bumblepug

dog days

i'm considering getting another pug but it's on days like today that i wonder if i can handle double the trouble.  dog was a little tyrant on our am walk.  she was obsessed with a random passerbyer and i think it's because she remembered seeing my mom in that same spot on a walk last week in the same area.  maybe she thought the woman was my mom?!  dog has a great memory, especially for the locations of dogs and human family sightings, like grandma.

she was fairly good at thanksgiving dinner.  the company was spreadout so maybe she was distracted by new faces and the fact that we weren't all around one table.  the following days, she thought she could bark me and my mom into submission.  maybe she thought she was going to hypnotize us with her oh-so enchanting high-pitched bark.  whenever she wants food, she runs to the front door and the windows and starts barking, as if to say "look, i'm protecting you, feed me, i'm worthy, i deserve it!"

ahhhh...things to consider...

names i might choose for the new pup (a black pug, female):

hazel

flower (like the bunny in bambi)

zoe

dottie (to rhyme with dog)

mazie

flo (ralph's #1)

thai delights

last night ralph and i had the best dinner at thai delight.  it hit the spot because i've been craving thai for a while, especially the wood-like taste of the sweetened iced tea.  it's on my top five list of favorite beverages.

we also decorated my tree, using ribbon instead of garland this year.  i was happy that ralph figured out how to turn on my pilot light because i have a feeling it's going to need relighting throughout the season.  my manager called right after ralph had fixed it, how psychically (sp?) convenient.  ;0  although i can't complain because they are quite responsive unlike the previous managers who needed a fire lit under their ass to motivate them to fix any unit problem(s).

i'm currently stuffed beyond comprehension which i can't believe because i only had soup for lunch.  it usually takes more than soup to get me this full but it was fairly hearty, chicken bones and all!  lisa saved me some caramel chocolate gooey dessert so that will fuel me through the evening.

i have tpr lsat class tonight from 6-9.  i hope it is an intro course where i claim my books, have a general review, etc., etc.  looks like i can still catch scrubs at 9:30 so i'm all set even if it is a full-lengther.  wish me luck and dinner.

tidbit on counterfeit money:

a co-worker's boyfriend cashed a check at a bank of the west in reno and some of his money was given in $100 bills.  of the bills, one was counterfeit but it made it past the bank!  how could such a thing happen...it was a real $5 bill that somebody had overimposed a picture of ben franklin on and changed the corner 5s to 100s.  it looks real, feels real, and smells real (i'm probably the only person who would think to smell it but then again i smell everything).  her boyfriend tried using the $100 at a store and they told him it was counterfeit (which he didn't know at the time).  they pointed out that ben franklin's face may be on it but that abraham lincoln's face appeared in the hologram (hologram must be the same as bill face).  in addition, the strip that runs through the money reads "us 5.." and if the bill were a true $100 it would read "us 100."  you catch the drift.  so, next time you go to the bank, check your money before you leave.  the bank didn't catch this one because it was real money that needed a "visual" inspection (but didn't get it) and made it past the "pen" inspection.  as they told her...they can't exchange the bill because her boyfriend is at fault for not checking his money before leaving the bank.  how is the lay person supposed to know what to look for- read above, again.

pine-scented ice pop

my place smells like a forest and feels like i'm living in one, too.  the cold is unbearable because my pilot light keeps going out.  this is annoying and dog and i have turned into ice pops!

tonight i plan on decorating my tree, paying rent, and submitting an "urgent maintenance" request for my heater!

on the bright side, ralph is back! :) :)

decorating frenzy

last night the holiday decorating bug bit me and i did ralph's place and mine.  maybe i got energy from letting my brain go numb while watching confessions of a teenage drama queen.  why am i such a sucker for these movies?!  it was bad from the start but i had to finish it to see where it'd go.  i'm glad it's a wonderful life was on tv afterwards to make up for the bad movie.

i bought my christmas tree tonight at target.  my family usually goes up to the mountains to chop down a tree but i've been in a rush to get mine because my lsat prep course begins on tuesday and i want all decorating in place completed by monday evening.  ok, i'm slightly anal.  i was stunned that target had nice noble firs, and that they hired a woman half the size of the smallest christmas tree to work the "tree" department.  looks can be deceiving because she was quite strong and was able to chainsaw my tree and wrap it in netting, yay!  maybe i can go with someone else to the mountains for the "farm" experience. 

ready for some cloggin'

today i went to the harvest festival with mom to see matt perform in his clogging group; we saw amanda and joe there, too.  matt is an excellent performer and i think he should perform at work!  maybe i should suggest a talent show?  i'm sure they'd really go for that!

we briefly went to christmas in the park so i could get a hot dog prior to matt's show (since none of the festival vendors took debit cards and i only had $3 cash, which wasn't enough for a peanut inside the festival).  after seeing that the hot dogs were greenish, i settled for a pretzel and mentally prepared myself for the carbo-load.

after his performance we briefly looked at some vendors.  i'm glad we did because i found an awesome peach tea mix, and believe me, i've tried a lot of peach teas out there.

back to my leftovers.

biggest shopping day of the year

today is supposedly the biggest shopping day of the year.  i wish it was july 28th, the day before my birthday- you know, people rushing out to buy me gifts! ;)  i'm going to union square to see the tree lighting and look at the macy's windows.  this sounds dork-o but they always have something nice.

later:

union square was crowded as usual and warmer than usual.  i went with anthony, christine, corey, and mom.  it "snowed," macy's decorated with kittens that are up for adoption, and i heard gavin newsome giving his holiday speech, but never actually saw him (as is usually the case!).  i tried a mojito truffle because all of us bought some chocolates at godiva, and it was so delicious (the taste of the drink without the hangover)- please get me a box of these devils for christmas.  we went to ghiradelli and i wasn't in the mood for something as sweet as a sundae so i had hot chocolate, gasp, my sweet tooth must've been on loan to the tooth fairy.  i relaized that there are two types of people in this world: whipped cream or marshamallow on the hot chocolate.  can i get both?  actually, one cup of whipped cream is my preference with 1/2 cup of hot chocolate!  after making a meal of hot chocolate we walked to the piers so corey could get some clam chowder.  i'm glad we walked a lot because thanksgiving dinner was huge and i plan on eating leftovers for the next few days.

other types of people:

coffee or tea

cat or dog

sane or insane

cake or pie

car or truck

lots of others but i can't think right now.  for now i'll be a whipped cream on hot chocolate, tea, dog, sane, cake, car loving-person and call it a night!

happy thanksgiving!

yay turkey.  today is the day to stuff our bellies and give thanks!

i'm thankful for...

my sesame street apartment which has the worst carpets ever, a kitchen light that sometimes works, and looks like it was last remodeled in 1960 (because i'm lucky to have shelter and pay the cheapest rent in town while still living in a safe neighborhood)

my hand-me-down geo named neo which has many bruises (because it was free and gets me where i want to go)

my extreme sensitivity to sugar and caffeine (because they remind me not to be as gluttoness as i'd like)

my crooked spine and pinched nerve which often leaves me paralyzed or limping (because it makes me so appreciative of my legs and back when they are working without pain)

my fun-loving dog who never listens to my commands (because i like a challenge and she is full of sunshine)

my friends who i used to see a lot more of (because when we finally have a chance to get together it is that much more precious)

my ralphie g. (because he finds humor in all of the off the wall names i come up with for him, his unconventional humor is always good for a laugh, and he craves chocolate with me)

my family (because they love me and support me no matter what, even though i can be a tad moody sometimes)

my highly unorganized life (because any other way could not top what i have now)

happy thanksgiving!

caffeine high

last night i spent a relaxing evening with ralph, as our last "date" before he goes home for thanksgiving.  we ate at popeye's (i've now had enough to last a lifetime!) then watched finding neverland, which was good but i expected more: grade= b.  later we watched law & order svu which i'm totally addicted to and it was a suspenseful episode but at the end the jury was going to read the guilty/not guilty verdict and they ended it!  what?!  apparently the viewers choose the ending online, and we're supposed to be content with poll results rather than it acted out on tv for us.  i just took the poll and it looks like billy is innocent so far.  i chose "needs more evidence."

i gave dog a bath with epi-soothe shampoo and conditioner last night, too.  i felt so bad for her because we had to leave the shampoo and the conditioner on her fur/skin for 5 minutes each.  it may as well have been 30 minutes!  she kept giving me sad eyes and every once in a while she'd belt out a big cry for ralph to save her from my bathing clutches!  while standing for 10 minutes in the shower i had time to read the labels of every product in the shower.  my most important question was answered...can epi-soothe be used on me?  the answer is no, sadly.  i think dog's skin has already decreased in itchiness and her fur was very soft this morning.  we'll see how lasting the results are soon.

at 3:23 am my heart beat woke me up because it was racing so fast.  it was really scary so i tried to meditate (or something along those lines) to slow it down.  i'm really going to have to steer clear of caffeine from now on, especially the combo of diet coke with  splashes of cherry coke.  i had 3 cups last night over dinner and that surely was enough tp do me in.  i know i'm sensitive to caffeine but lately i've been lax on avoidance because the caffeine-free soda options really aren't that great.  i was so tired from staying up until 4 am, i woke up at 8:27 am and i'm supposed to be in my car at 8:30.  i've never washed my face and brushed my teeth faster.  i really should've showered but i have a feeling the office will be empty so i should be all set in my dirty jeans and tank top (the first pieces of clothing i grabbed).

besides my heart, my lips were (and still are) a wreck, too!  they are so dry that it feels like glitter and sand have been glued to them along with some fur from different species.  it's quite disgusting and i'm not sure why they are so dry considering how much water i've been drinking!  i can always predict a cold coming on because my lips start feeling cotton-coated but didn't i just get over a cold?  this is so annoying!!!  i tried putting carmex on them which was a temporary soother, but when i woke up at 3ish my mouth tasted like bathroom deodorizer (i've never tasted this but sometimes i can imagine how things might taste if i were to try them), which added to the unpleasantness of the situation.  is there such thing as prescription lip gloss?  i think this would definitely work better than what i've been using!

anyways...

tomorrow is turkey day and gram, aunt b, and uncle h will be m.i.a.  it'll be weird to have thanksgiving without them.  plenty of friends will be joining so i'm sure the holiday will still be great!  and don't forget the soccer ball and/or football for a post-dinner runaround.

must find lip stuff now...

list-loving

highlights of the weekend:

banana split sundae at ghiradelli...then watching a 20-minute argument in an unrecognizable language, with lots of arm and hand motions.  pretended to take pictures of ralph when i was really taking pics of the fight in case they needed witnesses or another other type of proof.  trust me, we weren't the only ones standing around not calling the authorities.

completing my thanksgiving day grocery shopping by 9 am on saturday!  this may be a trivial thing to be happy about but i really dislike crowds and mayham so i was able to avoid the last minute rush.

going to the beach with dog and ralph...then losing my car key.  i was carrying my car key loose from the key chain and it must've fallen when i was running around with dog.  we're grateful for the geniuses that drew a large picture of a key in the sand and then put the key in the middle of their drawing.  that was the best ever!  i wrote a huge thank you note next to their drawing and drew me, ralph, and dog.

discovering that archer farms market (a target brand) has awesome spice chai tea mix.  it's sold in a small rectangular tin in their tea section.  seems to have a lot of caffeine.

the lowlights:

totally missing the kdfc party.  we arived just as it ended.  oh well, we still had a chance to see the beautiful lights and decorations in the hyatt. 

paying $2 for 12 oz. of water in the hotel gift shop because i was totally dehydrated from having taco bell and potato chips in the same night.  the cashier was weird but spoke excellent japanese- at least i think he did but who am i to say?  i can't speak japanese.  he left to a back room for a while and anybody could've walked out of that little store with just about anything.

paying $30 for dog shampoo and conditioner.  her skin better stop itching!  i thought our problems were solved...she needs to go in for some serious skin tests if the itching persists after use of the special fur products.  maybe her items will make my hair silky.

wondering if ralph was going to accidentally drive us off the cliff as he talked on his phone while driving us home from the beach.

sitting in subway for nearly 2 hours thinking of something to do and then getting to my car to amanda's phone message reminding me about the party at hanamaru, after i had totally stuffed myself on a footlong- on the one day i actually ate the whole thing. 

going to marshall's and realizing that i threw away $5 at subway because i stashed my change in the plastic subway bag!  i wanted to go to get it because $ is $ but ralph convinced me to take it as a loss.  i'm finding tiny ways to recover that $5.  hmmm...no more starbuck's for one week!

things to do:

dishes

hang clothes

clear table- ok, i know i keep listing this, but you should see my table- this is the most dreadful task (you'll see why when i post a photo!)

find pyrex thermometer at bed & bath for mom's turkey

buy ginger ale for tart cranberry dipping sauce and white wine for the gravy

remember:

mashed potatoes and some form of fatless butter so i can drowned them at dinner time.  if my potatoes fail, i can buy this mashed potato and butter flavored soda as an unexpected alternative!  heck, they can do the whole meal...

gravy

2 pumpkin pies

cranberry relish (this tastes a lot better than it sounds)

tart cranberry dipping sauce

utensils

dog and dog's toys

anything else?  i'm sure i'm forgetting something important.

chai review

chai seems to be just about everywhere now: it's sold in boxes, as powder mixes, in squirt bottles, at coffeehouses, at convenience stores, the list goes on and on.

amanda and i did a taste test and we found oregon chai, flavor: the original, to taste like rubber, whether it is sold in the box at the grocery store or in your convenience store fridge in a little glass bottle (i'm glad this was free, thanks to a local dot com that has a better beverage selection than most 7-11s).  then we tried another oregon chai flavor: chai nog (a's favorite).  i'm not a fan of egg nog so i decided before i tasted chai nog that i wouldn't like it.  i was quite surprised with my teaspoonfull first taste, at how good it is.  so for all those egg nog lovers and haters, i would rec. a glass of chai nog (hot or cold), and at a party...i would rec. adding a shot of brandy.

melissa also offers another good resource for tasty chai by mocafe.  i'll have to hunt some of this down since i like the original taste of chai though the chai nog is appealing during the holiday season.

story about brandy and eggnog: one of my co-workers had a very rambunctious son (no longer ramb.), who seems to have calmed down as he's getting older.  at one of the company's early holiday parties, eggnog was served in a punch bowl with a bottle of brandy next to it.  i think the son was not well-supervised so he managed to sneak some brandy from the eggnog table, and some more, and some more- i don't think he knew what it was but he sure did like it!  by the end of the evening, he was a little tipsy.  he did some funny things...wrapped his mouth around the alhambra water spouts (but under the hot water spout- oops).  my boss walked by and said, "oh, i'll remember to stay away from that one on monday."  i'm sure i find more humor in this because i was there but maybe you would too, if you've ever seen an intoxicated 3 year old.

so help add chai to the dictionary.

desperate times...

require desperate measures.  marianne sent me this link and i figured something like this was only a matter of time or genius!  ;)  maybe england will catch on soon.

i'm heading to the city tonight and i'm super excited!  i haven't been in a while because i've been lazy about driving, and for some reason, hesitant to get on the baby bullet train.  with a name like that, it sounds too cute to be safe.

i have a confimed appointment with robin (facial guru) next saturday which took forever to schedule.  my skin is back to normal after the allergic reaction to new sonya dakar products (made me sneezey and itchy), and then some other random product that wrecked havoc on my face.  this other stuff saved me and i swear by it now!  how did i live without it?  it may seem like a rip but it pays off in healthy skin- i rec. using the alpha beta daily face peel pads and the all in one cleanser.  next product of theirs to try: firming eye lift.  i'm so obsessed with products.  anybody who has ever been in my shower, snooped in my med cab, or under my sink is fully aware of this sickness!

my rings are misplaced and it's driving me bonkers.  i always misplace things but i haven't been able to find them in the last 2-5 minute searches i've done.  a more thorough looking is needed.  i feel naked without my rings and it's not good to feel naked at work!  i think things became so busy with the "sean paul rescue" that i completely lost my marbles when i was taking my rings off to transport and medicate him.  search continues...

a dog for all seasons

dog is really enjoying the fall leaves that are turning to dust.  she's convinced that the leaf mulch is grass so now she's pooping on sidewalks, which is far less embarrassing than her pooping on my neighbors' lawns.  ;) 

i'd like to take her to one of her favorite beaches in sf this weekend so we can pretend it's summer.  i'm sure our imaginiation will have to work hard considering all the fog that hits the coast at this time of year.

my stomach is feeling 99% better.  my doc (not the shitty one) called in a prescription to ease the pain.  one side effect is sleepiness so i'm happy my stomach has been calm since last night (despite a very greasy chicken dinner at popeye's) so i don't fall asleep at my desk, which is an occurence for some employees.  i'll try to snap a photo without getting caught.  amanda has been catching people off guard with her polaroid so maybe i'll enlist her for this task.  ok, end stomach saga.

rite aid made me really po'd yesterday- when i went to get my Rx.  i totally had to pee in my pants since i didn't drink water all day and decided to chug a gallon's worth at 4:45 pm since work has filtered h2o.  i paid for my Rx and blank card pack and quickly ran to their bathroom.  sign after sign stating "restroom out of order" would've stopped most people from climbing over the christmas goods waiting to be stocked, but not me!  i figured if the toilet was broken, i'll have to find a creative way to go in their garbage or sink because that's preferred to my pants.  i made it to the bathroom and it was in no shape or form broken.  it's the same old ugly bathroom it's always been.  the point of my story is that i really dislike (ok, why don't i just say hate) when stores pretend that their restroom is broken as a way to detour paying customers and freeloaders from using their crappers!  ironically, i felt bad for trespassing their signs so on my way out, i bought a huge holiday tin of popcorn (the kind with caramel, butter, and cheddar).  it was only $3.99 and i really wanted the tin and some toxic-orange cheddar popcorn.

hmm...just overheard...a co-worker was phoned by a playboy reporter.  what kind of studies are we doing here?  ok...still spying...he's doing an article on pre-schools (?) and wanted her opinion on educational development.  v. funny.  i'm sure playboy would add some excitement to her life and would be a laugh for many to read on her cv when she is looking for a new job.  really hope amanda is only co-worker who reads this.  ;)  still eavesdropping on pb conversation.  i think this has made their day.  she just called herself a media slut- dream on! ;)

right, where was i?

no more sean paul :(

when i checked on sean paul (my now former betta) this morning he was "resting" upside down at the bottom of his punch bowl.  maybe he was over medicated, or maybe he was 90 years old in fish years?  i've tried some various online searches for betta life expectancy and it's been hard finding consistent answers.  next time i go to petco i'll look it up in the betta book, which i completely overlooked doing last night.  now sean paul will be in heaven with female bettas since he lived a life of solitary confinement on earth!  wild man!  he was a dog-like fish because he'd always greet me and respond to my voice, and he was the most beautifully vibrant hue of burgundy and teal.  before i can buy another fish, i need to defung (is this a real word?) the tank and get more rocks and greens since the fungus probably lives inside his old pieces.  rest in peace sean paul.  :(

today amanda and i are going to googley eyes for lunch to meet up with lindsay.  this'll be the first lunch meet up we've done since lindsay left.  i'm excited about the food but i hope there is a bathroom nearby in case my stomach pulls another wild act on me.  ralph reminded me that my stomach did the same thing last year around this time.  maybe it's repressed pre-holiday jitters or something that are manifesting themself in my stomach.  this still doesn't make sense though because i love the holiday season. 

i'm registered for the lsat prep course with tpr now and i feel a big load of pressure because it was so expensive.  i really hope it helps.  i've taken the class before and it was so-so but i was also very resistant to their methods in the old days.  i'm older and wiser now, so i know it cost nearly $1,500.00 because they know something i don't- must submit to their knowledge and methods this time because last lsat experience was poor.

things to do:

- register with lsdas

- create categorical law school wishlist: group #1) not a chance in hell but i'm still going to try because there's that 1% they'll let me in and i like wasting $ on applications, group #2) i have a fair (50%) chance of being accepted as long as lsat scores are up to par, group #3) i'll be accpted because this is the lowest of the low and all they want is my $

- resolve stomach issues

grande with extra foam=tall

tonight i learned that when you ask for extra foam on your grande latte at starbuk's, you're actually getting a tall's serving of a latte and 2" of foam. no more extra foam for me. moral of the story...don't order a tall with extra foam unless you want a tablespoon sized latte!

just returned from petco to exchange sean-paul's medicine. i hope this rid-ich works a miracle because he's still not himself. he's 6 months old so maybe his time has come. i need to do some research on the lifespan of betas.

we took dog to petco and she was well behaved until treats became involved. she went wild and ralph had to take her to the car because she was trying to get all of the treats for herself by being extra barky with other dogs. i was talking with a fellow pug owner and it makes me want 10 more dogs! we also saw a very cute cat that ralph wants to adopt. neiither of us are huge fans of cats but this one was so sweet and looked like a black raggedy teddy bear. maybe he can adopt her and dog can learn how to get along with a cat.

my stomach still feels like i ate a wrench or two. this has to pass soon or i might have to stop eating, which i could afford. perhaps some more pink stuff will do the trick for the evening,

current netflix: elf= a+
recent: shrek 2= a+
bringing down the house= a-
i'm probably on overzealous rater tonight! ;)

when one door closes another opens

sean paul's (my beta) aquariaum is full of fungus and so is he.  :(  his palace is currently being de-funged and he's temporarily living in a punch bowl with a makeshift oxygen feed.  anthony helped save his life by setting up his new arrangments and finding out which medicines to get.  last night i spent $30 on medicine for him and he was only $3, go fish!  i thought he was dead last night when i came home from dinner.  i'm glad i phoned ant to confirm or else he'd be alive in the sewer system today.  send sp your good thoughts!

i'm not a huge fan of tv but tonight is my tv night- scrubs and law & order: svu.  i guess they balance one another so i can go to bed clear-headed.

my stomach still hurts and i think i just had a mini-stroke.  is that possible?  better yet, is that possible at my age?

posadas are coming up soon, which i look forward to every holiday season.  i'll post more info about this event as we get closer.

vanilla, the title is for you.  things will be fine and we're here for you if need or want anything.  a bowl of vanilla ice cream always hits the spot in times like these.  see you tomorrow.

back from the show me state

(pic: ralph, me, and dad) the trip to kansas city was fun considering i was so sick i nearly couldn't get on the flight.  i wanted to postpone the trip because it took a while for the antibiotics to kick in but i was able to pack in 5 minutes and i wanted to go this week rather than next since it was my plan.  it's people like me who i dislike when i fly in perfect health.  i pittied the people next to me because i had to blow my nose every 2 seconds.

i saw a lot of family members, spent some time with dad, went to some nice holiday shops, and had the best bbq at arthur bryant's 2 days in a row.  i think ralph, dad, and i are suffering now from day 2 at ab's because we all have stomachaches, etc. (use your imagination here).  the weather was chilly and i was underprepared for it as usual.  i think my desire to pack as light as possible is bad for winter month trips to states outside of ca and hi.  i'm glad i was able to layer sweater upon sweater and wear my big old pea coat over everything.  i looked like a stuffed sailor.

we saw ray and bridget jones's diary 2.  we had to take advantage of the cheap ticket prices while out of state.  ray was decent but rather long and bjd2 was hillarious.  co-workers told me it received bad reviews but i found it to be as good as the first, and i'd like to see it in theatres again, soon.  i couldn't stop laughing at the skiing scene because it's something i would do- oh wait, it's something i've done.  good thing i've already retired from skiing.

i hope dad feels better soon.  i'll probably take another trip there during the summer for 4-5 days.  maybe i can see andrea then since our timing was a bit off this time.  :(  too bad st. louis is so far from kc.

i heard from connie today and she's done with her mls!  congratulations!!!  maybe you can catalog my life now?!  ;)  as a celebration, she and jos are visiting spain.  how exciting!

must go now.  job approved lsat prep course so i need to enroll asap before seats fill up!

it's hard to say no

returned from dr. appt.  glad he's willing to let me be the doctor.  i told him i had a sinus infection (even though i know i don't) and he said, "ok, let me prescribe some antibiotics."  i'm glad that my medical school was free and that this guy isn't my regular dotor! ;)

anyways...

it's hard to say no to something i thought i wanted so badly!  i just phoned vk to pass on the "offer."  too many second thoughts led me to my answer in addition to helpful info from mom and roland.  thanks for helping me find my way!

sick in bed

i think i have a case of the flu.  that's what i deserve for getting allergy shots when i knew my immune system was low.

yay!

a special appointment fianlly pulled through!  i'm excited at the prospect of something new.  i have a day to think about it.  i requested more $ but should've gone higher.  we'll see...  dinner with lindsay and amanda will be helpful to go through the pros and cons.

holiday ballyhoo

shopping around the day after halloween, i noticed that retail was ready for christmas.  what happened to putting the xmas stuff up the day after thanksgiving?  i feel like i barely had time to digest halloween and then we suddenly skip thanksgiving and go right to xmas?  it's annoying because it makes me feel rushed and that it's time to start thinking of gifts for the holidays, which isn't the reality.  i'm glad i'm not a frequent mall shopper.  when it comes time to shop for xmas, i'll keep it to the city and online stores as a mall protest.  i'm sure they'll really miss my $300.

aside from the holiday ballyhoo, i'm doing great!  i've been taking airborne every 4 hours on the dot and what ever sickness thought it was going to make a home in my body must've found a new place to live.  airborne kicked the germs, i hope.  since we're traveling on thursday i've been paranoid about getting sick because there's nothing worse than being congested on a plane, aside from being the "sick person" in the tight space that everybody looks at with disgust and fear.

last night we watched the original texas chainsaw and it was very gruesome.  what can you expect i guess?  there was a character in a wheelchair and all the bad stuff was happening to him but at least he didn't get killed first.  i can't believe i've had this dvd for 8 days, backing up my netflix queue.  if you've seen the latest remake of tcm, i'd pass on the original because it's half as entertaining and twice as graphic.  overall a c-.  i haven't been impressed with netflix's shipping or receiving speed this time around.  they used to be a lot faster but now it takes nearly 4 days to receive a new one in the mail.

i had a burst of energy to cook last night.  i made chicken soft tacos with homemade tortillas.  i think i have curse of the tortilla...every time i make tortillas something goes drastically wrong that evening.  maybe the fresh dough hits the brain like a craze-inducing drug.  who knows?  if you'd like a crazy night of your own, here is the recipe for the tortillas i made.  maybe you'll have better luck! :)

aunt b's tortillas:

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt (min.)

1/4 vegetable oil (but lard if you want it the traditional way.  do not use caola or olive oil because both have a strong taste.)

1/2 c. warm water (maybe a splash more if it is too dry to work)

mix the dry ingredients thouroughly then add the oil and water.  knead the dough until it is a uniform consistencey.  let it rest in a bowl, covered,  for 15-30 minutes in a warm area.  if you don't have time to let the dough sit, that's fine- they just won't be as soft and fluffy.  once you have let them sit split the dough into even balls- make 8 (or less if you want a larger tort) or so.  roll out each ball with a rolling pin on a well-floured surface, or use parchment paper (this is what i do).  heat a cast iron pan on medium high and lightly grease if you think it'll stick (i used a stainless steel pan without grease and it did the trick but the key is to not let it stick or burn).  once your tortilla is rolled thin to a size of your liking, put it in the pan and cook on each side for about 1+ minutes.  you can gauge when it is ready by the texture, appearance, and smell (do not overcook because they will become stiff).  when they are done put them in a deep dish and wrap them with in a clean dish towel so they stay warm while you finish up the rest of the dough.  butter or fill generously and enjoy while they are warm (they reheat in the micro like a charm, give them 10 seconds)!

soft taco chicken filling:

boneless skinless chicken parts (i prefer breast)

dashes of garlic powder

dashes of salt and pepper

cumin to taste (but not too much because then it tastes like indian food)

chili powder to taste (you can be generous here.  use a good one, the better ones are typically sold in mexican markets)

1/8 c. beer (a few splashes)

1/8 c. olive oil (a few splashes)

cut the chicken into small pieces.  heat the pan with olive oil so it gets very hot, medium to medium high (i like using a nonstick pan so i don't have to use too much oil).  add the chicken and sprinkle the spices on top (it helps if all of the spices are mixed prior to adding to chicken so flavors can distribute equally).  pour a few splashes of beer into the pan and let it simmer for 10 minutes.  be sure to turn the pieces so they cook on both sides.  this recipe comes in handy for taco or burrito filling and as a salad topper.  chicken can also be subbed with ground turkey or ground beef.  enjoy!

exothermic or endothermic?

ralph sent me this joke today and i'm glad he did because i needed a good laugh!

Is Hell Exothermic or Endothermic?

(The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.)

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.

One student, however, wrote the following:

First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell.

With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.

This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by jane doe during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you, and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over.

The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existance of a devine being which explains why, last night, jane doe kept shouting "Oh my God."

THIS STUDENT RECEIVED THE ONLY "A"

frustration breeds motivation

i'm frustrated today.  my arms are heavy and feel bruised and my throat felt spike-lined this morning because i'm coming down with some sort of cold.  that's what i get for holding complete strangers' hands at church during the pre-flu season.  i went to church yesterday which was very pleasant.  i enjoy sermons when the priest is eloquent because they often make me think about things i normally would not consider on my own.  he mentioned he had been sick with heart disease and in that process he had become angry and closed off to certain pieces of himself that once existed.  he asked eash person to consider "what pieces of you have died?"  that's a good question.  mabe their death is for the better or maybe their revival would bring something better?!  who knows.

andrea and i were just emailing about our arguments this weekend and i feel upset again when i consdier some of the statements said in the heat of the moment.  the main thing that upsets me is how some people think things don't count until you're married.  it's so messed up to me because i'm opposed to that type of contingent-based thinking.  makes me not want to marry that type of person, let alone be with that type of person, if i'm going to be left in the cold simply because we're "not married."  i'm on a tangent right now (perhaps the recollection of being called passive agressive, jealous, arrogant, and typical leo- stubborn and selfish, leads me to this) and i'll find solace in the fact that answers will come to me, that will inevitably lead me to the right decisions.  for now, the previously stated helps me drift into my imaginary world of boyfriend fuzzies where my world is perfect and my boyfriend makes me his priority despite the fact that we're  "not married."  oh well, note to self for now, among other things that top the list.  and no, i'm not pmsing.

ralph is back from boston.  he brought back tasty chocolate mix from l.a. burdick, that world series t i'd been wanting, and some yummy chocolate raspberry truffle bars.  dog is happy.  so am i.

i didn't get the "mh thing" which didn't surprise me.  i found out friday afternoon.  if it was the dirtrict office's decision i'd be there in 2 weeks but it is up to d.c. which i totally bombed out on.  the d.o. was super nice and referred me to an assemblymember who needs someone and i'm the only one she's referring.  that made me feel better but i'm not interested.  not getting the mh and the whole process makes me realize that i have been incredible unmotivated lately and it's time to push my self towards my goals.  i want to be passionate about my work, and i would've been for the mh thing which makes me realize i need a career change.  i've decided i'm going to apply to law school for fall 2006.  not just here but all over, and i'm hoping it takes me to a new and exciting city.  i submitted my lsat tpr forms today and i'll be taking the 2/05 test.  this is one of my least favorite tests in all the world.  i'm a terrible standardized test taker and i'd prefer to write a novel on some randomly assigned topic because at least that would allow me to support my answer.  i'm not sure if this is the right thing to do but i figure it's better to take action than to stay stagnant.  i'm happy to say that christine will be joining me in the law school saga which i accurately predicted last night before she called me.  we can be study buddies for the test and maybe we'll end up at the same school.

dog's trip to the vet on saturday was free.  her "glands" were empty and the good thing about this is that she may have begun to excrete them herself like most dogs already do.  while we were there, it concerned me that the techs were feeding the dogs in the office grapes.  hello, was i the only one who read the aspca alert on grapes being toxic to dogs?  i think it is time to search for a new vet because i don't want dog to be fed grapes when i look the other way.  i think i'll email them that article while i'm at it.

the current temp in my area feels like 5 degrees.  i'm wearing a ski parka and i'm beginning to think i could use some gloves and down pants.

recent dreams:

i owned my dream house

i called marianne and things are going great

i called dad and he needed help

and i woke up to "needing" to call connie- maybe something is going on here aside from graduation?

summary of dreams: i need to put more effort into staying in contact with people so it doesn't get to the point where my "must do" list fills my dreams and i imagine conversations between me and others to fill what has not been said.

i haven't had a "wrong side of the bed day" in a while so i hope this satisfies your sour tooth.

dog on the beach

dog is happiest at the beach.  ralph ran with her and she was so wild and cute.  i didn't bring enough water so i better refill the trunk.  the weather was amazing as most of november is near the ocean.  the waves are getting better and taking more shape.  i can't wait until our next visit!

still cleaning...

i've been cleaning all week and still am cleaning.  when does it end?  i guess that's what happens when you don't do it for a while, it builds up to moutain heights.  note to self, clean weekly so seasonal cleaning is easy.  it's so much easier to hire somebody.

the commute

on an average day i'm in my car for 1-1.5 hours.  on a bad day the number is closer to 2.  i've been witness to many things that can be done in the car while driving: makeup application, shaving, reading (this is real safe!), and even tooth brushing.  while all these things are humorous to watch (i'm creating another hazard), i try my hardest to escape the vicinity of these drivers.  today i was in the area of a woman applying eyeliner and i was worried for my car but also for her eyes.  that has potential for serious blindage!

the best part about my commute (if there has to be something positive about wasting hours of my life in a tin box with wheels) is the drive on 280, possibly the most beautiful freeway in the state.  i need to remember is that the grass turns to ash green in the in betweens.  during the summer it is an amber-gold (yes, like beer) and during the winter it is kelly green.  i could never remember what color it becomes as the seasons change and i'm sad to say it is ash green (with a dash of dingy brown), like the toddler's hair that was spray painted green to match her incredible hulk halloween costume.

lately i've been desparate (because my commute recently has more traffic since we forget how to drive in the rain!) for music because the radio stations always seem to play commercials or they are coincidentally playing the same songs.  i've been visiting the local classical station when nothing else is on and it makes me feel like i'm in a really nice car.  you should try this.  i heard a new song this week, coin operated boy (kind of bjorkish) by the dresden dolls, who i've never heard of but the song is definitely a gem in my eyes.  it's one that you either love or hate and it has at least 10 melodic changes.  what made me laugh most about it is i could picture ralph playing air drums to the song.

anyways, this is the most boring entry ever and i'm rambling.  on to other more important ramblings.  i feel like i'm going to puke (i think tuna sandwich at lunch was full of poison), which seem to be a common occurence lately- maybe i've been nervous about the job thing?  i totally messed up my special appointment today and i'm bummed because verizon failed me again.  she was supposed to call me at 10 am so i went downstairs to the dungeon to wait for the call around 9:50.  i was waiting for 25 minutes when it occured to me (at 10:15) to call them to find out if the call had been rescheduled and for some reason they had overlooked notifying me(?).  they told me, "you missed her call.  she left you a message."  i apologized and told them i work in the boondocks and that although my lovely cheapass phone showed that i had reception it must be deceiving me because my phone didn't ring and there certainly wasn't a message, not even proof of a missed call.  perhaps they lied?  i'm kidding.  perhaps my phone is an even bigger piece of shit than previously thought?  yes, definitely this.  i called her once one office gave me the number to the other office and it was terrible.  i was so nervous for this call that what came out of my mouth was awful, a bad dream really.  i was not articulate, unlike the previous 2 meetings where i felt like i answered their qs with perfect 10s.  i have a feeling this is the end of the line for me on this particular lead.  :(

last night i went to the oakville tasting with mom and met up with some co-workers.  the food was either very good or the grossest taste to be in my mouth.  i'm not a huge fan of simple things gone gourmet or of cheese that tastes like it's been rotting in between some old man's smelly toes for a lifetime.  call me an evolving gourmet.  i can't believe i was able to make a dinner of tasting bits which were eaten with spoon the circumference of my pinky nail.  their turkey was awesome, as were the green beans, hot dogs, seedless globe grapes, and beef chipotle empanadas.  don't ever eat their wild rice (it had enough vinegar to cover a few servings of fries) or the yam puree (since when should this be full of curry?).  at least they had a table set-up for tea tasting.  i love tea!  the flavors the vendor had were amazing!  i bought black lichee tea and amanda bought monkey-picked tea.  to continue my evening of hot beverages, mom and i went to starbucks afterwards because i was looking for a single serving french press for the loose tea ouchase but they didn't have any more.  she felt bad leaving without buying anything (but taking their coffee grounds fertilizer) so she bought a chai latte.  i had never tried their chai latte before and it was tasty but a tad rich for my taste.  as soon as i got home i made mexican hot chocolate.  this is the price to pay when you miss your pg&e pilot light re-light...lots of hot beverages!

my upper arms itch from all the allergy shots.  now i know what dog's skin felt like.  she's been a bum lately.  she misses ralph and still refuses to come to the room.  he'll be back tonight so she should be back to her rambunctious self by tomorrow.

to do after work:

gas?

clean bathroom

clean fridge

clear table and move paper cart our of view

pilates tape

buy mini b&b leave-in/leave-out conditioner (this is a godsend for dry hair!)

check ralph's flight/get ralph at airport

let the weekend begin!

i don't like typepad's new post-entry format.

mrs. edwards

mrs. edwards has breast cancer.  :(  it is sad for us that kerry/edwards didn't win the election but maybe it was for the best since the edwards family will have some stuff to deal with.  i hope she will be healthy soon.

butter coated

i was so hungry after my allergy shots that i stopped by the deli for a piece of turkey meatloaf but i ended up with meatloaf, sweet potatoes and marshmallows, and mac and cheese. i feel the fat traveling to my heart, and my tongue and throat are ever so slightly coated in butter. it's nice to eat like a maniac sometimes to remember why i should not make it an everyday occurence. i could really use some water now.

a note from mr. kerry to his supporters

Dear jane doe,

Earlier today I spoke to President Bush, and offered him and Laura our congratulations on their victory. We had a good conversation, and we talked about the danger of division in our country and the need, the desperate need, for unity for finding the common ground, coming together. Today, I hope that we can begin the healing.

In America, it is vital that every vote counts, and that every vote be counted. But the outcome should be decided by voters, not a protracted legal process. I would not give up this fight if there was a chance that we would prevail. But it is now clear that even when all the provisional ballots are counted, which they will be, there won't be enough outstanding votes for our campaign to be able to win Ohio. And therefore, we cannot win this election.

It was a privilege and a gift to spend two years traveling this country, coming to know so many of you. I wish I could just wrap you in my arms and embrace each and every one of you individually all across this nation. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you.

To all of you, my volunteers and online supporters, all across this country who gave so much of themselves, thank you. Thanks to William Field, a six-year-old who collected $680, a quarter and a dollar at a time selling bracelets during the summer to help change America. Thanks to Michael Benson from Florida who I spied in a rope line holding a container of money. It turned out he raided his piggy bank and wanted to contribute. And thanks to Alana Wexler, who at 11 years old and started Kids for Kerry.

I thank all of you, who took time to travel, time off from work, and their own vacation time to work in states far and wide. You braved the hot days of summer and the cold days of the fall and the winter to knock on doors because you were determined to open the doors of opportunity to all Americans. You worked your hearts out, and I say, don't lose faith. What you did made a difference, and building on itself, we will go on to make a difference another day. I promise you, that time will come -- the election will come when your work and your ballots will change the world, and it's worth fighting for.

I'm proud of what we stood for in this campaign, and of what we accomplished. When we began, no one thought it was possible to even make this a close race, but we stood for real change, change that would make a real difference in the life of our nation, the lives of our families, and we defined that choice to America. I'll never forget the wonderful people who came to our rallies, who stood in our rope lines, who put their hopes in our hands, who invested in each and every one of us. I saw in them the truth that America is not only great, but it is good.

So here -- with a grateful heart, I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I've come to know our vast country so much better and that prayer is very simple: God bless America.

Thank you,
John Kerry

a sad day in u.s. history

i was crushed to hear that kerry conceded (tim puts it best in his latest entry) to bush this morning. it's a sad state of affairs in america when one of the nation's worst presidents receives the highest number of votes in u.s. history. something is crooked and it's not just my spine! at least in 2008, w won't be an option. maybe hillary will pull through. what would that make bill? the first first gentleman (masculine equiv. of lady)?! anyways, back to the original issue of bush being re-elected...how can our country select a president prior to knowing the exact numbers? i know the answer to this but i'm such a stickler for accuracy and fairness. it hardly seems fair that bush has won despite the fact that overseas votes haven't been counted and neither have all the states absentees. i feel the dem party has been screwed 2 elections in a row since they have been so close. i'm hoping things don't get worse.

as you can imagine, i didn't sleep well last night because i was anxious to hear the "final" election results. it reminded me of past christmas eves as a child when i couldn't sleep because i was too anxious to catch santa delivering gifts. this time, i didn't get a gift. :( it's nice to wake up early because i'm able to complete a lot of chores. i know it might sound crazy to wake up at 6 am and clean but if i don't do it then, it won't get done. i'm the type of person who likes checking out and being leisurely once i'm home from work...too many fun things to do that don't include cleaning.

dog was a lazy bum this morning who chose to sleep on the couch under a blanket because she was waiting for ralph. she's so funny! at least her skin isn't itchy anymore thanks to the power of the derm capsules my mom bought at the vet. maybe i could pop a few of her pills to get glowing skin and a shiny coat. my hair could certainly use the boost.

i had my fourth special appoinment yesterday and i think it's safe to say that it's the end of the line until further contact is made on their part. on friday i have another special appointment, this will be the 3rd with this group, and i'm quite nervous because this one had 300 people from the start. what is it now, 20? i don't think this one will pan out but who knows? stranger things have happened, like bush winning this election! :(

latest netflix:
mean girls- 1st viewing, i liked it a lot but i wouldn't add it to my collection or make it a common rental.
white chicks- 2nd viewing, love it!
texas chainsaw, circa 1770 something- waiting to watch with ralph

election day

if you're sitting at the computer reading this and you haven't voted yet, go vote...go vote for kerry! ;)

ralph and i voted this morning and the line was longer than i expected. our polling place only had 5 voting machines which seemed like a low number considering voter turnout was high. ralph was registered twice, which he suspected because he kept receiving duplicates of state election material. too bad they wouldn't let him vote twice. former mayor hammer was in our line so it was interesting to watch opinionated citizens voice their concerns to her considering she doesn't have control, let alone input, over the election process. guess it made them feel better to say it to a former elected official than to keep it pent up in their brain. w.e.

ralph is going to boston today. :( he'll be lucky to be in the state where kerry plans on giving a victory/concession speech. ralph...if you're reading this...don't forget to buy me a red sox world series t!

election eve

(if you wish to skip the journal entry and read only about election stuff, go to the 4th paragraph.)

some things just didn't work out this weekend...volunteering didn't pan out on saturday because i was never phoned with where or what to report to and when i tried calling them nobody answered. going to castro last night didn't happen either because a group of us were discouraged by last year's stabbings. i guess it all worked out for the best because i was really tired by 9:30 pm because of the time change.

friday night was a lot of fun because we went to a halloween party and the kids were dressed in the cutest costumes, my favorite being toddlers dressed as the hulk and a lion. ralph was clark kent and i was a bee. lotte was a party animal for aunt b's party but that lasted for a quick 10 minutes for her arrival and some quick pictures. she was tired of the balloons, streamsers, glow sticks, and paper cups so she would've maneuvered it off somehow if we didn't take it off for her. amanda took some nice polaroids but they need to be scanned. they'll be posted sooner or later. last night we hung out with my family to greet trick-or-treaters and ralph and i dressed like mickey mouse and a mouseketeer because we wanted to be something other than our friday costumes.

we watched saw yesterday which was a rather disturbing film with bad acting and some twisted costume ideas! i would definitely wait to catch this one on dvd. movie tickets are so expensive now that it's cheaper (or as much) to buy a dvd (assuming a pair of people is going). if prices continue to increase, i'll have to stick with the matinees.

tomorrow is a big day for the nation- election day! don't forget to bring your id with you when you go to the polls to vote!

i'm concerned with the accuracy of this election because there are so many systems being used across the nation, with the software style of voting being the most suseptibale (sp?) to error. it's not clear to me why our government hasn't developed a single method of voting across the states?!

here are some useful links that might help undecided voters, first time voters, and those who are trying to decide how to vote on ca propositions.

non partisan (sponsored by league of women voters): looking for a president?

non partisan: first time voters

non partisan: project vote smart

non partisan (sponsored by league of women voters): ca state propositions and find your polling place

non partisan: ca health care propositions

democratic/independent-oriented: strategic voting with a swing state partner (things that make you go hmm...)
i'm not supporting this because when it comes to an election this important i can't rely on a good faith vote that alligns with mine, but maybe you can. i find it interesting.

if you believe you are a registered voter but your local poll does not have you on their roster (or you do not have an id), insist on a provisional ballot because it is better than nothing.