Prop 8 is over!

I am so proud of us today...Prop 8 was deemed unconstitutional and overturned in California. Human decency still prevails in our government and no one is more surprised then me.

When I found out that Prop 8 was going to be taken to the supreme court, I wanted it overturned...I just didn't know if they could/would. Unfortunately, this was passed through our democratic process and I didn't think the supreme court would mess with that...thank god I was wrong.

"Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples," the judge wrote in a 136-page ruling that laid out in precise detail why the ban does not pass constitutional muster.
-http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100804/ap_on_re_us/us_gay_marriage_trial

My reading goal

I've been totally slacking all month on my reading goal. I think part of the problem is the book I am reading..."Getting Mother's Body" by: Suzan-Lori Parks,  it's a little boring to be honest. I'm 100 pages in and it hasn't gotten to the plot described in the back...which usually wouldn't be a big problem with me if I found the story interesting...which I am about 30% on that...the other problem is I've gotten into other things that have been like a near obsession for me...

My biggest problem is I've never been able to have multiple interests and keep up with them. I pretty much focus on one thing obsessively and ride it out till I lose interest.

But I am getting back on the wagon of reading. I have three more days in the month of July, this book is about 250 pages long and I am on page 100...I'm gonna get this one done before August and hope the next book I choose at least holds my interest enough to want to come back to it regularly.

Comic Con 2010 pt.2

I had such a fun weekend. Was so busy and "on", but it was a total blast. Here's the lowdown:

The original plan was to bring Mary, but after taking her to preview night, we quickly decided it was not going to work. So hubs and I switched off days. He went on Thursday while I stayed home with Mary, which was fine with me cause there was nothing I absolutely had to do that day.

I went Friday morning...scoped out the Hilton Bayfront cause that's where the "Leverage" panel was being held, thengot in line for ballroom 20 which was an insane line. Things got screwed up which I was in the middle and I ended up being put all the way in the back...to which I thought "fuck this" and left the line to go to the floor.

So I didn't get to see "The Big Bang Theory" panel, but I did get to meet Daniel Dae Kim (Jin from Lost)...squeeee!!!!!!!! He was on the floor for "Hawaii 5-O" signing autographs and I actually got to talk to him for 5 seconds. I very much do not want to be that fan girl that can't keep her shit together, so I tried to be kool...but I wanted to say something...so when I get in front of him I'm like, "I loved you on "Lost", you don't even know..." which by itself is kool...then I go on to say "I cried for days after the finale"...he smiled real nice and said thank you and was like "it was really emotional huh?" and then I had to move on...I'm walking away at first absolutely elated I met him. This is seriously one of the things on my bucket list. I used to joke that my life's ambition was to go to Hawaii and stalk the cast of "LOST"...after the glow starts to wear off and I think about what I said, I start to feel so dumb, why oh why did I tell him I cried for days after the finale?!?!?!? That just makes me look unstable, lol. But I was able to get a good picture of him and meeting him was the highlight of day for sure.

I wandered the floor for a while more, then before I left I decided to check what the line for ballroom 20 looked like...a sidenote: for Comic con, your not getting in line for a panel, your getting in line for a room...they don't clear them out in between panels, so it's a free for all...the line looked better then last time so I decided to get in it and try to see the "True Blood" panel. After 3 1/2 hours, I got in. I was all the way in the back, but that's alright. The panel itself was kinda lackluster and I walked away feeling a bit letdown.  It's hard waiting in line for over 3 hours for a 1 hour panel, your expectations will not be met all the time.

Saturday was my big day. The "Leverage" panel started at 11 and I wanted to be there really early. Not that I thought they would have as big of a audience as some others, but I knew there would be people getting in line for the room for the later panels. I woke up at 430 am to my cat scratching the hell out of his litter box, and I was too excited to go back to sleep, so I got ready at 5 and left by 615 am. Took me 30 minutes to get there and another 15 to walk clear across the convention center, so I got in line at 7 and it was really worth it. I was pretty much in front :) The videos of the panel are on youtube if anyone is interested, but I will say that I enjoyed myself immensely and even got a couple of free t-shirts. This was the one thing I wanted to do at comic con and it didn't disappoint. I left afterward so Jose could go and see his panel later on in the evening.

Sunday the three of us went. We decided not to see any panels and just wander the floor for a few hours. Went to breakfast at this crappy little restaurant/diner in downtown called "Cafediem" and then went in. I met James Marsters!!! (Spike from BtVS) Had to pay $45 (40 to get an autograph and 5 for the picture) and Jose kind of had to push me to do it cause I felt weird paying for it, but he knew if I didn't I would regret. He was very nice and I pretty much only talked about my grandmother who just loved him. He was real sweet about it and even let me take a picture of him on my phone :) I texted my mom right afterward!!! We walked around for a bit more and bought Mary a yo gabba gabba beanie and a true blood t-shirt for me...then we went home...we were really pooped, lol.

I had so much fun this year and I'm already telling Jose to buy tickets for next, I don't care if we're still living in San Diego or not, lol.

Comic Con 2010!!!!

I am so effin excited I can barely stand it. Tonight is preview night so I am not expecting much. Taking Mary with us the whole week and I admit, I'm nervous. So nervous I briefly considered bringing some tylonol...(j/k....sorta :P). I figure, snacks + yo gabba gabba on the IPad = a content baby. Plus, we're not going to be there from the moment it opens till it closes. We didn't even do that the first year we went.

I will say, that if I only see one panel at Comic Con, it will be the "Leverage" panel. The show came back for it's third season a month ago and they have been on fire. Plus, the line up was updated and now four of the five members of the cast are going to be there: Timothy Hutton, Aldis Hodge, Christian Kane, and Beth Riesgraf....AHHHHHHH!!! It's starts at 11 but I will probably be there at 8...I'm not kidding...I will camp for Leverage...I am so stoked!!!!!

Ragu, Dog the Bounty Hunter and David Sedaris

Eventually I will be one of those people that can have multiple priorities and keep up with all of them.

Till then, these are the things that have been on my mind.

Ragu Spaghetti. In an effort to be cheap shopping for a weeks worth I bought Ragu Spaghetti Sauce, meat flavored, instead of Preggo Meat Flavored sauce. Oh my goodness...for the extra, what? 40 or 50 cents, just spoil yourself and buy Preggo. Ragu is really just a watery, reaaalllllyyyy watery tomato paste. I choked it down. Jose tossed it. Mary ate it, but I didn't give her a whole lot of it. Gosh it was so disgusting! I can't believe that was the sauce I ate as a child. I don't remember it being so nasty. Ugg...just never, never again!

Dog the Bounty Hunter has been on a lot on A&E lately. I admit, I'm a reality tv show junky, but I do have standards. I don't watch spoiled ass kids and spoiled ass adults being spoiled and rotten as hell. But anyway, I first started watching back in 2005, I had just moved to CT after living in Hawaii all my life and I was depressed and sad and I missed home and my family. I started watching this show and it really helped me through a tough time. So I continued watching. I was enthralled and I loved them. Even through all the controversy and un-masking that has gone on with Dog, I still love him. I don't know why. I still enjoy the show. Even more, Mary likes to watch it with me :)

I just got through with "Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim" by: David Sedaris. I think this is the latest in a series of memoirs he has written. I'm hoping his previous books are better then this one. This was a series of essays it seemed and it was hard to get into whichever tale he was trying to tell at whichever point in the book. It took me forever to get through it and it irritates that it took me so long. But I am not the type to stop in the middle of a book. Even if I don't like it, I won't just abandon it. That's why I am so picky about what books I start reading. Plus, I realized toward the end of the book that I don't think I would like Sedaris as a person/friend in real life. That's never quite happened to me before.

So now, before my computer dies, I bid you...adieu!

Wanting to be a little more frugal

Every once in a while I become obsessed with saving money. I don't really know why, but I go through periods of not wanting to spend as much (which never works out) and wanting to cut back on some things.

I've been thinking in the last few days about where I could cut back and try and save a few bucks...so far this is what I've come up with:

-I changed Mary's diaper from Pampers to Huggies. Huggies is only a few bucks cheaper, but the Commissary sells a box of Huggies with 120-something diapers for $30.00...they don't sell a box of Pampers. I used to buy a pack of 52(? going off memory and my memory is not the sharpest tool on my box) for $17.99...so to get at least more then 120, I would have to buy three packs of Pampers with 52 diapers in each, so I would be spending $53.97...so I'm glad to save the $20.00....not lucky for me, Mary hasn't had a bad reaction to them, so they are working for now.

-I've also changed her wipes. I used to buy the pampers wipes pack which were about $12.00, I bought the same amount from Pure and Gentle for $4.00...now I can't say I like them and they certainly rubbed Mary the wrong way at first, but it seems to be working for now. We'll see if I keep buying them when they are gone.

-I'm going to make my own laundry detergent. The cost effectiveness is astounding and reading reviews from people who do it make me want to try it. I'm gonna buy everything I need this weekend and try it out.

-I'm also gonna use white distilled vinegar for cleaning. 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar is supposed to be a decent all purpose cleaner. I'm gonna try that out too!

That's all I could really come up with for now.

Time to go, Mary is trippin out over gosh knows what.

Downtown San Diego Farmer's Market

Part of the perks of living where I live, is I am a very short walking distance from the Farmer's Market on India st. in Downtown SD. I love it, I love buying fruit and veggies and eggs that I know were organically grown with no pesticides. Someday I'll switch to an all organic grocery list, but unfortunately, if you want pesticide and chemical free produce, you have to pay a helluva lot for the luxury.

But I digress...this morning I woke up, fed Mary, cleaned up my kitchen from last night's mess, cleaned Mary, got dressed, took out $40.00 from the ATM in 7-11 and purchased:

- two breakfast Panini's: These guys make an authentic (at least their sign claims) panini and it is really good. Worth the $8.00.

- a dozen large brown eggs

- a basket of blueberries

- a "Hello Dolly" pastry: it's chocolate, coconut, nuts and some other yummy concoction from a place with no name :( But they are vegan: no sugar, no dairy, no gluten, no a lot of things, everything is natural and it tastes that way...in a good way :)

- 2 bags of green beans

Yep, that took all $40...but it's worth it.

R&B Classics

I've thought this for a while, and have spoken about this sporadically with friends: Music today really sucks!

Now there are exceptions and I would never generalize and say every artist today is bad, but there are enough.

I put my tv on an R&B classics channel on music choice. It really brought out the difference in quality in a drastic way. Music back then had such soul and swagger and just feels rich and powerful and it was enjoyable to listen to, and I've never been a huge fan of the classics. I also realized, actual instruments were used back then, auto-tuning is the poison to the music industry in my opinion. It sounded cool and different when only one or two artists did it, but when I listen to the hits station on sirius radio, I swear it's all I hear and it's damn annoying.

Heck, when I switch from the 90's station to the current hits station, the difference is staggering.

Mark Kanemura...YUM!!!

I have been a fan of "So You Think You Can Dance" since season 2, I even watched the failed fall season. I've enjoyed many of the dancers that have come and gone, and by far my absolute fav is Mark from season 4. He's one of the all stars this year and I have just been over joyed to see him dance again...especially last night when he danced with out a shirt :)

I have no clear favorites this year, and that's a downfall of the all star format for me. I am watching for Mark and when he's dancing I'm watching him and I barely see his partner. I didn't even finish watching it last night after he was done. I dvr'd it so I'll watch it later.

Either way...Mark made my night!!!

not spending money

I can't believe how much thought I have to put in to NOT spend money. I wish it wasn't this hard, but I think I have used shopping as an endorphin and a form of entertainment for a long time.

Now we are trying not to spend too much because we've had a few months where we spent more then what we had and we were lucky we had money in our savings account. But now we have no savings and that makes me nervous.

So now I am sitting here thinking about things to do that won't cost much if any money. Cause lord knows I can't just sit at home all weekend...

It's almost a mantra I have to repeat to myself over and over: "I will not spend money, I will not spend money, I will not spend money..."

Night time and Huggies

It amazes me how fast the day goes by when you have a child. As a stay at home parent, my entire schedule is centered around Mary and depending on what she does dictates when I do what I do. I work out when she naps, I eat when she eats (so she's not begging me for my food), I clean when she's occupied and I chill when she's gone to bed. I wonder what it will be like when I have to model my life around two kids...and no that is not an announcement. :) I am gonna go clean my kitchen and then read more of "Dead in the Family" by Charlaine Harris before bed. The life of times of a stay at home mommy :)

Also, I think I have to change Mary's diapers back to Pampers. I switched to Huggies cause they were a little bit cheaper, and already I am starting to see a rash and her poor "area" is red and she just cries when I have to wipe her. I just spend $30 on a box of 142 Huggies diapers...I am hoping to sell the box and the other little bag of Huggies to a mom to one of my meetup groups...well, I am giving it till the morning. I put some diaper rash cream on her after her bath but we'll see how she looks in the morning. There's a "Ralph's" about 20-30 minutes walking distance from my apartment...I have no problem going there. I was hoping to save a little bit of money there but I am not going to make my daughter suffer for a few bucks.

So frustrated with U.S

Today I found out that Johnson & Johnson and Wal-Mart are being sued for using methylede in their BABY products, specifically their bath wash. According to OSHA, methylede is a chemical used in paint removers and metal cleaners amongst other uses where you need to wear a mask. This is a chemical agent known to be a possible cause of cancer. It's frustrates me that I've been using Johnson & Johnson night-time baby wash on my daughter for over a year! So suffice to say, Mary and I are going to Henry's Farmers Market and looking for another bath soap.

Then I read an article on Yahoo: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100616/ap_on_re_us/us_gulf_oil_spill_marine_life_2

This talks about how fish, other sea mammals, and birds are swimming closer to the shore, the numbers of fish migrating towards the shore are growing and that is not a good thing. It's a sign that the Gulf is dead or dying...these fish and animals are not frickin stupid, they know when their home is too polluted to live in and they are trying to find better accommodations.

What I am so mad about is why is it taking so long to clean up? Why is it two months later and Kevin frickin Costner is the one with the solution? Why did we leave it to BP to clean in the first place? They should definitely pay for it in full and then some, but why weren't oceanographers and other scientists put on it immediately? Sea life is DYING!!! Most don't care now, but just wait, this is just the beginning if we don't get a frickin handle on this like yesterday!

I don't believe in the whole 2012 conspiracies of the world ending, but if I did, this would definitely be the first sign of it going down.

Such a fun weekend :)

I acted like a caged animal that was finally set free, lol. Okay, maybe not that melodramatic, but I was determined not to stay at home this weekend. The walls were starting to come in I was home so much.

So Saturday, Mary and I went to Gymboree, where she is just starting to blossom there. She seems to be having so much fun there, although it's possible she was just as ready to get out of the house as I was. Anyway, we played there for an hour, then we had lunch at McD's (oh well for the diet) and then we went to Target. it really doesn't take much to make me happy. I didn't go crazy at Target either, I really bought things I needed...which like I said, it's the small things that make me feel better.

Sunday was the big day for me and I didn't even plan for it to be that way. I was literally on from the moment I woke up till after I made dinner. I got up at around 8 am, cleaned my kitchen, got dressed, went to the commissary (the bane of my existence). spent almost $200.00 (even trying to cut things out and I still spend a lot), then I came home and got Mary up from her nap and dressed her for Gymboree (we have like 15 make up classes to do), then we went home for sustenance, then went to Wal-Mart for Father's Day cards (trust me, if I didn't get it then I probably wouldn't get it in time). I was spent by the time I got home, I was so tired I didn't workout, but I feel like I did.

Then I curled up on my couch and had mac and cheese with turkey dogs and broccoli and settled in for some "True Blood"...which was awesome!

Monday is definitely a break day :)

New billing cycle...YAY!!!

We are on a new billing cycle for our american express, whew. We spent more last month then I wanted to but less then the previous month...so that's an improvement. I have been stuck at home for 2 weeks...one reason was no car, but the other was I didn't want to be tempted to buy anything. Shopping is an activity for me, plus it's like an endorphin for me when I don't feel so hot :) 

So to celebrate a new billing cycle...Mary and I are going somewhere tonight. I don't know where and it may not even be a fun place...but I have got to get out of my apartment for more then 20 minutes. 

I'm hoping to spend even less this month then last...but we'll see, there are things that are needed and father's day is coming up real quick...seems like there is always a reason to spend money. 

Weird item on my bucket list

Okay I've never actually made a bucket list, but of course there are things I want to do before I die...they range from the usual death defying activities such as skydiving...to the mundane...well, I've been thinking a lot lately about a brazilian wax...haha, it's totally random but for whatever reason I've been thinking of getting one, at least once, to see what it's like. I imagine it would hurt...ALOT!!! But it's something that I'd like to do at least once, in a way just to say I did it. Although I couldn't imagine walking down the street and telling Joe Shmoe "hey, I've had a brazilian wax, how about you?" lol.

ideas

I need to start carrying a notepad or something, cause I always think of things to write about at the oddest times and I always think I'll remember them, and then wonder of all wonders I don't, lol. I don't know what it is about me but I hate actually making things easier on myself...it's very self deprecating.

I'm waiting on Mary to take a nap so I can at least workout. I've decided, if Mary continues to wake up between 830-900 am...I'm gonna wake up early to workout. Good start to the day and all that.

I definitely can not wait to have a second car. I don't know if that would soothe a lot of my inner problems, but it sure as heck will make me feel better.

I tried as hard as I could not to spend a lot of money this month. The billing cycle stops tomorrow for our American Express and it's lower then the last bill...but more then I wanted to spend. I'm an all or nothing kind of girl...if I am trying not to spend money, I try not to spend ANY money...I still do, but I scrutinize myself to bits about it...Jose is the type to know we're trying to not spend a lot, but $10.00 here and there is nothing.

Final note: I looked up how to begin potty training. Mary is still too young I think...I've seen a few readiness signs from her, but I don't think I'm gonna start anything till she's at least 15 months...although I wonder how much can change in a month, lol.

Ugg...it's that time of the month

All yesterday I was feeling sad and pathetic. I just wanted to cry all day for no real reason and I could only think of one thing that made me sad over and over and I couldn't stop myself...till I had a beer at least, lol. 

So I knew I was getting my period. When I told Jose I was getting my period he replied while staring at his IPad, "well you get it every month, it's not a surprise"...lol, I wanted to slap him. 

I just kept thinking over and over again about a stupid facebook comment a high school friend of mine left on my profile. (That's also how I knew I was getting my period, I get really sad over the stupidest things ever) She wrote, "your an awesome mommy"...I was touched till I remembered its a thing from her profile status, something about clicking "like" and she'll make a nice comment on your profile...and that's all she could come up with for me. It's really not surprising cause we lost touch after she got married and then I got married and we both moved and things happen. But it made me think of how I have no real friends here and I'm lonely and I feel like I have a hard time connecting to people. I don't think I'm the type of person that people want to go to bat for. 

I also like to stew in self pity when on my period. lol. 

MTV movie awards

I have realized recently that I am out of touch with MTV. Or maybe it's out of touch with me. It seems to have fallen so far from it's original anarchist mentality and is now about how many f-bombs can be dropped, girls making out, and lit up coochies.

So I was watching the MTV movie awards last night because nothing else was on and it always gives a little giggle at least in the beginning. Which it did, then the rest was about the craze. Twilight was everywhere...I can not believe an entire franchise/series is about which boy a girl will choose...the new "Harry Potter" trailer seemed kool...Sandra Bullock and Ken Jeong were nice but anything sincere seems so out of place now on MTV...Christina Aguilera should be comfortable just singing and stop trying to capitalize on sex, or trying to out gaga, Lady Gaga (I am borrowing that line, I wish I made it up)...was it just me or was it a little weird how they had Tom Cruise as Les Grossman and JLo dancing to some of her older music on in the beginning, doesn't seem like a good thing for music or entertainment if MTV is reaching that far back. Plus, Les Grossman is funny, but I just feel uncomfortable watching Tom Cruise dance.

I remember a time I used to tape the MTV movie awards, like when they meant something. Remember when the award was a moon man?

Oh, and one more thing, that dude from Jersey Shore, with the hair that is probably causing a hole in the ozone layer...I've never seen Jersey Shore and probably will never, but just looking at that dude's hair annoys the crap out of me.

Sunday Musings

Haven't written nearly as much as I wanted to. I just sometimes feel like there's not much to say. I guess really, I feel like I've been in a funk for the last month. I'm car-less so I am homebound and lately I just have not liked myself...image wise.

But then hubs, kiddo, and I went to visit the in-laws during memorial day weekend and I always come back feeling motivated...I don't know why, but I go with it.

So I started working out...cause it's true, if you don't like how you look, just change it. If your physically capable of doing it, then not doing it is just being lazy. Which I can admit that's what I am sometimes. Oh I have my reasons, "I'm tired, Mary won't leave me alone, there's too much other stuff to do", but if you want something, you have to make it a priority. So thats what I am trying to do. I workout everyday while Mary is napping to my "Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shread" dvd...I've seen some people get some good results off of it...I take a short walk with Mary after dinner...the sun is out so much longer now...and I am gonna try and keep it up over the weekend. I just started last tuesday, but on saturday I woke up in the morning and went to the gym in my building. 30 minutes on the eliptical and about 20-30 with weights and crunches. I felt good, and tired, lol. I didn't work out today because I didn't go to bed till one in the morning because I was finishing "The Help" by: Kathryn Stockett....which is an awesome book BTW, but that deserves it's own post at another time.

I'm also gonna make a commitment to write here 3 times a week. I figure I'll write what I know. Or whatever rambling thoughts are running through my mind in that second, but it will be something.

I'm also gonna commit to one crafty swap a month. Even if it's just zentangle's...I keep saying I want to be more crafty, well dammit I am gonna be more crafty!

I have a problem with wanting a lot of things but never following through. I really want to quit that.

I tink I sick :(

Hubby was sick a week ago and I thought I was all on top of it with taking my vitamins and trying to minimize contact...yea, that's didn't work out. Last night I had a sore throat and this morning the same thing. What's worse is Mary has a runny nose too :( This always happens when I am trying to modify my eating habits...doesn't nature know that when I'm sick I pretty much say "F-it" and eat what I want, lol.

Gonna be putting Mary down for a nap in a half an hour, I think I may join her. Since the sun is shining bright at 6:00 am, she is waking up between 6:00 am - 6:30 am...I am just not functional at that that time.

I'll come up with interesting topics next time :P

"LOST"...if you haven't seen last nights episode, stop here!

I have watched "LOST" from the very first episode in season 1. I've hanged on through the dragged on, crappy seasons and have been rewarded with best final three seasons of any show ever. I truly believe that setting an end date saved this show from cancellation, or ridicule like "Gray's Anatomy" suffers from now.

Last night's episode is an example of the down side of being invested in a television show...three of the core original characters were killed off within minutes of each other. As it so happens, three of the characters that I was most interested in. I'm not as devastated as when Rita was killed off on "Dexter", but that's probably because 'LOST" has become known for having the danger of killing off any of their characters at a moments notice. Well, any characters not named Jack, Kate, or Sawyer.

It's hard to watch their journey and go through the trials and tribulations with them, and watch them come out the other side...to then watch them die. There's still 3 episodes left in the season and I have heard that these characters are in the series finale, so with that and the AltU still there, I'm reserving judgement on how I feel about their deaths.

Paul Walker cracks me up

I was watching "The Fast and Furious 2" the other night on USA, and watching him in this movie cracked me up because I think he is the WORST actor ever. This is totally subjective and I'm sure there are others that people think are just as worse if not more so, but oh my goodness Paul Walker is bad. Not a bad in a "this is ruining me for motion picture cinema 4 eva!", but in a "I can't keep a straight face while watching him" kind of way. He's just so wooden in his delivery and he was walking like he had a stick up his butt, which I think was supposed to pass as a strut, lol.

Don't get me wrong, he's nice to look at and I'm sure he's trying his best, but man oh man is he bad, lol.

Trouble recommending books

I'm in a swap where I make a list of 20 books I have read and would recommend to someone. I'm finding this surprisingly hard, especially the part where I defend my choices. It's not that I haven't read enough books, I have...maybe not as much as I would like, but I'm getting there...but looking at a list of books I have read on Goodreads.com, I notice that there is a large number of books that I'm just indifferent about. I don't hate them and I enjoyed them enough when I read them, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them to someone else. Like "The Five People You Meet in Heaven", it's an alright book for what it is, but I'm not dying to get it out there for the masses to read.  Or the other problem, I read and liked it, but it was so massive and broad in its story, I didn't absorb it the first time around. Like "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I would actually recommend that one, but I have a hard time explaining exactly why. Doesn't help that it is has been a couple of years since I read it. :(

Out of 20 I have only gotten 15, and its taken me 2 weeks to come up with that list. I'm not worried about getting it done, just a little bothered about the content of what I am reading.

Made my first craft

It's nothing big, I just made a bookmark for a swap I'm doing. I'm incredibly nervous cause while I think it looks okay...I don't know what kind of quality the person receiving it is accustomed to. I put a lot of thought into it and I went by the likes and dislikes of my recipient, but gosh, I rarely put myself out there for criticism.

Anyways, I was gonna take a picture of it, but I forgot and I've already put it in the envelope and sealed it. Description: It's layered, a maroonish red backing, brown square, red ripped edged with design square, another brown square, and a red heart in the middle. I don't have a hole puncher at the moment, so I used a knife to make the whole and tied 3 red curly gift wrap ribbon to it.

I hope she likes it, cause I even last minute went out to look for one. Although I couldn't go far cause I didn't have a car, I looked and couldn't find anything I thought she would like. So like I said, I hope she likes it. (keeps fingers crossed)

Zentangling and other creative possibilities

Swap bot is a place I have been obsessed with for the last week. There are so many creative swaps with equally creative people participating and it makes my creative glands salivate, lol. So I bought some scrap-booking supplies today...either for actually scrap-booking or card making. I want to do both...but I've also been inspired to do collages...but today I saw a swap for zentangling, and I think, "what on earth is that?"...so I hop on to youtube (which is where I am currently getting my crafting education from, lol) and I learn that zentangling is just elaborate doodling...it can truly be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be.

Apparently it has become a big thing, and I can see why. I think I am gonna try my hand in that too. Don't know if it will be for the swap, but I will definitely be zentangling in the near future, lol.

This brings me to a wall with my swaps and crafts. I would love to make something according to someone else's preferences, to be for them...but I am so new and my past creative experience resembled something a 5 year old would make...and do better then me, lol. I don't want my partner to feel jipped when they have worked so hard and made something wonderful. I guess it's just practice practice practice.

BTW: Thank you Vicky for the wonderful card.

swap-bot :)

I just found the cutest website called swap-bot.com. Pretty much, if you like getting snail mail of any sort, then this is a site you can go to. You join swaps, get assigned a partner, and purchase and send your items or letters or whatever. I'm going to try it out. Gives me a good excuse to go to wal-mart or Target at the very least :)

Taking Mary out this weekend

After being couped up at home for most of February, Mary and I have plans for the weekend. Today we went to the Hullabaloo Concert at UTC...tomorrow is Gymboree, and Sunday, barring any other plans, will be Gymboree as well. I'm excited. I don't take her out as much as I should and wished I did.

I worry sometimes that me not taking her out and mingling her with other people has caused her to be shy...or really reserved. I think reserved is more like it. I want her to be weary of strangers...cause I don't want her to gladly take the hand of any Tom, Dick, and Harry out there...but I want her to be a people person. I wish I was more of a people person.

Meetup.com was supposed to be a major outlet for exposing the both of us to San Diego and new people. It still is sort of...me not having unlimited access to a car has really hurt me socially...and we have decided not to get another car till we move...but it still makes it hard.

ideas

I've been thinking about what angle I want to go off from for this blog. I don't think I'm interested in laying my business out for anyone to see...mostly because it's not that interesting, even to me, lol. Besides, I have a journal for that. Making it about Mary seems pointless because that's what I use facebook for, and I keep up with that way more.

So then I thought about my hobbies and interests...I've been reading a lot, I'm already on book number 12, "From Dead to Worse" by Charlaine Harris...so maybe I'll make my blog more about my reviews about the books I read and the shows I watch. It's something I do a lot...read and watch television...and I definitely have opinions about what I read and watch...sometimes opinions bordering on obsessive, lol, but it could work.

So from that spring board, the degree of specifics on my reviews...I don't know if I want to pre-write something...or go off the cuff. I participate on goodreads.com and I write little off the cuff reviews there...I'm okay with them...but they can seem so ametuer...but it is what I feel at that precise moment...hmm...well...we'll see.

But really...I don't want this blog to go under...I want to find a voice...and I hope to do that soon!

Frustrating

I created this blog about a week or so ago...and I want to be more active in it...maybe puddle through my thoughts and create a common theme, but I can't dedicate the time to do so. As I speak my 9 month old is crawling behind me getting into something and I will need to deal with that. Then I have to get her ready and put her to bed...which is a "yay" time for me, but the home computer is in her room and Jose took the laptop with him to Virginia...so UGGGGG!!!!!

I can't decide

I have about 2 dozen books I just bought for myself and I can't decide which one to start next. Just finished "Dead as a Doornail" by Charlaine Harris...it's book #5 of the Sookie Stackhouse novels and the series which the HBO show "True Blood" is based from. There are 10 in the series (and 11th one is coming in May I believe) but I have a box set of 8...anyway, I've been breaking them up so I don't get burned out from it...plus books 3 and 4 didn't do much for me...so I read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy and "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout in between and I loved both books. Little heavier then "Sookie Stackhouse" but that made me appreciate these and the sookie stackhouse books more...anyway...I can't decide if I want to continue onto book 6, or if I want to read maybe "Push" a novel by Sapphire, "The Time Traverlers Wife", "Running with Scissors", "Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking, "Catch 22" or something else I have. I want to read all of them a lot and that anticipation has made it a difficult decision for me...darn it!

Silliest thing, but...

My pot roast came out great tonight!!!

Black friday I purchased a 5 qt name brand "Crock-Pot" for $13.00, big deal, and I'd been wanting. Used it for the first time tonight for hubby's birthday...I wanted to make him something we've never had/I've never done myself...maybe using the slow cooker is cheating...WHATEVER!!!! It was great, woke up a little early and cut up the potatos, onion and carrots, poured in cream of mushroom soup and milk, took the roast straight from the freezer, plopped it in and let it cook on slow for 8 hours...we didn't end up eating till six, but it was great cause after 8 hours, it just switched to warm...and it came out like my Aunt Sandy used to make em...it was so ONO (hawaiian for "good"). Hubby gave it raving reviews!

It's strange the little things that give me a sense of accomplishment :)

The Earthquake in Haiti

I like to think I am an empathetic person...I've always wanted to help people and be in a position to do so. When the devastating earthquake in Haiti hit...at first, it didn't register to me...it happened so far away and I hadn't seen any coverage on the event...I'd mostly just didn't watch any at first...I knew it would be so horrible and it would be such a downer...as horrible as that makes me sound, I didn't want to deal with it at first...last night, Jose and I watched a sort of telethon on Larry King and I could no longer ignore what was happening. Over 150,000 presumed dead, people still trapped under rubble, so many children orphaned, medicare is still so scarce...these people have probably been hit in the worst way in their history. Regardless of what's been done in the past and whatever bad/weird blood is between Haiti and the U.S...it is our responsibility as human beings to do what we can for them.

I've donated money to the American Red Cross through my ITunes account, Unicef is another reputable charity organization, unicefusa.org...the texting of HAITI to 90999 or UNICEF to 20222 is hit or miss...a few days ago I had a friend who said she did it and it worked, last night another friend said she did it and it didn't...so if those don't work please find the time to go online and donate...it doesn't have to be $100.00, if we all just donated $25.00, that would be more then enough for these people to get some relief.

Many other organizations are also going or are already in Haiti...there are so many needs...the animals, the babies who need formula...find your niche and do what you can...

My blog is public so it is possible someone may be viewing this even though I have no followers...if you are reading this...thank you...

Golden Globes and the Chargers

"Avatar" won best movie last night at the Golden Globes. WTF?!?!? I'll never deny that it's a visual accomplishment of epic proportions, but story wise it's pretty average. I don't understand how it was even nominated. Ugg!!!

Then to top off a night of huge disappointment, the Chargers lost last night. They didn't even lose because the NY Jets were better, they lost because a couple of guys couldn't resist showing their asses like they were five. That and Nate Kaeding...omg...he is paid to do ONE thing, and he mucked it up three times in a row. Cousin Cody says "well, the other guys are paid to score touchdowns and they didn't do that"...true, but they also have people trying to prevent them from doing so...there is no one preventing Kaeding from kicking a damn football in between two gold posts...the first time is forgivable...but three times in a row!!! Seriously!!!!

It's hard to watch your team shoot themselves in the foot like the Charger's did last night.

I may be able to get into more detail later, but I just woke up and I need to figure out if the commissary is open today or not.

Today is the beginning

Every January 1st...I make a new years resolution. Sometimes it's serious like to be happier and not let things get to me. Sometimes it's as frivolous as I want to lose weight. This year I made a goal for myself concerning my all time favorite habit...reading. I want to read 50 books in 2010. I never make goal for myself because I have always been afraid of failing...so I figure, if I don't set the bar high, I'll never fail...and in doing so, I feel like I've been failing my whole life...I never aspired to anything but what I needed to do in high school...I could never choose a major in college because I didn't want to do anything too hard. I didn't want to work too hard because I always buckle under certain pressure, and I become despondent and bitter, and then really never get anywhere.

I want this year to be different. I want to be different. I have a daughter now. I feel like I have to succeed for her...to show her how to do it so she will to. But more then that, I want to be happy with me. Even if it's as simple as aspiring to read a certain amount of books in a year...I will have accomplished something...if I can stick with it.

That's been a problem, sticking with things. Reading is a prime example. I love reading, I always have. When I am into books, I can read a number of books in a row like nothing, but I always hit a wall and just stop. Sometimes it's life getting in the way or I read all the books I wanted and haven't found anything else to suit my fancy...which results in me just stopping. As much as I like to read, I calculated I read on average of maybe 10 books a year. That's just sad for a self-proclaiming book nerd.

So with my daughter freaking out in the other room, tired and ready for a nap, I leave this confusing and maybe "no-point" post with the proclamation that I am changing the way I do things...starting with 50 books in 2010.