun! After moving several times in my life I have finally heeded the advice from my mother and have begun to LIVE SIMPLY. While I have gotten a few decorations, I have remained true to the credo that less is more. While I have survived in my place with only a bed...it is time for me to no longer survive, to thrive.

So where do you go when you need cheap stuff?! IKEA! Oh yes. The Ikea here is two stories, and well, Sarah and I found out that we can only go twice a year. While everything there is super cheap, it's not when you buy cartloads of it. It's an amazing place...from the revolving door that you walk in, to the carts with 4-count 'em FOUR-turning wheels so you can screech around corners, Ikea is a super center in every sense of the word.

So I stock up, for $122.57 I got:

coffee/tv table with shelf below it
bedside table

3 piece saucepan set

5 knife set

16 piece silverware set
2 plates
2 bowls

1 frying pan
4 glass wine glasses
1 large cutting board and one mini
1 framed tri-picture of black and white New York scenes

4 unframed mats of black and white scenes in Paris

So what does that lead to? Putting together your furniture yourself! Hooray! I got one table together, and put it next to the bed and got it all set up with my alarm clock, candles, and pictures. Alright...cool. I am woman, I put together furniture. Well, then I let the other table sit in fear in the packaging for a week.

Hey, I need a couch. I need something to sit on. Well, Craigslist is the only reasonable place to go for quality furniture at a dirt cheap price. So...I am no longer allowed to buy furniture by myself anymore. While the couch will totally do until I can buy something that is better...everyone picture the first couch they bought. It especially helps if that couch was in the 1970's...because I have it. (And if I find pot, I am going to be disappointed in you all!) I got a sleeper sofa that is a little scratchy, but has some serious potential. Updates to come.

But now I have a couch, I have tables, I have art...it's time to put it all together.

I spend two freaking days on that table. I can't get the legs to screw in right. And what do you do when you have a problem like that? You call a man (or you throw it out and cry about your loss, but I called a man.) Better then that, I called MY man. And he shows up, drill in hand, ready to bend that table into submission.

And I of course have to add my assistance. I use power tools...grr.....

Work it...work it....The new face of drills and power tools everywhere.

Finally I hear an exasperated sigh and "honey, can I use that now?"

Oh, yeah.

But alas! He does it! And now look at what I come home to!

Living room....
Bedroom...

Vanity area....where I am oh so vain.

And the bathroom.

I only have a couple things left to do. I am going to paint one wall, because I can, and it will be a light color. I have learned while dark brown and orange may look nice-painting 5 coats over them to return them to the right color when you move out is NOT fun.

And I need a tv. I need to be able to watch DVD's and steal cable.

But there's my place! The Love Shack as I like to call it... Or the Bunny Ranch.

Daily Emotion

2008-07-14T11:42:00.001-07:00

Slightly bitter that the crappy soup you brought for lunch because you have nothing else in your cupboard is not a hamburger with fries:

Daily Emotion

2008-07-09T13:02:00.001-07:00

Realizing you misread your tiny little clock on your computer wrong and it's not 4:00pm, it's 3:00pm.

Food for Thought-Texas Style

2008-07-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you have a monkey on your back?

Yehaaw little guy. Yehaaw.

Hunka Hunka Tasty Wine

2008-07-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

What is missing from most classy wine bars today?

If you said Mexican fake Elvis singing to guests, you would be dead RIGHT.

Hey, don't be cruel. Get Melvis a Riesling! Well thank you, thankyouverymuch.

Emotions are the sweet candy shell of Life

2008-07-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Fun new website. http://www.emotioneric.com/

Thanks Erin! It's pretty darn hilarious. It shows one random man acting out different emotions. One of my favorite was "finding out you bought the wrong fabric softener". So with that-I think I need to display more emotions in MY blog.

Stay tuned... :)

Happy Endings

2008-07-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

So....I was sent this by my father...and I don't know if it's because of the music in the background, or because I love animals, or what...but I cried. Big time.

It's the cutest thing EVER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYbFQFXG0U

Hope you like it too. Maybe not enough to cry, but enough to understand. :)

Whoa Nellie

2008-06-26T12:36:00.001-07:00

And yet another thing to make yesterday the best day ever...I saw a car get pulled over by a policeman on a horse!

He actually gave the guy a ticket. I looked hard, but I could not see where he would have put those lights and sirens. Maybe they are a team..."Hey there Cupcake-how much should his ticket be for?"

Oh So Zesty...

2008-06-25T14:44:00.001-07:00

Today one of the best things ever happened-Zesty Jenny read my blog.

I've been reading Jenny's blog for a while now, ever since Sarah introduced me to it, and it is truly the epitome of what I want my blog to be. She's super cool, really funny, and I idolize her bloginess. She's my celebrity of blogs. Blogrity. Something like that. She's a local Tacoma girl, and I love that I can keep up on the "City of Glass" and the antics of some of the friends we have in common.

So anyways, I've been reading her blog, laughing along yet admiring from afar. Until today, I was inspired to leave a comment. And on a whim, I left my blog address. And guess what-not only did she read it....SHE COMMENTED! I really can't tell you how excited I am. She has inspired me to do the birthday goal list, to create categories for my posts, to basically become cooler in my every day life. And they were real comments. Not like "Hey kid , nice strung together words in blog-like form..." She read them and responded to the content "Hush about the 80 degree weather, it's not even summer here yet....Cool England pictures-makes me want to go back....Hey, you're amazingly cool, let's be best friends and have dance contests..." Stuff like that!!

It's fun because bloggers support other bloggers. Please check out hers and continue to "live your life as zestfully as possible..."

www.zestyenterprise.com

Aww....

2008-06-23T13:38:00.001-07:00

Daily dose of adorableness!
We got all dressed up for church. Too bad the best part was the brunch we had afterwards. Next!

GoodNight Moon

2008-06-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Saw a great view from my favorite bar the other night. Watched an orange moon rise.Goodnight moon, goodnight brush. Goodnight lady who might be a lush.

And the Thunder Rolls

2008-06-18T07:12:00.001-07:00

Texas has the best storms ever. You get all the excitement, all the drama of thunder and lightening, the smell of rain on hot cement, and it's done in like...20 mins. Max.

Last night was a fantastic one. Around 6PM the thunder started to roll. I was a wee bit confused because where I was standing, I was looking at blue sky and sun. But I have learned that since the sky is so big, if you turn around, you'll find blue sky. Will and I listened to the rain pound the roof and the thunder boom while the lightening crashed all around.

Then it was done, and it cooled down almost 15 degrees. So we sat outside on the patio, smelled the rain, and watched the last bits of lightening. The clouds got so thin that you couldn't tell which where clouds and what was sky. Then all of a sudden a spider-like flash of lightening would go. No thunder anymore, and no rain. Just the light.

Very similar to this:

But last night, with the setting sun, all of the clouds were orange and hung so low in the sky. So it was like you were enclosed by nature.

Very cool storm. A+!

What I Learned On Saved By the Bell

2008-06-17T11:44:00.001-07:00

Today was an episode that makes you remember that unfortunately, not everything lasts forever. For today, Zach and Kelly broke up.

While Zach is planning their time at the costume ball and finding outfits (they will be Romeo and Juliet) Kelly gets a job as a waitress as the Max. Ever since her dad lost his job, she and her 6 brothers and sisters have been a bit short on cash (I love how realistic the show is. Because they wouldn't be strapped for cash before then? With one working parent?!).

Kelly's boss is a dark and handsome college sophomore and of course, falls for Kelly. As Zach prepares their costume and helps with the dance, Kelly begins to fall for her boss. And the day before the dance they kiss, and more then just the french fries get hot.

Kelly still goes to the dance with Zach but he realizes something is up. So as Slater and Jessie (at the dance as Anthony and Cleopatra) look deeply into each other's eyes and sing "Endless Love", outside the dance Kelly tearfully tells Zach what happens. He listens, consoles her, then looses her to the college sophomore for the next few episodes. But they do dance one more time.

The world is a little sadder today. Let this remind you to not take your loved ones for granted.

Come Sit With Me

2008-06-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

One of the many attributes I have that proves I am my mother's daughter, is the fact that I LOVE, L.O.V.E. patio's. A place to sit outside. Whether it's at a restaurant or at home, I love the feeling of sitting outside on a nice little chair and observing the world cruising by from my post. So I suggest to Will that we should get chairs for his apartment deck (mine only fits an automan...). Easier said then done. Where does one buy moderately priced patio furniture? How do you compare?

Ahh...Target. So we embark. We of course immediately found the perfect set. Sweet little table, uber comfortable chairs that rock back and forth and yet support the tush....for $350.00. Oh, no, no no. My tush does not need to be THAT supported! So we poke around, sit in a bunch of things, and then decide that we will go to cheap Target-aka WalMart. So we head there.

We find better prices, but nothing that even compares. WalMart has let us down.

So we head BACK to Target. Convinced that we can find a good deal on a good chair. We again poke around the department, spirits sagging. But alas, tucked away under a fake awning we see it-a glorious fake wicker chair with a cheerful cushion proudly showing off it's lovely thick arms and supportive back for the right person to see. We pull it out, and it's perfect. But-it seems to be part of another collection, and not for us. UNTIL helpful Target man tells us that the chair is for sale separately, and at a great price! But oh, that's not the cushion that comes with it. You have to get the one that is white and sad.

No sir, no. I have just spent 3 hours shopping for this stuff. No, I'm getting the cushion I want. And alas! They are out of the depressing cushion! We can have the others! Victory is ours! We take our chairs, our table, and our cushions out to the car.

Umm..how do you get all of that in a BMW?

Heck, this is Texas! You stick it out the back!

But at least we had something to tie it down with. We got a few bonus points for that.

But true happiness:

8:00 at night...85 degrees...a light breeze...the perfect chairs...watching the world pass by...margarita's....and Dirty Dancing. All with a wonderful guy.

Life is good. :)

Jolly Ol' England

2008-06-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Alright, since I know the best part about travel is seeing the pictures, I finally stopped worrying about condensing everything down and thought I would give the highlights and lots of pictures.

England is AWESOME
Learned a lot for work
Loved London
Ate lots of fish and chips
England is bloody expensive
Amazing historical architecture
Again, England is AWESOME

Bournemouth, where I was for work.
Great parks in Bournemouth.

Me being English.

The streets of Bournemouth.

Cool view.

The one night we all went out in Bournemouth. Very interesting to learn that you only have to be 18 to drink there...

Westminster Abby.

The Abby.

Big Ben! Dong, dong, dong.

Big Ben and Parliment, from across the River.

Houses of Parliment

Buckingham Palace. Eh, pretty cool. Not much to see though.

Harrod's. Overpriced and undelivered goods. What a great deal! You can wander the some 700 areas they have for shopping and sip on your $15 latte and browse the latest Dior fashions. Right!

Me looking English, yet again.

Beautiful city.

Pretty park.

Our amazing hotel. The Sofitel St. James.

It's not England without Tea!

St. Pauls Cathedral. Where Diana and Charles married.

The inside. An amazing, beautiful, awe-inspiring place.

Tower bridge-not London Bridge.

Tower of London-where the crown jewels are held! Apparently they do not let you try them on. Texas Embassy. The old embassy when Texas was it's own country-now a bar!

Trafalger Square.

That's pretty much my England trip in a nutshell! :) I can't wait to go back!

What I Learned From Saved By the Bell

2008-06-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Today's episode: The Prank War

It's the big cheer leading championship finals and of course, Bayside and Valley are the top two competitors. With such a prestigious competition brings the yearly "Prank War"-where each school tries to out do each other on pranks. Valley strikes first by toilet papering two nerds together so Zach and Slater decide that they have to become the ultimate prankster's this year.

They volley pranks back and forth until finally, Zach and Slater steal the Valley mascot: their bull dog. Jessie is very indignant about this being "dog napping" and wants no part in it. The guys, of course, think this is no big deal.

Way wrong.

To retaliate, Valley steals Bayside's mascot: which is Screech inside of a tiger suit!! Since the mascot is an integral part of Bayside's cheer for the competition, Valley puts one of their own in the suit. But the impostor is discovered, and red ants are poured into the suit by Zach. The ants do their job and the mascot jumps and bounces all around, showing off such good athleticism that Bayside wins the competition!

Mr. Belding finds out about the prank and gets the dog and Screech back to their rightful owners.

Moral of the Story:

Mr. Belding explains that while pranks can be fun, they can also be dangerous. This "prank war" could have hurt a friend!

Something to think about before you toilet paper a yard...

What I learned on Saved By the Bell Today

2008-06-05T10:25:00.001-07:00

As I get ready in the morning, nothing beats watching my favorite 80's school gang create well meaning craziness for a half hour, then summing it all up with a good life lesson.

Here's what I learned today!

Today's episode:

Zach learns in a class about subliminal advertising. Since Mr. Belding has to meet with Zach's mom about his scholastic attitude (oh Zach!) which will therefore prevent Zach from going to the Sweetheart Dance (in which he wants to ask the object of his affection: Kelly Kapowski), Zach puts clever subliminal advertising in Mr. Belding's favorite song-California Girls by the Beach Boys-and gives it to him. It works! Mr. Belding is now convinced of all the things that Zach said-that he's a great student and a wonderful person. Zach can go to the dance! But the success with Belding gives him a great idea-why not try this on Kelly?

So Zach cons his wing man Screech to make two tapes (one for Kelly and one for Screech's long time obsession, Lisa Turtle, of course) and has him switch out the tapes by posing as a new girl student in the locker room while the girls are going to soccer practice. The girls listen to the tape and fall madly for the boys-all is going well until....Kelly lends her tape to Jessie, and Jessie begins to have feelings for Zach. Oh no! Jessie quickly puts together the puzzle pieces and unravels Zach's plan. In order to get him back, the girls round up all the other girls in the school, the teacher, AND Mr. Belding and let them in on the revenge.

Mr. Belding plays "Kelly's tape" for the school, and the entire female student body can't control themselves and scramble to get to Zach. Craziness ensues when Zach can't find refuge-not even from the teacher or Mr. Belding! Finally, Zach admits what he's done and everyone lets him know that they were on to him the whole time.

Moral: You can't play with people's minds. Their thoughts and actions are their own, it's not fair to manipulate them!

Thanks Zach...point taken!

England Update

2008-06-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

I know, I know...I'm being a right git about this. But I promise there will be an update soon!

The Birthday Blog

2008-05-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

So I am officially 25. All the wisdom that comes with this age is waiting to fall upon me and teach me the ways of the world.

So I thought I would take a cue from a fellow blogger and list out some goals for this year. That way, next year, I can see how much progress I made and share that with everyone! How fun!

Goal #1: Lose 40 more lbs and be under 200lbs.

It's an ambitious goal, but I think I can do it. I think the first step is to stop eating birthday cake...

Goal #2: Travel to a foreign country.

And I mean where I don't speak the language all that well. I'm thinking France or Spain?

Goal #3: Have a position of value in job

I want to gain responsibility, so my goal is to have some sort of responsibility that is solely mine.

Goal #4: Figure out what I want to do with school.

Do I want to say forget it and never take another class? Or am I truly yearning for a degree? What degree? Where? Due to recent economy struggles, I'm not going to say that my goal is to be enrolled in somewhere by next year, but just have a pen to paper plan.

Goal #5: Achieve world piece and get Jessica and Tony Romo back together.

:)

I Would Actually Disagree with the Timing

2008-05-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

So it's Saturday...the England countdown is in the final stretch of only a day!...and I head to Target for some last minute necessities (gum...Cosmo...a cute top...). Get in ye ol' Seabring and head home. As I drive past the cemetery that is right by my place, I do my customary check for ghosts and BAM! My car dies.

Power steering...gone. All engine lights are on. I have no brakes and no gas. So like a rational, composed driver, I scream and immediately jerk my car to the side of the road-almost hitting my good Samaritan who ended up stopping and helping me.

I pull over to the side of the road and the nice man that I almost hit stops to help. He happens to work for Jiffy Lube, has me open my hood, and has no idea what's going on. Heck, for all I know I have a malfunction in my Skittle intake valve-I don't know about cars. My first thought was that it was haunted from the cemetery.

So I make the ill-fated call to poor William Wonderful.... "Hi...how's lunch with your mom? Good, good. You guys almost done? Oh no reason, I'm fine, but I'm on the side of the road. No, you don't have to hurry, just yeah, wanted to let you know..." I'm breezy!

Yeah, he's there in 10 mins. So he waits with me while Triple A towing comes and loads up poor Skip.

Car is not happy. :( Off to Midas where they check all the rainbow connections, fire off the spark plugs, and quickly find that my stupid Timing Belt decided to snap and go missing.

What the? Really? A belt? Slap it back on and let's go!

(Apparently, there should be a black rubber belt there where the metal is just sitting there laughing at me)

Then they so nicely tell me that just to replace one stupid, smelly piece of rubber will be $400.00-where, again, as a rational, composed driver- I burst into tears.

Luckily William Wonderful was there to talk car stuff with the guys that looked horrified that I was crying and trying to tell them that I was flying to England tomorrow and that this couldn't be possible. It was mostly just a lot of sniffling and not understandable words. So for now, it's all taken care of. And by that I mean I'm selling off my body parts to pay for it. Anyone need a kidney? And arm? C'mon, I must have something you like-everything must go!

Please feel free to sing this

2008-05-16T08:23:00.001-07:00

Since I have been singing it all week!

"Leaving On A Jet Plane"

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I'll tell you now, they don't mean a thing

Every place I go, I think of you
Every song I sing, I sing for you
When I come back I'll wear your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, oh, let me kiss you
And close your eyes and I'll be on my way

Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times that I won't have to say ...

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

And I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

But I'm leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
Leaving on a jet plane(Ah ah ah ah)
(Leaving) On a jet plane

2 More Days Till England!

2008-05-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

Only 2 more days till England! 2 more non passport using days....

Cheerio!!

The English love their tea. They consume more tea per capita than any other country in the world. Their tea consumption is more than thrice of Japan and a whopping twenty two times more than America or the French.
The country of England is one of the world's most famous, and wealthiest.
The country is 74 times smaller than the United States!
The city of London has a population of approximately 12 million people, making it the largest city in all of Europe.
Most police officers in England do not carry guns with them unless it is an extreme emergency.
The oldest zoo in the world opened in England, in the city of London in 1828.
In Medieval England, beer (or ale) was a common breakfast beverage.
Shoelaces were invented in England in 1790.
The city of Bristol is known as “the Seattle of England” because of its youth culture and booming fashion reputation.

3 days till England!

2008-05-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Three days! Three excruciating, non passport-using days! It's so lonely!

I just confirmed my arrival time with Modonna who is picking me up.

Eeeeee!!!!!

England is 74 times smaller then the USA, 59 times smaller then Australia, and 3 times smaller then Japan. However, England is 2.5 times more populous then Australia, and 1.5 more populous then California.

English people consume more tea per capita then anybody else in the world.

London is the largest city in Europe.

Among the three ghosts said to haunt Athelhampton House, one of them is an ape.

English people have the highest obesity rate in the European Union.

They Say It's Your Birthday...

2008-05-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

Alright, the great birthday countdown has begun (12 more days). And seeing as it's a particularly monumentus one, I figured I would make a bigger deal out of it then usual. Not in the selfish way, just the way that announces the event.

Look who else has my birthday!

1964 Lenny Kravitz (singer)
1951 Sally Ride (astronaut who was 1st American woman in space on Challenger shuttle in 1983) 1949 Hank Williams Jr. (singer)
1949 Philip Michael Thomas (actor)
1948 Stevie (Stephanie) Nicks (songwriter)
1939 Brent Musberger (sportscaster)
1927 Jacques Bergerac (actor)
1923 James Arness (Aurness) (actor)
1920 Peggy Lee (Norma Deloris Egstrom) (singer)
1919 Jay Silverheels (actor)
1913 Peter Cushing (actor)
1911 Ben Alexander (Nicholas Alexander) (actor)
1910 Laurence Rockefeller (conservationist)
1908 Robert Morley (Adolph Wilton) (actor)
1907 John Wayne (Marion Morrison) (The Duke) (actor)
1886 Al Jolson (Asa Yoelson) (singer)

I mean technically, I am an astronaut singer/songwriter who was part of Fleetwood Mac and conserved my acting fortune.

Secret Identity

2008-05-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hey, need a new name to "freshen up" that hum-drum life of yours?

It's Almost My Birthday!

2008-05-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

So as I prepare for my 25th birthday, which subsequently means I am preparing for my decent from life and I know it and into my 30's, a birthday box arrived for me today.

You have to love it when your mom has to send your gift early because on the day of my birth she shall be toasting me with something coconutty and delicious on a boat off of the coast of Croatia. Hey, I didn't do anything on my birthday to make it happen...I just waltzed out all fabulous and stuff. Hats off to her!

I get excited because when in giddy glee I rip off the wrapping paper (I have never been the "save the paper!" kind of girl) I see:

Shoes!!! Yesss.....I love shoes. So I open the box only to find it's not shoes (duh, maybe I could have seen that they are size 8.5???) but a whole box of goodies.

Including pictures of me as a bitty!

Here I am!! Just a day old. Can you see that rosebud mouth? So many years I heard the story of the night I was born....

Look, I actually was tiny at one point. I wasn't born like a baby giraffe.

The note that my great grandmother wrote accompanying the amazingly stylish hat I am modeling in the above pictures.

Here's the fam before I made it here-mom and bro (dad is taking the picture, so he's included)

And my very first picture with my brother. I love the look on his face that you can't tell if he's excited about having a little sister, or maybe that he can just drop me and no one will notice, or that maybe I'm just going to be a big smelly nuisance .

I think he has the same question in his mind to this day...

But I got lots of great things that only a mom and provide-PJ's, cuddly stuff, great trip essentials.

And birthday supplies!

Balloons......

And hey! I can toot my own horn!

Thanks mom!! Love you!!

I Took Two Bites-Can I Have Dessert Now?

2008-05-12T06:39:00.001-07:00

So Saturday was adventure day-not in location, but in experiences.

Will decided that we would go have sushi. Now, about 4 years ago I tried sushi and no matter how hard I tried to like it, my stomach and gag reflex disagreed. So I haven't tried it since. But in trying to be "cool new girl" I said I was totally willing to try it again.

I did so much better this time!

I let him order, because I knew if I saw what was in it, I would be sticking to a liquid dinner. So he orders a plethora of squishy goodness, all wrapped and disguised with rice. And much to my surprise.....it wasn't as awful as I thought it would be! Actually good!

We had lots of different things, I think my favorite was the roll with salmon and cream cheese inside.

I had 6 pieces of sushi before throwing in the towel. My last piece, the one that Will saved for last because it was his personal favorite, had a huge piece of (what looked like) smoked salmon on top. When I asked him what it was, he coyly said he didn't know, but that I should just eat it. I told him it looked like salmon and he told me I guessed it right on the money. Ok, down the hatch. Not bad, just different. Our little waiter comes out and I ask him and he tells me it's UNAGI. Eel. I ate eel. Eel eel eel.

I think the Bellini's helped my experience. :)

The restaurant had a beautiful Koi pond, but I thought it was cruel to show them what they were to become. We had the entire circle of life right by our table!

I was then rewarded with a trip to the House of Pies (where I had cake. I am sure somewhere in their corporate headquarters I set off alarms) and then we went to a restaurant (ugh, no more food!) with a HUGE arcade attached!

It was go time.

Air hockey-where I whipped him mercilessly. (No, I did. Even thought he can't be here to dis-prove that or anything I beat him down. Big time.)

See, then he had to get his frustrations out on Whac-A-Mole because he lost.

So ok, when I did I had a small crowd form that was amazed/scared that I was wailing on the moles so badly. Whatever, I have a lot of stress.

We skee-balled, we raced, we shot hoops. Good, innocent fun. With drinks!

Back in Business?

2008-05-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

I bet they give "cut-rate" service.

Happy Monday!

2008-05-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

Saw my horoscope when I got to work today, and it was so cheery that I wanted to share it with all:

Today's Gemini Horoscope: May 12, 2008
People are going to appreciate extra long and tight hugs today, dear Gemini, so feel free to give them out like candy to everyone you come in contact with. A kind gesture and warm word will not be forgotten. Let your generous and kind spirit shine through. Open your arms up extra wide and spread love to the world around you. It is the perfect day to love and laugh.

So, in the spirit, I wish I could hug you all, but my arms are little so please know that you have a soul hug-from mine to yours!!

Look for Me in Theaters....

2008-05-08T06:37:00.000-07:00

Appearing May 30th in Sex and the City.

Well, maybe not, I just feel like it.

I have matching Dior shoes and handbag!

Ok, maybe it's not Dior. Unless it's Deeyour. But I am so Carrie Bradshaw right now it's amazing.

Happy Thursday!

Hey, Steak It Easy

2008-05-08T06:30:00.001-07:00

Hey, if you are in a rush for dinner....just Steak It Easy-it's ok!

I love the way this city thinks.

Target Went Gangster?

2008-05-06T13:08:00.001-07:00

For those of you who may not be familiar with the MTV genre of shows-there is one that particularly deals with the beautification of older vehicles, aptly named "Pimp My Ride". Here, viewers have their beat up, crappy, baby-mama carryin vehicles made into non-realistic "pimp-mobiles" that are in NO way street legal.

Please observe:

Before-

"This is Josh and his beat up Chevy Blazer, Josh spends most of his time taking care of his girlfriend and her family, it's about time he takes some for himself."

After-

Besides the really cool paint job, Josh now has monitors on his MUD FLAPS showing other drivers what is happening in his car (bad bad bad idea I think) and a snow making machine on the top so he can make snow "wherever he feels he needs to!"

Huh. So my point to all of this. Obviously this show is dedicated to making more vehicles on the street as bad ass as they can be.

Hence the "Pimp My Ride" line of products that you can pick up at your local Target to make YOUR car more pimpin'!

The P.M.R. Bling Kit:glittery appliques can be applied to the dash...steering wheel...wherever you feel your ride is lacking bling.

The P.M.R. Collapsible Trash bag with flaming skull on it: What-up Gangster! My car is so pimp that you better be believin you are putting yo trash in my collapsible trash bag! A dirty car is not a pimpin car-fo' sho'!

And my personal favorite...

The P.M.R. Car Console Organizer with winged skull: because truly, nothing says pimped bad-assery like an organized center console.

I can't WAIT to get these pimping utensils in the Seabring!

The Diet Starts on Monday....

2008-05-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

Adventure Time.....Adventure Time...who doesn't love Adventure Time?! On today's episode of Adventure Time, Will and Marissa venture down to the lovely island of Galveston-approximately one hour away located on the Gulf of Mexico.

It's supposed to be a fun little sea town (Pirates?!) so we head down this past weekend.

You know, Texas may seem civilized, but here is a sobering reminder that you have to be on the lookout for wild life at all times.

We were at a gas station and I pulled out my camera just in time to capture.....

A leopard. She almost blended into her surroundings of 1984 but I was able to catch her.

And on we go.

We hit Galveston and cruised the strip a little bit, until we come to rest at a bar called the Spot. First order of business? A drink out of a fruit.

If you like Pina Colada's...and getting caught in the rain....

Little windy at the ol' Spot. And while I was trying to be very nonchalant about my hair constantly being in face and trying to not be that girl that gets upset over it....I didn't really succeed.

But that's ok! Who cares about your hair when there are men on unicycles!

My choice of transportation as well. Cycle on sir. Cycle on.

A few coconut Pina Colada's later...and we go downtown to wander the shops. Hmm...just how many tee shirts or Texas emblem-blazing magnets does one person need? According to Galveston-a lot.

However, I did manage to find some things that I just couldn't live without.

(I think the only way I got this picture was by promising it wouldn't make it on the blog. I'll just tell everyone it's Elton John. Rocket man....)

We choose to go have an amazing sea food dinner-we are on the Gulf, right?! Apparently, so did the rest of the town. And hour and half (and several Lemon Drops) later, we are seated.-Must have been all the commotion from Elton John!-But it was so worth the wait. I had mahi mahi, that even as my stomach screamed at me that it was seriously going to rupture and cause massive internal trauma-I continued to shove into my mouth. So very delicious.

Sunday we got up early to a beautiful sunny coast to go running. What? I didn't bring any work out stuff? And I don't run? Oh man, that sucks. That's ok, we'll just play on the beach!

Unfortunately, it's not all fun and games. Some people have jobs to do.

Luckily, all is safe on the ocean front.

Next, it is off to the Hotel Galvez, for what I am told is an amazing brunch. The hotel its self is beautiful-old, historic, perfect place for a nice Sunday brunch. As we are waiting for our table, we're cuddled up on a wicker love seat watching at all the guests walk by, Will looks into my eyes and says the three words every girl longs to hear:

"There's unlimited Mimosas."

I melted, right then and there.

As the hostess takes us to our beautiful ocean view table, she leads us past our brunching options-which take up two rooms! I think I scared Will just a bit as my eyes started to gleam with excitement.

A two and half hour brunch, and what was the damage?

cantaloupe
strawberries
salad with ranch

pesto pasta salad

Eggs Benedict

bacon
cream cheese blintz

deviled egg

1/2 Belgian waffle with strawberries

prime rib

sausage

vanilla coconut cake

carrot cake petite four

carrot cake

cheese cake bite

triple chocolate cake

brownie bite

mimosa after mimosa after mimosa

I learned as a child to be polite and try everything, even if you think you aren't going to like it. But I couldn't fit in the pasta stand, the omelet maker, the fresh ham, rice, chicken and vegetables, assorted cheeses, or fresh fish.

No more room at the inn.

It was fairly embarrassing when I left as it was....

And we left back to Houston, 80 lbs heavier then when we started, but very content at a fun weekend. :)

Snip Snip

2008-05-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

As I discover that not only do I have split ends in my hair, but my split ends have split ends...it's time for a hair cut. And well, as I am trying oh so hard Livin' la Vida Budget I go to my best friend Citysearch for a place that is reasonably cheap.

Citysearch did not disappoint, yet again. It sent me to LN Hair Tech, only 15 mins away from my work! Everyone on the page raved about them, and they boasted $25 hair cuts. Not bad.

So I make my appointment, and got a small case of the nervies when the lady that made my appointment didn't really speak English. That's ok, I'm getting a $25 hair cut, and all I need is a trim, so I don't expect too much.

I show up, right at 530p (my scheduled appointment time) and the two shop owners are sitting in the shop, alone, waiting for me. As I walk in, the lady jumps up and says "You're here!" and then "Shampoo now". The husband takes me back and shampoos my hair with really fun tingly mint stuff and explains how his wife Candie has been cutting hair for 23 years and they have this legacy of hair care. Cool! My little case of the nervies is gone-I have a feeling this is gonna be fantastic.

And fantastic it is. Shampoo done, sit down in the hair chair. Here is the dramatic re-enactment:

"You want book?" (to choose hair style)

"Oh no...I'm pretty simple, I just want a trim-"

Interrupts: "Layers?"

"Uh yeah, sure. I like the length, the only thing is I want swoopy bangs."

"Trim hair, like long, layers, bangs."

"Yup."

And then, the hair ravaging begins. You know the scene in Edwards Scissorhands where he makes the animals out of the shrubs and all you can see is this frenzy of activity and shrubbery flying everywhere? That is exactly what happens. She is a flurry of combing out the hair and cutting, then repeat.

As hair is flying, my little hair cover is askew from all the activity, I learned that

A. You do not talk to Cindie. Cindie talks to you if she wants.

B. Even if there is hair in your eyes and you are in pain, Cindie stops for nothing.

C. You do not question Cindie's methods till Cindie is done.

So she snipping ceases. At this point, I have been in the shop for a total of 15 mins. She then begins to dry my hair-to which her husband comes and helps her. So I have a TEAM of stylists working on me, I am so Mariah Carey it's unreal.

They finish, and I am very pleased. She teases my hair up a little so it's more Texas and says "See I give you volume." Yes you did Candie, thank you. And "Your boyfriend will like!" (He better if he knows what's good for him). Hey for $25, I am NOT complaining!

I'll let ya'll decide for yourself! :)

Plundering the High Seas

2008-05-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

So here's a thought I've always had. Ya know how back in the old days, or days of yore as I like to call them, these great pirate ships terrorized the ocean? With their sails billowing in the wind they pillaged and plundered and ravaged ships and shores alike. There was always a scary crew aboard-right? Peg legs, hooks, parrots, all these crazy crew members...and I always wondered: where did the captain find these guys to be the crew?

Now I know.

Yargh Matey....

Mucho Fiesta

2008-04-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

So Mr. William has been taking me on a tour of Houston. I have been able to see all the wonderful sights that I have missed in the past 6 months I have been here.

He took me to a wonderful food store called Fiesta, where, it really is a party and every one's invited.

As you walk in, you have the option to go straight to the grocery shopping extravaganza...or...you can get some western wear! We wondered the shop and perused the boots and large belt buckles, but didn't see anything we needed.

We wandered the store. Perfume? No. Watches? No. Jewelery? No. Hmm...what goes great with frozen food?

Pinatas!!!

You know how when you take your kids to the zoo you run the risk of showing them..umm....how monkeys like each other a lot some times?

Well, you apparently run that risk with Pinatas as well. But this is a different story altogether.

Hey, where can I get beer AND my work boots-all in one trip? Why Fiesta of course!

And no store is complete without an underwear bin

Umm...pretty much the best store ever. Don't agree? Just ask this guy

Ain't nobody disagrees with a guy with a Mohawk AND a mullet.

No one.

Personal Tour of Houston? OK!

2008-04-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been squired around by a certain new gentleman...and it's really fun because he knows all the really cool places to go.

Please observe.

The Water Wall. It's well...exactly what it says. A wall of water. Over 17 billion gallons per second pump out over these walls, enough to fill 17 footballs stadiums.

Alright, I made that up for attention.

It's a pretty cool place, fun to splash around in.

We even ran into a lovely elderly couple enjoying the evening who were very sweet. They wanted to make sure we got a picture of us.

Uh oh. Did you hear that? Was that the sound of someone else possibly challenging Sarah and Lance on the cutest couple blog?

Game on. :)

Then, since Will just happens to work in a super cool building right next to the Water Wall, I begged to go see his office.

It's on the 56th floor of THIS building! Wouldn't you?

So we got to go up the super fast elevator and up to the 56th floor and all is majestic views.

It reminded me of being in an airplane and how small everything can look. And what made me smile, is that even though I knew it wasn't...it looked similar to a certain city that I had been missing a lot lately.

We also went to the International Festival, which was featuring Africa this year. It was pretty cool, lots of stuff to wander around and look at, more culture.

Oooo! And they had drinks in pineapples.

Hmm...could be the beginning of something kinda fun.... :)

Operaaaaaaaaa

2008-04-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

I feel so cultured and worldly. I attended the opera of La Boheme downtown last Thursday as a Christmas present from my brother and sister in law. The opera people did NOT appreciate when I tried to sing along.

Erin, as my date...she's all worldly traveled and stuff so I knew she would appreciate the sentiment of a French opera sung in Italian. I was just hoping there would be snacks.

The entrance to the Maison de la Opera.

The statues inside that they do not want you to touch. Whatever. Who wants to touch a stupid sculpture anyways?

Inside the Opera House. Amazing architecture.

Our seats! It's fun to be really high up and look down upon all the peasants. What was interesting was that up above the stage, they had a large scrolling text screen with subtitles. I loved because I felt like I could follow along so much better (my Italian is a little rusty)....

Bravissimo!

When the Sun Goes Down..On My Side of Town

2008-04-29T11:16:00.000-07:00

I think I have said it before, but you can't beat the sunsets here. You see a firey red ball set aflame in the sky and it's embers reaching out to touch the rest of the world. It turns the whole surrounding area a beautiful red/copper and all the glass in the buildings reflect it.

It's so hard to show but incredible to see.

In person.

Hint hint.

I found my camera cord!

2008-04-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Yesss.......

First: updates:

Scary bug on my deck that I had to draw in order to show you....

C'mon. THAT is scary.

and...

Gecko.

Alright, and we're off. There is LOTS of blogging to be done!

I'm a real live citizen

2008-04-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

Oh say can you see.....by the dawn's early light....what so proudly we hailed....

Anyways-I got my passport! Look! I am now officially a citizen of the United States!

Oooo........

Ahhhhh........

Alright England...you ready? Huh? You ready for this?!

I Had To, The Flowers Commanded Me

2008-04-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

So as you may know, a little holiday is coming up called Mother's Day. So, as I am looking online at beautiful bouquets to possibly bequeath on my mother (sorry mom, I may have just spoiled the surprise...) I find this wonderful website (http://www.proflower.com/). They not only offer beautiful flowers, but the reasons why you should send them.

Observe. I have bolded my favorite lines for convenience.

Nothing but fresh-cut tulips! Twenty tulips are a great way to make someone's day, and because we work directly with the grower, no one's tulips are fresher. Send tulips for just about any occasion: bridal shower, baby shower, sweet 16, first date, you can't go wrong with tulips.

With blossoms like bright purple butterflies, this head-turning bouquet of Bombay Dendrobium Orchids will make people stop and say, Wow somebody really, really loves you. Regal long-lasting orchids: the perfect gift for elegant person with upscale tastes.

This is what it's all about: 12 red roses with baby's breath. As anyone who has been in love knows, a dozen roses are as integral a part of any love story as the first kiss. Send 12 roses to the love of your life today: it's always the right thing to do.

And my personal favorite...drum roll please.......

Our spring lilies are shipped in bud form, as most all lilies are. Here's why this is a good thing: watching these flowers open over the course of a few days is a gift in itself. Imagine your recipient's delight as each day their spring lilies bouquet only grows brighter and bigger, reminding them of your thoughtfulness for at least a week.

(I'm sorry, becuase after a week, it will be your job to remind them of your thoughtfullness. I love it.)

Some Things Are Just Like Gold

2008-04-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Seriously, some times you just can't pass things up. Please don't read if you are drinking milk. Or red wine. Or Kool-Aid. If any liquid that might stain is in your vicinity-please move it. For your own sake.

Carton Of Irregular Cat Hats
Date: 2008-02-07, 11:01AM PST

Hello. I have a big box of used cat and kitten hats that I have collected over the years for various occasions. As of recently my cat, Snowman, is no longer living and thus I am forced to get rid of these precious memories.

I would not feel right asking money for them so I am offering the whole box for free. There are many styles from formal to cute and funny.
There is a variety of 14 different hats total. I just hope you and your pet can find as much joy in these hats as me and Snowman once did.
E-mail me if you are interested and I will give you my address where you can pick them up. I can also arrange for a free delivery if you are not too far away.
Thank you, Patty

Someone could have warned me

2008-04-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Umm...yeah. So in case ya'll didn't know-there are bugs and creatures down here. And not just mosquito's and flies and bees and such....but real monsters. I had my first encounter with a grasshopper a while back, and that was scary, but now, in my new home, other creatures have found a resting spot on my deck.

Not happy about this.

On Saturday, I go outside to admire my parking lot kingdom and find a little gecko sunning himself on my deck.

So since I couldn't find the cord for my camera to show you the ACTUAL picture I took...this is what you get.

He was fine to be there, I even tried catching him. Erin told me that in order to catch a gecko, you have to distract him with one hand and then swoop in and get him from behind with the other.

Let's just say my "distract and swoop" leaves something to be desired.

Now the other creature-I think it's official name is BigScaryUglyBug, is NOT welcome. Again, out to admire the lot, and when I opened the door and found this there and I jumped, IT jumped. The bug has a conscious mind in order which to process being frightened and jumping back. No no no no no.

I watched him from the safety of my enclosed fortress and made sure he crawled up the side of the apartment and went off to terrorize someone else.

I don't even wanna talk about the cockroach stories I have heard.

Get Ready Prince William....

2008-04-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

As many probably already know...since I can't keep information like this to myself...I will be flying to merry ol' England at the end of May! My company sees some value in me and is sending me to our corporate office with another wonderful girl from the office. Since I have never "traveled across the pond", we decided we should stay a few extra days and spend the weekend in London-which actually SAVES the company $3000!

I'll start the week off in Bournemouth-about 2 hours away from London, but aparently a wonderful place.

I can't wait to see it! And apparently, the rule of thumb is that the English treat the American's very well over there...and it's somehow slipped that it will be my birthday week-so I hear many parties are afoot. OK!!

Then Friday, Sommer and I will travel to London to go play around and see the city. We have our reservations at the Sofitel St. James hotel-which is in central London. Within walking distance to Buckingham Palace (hellooooo Prince William, or Harry. I'm not picky) and other touristy spots. And since we are saving the company so much money-they wonderfully offered to pay for our hotel.

I have even made reservations for the high tea on Friday at the hotel in the Rose Room. I'm not the biggest fan of tea but I love little sandwiches!

I have to start practicing my English. 'Ello. Chap. Bugger. Rotton. Mobile...

I must have misunderstood

2008-04-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

"Thank you for calling Domino's-what can I order for you?"

"Hi, I would like to get 4 pizza's delivered to 1300 West Sam Houston Parkway."

"Of course, is that a business?"

"Yes it is, we are in suite 104 and it is Hoar Construction."

"I'm sorry, say that again?"

"Hoar Construction."

"Umm...ok....so the business name is construction..."

"Yes. HOAR Construction."

"Huh, alright."

Respect My Authorit-y

2008-04-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

No street sign gonna tell me what to do.

That's right, I do what I want! You don't own me!

Whoops

2008-04-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Although I know we are offically at the half way point of the month now, I had to do a quick tribute to Mr. April-from the ever official Texas brand merchandise: the Studs and Spurs calendar.

(Just wait till May though...)

Blame it on the rain....

2008-04-15T11:17:00.000-07:00

Milli Vanilli aint got nothin on this.

Since the weather is turning brighter for both Houston and Seattle (ok, mostly just Seattle-it's been nice here for a while) I wanted to share a video of the rain here, just to show the ducks in Seattle that they weren't all alone on the icky-weather front.

This was probably about two or three months ago:

I'm sorry to do this again

2008-04-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

I apologize for posting a second list of things I found on Craigslist so soon after the first-but every time you search a different genre of crap-it just gets better!

Today's search-art:

3/D Yard Art Tropical Birds - $25 (Sugarland)
Reply to: mailto:sale-639134580@craigslist.org?subject=3/D%20Yard%20Art%20Tropical%20Birds%20-%20$25%20(Sugarland)Date: 2008-04-11, 7:35PM CDT

Selling 3-D yard art to pay for my Hobby. The price is for the Cost of material and time spent making them. I make them as they are ordered and I have others too. Crows, cranes, eagles Many, many more. I can usually have it with in a week. Cockatoo $ 25.00 Toucan and tropical parrots $35.00 Any color. The pelican or big and they go for $45.00 E-mail me back and I will let you know what else I have and when I will have your bird ready for adoption.

Please note that this is in order to pay for thier hobby. So making wooden birds is thier actual job. I would hate to see what the hobby is. And please, before you go out and by a wooden bird at retail, remember that there are lots of wonderful wooden birds in need of a home. Adopt today.

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bird house - $29 (porter)
Reply to: mailto:sale-641862636@craigslist.org?subject=bird%20house%20-%20$29%20(porter)Date: 2008-04-14, 10:54AM CDT6``x 9``

bird house made of cedar or treated pine

I know I made that one on the right. I already confirmed it with my dad. I made that in third grade in the garage. I'm filing a suit.

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Holiday candle - $5 (SW Houston)
Reply to: mailto:sale-635100211@craigslist.org?subject=Holiday%20candle%20-%20$5%20(SW%20Houston)Date: 2008-04-08, 3:12PM CDT

Holiday candle that can be used anytime of year.

Umm...appreciate the suggestion...because I think this will match my Easter decor just smashingly.

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Lanyards - $15 (Highlands, Texas)
Reply to: mailto:sale-633482462@craigslist.org?subject=Lanyards%20-%20$15%20(Highlands,%20Texas)Date: 2008-04-07, 11:29AM CDT

We make lanyards to wear a name tag clipped to. if you work in the hospital, schools or basically anywhere that you wear a name badge then you might want one. they are made with glass beads and metal charms. soon we will be making some also for the guys. we make necklaces and bracelets too.

Now I know where all the ones I made at camp went! It was really just a lanyard sweat shop and now those counselers are reaping the benefits.

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Signs that you have never seen before - Check this out - $55 (Whitney, Texas)
Reply to: mailto:sale-641706906@craigslist.org?subject=Signs%20that%20you%20have%20never%20seen%20before%20-%20Check%20this%20out%20-%20$55%20(Whitney,%20Texas)Date: 2008-04-14, 8:09AM CDT

I take your simple can and cut your name or anything eles you want, THEN PUT IT UNDER EXPOXY high glosss, and this it very nice. Anything you drink, if it comes in a can I can do this for you and glass glaze it in and no-one, I mean no-one does this. If you are interested please contact me at tomcmoore@amerion.com or call me at 254-694-7585 or visit my site at http://toms.gotshopsonline.com./ Thank you. Your friends will be wondering where in the heck you got this item. This is the only place you can get it. Anything you want I will cut it out and glass it in using white pine and very nice stains. Thank you.

A. Only in Texas

B. "Your friends will be wondering where the heck you got this"....umm..in a bad way or good way?

c. Finally, a proper tribute to the beer I drink.

I love you Craigslist. I honestly love you. I can't even express my joy at times. Just please, keep it up.

Why Do I Keep Doing This??

2008-04-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

So last night...out of pure curiousity (if I had a cat, the poor thing would be on it's 8th life by now) I joined the belly dancing class at the gym. I felt fairly confident starting out, since there were woman of all shapes and sizes in the class and many of them were new comers-like me!

All that confiendence sped right out the door when the instructor walked in. 5'11, size 2, abs for days and walked with a pure grace that radiated belly dancing expertise. Which is good, I suppose. I don't think that you want someone that wanders in and kind of shuffles through your lesson-but still. I was instantly jealous of her in her cute little crop top and matching pants. Here I am standing in my oversized tee shirt, baggy yoga pants, pulled up hair (already semi sweat-streaked from spin) and am trying to feel graceful and sexy. Oh yeah, I'm feelin it.

What I learn is that you must, I repeat must, keep your eyes ONLY on the instructer as she undulates and intertwines her body into these stomach killing dance moves. Because then you see what you are supposed to be emulating, which is this:

Sand and all.

But if you for one moment catch yourself in the mirror and see your body twisting the sort of horrible, spasmic car crash way you see:

Ok, that's what I felt like.

I think I actually looked like:

The instructer, bless her fat free soul, suggested that if you buy one of those jangly coin belts, it really helps you hit the moves. Really? Does it? Is that how you got your washboard abs? The only way it would help me is if it came with rythym, and I don't think they sell that.

But my mom convinced me that I have to try again, and who knows, maybe this time I will actually look something like a snake coming out of a basket and not play dough coming out of the tube.

Parents Always Know

2008-04-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

It continually amazes me how connected families can be, no matter how many miles separate them. As things have been a bit rocky for a while...I have had unsurpassed support, love, and simple understanding from Washington.

My mom sent me this the other day, and not only did it make me smile, but gave the pure reassurance that I was ok in the journey I was on and that other people had gone before and actually survived.

Just the soft spot to land, in the process of getting back up.

My dad, the aspiring artist that he is, emailed me this. What I truly treasure about my parents is that there are so many wonderful qualities about both of them. While I have support from my mom-I feel like it's a quiet, consistent sort of insight that allows me to know that everything will be alright and gives me the space to freak out for a moment. On the other side of the pond, I have a very supportive father that shows me how I am going to get through it. That I am strong enough to take on the challange and when I pick myself up and am ready for more-he's there to hand me the sword.

Yeah, I think they did an ok job with me :) Good thing is that they are obviously still teaching!

Reflection du Jour

2008-04-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

Here is my thought for the day, simple yet compelling.

Do not, under any circumstances, keep a platic lighter in your car during they day in the summer. It explodes. And if I would have been in the car, I could have lost an eye or gotten a very bad looking scratch.

That's just a good tip, I think!

WalMart-a poor girls Disneyland

2008-04-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

You know that I have truly adapted to Southern culture when I plan my day around a trip to WalMart. Shoot, if I had any extra money I would rent 5 children and pile them all into my Seabring and then we could all spill out into the parking lot and the store. Then I would truly be a Texan!

So Saturday night brought a trip to the mecca of crap. Yup, I just admitted that on a Saturday night I went to WalMart. Well, my thought was that I could avoid some of the usual characters I see there-like Captain Pushy Pants (the person that has to be right behind you trying to get past you in a huge panick to get a pack of lightbulbs), Ms. McKidCorraler (the lady constantly having to stop and yell at one, or 12 of her kids to "get back her right now!"), The Lone Old Person (always driving those crappy slow carts), and Master Aisle Blocker (the person who is so good at taking up the WHOLE DARN AISLE while looking at one thing, you can't possibly get around them at all. And not even your feeble "exuse me"'s do anything to stop this travesty). Well, no, they were all still there.

So my goal, was to buy everything there as cheaply as I could. Well, except for my mattress cover because c'mon, a girl has to have some comfort. So I started on my mission, and pretty soon, I became a low price ninja. I could spot a $.04 saving from an aisle away. I was able to bend, twist, and contort over and around people in order to get to those non name brand products. Mr. Miagi would have been proud. As I shopped, I found that I had adopted the persona of a frugal 75 year old black grandmother-one who I actually frequented on a couple of aisles. "$5.29 for dishwashing detergent?! Oooooo child, nuh uh. Not in this lifetime." "$.99 for two sponges, get along now, that's what I'm talking about." It made shopping just that much more fun.

All in all, I faired pretty well. I was almost taken in by the bright and shiny lights of WalMart and convinced to buy stuff I didn't need, well, I need it but I can survive without it-and I resisted. Ha ha garbage can, you will wait until another time. You with your shiny round receptacle and glorious hinges.

But it still makes for the best people watching. Next week I have a date to go visit my new boyfriend Johnny Entrance Greeter.

*Post Blog Note*

Look what I found! I'm not the only one!

A pregnant Jamie Lynn Spears and her boyfriend Casey Aldridge celebrated her 17th birthday with a trip to WalMart Friday.

People will sell ANYTHING

2008-04-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

So as I search the world of Craigslist for the perfect lightly used, fantastic looking furniture under $30 in the Houston area...I have come to the realization that people will sell ANYTHING-and expect someone to buy it!

I wanted to share my favorite finds so far:

US Amy Military OD Administrative Field Desk - $225 (Houston Area)
Reply to: see belowDate: 2008-03-28, 3:41PM CDT

This is a Military Field Desk that's in excellent condition! This desk folds into a square box that measures approx. 3 1/2 ft. squared. This would compliment anyone looking for great field gear. As always, thanks for looking! By the way, the portable field commode IS included.

Wow, that's great. You get a desk AND a chair for a great price-and you can sit and work for hours without the pesky interuption of nature calling.

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Need this couch gone ASAP! - $25 (Pasadena/Deer Park)
Reply to: mailto:sale-629160056@craigslist.org?subject=Need%20this%20couch%20gone%20ASAP!%20-%20$25%20(Pasadena/Deer%20Park)Date: 2008-04-03, 3:36PM CDT

My boyfriend and I are breaking up and moving out, and neither one of us can take this couch. It's kinda old, kinda stained up, and the recliner is really stubborn and gets stuck sometimes, but this is by far one of the most comfortable couches I've ever had. It's not 1 big piece, it's actually 2 separate sections, so it should be fairly easy to move. Pick up only.

Wow, becuase it LOOKS like it's been kept in great condition...does all the crap on the floor come with it?

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Mickey Mouse Costume - $20 (77084)
Reply to: mailto:sale-632597986@craigslist.org?subject=Mickey%20Mouse%20Costume%20-%20$20%20(77084)Date: 2008-04-06, 3:58PM CDTFrom the disney store, mickey mouse coustume for 18-24 months. This item was only used for pictures so it is really brand new.

Good call, set the kid up with need for therapy sessions early.

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Sterling silver wedding set 2 pcs for woman - $20 (SW)
Reply to: mailto:sale-632584447@craigslist.org?subject=Sterling%20silver%20wedding%20set%202%20pcs%20for%20woman%20-%20$20%20(SW)Date: 2008-04-06, 3:53PM CDTThis is a beautiful set sterling silver and has 5 czs on one band and on the ingagemant ring it has 1 large and 2 on each side , please call can not respond to emails

Who wouldn't want this classy wedding set? I know as a little girl I dreamed of my prince presenting me a sterling silver wedding band with a big ol cubic zirconia rock on it.

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Elegant Diaper Cakes For Both Boys and Girls - $45 (NW Houston)
Reply to: mailto:sale-632590367@craigslist.org?subject=Elegant%20Diaper%20Cakes%20For%20Both%20Boys%20and%20Girls%20-%20$45%20(NW%20Houston)Date: 2008-04-06, 3:51PM CDTElegant 3 tier diaper cakes. Perfect for any baby shower or as a gift. I can make it for a boy, girl or unisex. See picture below as an example. Email me your name and number and I will call you to work out the details. Thanks.

Nothing says elegance like diapers. But couldn't this also be used for any birthdays 90 and above?

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Capt. Sally's Women's Fishing Retreat - $295 (Rockport, TX)
Reply to: sale-632583486@craigslist.orgDate: 2008-04-06, 3:48PM CDTCapt. Sally's Women's Fishing Retreat April 18-20, 2008 Laguna Reef Hotel, Rockport, Texas Open to women anglers of all skill levels, this first retreat will offer lots of fishing knowledge, camaraderie and relaxation! Check in on Friday afternoon, swim in the pool, fish or kayak right outside your hotel suite door! Enjoy a meet and greet happy hour, food, beverages and a fully stuffed goody bag! Saturday begins with breakfast, fishing, kayaking or swimming, then a seminar and demonstration schedule that includes all types and levels of fishing. Capt. Chuck Scates, the "Godfather" of Texas fly fishing and sightcasting will be giving fly casting lessons most of the day. Several kayak companies will be offering demos and paddling lessons on the beach in front of the hotel. An absolutely first-class seminar schedule includes 2006 CCA Aransas Chapter Guide of the Year, Capt. "Limit Out Larry" Robinson on baitfishing, Capt. Kevin Shaw, 2007 winner of the FLW Team of the Year, 2007 Texas Redfish Series Team of the Year and Championship winner, among many other first place tournament wins, will talk about lure presentation and fish finding techniques, Capt. Billy Trimble will give everyone a beginners look at fly fishing, Dr. Mark Fisher from TPWD will be talking about "Common Prey Items on the Texas Coast" which is total insight into what redfish and trout are eating and when they are eating it! If that's not enough, there will be more great presentations added soon! After this spectacular day, the Boiling Pot will be catering a poolside coastal dinner with beverages included. Seaworthy Marine will be presenting a very cool women's Fishing Fashion Show poolside as well! Laguna Reef has offered everyone suites with kitchens and balconies, there will be vendors available to talk about tackle, rods, reels and other fishing gear. Hospitality will abound! Sunday, late checkout will offer everyone a chance to have a leisurely breakfast, swim in the pool, kayak or wade fish right outside your suite doors. There will also be an ala-carte menu for Sunday that includes guided fishing trips and an additional night at the hotel. This is an all-inclusive retreat that includes suite accommodation for Friday and Saturday night, great food and beverages, plus an unbelievable group of seminar speakers and demonstrators geared to the women's fishing market. This retreat is open to only 50 women. More information will be published daily, but if you don't want to miss the chance to participate in this very first Capt. Sally's Women's Fishing Retreat, sign up right now at www.captainsally.com! The cost for this all-inclusive retreat is $295 per person, but a deposit of $100 will hold your spot! You can put it on your credit card or send a check for either a deposit or the entire cost. There is a separate sign-up and cost for those of you who have homes in the area and do not wish to stay at Laguna Reef Hotel. Don't miss the chance to learn about fishing from some of the most knowledgeable people in the field. Sign up soon! If you are a tackle, rod, reel or kayak retailer or manufacturer or an otherwise interested party and would like to participate, email sally@captainsally.com. I hope to see you in Rockport to participate in another ground-breaking opportunity for women anglers!

Only in Texas.

Reflection Du Jour

2008-04-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have just decided that I will post a daily thought of the day. I think that everyone should be entitled to interact with the little firefly's that buzz around my head that are my thoughts.

Heck, I might even do two a day! I'm 24...I'm unpredictable and spontanious.

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Reflection numer uno: The Things We Forget...

So as mentioned in previous bloggery, I have a new apartment. Now granted, while I have only been there (courting on fingers) 3 nights, there are already things that I have had to become accustomed to while I get all of this set up.

-no overhead lighting. Apparently the apartment was invented in 1878, right before the light bulb because they feel no need to give any of the rooms overhead lighting, with the exception of the bathroom. So, there I was, reading last night eating my sandwich and drinking my diet coke...on the floor of the bathroom.

-lack of appliances. You know when you move and you have to get all the little crap that you just don't have anymore that you were so used to using in your previous home? Like...food? And then you get home, and you're tired and all you want to do is open your can of spaghettio's and heat it up? Then you remember that you have no can opener, and no microwave, and no pots and pans. Blast!

-and my favorite...no furniture. Now granted, I don't think I have ever had a place look cleaner, and it's kind of fun to make up some new things in order to sit down, or lay down, or set something down...you know, to do things in a general downward motion. It's amazing the versitility of one box!

My whole ponderment is based on one simple thread...remember those times and smile at what you have now. It's amazing that underneath all of the "stuff" is a colorful foundation. :)

Daily Reflection

2008-04-02T13:25:00.001-07:00

Courtesy of elledegeneres.com

My Thought...And I Do Have One
YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF MEI recently bought a pair of socks. The were labeled “L” and “R.” I don’t need somebody telling me which sock goes on which foot. My butler does that for me. Basically, the sock company just wants to tell me what to do. But guess what sock company?
I’m an adult. …Even if the socks that I bought have ponies on them, I paid for them out of my own allowance. And whoever is labeling milk cartons, stop telling me to “open other end.” Last time I checked, a milk carton is supposed to dispense milk, not get snippy with me. Cough medicine bottles say, “Do not drive or operate heavy machinery.” I don’t know about you, but I find the best way to get rid of a cough is to drink some cough syrup and then fire up the jackhammer. That really loosens everything up.
My blow dryer has a tag that reads, “Do not blow dry in sleep.” I can’t control what I do in my sleep. Next thing you know, they’ll be telling me to only drink margaritas when I’m awake. But the one set of directions that I really resent are the ones for the hokey pokey. The last thing I need is somebody telling me when to put everything in and shake it all about!

New Carpets...New Adventures

2008-04-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

Yet another Texas milestone! My own apartment :)

I have a very cute "studio" on the second floor of a large complex.

Here is the living/kitchen. Good space set up, a nice pantry and lots of cupboard space. But let's be honest, I won't be using it! I'm thinking of renting that part out to people who need it.

Here is the "hallway" that leads into the bedroom and bathroom. I like that there is a full wall that separates the bedroom from the living room, yet no door makes it feel really open. Considering the living room is the size of a postage stamp-that's helpful.

Bedroom....I like the window placement. It's very light and airy. And don't worry mom, the windows are placed so no one can reach them from the ground. There is no tree they can climb up or anything. It's safe.

Vanity area where I hang out with Carly Simon (you're.....so vain....) and the bathroom and the closet.

Vanity area again...hi!

I liked the set up of having a separate "makeup putting on area" other then just a bathroom. And then when I went INTO the bathroom, I saw why they did that.

There isn't even room for a person, let alone a mirror or sink. When you go in, you litterally have to step into the shower to close the door. Ahh...I love feeling cozy.

But honestly...who gives a crap when you see the closet? I would live in a shoebox just to have this closet. Long gone are the days when I had to buy kids hangers and litterally shove all my clothes in a tiny, tiny closet. Now I have 3 levels of hanging options and a shelf for every shoe!

Wait there's more....

Still going.....

And....finish. Happiness. Shoe happiness.

So that's it! That's my little place! It will be interesting as I start to fill it with furniture-considering I have none. So any donations of couches, end tables, or beds are greatly appreciated. :)

All in a Day's Work!

2008-03-25T12:48:00.001-07:00

Gotta love when the boss comes to you and says "My dear" (he is English you know) "do you mind taking my car 45 mins across town to be serviced?" And what he doesn't specifically say is that it's a gorgeous day out and it's a new Saab convertible...well, guess he doesn't have to. :)

Easter box, part deux

2008-03-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Another Easter box for me in the mail! I love getting stuff in the mail, especially when it's not bills!!

You know it's gonna be good when it's packed tightly with that fake plastic grass. Everything good comes from fake plastic grass!

Oh yes my peeps, you do see correctly. That would be POP ROCKS!! My favorite. Oh man, I remember putting them in my mouth, like a packet at a time, and then hearing them pop! pop! and opening my mouth to hear them more clearly. Wow, great times.

So my little chicken friend is very special, because he plays the greatest song ever....The Chicken Dance.

Nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh

Nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh!

Clap clap clap clap

Feel free to sing along. I'm dancing right now.

Hope your easter was Egg-tastic!

What I've Learned...

2008-03-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

What I've Learned: Michael J. Fox
Actor, 46, New YorkBy Scott Raab

Right now, I'm feeling pretty good. It's just one little thing in my brain.

If I let it affect everything, it's gonna own everything. I don't deny it or pretend it's not there, but if I don't allow it to be bigger than it is, then I can do everything else.

My body is an isometric exercise, because I'm always putting pressure against things. Whatever I'm doing at any given time, I'm also doing something else—I've always got this thing going on.

The thing I miss most is spontaneity—just kind of saying, Fu** it, let's go to Vegas. I can't really do that.

I got a '67 Mustang, but I'm not driving it much. My wife gave it to me for my thirty-fifth birthday, so I've had it for eleven years, but even when she gave it to me, it came with vintage plates, which was kinda distressing—a car that's six years younger than me is a registered antique.

There was this image of me as this kind of cute 'n' cuddly guy, which in as far as it got me laid, I didn't mind it too much. It made me party harder.

People said, "Does it bother you that girls want to sleep with you because you're famous?" "That's a tough one. Lemme think about that. No."

I knew I had something more going on than just being cute. What was tough about that for me was growing up playing hockey, coming from Canada, leaving at eighteen, all that stuff. I was a beer drinker and a chain-smoker, and I'd been in my share of scraps when I was a kid. So I kinda saw myself as a little bit of a hard guy, you know?

I can't always control my body the way I want to, and I can't control when I feel good or when I don't. I can control how clear my mind is. And I can control how willing I am to step up if somebody needs me.

That's one of the things the illness has given me: It's a degree of death. There's a certain amount of loss, and whenever you have a loss, it's a step toward death. So if you can accept loss, you can accept the fact that there's gonna be the big loss. Once you can accept that, you can accept anything. So then I think, Well, given that that's the case, let's tip myself a break. Let's tip everybody a break.

My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations.

Acceptance is the key to everything.

Which isn't to say that I'm resigned to it, or that I've given up on it, or that I don't think I have any effect on the outcome of it. It's just that, as a reality, I get it.

Who gives a sh** how it looks? It doesn't matter. I look like what I look like.

If you don't have someone calling you on your sh**, you're lost.

I can't be smug, because I know that you can lose anything at any point. And I can't be angry, because I haven't lost it.

I started golf in my forties, which is the ultimate optimism.

My whole life, meeting people is like a blind date, because I feel like they've already seen the video on me.

I say to my son, "My tattoo is that I don't have a tattoo." I just about got a tattoo when my dad passed away, because he had one, a horse's head surrounded by a horseshoe with roses—he was a jockey before he went into the military. So when he passed away, I just about went downtown and got a tattoo of a horse with roses. I'm glad I didn't—because I was drunk outta my ass.

Discipline is just doing the same thing the right way whether anyone's watching or not.

I was never big on lunch boxes and all that stuff, and I look at it now and think, God, how much money I turned down. Oh, fu**, I'd do it in a heartbeat now.

I realized very quickly that I had no idea what the hell was good for me to do. You have no idea. The things you do—you do some things for money, you do some things for free. It's a very difficult place to be. But on the other hand, it's so much fun. You realize, There's no way I should be allowed to do it, and I'm gonna watch everybody let me do it—and I can get a giggle out of how it's killing them.

I make no bones about the fact that I stopped drinking. That was the key to everything. Until I did that, I just couldn't have the clarity.

I had to choose not to party anymore. I could've chosen to continue doing that, but that would've been destructive. Who wants to be a cliché?

I'm driving the Ferrari down Ventura Boulevard ninety miles an hour and the cop goes, "Mike! C'mon, take it easy, you're gonna hurt somebody." I remember sitting there after the cop walked away, going, "This is just seriously fu**ed up. This is really crazy." It's one of those moments when you realize that the only thing that's ever going to stop me from doing whatever I want to do is me—and I don't want the job.

No matter how much money you have, you can lose it.

No matter how much fame you have, it's not something that belongs to you. If I'm famous, that doesn't belong to me—that belongs to you. If you can't remember who I am, I'm no longer famous.

I see Us magazine and People magazine and all these tabloids—they have the same story over and over again. It's the same every week, and I get all kind of smug about it, and I think, Come on, really? You care about this sh**? But then cut to me going, "Get outta the corner! Get the fu***** puck up! What the fu** are ya doing?" It's tough to stay off the subject of the fact that we're all gonna die. We all need our subject changers. That's what it all comes down to.

The thing with Limbaugh was so interesting. I didn't even have to say anything. People said to me, "Don't ya hate the guy?" I was like, "I can't get it up to hate the guy." I know it's a racket, I know it's a job—it's show business, and that's fine. Let's take it as show business.
People wanted me to rip him apart. The truth is, Limbaugh is ripping himself apart well enough for all of us.

Six months in the jungle with Sean Penn is tricky, but he's a real talented guy. I sent him a note at the end of it saying, "I can't say that it was a pleasure, but it was a privilege."

I have this Bose Sirius radio, and I put it on Classic Vinyl and get my guitar and just play along with it—it's all twelve-bar blues—and for hours I just do that.

I'm not in the widget business anymore. I have no widgets to sell.
I had lunch with Sean when I was trying to decide whether to go back and do Spin City. I said, "I just want to pick your brain." He's a brilliant guy and a great artist and an honest fella in a great way. I said, "I'm trying to figure out whether to go back and do this TV show," and he gets this smile on his face and he goes, "Well, it is the most successful part of your gift." Brilliant. What I love is that I could hear that and laugh my ass off and say, "Fu** you"—but I so appreciate people that think on that level.

I always wanted to do a short film about Petomane, the flatulist. Petomane was the guy who could do the "1812 Overture" out of his ass.

When I see pictures of Lindsay Lohan in the car or Paris Hilton—the level of glee and the level of viciousness—wow. We've got a war goin' on. We've got people dying. And we're all up in arms about this girl.

I have such empathy for all these young women. I was there, and I did all that crap. We'd rip it up, y'know? And we never got busted on any of that stuff.
"She deserves it" and "Who does she think she is?" Who does she think she is? She doesn't think—she doesn't know what she had for breakfast this morning. Who gives a sh**? Relax, everybody. Calm down.

Whatever terrible thing is going on, it's going on until you find out that it's not. So get to that part as quickly as possible.

I don't know of anyone that's had a perfect run.

I'm an American citizen since '99. I'm happy because I get to vote. There's a lot of years that I paid for a lot of stuff that I didn't like; I like having a say in it.

It started the summer before last summer, when the president vetoed the first Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. He had these families around him, these "snowflake babies," which presented it like it was an either/or situation and the two were mutually exclusive. It was just such manipulation, and it just pissed me off so much.

I'm not looking at polling, I don't have to play any of these games, I don't have to worry about whether I'm on message or off message. I'm just saying, Hey, can we look at this for a second?
I don't really consider myself a political animal. I try not to be grandiose about that. It's like the barn is burning down and you've got the bucket of water. I don't know how I got this bucket of water, I don't remember going to get it, but it's in my hand, so I guess I've gotta throw it.
I have to think of myself as a regular human being.

The Easter Bunny Knows the Post Man!

2008-03-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!

Do you remember, when you were just a wee youngling, and the excitement and joy you got from looking all over the house (and/or yard depending on our fantastic Seattle weather) for a basket filled with Candy and toys? Man, that was almost as good as Christmas-and you didn't have to be good to get it! Poor Jesus, here we are celebrating a holiday where he miraculously rose from the dead with stuffed bunnies and spring themed gifts. Sorry Big J...but if you symbolized jelly beans and those magical Cadburry Eggs then I bet you would get a WHOLE lot more recognition. I'm just sayin...something to think about. You could have Jesus Beans-and I bet they would be delicious. Flavors of the last meal...one of wine....whatever, I'm just thowing stuff out now.

BACK to my origional point (jeez Captain Rambler...on with the story) I have always loved the "Basket O' Easter". And this year, my mom sent me mine via the mail.

First thing I find...Bunny Ears!!! Immediately they are on my head.

I think we give the playboy bunnies a run for their money.

Hugh...call me.

Hmm....what else do we have in here??

New Easter friends!

Good smelling soap...so I can be a good smelling bunny...

A candle that smells like cookies...yum.

Hmm...that makes me wonder....

Nope, can't eat it. Why do they make it SMELL so TASTY?!

Oh!! Oh!! Candy!! I got candy!!

C'mere chocolate bunny....I'm just like you, I won't hurt you! (Except for eating your ears!!!)

Mmmm....delicious canibilization.

I got the upgraded easter egg dying kit. It came with an egg drill, and an egg sucker/pump. So high tech. Long are the days when you tried to blow the crap out of the egg and ended up crushing it and getting it everywhere.

Is that a hint mom?

Betcha thought that just like we did in days of our youth, we would quickly discard the fun toys just as quickly as we opened them.

WRONG!

Here's a special little bunny making dinner....

Can you find me?

Happy Easter! Just remember there is some bunny who loves you in Texas!

(Thanks mom :) )

I Fought the Claw, and the Claw won

2008-03-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday evening...about 75 degrees...seems like an ideal night for some crawfish-right?

Wrong, dead wrong.

See them lie in waiting...they seem so innocent and tasty.

Oh ha ha ha....this one seems to be good. Yummm...

Wait no! It's the attack of the crawfish all over again! Horrendous thrashing claws of fury!

I just wanted to eat you! Why do all the things I love hurt me?!

Oh ho little guy-look who remembered she was 8000 times bigger then you and higher up on the food chain... ME!

(No people where harmed in the making of this blog. The crawfish were though-because they were boiled and then taken apart and eaten. But I'm ok!)

Please Check Out....

2008-03-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

Please check out my sister blog www.sarahreiman.blogspot.com for additional stories, pictures, and good natured silliness.

Why are you still reading? Go!!

Nawlins? What? Oh NEW ORLEANS

2008-03-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

Oh ho adventure goers...it's time for one of the biggest when little Marissa goes to New Orleans! Woo hoo!

Our story begins in a little town called Morgan City, LA where we find our two amazingly pretty heroines visiting Sarah's boyfriend (since he's been working there). 4 hours away from Houston and a world away from normal civilization-we spend our first night here taking in the local cusine and entertainment.

Stop one on the tour...Susie's Seafood. A small restaurant said to have the best Crawfish around. We go in, sit down, and since Lance has called ahead our order of 700lbs of crawfish-we don't have to wait long until someone comes out with a plastic tub of dead crustations and dumps it on our table. Couple of Miller Lights, an entire forest of napkins...we are good to go.

Carnage.

Stop number two...the Daquiri shop! C'mon, when is the last time you had a daquiri...in a TO GO container? Well don't worry, I obviously had one for you. Give me a little credit-you have to drink to feel a little normal with your surroundings here.

Case in point. --------->

Alright-moving on.

Saturday morning...on to New Orleans!!!

Of course, we have to continue eating fried foods every three hours or so or we'll go through withdrawl.

We got our fix with beignets. Deep fried dough with a pound and a half of powdered sugar on each one. I am pretty sure the streets of Heaven are paved with these.

(Artistic photo courtesy of Sarah Reiman)

And then...we make it!! MF is in NOLA!

Thankfully, we immediately have police escorts to help with fans and the paparazzi that were already trailing us. (I think they thought it was

Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie. But I mean, that has happened before)

I immediately felt a sense of loss in the city as we entered. Everywhere around us was a sign of distress-from the large tent cities underneath the freeway overpasses to the massive ammounts of litter on the ground.
Sarah informed me that this is the way the city has been-it isn't specifically a Katrina related phenomenon.

We wanted to see the area that Katrina had devistated, so Navigator Lance steered us in that direction.

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans three years ago, completly covering parts of the city with water.

This is a picture taken at that time, and the red arrows indicate where we actually drove. Just an interesting perspective to know that it was underwater.

The area that we were in is called the 9th Ward. An area that was litterally wiped out by Katrina.

Here is a frame of reference:

Hurricane Katrina

Three years later-almost the exact same spot.

Everything is just.....gone. As we drove through this, I tried to imagine if I were to come back to a place where my home had been, and now, not even a skeletal house remains. There is nothing left of your life there, nothing to show. It was something that I couldn't quite wrap my head around.

As we continued on we found houses that were still standing, some of them with FEMA trailers in the front yard.

We saw on houses these X's with a date on top, and then different numbers around them. Our understanding was that the date signified when the house was checked, and the different numbers were if there were any bodies inside that were found. Thankfully, we saw a lot of 0's.

What is tragically amazing is that despite the warnings and the state's ban on living in certain homes, people still are habitating the homes. They have to, they have no where else to go. As we drove through these neighborhoods filled with houses deemed "unlivable", people watched us as we came through. They had now become a "tourist" stop and while I wanted to so badly to see this wreckage and to see this devistation to in some way be able to connect to them and understand what had happened and try and sympathize.....but...I got to leave.

With a rewnewed sense of appreciation for what we have in life, we headed over the bridge to go explore the more famous part of New Orleans...the French Quarter!

We started our self guided tour at the Hard Rock Cafe-mostly because we needed our fried food munchy fix.

We walked across the street to the beautiful plaza

With a fantastic church along the border

And amazing apartments with the quintessential balconcies.

Enough history. Let's find the fun!

Bar Numero Uno. Sarah and I underneath a great reminder of what can happen in New Orleans if you are not careful.

Where is Bourbon Street? Maybe it's at the bottom of my cup. I'll find out.

Pretty girls at Pat O'Briens! (Is that really the name of the bar? I thought that was the guy on Entertainment Tonight)

The scientific mystery fountain at Pat O'Briens-fire INSIDE of water....ooooo......

Large patio outside....

Hey look! It's the Bourbon Cowboy! We are meeting Sissy and Buck inside. (That's an Urban Cowboy joke)

Ooo! Saddle Seats!

We danced, we drank, we sang, we had a great time. Of course, out of the 700 bars on Bourbon Street we end up at a country one.

I am impressed though how I have managed fairly well to look pretty mature in this post.

Darn it. The color of my tongue maybe explain a little. Unfortunately, I wasn't eating Jolly Ranchers...

Shhh....time to head home..... Very important note: I FOUND THOSE BEADS ON THE STREET.

On Sunday, before heading home, we explored a wee bit more of the local fare.

We went to the Waffle House-which was so small it should be called the Waffle Condo, and the only thing with more sugar there then the syrup was Sarah and Lance.

Explored the town a bit and saw some cool parts with great houses, neat church, and the waterfront! (You gotta love a town when then spell Shrimp with a backward S. It was hand written.)

Alright-New Orleans/Louisiana? Check.

Wisdom of a Dad

2008-02-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

Nothing beats it. :)

I use to have a Comfort Zone where I knew I couldn't fail.
The same four walls of busy work were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before, but I stayed inside my Comfort Zone and paced the same old floor

I claimed to be so busy with the things inside my zone, but deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn't let my life go by, just watching others win. I held my breath and stepped outside and let the change begin.

I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before, I kissed my Comfort Zone 'goodbye' and closed and locked the door.

If you are in a Comfort Zone, afraid to venture out, remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.

A step or two and words of praise, can make your dreams come true. Greet your future with a smile, success is there for you! --Author Unknown

If you need a pick me up....

2008-02-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

Then please, read this story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23095982/

It made me giggle out loud, for extended periods of time, and is heartwarming.

The Simplest Pleasures....

2008-02-19T11:49:00.000-08:00

Strike when you least expect them.

A fresh breeze...

(YEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH!)

A fantastic lazy weekend with your best friend in the whole wide world...

And a great hair day! (Had to get that picture in somehow...)

Go forth and enjoy the simple things that make you smile!

Take This Job and....

2008-02-13T14:45:00.000-08:00

Work it!

I got a new job! No more serving...hooray!! Although, I did meet my current employer through serving...they happened to be a table of mine. We really were a full service restauraunt; drinks, appitizers, entrees, desserts, and employees.

The company that I am working for is called Hamworthy Combustion. The main company (that is located in the UK) sells equipment to burn fuel, gas, and other combustions.

That's as far as I've gotten. Please visit the website http://www.hamworthy-combustion.com/ and it can hopefully answer any other questions you have. In addition, if you understand anything, please let me know.

It seems like a great place...right now I am working with an Englishman, an Italian, a Brazillian, and an Indian. I love accents!!

Here I am on my first day...

And here is where I sit...

And here is my desk from the other side...

Right now I am doing mostly admin stuff, but I should be moving into a more prominent role within the upcoming months.

And here I am lookin all "corporate cute"...ow!

I was attacked

2008-02-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

For those of you who had heard the ordeal already, I am sorry to repeat. But I felt that I had to put the story out for all to see-in some ways to warn all of the dangers that exist just when we feel safe, and in other ways to get the healing process started.

Ok, deep breath.....I was.....attacked by a monster.

Here is the crazed insect in my car-replenishing energy for another attack.

Just in case you truly can't see how large he is and how vicious-I have included another picture.

There it is. Actual size. Can you see the teeth and hate filled eyes?

There I was, calmly minding my own business in my car when out of NOWHERE this monstrosity of nature comes out and tries to attack me!

Again, this is actual bug size and footage from the attack.

But thankfully, the human race prevailed and lived to see another day.

Please remember...when you are lying in bed at night feeling tucked away from the world...some of us are out fighting for our lives, and it aint pretty.

Mardi Gras and Scary Crawfish

2008-02-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

In order to truly embrace our culture in Texas, Sarah and I headed out to support our local restaraunts in their Mardi Gras celebration.

We went to Pappadeaux, a cajon/creole place and ordered a popular LA drink-hurricanes!

We are so Mardi Gras chic!

Then we got into collecting beads...not like that! We made friends with the bartender whom we talked out of his beads. Man we're smooth!!

So Sarah has recently been telling me all about the phenomenom of eating crawfish. About how you cook this poor, innocent little crustation completely whole, take it out, look it right in it's dead eyes, rip it apart, and devour it's innards. Yeah, doesn't hold appeal to me, but, like a true adventure girl, I have been saying I will at least try it once. But it scares me!

Well, the friendly bartender got me a dead crawfish so I could see it.

Not happy.

I was even more not happy when I turned and saw that the other bartender had put a LIVE crawfish right next to me and it was crawling toward me-claws blazing-and ready to attack. The entire bar laughed as I jumped up and ran away.

Note: I have yet to eat one. It still scares me!

Crazy Nights in Houston

2008-02-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

So while many of you know that I rarely have a weekend night off to goof off and have fun, I have recently been able to be fortunate enough to have a few-and I wanted to show everyone how we've been able to kick up our heels and have a good time!

My first weekend night my good ol' best friend Sarah was visiting a certain someone in LA, so I was a crazy single girl on my own!!

As I came home from work I stocked up on supplies needed for my big night. Then it was time to get this party started...

A little bubbly....who needs a glass? Only makes more dishes to wash. (I am so making my mom proud at this moment. No seriously, I bet she is!)

Dinner time! Fancy meal of tomato soup and bread. Yummy!

And now for the entertainment! Video's in my pj's-do I know how to be crazy or what??

Alright, for the second free weekend night, at least I had a little company!

Started off with another trip for "supplies". See mom? We're being safe-everything is buckled in!

And the entertainment is better! Here's Sarah with her cat Charlie Brown on her head. We were seeing what he was like as a hat. Ya know, maybe we could start a new trend or something. A Cat as a Hat or something. Whatever, I'm just throwing things out there.

Regardless of the situation, it's nice to know that we can have fun!!

Who needs to go out when you can go to a place where everybody knows your name? (Insert Cheers music here)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to Seattle I go!

2008-02-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

After Christmas and a very lonely New Year (aww...sad!), I got to head back to Seattle for my first visit since I left. So I packed up my new sweatshirt, donned the cowboy hat, and moseyed on up North.

I got in early, around 11am, and found a small suprise...IT WAS FREAKING FREEZING. My mom picked up a shivering, shaking cowgirl and ushered her into the heat.

Please notice that behind me, the sky and the ground are the same color.

I spent a wonderful three days with my mom. We chatted, laughed, solved the worlds problems, and just got a great chance to re-connect. I even got to use my professional serving skills! When we popped by just to "check on" an event, we found that there were people in peril-a server was stuck in traffic and there were hungry people Batman! So I whipped into a phone booth, stuck on an apron, and grabbed a tray of yummy little food thingies. And I was off to serve rich people in my heels and jeans. Yes it's true, women can do ANYTHING in heels, even walk down stairs with two trays of food.

The next stop on the reunion tour was with the old roomates/friends in the heart of the city. It was fun to see the old apartment, sleep in my old bed (obviously they haven't done a lot with my room....but I understand that they wanted to keep the shrine in tact), and see all the wonderful people that I missed. We dined, we danced, and of course, we attended a benefit for a long term care house put on by Virginia Mason Hospital.

I love getting a chance to get all dressed up!

(P.S. I have to mention since it was the deal of the CENTURY...the dress...White House Black Market for $3o. Floor length and origonally $150. Yes, you may revel in my shopping prowess)

It was decorated beautifully with a French theme and lot's of food. Yum....oh and we supported a great cause.

Cheryl, Tom, and I...all spiffed up.

I swear it's just water.

My make-believe boyfriend for the night. Wait, let me clarify...he's real-it's the RELATIONSHIP that wasn't. Silly readers! You thought he wasn't, and oh, you can't take pictures of make believe people! Oh he he he....

Have you ever met that married couple that's just sickeningly cute? That would be Tim and Jessica, pictured here. Erich and I were trying to model our fake relationship after them.

Didn't work. We broke up shortly after the picture.

Next tour stop...beautiful Tacoma! Hellloooooo Tacomaaaaa!! It was wonderful to see my dad, his wife Vicki, and her mother, and I even got to hug my grandfather!

That was a wonderful suprise! :)

We had a little late "Christmas Celebration" with my grandfather, my brother, and my sister in law. Nothing like spreading the seasonal cheer a little longer! I got to giggle with my brother and trade fun sibling stories...there is nothing like acting like your 12 again and do things just to get attention (Hey dad! Dad! Watch me throw this balled up paper! I can throw it really far!)

We had a wonderful time, and it worked out that I was there for my dad's birthday. And what better way to celebrate then him taking me to a fancy dinner?

Now, you may at this point notice that my blog is starting to look a little something similar to a certain best friend of mine. http://www.sarahreiman.blogspot.com/). I guess she taught me well with all those self photo's. Hey, at least mine aren't always in the car....

With the tour wrapping up, I guess it was time to head home. I crammed myself back on the US Airways plane (thanks Hotwire)...

And reluctantly watched Seattle get smaller below me. Smiling from the wonderful memories that I had from a GREAT trip, thinking about the odd feeling of having somewhere else be "home", but also a little excited to get back.

Miss you already Seattle, can't wait to bring all you Yankees down to my neck of the woods...

Mom in Houston for Christmas!

2008-01-09T14:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

For all those of you who were worrying that I was all alone, by my little Texas self, just writhing in dispair on Christmas-stop. Stop it right now. I was so lucky to have my mom come down and have a good ol' country Christmas with me-right here in Houston!

She arrived Sunday, at 1 in the morning. Ah, glad I can show her how beautiful Houston is right from the get-go!

I took her to go sightseeing a bit the next day. We went to the Kemah Boardwalk, a fun place where you can eat, drink, shop, and be merry-all on the Gulf Of Mexico!

Please notice how festivly it is decorated in the background. Oh, and that it's December 24th and I'M IN SHORT SLEEVES.

Moving on...

We wandered around and Mom took in all the wonderful sights and "street sign gags" that only really Texas can pull off. Like here is a great picture of me sitting in front of a sign that says "Crabby's". It's funny. Laugh. Hey you, yeah, Captain Clicky-it's an interactive blog. Laugh when I make bad jokes!

We then decided that it was time for lunch, and more importantly....Margarita's.

As you can tell by the uber-classy decor, we chose a fine dining expiriance by the name of the "Flying Dutchman". Where we got our drinks for $4 and sampled the local cuisine (which means me basically spilling clam chowder down my shirt. Argh! But wait, here's a fashion tip...white shirt=white food. When you spill, no one's the wiser....)

I then took her to a really cool restaurant that has a whole aquatic theme-but the food's bad. So we got to do the touristy thing and just take pictures like we had never seen fish before.

Mom! Mom! Look at the fish! Look! The fish just looked at me! Did you see it! Did you? Mom!

Here I am with the fishies. This is my mom's version of "getting our picture together". Basically, SHE takes pictures of ME.

Fishies come here! I'm one of you! I just want to find Nemo!

Grr.....I'm a shark!!

Ha ha! Snuck on of the two of us!

Next day, here come's Christmas! We opened presents that Santa had left under the tree, drank mimosa's, and then entertained ourselves for a while.... Don't you like my Christmas outfit?

Bordom got the best of us, so we headed to an amazing place that only Texas has.... the Movie Tavern. When God created the heavens and the Earth he shone his great light out of the heavens onto the land and proclaimed "Ye shall eat burgers, pizza, and chicken fingers and drink beer while ye watches a flick". It's amazing. You have a little waiter that comes out and gets your order, brings you your food, and refills your drink-all while the movie is going on!

Can you see the little tables and bars? Man it's great.

We laughed, we talked, we drank, it was pretty much the best Christmas EVER!

Next adventure...I am Seattle bound.... :)

It's Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas!!

2007-12-16T21:55:00.000-08:00

Feliz Navidad!

Of course, it's the most wonderful time of the year, and it's time to deck the halls. (Oh yes, I am also having a personal contest with myself to use the most cliche Christmas lyrics in this blog). And while we can't let it snow, we can decorate and dream of a white Christmas.

First we start with a wreath, made by my mom. Yes, those are real greens from Washington...so it's kind of like having Christmas in the Northwest. You know, the gift God wrapped in green.

Next comes Chris, the Christmas tree! O, Christmas tree, O Christmas tree. We picked him out ourselves. Out of all the large, grand Christmas trees-we found our little 3 foot tree hiding amongst. The tree was so small that the Christmas Tree lot professional attendants had to make us stand since it wouldn't fit in a normal one.

We put up a few ornaments, and a few Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells....

And we added to the festive atmosphere by making snowflakes out of computer paper... and then I added by drawing some pictures. Like a hand turkey with a Christmas hat and so on.

Now Santa's Little Helpers are all ready for the First Noel! Good thing that one of us won't be away in a manger or anywhere and have to miss it. In fact-since I'll be home for Christmas won't be happening, my mom is coming to see me!!

Merry Christmas to all. I am wishing a safe and happy holiday! Here's to candy cane wishes and mistletoe dreams....

Houston's Cribs

2007-12-14T11:37:00.000-08:00

Yo, welcome to the newest addition of Houston's Cribs. This week, we're featuring the sweet pad of Marissa and Sarah-two fly homegirls that are keepin it real in H-Town.

Ok, Robin Leach was busy so here I am to give you the tour of our super-fun girls apartment.

Here is our living room....

Please drink in the very glamorous, yet modest, decorations. Why yes, that IS a UPS box that is our coffee table. Now, one might just look tacky. But when you have a matching end table AND bedside tables...well, then that's just a statement. Moving chic I call it. The UPS coffee table has since been replaced by Mable the coffee table, she's real wood and very pretty.

And then our dining room, as seen from the kitchen-but now, there is a very pretty bar height table filling up the space.

And of course, where I spend the most time-the kitchen! Ha, ok, I didn't even know we had one till we took this picture.

So that's pretty much the best of it. Where all the fun happens at least. We have a little office that is filled with office related stuff, a bathroom (the coolest one in the world by the way! It's made for couples, love it!) and Sarah's bedroom.

Next....decorating for Christmas!

Bikini's in December

2007-12-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to show everyone what's going on weather wise in Houston in December.

Our actual 5 day forcast is for the mid 70's. In December. And sunshine. In December.

Oh, and on Saturday it's supposed to be 80. Sorry Seattle people. Enjoy the snow!

She Works Hard for the Money....

2007-12-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

While although I thouroughly enjoyed my break from the working world-my bank account and my morals demanded that I go out and find a job. I had become engrossed in the fantastic daytime tv, and while I would miss finding out which twin belonged to which father on Days of Our Lives, it was time to find an income.

I had been on a few interviews but hadn't found anything that I was passionate about in the working world. So, instead of "settling", I thought I would find something to tide me over till the new year.(Blogger's note: I have just had a 10 minute conversation with Sarah who thought that the expression was to TIE me over. It went so far as for her to call her mom, to which we both researched it on the internet and what did we find?? "Your phrase means to enable to surmount or endure a difficulty as in "money to tide us over during the emergency".
The transitive sense of the verb "tide" means to cause to float with or as if with the tide.
So when something is "tiding you over" you are, in a sense, being temporarily lifted or enabled to float over the emergency!" Point, set match. Good thing we bet a dollar on that. I'll be collecting now...)

Enter....becoming a waitress! Surely, this would be easy for me. While I have little to no service experience, heck, I have a smile and a can-do attitude. Who wouldn't want that?? I applied at a couple of restaurants, one fine dining, one not so fine dining, and then went to a job fair for The Grand Lux Cafe-affiliated with the Cheesecake Factory. Cha-ching! They took me.

I started my two week training process. Pretty much all food knowledge. Umm...FANTASTIC! That means I get to eat my way through the 150 menu items. OK.

So I start work, and have been serving for a few weeks now. It's gone well, no major catastrophes....yet. Ok, I did spill Iced Tea down the back of some poor lady, but she was very cool about it and it was only a little drip. Or half a glass. Whatever, I'm new. Give me a break.

It's been really fun to be a little waitress. Most of the people I work with are really nice, and it's funny to see all the people that come to eat and what they want in their meal. "Hi, yes, I want the Chicken Pot Pie, but I don't want any peas, no carrots, no cream broth...and yeah, can you take out the chicken? Great thanks." Ok ma'am, just to review, you want just a pastry top? Super, I'll get right on that.

So in closing, as I have seen the inner workings of a kitchen-BE NICE TO YOUR SERVER. The stories are true..... :)

Louisiana Adventure

2007-11-13T14:25:00.002-08:00

Sunday afternoon....nothing really to do...what do you do? Go drive and find an adventure of course!

I ended up being so close to the Louisiana border that I decided just to "pop in" and see what it's about. Why not?

I cross the border and find...well...not much. I mean, hello, I didn't even have a destination and didn't know anything to do there! I looked on my trusty little map and saw that I was about 40 mins away from the Gulf of Mexico. Hello destination!

I was on a small freeway, well, two lanes that drove over the intertwining bayous.

It was so cool to drive right next to all the water pooled up and look for alligators. I was totally convinced I saw a tail in one, but then realized it was probably a tire. But I screamed anyways (hey, rubber could really scare me ok??)

I love that the wildlife down here is different. Beautiful white cranes that are content to sit by the side of the road....

Cowgirls.... (hahahahahahaha AGAIN! It was funny AGAIN!)

Drivin over a random bayou

And finally, I arrive at the Gulf! Ok, well, I missed it the first time around. Yes, I am the only person that can miss the GULF OF MEXICO. Well hey, it was partially blocked by a hill-ok? But I arrived!

I of course put my toes in
and it was lovely and warm. I ran around until I found a big dead fish and got scared. Then it was time to go.
Had a blast though! Who can say they went to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana? Me! :)

The Oddities of Houston, TX

2007-11-13T14:25:00.001-08:00

Alright Y'all...

I have officially been down in Houston for a little over a month, and I am finding the oddest things.

First off, every billboard boasts the BIGGEST ads you will ever see. And it's all about Texas. Sprint says "Texas sized signal". So just in case you're getting crappy reception, you can call and switch to the Texas brand of signal?

Another thing is that there is livestock EVERYWHERE.
I mean, here's a cowgirl! Just out in civilization. (Ha ha ha ha, get it? I've also gotten funnier in Texas too.)

We have had several rainstorms, and man, they are bigger and badder down here.
Ok, mom, stop worrying. It wasn't that bad. But you don't mess around when it rains down here! It coats everything and there can be flooding. Little cars like Skip don't make it very far. Hence my feeling to "head for the hills" when I see gray skies. And that's why my best friend has a truck! (Sarah? Can you come get me?)

The other GREAT oddity is that it is still around 80 degrees most days. Which means, in November...you can do this:
Sorry Seattle people, stop crying. It's ok. It's not as great as it seems. I mean, the pool isn't even HEATED. I know, I know, it's hard here.

Update: I now officially have a job! I am a little waitress at the Grand Lux Cafe, associated with the Cheesecake Factory. It's a great place, amazing food, fun people. I love it, and it's fun to have a low stress job. I should be home in January, so please get the marching band ready for my arrival. Remember, I like lot's of trumpets. :)

2200 miles...why not drive???

2007-10-14T13:43:00.001-07:00

Hello from Houston!

My apologies for the tardiness in online communication, but hey, I have been VERY busy chasing cowboys and such. Oh, I mean looking for a job and bettering myself through internal exploration.

So first things first....on Monday the 24th (two days before my airplane ticket said I was supposed to FLY down) I decided that since my car didn't sell and I would probably need one down in Texas-I should just drive. I had a job interview Friday morning, so I packed up the good ol' Seabring and set out Tuesday morning with atlas in hand.

I had a route all planned out by Sarah's boyfriend Lance (who lives in Houston and somehow knows EVERY road in EVERY state) that included very few major highways. That's ok...that's alright. It's an adventure!!

Day One
I head out across WA state and into Idaho. Wow, what a boring landscape. No rolling hills, no moutains, no beautiful plains on which my mind can wander and picture the idyllic farmlife that may harbor there. NO. Just flat, boring road.

I had to try many things to keep myself occupied becuase of course, I had shipped all my CD's (since I was supposed to be flying!) and my Ipod broke. So I had 5 CD's to last me the whole trip-one of them being a Celine Dion Christmas CD. So that usually meant trying to take funny pictures while I was drving.

As the sun set and I trucked on down, seeing the reds, oranges, and pinks that illuminated the "nothingness" that was there before was awe inspiring.

I made it to Twin Falls, ID the first night, stopping at about 10p. Now of course, being a Diamond, I think "I don't need a room reservation-who is going to be in Twin Falls, ID on a Tuesday night?" Oh, apparently a HUGE baseball tourament. I pull in to Twin Falls (TF) and check the Red Lion, La Quinta, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, and about four other places only to find they were all booked. I walked into once place and asked the tired looking girl if she had a single room for tonight. She looked at me like I was a total nerd, told me NO, then gave me a list of places that MIGHT have a room. The ones that she knew were already full were crossed off, so that left me 5 to try. Finally, I get a room at good ol' Motel 6. Thanks Tom Bodett for leaving the light on for me.

Day 2
Up and at 'em bright and early at 5a on the road by 6a. This is the big driving day, and I am ready to push it. I quicky get out of Idaho and drop down into Utah passing scary places such as

and

It's nice that now they make great little family picnic places out of spots that obviously had horrible things attached to them. "Kids! Let Mommy take your picture next to the bloody hatchet memorial that marks such a dark day in our nations history!"

It was great to see the land scape change as I drove south. Before coming into to Salt Lake, I was driving through very sparse farmland where a house was few and far between to the city scape of Salt Lake. I decided in Salt Lake since I was pretty much going crazy, to stop and get my oil changed and find an Ipod connecter for my car so I could actually listen to music and not scroll up and down the airwaves passing over every other station because it was religious or Spanish music (much to Lance's dismay becuase, as a typical guy, he thought that I could drive 18 hours without stopping. Silly man, you know every two hours I have to find a rest area, or something scenic, or just strech my legs.). So I get a very quick oil change, get my tunes rockin and rollin again, and I am on my way! Only a short hour or so pit stop. Not bad considering I was in the area of a VERY large mall and the temptation was there for me to just move into the mall and never leave.

Alright, out of Salt Lake and onto the road that is litterally cut out of canyon walls.

Now one would think, as you drive this road that is two lanes up through these canyons with rock on either side (and I mean up, I think I gained about a thousound feet in elevation, maybe 45 thousand. Seriously, I almost rear ended a 747.) that everyone would obey the speed limit signs set at 60 miles an hour that are there to give us a guideline to traverse these rocky terrains safely. NOPE. I am getting passed like I am standing still by 80 year old couples, young drivers, and TRUCKS with 18 wheels. Alright-Seattle Driving Abilities activate.

I twist and turn and fly through the rock and finally come down. Finally! I had gotten some great landscape and I couldn't wait to see what would come next.

DARN IT. Good thing I sped so qiuckly to get here.
The one thing that was interesting as I drove into the desolate wastelands that looked like if I got off the road would consume my every happy thought, wish, or desire...was that as I was a city girl being used to geographical boundries such as buildings or trees or mountains, you can see forever in these types of locations. I of course stopped at a rest stop and was take aback by the feeling of being so small in a vast land.

Alright, play time is over-back on the road. Let's make it to the moutains that I see in the distance.

One of the most beautiful parts of the drive was coming to Moab, UT. Only in pictures in National Geographic or whatever have I seen the red rocks in UT. To see them first hand was incredible!

I crossed over the Colorado River
blew through Moab, and didn't even stop at the many attractions they have!

Who wouldn't want to see a hole in a rock?? That just doesn't happen everywhere.

And look! A rock shaped like a dinorsaur!

I finally make it through Utah and cross into the Southwestern tip of Colorado.

Again, more farm lands, but these had more of a Walton Family feel (ok, I am just assuming that they did. I haven't ever seen the show but it sounded good there. Oh! Or Green Acres.)

The sun started to set shortly as I crossed into the state and I began to reflect on how far I had come so far.

Colorado brought an amazing rise of the moon over the outstreched farmlands.

I wanted to try and capture how the moon rose through the fading pinks of the sunset, but apparently my camera doesn't have a 'majestic moon rise' setting. Stupid Cannon.

I was almost halfway there and felt like I had been driving for 18 years. And I felt SUPER cute, driving my in PJ's, no make up, hair not done...yum.
I made it another few hours into New Mexico. My goal was Albequerque and gosh darn it, I was going to make it. Now it's dark, and I am on very narrow two lane roads with no lights, no houses around, and nothing to look at and very little radio reception.

You know what time it is? Oh yes boy and girls, it's Celine Dion Christmas Album time! I sang to 'Oh Holy Night' and other assorted Christmas favorites down to Albequerque (where I had NO trouble finding a room. Take that stupid Twin Falls!).

Day Three
Ok, I'm up. Ready to go. On the Road. Yay.

When the sun rose on the highway that I was on (HWY MiddleofNowwhere or something like that) the sun reflected off of all of the new tar that was used to heal cuts in the road and made it hard to see the lines in the road.

Basically I just guessed. Not like there was anyone else around for me to endanger.

New Mexico was not a super fun drive. It's a short story:
Road to Nowhere

Farmland

Fun picture of my car driving because I am bored out of my SKULL

The landscape

Sunset

And that was New Mexico.

Finally, I cross into Texas! Woo hoo! I made it! And what is one of the first things I see?Yup, I'm in Texas!
As I drive along the highway, I am passed by a truck hauling a horse trailor. I smile, thinking of course about the horses, and notice that the truck pulls ahead of me, then slows back down and comes up beside me. I look over at the cab, and see a young man waving his cell phone out the window at me, asking for my phone number. I smile, shake my head no, and they pull away from me. Again, the truck slows down and is even with me and I see the same young man, shirt off, flexing in the window again asking for my number. I giggle, but say no. Gotta love Texas!
I continue my treck South East through the backlands of Texas.
I drive through Lubbock, Abilene, and then make it into Dallas just as the sun sets.As I drive out of Dallas, I can see a lightening storm all around the city. Flashing through the buildings and illuminating the sky. That was it, there was no storm that ever came of it, which was good. I didn't know if I could handle my first Texas rainstorm at that moment.
I finally made it into Houston at 1201am into the open arms of Sarah. I made it!!
Alright y'all, more updates later. :)

Double Day 2007!

2007-09-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

July 27th and 28th brought the 8th Annual Double Day in Mount Vernon.

For those who don't know, The Double Day is a 2 day bike ride covering 80 miles to raise money for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) that the father of my bestest friend Sarah Reiman started 9 years ago. When he passed away 4 years ago, Sarah, her twin broth Josh, and a select group of wonderful people took over the responsibilities of the ride and making it happen.

This year, due to her work schedule, Sarah wasn't able to be on the committee-so I got to be!! I was in charge of coordinating Volunteers for the ride.

Here are 4 of the cutest volunteers ever!

Sarah, Cindy, me, and Julie Reiman.

Riders of all age ranges and ability come together to help raise money to find a cure for ALS.

Once all the volunteers are coordinated and where they are supposed to be....Sarah and I saddle up and hit the road in her car to give support to riders, check in on the rest stops, and most importantly-pull up beside our favorite people and sing along to "Sweet Caroline" or "Hurts so Good" really loudly.

It's an amazing event to be a part of. Everyone that is there is so connected, so focused, on finding a cure or helping the people there that have been affected by this disease.

The ones that ride "keep on crankin' to give ALS a spankin' and those that volunteer give the best support to anyone that needs it.

It is incredible to walk into event where all you feel is love, support, courage, and hope.

There is a tradition at the Double Day that people from far and wide come to see-karaoke at the Conway Tavern.

The Double Day group takes over the tavern and inspires and contributes to the musical genius that radiates from the building.

Sarah and I, although very shy at first, performed a couple of songs....alright, we ROCKED three songs. "You're so Vain" by Carly Simon, "Gangster's Paradise" by Coolio, and "Hurts So Good" by John Couger Meloncamp.

Don't believe me? Just ask the crowd....oh wait, you can't, because they are rocking out to us-hardcore.

Harmony and I also decided to sing a little diddy, maybe you've heard of it..."Pour Some Sugar on Me"??

Oh yeah, we did it Def Leppord style.

One of the boys that couldn't be there, Carston, send a picture of himself so that he could be attached to a bike and could be at the ride even though he wasn't actually there.

Well, in order for him to get the total expiriance, we made sure he came with us everywhere-including the pub.

Little did we know that he would actually get so out of control! Here is Carston drinking.....

As the drinks obviously kept coming....here is Carston smoking!

And then finally-Carston totally rocking out.

Who knew he would get so rowdy?

The Double Day was a total sucess. We raised in the ballpark of $100, 000 for ALS and had around 200 riders. I use general terms because I somehow never remember the exact ammount of either and end up telling people gross exagerations of the facts. So this year, I've committed to saying we raised 8 billion dollars with 700 riders.

To those that read this that were a part of it, I was honored and thankful to have worked with everyone on this event. As I have attended previous rides, to actually see what happened before the ride and to feel so connected to the Double Day was a whole new expiriance, one that I wouldn't trade for the world.

For those of you who weren't there-see you next year. :)

You're with Jim? Oh, at the gym...

2007-07-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

So most of you know that I have become fairly addicted to the classes given by my gym, 24 hour Fitness, so I wanted to give some details on what I've been doing and my own little takes on the classes I've taken.

First off: Spin Class

Spin class is an aerobic/satanic way of burning tons of calories while you drip sweat and pray for it to be over. You are given a stationary bike that is a red resistance knob that the instructer likes to yell at you to turn it up.

Just when you think you can actually make it through the class, you're riding the bike, gotten into your groove, feeling pretty good...then you do "speed drills" (minutes of fast peddling insanity) or "hills" (where you continually up your risistance as you stand up and pedal, or you combine them together! All the while the instructer is commanding that you go faster and harder-so by the end, you get what I like to call jelly legs, legs that don't really support you so as you walk down the stairs you look like a total nerd trying not to fall.

Boot Camp:

While not as bad as actual boot camp I'm sure, this class is still super intense. They call it boot camp because you do a whole bunch of stuff in one class. Step aerobics, weights, ab work, ect. The little informational blub provided by the club stated "Pace yourself, or go the limit in this ultimate circuit workout. Improve cardiovascular and muscular strength and endurance in 24 Hour Fitness boot camp style! One of the most fun ways to get fit! Suitable for all levels."

Sounds fun-right? NO!! The teacher is the this 4'11 little woman that seems to have endless energy. She continually makes these "disco calls" where she'll let out a "whoop whoop!" and then expect people to answer back. Hey lady, you're making me do lunges with weights, then bench presses, step aerobics, then more weights, and then ab stuff and you want me to answer your call? The most I can manage at that time is a voice-less exhale of air in response.

Grooves dance class:

This class is working out through hip hop dancing.

For this class, you actually have to have rythm and dancing talent...I have discovered I do not.

So as much as I try to shake it and be a dancing diva...yeah, it really doesn't work. I mostly end up tripping a lot and being lost.

Yoga:

Ooohhhhh Yoga. Again for the flexible, but I think I'm getting there. Of course, most of the people that are in the class have been going and doing this for years. So while they are able to "be the willow-y branches on the tree, blowing in the breeze" I'm stuck there like a stump with old moss on it.

I'll keep trying to perfect my warrior poses.

Salsa Dancing:

Yet another class that requires talent. Good thing I'm such a good dancer now from my hip hop class! (PS the picture there is acutally of me in the class-I usually work out in a tight dress, don't you?)

So while this class doesn't actually require partners, you still get some of the "latin flare". Well, as much as you can get from a totally white guy teaching it to a bunch of woman with little to no clue as to how to get thier arms to "feel the flavor of the dance!"

I've learned some basic moves, kind of cool. A pretty good workout and at the very least...interesting.

The 'Dancer's Workout' Class:

Now this class gets a story. If you have read above, I have taken some classes that have involved dance, so I thought I would have no problem stumbling through this one. The little informational blurb read "This 30-minute workout fuses dance exercises to sculpt and condition the body. Not a dancer? No worries. This easy-to-follow format is fun that delivers!" They key phrase I saw was "Not a dancer? No Worries!" Oh, that is SO not the case.

Anways, I go to the class (which was right after my first salsa class so I'm alreading feeling like a big un-graceful oaf anyways), and make sure to get waaaay in the back. The teacher starts the class and I realize, he used to be a ballet instructer and all of the people in the class have had some sort of dance training in one form or another. He instructs us to be in first position and I just stand there waiting for him to tell me what that first position will be!

Come to find out, that's a ballet term. DUH. So yeah,

I pirouette and plied through the class-but will not be going back. NEWS FLASH: I'm not a dancer!

So that is basically what I've been doing-lot's of fun, lot's of sweating. Stay tuned for more fitness updates!

A day of tribute to our fair nation

2007-07-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

I got to spend the 4th in the best way-playing on Lake Stevens in the sunshine.

It's an annual tradition for Sarah and her family...joining families that have done this for years upon years.

I also joined Sarah in a second yearly tradition-jumping into the water 32 seconds after we get there. It may look pretty, but that water was COLD.

We swam, ate, waited an hour, drank, swam, then ate some more.

If there's no beach can you call us dock babes? Oh, or dock diva's...

We got to be paraded around the lake on a tour in the front of ski boat. Such a hard life seeing the beautiful houses along a gorgeous lake while drinking beers on the front of a ski boat.

We got our parade wave down thanks to all that practice.

Hope your 4th was as fantastic!

Take me out to the ball game

2007-07-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

GO MARINERS!

Sarah and I lended our lucky spirits to help our boys in white play a GREAT game against the Toronto Blue Jays (take that Canada, knocked you down a few pegs on the humility ladder didn't it?!).

While this picture mainly focuses on Safeco Field...I am hidden in it. See if you can find me!

Now, you might think that from the reactions of the people behind us that something was going on in the game, but really they were just so impressed with how pretty we were.

No seriously, look at us and then look at them again with that knowledge and you'll understand their reaction.

Yadda, yadda, yadda, we're winning 8-1.

Look! It's Sarah and Marissa-the sychronized pig tamers! Hey, it's how you celebrate here in Seattle.

One last time....GO MARINERS!

Sometimes...

2007-07-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to ask the important questions: