It's good every once in awhile...

Well, going to LA that is. Hollywood, the every-so glamorous city that seems to host a menagerie of celebrities, celeb-realities, and wannabe celebrities. A group of us headed to Hollywood on Saturday night to celebrate some bdays - for two lovely ladies. But of course, you can't just get ready like you would for a normal night out. No.

So first stop was a new do...hairdo that is. Finally decided to take the plunge and cut off about 5 inches. For a girl, that's a lot. Well, I guess for a guy too. But lordy they shouldn't have 5 inches to cut off! Anyways, J's sister did an amazing job and I'm in love. After visiting the MAC counter and getting ready, I picked up one of the bday girls, N, and we headed to Hollywood.

Got stuck in traffic (gotta love LA!) and made it to the restaurant right on time. Unfortunately, no one else did! We grabbed some margaritas from the bar. We were adventurous. I tried a "blood orange" margarita. Very good! And N got a "prickly pear" margarita. Her's was bright pink! Who knew? Finally one of her friend's showed up, followed by a limo...Apparently the other bday girl had to show up in style too! Although hers was a surprise.

So as we proceed to our table (about 45 minutes after the reservation) the rest of the party shows up. After chips, guacamole, enchiladas, (more) margaritas, and about 500 pictures, we all head out for the evening. This was a short trip up the street to a very random bar. I've never heard of it, but that seriously doesn't say much. I never go to Hollywood. Never. I think the last time I went there was over a year ago. Just too much for me. I enjoy hanging out at home with friends and booze, or a dive bar. But don't like spending money to park everywhere, $10 drinks, expensive food, and wearing uncomfortable shoes. But for nights like this, I coax myself into going. But seriously, I had fun.

Where was J through all of this you ask? At home. He (really) doesn't like going out to places like these, so he stayed in with the Godfather. Which is fine with me. Sometimes it's good to have a night out with the girls!

Can 10 minutes change your life?

This week, I decided to make a small change, and see how it works. When I was at the store on Friday after work, I bought some breakfast stuff. I never eat breakfast. Breakfast for me is coffee at work. 2 cups usually. Sometimes 3 depending on the morning...

So I wanted to see how breakfast could change my life. Just a small thing to do, and everyone says it's the most important meal of the day. So, I set my alarm to go off 10 minutes early....at 6:30.

On Monday, I woke up, showered, got dressed, and had breakfast. I ate a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats. I've always loved that cereal. Crunchy and sweet. And plus it's probably good for you. And their commercials are hilarious! I think Tylenol tried to steal the jovial spirit with their "i love making tylenol" commericals. Anyways.

So I noticed on Monday at work, I only had 1 cup of coffee. But it was a bit rushed that day. So no big change. On Tuesday, J had to get up early for work and so even though my alarm went off at 6:30, I couldn't get in the shower till 6:40. I skipped breakfast this morning. I realized mid-day I could have gotten up and had breakfast BEFORE my shower. But that just didn't seem right.

Wednesday came, and I had breakfast again! I noticed I wasn't so starved by 10:30. Normally at that time, when the stomach starts growling, I go for another cup of coffee to subside the noise. Oh, and I actually got to work by 8am. Not normal for me.

Today is Thursday. I'm really liking having breakfast. And, for whatever reason, I seem to have much more time in the morning, despite getting up ONLY 10 minutes earlier.

So, in short. Set your alarm for 10 minutes early, and don't hit snooze. And eat something!

hi mj.

Man vs. Wild

Have you ever watched that show? It's crazy. That guy has some ginormous testicles. Anyone who chooses to be dumped in the middle of nowhere with a knife, flint, and cup is pretty daring.

J and I started watching this a few weeks ago. Actually, he found it, but I just wasn't interested. He told me how great it was, and finally, I gave in. This guy is so brilliant! I watch with amazement how he finds stuff to eat, plants to use for medical aid, shelter, sometimes even transportation! One episode he drank his own pee to stay hydrated and another he used it to keep him warm at night.

With the first few episodes I saw, he was in a warm climate. It reminded me somewhat of survivor - and how most of their locations are tropical and warm. Mainly because they're afraid of what would happen to those people in a cold climate. Well, after watching him tackle the elements on Sunday's airing, I know people can survive cold too! He skinned a dead deer to have a blanket. I learned how they do it, without getting all bloody (who knew?). Also learned how to get out of a marsh, how to make Pine Needle tea, and snow can sometimes help keep you warm (really??)

So learn somethings. In case you ever get dropped off in the middle of nowhere in a cold cold place! With nothing to eat!

Addicted to World Pop Culture

I know I got the name wrong. I appologize. But our friend, CM, showed up tonight. He's in between moving to San Fran for law school and being stuck in our valley. And he's bored. So he showed up.


J and I have been watching the series on VH1 on pop culture. We watched it last year, and it was exciting. Well, maybe that's not the right word....But we were interested. I mean, a quiz show where it's real people - count us in!

This year we've been tivo'ing all of them, and on some nights, turned them into our own competition. Since they're all tivo'd, we compete against each other. I'd suggest others to take note, but, well, the last episode aired tonight. Oh well. But here's what we did...

Because we live together (and our lives are OH so exciting), we'd compete against each other. We'd let Pat (yes, first name basis) read the question, then pause it. If it was my turn to go first, I'd respond, and J'd give a back-up answer. We hit play. Whoever was right got a point. At the end of the game, whoever lost had to do the shitty before bed rituals. Ours? Turning off all the lights and making sure the AC was set at a good temperature. (good lord, we're boring. lol).

So, tonight, we thought we'd "spice" things up and get CM involved. So far, J's winning. we're up for the last part of the competition. And, of course, I'm on Team J! all the way!

And ps. don't play this game if your brain cells seem to run and hide after a bit of alcohol. lol

Where's the cortisone?

J and I got the itch again - to visit Colorado. So, we both searched our calendars for the perfect weekend, well, LONG weekend......We settled upon mid August to go visit our friends in Colorado. C&J moved there last August. We ventured there with some other friends during the holiday season (celebrated New Year's there) and really enjoyed it. Of course it snowed, and it was cold, but even that didn't bother us. Bizarre, huh?

So, we decided that we need to see them during the summer, when it's warm. I hope to get outside a lot (maybe even con my cousin who lives there to take us out on her boat) and just enjoy a lovely summer get-away. It is much different than my sister's get-away, but I know we'll have just as much fun. We miss C&J very much, and I know they're just as excited!

Happy Anniversary

Well, 11 years ago, my mom, sister, and I packed up our uhaul and moved to our lovely town we now call home. Compared to where I grew up, this is paradise. But, also full of expensive, rich taste, people, stores, cars, homes, etc.

But back then, I was just about to start high school. Actually, before we made the decision to move here, I had already enrolled and was accepted into a high school down there. I was going from a catholic elementary school to a catholic high school. In fact, it was the same one my mom and dad attended, and also my cousin. I remember walking around that place - so old. Everything (my mom said) looked exactly as she had left it about 20 years before. She showed me the room where she took home-ec and sewed her own corduroy jumpsuit (we also found this when we were packing. My lord the 70s were hideous).

So, when we moved up here, I knew only my family. My aunt, uncle, and 3 cousins lived 5 minutes away. And you knew this because every morning that summer my aunt would show up to "motivate" us to unpack. Ya, nothing like being 14 and being excited to unpack!

That summer I also did volleyball camp. That was a problem. I wasn't very good at it. I had bruises on my hips for weeks and ended up not making it. Which is probably a good thing. I knew 1 person on my first day of high school - a girl I met in volleyball camp. I don't think she made it either. Can't remember. But it was quite a shock going from elementary school (practically the same 30 people in my class for the 8 years I was enrolled) to about 600 kids in my freshman class. That campus was massive, but everything was brand new.

The best thing was I no longer had to wear a uniform. I was able to buy and wear whatever I chose. Which, at sometimes, was difficult. I did miss not having to think about what I wore to school every day. But, I loved the opportunity to be an individual and wear whatever.

Looking back I have mixed feelings about high school. I enjoyed it, participated in lots of clubs and activities. I attended almost all the dances, the football games, and the pep rally's. I had some freedom, less worries, and always looked forward to the summer. Of course now, I have money to do things, but also the stress of bills, rent, full-time job, etc. If only we could take some of the carefree parts of high school and mix them in with the "now" to balance things out.

Watch out Europe!

So, my sister and long time family friend left yesterday for Europe for about 3 weeks. They're splitting their time between Greece and Italy. Today, she sent an email out while at the airport (didn't fly directly to Greece) and wow. Just wow. Europe sure is in for a trip with these two girls. So far the friend, N, has been yelled at for being on the wrong side of the escalator, almost got hit by a taxi, and both almost missed both flights to get to London in the first place. And they've only been in Europe for about a day. lol.

These two...they're going to give my mother a heart attack. But hopefully they'll start assimilating themselves a bit more and become more careful!