Catching Up...My Winter Break!

So, it's been quite a while since my last post. Somehow, I managed to survive the last week of work before winter break even with non stop activities. The end of work went well...the Nastys gave us little gifts, but I had not one ounce of feeling like I needed to make a last minute run at lunch. After work, we had our holiday party. It was a fun time and I made off with a $20 Starbucks card. With all the ones I've received, I will start 2009 very caffeinated. The rest of the weekend was spent having sushi and then breakfast with a friend visiting from Hawaii and finally ordering our holiday cards.

On the Monday before Christmas, D had to go in to work for a little bit, so I won the draw to go to Costco (in the rain) two days before Christmas. After 20 minutes of trying to find parking, I was able to get what I needed and it took me longer to park than I was in the store. Then after a quick stop at the grocery store, I headed home. D and I spent some time and were able to make the mail with our cards.

Tuesday, we were both feeling lazy, but then decided that we needed to get out of the house. We hopped in the car and it led us to Viejas where we walked around and had the buffet.

Christmas Eve felt a little off this year...my birthday celebration was postponed to that night, so D and I weren't hosting the family this year. It was also off because we were in grinchy moods and did zero decorating and shopping. Due to the crazy year, the family decided to keep it low key. Instead, I spent some time baking and we gave the family units a box of baked goods that included: Graham Cracker Toffee, Devil's Food Sugar Cookies, Caramel Pretzel Bites, Sweet Salty Spicy Nut and Pretzel Mix and Chocolate Chip Walnut Snowballs. For being a non baker, they all turned out well. D also got Mom a gift certificate to join me at a knife skills class in February while he is on his boys spring training weekend.

Dinner at Ruth's was great...Justin, our regular server, friend and adopted family member, and Tyler took great care of us. The family was all well behaved and had fun...


The Crazy Family less Cousin Cleveland


Meema


Justin being a smart ass while taking his own photo


Tyler

Christmas Day was a rainy day. After a very lazy morning, D and I headed to Ramona to our family friends for dinner. Mom, Meema and Alicia met us there. After dinner, D and I went to see Marley and Me. It was cute, but the best scenes are shown in the previews.

Friday, I was really tired and achy. We ran around a little, but came home to relax again.

Saturday, again, I was tired and achy and spent most of my day on the couch while D ran around. That night, he took me out for some soup to help me feel better. By the end of the night, I felt awful complete with a sore throat...I got the flu!

So, for the last few days and during much of winter break, these have been my best friends...


Now, I feel a little better, but am still not 100%. Hope your winter break and holidays have been good...

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today, December 15 is my birthday...37 (yikes!) years ago at 9:06 a.m. and after 30 hours of labor, I made my entrance (via C section) into the world at a whopping 9 pounds, 8 ounces. Mom still calls me every year at 9:06 to wish me a happy birthday! In deciding to blog about my birthday, I am taking a huge step because I am not one who likes to excess attention. I am the only December birthday at work and have to endure standing alone as the office sings to me. Plus, I was not nervous about getting married, but blushed at the thought of my guests staring at me. Instead, I am celebrating me and the day. Because of my curiosity, I looked up December 15 on Wikipedia to see anything relevant that happened on this date.

Famous Births: Adam Brody (Seth from The OC), Don Johnson (of Miami Vice fame), Tim Conway, and Gustave Eiffel (engineer and architect of the Eiffel Tower) among many others.

Famous Deaths: Walt Disney and Sitting Bull

Famous Events: The Bill of Rights was ratified into law after passing the Virginia legislature.

It's a momentous day...so, happy birthday to me! Here's to another year of more great things!

Highs and Lows...The Recap

I've been a bad blogger lately...I haven't had the presence of mind to sit down and put my thoughts into writing. I must admit that I miss blogging. So, here is a recap and high/low lights of the last...

High...D and I celebrated our first anniversary! While we spent a quiet evening at home to celebrate, it was a great day! I cannot believe that it's been a year already and one full of highs and lows, but it's been so great. I am still amazed that we are married and creating this life together.

Low...D got sick and pink eye. Fortunately, I never got it and I took good care of him. He, like most men, was needy...at times, it felt like he was acting as if his eyes were falling out of his head.

High...Yummy Thanksgiving dinner prepped by Mom with some help from D and I.

Low...Family weirdness at TG dinner...not sure what to make of this, but can't let the drama get to me.

High...Cyber visit with Baby E and his parents. I can't believe how big he is getting and how much he's changed since his Labor Day visit.

High...Lots of relaxation and down time...neither of felt good, but it was still nice to hang out and be a lazy bum.

Now, it's December...where did 2008 go?!? December is a big month for me...Mom, Meema and I hold our annual holiday ornament party; D's work holiday party; my birthday; our work holiday party; getting things done before Winter Break; D and I hosting Christmas Eve; Christmas Day with family friends; and finally, New Year's Eve. I'm sure more will creep into this list, but it's an exciting time of the year. Hope everyone is well...take care!

Ch Ch Ch Changes!

First of all, I apologize for being MIA lately, but I've had a lot going on. It's nothing major that has been blogworthy, just things that have made me refocus my energy and set myself back on track. It's been a difficult process so far and will continue to be for a while. But then again, I remember that anything that ends with major personal growth and thought/behavior shifting takes a lot of work and is not always easy. It's going to be fine.

Now, the real reason for this blog entry...I talk about the jay oh bee a lot on here and my stress related to this entity. Well, we (the office) found out that Boss Man is retiring. His effective date is December 30, but he is anticipating being around part time through January and possibly February depending on recruitment and training time for his replacement. It was a little bit of a shock, but it kind of pissed me off (excuse my language). He said that he was retiring and that maybe it was time for some change considering the way things are here. This to me sounded like a big F you (again, apologies) or that we've caused this mess and it's time for someone else to come in and try to fix it. So, now it all makes sense...basically, he's been checked out for a while and has chosen to ignore all the drama and not deal with any of it. Upon hearing this announcement, the Nastys were close to doing cartwheels down the halls. They think that their beloved D (whom I replaced) will come back and be their savior and that her return as director is a done deal.

So, now, I need to start taking a look at this potential opportunity. Do I apply for the Boss Man's job? It would be the next step in the career ladder, but I worry that I am not quite ready to make that leap. Plus, I need to consider if I want to work and supervise the same Nastys that treat me like I am an idiot. Granted, it may be a different situation, but do I really want to subject myself to that? Then, the other opportunity lies in the possibility of D coming back. She is a director in another district...if she's hired here, what's to prevent me from applying for her job? In reality, there are a lot of things to consider and also a lot of opportunities that could be presented to me.

I think that this information just rattled me...I'm not surprised, but at the same time I am in a little bit of shock. Plus, I'm slightly angry at what was said and how it was handled. It's more of the processing than anything else...I just have to ride out this wave of emotion and deal with what comes one step at a time.

To be continued...

My Civic Duty Fulfilled!

Since getting married, I've been changing my name with all the companies I deal with, but I forgot one...The Registrar of Voters. In the primary, I voted absentee using my previous name and address with the intent of making the changes before the November election. Well, the deadline to change this came and went before I did what I needed to do. My sample ballot was mailed to my mom's. I could have voted at my past polling place in Escondido, but didn't think that would be convenient during the work week. Instead, I decided to vote early over the weekend at Registrar of Voters in Kearny Mesa...so did everyone else (or so it seemed in the County).

When I tell you how long it took me from start to finish, I'm sure you will say that I should have made the trip to Escondido to vote after work on Tuesday as I thought many times during my time in line. It took me (drum roll please) three and a half hours from the time I got in line until I walked out with my "I Voted" sticker.

Thinking I would get an early jump, I left D sleeping in bed at 8:10 and headed to Kearny Mesa. I had to park over a block away. At that point, the line snaked into the parking lot, down a long hall and back up and around several more lines before finally making it into the office to vote. In line, I met a woman who was voting early because she was leaving on vacation and others who forgot to do absentee and wanted to avoid the lines on Tuesday. There were all ranges of people there in line from the first time voter to the woman who had voted in every election since 18 (now in her 60s). Parent with young children instilling the value of voting, new citizens voting in their first election, families, singles. In spite of the long lines, spirits ran high at the prospect of what's to come. Regardless of personal beliefs, we were all united in our goal...to make our voices heard by giving up some time in our busy lives.

I finally made it to the counter and was re-registered with my new name and address. The only down side is that I had not prepared myself for the San Diego election pool. I voted and walked out feeling accomplished, hungry, thirsty and tired knowing that I could ignore the continuing political ads until the results are announced on Tuesday night.

So, to all of my readers, make sure to take the time by Tuesday November 4 and vote. The County is expecting a 75-80% turnout, so plan to wait in a line, but in the end, it's all worth it!

Happy Monday! I'm feeling a little bleary eyed this morning, although I don't know why. It's not like we had a rockin weekend or anything. Friday morning started in grand fashion...I slipped on my way into the shower. I'm sure D had quite a sight when he came in to see what all the commotion was. Basically, most of me was on the floor of the tub with my left leg dangling over the side. At that moment, I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry and if I didn't have work commitments that day, I would definitely have take a mental health day! Fast forward through a busy day of work (testing and presentation), to a finally Friday feeling. D and I were so burned out from the week that we finally used an Applebees gift card for dinner. Then, it was home to the DVR before an early (for a Friday) bedtime.

Saturday morning, the fall came to haunt me...I was sore from end to end. Since I promised D I would go to a signing with him, I made it out of bed. After the signing, D went off with his friend and I went grocery shopping. OMG...grocery prices are insane! I stuck to the necessities (and even cut back on those) and still felt like we needed to go on a hunger strike for a while. At home, the groceries got put away and I parked on the couch. At one point, I fell asleep and was out so hard, I didn't even hear D come home. We both decided to take a nap (which ended up being 2+ hours). We were supposed to attend a Halloween party that night, but I was still so wrecked, we cancelled and stayed home.

Sunday, we cleaned around home (it's definitely a work in progress). I ran out to get the last of what I needed. Then, I morphed into Suzy Homemaker making pasta salad for lunch this week and stuffed shells to pop in the oven for dinner one night. I was so proud of myself that I accomplished so much. The rest of the day/night was spent relaxing and hanging out.

Now, it's Monday of another busy week and I'm hoping that this week does not work us both into exhaustion. Have a great one!

Sometimes it's Not the Answer You Want

So, I got my answer and it wasn't the answer I wanted...the answer was no. I totally understand that it wasn't the right place for me to go, but it's hard to not feel bad and wallow. So, that's what I do for a while and then move on...the worst part is my feeling like I disappointed all those who were rooting for me. Let downs suck the big fat one...time to wallow and regroup!

Two Words...

So, today's entry can be summed up with two simple words...

JUST CALL...

Is that too much to ask?!? Monday, I heard you'd call me on Wednesday. Well, today is Thursday and I am getting tired of my heart almost jumping out of my chest each time my phone rings...

Plus, I think I sprained (or heavily tweaked) my right hand and it hurts...I almost slipped on these stupid balls that fall from the trees at work on Monday and tried to catch myself and jammed my hand against the car.

Now...I wait...to be continued!

Busy Busy Bee!

Life is so busy that I haven't had a chance to blog...lots happening in the last few weeks. Some highlights include:

• Prospective Jay Oh Bee: In the last two weeks, I applied, interviewed and presented for a prospective position. The position is still in the system I work for, but on a larger scale. It would be a good stepping stone on my way to a director position and would get me that needed experience that I lack. It would also be closer to home (5 miles) for now and would be a nice raise...which could get us closer to our dream of buying a house. I had a final interview last Wednesday and have been on edge ever since waiting to hear...I go back and forth between the positive and negative. I heard this morning that they will have a final decision on Wednesday. I'm worried about the outcome because I heard such good feedback from the interviewers and my family has been telling me how proud they are of me, which is a potentially huge let down for all of us if I don't get it. At least, I know that I won't hear anything until Wednesday and can stop jumping at my phone ringing.
• Mom and Meema: They've been through the ringer with all the workers in and out of the house over the last 6 months. Mom's bathroom is done and looks so good...I'll take some pictures this week when I visit. There was drama with the guy doing the work that started to take its toll, but now it's done and they can go back to life. Mom is starting to do ministry of the sick for the church once a month at a nursing home. She said it was difficult to see people younger than Meema in that situation, but it made her more thankful for Meema's health.
• Social Events: Last weekend, we did dinner with our friends, Sheilina and Chris. I met Sheilina almost 20 (yikes) years ago when I started at Palomar College. We met over food in the cafeteria and spent the next few years in search of breakfast. Sheilina is always a good time and has the best heart in the world...she and Chris are on their way to joining the club (marriage). That same weekend, Mom, D and I (Meema wasn't feeling well) met my first "real" boss, Lois and her husband Alan, for brunch at Valley View Casino. We all had such a great time catching up. Lois and I had some perceived drama when I left that job, but we've moved past that.
• D: He has been so amazing and encouraging through this whole process. He is also under a lot of job stress...he really needs to get out of his current job. It all came to a boiler on Friday, which was not the way either of us wanted to start the weekend.
• Getting it Together: So, with everything in flux for us, we decided to take space by space and clean out. Saturday, we cleaned out cabinets in the kitchen. After cleaning the spaces out, I cleaned the kitchen and D did the bathroom (fair trade if you ask me). At the end of it, we had lots to take to Goodwill and a big sense of accomplishment. So big, that we rewarded ourselves with a stop at Islands for a burger and a beer.
• First Anniversary: I can't believe that it's almost a year...I need to start thinking of a good idea. Especially since D told me that he's been thinking about it and that it's the paper anniversary. I was seriously shocked that he knew this...will wonders never cease!

Well, I have lots on my plate again this week, both at home and work. Hope all is well with everyone and sorry for the gap in blogging. Until next time...

Jay Oh Bee Updates

So, I finally heard (after 2+ weeks) that I didn't get the job I interviewed for. BUT, there is a new job prospect on the horizon. Last week, I got a call from my contact at another district. She got a director position elsewhere and wanted to know if I would be interested in applying for her position (it's a supervisor). The call came late Wednesday afternoon and the deadline to apply was Friday. That night, I worked on the materials for almost 5 hours and managed to make the deadline. My current boss talked to them about me wanting to move up and has encouraged me to do this...he told me that the last two in the position have gone onto become directors. I got an email yesterday and I have an appointment on Friday for an interview and performance. Part of this process entails a 5-minute presentation to the panel. So, now, I have until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday to work on the presentation and email it to them by the deadline. I have cancelled all my plans this week to devote to this project. I am so excited about this opportunity...I would actually supervise 3 employees (instead of just having the title) and would get a nice raise in the process. It's also closer to home so I could save on gas. There are so many positives that could come with this position, but I am staying focused on each step. So, on Friday at noon, if you could send some good jay oh bee vibes my way, I would appreciate it!

Little Sleep...The Story of a Class Reunion Weekend

So, this past weekend was D's class reunion...hard to believe that it's been 20 (gulp) years since high school. Even harder to believe is that in one year, we'll be attending mine. This reunion thing has been such a big deal for D...he missed the 10 year because El Ron gave him the wrong date. So, last week was spent prepping for the weekend in the middle of so many other things.

Friday: We left work early (around 1:00 instead of noon as originally planned) to run some errands before heading to EC (Macy's for a shirt for D, Cheesecake Factory lunch with gift card, Nordstrom Rack to pick up D's pants). After a quick shower and change and packing, we headed out the door to hit traffic heading east on the 8. We rolled into town around 7:15 to meet El Ron and Perlina (his "friend") for dinner at Celia's. Our next stop was the last quarter of Central's football game to start the reunion meetings. A woman came up to me and said, "You're D's wife. I've seen you on his Facebook." This was so random to me...I guess that's life in the technology era. After the game, we headed to a party at home of classmate's parents. It was so cute because the mom was in front of the house with a flashlight directing people onto their property and the dad was in the back guiding people into parking spaces. We had fun hanging out...Perlina and I let the boys do their thing while we people watched. Two girls across from us, in a not so discreet manner, asked "who are those girls over there" complete with a vehement head jerk in our direction. The highlight of the evening was watching a very inebriated girl swaying back and forth while placing her hand on some male at all times (probably as balance). Because it is the desert and there are bugs, a cockroach was running about the patio and some of the guys starting kicking it around. All of a sudden, we hear a loud slam (heel on concrete), followed by silence and gasping, and "That's how it's done". The inebriated girl killed the cockroach with her heel. Perlina and I could not stop laughing...I had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. Shortly there after, we made our way home for a quick nap (about 5 hours of sleep).

Saturday: We all met some people for breakfast (Celia's again...gotta get my fill of the Special Quesadilla) before running around. We took a quick nap before getting ready for the reunion. The reunion itself was fun...it was funny to see Julie McCoy Cruise Director (aka my husband) running around talking to people. I am married to quite the social butterfly! During the slide show, there was a picture of D with his skateboard...too funny! At the event, they had a memory table with photos of all the classmates that had died...there were so many and we heard that there were at least 2 more not displayed. It was a true awakening because I didn't think after 20 years there would be so many. I met some cool people who told me about D and what a smart ass he was (and he still is), but how great he was. After the reunion, we changed and headed to The Owl (some bar in EC) to hang out before a late night Denny's run complete with about 40 people. Finally, around 4:30, we went to bed.

Sunday: We got up and did a last breakfast before our Super WalMart run and heading home. We got home around 4:30 and took a nap...we were both so dog tired that we couldn't move.

The reunion was fun...I tried to let D have his social time without having to worry about me. I found out this morning that one of the girls (who I'd met before and was part of the Who are those girls conversation) thought I was stuck up to everyone. I was pretty upset about that because I thought I was cordial. It also brought me back to high school and I thought I was done with all that BS...oh well!

My View from the Newlywed World

By definition, I am still a newlywed because we have not yet hit our one year mark. In fact, we are still in that month counting phase of our marriage (we are 10 months and 1 week). Recently, the younger Nasty got married and since then, she keeps making comments (which I perceive as being directed towards me) about certain marital related things. So, today, I am going to voice (write) my opinions and views on some of the things that she likes to (un)intentionally throw in my direction.

• The Ring: After the Newlywed Nasty (NN for short) announced her engagement, I asked about her ring and whether they shopped around or if it was a surprise. Her response to me (and it's been said several times since) was, "We shopped...since I don't wear jewelery that often, I didn't want anything bigger than this. I actually think bigger rings look tacky." At first, I felt slightly insulted, but then I realized the immaturity associated with such a comment. A ring is a symbol and is not what marriage is about. The item on my left ring finger is there because of something so much bigger than I am...it's a symbol of a lifetime commitment D and I made to each other. I would give up the ring in a heartbeat, but will never give up that commitment without one hell of a fight!
• Name Change: From the moment she got engaged, she has talked about changing her name. She also mentions on quite a regular basis that she is definitely changing her name and that she doesn't know why women don't after getting married. For the record, I did change my name, but a lot of my work stuff is still in my maiden name. I thought a lot about my name change...I don't necessarily like where the name came from, but it is who I've been for my entire life. I was having a hard time giving that piece of me up and because I married someone with a 3 letter last name that fit well with my maiden name, I hyphenated. I am also the product of a Mom who hyphenates...in fact, she stayed hyphenated with bio dad's last name for a few years after marrying my step-dad (for my school purposes). A name does not make an identity...changing (or altering) my name does not change who I am.
• The Wedding Day: Yes, this was seriously the fastest day of my life! Yet, the one thing I remember (besides the minister calling me the wrong name 4 times, but who's counting?!?) is D and I standing in front of our friends and family and committing to a life together. And, even though the room was full of so many other people, the only person in that room that mattered to me was D.
• Wedding pictures: Because I don't like attention, I didn't bring my wedding photos to work. Some who attended forwarded pictures via email to the department to share, but I never brought them in. Yesterday, NN brought hers in and showed them to everyone around...except me! While in theory, I don't really care...I was upset that someone could be so mean and nasty (hence the name). It would never occur to me to manipulate and connive and behave in such a manner.

So, I guess the bottom line of this post comes down to what marriage and it's related things really mean to each person. I will admit that the first year is not all kisses and puppy dogs. It is truly an adjustment to an existing relationship, but one that I would not trade for anything in the world. In spite of the trials, tribulations, drama, smiles and tears, I LOVE being married! I savor each moment and love sharing my thoughts, dreams and laughs in the dark before falling asleep with the one person who is at the same time my biggest critic (only to push me further) and my biggest cheerleader. I still get giddy when I see him walk through the door. So, after 10 months and 1 week, I still love my husband and understand what matters in life and know that is not the ring, the name change and wedding photos or anything else. I guess being (in)directly slighted about my personal marital choices made me really think!

Saturday Adventures

Last Saturday, D and I went on another trek for a signing. This time, it was for Tim Brown (Mr Raider) who was appearing at the grand opening of the Sports Pit at Harrah's Rincon Casino. We headed up Saturday morning. We had brunch at the buffet at Harrah's...after all, what would a trip to the casino be without a stop at a buffet?!? Then, we walked over to the Sports Pit. It's a pretty cool place and there weren't many people there. We both got photos with Tim Brown. He was a pretty cool man...


D and Tim


Tim and I

After hanging out for a while, we left and headed towards Escondido. We were going to pick up some carne from Kennedy's Karne Asada. Kennedy's is an institution in the Imperial Valley that has opened in Escondido. Their meat is so good! Before we hit Kennedy's, we saw a sign for a new housing development, Eureka Springs. We decided to take a look. We loved the biggest and smallest...they had great floor plans and amenities that we really liked. When we were looking, we came across a model that had dual closets in the master bedroom. I pointed to one and said that it was mine and the other would be his...D, in all seriousness, said that his was smaller. I cracked up at his wanting the larger closet...I think I've created a monster by helping him refine his personal style! Walking through these gorgeous homes were serious motivation for us. We were so excited at the prospect of buying a house and wished that we could move in there. It renewed our focus and desire to get our act together so that we can move into our own home.

The rest of the evening was spent getting ready for our busy Sunday...more to come!

End of the Week Thoughts and Musings!

So, there is not much exciting going on right now. Which, for once, is a nice thing. Since I am leading a non-exciting normal life this week, I thought I'd share some random thoughts swirling around this head of mine...

• Current Jay Oh Bee: Today, it's just me and one of the Nastys. In fact, she is probably the one with the most animosity toward me. I have lots of jobs closing and testing to be done, so the days are going quickly.
• Prospective Jay Oh Bee: I interviewed on Wednesday and thought it went well. They asked questions about my leadership style and asked for examples of my experience. One of the questions was about my experience giving presentations...I told them about one I did for professional growth. As I answered the question, they all looked at each other and mentioned that was a great idea and that they should do one similar. Since leaving the interview, I jump every time my phone rings and can't stop thinking about it. This position would take me to the next step in my career and could take me so many other places, which would be a great advantage of working for a larger organization. Plus, they are on the same retirement system as I have been part of for the past 11 years, so my retirement potential could keep growing. (Oh my...that sounded like something my mom or other adult would say to me....could it be that I am growing up?!?) So, I wait to hear one way or another...I'll keep you posted.
• D: He is getting ready to jump head-on into the intensive study world for his CPA. We've talked a lot about this and the short term sacrifices (study time, classes) versus long term benefits (better job opportunities and growth). In the end, it's ultimately the best thing for him career wise. He's applied to the California Board of Accountancy and now just needs to set up his study session schedule. So, within a year, he should have his CPA.
• Mom and Meema: I got to see them last night. They are cleaning fiends right now and even bought the deluxe shredder to assist them with their tasks. Mom started the remodeling process for her bathroom this week. She is so excited to get this done. It's funny when she talks about her choices because she always tells D and I that they are not trendy choices. She is keeping them timeless and elegant so when we get the house we won't have trouble either living in it, renting it out or selling it. D and I don't care what she does to it...we're not counting the days until it's ours.
• DVR/TV Viewing: So, after much debate, I've finally officially come to the conclusion that I am basically 30-something going on 16. Or, at least, that's how it would look if you checked our scheduled recordings on the DVR. In no particular order, I DVR 90210 (I still love the original...this one is mindless entertainment), Privileged, One Tree Hill, Jon and Kate plus 8, The Hills, Ugly Betty, The Office, and Dirty Sexy Money. I don't totally hog the DVR because I do let D record The Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles. And speaking of my 16 year old TV habits, don't be fooled by D saying that it is garbage. He protests that I watch them, but then always wants to know what's happening.

So, that's a lot of things in my head...I'm sure there is so much more, but I don't want to overwhelm. Have a great weekend!

Updates on Life!

Happy Monday! It's been a relatively mellow week for me. There's things happening, but nothing too exciting.

Jay Oh Bee: As expected, the retaliation happened. It's been in subtle bitchy ways, but it's been easier to handle considering I knew it was coming. Also, I got a call on Friday regarding a position I applied for months ago. I have an interview on Wednesday afternoon. I'm excited at this opportunity...D asked if I was nervous or excited about it. To be honest, I get a little nervous during interviews (as evidenced by the blotchy neck), but I think I get more scared about actually getting the job. The whole confidence factor comes into play. We'll see what happens...if it's meant to be, it will all work out!

Life: We've been busy running around...we've been completing our Wusthof knife set thanks to a late wedding gift. We are now only missing the steak knives thanks to many sales and promotions happening during our shopping sessions. Baseball season is coming to an end, which means the autograph chasing is also coming to an end. We went to a Jake Peavy signing on Saturday. It's fun to go, but it gets a little old to stand in line for at least an hour waiting. After all, how many items signed by one player do we really need?!? I joke with one of our friends that we are going to have an Adrian Gonzalez bathroom...wallpapered with all the signed baseball cards and photos with a baseball bat towel rack. Hope my friends don't mind using the restroom while a baseball player stares at you...haha!

Babies: This seems to be a recurring theme lately...it started with Baby E's visit, then on Friday, my coworker in another department brought her 7 month old daughter in. Then, on Saturday, we hung out with our friends, John and Angela and their two daughters, Madelyn (4 months) and Brianna (2 years old). While we waited in line for Jake Peavy, I kept Brianna entertained...or should I say, she kept me entertained. I apologized for teaching her "Cheers", but we had quite the fun time and bonded. When she wanted to hold her mommy's full hands and didn't want daddy...she settled for me. For not being a "kid" person for so long, suddenly, I am into it. It will probably be another year before we think about trying, but it's becoming evident that I've been bitten by the bug.

News: It was sad to watch the news this weekend and see all the devastation brought by Ike. Also, for some reason, I was very interested in the Metrolink train crash in LA. I spent time reading about it and listening to the news about it. I think it just showed how the simple things we do in life (boarding a train to go home) can turn into tragedy. If you can, take a moment and remember those affected by events like this.

Well, the boss is out this morning and I've been less than productive. Have a great week!

Triumph of Good Over Evil!

So, the original title of this post was going to be "Payback is a Bitch", but I decided that would be me allowing the Nastys to win. Last week, Nice CW and I went into the boss' office and told him the latest issues we have been having. Things like eyes rolled when we ask questions or tell them that someone is there to see them; showing up 10-15 minutes late EVERY day or leaving 20-30 minutes early when the boss is gone; and so many other things. The boss was not too interested in what we had to say and tried to pass it off as "personality conflicts", but we persisted with concrete examples. He told us that he would mention it at our weekly staff meeting without directly referencing our conversation.

This morning was our staff meeting and he laid it out. He told people that they need to adhere to their work hours...if you're supposed to be here at 7:30 then do it and if you're supposed to work until 5:00 then do that. Then, he reminded us to be respectful and courteous to our customers and each other (duh). The look on the Nastys faces were priceless! While I have no doubt that this will bring serious repercussions from them, I feel like I won a small battle today. My Nice CW and I have grabbed our power and what we will tolerate back...it feels really good!

BTW...the matchy matchy slide show is up on the photographer's blog. If you want to see more, email me and I'll send you the link. I don't want to post it since it has our family name on it. Surprisingly, we look really good and I like the pictures!

Twenty Questions...How Well Do I Know My Spouse?

I saw this on Amanda's blog and it looked fun...here are my 20 questions about my spouse, D.

1. They are watching TV….. What are they watching? Baseball, golf or something I'm watching that he pretends to not be interested in.
2. You're out to eat...what kind of dressing do they get on their salad? Ranch and will usually pick the tomatoes off my salad.
3. What's one food this person doesn't like? Popcorn...he worked at a movie theater as a teenager and can't even stand the smell.
4. You go out for a drink. He/she orders…Alcoholic: Depends on his mood, can be beer, rum and coke or dirty martini on the rocks. Non: Diet coke
5. Where did he/she go to high school? Central Union High School in the beautiful city of El Centro, California
6. What size shoe do they wear? 8.5 or 9 depending on the shoes
7. If this person were to collect anything, it would be? He collects sports memorabilia...it's not a collection, it's an addiction!
8. What is their favorite type of car? His dream car is a BMW M5
9. This person could eat __________ everyday? Eggs...he loves breakfast anytime of the day.
10. Favorite cereal? We don't really eat cereal, so I'm not sure
11. This person wouldn't be caught dead wearing… Pink
12. Favorite sports team? San Diego Padres and Oakland Raiders
13. Who will he/she vote for? He doesn't vote
14. What is their sign? Pisces
15. What is something you do that he wishes you didn't do? Be so indecisive...he hates when I won't make a decision on where to go for dinner
16. How many states has this person lived in? Just California
17. What is his heritage? Filipino
18. You bake them a cake for their birthday….What kind do they want? D is not a sweets person, but he would be happy with flan or tres leches (both of which I can't stand)
19. Did he/she play sports in high school? No, he was in the marching band
20. This person could spend hours….surfing the Internet

This was fun...

Matchy Matchy and Other Weekend Tales

First of all, can I just tell you how wiped out I am?!? It was a busy weekend full of the range of emotions that can only be evoked by family...happy, sad, angry, excited, frustrated...I experienced the full gamut and felt like a manic person by last night. It was all I could do to pull myself off the couch last night and go to bed...that's how wiped out physically and emotionally I feel!

Friday: D and I headed up to Mom's to help with the early party prep. Kathy came over and helped also...she has been quite the help and support to Mom over the past few months. She is a great friend and has been indoctrinated into this crazy dynamic. Meema's contribution to the evening was dinner (I had to pick it up) of carnitas and chicken from Northside Market. Such good (and inexpensive) authentic Mexican food. Finally, around 9:00, D and I headed home to get ready for Saturday. I decided to be productive and get all our matchy matchy ironed and hung ready for us to go.

Saturday: D and I went to another Adrian Gonzalez signing. We had fun hanging out with our friend, Richard for a few hours. We grabbed some lunch before heading home for a quick nap and getting ready. Drove the new car (no one noticed...they even rode in it) to The Banking Mogul's for join up before heading to Balboa Park. Family pictures went well...we saw another family dressed in khaki bottoms and white tops...we were sure that our army could take them down without a problem. Here are some pictures that we took with my camera...and yes, our family is this small!


D and I...now known as Muffy and Ted who are ready to join the country club!


The Men of the Family...


The Women of the Family...


Meema (aka GGMa) with her grandkids (I'm the age-wise middle grandchild and the only girl) and great grandchild

After family pictures, we headed to Ruth's for dinner in our navy and khaki. Andy, our bartender friend, kept teasing us and calling us Team E...he got quite the kick out of it and it made us all laugh. Todd, Christine and Baby E made an early exit before dinner (not sure why). We ate dinner at the table next to the defensive line for the San Diego Chargers which included Quentin Jammer and Jacques Cesaire. It was Jacques' birthday also...we tried to get him to take a photo with Meema, but he wasn't having any part of it. Following dinner, D and I met "our child" Steve downtown. We hung out at the Tilted Kilt and East Village Tavern and Bowl for a while before heading home for some sleep.

Sunday: We headed up to Mom's around 10:00 and started getting ready for the party. The boys got the tables all set while I helped Mom get food done and the house cleaned up. Around 1:00, the rest of the family showed...I finally got some time with Baby E. I immediately fell for him...and it seriously awoke my mommy instincts.


Me (sans makeup) and Baby E

The family dynamic started and it was hellish at times that day. At one point early on, I had to go pick some things up for the party. I told Mom that I was leaving and wouldn't be back. Plus, I said things to Meema (with expletives) that should not be said to my 87 year old grandma. D kept telling me to relax and have fun. I tried, but it was difficult to bust my behind all day without credit. In the end, the party was fun and the food was phenomenal. Thanks to the excess of food, I won't need to cook much this week. The boys and I finally got home around 10:30pm where we crashed pretty quickly.

Monday: D and I were hoping for us time...wrong! Steve's flight back to New York did not leave until 9pm, so we got to entertain him for most of the day. He took us to dim sum at Jasmine (it was okay, but we were still hungry) and then we made a Yogurt World stop. We then went to Fry's (yuck), Target and Ross in search of a bag for Steve to take his extra stuff back home. I took a 3 hour nap in the late afternoon before we at barbecue. Steve left for the airport around 7:30. At that point, D and I got to take a breath...but it was a quick one...it's the close week for D, so it will be another busy few days for us.

All in all, the weekend was good. As I said before, I experienced a full range of emotions courtesy of my family. I owe D an huge apology for snapping at him (which I did under stress) and I also owe him so much love and gratitude for loving me in spite of this crazy family dynamic...he found out some information that makes me feel justified in my attitude and feelings (to be shared at another time). I also owe Baby E a big thanks...I knew I wanted to be a mom someday, but he cemented that feeling in me. I owe Mom a lot of gratitude and love for all she does and what she did this weekend without the gratitude of others. I realized this weekend that we need to take care of each other and not worry about the rest of the family. I owe my wacky crazy jerky dynamic of a family thanks...for being the army of navy and khaki that has drama, but still is a family. And most importantly, I owe myself some slack...for most of my life, I've internalized my (perceived) inadequacies and allowed that to make me feel less than I am. I have accomplished a lot in my life...I may not have the house or family yet, but I've done well. I only have to live up to my own standards and not those of others around me.

What a Week...It Continues!

OMG...is this week over yet?!? Yesterday, I met Mom and Meema for lunch to pass off the rice cooker and we did some more rehashing/complaining about all the tension this family stuff is causing. Mom was most upset by the fact that there was a plan, but it did not include celebration of Meema's birthday. Saturday, Meema will turn 87. Because of her family status and age, we try to make all of her birthdays special. Mom's point was that just because we are doing family pictures doesn't mean we need to forget the birthday. We got it all out of our system and decided to go into the next few days with a positive attitude.

After lunch, I went back to work while Mom trekked Meema to the doctor. After their appointment, they headed south to see Baby E. From all reports, Baby E was a champion traveler. He slept through takeoff and most of the flight until descent into San Diego, which is no small accomplishment (they live in Philadelphia). His mom was cranky, tired and hungry, but he did fine. While I was running my errands after work, Mom called to share that Baby E was as cute as promised and that dinner plans had been made for Saturday. Meema's birthday celebration drama...done!

A little while later, I get a call from Mom asking if I know if the insurance company is open. Apparently, after leaving Uncle Banking Mogul's, she hit a pole in the street from all the construction. I guess the sun was in her eyes and she did not see it. Fortunately, she was not going fast and she and Meema are fine. The Beetle is not drivable...minor body damage, but mechanical damage. Uncle Banking Mogul has an extra vehicle (truck), so he loaned it to Mom and the Beetle was towed to the shop. Mom called me later after getting home...D said that we could loan her one of our cars (we have 3). Until last night, Mom did not know about the 3rd. It was purchased (as a minor impulse, but really great car at a good deal) last summer, but we have kept it low key. It looks similar (make and color) to our other car, so it's easy to see how she wouldn't know. We thought for sure that she would make the connection when she was at the house during the October fires and at Christmas. I was nervous about sharing this purchase with the family...it probably wasn't the smartest thing to do at the time, but it's done. So, we'll see if she want to borrow one of our cars or if she'll keep driving the truck.

Last night was one of those moments where I felt like one situation had been resolved, but another happened. Well, just another moment to reflect on the importance of family...while they may drive me crazy at times, I love them a lot and would be upset if something had happened to Mom and Meema last night. So, to the people in my life, thank you and I love you all!

Mid Week Recap!

Happy Hump Day...it's Wednesday. It's only the middle of the week and it has been a jammed packed week already. The recap...

• Monday: I had an interview panel at work, but one of the members was called into a mandatory meeting. So, I had to fill in. It was a nice break from my normal day, but I was tied up from 10:30 until 2:30. Instead of taking lunch at 2:30, I just worked another hour and left. D left work and met me for an early dinner before I headed to campus for Chapter. It was great to see the girls again. Our meeting ran smoothly and I was home so much earlier than I thought (10:30). Instead of crashing immediately because I was so wired from the evening, I parked on the couch to watch my Monday night guilty pleasures (The Hills and Jon and Kate Plus 8).
• Tuesday: The day started with D and I in crabby moods about really random and stupid things. It was another busy workday...I'm on a staff development task force at work and it was our first meeting of the new school year (4 hours of business). Got of it just with time to check email and trek to my next meeting. While I was in my afternoon of meetings, the Nastys continued to play their same game. I got emails (with copies to the boss) about things that I hadn't done. At first, I was angry, but then I responded with the facts (hello, I've been tied up in meetings/panels for the last two days and I'm sorry that your things have not been done) with copies to the boss. He even responded with a thank you. After work, we made a stop at the dry cleaner/tailor (run by a former Korean pop star) to pick up D's pants for matchy matchy day. We went home with intentions of being productive, but our child came over for a while...he was making me anxious because he kept asking questions and would not sit still. It must be the New York lifestyle in him. Dinner was breakfast...bacon, eggs and hashbrowns for D and baked potato with bacon and salad for me (I wasn't feeling the egg thing). After our child left, we spent the evening on the couch watching the Padres game (yeah, they won!).
• Wednesday: The work day is a little less stressed (no meetings or panels), but still lots happening. I'm meeting Mom and Meema for lunch and to pass off the rice cooker. D is playing softball after work...I'm going home following a stop at the grocery store to relax.

Speaking of matchy matchy...the drama is ramping up! My aunt sent an email reminding us of the family photo event and included a comment from the photographer about having clean and neat fingernails. I guess this is a concern since we might be photographed holding Baby E. Mom then sent an email responding to the fingernail directive saying, "Enough with the fingernails. Do you think we are all idiots? This photographer seems to be too anal for this family,". My aunt responded saying that it was a joke...do I hear a bell signaling the end of Round One?!? I think that we should start a pool of who in the family will melt down first and at what time. Right now, I'm thinking that it will be close race between Meema and Baby E. Meema has already stomped her feet and told us that she was leaving if the photos weren't done by 7:00, which made us all laugh. Oh well...we'll see what else this crazy week will hold for all of us!

Isn't She Pretty?!?

So, as frequent readers know, I had a meltdown of epic proportions last week. It was over the most random and stupid things. As a cure, D and I went on a quest for a new dish rack. We found the Mercedes Benz of dish racks at Bed Bath and Beyond and bought it. I am embarrassed to admit how much it cost (which was helped a little by the 20% off), but I love it! We should be making comments similar to those we had around the trashcans made by Simply Human, but for some reason, this was different. Yes, for the price, it should wash, dry and put away my dishes, but sometimes simple things are the best things regardless of cost. Who knew that a dish rack could evoke such happiness?!? I smile each time I see it...I love my new "toy' and it looks pretty in our kitchen! Since I did not have time to take a photo of ours, here is a link to it...isn't she pretty?!? http://www.simplehuman.com/products/dishracks/steel-frame.html

Here we go again...Monday!

Monday, Monday...after a busy weekend, here I am! We had a great and busy weekend...the recap...

• Friday: Spent the evening on the couch cuddled watching the Olympics. Who knew that water polo, platform diving and ping pong could keep us so riveted?!?
• Saturday: I met the girls for breakfast at Mimi's in honor of Pilar's visit. We had a great time catching up and talking about things. Then, I headed to Mission Valley to get my 20% back from my previous Bed Bath and Beyond purchases. I also walked around and found some really great brown boots (one dressy, one funky) at Nordstrom Rack, but I restrained and left empty handed. But the funky brown pair is calling my name...and they were only $40. Who knows...maybe they'll somehow end up in my closet soon! Went home and waited for D...finished My Sister's Keeper. Again, it was another Jodi Picoult book that had me torn throughout and I'm not sure how I feel about it. D and I did a mini date stop at Costa Brava...tapas, wine and good talks before we headed to our friend's annual summer cocktail party. Unfortunately, their daughter (7 months old) had already gone to bed. It was nice to hang out with them for a while. Then home for more late night Olympics viewing...the Redeem Team men's basketball for a bit before falling asleep.
• Sunday: Our "child" (aspiring banking mogul, but chef in denial who lives in NYC) is here for the week and came over. We went to breakfast before spending lots of time with Mom and Meema. The boys ended up disassembling and moving Mom's treadmill back downstairs to the garage. We were rewarded by Meema with a dinner at L&L. We talked and caught with plans for the week...it's matchy matchy photo and family visiting and party week. Mom has her to do list ready and D and I have marching orders to help get her ready.

This week has lots filling it...tonight is first meeting of the semester with the girls. There is a lot on the agenda, so I know it will be a late night. I think (hope) that the girls have their proverbial act together and this should make my life a little easier. Have a great week!

I Melted Down!

So, yesterday, I had the ultimate meltdown! We're talking butter melting on hot pavement, your favorite lipstick melted in the car on a hot day, meltdown. I really can't pinpoint the exact cause of said meltdown, but I can tell you it was bad! It had been one of those days that grates on my last nerve (whistling and humming incessantly adding to the ever present headache)...I got a call from Mom about moving something and her needing some photos as proof for reimbursement. Then, D wanted to workout, but the headache was too nasty to think of doing any physical exertion. So, we headed home...the ride home was an out of the blue picking match (everything you say is taken wrong...I hate these!) and ended up with me a sobbing runny nosed mess at home. It was so stupid and was brought on by the stress of the insurmountable process of life! After wallowing in our separate spaces for a little while, D came in and in his own way, made me laugh and brought me back to the "one day at a time...things can't be solved instantly" reality. We then decided to head out to look for a new dish rack (I threw ours away on Saturday because it was old and could not be cleaned again).

First stop was Target...nothing that we loved, would look good or last longer, but we did come out with my book for book club, two Tide stain pens (I always get stuff on me) and a game for D. Then, it was off to Bed Bath and Beyond. We found what we wanted, but it was way more than ever should be spent on a dish rack, but with our 20% off coupon, it was a little less. So, we are now the proud owners of a Simply Human Stainless Deep Dish rack. It's so pretty! Then, we walked around looking at other things. But the best moment happened when we were looking at the Simply Human line of trashcans. We need a new one and saw one (actually 2) at Uncle Banking Mogul's place. They are a great shape, but cost about $140 for the one we like. While we were impulsive in spending more that we should have on a dish rack, we held off on the trashcan. D saw the price and commented (loud enough for others to hear and chuckle). "For that price, it better wipe my butt."

After stopping for a quick bite, we headed home to handle the photo ordering for Mom before heading into bed. At the end of the night, as I fell asleep, I felt so much better than I had during the meltdown. I also came to the conclusion that I talk about making changes, but don't move as quickly as I should. So, it's time to move my feet and get things done. I also realized that the meltdown was a result of me not dealing with anxiety and letting it build up. Lots of lessons learned at a potentially expensive price...

My Head...the Weekend!

Happy Monday! Things are good with me...still have the massive headache from hell. It's been a week since the vice wrapped itself around my head and gets tighter and looser throughout the day. I think I've really jacked the shoulders and back full of stress and that's what's causing the headache to take root in my head. It's so bad that caffeine, water, sleep and pills do nothing to make it go away...it only dulls the pain. It's not uncommon for me to get a headache every day, but they are usually gone within a little while or by the next day. So, I have an appointment for a massage on Wednesday to see if that will knock it out of my system.

The weekend was good...after work on Friday, D and I went on a shopping expedition. Costco (to pick up some photos and get gas), Carlsbad Outlets (to find matchy matchy outfits...we did, but found out that the men are wearing khaki pants). We bought D khaki shorts, but found that we had bought a pair of nice khaki pants a while ago. We had dinner at Bruno's Italian Restaurant in San Marcos (twice in one week...yum!) and made a quick WalMart run before heading to bed.

Saturday, the elusive Khalil Greene was signing autographs at Cox Cable in Chula Vista. So, being the amazing wife I am, D and I headed to the signing 2 hours before it started. There was a line, but I camped out in a chair reading my book while D socialized with his "cronies". Khalil is pretty shy, but he did smile at me and responded when I commented about how bad it is to have a cast. We hung out a bit before going home. D's friend had tickets to the game that night, but I really wanted to be a homebody. So, I gave D the free pass to hang out with the boys. Our friend, Sam, took D up on the offer to join him at the game and hanging out after. I dropped the, off downtown around 4:15 and then headed to the opening weekend of Fresh and Easy in my neighborhood. If you've never been to one, you should check it out. It's a cool idea of a grocery store geared to the busy life...lots of smaller packaging and ready to eat (healthy) meals at decent prices. Since I had a $5 off coupon, I walked around and bought some things. They rainchecked me on the reusable tote...due to the overwhelming response, they ran out. I went home loaded with groceries, cleaned the kitchen (threw away our nasty dish rack...now on a quest for a new one), got a package together and relaxed. Since I knew that I was going to pick the guys up, I just camped on the couch dozing. I woke up around 1:30 and thought that I'd be hearing from D soon since the bars close at 2:00...wrong! 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30...I sent a text with no response...4:00, I started thinking something had happened (jail, injury...who knows at that hour?!?) 4:30, I finally called (I waited because I didn't want to be that kind of wife, but really started to worry), but it went straight to voice mail. 5:00...I hear a voice at the front door (door open, screen locked), "Hey babe, it's me." D was finally home...turns out the cell phone had died (but don't your friends have one you could call me from?) and they hung out at the friend's house and then the friend took him home. So, after chatting about the evening, we went to bed when the sun came up.

Sunday, we slept most of the morning (gee, I wonder why?!?) and didn't rise until noon. After showering and dressing, we headed to Pipes for breakfast/lunch. Since our original Sunday plan was the beach, this became the closest thing to it for the weekend. We made it home for a quick nap before dinner at the Deluxe Apartment in the Sky. We did our video conference with Baby E, who is now the owner of a tooth...he's getting so big and we can hardly wait to see him in 10 days. Dinner was procured by Uncle Banking Mogul from Pat and Oscars. They don't really cook and take advantage of their great cooking and rely on easy, takeout meals. We had a good time at dinner and spent more time there than originally planned. Cousin Cleveland was heading home on the red eye and needed to get to the airport. He'll be back in 10 days also for the big family weekend.

This week should be pretty good...school starts tomorrow (where did the summer go?!?) and it may get a little busy with sites asking for help and questions. Tonight, I meet with the girls to get things organized for the new semester. They start school next Monday and this is our pre-school meeting. I'm picking up pizza for them...I hope tonight doesn't go too late.

Hope everyone had a great weekend...take care!

Cranky, Addicted and It's the Weekend!

I am just cranky and feeling blah this week and really have nothing to blame it on. Maybe it's the humidity getting to me and throwing my balance off...or it could be the headache that has resided with me since Monday that ranges from throbbing to dull, but refuses to vacate.

This week has been relatively smooth, but I must make an admission..."I am Mrs Big D and I am addicted to the Olympics." I didn't really watch the opening ceremonies, but I have watched so many events I've lost track...swimming (men's and women's, individuals and relays), men's synchronized diving (yes, I think Thomas Finchum is a doll...even though he's only 18 and looks a lot younger...it must be a carry over from all those high school crushes I had on swimmers and water polo players), beach volleyball, boxing (as I passed through...D was watching it), softball and women's gymnastics. I've been so entertained that I've been walking into rooms throwing my arms up like a gymnast at the start and end of her routine...it keeps D quite amused. I've been so addicted that even though I knew the US would not win the gold in women's gymnastics, I had to stay up way past my weekday bedtime to watch it to the bitter end. And, I've cut myself off cold turkey the last two nights, bypassing the couch and D for the bedroom and a book and usually falling asleep early.

I'm glad it's the weekend...we have lots of little plans, but nothing too major. Today is our mini date/spend time together evening. Right after work, we're heading to the outlets in Carlsbad to do some shopping (still on the quest for matchy matchy navy shirts) and have dinner somewhere. I have a strong aversion to making dinner on Friday night...it's my reward and relaxation for a long week. Saturday is running around with D before I drop him off downtown. Tomorrow night is his "boys night out" at the Padres game and then hit up a bar or two. My plan for "girl night in" is a massage (that will hopefully knock out the never ending headache) and some other random tasks around the house. Since I've been feeling domestic lately, I might bake something. Sunday, we're hoping to make it to the beach for a while. Then, it's back east video conference and dinner at the Banking Mogul's Deluxe Apartment in the Sky...heir apparent (Cousin Cleveland) is in town for his 10th (OMG...he is not that old because that means I am that old) high school reunion. Originally, dinner was to be at Ruth's, but the responsible adults in us (when did that happen?!?) vetoed our participation. Meema's birthday is in 2 weeks, so we knew that dinner would be a Ruth's run and we needed to be prepared for that. So, it's dinner at the apartment with the family.

Well...I hope everyone is doing well...have a great weekend!

Monday, Monday!

Happy Monday! I cannot believe how fast weekends go...if only the work week went as fast. This was a pretty mellow weekend for us and it felt good...so, today's weekend recap will be a little boring...

• Friday: We watched a Rachael Ray episode about the olympics and creating a menu around it. Because I have nothing else to do in my life (not), I decided that I would (again) be that dorky (yet lovable wife) that makes a theme dinner in honor of an event. Dinner consisted of "Pit-zas" (pita pizzas layered with greek ingredients) and spanokopita meatballs (ground chicken mixed with spinach and feta) served with a yogurt cucumber sauce. (I took pictures and will post them with recipes soon.) They are both definitely keepers and D enjoyed them also. The rest of the evening was spent "geeking out" and watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.
• Saturday: I woke up in kind of an unexplainable funk and could not get my butt moving that morning. It was one of those days where everything frustrated and irritated me. D headed off to meet his friend at the card shop. I stayed on the couch watching the DVR...Hopkins and Tori and Dean before switching to the regular bad television. Finally, I snapped myself to life and showered and ran some errands. I needed a gift for an exchange and some other things. After running my errands, I came home to bond even more with my friend the couch. And, there I stayed for the rest of the day and evening (except for some snack and potty breaks). We watched the Padres game and then the Olympics. I am so hooked on the Olympics for some reason.
• Sunday: We met Mom, Meema and Alicia for breakfast. Then, we went to Mom's to do laundry and help her do some things for the party at the end of the month. We were slated to attend an alumnae barbecue that afternoon, but neither of us felt very social. Instead, we did a Target run and had some dinner before finally getting home with our clean laundry around 9:00. More time spent on the couch watching the Olympics and then we headed to bed.

This week looks like it will be busy for us. Tomorrow, I get my "snaggletooth" fixed. I chipped my tooth (I did it originally in 3rd grade and the bonding gets loose) about 10 days ago and am getting it fixed tomorrow at the dentist. Plus, there are lots of other random things to be handled and taken care of. Hope all is well...have a great week!

Random Things...

Yes, two posts in one day...I have some random things to share...

• I stream AOL music at work via my computer...today, I am listening to the 111 worst songs. And, to be honest, there are some (not all) songs on that list that I like and have on my iPod or now want to download. Bands/artists like Captain and Teneille, Shaggy, Rupert Holmes, OTown, LFO, and others playing cheesy songs are just my thing. Although, I'm sure that there are sucky songs that will get stuck in my head (The Ketchup Song had me bopping my head side to side even though I hate that song.) Is that bad?!?
• Enough with the Brett Favre talk...this morning, I was about ready to scream because the local sports station that we listen to while getting ready could only talk about that. They even resorted to getting reactions about Brett's relocation to the Jets from Chargers' players. I finally had to turn it off.
• Padres...my dear sweet Padres what am I to do with you?!? I am a die hard fan that has stuck with you through thick and thin. I start out my seasons with great hope. This year, I even made a baseball themed dinner on opening night so we could settle in to watch the boys play. Plus, I've supported them through the end of many ugly games and not been the fair weathered fan who stays when they win and leaves when they lose. For heavens sake, I've been to caravans and signings in extreme heat and almost got pushed to the ground by the ravaging Adrian Gonzalez fans. I know that this season has gone to the toilet and there is no playoff hope, but must we rape and pillage all the players that can do something. This morning, I learned that Brian Giles and possibly Greg maddux were put on waivers (rumors say that Brian is going to Boston) and no longer part of the team. Yes, Scott Hairston, Chase Headley and Jody Gerut can handle the outfield, but what about that veteran leadership. Saving money by unloading players this season does not mean more in the payroll coffers next season. It only means more money that can be disputed in the ugly Moores (owners) divorce. My suggestion (arm chair coach) to the team is to stop renting players and give some of these boys a chance to develop (can you say X Nady and Jason Bay). While I am usually sad at the end of baseball season, this year I can only hope that this one ends soon without too much more bloodshed! In the end, I will still wear my hat with pride and look forward to another happy day at the ballpark.

I'm Going to Be Late...

D and I have been trying to do our share to help the environment (and our wallets) by carpooling to work a few days of the week. Since we work so close to each other, it's less wear and tear on the cars and makes sense. D usually drops me off (it just works better that way) and will text me when he is on the way to pick me up. This week has been the dreaded monthly close (aka extra busy during the day and working at home in the evenings) and against my better judgment (with D's reassurance of leaving on time), we carpooled yesterday. So, around 4:25 (he's supposed to be here around 4:35), I get a text from D saying, "Hey I just got done with the close. Can u hang out for another 30 minutes?". My response: "I guess so if that's what you need But you owe me". My thoughts were that I could get a little extra work done and it would be no big deal. Then, the Boss left at 5:05, still no D. Finally, around 5:30, I get another text saying he had to do two more things and would leave soon. I texted him that another 30 minutes. So, finally at 6:25, D pulls up at work to pick me up. He knew that I was upset (I wasn't really because it's out of his control) and tried to make up for it. He told me that he had thought for a moment at lunch about giving me the car in case something like this happened, but felt confident that the afternoon would go smoothly (not).

Since we were both a little wound up and the weather was nice, we decided to head out somewhere...Fashion Valley on a quest to find navy blue tops for the family pictures at the end of the month. Yes, my family is going to be that matchy-matchy group taking photos in Balboa Park over Labor Day weekend. With Baby E in tow, we will be the small (all 11 of us) group wearing navy blue tops with khaki bottoms. D and I both have the navy top, but they have faded enough to require purchase of new ones. We walked around Fashion Valley and ended up having dinner at the Nordstrom Cafe...for D, it was tomato basil soup and angel hair pasta; for me, it was chicken soup and salmon nicoise salad. Pretty healthy and I didn't have to cook. Then, it was a little more browsing, before heading home empty handed. At home, it was a relaxing night and early bedtime for us. Today, after work, I'm heading to see Mom, Meema and the boys. Hopefully, the boys will be around me...I was the "evil one" last week by dispensing their monthly dose of flea medication. Have a great day!

Lessons from Vacation!

So, while on our "vacation slash honeymoon" (as D would tell everyone who asked why we were there), D and I had a great chance to spend some quality time together. It was our chance to "reconnect" which sounds odd for only being married less than a year. With life around us so crazy busy, it's easy to see how couples lose touch and grow in different directions. We really make the effort to stop and spend time together, but it is amazing how the calendars fill up with other commitments and obligations. So, today, I share with you lessons from vacation:

• We LOVE cheese! We went to several places that had cheese shops or tasting plates. As previously noted, we spent our last night on a hill eating cheese and some meats while sipping wine. Since we've been home, we have bought some cheese and meats and spent an evening together eating cheese and drinking wine. I think the cheese plate and a bottle of wine may be our new "date night" concept.
• In fact, we LOVE food period! We sought out good restaurants and boarded buses into other areas because we'd seen them on TV or read about them in Lonely Planet. I am also becoming obsessed with all things culinary and am always trying new recipes on D. Fortunately, he is not a picky eater and will eat what I make. I always ask his input on what he wants.
• Stinky people are everywhere and if there is a stinky person to be found, he/she will sit next to or near me! This started with the woman at Convention (from Minnesota, I later found out) who sat behind me during a keynote speech by the Lt. Governor of Oklahoma. It was so bad I almost walked out from being so nauseous. The worst part about this woman is that she went to college at one time and wouldn't her friends say something. After all, it was over 100 degrees every day in Scottsdale...I took a shower everyday and still worried about myself. Then, it continued in my travels with the man who sat in front of me on the way to Vancouver with the flecks in his hair. Each day of my vacation was incomplete until I experienced the stinky person of the day...it became quite the quest (not on purpose) and source of hilarity for D and I.
• Drama is useless in any form. Whether the drama comes from work, friends or family, it offers nothing positive to one's life. Hence, my decision to not take the actions of others personally and let it effect my life.
• We both have jay oh bee issues and need to do something about it. We talked about this at length and what goals we have in our careers and how best to achieve them.
• I really like what I do as a Chapter Advisor...as frustrated and annoyed I am with the girls, I feel like I am making some kind impact in their lives.
• We really want to buy our own home (to live in and not a rental) and are more focused on that goal. Before, we knew we wanted a home, but were not focused on how to get there. Now, it's become clearer and we will do whatever it takes for us to do that. Scary to say, but we both have evolved and grown into adults! Plus, we want a baby someday and don't want to displace D's memorabilia for a baby's room :)
• And the most important lesson...enjoy each other's company and take the time to do so! We have so much fun together and love being married, but we sometimes forget to stop and spend uninterrupted quality time together. Being on vacation for so long made us realize how important we are to each other and that we've got a good thing going!

All By Myself...

So, the great thing about being married is having company around. Yes, there are times when you want space, but then there are other times when you need that warm body home. Even if it's in the other room, it's still comforting to have that around. Sunday nights are that last quiet night for us before the crazy work week starts. Well, tonight, unexpectedly, I'm all by myself! It's the start of close week for D at work...usually, this involves him spending a few hours working remotely on Sunday night. However, thanks to his incompetent IT manager, D was unable to log in to work from home. So, off he went to Poway to see if he could fix the problem and come home quickly. Instead, it didn't get the problem fixed at home. So, at almost
10:00 on Sunday night, D is diligently working in Poway and I am home. Hopefully, I'll stay up a little longer so we have a little Sunday night cuddle time...good night!

Travel Stories!

So, we are finally home from the whirlwind travel experience. I started out with a weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona for Convention. It was an awesome experience, but I haven't uploaded my photos yet, so I can't blog about it yet. But D created a photo album online with pictures from our Seattle and Vancouver adventure (see link below). Here is a recap of our trip:

Wednesday 07/16: Got up and ran the last errands (including a stop at Costco) before treating ourselves to lunch in Old Town (Cafe Coyote). Headed to the airport and had a quick check in and security screening. We had some time to relax before boarding our Jet Blue flight to Seattle. The flight was nice...they have Direct TV screens at every seat with 20+ channels of programming. This was enough to keep up entertained on the flight. Arrived in Seattle and made our way to our hotel for check in. We then walked down to Public Market (aka Pike Place) for a quick survey of the city. Dinner was at 13 Coins which is a 24-hour restaurant with great food. We had some really good clams in a pesto broth plus dinner. It was more than enough that we had leftovers to snack on.

Thursday 07/17: Got up and ate some of the free breakfast offered by the hotel before heading to Pike Place. Pike is a really cool place...like a farmer's market on steroids. We wandered through the stalls taking in the sights and sounds. We made the obligatory stop at the original Starbucks and bought Mom a mug with the original and current logos on it. After we'd done all we wanted there, we took a bus out to the UDub (aka University of Washington). Our first stop was the bookstore...I have a thing for college sweatshirts (they are the most comfy to wear), but was unable to find anything that I wanted to buy. We found greek housing and I took a picture in front of my chapter's house...my advisor in college was an initiate here. We headed back for a quick rest and went to dinner at Shiro's Sushi, which is supposed to be the best. It was good, but I'm still a Sushi Ota fan. We then met our friend, Kristen, for drinks before heading back to the hotel.

Friday 07/18: We were both tired, so after a late rising, we headed back to 13 Coins for lunch. That afternoon, we took the bus and headed to the ballpark for the Seattle Mariners game. It was Felix Hernandez bobblehead night, so we got our bobbleheads and our hand stamped before heading out to the Pyramid Brewhouse. They sell cheaper beers and food before the games while hosting entertainment. We then headed into the game...after a few innings, we were tempted by the ballpark food. We found a Japanese food kiosk that looked really good. I ordered a bento box (filled with chicken, rice, edamame, sushi) and D ordered an Ichiroll" (sushi) combo. The food was great, but we missed the Seattle grand slam. The game was good, but we weren't so invested in it since we aren't fans. After the game, we met Kristen and her friend Lunchbox (he has a real name, but this is what everyone calls him) for some beers and late night grub at 5 Point Cafe. D and I shared a plate of sliders and tater tots (so good!) before heading home for the night.

Saturday 07/19: We cruised around the city and ended up at the Experience Music Project Science Fiction Museum. This was so cool...we spend several hours in there playing instruments and looking at the exhibits. That night, we decided to take a bus out to the suburbs to find Beth's Cafe which we had seen on Travel Channel. It is a total dive, greasy spoon place complete with 6 and 12 egg omelets. D braved the 6 egger, but didn't make a dent in it. I ordered the chili burger with tater tots (again, so good!). After dinner, we went back and packed.

Sunday 07/20: We left Seattle and headed for Vancouver...we thought we were on a train, but it was a luxury motorcoach (bus). It was a pleasant ride (I slept a lot) except for the stinky man in front of me. We got to Vancouver around 3:00 and checked into our hostel. We had a private room which reminded me of a college dorm. We walked around our area and had dinner. I was chastised about my iced tea (it was presweetened) by the waiter. We then relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Monday 07/21: Had breakfast at the hostel before heading out to explore the city. We walked around the downtown area for a while and then headed toward Gastown. We went in search of a place we had seen on Giada's Getaways and found it...Salt Tasting Room. The concept is meat and cheese platter with various condiments and bread that can be paired with wine tastings (we went for a bottle). It was so good and opened us to the cheese concept (we now crave it). Feeling a little buzzed after lunch, we continued to cruise around the city and into Chinatown. We accidentally fell into a bad block with the "hypes" (aka drug users) and had one woman (with 3 teeth and ratty looking) trying to get D to give him money. That night, Tracey and Sean (D met them last year) took us to dinner at Bridges on Granville Island. Dinner was great and the view of the city and harbor was amazing. Plus, sunset is not until 9:30 so it adds to the views.

Tuesday 07/22: I was a little tired and not feeling too well, so we got a late start. We went to lunch at Stepho's Greek restaurant. We had walked by and seen lines for dinner. The food was really good. We then took a bus to English Bay and went in search of Stanley Park. We found it and were amazed at how big (larger than Central Park in NYC) it is and how beautiful. On a recommendation, we took a horse tour around the park. Then, we took the free shuttle back to the spots we wanted to see (the totem poles and rose garden). That night for dinner, we took the ferry back to Bridges for dinner. D laughed at me for demolishing my dinner (not a bite left).

Wednesday 07/23: We were lazy again and then took a bus out the commercial area of Vancouver in search of another place we'd read about for belgian fries. It was good and filling. On our way back, we took the bus to the end of the line, but it was the wrong way. So, we hopped on another bus and headed back into the right direction. That night was the first of 4 nights of the HSBC Celebration of Light fireworks show. We decided to go and see it also. After a quick bite to eat, we walked (no buses running in that direction) to English Bay. It was so crowded that by the start of the show, there was not one empty space on the ground to sit. It was an amazing show! Afterwards, we headed back and ended up taking the long way home.

Thursday 07/24: We had a late lunch and headed toward downtown. We did some souvenir shopping and last day sight seeing. For dinner, we decided to go to the Granville Island Market (like Pike Place) and buy some cheese, meats, and a bottle of wine. We took the ferry back and sat on a hillside people watching and seeing the sunset our last night.

Friday 07/25: Time to head back to Seattle and then home...took the bus back to Seattle. At the border, the Customs guy asked how we knew each other. I was tempted to say that D was my random vacation hookup or some other smart ass response, but jail does not appeal to me. We made it back to the station with less time to spare than originally planned. The taxi driver got us to the airport in record time (in rush hour traffic) and we got checked in with some time to spare. We went through security and I hear someone ask about a bag and D says, "That's my wife's." and then TSA says "Bag check". I get summoned over and then realize that in all the rush, I'd forgotten to take out the butter knife we used for our leftover cheese on the bus. I immediately start explaining to TSA what it was and started panicking on the inside about what will happen to me. TSA was really nice and offered to mail it to me if I wanted (no) and we were off to the gate. Our flight home was uneventful and we were entertained again. Finally, we arrived home safe and sound around 11:30 (following a late night dinner stop).

We had an AMAZING time together and we learned so much (another blog, another time). It was exactly what we both needed...it's good to be home, but I miss that time together!

The link to D's photo album of our trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dv82u/sets/72157606453740041/

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is Mom's birthday! I know that she doesn't really like the whole birthday thing, but she deserves to have people celebrate her day. She does so much for Meema and I that she is entitled to people reminding her how great she is. Her friend, Fred, planned a surprise birthday lunch for her today, but unfortunately, I can't participate since it's my first day back to work. Last night, though, we celebrated Mom and Aunt Banking Mogul's birthdays with a Ruth's run.

It was good to see the family...our evening started with a video conference with Baby E. He's getting so big and we are all so excited to see him when he makes his first visit to the west coast family. We are scheduled that weekend...it's Meema's (aka GGMa to Baby E) birthday and we are having a party plus family photos taken that weekend. After the video conference ended, we headed to Ruth's where Mom got chastised by Andy (our bartender) for hitting Meema. Apparently, they had a discussion and bet over whether Andy could make a Black Russian (he could), so Mom in her excitement, "hit" Meema in the arm. Andy told Mom that she should not behave like that. It was a funny start to dinner. As usual, the food was great and company was good also. Dinner ended with us all laughing at Uncle Banking Mogul rattling off statistics about women, second pregnancies and c-sections...it was a little frightening that he knew so much about this topic. He refused to listen to us and was certain of his Google results. Then, D and I headed home where we crashed very early...not sure if it was the pressure of going back to work, the glasses of wine kicking in or the end of vacation exhaustion.

Now, it's back to life as we know it. I still have lots of blogging to do, but we didn't touch our photos this weekend. My goal is to have them done by the end of the week...I have plans on Tuesday and Thursday, so this should be an attainable goal. Have a great day!

Mama, I'm Coming Home1

Well, it's not just the title of an Ozzy song, but also what's happening to me. The travel loop that has taken me to Scottsdale, Arizona, home for one night (less than 24 hours), to Seattle Washington and Vancouver Canada is now taking me home. To be honest with you, I'm a little sad because the last two weeks has been more than I could ever have imagined. Once I get home and download my photos, I'll blog and share my adventures. Some highlights include being near a stinky (body odor ridden) person at least once a day ever since Scottsdale, eating our way through the cities and getting on buses (that we probably should never have been on) in search of restaurants we read about in Lonely Planet or saw on some food show and so much more. I have not thought about much in the "real world" since I've been travelling...D and I have talked about things in general concepts and how we want to handle our respective jay oh bees, but no thought has been given to what has been happening there...for once, being on vacation and not really caring or worrying about what's going on there feels REALLY good...it's a healthy thing for me to walk out a door and leave it there and not take it home with me. I just hope that this time away has ingrained that thought permanently into my psyche.

So, with that, I leave you...I have some last minute enjoying of my humble home away from home...and of course, spending the last alone time with D before we hop back into the crazy (but happy) life we lead at home. Until the next blog...take care and have a great day!

Peace Out Popsicle Stand!

So, today, I get to say good bye to this popsicle stand I call the jay oh bee...and I could not be happier and more relaxed about it! I already know that everything that could go wrong and happens while I'm gone will somehow be "The Analyst's" (my) fault and I am okay with that. This morning, I've been wrapping up things and even accomplishing things that I didn't anticipate doing. This place has worn me out so much this week that for the last two nights, I've been in bed reading by 9:00 and usually asleep shortly after that. D has come to bed the last two nights and I didn't even wake up when he did and I've slept all night until the alarm goes off without waking up...I can't remember the last time that happened.

Then, this morning, D asked if I'll be back Sunday or Monday. I told him that I wouldn't be back until Tuesday afternoon. I'm pretty sure that we had that discussion at least once or twice and am not sure why that didn't stick in his head. I know that we talked about my quick packing turnaround (24 hours) and how I'd be in the airport a lot in the next week. It was cute, though, when he realized I would be gone for longer than he thought...he'll be fine and busy (including a trip to Mom's to help her with some things, Padres game and autograph chasing).

I'm going to see Mom, Meema and the Boys tonight before I head off on my adventures. Mom called last night to find out when I leave...Meema thought it was today. Mom told me that Meema has been bleeding and went to urgent care yesterday. She has an appointment for some kind of biopsy next Wednesday. This scares me a little especially considering I'll be up north, but I'll have my cell with me. I'm saying little prayers that it's just her age (one month shy of 87) and nothing too serious.

Well, I better get back to pretending to work...I only have 3 hours left. It's only fitting on my last day of work that I leave early to get my hair cut and colored. Hey, what can I say?!? I want to look good in my photos :) Have a great day!