Road Warrior

Last Furlough Friday

2010-06-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

A year has gone by since they started the furloughs and it's finally coming to an end. My coworkers bitched like crazy when it first started, now they are crying that it is over. Yes, I will miss the Fridays off but damn it, I want my full paycheck back!

The SD County Fair is giving free admissions to the fair for all state employees during Furlough Fridays. I took advantage of it today. Got a free ticket for Tbear too! In the 20 years I've lived in the SD area I never once went to the fair, so finally this was the incentive to go. We had a very nice time. The garden and flower display was great and gave us more ideas for our backyard. Plus we enjoyed all the cool animals. Who doesn't like llamas? They are so cute! Food was good but pricey of course. $13 for a barbeque chicken sandwich with some beans?! Ok ok, I know you have to expect fair food to be expensive but still, it's always a surprise at how overpriced it really is. Bottom line, I'm glad I know what the SD fair is all about but I'll probably not go again for years.

Front of our Home

2010-06-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

Hopefully the grass will make it through the hot summer!

Master Bedroom Makeover

2010-06-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

Creating a Zen-like Retreat

2010-06-11T15:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since my last blog and so much has happened. New home and a future addition to the family. I've had a lot on my mind these days.

Our search for a home was long and frustrating. We really wanted to stay in North San Diego County. It's a great place to be, plus so close to my work. However, home prices in that area are kind of expensive for us. Anything that's in our range is also in major need of updating. So we caved in and moved further north, closer to my parents. Good thing too, I'll need Mom to watch the baby once I go back to work.

Anyways, I love the house we bought. It was move-in ready for the most part, just needed a couple things. The first thing we did was re-vamp the backyard. It was very "blah" beforehand.

So, we added a wall, some plants and a fountain and voila! It's so much more appealing now. Once the plants fill in it will look even better.

More house pics to come!

Hidden Gem

2009-10-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, I haven't blogged in forever! I felt the need to share today though. While driving around looking for homes, we came across a nursery and gardens in San Marcos called Buena Creek. The gardens were beautiful and natural (meaning not overly manicured). Lots of cool knick knacks around the garden available for purchase. Also, a cute little gift shop called "El Shakito", which has lovely red tile floors and lots of charm. Not to mention free coffee and cookies for guests. Worth a visit if you're in the north county area. Me and Tbear will be back when it's time to buy plants for our home. The little guy above was part of the garden experience. He was a talker too!

http://www.buenacreekgardens.com/index.html

Most annoying thing of the week

2009-06-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Me and Tbear have spent the last two weeks house hunting. Nothing but short sales and foreclosures out there. It's hard to get our hands on anything that doesn't have seven bids from other home shoppers. *Sigh*. We have to finish our pre-approval process anyways so were looking at mid-summer to late summer. Wish us luck!

Anyways, we were driving around Escondido when we came across this modest but nice home:

Then we get a glimpse of the home across the street:

WTF? Does that say Heartbreak Hotel? Why yes it does!

Another entrance to this disaster home.

Please note: The garage has a "no littering" sign. Dude, I think you beat everyone to it with your questionable taste in home decor. No, I don't want your damn $50 dryer!

This is when you DO wish there were H.O.A fees! If you want to read more on the "inspiration" for this guy's home, click link below:

http://sports.uniontrib.com/uniontrib/20070225/news_lz1c25andre.html

I so relate to this......

2009-05-20T19:20:00.001-07:00

R.I.P. Paquito and Precious

2009-05-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

Tbear's sweet little chihuahuas have gone to doggie heaven. The poor little pooches had to be put to sleep due to medical issues. I know my honey and his family are very sad about the loss. Precious is in this photo, begging for her tummy to be rubbed.

Kasha Katuwe National Monument

2009-05-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was totally lagging on posting my pics from NM. I've gotten too caught up with facebook and neglected my blog. Anyways, here are some of my favorite images from our hike at Kasha Katuwe. I think we'll end up framing them in one of those four photo hanging frames you find at Michaels, etc. Pretty cool place, don't you think? We went on two separate hikes. The first was an easy loop around the canyons, about a mile and a half. The second was a more challenging hike up the canyon that ends with a view of the surrounding New Mexico desert and nearby lake. Another highlight of the trip was shopping in Santa Fe. I'm always on the lookout for beautiful turquoise jewelry (especially if it's a good deal!). Santa Fe is a great little town, but it doesn't quite have the "wow" factor that Sedona has in terms of natural landscape. On the other hand, there was more impressive architecture in Santa Fe, so I recommend going to both places!

Our Next Trip

2009-02-17T18:21:00.000-08:00

Albuquerque/Santa Fe New Mexico. We're heading out there at the end of March to visit Tbear's parents. They have moved ALOT in their lifetimes. It was no surprise to Tbear when they left Northern Arizona for New Mexico. I'm excited to check out the local architecture. I've done some research and it looks like they have some beautiful churches in the area. Loretto Chapel for instance houses a "miraculous staircase". According to the Santa Fe tourism site, it was "constructed between 1877 and 1881 with two 360-degree turns and no apparent means of support." Sounds interesting. It will be on our list of things to do. If anyone has ever been to NM, I'm open to any recommendations you may have!

Soak it in....

2009-02-01T09:45:00.001-08:00

This has got to be the nicest beach in Southern Cal. It's in the Laguna Beach area, off the beaten path though. Thank you to my good friend in the OC for introducing me to this beautiful spot.

Costa Rica

2009-01-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

We had a fabulous time in Costa Rica. We definetely got in some needed rest and relaxation. So, where do I begin?

Getting there:
The flight isn't too terribly long, around 6 hours. The whole trip required a little bit of planning, since our destination is approximately 4 hours from the capital. So we spent the first night in Alajuela (a town right by SJ airport). Next morning we take the taxi to the shuttle, which took us to Puerto Viejo. Road trip is looong and bumpy at times, but the scenery is beautiful.

Puerto Viejo:
Small town, rastafarian vibe. I felt out of place without dreads! Of course there are plenty of surfers around too. Restaurants and shops were mostly thatched wood type places. Commercialism hasn't really hit this town yet, with the exception of one mini mall that didn't seem to get too much foot traffic.

La Costa de Papito:
Fabulous bungalows! Restaurant and bar at this place had a great ambiance too. We also had breakfast served to us on our bungalow porch. Best part was being surrounded by nature. From our porch we saw colorful birds and igunas. Our second day there we saw the resident sloth crawling up a tree. We mistakingly thought we would see it again, so we didn't take any pictures. Wrong! I'm totally bummed about that.

Manzanillo:
Loved this place! Really, really loved it. We grew restless in Puerto Viejo and wanted more to explore. The local buses are cheap, so we were able to catch a ride for 520 colones each (about a $1). It's a small town at the very end of the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The beach is nicer than Playa Cocles (by La Costa de Papito), mostly because the waves weren't as rough and playing in the water was much easier and safer. Not to mention less people around. It's such a tiny town, and not too many people make the trip that far south. This worked out perfectly for us!

Hiking:
We found the coolest beach trail in Manzanillo. It ultimately leads to a place called Punta Mona (Monkey Point). This ended up being a two-day adventure. We attempted it the first day but didn't have enough time to get through it and be back to catch the bus to Puerto Viejo. So we came back early the next day to try it again. This is the best hike I've ever been on, but it was a bit challenging. The incline wasn't too tough, moderate/intermediate at the most. It was the MUD that made it tough! Trying to climb up or down without sliding on our asses was the real challenge! We're not sure if we made it to Punta Mona or not, they didn't have any signs that far in. I'm think we went in about 3 miles though. The trail got really narrow as fewer and fewer hikers seem to go that distance. Finally we decided to turn around and head back. Never saw one howler monkey, but I'm pretty sure I heard them a couple times. With so many weird noises around, it's hard to distinguish the birds from the other creatures of the jungle.

Food/Service:
At most places, the service is painfully slow. One day, I ordered what I thought was a fillet of talapia. One hour later, the entire fish is served to me, head and all, just staring up at me! Maybe that's why it took so long. As I try to enjoy it, a tiny cat pops up next to me, licking his lips in hope of one tiny morsel of the fish. The frustrating part is seeing surfers walk in after us who get served much, much quicker. Since I can't really understand what is being said, me and Tbear try to reason that they must ask for "fast food." I hope that's the case. Anyways, watching the clouds and cool weather roll in after I've been at a restaurant for over two hours was quite annoying. We had to skip the beach one day because of it. Slow service at other places happened about 3 more times before we finally gave up in Puerto Viejo. I even went to bed hungry one night rather than deal with another long wait. We found a great place in Manzanillo that was fast, cheap and delicious and we never went anywhere else after that!

Spanish:

So my one semester of Spanish was more helpful then not taking it at all. I was able to say some basic, necessary phrases when needed. I felt bad about not understanding or speaking more, especially when I see Germans speaking English and Spanish, in addition to their own language. Funny thing is, on the shuttle back to San Jose, everyone was American and we were the best Spanish speakers. So sad. A girl in the back of the shuttle asked the bus driver during our break if we "arriba now?", complete with walking fingers to make her her point. It was her way of asking if we were leaving now. Sounds like she learned her Spanish from Speedy Gonzalez cartoons. Suddenly I didn't feel so bad anymore.

Flight Home:

International travel can suck, especially when it comes to customs, having your bag checked multiple times, etc. Our flight was delayed out of San Jose, then the pilot tells us he can't fill the jet full of fuel because of strong winds or something like that. So we had to stop at Mazatlan to refuel before heading to Phoenix for our connecting flight. So our 6 hour trip ended up being about 12. Oh well, seems to be pretty standard stuff with travel, but it's always a drag.

Time with Tbear:

Priceless....

Happy Holidays

2008-12-22T21:27:00.000-08:00

It's been a very busy December for me, so I didn't get a chance to send out Christmas cards. I'm taking this opportunity to say Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale to all! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year.

A New Chapter

2008-12-22T20:15:00.001-08:00

Since I tend to have a bad memory, I've made it a point to write down as many details as I can about my wedding day. Where I was emotionally through the day, my morning preparation, the good, the bad, whatever. I've always meant to keep a journal and there was a minute where I was actually doing it. I should probably start again. Just reading old posts in this blog is a stroll down memory lane, but I don't always pour my soul out. Sorry I'm not giving a 100%! Anyways, when I started this humble lil' blog, I was living the sex and city life, minus all the sex of course! There were the crappy dating adventures though, not to mention I was a true road warrior back then. I'm very lucky to have found TBear and I really can't believe I'm married. Being single into my thirties, I started to wonder if a good one would come along.

I can't wait to share my wedding photos with everyone, but until then, I hope my wedding trolls will suffice. They were a gift from a couple coworkers from admissions. The troll collection continues to grow...

Look Ma' I can cook!

2008-11-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

So I've been making Pesto alot these last few months. Now that the cold weather will be coming soon (maybe) my basil plant probably won't last much longer, which means I won't be making it again until next summer. So I figured I would record the process. I've been making a little extra the last couple times to freeze, especially since Tbear loves this stuff! Glad he appreciates my cooking. I'm trying!

Basil, rinsed, stems off.

Then I chop pinenuts and garlic

Throw in basil and olive oil

Mix it in pasta

Add grated pecorino romano. Seriously easy.

Our next trip...

2008-10-03T17:19:00.001-07:00

Costa Rica! January 8th - 16th! Flight is booked and my bags are packed. Heehee.

New Shoes!

2008-10-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

They're old school, really old school. Reminds me of something circa Roman/Greek times. I love the Clarks outlet, you can get a great deal. Now I just need a pedicure!

Random, but funny.

2008-09-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

So this is for all my buds from the evil empire. Remember our conversation during JFra's baby shower regarding pregnancy and appearance? Something to the effect of women looking beautiful if they're having a girl while looking swolen and less attractive if they're caring a boy. Well, I guess that conversation stuck with me because that night I had a dream about someone I work with now, who happens to be pregnant. In the dream, I'm in the office and see her but am startled by her suddenly unattractive appearance. I'm like "damn woman, you must be having a boy!" ha ha. I thought nothing of the dream until today. She finally got to find out the sex of her baby. Everyone was betting it was a girl (we actually put money on it.) I went for boy. You know what? I'm right, she's having a boy! Craziness.

Chicago Botanic Garden

2008-07-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot, we squeezed in a trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden on Saturday morning. We had a few hours to spare before the wedding so we took advantage of it. The Garden is actually outside of Chicago in the suburbs and it's huge, 385 acres to be exact.

Taste Of Chicago

2008-07-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Chicago this afternoon. I love it! We only had one day to see the city because the rest of our time was in the suburbs for the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Pretty much the same situation when we went to Durango in May.

The Taste Of Chicago was going on Sunday in the downtown area. There were about 100 booths of popular local restaurants selling very delicious foods - pizza, burgers, cheesecake, ethnic cuisine, etc. After that we walked to the Navy Pier, than up to the Michigan Ave bridge. Last stop was Michigan Ave, otherwise known as The Magnificent Mile. This is the hot spot for the serious shopper. Above are just a few of my favorite photos. I took over a 100 pics so there are plenty more to come.

Lakeview Restaurant

2008-06-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

I love discovering cool restaurants in my neighborhood. Today I found not one but two great Mexican places! Sure, there are lots of good Mexican restaurants where I live, but these two are stand-out! This afternoon I went to a tortilleria with my coworkers. Not only does this place make tortillas that are sold at the local Henry's and Sprouts, but they serve some delicious breakfast burritos and lunch combos as well. Not to mention pan dulce galore.

This evening my friend took me to an awesome Mexican restaurant for my birthday. The food was good, but they best part was the great view of the nearby lake. Plus it was just outside of the city, so it had a nice country feel.

Everyone's doin' it...

2008-06-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

Taking public transportation that is. Through the roof gas prices will do that. They completed the light rail system in my neigbhorhood earlier this year. I've always had in interest in learning about suburban sprawl and it's negative consequences. I did a research paper way back when and had learned that LA initially had a train system throughout the area that was torn out to make room for freeways. Kinda funny that after we got ourselves into an awful situation of jam-packed freeways and two to three-hour commutes, the light rail was built in an attempt to fix the mess that was created.

Why I Heart Trolls

2008-06-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

1. 80's nostalgia

2. Conversation starters

3. Various ethnicities and occupations represented.

So my collection is growing, to the point that I've begun to lose a couple. Co-workers find it funny to steal them. Chippentroll is nowhere to be found. Yes, that's correct, a Chippendale troll has gone missing. I know, it doesn't get much more ridiculous then that.

Thirty-four

2008-06-25T19:58:00.001-07:00

Another birthday came and went. Unfortunately I had to work. It still ended up being a very nice day.

After I presented information to my students at orientation, two O-team members (current students who help with orientation) sang me happy birthday and gave me a birthday muffin. Ok, it was one of the free muffins they were passing out to new students but hey, it was still cute.

Other highlights:

My office decorated and a cheesy tiara placed on my keyboard.

A homemade card with a big picture of me and two of my favorite work buddies.

Going home early!

A very yummy dinner with my Tbear. He took me to my favorite Thai place upon my request. The picture above says it all, doesn't it?

Dessert at a cool coffee shop with live music. The place was packed full of hippies (that's the kind of town we were in!).

Frankie the Fish

2008-05-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

So I got an interesting parting gift at last week's wedding for Tbear's cousin. The couple chose fish bowls for their reception centerpieces and they wanted to make sure no fish was left behind. My betta is red and easily excited. He's a cool little fish. This is the second time I've seen bettas used as centerpieces for a wedding. The first time around, oh man, what a mess. I was a catering assistant at a hotel and the bride put flowers in the fish bowls. The dumbass part was that she spray painted the stems so it would match her colors! Needless to say the fish went belly up the day of the wedding. So sad, so stupid!

Chi-Town

2008-05-22T18:08:00.001-07:00

I just booked our trip to Chicago for the July 4th weekend. I can't wait! Ok, the main reason we're going is for his friend's wedding. That's going to be the 4th wedding I've attended within the last year! Tbear is in this wedding too so he will be busy with that once we get there. We're staying a couple extra days so we'll be checking out the sights of the city. Lou Malnati's is a very popular Italian restaurant so that's on the agenda. Plus Tbear wants to show me all the places he hung out at when he lived there. So to summarize my trip will be:

Eat tons of fatty midwestern dishes=sweat profusely while walking in the nasty midwestern heat=burn calories=eat more=go home

Beautiful Durango

2008-05-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

We got back Monday night from our Durango trip. Traveling on the road was long and hard. All I've got to say is Flagstaff is really cold at 3AM in the morning. Whew! The cold air works better than any alarm clock, that's for sure. Mr. Tbear did alot to make the tent comfortable for me. We had plenty of blankets, a top quality tent and good sleeping bags. Once it reaches 25 degrees though, it doesn't matter much. Kinda funny that while were trying to keep warm, the old farts in the RV's are trying to get good reception with their portable satellite dishes. Sheesh! Why even camp if you must bring all the comforts of home with you? Whatever.

After the invigorating camp-out, me and Todd continued to Durango. We took highway 160, which goes though Navajo Nation. There is absolutely nothing on this road for hundreds of miles. When we finally got to Durango I was quite impressed. The town has a great feel to it. The Animas River runs right through it and we got a great view of it from our hotel. Durango was established in the late 1800's and there are plenty of buildings throughout town reminiscent of that time. It's a very outdoorsy kinda place with lots of bikers and rafters. No fat people could be found.

The wedding was a fun event. Totally 80's though! The pictures speak for themselves. Tbear looked adorable, despite being in a white tux with a lavender vest. More pictures to come in a couple days.

Oh yea, the day after the wedding we headed up to Silverton, about 50 miles north of Durango. If an elevation of 7000 ft isn't enough, try 10,000! As we drove up to Silverton it got hard to breathe. Freaky. The town itself is cute, but very small. Not much to do but hang out at the bar and drink, which we saw many of the locals do!

I wish the trip had been longer. It just left me hungry for more traveling...

Farmer's Market

2008-03-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

There's one close by to my home, every Tuesday afternoon. The food is so good! The problem is once you buy the stuff your hooked. Now I find myself going back for the homemade salsas, tamales and jams from local suppliers. I bought some dessert tamales yesterday (pumpkin spice) and they are YUMMY! There are a alot of farmer's markets throughout SD county: OB, Downtown, La Jolla and La Mesa, just to name a few. It's worth checking out.

A campin' we will go!

2008-03-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Mr. Tbear's little brother is getting married in May and we are currently planning our trip to Durango, Colorado for the festivities. It's not gonna be as easy as we originally thought. The two closest major airports are Albuquerque (4 hours away) or Denver (6 hours away!). A second flight into Durango from Denver would cost about $500, I guess because it's so small and has limited flights going in. Anyhoo, we've decided the simplest thing to do is just drive out there. We will be out there from Thursday through Sunday but I really don't want us to pay for four nights hotel stay, especially since we have other trips we want to take this summer and fall. So I suggested we go camping the first night when we reach the halfway point of our trip (Flagstaff, AZ). Hey, it's gonna save us money. Tbear is super excited that I'm willing to do it. I'm kinda nervous but I figure it could be a fun experience. If it all goes well. He does have most of the camping supplies - tent, sleeping bags, etc. He now has a reason to go back to REI to pick up any additional supplies we will need. He loves that store! Like a kid loves a candy store. Like a computer geek loves Fry's Electronics. Like me at Banana Republic. You get the idea. He wants to make sure I'm super comfortable and happy so we do it again and again and again!

My Dirty Little Secret...

2008-03-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

I don't own a TV! Yes it's true. After I moved, I decided not to have a TV. It can be a waste of time after all. I don't actually miss it. I've been so busy with my Spanish class on Mondays, visiting Mr. Tbear on Tuesdays, working out and going to yoga that I really don't have time for it anyways. Since I don't own a TV I am out of the loop on many lunch conversations at work. My coworkers are very big on reality TV and especially American Idol. I've been asked a few times what shows I watch but I kinda dodge the question each time with "Oh, I don't watch much TV these days." Sure, I could just tell them, no big deal. I just have the feeling that this group would gasp at disbelief that a person could live without a TV. "What's wrong with that girl?!" HaHa.

Corteo

2008-02-10T18:11:00.000-08:00

The show was awesome!!! Mr. Tbear had a little boy sitting next to him who was really into the show. He kept tugging on his arm and pushing up on him to get a better view. Not to mention screams of joy and excitement throughout the night. Tbear took it very well. I really loved the music too and ended up buying the CD and detailed official program book. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil it for my girl who will be catching the show in March. You will love it though, no question! Between this show and Mystere, I have become a true Cirque du Soleil fan. I hope to see every show!!!

One Year Anniversary

2008-02-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

One year ago today me and Mr. Tbear had our first date. He surprised me this morning with tickets to Corteo, the Cirque du Soleil show. It was a total surprise and I can't wait to see it. What a sweetheart he is!

Life as a Desk Jockey....

2008-01-25T18:47:00.000-08:00

Really sucks sometimes. I wish my students would just chill out! I got a cold again and have zero sympathy left.

I Heart Marshalls

2008-01-25T18:20:00.000-08:00

What an awesome store! It's such a rush when you get a bargain. Woohoo, American Eagle sweater for $15. Can't beat it! Oh yea, really nice yoga mats for $12.99, originally $30. Yes, I am a walking advertisement for them.

2008

2008-01-10T19:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, I've waited a couple weeks for the "resolutions for the new year" blog. Well not really resolutions, just goals I hope to accomplish. Purchasing an investment property for one. I will be taking a couple real estate investment courses next month to learn as much as I can. The goal is to buy a rental property sometime this year (out-of-state most likely, since it will be more affordable). I would also love to buy a place for myself here in California but it looks like prices will go down more before they go back up (or that's the prediction anyways). So patience is key.

Traveling is also on the agenda. Most of my trips will be centered around events. Tbear's brother is getting married in May, so we'll be heading to Colorado. Then his good friend is getting married in Chicago in July (oh man, I am not looking forward to the humidity!) Vegas in September and if the budget allows, Costa Rica in October(ish). Whew! Good times.

The Circle K Chronicles

2008-01-07T19:33:00.001-08:00

Since it had been a whole year that I lived in my last place you knew it was time for me to move again. Yes, the wandering gypsy has relocated to a new apartment! I really wanted to make the last place work but ya know, having a roommate is not easy. My old roommate was a nice guy and all but it was very hard sharing that small condo. Plus during the time of my departure he found "love" with a hot 25-year-old flight attendant. Hey, I'm cool with the gays but living with a gay couple would have been a little more than I can handle. Apparently shacking up was in the works for those two so I put in my one month notice just in time!

Anyways, I like my new place. Some people wouldn't enjoy having a direct view of the local Circle K, but I'm really liking it! I actually have a lot of conveniences in walking distance: Grocery store, a cool pizza place, mexican food and more. It's almost as much fun as when I lived on "the island." Almost.

Northern Arizona, Part Two

2007-12-27T19:41:00.000-08:00

I just got back from my Christmas trip to Arizona with Mr. Tbear. It was such a fun time, I really didn't want to come back. The weather was cold though, brrrrr! It reached the low 30's in the Sedona area, while it dropped as low as 19 degrees in Flagstaff.

On Christmas day we took a trip to a small historic town called Jerome. Nothing was open but I got a few nice pics. Actually, one place was open - the local bar. Some plastered dude came stumbling out and noticed we were out-of-towners. He invited us back to his place to hang out ( to drink I'm sure and who knows what else!). Of course we politely declined and headed back for a nice Turkey dinner that Mr. Tbear's Dad prepared for us. Afterwards we just hung out and relaxed. Tbear's chihuahua, Precious, loves having her tummy rubbed so much if you stop she will actually take her paw to your arm and push it back to her tummy. So cute.

On the 26th we went into downtown Sedona. I love roaming through all the stores in search of Indian Jewelry (easy to find but quality varies from lousy to WOW!). I was in search of a silver/onyx pendant and found one I liked at the last store we went to at Tlaquepaque (pronounced Ta-La-Che-Pa-Kee), a beautiful outdoor shopping and art gallery village.

The only downer about Sedona is how far it is. I just got back into town after a 7 hour drive. I'm definitely ready for bed.

Back to Arizona

2007-12-17T21:13:00.000-08:00

Well the holidays are here again and I can't wait for my week off. Time away from paperwork and whiny students is just what I need! I will be going to Sedona again with Mr. Tbear. It will be interesting to see how the town looks in the winter, especially since there may be a chance for snow. Hopefully everyone else has some fun plans in the works.

Congrats

2007-12-17T21:09:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to say congratulations to my friend (you know who you are) who got married last Saturday in Santa Monica. It was a lovely wedding. Thanks for letting me be a part of it. Mr. Tbear found it quite exciting. The only other wedding he's been two was a hippy-like gathering at the beach a couple years back (amazingly in Santa Monica as well). Anyways, I liked the family oriented style of it all. Oh yea, the dance-off between the ringbearer and another little boy was very entertaining.

Milton's

2007-11-12T20:35:00.002-08:00

I discovered a great restaurant in North County. Milton's is in the Del Mar area and has great sandwiches, entree dishes, etc. You walk in to the deli/bakery area, where there are some yummy pastries to choose from. I guess you can compare the place to DZ Akins, although the menu at Milton's isn't quite as big. It definitely has a nicer atmosphere though. Milton's is also known for their bread and crackers, which you can find at any health food store like Henry's or Jimbo's. I recommend this place, fo sho!

S.O.L. in S.D.

2007-10-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

I just spent the last three days in Orange County, trying to escape the fires of San Diego county. Ten in all? Perhaps it was 11. I lost count. Not to discount the fires that occurred throughout southern California, but without a doubt, San Diego county was hit hardest. To recap, I got a call from my roommate early Monday morning (while at Tbear's place) telling me that I may want to get my stuff since the neighborhood next door was told to evacuate. So, that's what I did. Everything was fine for awhile until Tbear got the call from authorities about 24 hrs later. I knew this was coming - I had woken up at about 5AM Tuesday morning to a smoke filled house. I could see cars whizzing by just outside the window. I was scared at this point and woke up my boyfriend so we could get the hell out of dodge. Problem is we couldn't head north, the Fallbrook fire had closed the 15 freeway. We couldn't head south because of the fires in that direction. So we headed West, then North. Thank you to my dear friends for letting me stay at their place this whole time. They even fed us well! Tomorrow I finally return home.

New Opportunity

2007-10-12T19:07:00.001-07:00

That position I interviewed for last week? I was offered the job late this afternoon by the director of that department. Woohoo! I told him I would think about it over the weekend and let him know by Monday morning, which he said was no problem at all. I'm pretty sure I will go for it though. I really feel it's time for a change. That would mean road warrior no more!

On the road...

2007-10-04T18:32:00.000-07:00

It's been an exhausting two weeks. Recruitment season is in full force and I'm covering plenty of ground in the southern Cal area. So far I've attended three events in Orange County, did two presentations at two high schools in Temecula, plus a college fair in good ol' Jurupa. Oh yea, then I squeezed in a job interview too. That's just the beginning. I have plenty more fairs and presentations to do during the month. I will have to live on red bull and starbucks to make it through.

Sedona

2007-09-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

I just got back from my Sedona trip with Mr. Tbear and all I can say is Wow! What an awesome place! We went to Slide Rock Park, which can be described as a natural waterpark. The town itself is very artsy and touristy. I couldn't resist the beautiful turquoise indian jewelry and bought two pendants while I was there. I also discovered an interesting rock in the distance I like to call fertile mountain. Can you guess which one? Mr. Tbear's parents live near Sedona and I got the chance to meet them and spend some time with them. They are very sweet and down to earth. I can't wait to go back.

The 11th hour

2007-09-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, I finally decided to post again. Part of what's been going on is work related, specifically my quest to move into something new. It's nothing I can talk too much about right now, but hopefully a change will happen soon.

This labor day weekend was relaxing, despite the miserable heat. I'm melting as I type this. It was great to see some old friends from the evil empire. It had been way too long. Mama, I will enjoy your second chinese brush painting as much as the first! I wish I had some artistic talent but i will live vicariously through you.

Oh yea, I went to see the 11th hour last night. It's only playing at a couple places in SD county, since it's an independent film. If your not familiar with it, the movie continues where Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" left off. As disturbing as the reality of global warming is, the movie did present some good options for a more environmentally friendly future. Whether we implement them in time is really the question. This movie is a must see so please find the time to watch it!

Santa Monica

2007-07-17T22:05:00.000-07:00

LA can be a great place to hang out for the weekend. I spent last Saturday in Santa Monica and it was sooo much fun! The last time I was there must have been at least 5 years ago and it didn't leave much of an impression. This time around it was the great company I was with that made it such a cool experience. I went with Mr. TBear and a friend of his and we strolled the streets, did some shopping and of course walked on the famous Santa Monica Pier. There was plenty of interesting street entertainment, which only appeared to be free. One of the entertainers hassled a woman who wouldn't give him a buck, to the point where she had to walk away. HaHa. Hey, I wouldn't balance 5 martini glasses on my chin that are stacked in between two glass plates for free either!

Central Coast

2007-06-27T20:00:00.001-07:00

Just a few of the pics I took during my trip to the central coast. Captures the relaxed atmosphere of this part of California, don't ya think? The trip began in Santa Barbara and ended in San Simeon. The weather was almost perfect, just a bit cool in Cambria. Mr. TBear had a great time. He was all geeked out when we got to Hearst Castle and it was hard to tear him away! Oh yea, Gaviota beach is beautiful except for one thing - the oil! Such a shame. Oil rigs out in the ocean make a mess out of this beach. There is so much natural beauty but we were too busy scrubbing the oil from our feet to fully enjoy it. Really makes me think about the negative impact it has on the wildlife out there. There are many more pics to share so I'll be sending them out via snapfish in the next couple days.

My relaxed mood was short-lived when I got back to work. Piles of files were waiting for me. Ugh!

The Latest Addition...

2007-06-20T19:30:00.001-07:00

To my troll collection. Come on, you know you love it!

Mud Run Results

2007-06-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

I did it! I completed the mud run in 1 hour and 46 minutes. Not too shabby for someone who did exactly one practice run 3 weeks before the big day. My regular gym workouts helped me as far as cardiovascular fitness but my legs were not prepared for the running aspect. They were sore for three days! I ended up running half of it and walking the other half. Me and my friends decided it was more important to stick together and have fun rather than trying to be superstars. I was a little prissy when it came to the mud, but hey, I knew what I was getting into! The last mud pit was the worst. You had to actually crawl through it, which I tried to avoid. One of the marines wasn't having it though - "You gotta crawl!"

You can sign up as an individual runner or as part of a team, and let me tell ya, there were some very interesting teams! Favorites include the Cinco de Mamas and a group of Fed Ex guys. They actually ran in black slacks, white button down shirts and fed ex boxes. Crazy! Of course there were plenty of hot guys and women in phenomenal shape.

My friend want me to participate again in October but I'm not ready to commit just yet.

Memorial Day 2007

2007-05-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

I spent yesterday on a sailboat. The sun broke through around noon and it was a beautiful day. I had some reservations about going at first. I was informed that the boat didn't have a bathroom so I said thanks but no thanks. I got the puppy dog eyes from Mr. TBear so I caved in and went. I'm glad I did. After about 3 hours I was in desperate need of a bathroom and was stuck using a camp port-o-potty. It's really just a nice bucket. Did I overshare? HaHa!

Torrey Pines

2007-05-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

Always a nice place to hike. I went there on Saturday and the weather was perfect.

Happy Birthday Dad

2007-05-07T18:57:00.000-07:00

I went up to visit my Dad yesterday for his birthday. The whole family ended up going out to dinner at our restaurant. My brother was working that night so he served us dinner - nice! The older I get, the more I appreciate time spent together with my family.

Pirates of the Caribbean

2007-05-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

The latest installment, At World's End, will be coming out May 25th. I was invited to a showing of the movie in Los Angeles and I'm very excited. Apparently the theatre is decked out to resemble a pirate ship and people come dressed the part. My date has a strong interest in pirates so he already has his costume. Now I have to come up with a costume myself. Probably some sexy/slutty pirate maiden costume. Ha Ha. Good Times!

My Nephew

2007-05-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

After multiple hospital visits at San Diego's Children's Hospital that seemed to go nowhere, my parents decided to take my 5 year old nephew to another doctor at Loma Linda. This doctor in turn referred him to a top IBD specialist in Los Angeles. Bottom line is that both doctors will provide him with new methods of treatment with the possibility of putting his Colitis (or Crohn's, they are still not sure which one he has) into remission. I really hope these doctors can make the difference, the little guy needs a break.

Mud Run

2007-04-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

I've signed up for the Camp Pendleton Mud Run in June. The website describes it as a "challenging 10K run with hills, tire obstacles, river crossings, two 5-foot walls with mud on both sides..." etc, etc. My friend and coworker encouraged me to sign up with her and I figured, why not? I really haven't started training for this thing yet, other than my typical 3 day a week workout. I need to step it up a notch, and fast, otherwise I will be hurting come competition time. Now that I've put it out there, I will feel more compelled to train for it!

March 24th

2007-03-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

The day I was supposed to get married came and went. Otherwise known as the day I almost screwed up my life. Whew! That would have been bad! Anyways, I ended up doing my taxes and running alot of errands that day. Funny how life works out. My Sunday was much more eventful. I was with great company and had an awesome day.

Hotlanta

2007-03-09T21:23:00.000-08:00

Where the playa's play. Sorry, had to get my gangsta rap on. Anyways, on the flight back from Philly I had to make a connection in Altanta. Of course the day I leave is the day the snow comes and all flights are delayed. My flight out of Philly should have left at 2:05 but didn't leave until 4:30. That screwed everything up because my connecting flight was taking off at 6:30. I got to Atlanta at 6:25. Argh! Fortunately the guy sitting next to me on the plane was nice enough to make a call to Delta info and finds out the flight is leaving at 6:45 instead. That gave me 20 minutes to haul ass through a very big airport. Of course it took 10 minutes just to get off the plane! Everyone was taking their time, despite the flight attendants telling them to wait for those who had close connections and let them get off first. Nope, no one cared. Anyways I finally get off the plane and run through terminal B, run down the escalator and hop on the airplane subway to terminal A. From there I run up another escalator and approach Terminal A, where my flight is departing from. Of course it's gate 32, at the very end. I'm huffin' and puffin' by the time I get to Gate 12 and start walking. I'm about to give up but the will to catch my flight is strong so I continue running. I finally approach gate 32 to find the doors have closed. The lady at the counter looks at my frazzled face and asks "is this your flight?" I nod yes and she says, "well, you better hurry up!" I can't believe I made it in time!

Buddy the Dog

2007-03-09T21:15:00.000-08:00

Oh, he may look sweet and innocent but this pooch has a mean streak. He was pissed off that he had to share his mom with me for a few days. Regardless, I still think he's adorable!

Philadelphia

2007-03-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

My trip to Philly was good, except for the cold. It was 11 degrees on Tuesday! Or perhaps it was 20 but with wind felt like 11. End result is just the same. I didn't let the cold stop me though. My friend took me to the Reading Terminal (very cool). Bought some cannolis while I was there and had breakfast at the diner located inside. She also took me to the neighborhood where Temple University is located. Just love how the wind blows the trash everywhere and you have to dodge it. Good times. I was certain that the extremely run down homes in that area were being prepped for some sort of evacuation/bulldozing but no, apparently not. That's just life near Temple. Oh yea, I love how the drivers are always honking for no reason. Seriously, what's the deal with that?

I also checked out the Philadelphia art museum. Well, the outside anyways. I had to do the obligatory run up the steps ala Rocky Balboa. While in the area we wanted to take the trolley downtown but none were coming around. So we stopped this lady to ask and she didn't know. She tells us "it's awful cold to be waiting out here for a trolley, especially while you're eating ice cream." It was a cannoli by the way, does she think I’m nuts? I didn't correct her though.

Chestnut Street is great for shopping. Also liked the Rittenhouse neighborhood. Saw some of the historical sites but seriously, it was too cold to take it all in. I need to go back in the Spring or something.

I love taking layers of clothing on and off. On and off. On and off. You get the idea. Plus the feeling that although you have tights underneath your pants it's so cold you still feel completely naked. Not to mention how the coldness makes you want to pee all the time. I almost felt guilty coming back to southern Cal, where life is so much easier.

New York

2007-03-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

Misery Loves Company

2007-03-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

What's "typical" when it comes to dating? These are questions I've been asking myself after hanging out with a particular person for about a month now. I've seen him about 3 times and we've emailed and texted each other fairly often. All I know is that while I'm trying to figure it out, support from friends is a nice thing to have. Instead I made the mistake in confiding in someone who is angry and resentful and has chosen to take it out on me, claiming the extent of this relationship was basically texting and therefore insignificant. What does she expect, that I should be married by now? Point is, I don't take this type of behavior lightly. Mean people don't have a place in my life.

Do The Right Thing

2007-03-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

My ex's tax info was mistakingly sent to my parent's address a few weeks back. Blame it on the bank, who has had a minor issue when it came to the address change and which accounts it would affect. I won't lie, I debated shredding it many times but ultimately sent it to the fool. If the tables were turned, would he do the same thing? I don't think so. He's just a control freak who's bitter that I've remained friends with a couple people in his life.

East Coastin'

2007-02-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving Friday morning for Philadelphia to hang out with my long-standing friend. She hasn't exactly described Philly in a desirable light but I'm sure there are some great spots to check out. I'll visit the Liberty Bell and other historical spots, as well as the Italian neighborhood (south Philly I believe). I will come back much more knowledgeable of the city and what it has to offer. With 30 degree weather, I may be running back. Oh yea, I will head to NYC on Sat too. I welcome suggestions from anyone who has been to either city.

Valentine's day, blah blah blah

2007-02-13T19:38:00.000-08:00

In the past, Valentine's day has not meant much to me, whether or not I was dating someone. This year seems to be different somehow. I can hardly wait for tomorrow to come and go and February 15th to arrive. Perhaps it's other people's reaction to the holiday that has had a negative effect on me. One single friend walked by my cubicle today and starts in with "ugh! tomorrow is Valentine's day, it's gonna suck!" If I wasn't happy about it before, now I'm downright depressed. It's so contagious. To add to it, I have to stare at countless websites like "What to get your guy for Valentines" or "Why I hate Valentine's day." But hey, I'm not one to feel sorry for myself for too long. I have to work late, which will actually be good for me. Afterwards, I will head to dinner with a friend and then accompany her to a group meeting she needs to attend. Hey, love takes lots of different forms.

Frustrated...

2007-02-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

I don't want this blog to turn into a Carrie Bradshaw type column but I must say the whole dating world is driving me crazy. Putting yourself out there is hard and very tiring, to say the least. Either wondering if someone really likes you or "what the hell is wrong with this guy?" It just sucks. The idea of liking someone alot is scary too. There is a sort of peace with not have someone you're interested in and just floating through each day with the primary focus being you.

Tea Time

2007-01-28T21:23:00.000-08:00

I spent the day in San Clemente with one of my Orange County friends plus a few of her friends. She introduced me to this place called the Posh Peasant, an actual sit down tea sippin' kinda place. So BRIT-ISH! Beforehand we walked around the downtown area, where there are plenty of cute stores to browse.

Gypsy

2007-01-06T11:20:00.000-08:00

I've moved again folks. It's the eighth move for me in 7 years. Yes, I'm completely sick of it. Not to mention that fact that although I've move alot, I've gone nowhere. Have I ever left southern cal, nope! Not that it's such a bad thing, I live in a great place, minus insane traffic and high prices. Anyways, back to my move. Old friends from the evil empire will get a good chuckle if/when they ever meet my new roommate. He has a certain likeness to the little Asian, Hillcrest loving former coworker of ours. Don't ask how it happened, it just did. I needed a place to live that was close to work and the first two places I called never panned out. This was third place I checked and it seemed like a good deal. So there you go!

Bored....

2006-12-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

I have the week off from work and I should be grateful. Instead, I am bored out of my mind! I've worked out, played with my ipod, hit the mall and now I'm fresh out of ideas. Ugh!

The Lovemaster

2006-12-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

While I was in the Bay Area this weekend I checked out a local comedy club with some friends. Craig Shoemaker was performing and he was awesome! I had never heard of him prior to this but he was totally worth the $25 to see him. The best part was his "Lovemaster" routine. I won't even attempt to duplicate it. Check out his website at www.craigshoemaker.com.

I'm Still Here

2006-12-14T20:41:00.000-08:00

Yea I know, its been awhile since I've posted anything. The truth of the matter is that not much has been happening, except the daily dilemma of "should I got to Chick-fil-A or Noodle & Company for lunch?" On a more exciting note, I did have another date last night. Just coffee, no dinner. The guy was very nice and I'll be going out with him again next week. My new rule of thumb is a two date minimum is always needed to determine if there could be any chemistry. Of course if a guy is rude, obnoxious, etc., then all bets are off.

Tis the Season....

2006-11-30T20:21:00.000-08:00

I know the true meaning of Christmas is often forgotten, but when you see an enormous blow up SpongeBob Square Pants in someone's front yard, complete with Santa Claus hat, it really just takes it to a whole new level.

Coffee shops

2006-11-26T18:36:00.000-08:00

I've been finding that people are ultra friendly at these places, and I'm not talking about the baristas. On most occasions when I'm here someone will want to strike up conversation, which is fine, or completely get in my space, which isn't. It even got to the point where one guy asked "whatcha doin?" as he peered over towards my laptop. Yikes! In general I tend to have a "back off" type of demeanor so I don't encounter this too often at other places. Anyone else find this more common at coffee shops? Perhaps caffeine brings boldness out of people.

Mission Inn

2006-11-25T12:16:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to check out this place for awhile and I finally got the chance on Friday. It's a gorgeous, spanish style hotel in Riverside built in the late 1800's. My mom loved the hotel too, especially since it felt very European. I became somewhat obsessed with spanish colonial style chapels when I was planning my wedding and I knew this place had one. Although my wedding plans went to hell, I still admire the architecture of these chapels. Unfortunately they closed the chapel doors to the public and I only got a glimpse of the interior. I know most of my friends won't find themselves heading towards Riverside anytime soon, but if you do, check it out!

A Numbers Game

2006-11-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

Well folks, I went on my first date since my breakup five months ago. How did it go? Fine, I guess. My date was from out of town, (a friend of a friend) so I took him to where else but Little Italy. My friends could have guessed that one! Dating is just so damn hard, that's why I avoided it until now. I do believe that finding someone is a numbers game. You've got to put yourself out there (but don't put out!) and meet as many men as possible until a good one comes a knockin' on your door.

Anyways, because the dude lives far away, and he has a divorce in his recent past (good timing is also part of the ugly equation) there will be no second date. I did get a kiss though, which was very nice.

San Clemente

2006-11-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

A First Time for Everything.....

2006-11-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

Went to my first lesbian wedding, oops, I mean "union" this Saturday. It was a great time. The happy couple picked a gorgeous spot at a botanical garden in the North County coastal area, overlooking the ocean. All in all it was very low key, with 50 people in attendance. the sand unity portion was lovely, with each bride pouring sand into a third container simultaneously.

Happy Birthday Mom

2006-11-12T13:58:00.000-08:00

Shoutout to my Mom, whose b-day was actually last week. Oh well, she doesn't read this blog, or knows what a blog is for that matter!

Drunk as a Skunk

2006-10-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

Actually, I wasn't. Just sounds good. I was invited to a great Halloween party last night in Buena Park. Tons of people, great food and great costumes. Favorites included tortured artists Vincent Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo, as well as the pregnant hillbilly bride and her groom. Distasteful costume of the night went to Steve Irwin, after the stingray incident. So wrong!

Thanks!

2006-10-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to thank my friends in Orange County for letting me stay with them for the past few days. Thanks for feeding me too, the pigs in a blanket were delicious : ) Next time Mr. M I won't be saving you any oatmeal cookies.

South Coast Winery

2006-10-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Had a nice relaxing day with my friends on Saturday at South Coast Winery. We have become wine club members as well, which means discounts at their day spa and villas. Sweet!

My Ex

2006-10-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

An uncanny resemblance to my ex. Sad but true.

San Francisco!

2006-10-10T20:02:00.000-07:00

I like to consider myself a city girl but this weekend in San Fran proved otherwise. The bus system in the city is whacked! After a third attempt on catching the bus me and my friend LD are informed by the bus driver that it won't be making a stop at #15. This crazy dude starts yelling at us with his thick chinese accent, "I suggest you get off bus now!" Get off! No 15! It didn't help that there were three events going on in the city: Raiders/49rs game, the blue angels, plus the Italian Heritage Parade. The parade was our destination but we didn't make it in time. Still got some nice pics of the city though.

Laguna Beach

2006-10-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

Long Week

2006-10-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

Just spent a whole week in Orange County, fighting traffic and hopping from one college fair to another. I love recruiting but if I had to do it full-time, it would get old fast. Living out of a suitcase is only fun for so long.

First post

2006-10-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Yup, finally decided to start a blog. Not sure how long it will last but whatever!