Goin' on a trip!

So, guess who is going to New Jersey and New York on a business trip. ME! I have never been beyond the West Coast, things are changing for me. I will be staying on a few extra days to take in the sights. I'm all excited.

Kim - here is a full shot of the shirt. Black dress for Broadway show? Multicolor fun dress for dancing? Need to buy clothes for NY.

Hippie Style

My pretty new hippie shirt with super long sleeves, and my new cool necklace!

Tummy Bruises & Ceramic Flooring

I have a bruise on my stomach. A big one. How does one accomplish that? No one has punched me in the stomach, and I don't remember running into anything. Weirdness.

Well, home again, home again. Back to work as usual and getting caught up on all the things I'm behind in, which is A LOT. I'm trying to decide if I want to recarpet the house or put in some really cool ceramic flooring. I'm thinking ceramic because then I wouldn't have to worry about dog pee, and it would be so much easier (and cheaper) to keep clean. I will need to trip 

less, though. Ouch.

Going Home

I'm leaving on a jet plane. Back home. Back to work tomorrow. Yippee.

Surf City

Huntington Beach rocks!

Beach Hair Futility

Going to Huntington Beach today. I think. Curled my hair his morning but I don't know why, it will frizz into oblivion in 20 minutes in this humidity. It is supposed to drizzle rain today. Joy.

Grandma's Pumps

OK, I lied. But aren't these the CUTEST shoes?

Hangin' Out in OC

The house/pool, my little table by the pool and the tunnel that when I was a little girl, my grandparents used to take me through and honk three times. Memories.

I made my mom and Cathy go see "Drag Me to Hell". LOL! They don't appreciate campy horror quite like I do, although Cathy laughed at all the right moments. If you like the "Evil Dead" series and "Army of Darkness", you'll LOVE this, if not, don't bother cuz you won't get it. ;-)

This is how retarded I am.

I am all oiled up and laying by the pool in overcast 68 degree weather. I am determined. If anyone saw me right now (especially my coworkers) there would be howling laughter. Oh well. I am as nutty as they come. I am also sitting here doing my banking with my glasses on. Super sexy. I can't believe it is 80 degrees at home. This blows.

I've decided to do a 24 hour fast because I have been eating like crap and feel bloated and toxic. Blech. I miss home. How sad am I?

Phallic Plants

Looking at the plants in the back yard, I ran across this. I guess it is excited.

Did I say that out loud? LOL!

Vacation Read

Everyone needs a vacation read! This is mine. Nothing like vampires, shapeshifters, and other fun creatures when you are lounging poolside! Now all I need is a Margarita or something, and my life will be complete.

Actually, I wish the pups were here with me, though. THAT would make my life complete. I miss them so much already, and it's only been a few days. I don't feel much like a CrazyDogMama without them. I guess my dogs are part of my identity now. I really needed this little getaway, though. Jim isn't too happy that he didn't get to come, but honestly, I needed some downtime away from being a wife. Just some peace & quiet so that I can get my head around my life.

This is the last foot pic I swear.

I don't know why I take pics of my feet; feet are icky. I don't like my body, so you get feet, face, hands and the occasional chest shot. I have to be careful with those though, don't want to go porn on you. Hehe. Feet pics are also very easy and convenient. All girls photograph their feet, you need to get over it. Don't my nails look nice in this photo? I thought they looked nice. Better than my feet, anyway.

I'm finally in vacation mode. I've been camped out on patio furniture for several hours now reading and soaking in the overcast sun. (Which means I will probably burn into oblivion.) I am reading the Sookie Stackhouse Novels (True Blood) for fun since the season is starting back up on Sunday. I'm tired of reading "The Stock Market for Dummies" at the moment. LOL.

We're not doing margaritas this trip because my mom is on medication, and I don't care to drink alone. A nice, iced mocha by the pool is good too. Better, even.

Oh yeah, my road stories. First, I got a mosquito bite or something on my foot while I was driving, and I was trying to scratch it with my sandal. I ripped a bunch of skin off. We pulled over and my mom attempted to apply first aid and I swear to God she may as well have poured rubbing alcohol on my open flesh because I went through the roof. I may have said motherfucker a time or two or 40 in very creative sentences parked in front of an AM/PM Mini Mart at 2 am in nowhere California. I don't remember. So that was nice. BTW, I have a really high pain tolerance. (A funny story for another time.)

Second, my mom tried to kill me AGAIN. She is sadistic, that one. We were leaving a friend's house and I accidentally left the back car door slightly ajar, so it started beeping. My mom got out to shut it, then we took off again. She said something about 'checking my door', and I thought she meant open and close my side to make sure it wasn't ajar also. That is not what she meant. As soon as I opened it, she took a sharp left, and I went flying along with door almost diving into the pavement headfirst. I screamed. LOUD. Then we laughed for a half an hour. There is never a dull moment with my mom around, and she is really the most fun on these trips to California. We entertain everyone around us, too. We are like a comedy team, her and I. She's much funnier than me, though, I wish she was more open to having her picture taken and put on the blog. OMG we'd be famous in a split second! Not going to happen, though, so you'll have to settle for me. Sorry.

Swollen

I'm here, but I'm dead tired. I have some pretty funny road trip stories that I'll tell you about tomorrow. Also, once we got here, I almost fell out of the car! Just for extra fun, after an exhausting ride. The last stretch was brutal because we drive straight through without stopping at a hotel. We got in at 8 am, went to breakfast with my Godmother (my mom's best friend) and then got to the house and crashed. Got up at 4 pm, went grocery shopping, and got an iced mocha, which they fucked up. California is definitely no Seattle when it comes to good baristas, although I do really like the smooth coffee at "The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf" franchise that started in California in 1963. It's my go-to coffee joint here. I avoid "Starfucks" if I can. (Yes, that is what I call it, the "f" is intentional. I can't help it anymore.)

My feet and calves are mega-swollen from sitting in one position for 23 hours (pictured for your entertainment), and it is so uncomfortable for about a day before they go back to normal. I stuck them promptly in the pool for some relief. AHHH. I also was injured on the trip (hence the Band-Aid), but I'll tell you about that later. I'm a hot mess. The weather is actually quite pleasant, not too hot. I am currently sitting by the pool listening to the doves coo softly in the backyard above my head (I love the doves!), after gorging myself on Biagio's pizza (another go-to favorite here). California does have its good points! I think I'd rather be here than anywhere else, really. Weird, right? Doesn't everyone hate California now? Not me. I want to live here. Shh, don't tell anyone!

477 Miles to Sacramento

Here come the feet pics, get ready! LOL! I have hot pink toes this trip. Something different, I'm sick of red.

My mom told me she likes to travel with me because I'm "so laid back and easy to be around.". How sweet! It's more like because I don't give a fuck about anything and stay in sarcasm mode 24/7.

Sirius Radio

My mom has Sirius Radio (yes, my MOM) and we are listening to the 70's music station. I totally dig it.

Cali-Bound!

Were off! I'm tired as all hell. I'm going to need MUCH caffeine. MUCH. Mom's driving first shift since I am NOT a morning person and I always take the night shift since she can't see. I'm getting use to this road trip. I think I could do it in my sleep. Free vacations are a plus though! :-)

Instant gratificaton!

Starbucks has a new 'instant' coffee that is actually GOOD! I love it! I have never liked instant coffee, but I'm on board with this one. I like the medium the best. It wires the shit outta me, though, more so than espresso. Weeeee!

One more day until my trip! And do you know what sucks? It is in the 90's here and the 60's and 70's in Cali. Figures.

My desk holds my BITE ME cup and all the work I have to get done tomorrow. Sigh.

I need to get back to writing.

I miss it. I used to blab on and on in this blog about everything. Why have I stopped? Well, my new job is taking up most of my time, but honestly, I have been very hesitant to write about my feelings of late. Much has happened over the years, especially the last year, and I pretty much imploded into myself. I have become elusive and isolated. I work. I sleep. I eat. I do not talk to many people other than family and co-workers. I have a few people I talk to online/texting, but it has all come down to a very dull roar. I used to get so many emails I didn't know how to handle them all, and now you can hear the crickets. I miss it. Kinda. It can be a little nuts, but it was fun and social. I don't have time to be depressed anymore with working 12 hours/day and sometimes on the weekends, but I feel a little empty. I am talking to God about that.

I am driving to California with my mom next Saturday and staying a week. It will give me some much needed relax time, and maybe some time to write and sort out my insides. My life is flying by too quickly and I need to stop and smell the roses for a bit.

Never Trust a Skinny Cook

I saw a sign this morning that said "Never trust a skinny cook." So you can trust my cooking. HA!

I feel bloated as hell this morning and I'm exhausted. I was working on my laptop until 1 am in the hopes of meeting my deadline. I think I'm going to make it. Hooray. Where's the coffee, meh.

Laptop Day

I've been working all day on my laptop. ALL. DAY. I love my laptop, don't get me wrong, but it has become an appendage, and I don't know if that is healthy. I work hard. I hope it pays off some day.

Driving in Seattle

A most beautiful day in Seattle, it's going to be in the 80's today! Woot! Anybody wanna ride the duck?

Cell phone pics and short nonsensical paragraphs.

I have not been writing lately. It has all been about cell phone pics and short nonsensical paragraphs. (If you're lucky.) I lost my inspiration, I guess. The cruel world of doldrums, workaholism and disappointment has stomped out all creativity. Perhaps summer will reveal some color and revival. One can only hope. I need a muse.

Kabob Prep

Kabob prep is a pain in the ass. But I love me some kabobs! Apparently, I need a bigger countertop. :-/

Is the Blog Era Ending?

So, I went to all my blog favs today hoping to catch up with my peeps since I haven't been able to in a while because of work, and so many of you are gone! What happened? I had to delete 6 broken links! Did you all delete your blogs? I'm sad. If you have just moved let me know!

Then, I realized I hadn't "upgraded" my blog template in eons because I'm too afraid I'll lose all my archives and settings. I need some html help. I want a new look, but I want to save my archives. I won't be able to remember my life if they get deleted. Seriously, I have quite a history here, but I'm sick of the design.

I worked almost 60 hours in 5 days last week, so I spent ALL of yesterday sleeping. Today, I'm going to BBQ some kabobs and my mom is coming up. It is sunny and nice, so we are going to enjoy the sun. If I can get off of the internet.

Too Many Hours

I got off work at 8pm last night and tonight. I started at 8am. I have an hour+ commute. I'm tired. I don't feel like cleaning, cooking, talking, eating, thinking, or even peeing. Nothing. This is becoming a habit and I don't like it. I need to find some balance.

Going to Cali on June 6th for a week.

Lazy Sunday with Dogs

Enjoying the nice 83-degree day on my patio. Pups are panting and I'm keeping cool with a margarita. I should be working but screw it.

Had eggs benedict for breakfast and am either going to grill some buffalo burgers or make pork tenderloin in a marsala wine sauce with shitake mushrooms and shallots. MMMM.

I Gots GPS!

Look who got a Garmin GPS! A new toy for me to play with! My ma decided I needed one and got it for me yesterday. The female voice? I call her Gladys. Remember, I name everything. My SUV's name is Ezmerelda.

LOL

Just so you know.

What happens at fondue, stays at fondue.

Music

Kickin' back listening to music tonight. Here's the lineup:

Sweet Jane (Cowboy Junkies)

Joey (Concrete Blonde)

I still haven't found what I'm looking for (U2)

Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi)

Sister Golden hair (America)

Chillin'. It's been a long week.

Yogurt hell and other fun things.

So, everyone keeps telling me to eat yogurt because it's good for me. It helps with digestion, weight loss, immune boosting, osteoporosis, blah, blah, blah. So, I'm eating it. Or should I say I'm choking it down. I'm not a big yogurt fan, much like I don't drink diet soda. I've found that the smoothie/drinkable ones are tolerable, so I'm going with those. We'll see just how damn healthy I get.

I am also drinking "authentic" Wu-Yi Source tea. (Not to be confused with fake Wu-Yi tea.) That's right. I am. I got some for free! With my luck, I'll get addicted to it and then have to spend my life savings buying the stuff. It is expensive as all get out!

I'm having a "get-pretty" day on Friday with my mom. I'm looking forward to it. I'm not feeling pretty. Or wanted. Or sexy. I'm pretty much feeling old, broken down, fat, pasty-white and mousy. NOT GOOD. I'm going to get some new clothes too, that always helps. I hate it when clothes start to fade and lose their color. Then, I'll be ready for my Cali trip in June!

My morning.

It was pouring rain. I had to get gas on the way to work, and the first gas station I stopped at had no working pumps due to a power surge from the storm. Upon discovering this and getting back into my car, the edge of the gas station over-hang dumped a waterfall of water on top of my head. Only me. This would ONLY happen to me.

The commute was NUTS. It took me 3 hours to get to work, and I had to pee so damn bad by the time I got there that my eyeballs were floating. Because I have to walk quite a few blocks from the parking garage to the building where I work, I wasn't going to make it so I stopped at the only open place I could find which was a Subway sandwich shop. I tried to run into their bathroom, but it was locked. LOCKED. I had to go to the counter, and they said I had to BUY something to get the key. OMFG! I bought a 54-cent motherfucking cookie so I could go pee. I almost threw my cookie at the clerk. Then my umbrella broke.

And you all wonder why I'm so grumpy all the time.

Always in a funk.

I'm in a funk today. Sometimes I don't get over things easily. I carry my heart on my sleeve, and it always gets bruised and battered. I need to just get rid of the stupid thing altogether and become a cold, mean, bitch, right? Can't touch this! Yeah, right. I don't know what I expect. Some of my friends have stopped blogging, some have changed their email, some have just left the building. Life can be cold and distant.

Work is super busy. It has taken over my life. Just what I wanted, to be a workaholic. They pay me well, and I can't complain because so many I know are unemployed. I should just shut the fuck up, I guess.

I may be taking a short trip to Cali in June. If I can get off work.

What's in YOUR Costco cart?

Mine is odd today. It's actually always odd, if I'm truthful. Costco is my favorite place to shop of late.  Today's purchases consist of makeup, lamb chops, stamps, the best chocolate cake EVER, a bag of salad (I needed at least ONE healthy thing), parmesan and fajita meat. Kirkland Signature beauty products are seriously da bomb! I would never have thought I would be impressed by Costco makeup, but I was wrong, it's good stuff. I know you must be thrilled beyond belief to know this. Try to hold your enthusiasm back, OK?

I wish I could go to Hawaii.

I don't have swine flu, but my tooth hurts. Damn filling. I think I cracked it or something. Ouch.

My office mate just got back from Hawaii, and I forgave her because she brought me back coconut lotion and soap and filled our office with these crazy cool flowers!

Fred Meyer Haul & Italian Dinner

Went shopping and out to dinner with my mama today. Got some cute Sketchers, some earrings, a pair of pants and some socks. Then, we had a pizza and Spaghetti feed. NOM. NOM. NOM. I was down in the dumps today and she came over and made me get out of bed. I'm so glad she did!

I've Lost it.

I have Direct TV. This is the screensaver. The little box bounces off the "walls" of the TV like Pong (for those of you who know what Pong is) and if you watch it long enough, the box corner will hit PERFECTLY with the corner of the TV. It takes awhile though, and if you get distracted, you could miss it.

Fuck dude, I've lost it.

Random pics from my life.

A beautiful day in Seattle that I saw for 5 minutes before work, alien eyeball Lou, and cake with ice cream. Because I wanted it.

I am a stupid, stupid woman.

My old, worn-out ass thought it would be a good idea to manually wash, scrub, vacuum and detail my SUV today. My body will never forgive me. Everything hurts. It's a good thing I'm having steak for dinner that I'm not cooking. I have a big strong man doing that for me. YEAH BABY. I should of had him do my SUV instead. HA.

Yes, I have been MIA lately.

My life has changed a bit and I am running to catch up. Unfortunately, nothing happening is really all that blog-worthy, it has mostly been work-work-work! I'm sure things will chill out, but damn I'm tired. I promise I'll post something colorful later, K?

We did it!

The champagne toast my company did yesterday to celebrate our success.

Boo.

I took a little blogging break. There hasn't been much to say, I've been incredibly busy and I just plain was sick of it. I have also been stirring up trouble elsewhere and there is only so much sarcasm and smartassedness I can do in one day.

Anyway, I do actually have news today. The company I work for got some GREAT news about the product it is attempting to commercialize for cancer patients, and that means I not only get to keep my job, but it is awesome news for the patients themselves. The product is for men with prostate cancer, and it replaces chemotherapy and extends the life of the patient. One great leap for bioscience! I'm proud and honored to be a part of it. The only downside is I can kiss my personal life goodbye, not that I had much of one to begin with. Going commercial and tripling in size is going to be chaotic. I had to be at work yesterday at 5:30 am before the press release came out, and I only had an hour or so of sleep, so I'm dead today.

Went out to Maggiano's for dinner with some friends last night and pigged out on yummy Italian food. Eating the leftovers for lunch today.

That's it.

Office Mate

Well, I was all alone in my windowless office (a converted closet), but as of today I now have an office buddy. One of my co-workers (who CRACKS me up) moved in today. We will have some fun for sure. A lot of people share offices here because of limited space, so I'm glad I got someone I get along with really well. We have an entire filing cabinet dedicated to snacks. Other people are jealous and want to move in with us.

Going out with Ma tonight and I have to go Costco to get a ham. I've worked so many hours already this week that I think I will leave now. I'm done. 12-hour workdays suck. I like the money though.

Marketing Genius

This is quite possibly the best marketing I have seen EVER.

I was walking in downtown Seattle when I saw this and I suddenly wanted a cheeseburger even though I had just eaten! Genius!

Wisdom?

"The enemy of your enemy is your friend."

It's not an ideal in the world, but it sure is TRUE. I definitely found a friend in someone I didn't know, that happened to be an enemy of someone I didn't realize was my enemy. I was rooked. Deceived. Taken for a ride. But this friend helped me navigate that dark time and I'm forever grateful. Thanks, Dete, you went above and beyond.

I don't know which is worse.

First, I'm getting a filling today and I'm so not excited about it. Half of my face will be numb for the evening which makes eating interesting. I always manage to bite my cheek 400 times. Second, my dreams have all been about aliens lately. Like the ugly mean ones from the "Aliens" series. Just call me Ripley. I have NO idea why; I haven't watched those movies in eons. One of my dreams scared the shit out of me (which never happens) and in the other ones I was just an Alien killing fool. I don't know. Lastly, I watched "Marley and Me" and balled my freaking eyeballs out. I don't know which is worse.

VIP Parking

Starting off a Monday with sunglasses, an iced mocha and I get to park in my boss' parking space right underneath the building because she is on vacation this week! Weeeeee!

What is that light in the sky?

The sun is finally out, thank the Lord God in Heaven.

Monkey Wrench

However, there is one thing I really really need (and want) that I don't have. It puts a monkey wrench in my whole program. It is not something I have control over so it drives me crazy. Such is life I guess.

Whatever.

"The best way to get what you want, is to want what you have."

Northern Arizona?

Well, it looks like Northern Arizona is where I might be moving to in a year or so. I'll go into the details of why later when it starts to become a reality. But I'll tell you, the weather here never used to bother me, but in the last year or two it is really starting to grate. I'm tired of dark and gloomy and cold and rainy/snowy all the damn time with only a few months of sun. My mood sucks, you can't go do anything, it is just downright depressing anymore. Not to mention the joint aches. Getting old sucks. The culture here is starting to irritate me too. The taxes I pay go to nothing I believe in or care about and the traffic, OMG, kill me now.

The dentist sucks.

I used to actually enjoy getting my teeth cleaned, it almost put me to sleep, but now, I have a new hygienist and she scrapes HARD and almost sends me through the roof. My gums are throbbing this morning from my appointment yesterday, and I have healthy teeth and gums! However, for the first time in like, 10 years, I have to get a stupid filling. CRAP. Turn up the laughing gas!