Monterey, swaps & the little blue house

I have so much to write about! I don't even know where to start! Memorial weekend was so much fun! Stephen & I went to Monterey with my parents and stayed at a really nice hotel with a beautiful view of the bay. The McRaes and Anna met us on Sunday. It was so good to see them. Loretta is amazing! After a day of exploring we had a delicous dinner at Benihana. After dinner the guys, my mom & I took the Old Town Monterey Ghost Walk tour. The weather couldn't have been more perfect! I'll post pictures later today.

I received a lovely swap from Rosemary in Canada for my Arts & Scraps swap. I had many lovely comments from fellow swappers and I'm planning to host this one again soon.

The best news of all...the blue house is ours!!!...well sort of...we'll be working out a couple of kinks but hopefully we can move in later this month. I can't believe it! They had a lot of people interested and I'm not even quite sure how they remembered me! I'm so excited!

Well I must get back to work! I have so much to do!!!
xoxo

Lucky Penny

I had the worst dreams last night. Violent, horrible dreams! It's hard to believe that my mind is demented enough to come up with dreams like that. It scared me so bad. I woke up in a cold sweat & was tempted to wake Stephen for comfort until I heard him snoring quite peacefully. Despite the horrible night I woke up in a good mood. Sammy didn't spit up her meds & I was running early enough to stop at Starbucks for a Green Tea Latte. I think I'm sick of them now. On my way out of Starbucks I picked up a good luck "heads up" penny. I thought of the little saying...

Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you'll have good luck!

My luck seemed to be going well. My latte didn't spill all over me & my car (like it normally does), my Incubus CD didn't skip (like it normally does), the weather was nice & the traffic was abnormally light. I came into work in a good mood & I prepared myself for more good luck to be showered upon me. So far, nothing. Today feels the same as yesterday...only I'm running on less sleep and I'm a little more stressed. I still have 8 hours left for good luck to be bestowed upon me so bring it on lil' lucky penny!

Old Farts

It's a gloomy Sunday morning. I had a green tea latte, did some grocery shopping and now I'm trying to motivate myself to go through my closet & put clothes aside for Goodwill. I want to clear some stuff out before the dreaded move. I have no idea where we're moving...I'm still dreaming of the little blue house...everything is up in the air! Everything!

Steph, Larry, Rene & I went to The Whiskey last night to see thier friend's band. It was really cool to go out & people watch. I haven't been to see a band play in awhile so I was excited. We realized that we all have become old farts because we left before the main act (a Van Halen tribute band) finished. They were really good but the four of us could barely keep our eyes open. My back was killing me & my hearing still hasn't come back! I feel so old! We saw Hugh Hefner which was pretty funny...atleast we stayed out later then him! On the way to the freeway we drove down Sunset passing by all my old haunts. I thought of Crystal & Becky...we used to have fun...I think we had fun! haha! It seems so long ago!

I added more pictures to my Flickr Photo Album. Check it out. Tonight Stephen, Greg, Jenn & I are BBQing. I'm making Strawberry Shortcake. I'll pig out & then it's back to my " sort of" diet tomorrow. I think all those green tea lattes have had an effect on my metabolism. I lost 5 pounds since I started drinking one for breakfast every morning! If they ever take those off the menu I'll start a campaign to bring them back. I'm still mad about Jamba Juice taking the Green Tea Juices off the menu. They were the best...well I'm off to lunch with my lover man.

Friday Blues

Today everyone in the office is relaxed and in a good mood. Most of the managers are out today and it's Friday! A co-worker brought in her teacup chihuahua. He's so cute! I want to dog-nap him & bring him in my cubicle to cheer me up & keep me company. Unfortunately, I'm a little bummed today. I couldn't sleep last night because I had a gazillion things running through my mind like a filmstrip. My morning started off pretty bad. I woke up & gave Sammy her meds which she ended up throwing up. I gave her more & she spit most of that up. She hid in back of the TV until I picked her up & attempted to give her some cat treats. I think this was the first time ever that she was happy to see me leave in the morning. It made me feel horrible! There are a bunch of things bothering me...huge decisions to make...hormones...and my sad INFP spirit which is constantly searching for the perfect in all things.

Good News

My Sammy's kidneys are functioning well for her age! I'm so glad that I took her to the vet because they found out that she has a bad bladder infection & her thyroid medication needs to be adjusted. My poor baby has been suffering with this infection for who knows how long and I had no idea. I'm glad I took her in.

I drove by the house yesterday. It's old but very cute! I would be so happy if Stephen likes it & we actually got it! I hope he gets out of work soon enough to meet me there tonight to tour the inside. I drove by a few other nearby houses that are for rent. They are smaller, uglier & way more expensive. This place is ideal but the owner says that there are many people applying for it so I am kind of doubtful it will work out. =( I hope I hope I hope....

I <3 Sammy

I took my Sammy Pie to the to vet yesterday for a senior wellness exam. She's probably still mad at me. They probed, prodded & pricked her. My poor kitty was crying the whole time. I asked them to cut her vampire nails. Her toes are pretty now. Sammy's pedicure cost more then mine! I'm hoping that her kidneys are functioning well. She only weighs 3 pounds! She's always been a petite cat but 3 pounds is on the scary side...sometimes I can barely feel her weight on my lap. I have to call tomorrow for results on her kidney function. I realize that there is a possibility her kidneys are failing and I am prepared for the outcome...or maybe I'm not. I don't know what I'd do without her. She has been my best friend for 19 years. 19 years is a very long time for a cat...but not long enough.

In other news...I had great chats with both Mo & Kristie last night. Mo told me about a craftsman 1920s house for rent on her street. She has really good taste so I got super excited & called the owners right away. Mo says that several other people are interested so I'm going over there tomorrow to fill out an application. It's too good to be true but still worth a try. Stephen & I might drive by tonight to take a peek. I'm so sick of apartment life. The home prices are so insane that buying a house is impossible. Renting sucks but my generation has few choices. I'm sad for us all!

i LuV sTePhEn

I finally finished a project I've been putting off for a few days...with that behind me and a rearranged cubicle I am much more relaxed. I went to pick up some necessaties at Target & I bought the cutest blazer for 9 bucks. They're having a huge sale on clothes! It kind of looks like a jacket an old fashioned ice cream man or member of a barber shop quartet might wear. It's eccentric and yet adorable! I wonder if it's too loud for a job interview? I need a new job. The traffic from my apartment is really getting ridiculous and besides Stephen & I are toying with the idea of moving to Whittier when our lease is up. I already have a possible interview this week somewhere in L.A. but I'm not that crazy about the position. It dosen't pay a whole lot more then I'm already getting and it's a Senior Admin job. I'm so over being someone's bitch. I really want something in the arts, publishing, marketing or non-profit that is more on the lines of a project manager or coordinator position. I've paid my dues and I'm ready to move on to bigger and better things. This is a really big decision. Despite my complaining I would really miss my job. I love my co-workers, the flexibility and my cool cube. For the most part my job is easy. I get my stuff done and then I can kick back. I love that. Anyway, since I have a job I can afford to be picky and I will. I don't want to make any hasty decisions. Any advice would be nice! =) It would be great to have some extra income. I could have made 10,ooo dollars today because they called my birthday on KIIS F.M.!!! If only I would have listened! What I could do with $10,000!!!...I signed up with flickr ( check my links section) to make it easier to show my pictures to friends and family. I'm still a big fan of Kodak Gallery for slideshows and editing. flickr will allow me to connect more slideshow pictures to my blog. I havn't put any new pictures on there but I will add some tonight. I'll post pictures of the new puppy and our Saturday bike ride. Keep checking in. xoxo...
p.s. I just want to tell the whole world (since Stephen thinks the whole world reads my blog) that I have the best boyfriend in the whole world.

My weekend at a glance

I am not in the mood to work today. It was so hard to get up this morning. I didn't want to leave the comfort of my bed. I could have stayed in bed all day! Ahhh, that would have been so nice. I need another day off! I wore the uncomfortable shoes today. They match perfectly with the top I'm wearing and besides I was too lazy to search for a more comfortable pair in the abyss that is my closet. If I stay off my feet all day I should be okay.

The weekend was good. I finally conquered Turnbull Canyon by bike...well sort of. I made it up the big hill without throwing up or passing out. I did get off the bike once for a few seconds and then hopped right back on & slowly made my way to the top. I could have probably made it without stopping but I didn't have my mind in it. Once Stephen gave me a pep talk I was able to have a great ride. I came up with my own technique to mentally pull me up the hills. It really works. It's my new secret weapon! Coming down was the best! It felt so good to feel the wind in my face! I might be slow going up...but I am fast coming down! I beat Stephen to the bottom. He slowed down for a hiker & I passed him! Okay, maybe I didn't play fair...but it still felt good to be the first to the car!

Sunday was Mother's Day. Mom, Dad, Billy & I had lunch at El Ranchito in San Clemente. It was delicious! We took a drive in the new car to the flower fields down south. We stopped in to get a strawberry shortcake. My favorite! We did some shopping at one of my favorite stores Leaping Lotus. I bought a wood cat carving that looks just like Sammy for $2 & a couple of japanese beckoning cat statues to give away as gifts. They're really cute & they were only $2.50 each. I love that store. There are so many cute things! It's overwhelming for my senses! Billy & I also suprised my parents (especially my dad...who initially wasn't too pleased but has since fallen in love) with a new puppy. We are hoping this new pup will keep Scout occupied while my parents are at work. The puppy needed a new home & Scout needed a brother. He's a sweetie pie! I was supposed to go th Macaroni Grill for a co-workers birthday but I may visit the puppy instead. Besides I am starting my diet today and pasta is too tempting. I signed up at FitDay & I am on the road to a bikini bod!

Today is payday...Who hoo!!! My pay stub says I still have 7 days vacation! I need to plan something soon before I go completely insane in the cubicle o' hell!

p.s. -I'll post some pictures from our bike ride when I get home.
p.p.s -I got a couple wonderful surprises this weekend. A swap all the way from the UK and a amber cross necklace from Auntie Debbie (a belated b-day gift). I love it!
p.p.p.s -I love you Pie! xoxo

Green Tea Friday

It's Friday and I am in a good mood. I slept through the night with minimal tossing & turning and Sammy didn't howl until after I snoozed the alarm. Stephen and I were getting ready for work at the same time (a rarity) so I got to snuggle with him before I left which put me in even a better mood. I was already running late & I didn't care so I stopped at Starbucks & got a Green Tea Latte. It was heavenly! Traffic was miserable but I got through it by blaring my radio & sipping my tea. I am addicted to these lattes. I rarely stop at Starbucks on my way to work but I think I'll try to stop in & get a latte atleast once a week from now on. It's such a treat! I just got finished with a project and I'm listening to one of my favorite songs by Incubus, The Warmth before heading out to lunch. A co-worker snapped at my cube neighbor & asked her to turn down her music yesterday (which was quiet & peaceful) so a few of us have turned up the volume today to annoy her...hehehe...This girl is annoyed by squeaky chairs! Once she got upset over the music in an e-card someone opened. I think I'll blast the Hamsterdance...that will really get to her! haha! It's Friday and after an insane week I feel like slacking again...I've been drawing sketches of the softie I'm going to attempt to make for a softie swap I just joined. A softie is a cute handmade stuffed toy. I adore softies of monsters & animals. I'm a grown woman (ew, I don't like the way that sounds) who is still very much who she was at age 5! I still love animals, cupcakes & pink. I haven't changed one bit!...Well I have to go. I just got word that there was a mistake in the letters I just finished (no fault to me). Anyway, because of this oversight I have to do them over! Arghhhh...Say goodbye to my good mood!

Update: Rana & I walked to Sandwhich King for lunch. I had a turkey & avocado sub and now I feel like throwing up! The walk was nice though. A few of us girls at work are planning a spa day. I'm really excited!!! My good mood is back! Time to blast the Hamsterdance & get my groove on! dee-dah-dee-dee-dee-dee-doe-doe!

Picky Fishy

Here is my Betta "Fishy Pie" posing for a photo. I got him in November after the death of my beloved 4 year old Betta "Frankie". Frankie was the coolest fish. He recognized me & would happily swim around when I walked by his bowl. He would jump up & catch Betta Bites in his mouth like a puppy! I just recently found out that Fishy Pie is a vegetarian. I was becoming frustrated at his refusal to eat Betta Bites. He survived for months on tiny bits of cereal crumbs, Aussie Bite crumbs and algae. I just discovered his love for rolled oats which he now gets daily. I am a magnet for picky, high maintenance and neurotic pets! I can't wait to get a house so I can add to my menagerie. I want cats, dogs, a pot belly pig, hamsters, turtles, fish, birds and maybe even a capuchin monkey...not to mention a few chubby mullet babies of my own. I'll need a ranch!

The Roaming Gnome

Another short weekend and another long, busy week ahead...

Stephen, Larry, Roseann & I biked the Fullerton Loop yesterday. It was 8.5 miles of hell! I thought I was well enough to ride but after the second hill my lungs felt like they were on fire! I was wheezing & I couldn't catch my breath. I didn't want to disappoint the others so I kept on going. We cut the ride short...Thank God! It would have been a nice ride if I was feeling good. The weather was perfect and there were so many things to see. We rode by an equestrian center, a duck pond and some really cool neighborhoods. I want to try it again when I'm feeling better.

Steph & I hung out with Greg & Jenn today. We went shopping and took a short trip to Hobby City. Steph and Greg somehow convinced us to go into a gross hotel furniture liquidation store nearby. Everything just reeked of dirty hotel rooms! Ewwww! We had some good laughs while roaming around town. Somewhere between Hobby City and home I picked up a new friend. He's posing with Sammy above.

Ahhh!

I made it through a tough week with my sanity more or less intact. Next week will be another crazy week but atleast I have the weekend between now and then. I'm hoping to kick this cold before tomorrow so I can go mountain biking with Stephen, his bro Larry & Larry's wife Roseann. Stephen keeps telling me that Roseann kicks ass on a bike! I'm a little nervous because I havn't been mountain biking in a long time. They do 20 miles rides several time a week! I don't have an ego so I don't care if I'm at the back of the pack. I just don't want to completely embarrass myself. I hope that i'm feeling good tomorrow. I miss my bike!

Random Ramblings

My Sammy...stretching after waking up from a nap.

My Kitchen Goddess...I haven't caught the kitchen on fire since she's been watching over me cook.

Slacking and reading blogs...

I survived another stressful, annoying and CraZy morning at work! I'm running on empty & still trying to kick my lingering cold! My 2pm meeting just got cancelled and I have decided to make the most of my afternoon and do some slacking. I am addicted to reading stranger's blogs. I find so much beauty in these short glimpses into ordinary people's lives.

Just venting...

My mind is filled to the brim with thoughts...too many to keep track of! I've been in a rotten mood this week. As usual, I'm feeling unappreciated & taken for granted at work. I'm so uninspired and bored these days. I'm burned out, anxious and suffering from a terrible bout of insomnia. When I do get to sleep I have the most horrible dreams. Sammy has started howling at all hours of the night. If Stephen and I get up in the middle of the night to get water or go to the bathroom she wakes up & thinks it's time to eat breakfast. I filled her bowl up before I went to bed last night and it held her over until 5:30 this morning. I know this is a common occurance in older cats but I only wish I knew what I could do to help her. Feeding her late helps slightly. Stephen and Sammy both can't sleep...my poor babies. The three of us are sleep deprived and needing some TLC! I want to get home and cuddle with my babies!

Ghost Hunters...ooooh scary!...

Ghost Hunters was so good last night. After a few weeks of not finding any ghostly evidence the guys from TAPS went to investigate an old lighthouse in Florida. They caught two creepy pieces of evidence on film. One was video of what appeared to be someone looking down from the interior spiral staircase of the lighthouse. The other piece of film was a shadow that quickly moved down the interior staircase. It was chilling! I want to go home and play it back to see it again. The caretaker of the Lighthouse was a skeptic until he viewed the tape and it sent shivers down his spine. There have been a couple of other creepy things they've caught on tape but this has to be one of the best.

Swaps...

My swap is going strong and is listed as the #1 swap with over 60 participants! I had to boot one girl because she was rated a 1 by 7 people. None of them got their packages! I felt slightly bad about doing it but I really want people to have a good experience.

Well TTFN...I'm going to slack a little more, read some blogs and go home. I miss home!

My Dogs Are Barking!

Oooh... my aching feet! For the sake of fashion I have abused my poor feet! I bought these really cute shoes last week but they hurt like CraZy!!! I tried Band-Aids but it hasn't helped the shoes from rubbing my poor tootsies raw! Today was probably the worst day to wear these shoes because I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off! Phew! What a day! I'm glad it's almost time to go home. Atleast I have my cozy couch & Ghost Hunters to look forward to tonight! Stephen is going to dinner at Shogun (yum) with his boss so I'm solo tonight. I want won-ton soup from Stix for dinner. Screw the gym...Anyway, I still have this darn cold. Grrrr!!! I want a warm bath, won-ton soup, my pillow and Ghost Hunters!

I <3 my phone!

I am in love with my new pink razor phone! It's so cute! It has a little pink case & a pink bluetooth headset which I'm not quite sure how to use. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and actually read the owner's manual! I love love love this phone!

I skipped SPINNING last night & was pretty bummed about it. I still have this annoying cold!! I didn't have any tissues at work so I snagged some rough cardboard toilet paper from the bathroom to blow my nose. Now my nose is red & raw. =( I look like a crusty runny nosed kid! I woke up feeling a whole lot better then yesterday so I will attempt to go to the gym with Jenn tonight. I'm so happy Greg & Jenn got memberships! I really enjoy hanging out with them & I'm glad they found eachother. =) Now there is another who knows the anguish of being with a Madrid. We can commiserate! LOL! Ya gotta love those Madrids!!!