Even the fancy printer needs some love.

sf bay area craigslist > north bay > other seeking other > Looking for an LTR

Some people may call me fancy - I do a lot of color printing on large paper - but I'm really just a regular printer looking for a long-term relationship (LTR).

Me: on the heavy side but cuddly all the same, can print anything you want up to 11x14, open-minded and accepting of all colors equally, not into this internet thing but I have the capabilities, not dysfunctional like the printer next to me, stable and currently employed at an office, I can be expensive but just a little TLC goes a long way.

You: a nice smile, tenderhearted, likes office employment or at least respects it, no kids as they may hurt me, and lives within the Napa/American Canyon area. I can't travel too far.

I'm in love.

But it's not a person. It's a space in an awesome building that I really, really want to rent. Please view it and tell me how awesome it is. It's in the building I wanted to buy (ok, I just had fleeting thoughts about how cool it would be to buy) and it would make an amazing studio!

I can see myself flourishing in that space! Tall ceilings, big windows, historic building, 500 square feet of mine-ness. Oh to dream.

Shocking - I didn't go.

The best laid plans of mice and men....

I did not get up at 4am this morning to hit up Target and score my $3 panini press. My family stayed till midnight, I stayed up till 1, and I just didn't see the point of getting out of my amazingly cozy bed three hours later. My brothers talked me out of it last night anyway..."why would you go to there to save only 27 bucks? There's no guarantee that you'll even get one." They were right. I didn't go so I actually saved $30! HA :) Knowing me, I wouldn't be allowed to leave without spending at least $50 anyway. It's Target.

Currently, I'm posted on the couch, watching a little Fresh Prince of Bel Air (ohhhh daytime TV). I'm about to order a bunch of awesome photo supplies...I'll do my Black Friday shopping from here.

My Dream Abode

I have always wanted to live in a converted church, schoolhouse, firehouse...or convert it myself. I love the history, the charm, the curiosity of living in a building that wasn't intended to be a home. Usually these come with great open spaces, my ideal floorplan. I'm in love with this firehouse-turned-home...

This dream could probably become a reality if I moved out of CA and to somewhere like Kansas or Missouri. Too bad KS and MO are not my preferred state abbreviations. Personally, I like HI or OR much better. I mean, those are even actual words. Way cooler.

Am I a midwesterner at heart? Should I cash in on my roots? I'm pretty spoiled here - no humidity, no bugs - I don't know if I'm cut out for shoveling snow.


Hmmmm.......I want to live like Tom Hanks in Big. Minus the baby corn.

PS - That's me in the window and my fireman husband on the street. Thank you for visiting our house.

Golden Gate Bridge...Good Idea for Once!

I just saw this article on SFGate about how they're thinking about letting people "tour" the Golden Gate Bridge to help raise funds for the city. Awesome idea. My dad has connections with Golden Gate Transit so we've been begging him for a while to get someone to take us to the top of one of the towers (he's already been. lucky.) After 9/11, they weren't letting anyone up there, but now it looks like it may be a great source of revenue. I think this idea is so cool and I might even pay up to $200 for it.

I'm warning you, public, if you get an owie while doing this and you sue the city/Golden Gate Transit/Marin County/motorists/me/the landmark society or anyone else, and you ruin it for everyone, I'll hunt you down and punch you in the jeans. You've been warned.

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Today, this Thanksgiving Eve, I'm thankful that I have my health. I know I was thankful for this before, but despite my bum shoulder, my propensity for ear aches, and my tendency for an old-smoker-lady-cough, I'm pretty healthy.

Today is Really Thursday.

It's the Tuesday of a short week, so it's really Thursday as far as I'm concerned. I'm so very, very happy for this short week (you could say I'm thankful for it, but that's sort of a cop out) and so ready to host Thanksgiving this year!

My hosting does not include cooking. Though I proved my mad cooking skillz on poker night, that's a rare occurrence and is not easily repeatable. My folks are coming up Wednesday and will start smoking the turkey. I'll cut up vegetables and um....yeah. My brothers will probably come up on Thursday, and I hope they stay long enough for some games and a little Wii competition!

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I'm thankful that my parents are still together and still mushy with each other. I'm so grateful that I grew up in a loving household and still have my parents' relationship as a model for how I want my marriage to be.

Invisible - Not in the Super Power Way.

Do you ever have those days where you feel invisible? Those days where people don't see you when you're driving...when somehow you were left off another list...where people don't listen when you talk...when you were passed over for something you wanted but didn't want to seem too eager and you weren't as loud as the last guy...where everything you said fell on deaf ears...

That was my day.

Let's go, Tuesday - bring me something better.

You Down with OPB?

If you were born around the same time I was, you'll have fond memories of OPP by Naughty by Nature. In my quest to find reading material and marvel at how witty and intelligent other people are, I'm down with OPB, Yeah you know me. The first two letters are the same but the last is something different. Other People's Blogs.

In reading KA's blog today, I clicked on Diane's name and that took me to her blog with a warming story about her brother. From one of her previous posts, I saw a link to this awesome story from Blogget Jones about how a "peon" in an office can pull through to the amazement of coworkers with something important that would benefit the company. I can identify with this story in many ways...I like it. (What I really hear in my head is "EH HEH SUCKERS - CHECK ME OUT!")

Cheers to finding OPB and enjoying every minute of it!

Black Friday 2009

In my quest to stop shopping on Dec 1, I've done a bit of damage in the retail world, single handedly bringing the economy back on track. I have never shopped on Black Friday - I view that day as the one to do anything else because everyone will be at the mall/Target, etc. This Friday though, I really, really want to go to Target to get a $3 panini press. I mean, come on. $3? I've been wanting one of those forever! If the rumors are just rumors, and I drag myself the half mile to Target to find that there is no such thing as a $3 panini press, I'll be sorely disappointed. I may even throw a fit. I don't do well on no sleep.

Wish me luck.

Update: Looks like it's real! 

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I am thankful for lazy Sundays and bad reality TV. I really am. Pure entertainment for the tired soul.

Weekends Go by Much Too Fast.

A little karaoke watchin', a little errand runnin', a little primpin' and pamerin', a little movie watchin'....all in all a good weekend.

Saturday night we went to see A Christmas Carol - M's movie! It was really good - very true to the story, nice and dark. The 3D thing was a little wacky, made me sick a little, but it was pretty rad. I don't know if I've ever seen a movie in 3D! Scrooge's scraggly old fingers would come right out atchya. It was cool. Not only that, M got a CREDIT! A MOVIE CREDIT! As in her name was in the CREDITS! It was SO COOL. Congrats, M!

Today was a lot of lazin' around, as my Sundays usually go. I'm halfway productive right now...working on photos and watching Tough Love 2. It's called multitasking. Don't judge.
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I'm thankful that my friends are down to earth and successful! I'm also thankful for pizza.

Napa and All of Its Glory.

Oh, if Napa were cool. I wouldn't mind living here as much if there were things to actually do here. If you're single and don't know many people, if you didn't grow up here and have your clique, this town is not very inviting. There isn't a hub, an area that can be walked, that stays open past 9pm on any given night. Where are the galleries downtown that have a monthly art walk with wine and cheese? Where are the hot spots to check out the scene? Where are the venues for music? Why can't we dance here? Is this Footloose, circa 2009? What is with this place?

According to this article, they are trying to revamp downtown and are spending over $750k to come up with a plan. Um, ok. Government processes are ridiculous, but ok. Will any of this cool stuff happen?? Will COPIA be turned into something other than a conference center or tourist trap? If they put mixed-use buildings in downtown, won't that thwart any efforts against live music or DJs? I'm tired of leaving Napa just to do something fun. I'd rather my tax money stay here!
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Today I am thankful that my parents and family are coming to my house for Thanksgiving. It'll be fun to host them!

Another Open Letter - To My Friends

Dear Friends of Mine,

It's Thursday, November 19, 2009. I'm not sure how this happened but it did. Some of you I've known since I was 9, some I've know since I was 19, some I've know since I was 29. I'm so thankful for you guys. You keep me sane yet you join me insanity. You are up for anything or nothing at all. You've led your lives, as have I, and when we connect again, it's like no time has passed. Whether we go without seeing each other for a day, a week, a month, a year...I know I can call you, we'll get together, and silliness will ensue.

I've had so much fun watching your lives unfold - from the "grown-up" jobs to the new cars to the new houses to the new guys to the old guys to the new husbands to the new clothes to the new experiences. We've become pretty cool people in our old age and you've helped me get to where I am now.

You keep me grounded when I just want to daydream my life away. You have always been amazing sounding boards for my life decisions and I wouldn't be where I am without that. You are funny and fun, silly and serious. We have the same sense of humor which we all know is so important and which allows us to do what we do best. You like to go dancing with me, even when I bust out the Kid 'n Play followed by the sprinkler. In public. You don't care if I make a fool of myself and often encourage me, but I owe my lack of public embarrassment and outgoing personality to that. You've helped me grow as a person in every way, shape and form, and I thank you for that.

I hope I have been the kind of friend to you that you've been to me. Life doesn't get any better than when you are around.

Love,

Me

The Knot.

It's November 2009. In 15 months, I guess I'm getting married to my lovely fiance, TBD.

I got an email from The Knot at the end of October (it's an email address I rarely check) saying "15 Months to go!" Way back when a friend was getting married, we were looking at dresses on The Knot. In order to look through a lot of dresses, you have to register. It asks you your name, your fiance's name, and your wedding date. Let's see. I had a name, I didn't have a fiance's name so I entered "TBD," and I didn't have a date so I thought I'd put in 2011 as a good year, figuring I'd HAVE to meet someone by then.

Um. Yeah. That's now only 15 months from now. I haven't met anyone anywhere near marriage material. I'd better hurry up and replace "TBD" with a real name.

Thank you to The Knot for rubbing it all in my face.
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Today, I'm thankful for the Indian food place in AmCan, All Spice. They're super nice and the naan is de.li.cious.

Cold and Now Dreary

So I'm thinking I should pay more attention to the weather. It was SO COLD last night that I actually left my heater on all night. My parents are the ultimate tight wads - I mean they are so very frugal - the heat went on after November 1 when the rates went down and even then it was "put on more socks" versus turn up the heat. Given that, I can't bear the thought of leaving the heat on when I'm under 4 blankets with surrounding pillows and warm PJs. I did it last night. I'm a wild and crazy kid. Now, I walked out of work and it's drizzling. Really? Really?? Where was I when winter happened? If I could come to accept the cold and rain, I could change my attitude to my "YAY TAHOE" thoughts and we'll be golden till spring.

On a separate note, I want to list out some needs I have in order to hold myself accountable for my evenings at home. I need to focus. I need to assess my current situation and figure out my plan of attack. I need to paint my bathroom. I need to organize ten years of photographs so I can best use the images. I need to start writing more letters. I need to become more fiscally responsible. I need to have more fun. I need to go on more dates. Ok, I need to go on dates. I need to ditch the soccer mom ride in favor of something sportier (and cheaper.) I need to get my motivation back. I need to hang out with my brothers more. I need to continue to build my business. I need to join more organizations. I need to volunteer.

On this chilly, damp day in the middle of November, I'd like to give thanks for hot chocolate, Locals Night at Oxbow, and photography clients.

People Are Jerks

And I mean that in the nicest possible way, of course.

I cannot believe how arrogant and self-absorbed people are. I'm not going to go into what happened this evening to make me write this - that's not important. It's just a vent that I need to get off my chest and it's not targeted at anyone in particular but at my generation as a whole.

Now for my PSA to those Gen Y/Millennials who think they are holier than thou: Not everything you do is an amazing feat. Not everything you say is profound and interesting. You are just like the rest of us - a person who makes mistakes, learns from them if you're smart enough to, and makes decisions. These decisions make life turn out one way or a different way - it's not complicated or ingenious. I make decisions every day, so does my neighbor, my brother, my aunt, that guy I see walking down the street every morning, my boss, the chick at Starbucks, the guy at the gas station.

Just because someone makes a decision, they should not be rewarded. You, Gen Y/Millennials, are not ENTITLED to anything. You are not Mother Theresa because you donated a bag of clothes to Goodwill. Try being ACTUALLY selfless. You are not Bill Gates because you have a job. So do most people. Try working for a non-profit or volunteer full time if you want to make a difference. Most people out there work to make money to do things they really want to do - hence the saying, work to live not live to work. Don't act like you're any different. You are not Martin Luther King Jr. because you have something to say that you think other people want to hear. They most likely do not care and what you have to say is nowhere near as important as what MLK had to say. Not even close. You are not Rosa Parks because you stood up for what you believed in. It's called having integrity. You are not Helen Keller because you have overcome a "hardship." Anything you think is difficult probably isn't, you just think it is because you were rewarded for ridiculous things growing up. Every kid should not receive a trophy for playing a sport. WIN and then you get the trophy. We're going to have a bunch of sore loser wusses on our hands here. Life just isn't that way. When you have a real job in the real world, and you don't do well in your review, you aren't handed a trophy and a "Good job trying there, sport! You'll get 'em next time." You are handed a pink slip. You are not awesome because you have friends. Most people have friends. It's called living and having some social skills. You are not an incredible person of whom everyone should be in awe because you save energy, work out, volunteer at a school, got married, had a kid, gave a homeless person a dollar or any other thing that you do. Try being humble for just a moment. It does wonders for your character.

What happened to this generation? Are they so self-centered that they act this way to get attention or make themselves feel better by belittling others? I believe that's called bullying. Is my generation passing on this outrageous and obnoxious behavior to their kids that will only perpetuate this attitude? I vow right this moment not to raise my kids this way. It's driving me insane.

I am not perfect, nor have I ever claimed to be (re-read my blog, it's true. I'm far from it.) I do not, however, sit behind this computer and preach to the "lowly" people out there or brag about everything I do and how rad I am. I was raised to be humble and full of honesty and integrity. I'm not arrogant or self-absorbed, though I'd never claim to be selfless. I can and will work on a million things to make myself a better person, but I'll do it for myself. I will not act superior to anyone because I have chosen to do nice things for others or have tried something and stuck with it. I may post about things that I've done that I'm proud of, but I say it without exaggerated self-opinion. I'm disappointed in my generation and am appalled at the things that come out of their mouths. Quite frankly, it's embarrassing.

Thanks for listening to me vent...it's been a long time comin'.

PS - After that rant, I'm going to have to go light-hearted in what I'm thankful for today. I'm thankful that I have a job that affords me the luxury of turning on my heat. It's cold.

Yeaahhhh....

So I haven't blogged since Tuesday. I've been sick and life's been busy. I owe five things I'm thankful for.

1. I'm thankful for old photos and the keen ability to sift through them over and over while procrastinating on other things.

2. I'm thankful for how sunny it is today even though I think it's pretty chilly.

3. I'm thankful that people give me an opportunity to do photographs for them.

4. I'm thankful for how I was raised.

5. I'm thankful for apple crisp. (My Oma's recipe, my brother's cooking)

New Year's Resolutions...In November.

So it's November. January is still a little ways off, but I saw this article about not spending for a year and I got to thinking....could I ever do this? I wonder if I could. I thought I'd train for a marathon, then a half marathon, and now I'll be walking it (if I can even do that) because I didn't get my booty in gear. Could I actually not buy anything for a year? Six months?

If you know me at all, you know that this is highly unlikely. I love to shop. I love to go to Ross and find a deal. I love shoes. I love sales. I love wearing new clothes. I love gadgets. Best Buy is one of my favorite stores. I have more gadgets than I need and should be satisfied with what I own. I wonder if I could do this for my financial well-being. I'm not in a good place and something needs to change.

Starting December 1, I will not buy anything for myself. I will see if I can do this for one month. Then, when that month is over, I'll see if I can do it for another month. Here are my rules (stealing some from the article):

1. My business expenses do not count.
2. If I actually commit to losing weight and actually lose some poundage, I am allowed to buy pants but nothing else.
3. I can continue to purchase makeup/toiletries/necessities. I really need more dishsoap.
4. I can buy presents for others, but opt for making them instead if possible.
5. Mini-vacations/road trips are allowed in moderation.
6. One exception: I will be buying a dishwasher if at all possible.

If I can get to my birthday in May having not purchased anything for myself, I'll be stunned for one thing, and will buy myself a small and nice birthday present.

Cheers to trying to save some money!

PS - I am thankful that my dad's injuries aren't keeping him off of a ladder. Though they should be.

UPDATE: I wanted to clarify that my spending will be limited to services and/or experiences and not material items aka STUFF. My worst habit is buying stuff. If I worked from home it may be easier because I wouldn't need work clothes, but alas, I have to get dressed every day.

Giving Thanks

For the rest of November, I'm going to write at least one thing I'm thankful for every day. I was in denial that it really was November already, so I'm 9 days in. I'll write 9 things in this one to make up for it.

1. My family
2. My friends
3. My home
4. My job
5. My photography
6. My electric blanket
7. Monthly poker night with the girls
8. Laughter
9. My vacation to Cabo

Juice It Up - Or Not.

This is an interesting article on juice. I don't drink much juice because it's just as high in calories and sugar as soda and if I have to pick one, Dr. Pepper beats out OJ any day of the week.

What this article spurred me to do is go. grocery. shopping. I'm sick, and yesterday was so lame because I had no soup, no veggies, nothing that had enough nutrients to help me get better. Popcorn and a bagel with cream cheese a day will not keep the doctor away.

Cheers to eating more actual produce! I wish we had Andy's Produce over here. I love that place.

Changes.

I needed a change. Since it took me a year to grow out my hair, I decided against cutting it and changed my blog template instead.

It was time.

Energy Star

This makes me furious.

One comment has it right....charging for checked bags when those same bags were free 2 years ago (same cargo space! argh.), Comcast raising rates 40% over the past 5 years, credit card companies slamming us with new fees at the start of the year......How can consumers push back? HOW? If I could figure out a way, I'd do it. From what I can tell, I need solar panels to go off the grid of PG&E, I need to get rid of my internet so I don't have to deal with Comcast, I have to get rid of my phone because AT&T is the WORST EVER, and I should probably get rid of my car since gas is a rip off and I look like a soccer mom. (ok, not energy related but it's true.)

The only thing I have going for me is I'm on a well. Too bad it stains my tub/sink/toilet and doesn't taste great. Now if I could just get my garden going...

TEN YEARS.

November 1st marked my 10th year of corporate life. Wow. I was such a baby when I started! Fresh from the video store, 21 years old, I thought corporate life was so exciting and adult-like. Ten years later, it's really not that exciting and it's WAY too adult-like.

I have learned so much in the past ten years, both personally and professionally, and have had some great (and not so great) experiences. I've become a more rational, patient person who is loyal (too loyal?) and genuine.

[and for the Academy Award thank-yous...]
Thank you to all of my bosses over the years who have shaped me into the black slack, button-down shirt employee I am today. Thank you to the ones who believed in me, the ones who supported me, and the ones who saw my potential. Thank you to my previous employer and my current for providing the benefits and employee consideration that is rare in the work force today. For those bosses who didn't do any of the above, thank you for making me realize that there are more important things in my life than working for you, like my sanity, or my ability to be a non-bitter person, or my integrity and self-worth.

Can I retire now? Come on, that was a good speech.

Photography

Soooo I love photography. Everyone knows that. I tried to use iWeb for a blog but that was just lame (or it was user error. I'm going with iWeb is lame.) I broke down and got yet another Blogger blog for my photography...I'll try to keep that updated as often as I keep my Facebook fan page updated. I may be dangerously close to drowning in social media...

I'm going to keep shooting and posting and editing and joining groups and being as active of a photographer I can because I. heart. it.

My FAVORITE photo of the year:

For some reason I just love to shoot cutlery. Pretty, though, ain't it?

Cheers!

Halloween 2009

On the list to do for Halloween 2009:

1. Go to Tahoe
2. Go to SBC
3. Go to Santa Rosa
4. Go to Petaluma
5. Stay home and watch movies.

#5 ended up winning...until 10pm rolled around, we'd shared a bottle of wine, we met new neighbors and decided to head out and party for a little bit. My costume was going to be much more intricate but in 30 minutes, this is what it turned out to be. I'm digging the interactive costume and I think I'll do it every year!


Turned out to be a really fun Halloween. Cheers!