The City

I'm going to the City this weekend and I'm actually really excited. Now that I've been off of my I-Hate-San-Francisco kick for the past couple of years, this weekend should be a blast. A co-worker from a much colder state is coming into town and it'll be great to see her too! On my way home on Sunday, I'll definitely be stopping on The Island for a much needed photo opp and some brief nostalgia.

When I'm away, my parents use my house as their Napa vacation home. This is cool for them but I have to clean and that ain't cool. Hope they don't mind that their B&B is a messy one. They're just going to have to deal with the extra clothes on the bed and the blankets strewn on the couch. Someday I'll become Susie Homemaker and get the housecleaning down pat. Maybe.

Tiger Woods and the Great Chase

What do Tigers dream of, when they take a little Tiger snooze? I believe they dream of cheating on their wives and not getting caught.

Too bad Tiger's gig is up - he is sorry he got caught, not sorry it happened. If he were truly sorry, truly felt guilt and remorse for what he had done, truly loved his wife and wants her in his life, he would have kept his pants on. I have no respect for this man or anyone else who cheats. You can deny it all you want, you can pretend it didn't happen, you can release a 13-minute public apology that your PR team wrote and you repeated with no emotion or any heartfelt words but you're still a cheater. Cheaters are despicable people who deserve all the bad karma they get.

Thank you and good day.

Fun Facts

Just a note to remind everyone that if you are high-fiving someone, be sure to look at their elbow. Guarantees a perfect high-five every time.

Gotta go....Coyote Ugly is on. (Don't judge.)


PS - I just read that this season's colors are navy and orange. I don't like navy and orange. Once again, I'm bucking the trends and wearing last season's color - teal-y turquoise. I'm such a rebel.

Being an Adult

For the most part, being an adult sucks. Obligations, bills, being polite when you really don't want to, loans, an accumulation of stuff, serious life events that I'm ok with avoiding. The only perk I've gotten lately is a set of new couches. Hmmm.

There are some big things a'brewin' in my life, things that are not fun to deal with. Remember when your day consisted of waking up late, heading to your dead end job, having fun after work, then repeating the process all over again? Remember when the weekend defined you, not the work week or the responsibilities of life? I'm ready for those days again.......if anyone knows how to get that again, I'm in.

Happy President's Day!

I have only one thing to say today...

Cadbury Creme Eggs. Welcome back.

No way.

We talk a lot about how people can be so annoying on Facebook, whether it's too much Farmville or Mafia Wars (sorry, peeps, but I hide those). Then there are those who are just obnoxious. It's usually the couples, the ones I just blogged about the other day - see paragraph three.

I guess I'm not the only one who feels this way. Check out this awesome article from cnn.com. I'll post some excerpts here... (did I mention how awesome this article was?)...

• "The too-much-in-love couple: Their updates are filled with flowery adjectives and almost always include the words "amazing," "luckiest," and "best! ever!" Don't these people have personal email addresses? Can't they actually speak to one another in person and leave the rest of us out of it? But, of course, all these proclamations aren't for their benefit, they're for ours."
• "The pathetic couple: If one gets invited to a function without the other, they use their Facebook update to announce how unfair the world is and how nothing else in life is as important as the time they spend with each other."
• "The boring couple: They update with: "Excited to stay in for 'movie and pizza night' with the hubby!" or "Gonna cook a big dinner for wifey tonight!!" Well, hey, guess what, the rest of us are going to eat dinner at some point, too, and unless it's enjoyed with a mentor we've just been granted a meal with from the Make-A-Wish foundation, it probably doesn't warrant two exclamation points...or, you know, a status update on Facebook. These people would be more sad than annoying if they weren't so smug about their domestic bliss."

I can't even begin to explain how hilarious I think this article is because IT'S. SO. TRUE. Like I said before, If you feel the need to proclaim your love to the world (via social media is the worst!) then you're overcompensating for something amiss. Pay attention to your relationship, the actual one, and not some sugary happy version you posted on the interweb.

Travel and Coming Home

I got to travel for work this week - it was a surprisingly easy trip travel-wise. Awesome airports, no lines for anything anywhere, walking distance to everything - those travel days are the best.

I love to people watch. Traveling allows me to do this without seeming creepy or weird. I'm expected to be alone, so it's not uncomfortable for me to just sit there and take in all the crazy things people do.

Here's this guy, I-Love-Cell-Phones-Guy.

When I got back to Sacramento, I was greeted by a precocious 8 or 9 year old, who was saying hello to everyone getting off our plane. She then tells me, "I love your shirt!" Who knew that a little kid could make my day like that! Thank you, little girl, for making me feel good for the whole day.

Another reason I was feelin' pretty happy yesterday was that my new couch and chair arrived! I am officially an adult now. So exciting!

The Sanctity of Marriage

Once upon a time, way before K&J got hitched, K called me from a business trip where she found out that one of the people she worked with was cheating on his wife with another person they worked with. She called me in a state of drunken shock, telling me about how she is saddened by how no one values the "shhhcannnctiiity of maaariage aaanyymore." She was right. No one does.

I'm really lucky that my parents are still together and are still all mushy mushy. Most of my friends' parents are still together also, which is surprising but also really comforting in a way. I don't think that having parents who stay together is an automatic ticket to a long and happy marriage, but it's a benefit that not many people can claim. I get to see my parents happy, together, and I haven't been through the trauma of divorce. I don't know what that would be like, and I don't pretend to. All I know is that I want what they have and I hope to find it. (Soon would be nice.)

In my opinion, this is my blog after all, your focus should always be on the one you love, not the declaration of that love to everyone else. If you feel the need to proclaim your love to the world (via social media is the worst!) then you're overcompensating for something amiss. Pay attention to your relationship, the actual one, and not some sugary happy version you posted on the interweb. They made this site for a reason, y'all. I know of a few people who could probably be submitted.

However unlucky I've been in love thus far only shows me that I had to wade through rough waters to learn some lessons so I'm ready for my lobster. Lesson 1: If he's selfish now, he always will be. Lesson 2: If he likes to be un-sober, that won't change. Lesson 3: People aren't always what they seem. Red flags exist for a reason. Lesson 4: Once a cheater, always a cheater.

It still surprises me when I hear about a couple who I know that is getting a divorce. It's really sad. People have a tendency to give up easily, or if they try and make it work, one tries harder than the other, which inevitably causes resentment. In bad cases, people really don't value the sanctity of marriage (or any relationship) and they cheat, causing all kinds of chaos. When they bring children into the world, the story should change, but it rarely does. It only gets worse. As much as I believe in karma, and actually hope it rears its ugly head more often than I see it, I wouldn't wish the pain of divorce on anyone, especially not a child. I can only hope that people can come back to more traditional ideals, the ones that value relationships and being true to your partner. The kind of adoration and admiration that can only come from quiet respect and deep love.

Slacking.

This past weekend was nice - mellow, saw a lot of people, and still managed to be quite the procrastinator. My talents in this field are quite amazing really. I can be home almost all weekend and still not get anything done. It's incredible.

I just got back from running a few errands, including buying a chair I don't need. You see, it matches one I already have so I couldn't pass it up. This being the week I get my new, very adult, never-been-sat-on-before-by-anyone-else couch set, I decided to buy yet another chair. I have a problem. After the chair-buying incident, I went to Target to get much needed toiletries for my quick trip to LA this week. After spending half of what I usually do on a Target trip ($25!) I headed home, only to look down as I'm unloading the car and see that my shirt has become unbuttoned in the most embarrassing way possible. The two in the middle, wide open like the parting of the Red Sea. Really? Really. Did I walk around Target like that and not one person told me? I can only hope that my shirt opened when I was taking the chair out of my car and not any earlier. Stupid adorable chair.

Happy Monday.

PS - This is the hilarious set up at my house right now.

As you can see, it's just me, my lone foldy chair (it's also a twin bed!) and my itty bitty side table. Thursday can't come fast enough.

PPS - See that chair in the background on the right? So cute, right? Yeah, now there's two.

PPPS - Why did I eat the whole box of mac n cheese? Why?

PPPPS - See the Rockband drums? They're lonely.

PPPPPS - My floors look quite pretty in this photo. They're really not that nice. Maybe I should make iPhone glasses where everything looks grainy and better. Like rose-colored glasses but funnier.

Guy Friends & The Friend Zone

I was just thinking about my past (an old friend resurfacing on Facespace will do that to a person), about friends, about boyfriends, about how things used to be. My core group of friends in college and soon thereafter was pretty evenly split guys to girls. Most of my guy friends are married or have someone special in their lives now, so I don't see them much. Back when we were young and crazy, I took that for granted. I miss having guy friends in my life and hope to meet some here and there to build that back up. I didn't even remember missing it until S and I hung out with a group of guys in Cabo and watched football....it was a nice dynamic.

Anyway....Have you ever wondered what The Friend Zone is? Oh, well hello, it's me. Yep, my life. Thanks to Ross from Friends, it has an official name, and I'm pretty much living it. I don't like The Friend Zone. I want out. It's my own personal Twilight Zone where every guy thinks I'm fun and we hang out, but nothing ever progresses past that. Not that I want to date every guy I hang out with but with over 15 years of being in The Friend Zone, it's getting a tad old. I guess I need to figure out what vibe it is I'm putting out there that makes people just want to be my friend. I like having friends, don't get me wrong, but I'd also really like having someone cross over into Relationshipland with me.

There's my self-pity post for the month. I can't guarantee there won't be another. February isn't a happy month...it's dark, dreary, and has a stupid Hallmark holiday smack in the middle.

Last Weekend

A bunch of us headed to Amador County this past weekend to wine taste and hang out. On the way up, we stopped at Sam's Club to get food for the weekend and, shocking to me, I was under budget AND we ended up with way more food than we needed! Anyone want to eat bacon with me (for like 8 meals...)? After Sam's Club, we stopped at Pizza Guys for dinner off of Pitt School Road which I think is in Dixon. NOT impressed. Cramped, obnoxious kids running around like short crazy people, not memorable pizza at all. I'll go back when I'm 8 years old and have fists full of tokens.

The drive up was pretty hairy - it was pouring down rain. M and I arrived at the house, the dark house, I might add, right when the thunder and lightning started. To say we were freaked out would be an understatement. The house is HUGE, some people say it's haunted (I'm one of those people), and it was just two of us for a while. Creep.y. Within 2 hours, N&D&T&M&Q&C showed up and it wasn't as bad....power hour started and we were fine. Loud music also helped. Saturday kicked off with a family style down home breakfast (I want roommates!) then we headed out for wine tasting.

The only winery I was really impressed with was Rundquist - I really liked everything on their list. Young's - not impressed. Snobville. I even wrote a negative review on Yelp about them - unfortunate. Catchphrase is my new favorite game...I can't even explain how hard we were laughing. Ab.so.lute.ly hys.ter.i.cal. I can't wait to play it again! I'm thinking MAJOR game night at my house is in order soon. Sunday morning was a big family breakfast, then we all parted ways.

I had such an awesome weekend and though we heard no ghosts, and nothing out of the ordinary or random or insane happened, it's a weekend worth writing about.

Weekends Go by Much Too Fast. Vol 2.

It's 9:09pm. I'm in bed, ready to zonk out for the night. I just wanted to put it out there into the universe that weekends are too short and they should be 3 days instead of 2. Oh, and also, I want 6 weeks of vacation every year. Thanks.

PS - KK found HGTV, Bravo, Lifetime Movie Network and Style in the higher numbers on our TVs. I don't think I need to pay Comcast for cable ever again. Stickin' it to the man.

Oh Napa.

I've lived in this town for almost three years now - three years that flew by in some ways and have dragged on in many others. As I've mentioned many times before, this town sucks. I know it, lots of people know it, and unless you're in the right place in life (i.e. married, married with kids, retired), it's just not the place to be. It's not awesome for meeting new people, especially those of the opposite gender, and the ones I have gone out with are pretty much losers. I'm not generalizing, just going by past experiences thus far. Um, remember that bad date? Yeah. Me too.

That alllll said, I have met some super cool friends here. Random meetings, like at the Chandon Pink Party, have morphed into friendships that I value so much. I've now met so many new friends who are down to earth, normal, friendly and welcoming. A wine tasting day turned into dinner with a new friend. Like pretty much anything in life, it comes down to timing. The friends I've made here are in the same place in life as I am - single, homeowners, stable jobs. This town is a hard place to crack...people usually have their groups of friends they've had for many years and that's hard to get into. I'm not from here and some of my "new" friends aren't either, but some of them are. As long as you're open, nice, normal, and friendly, it's not horribly difficult to meet new people. Sure, you have to take some risks and put yourself out there, but there are good people everywhere, you just have to be open to meeting them.

PS - If I were as good at meeting guys as I am new friends that are girls, I'd be big pimpin.

Happy Wednesday!

I was thinking this morning - this foggy, really difficult to get up type of morning - that the only downside I can think of with a commute this short is that when I'm tired and haven't gotten enough sleep, you can see it. I look horrible. With not even 10 minutes to work, this is not enough time to wake up and look somewhat presentable. Today, to kill time, I went to Starbucks. I don't care if Starbucks people see my puffy, half-open eyes and my slow demeanor. Maybe I should try getting to bed earlier. Or waking up earlier and getting back on a routine. My bed is just sooooo warm with all those blankies......is summer here yet?

I was also thinking on my drive over here that I love books. I love libraries and bookstores - two places I rarely go. I usually buy my books at the thrift store for $1 or less....I just can't justify buying a new book unless it's reference material. I love the feel and smell of books, the awkward keeping open of the page, when I can dog-ear a page. I hope the Kindle doesn't replace the printing of books. That would make me sad.

Organize. Organize. Organize.

How is my organization going in 2010, you ask? Ummmm. Slow and steady wins the race. My house looks like it threw up on itself. I swear, in the disaster I've created, I am getting more organized. The file drawer in the office? Organized. Will anyone ever see that besides me? No. Does it look like I've made progress? No. Does it feel good to get the drawer organized? Oh yes.

In other news, I got home pretty late this evening from shooting an event in the city. Always awesome but man I'm tired. Exhausted but exhilarated. I love love love to shoot. Being in the city also reminded me about how much I'd like to move back. The restaurant where the event was being held was bustling with a ton of people - my age - and it's only Tuesday. Friends meeting friends for happy hour. Coworkers enjoying a pint and conversation. First dates. All that sounds better than me + my TV. Blah.

As I got onto the Bay Bridge, I saw that they were filming a movie where S and I once stood in freeway run off. Sounds disgusting I know...because IT WAS. We had gone to a club on Harrison and were trying to find a cab to take us back to the island. This was not the night S lost a shoe in the club. In our journey to find a cab, we found a waterfall coming off of what was left of the Embarcadero Freeway. Yep, freeway run off. Lovely image, ain't it? I guess that's what you do when you're 21 and ruh-TARDs.

On that note, I'm off to bed. I'll check ya later, homeslices.

Holy Moly This is SO Funny.

The Hangover. See it. Love it. Watch it again.

Another Taco Bell Post

I'm posting twice in one week about Taco Bell. Hey, it's my favorite fast food chain by a long shot, and this story was just way too funny to ignore.

Man gets day in jail for throwing taco at manager

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) --

An Alaska man who hit a Taco Bell manager in the face with a double-decker taco has been sentenced to one day in jail and one year probation. Warren Strickland of Fairbanks must also pay a $100 fine after pleading guilty Tuesday to disorderly conduct.

The 31-year-old says he threw the taco because it contained spit after he went through the drive-thru twice because the restaurant messed up his order. He claims the manager accused him of lying to get free food.

Strickland is barred from Taco Bell during his year of probation.

Taco Bell is owned by Yum! Brands.

___

Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Rockband

Like I may have mentioned before...I'm going on over two weeks without a Rockband fix. I hope to change this on Friday, so we'll see.

I just read this article about how Rockband/Guitar Hero sales are falling flat, that the genre is no longer hot hot hot. I have come to the conclusion based on this article that I. am. old. I JUST bought Rockband 2, I love it and would play everyday if someone else lived here. I once was an early adopter and now I'm falling just after the peak. Hm. I don't like this game. (not you, Rockband the game, I adore you.)

Ok, I'm going back to building my ark now.

Minor Annoyances

Ya know when you're sleeping and there's a bug that flies by your ear and it wakes you up? Sometimes this can be really irritating, but most of the time it's just a minor annoyance. Like when someone spills on your new couch. I mean, really, who cares, right? It's just a couch. You get over it pretty quickly. Some people can be minor annoyances too....the name dropper, the one-upper, the ever-present hypocrite, the super snob. I try to take these folks in stride and not become friends with them. The minor annoyance of their personalities would become major issues if I spent a lot of time with them and that's just not. good. for. anyone. That's all on that.

I just got home from my friend's house and from behind the gate, I spot something weird on my front porch. It's white and it looks like someone spilled something all over the right side of the porch. Lightning flashes so I hurry under my overhang, still not sure what it is. I bend down - IT'S A TON OF HAIL! I laid down and made a hail angel and then scooped some up, put it in a baggie and put it in my freezer. Ok, I didn't make an angel but I really did put some in my freezer. I mean, COME ON. When does it hail here and stick?? Never! By the way, I am super in love with the thunder and lightning. Mr. Winter - keep it comin'. This midwesterner at heart loves this.

One last note - please. stop. copying. me. It's getting really old. The whole imitation is the sincerest form of flattery thing is over and now it's just annoying. More than just a minor annoyance. There's truly no need to do it either...true thoughts and words are much more interesting than ripping off someone else's.

Ok, one more last note...Don Giovanni's is really good. Who knew. I was lucky enough to eat there today and man that ravioli was delightful.

Yeah, I'm still not done writing. It's weird how it comes in spurts. Sometimes I can go weeks and nothing - writer's block galore. Then there are days like today when I just go on and on about nothing. Oh well. That's what this blog is for.

Gordita Supreme

Dear Mr. Glen W. Bell Jr.,

I read today that you have passed on, have started your run for the border in the sky. I'm so very sorry to hear this news.

I want to thank you for starting Taco Bell well before I was born. Because of your entrepreneurship, I have been able to enjoy Taco Bell since I can remember. My love affair with the 7-layer burrito began in high school, when we found out we could make a mall run for Taco Bell and be back in time before lunch was over. Lately, my Taco Bell cravings have been satisfied with 2 crunchy tacos, 1 soft taco and a beef Gordita Supreme. Does life get any better?

From all of the Taco Bell fans around the world, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 3am on weekends and Sunday afternoons have never been more complete.

~Your Biggest Fan.