Mama Lu misses her computer!

Admittedly, my pups have more quality time with me but dammit. I have no idea if Britney showing off her hoo-hah again. Or all other other important local, national and international news :)

Cross your fingers that The Man has time to go to Best Buy tomorrow. Oh please oh please!

Lulu Check-In

1. My computer is still kaput (waiting until I have enough sanity built up to deal with the cost and the crowds.) I think I'm going to wait until after Christmas and maybe even New Year's. When I have time to think about it, I miss my laptop.

2. Pups are keeping everyone busy. Piko and Pili keep me, The Man, AL and my Dad constantly on our toes. There appears to be a mysterious pooper (Pili) and, unfortunately, that means both have to be kept on lockdown. Piko is about 99% housebroken (she pops-a-squat in inappropriate places every so often but we're still proud of her) but Pili wants to go wherever Piko goes so they don't cover much territory around the house. I am NOT a fan of mystery poo.

3. The J-O-B is keeping me busy. I work anywhere from 9 to 11 hours a day. But recently, I was recognized for hitting a goal from the time I started working for the company until now and was invited to a special training that only 15 people are attending. (I think nearly 200 people are eligible because of their start date but must meet a goal and be nominated by their managers.) Anyhow, it's a privilege but also means when we are done with our training, we are expected to do much better. Ooo-weee.

4. The Man and I are just dandy. It's nice, especially since I know he's very stressed out at work, I've got a lot on my plate, we both work long hours and we got a mystery poo-er. That can make any couple have some problems. But, thankfully, we're good.

5. My folks and I are going to be visiting my sister tomorrow. I. Have. Not. Packed. But if you've read any past entries, that shouldn't be a shocker :) I'm excited to be seeing Sister, WGD and The Boy but wish I could stay a little longer. Four days is not enough for any vacation. But considering I am in the negative for paid time off, I really shouldn't be complaining. Yes, I owe my company my time off. Well, not really but that's what my pay check says.

6. I sent out over 250 holidays cards. Didn't get one? Are you pissed? They were all for work. I sent out personalized cards to a buttload of people, all work-related. I didn't send out diddly to my loved ones or friends. Believe me, I know it's not right. I'm the type of gal that likes to send out cards. But it just wasn't going to happen after I realized how many I had to send out for work. Next year, I will be sure to have my personal holiday cards prepared by August.

7. I finished (OK, and started) my Christmas shopping last Saturday. I nearly cried when the cashiers would tell me my totals. That alone has made me realize that I need to space out my shopping. Considerably. Sister, I called you because I have no idea what to get The Boy. I am hoping we can purchase something when I get there so that I remain a rockin' Auntie.

8. Despite the fact that the holidays snuck up behind me and beat me with a stick, I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!! And, for the first time in my life, I will actually have a White Christmas! I am pysched.

Ohhh heeeeyyyyyll nah!

Congratulations! You are 0% ghetto

It looks like you keep yourself out of the ghetto and are living ghetto free. Also, you may be white.

How Ghetto Are You
Create Your Own Quiz

WTF? It's because I work for the man now, huh?

Sweet mary, mother of pearl

I'm back y'all! My computer went kaput so The Man is letting me use his old a$s work laptop. But I'm back!
A lot has happened since last week. Yes, we got the puppy (I. Don't. Want. To. Hear. It.)
Her name is Pili (Pee-Lee) as in "Pili Nut", from the Bicol region of the Philippines. I was quite impressed that it was The Man who thought of that one. Sort of a shout-out to my side of the family (they are the ones from Bicol,) if you will.

"But how do they keep Piko and Pili straight when they sound so much alike?" you ask. We don't. We get it right 50% of the time. Luckily, they just come running no matter who is calling them because they always compete for attention.
I introduce to you - PILI!

Cute lil' bugger, ain't she?? She is 3.8 lbs, pees and poos wherever she pleases and screams (seriously, screams) like a monkey when she is crated at night. Pili also comes when you call her like she knew exactly what her name was the minute we gave it to her. She also makes Piko very happy. For the most part.
It has been a loooong week. Pili was carrying some sort of virus which got Piko sick. My parents, The Man and I have been to the vet three times this week (thank goodness for my folks, they took them while I was at work!) I never thought I'd be so concerned about the texture of my puppies' poo. The Man and I are like feces scientists. NOT something either of us desire to be.

But when we see them nap together, we know we made a good decision. Piko has actually gotten the housetraining down since Pili moved in. Yes, we got a dog for our dog but they are both happy, recovering-from-a-stomach-virus puppies. And because we want to win the "SO FREAKIN' CUTE IT'S SICKENING" award, here is a picture they took with Santa at the pet store yesterday:

L-R: My cousin's dog, Daisy, Piko and Pili

Daisy and Piko were pulling down Santa's beard and Piko was hiding until the photographer pulled out an obnoxious squeak toy which startled ALL of them and that's how we got all of them to look at the camera at the same time.

Other than that, same ol' same ol'. Missed me? I missed you guys.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR DADDY

Our (Demondoll and my) Dad is 72 years old today. He gave us quite a scare yesterday when he passed out at a party my parents were attending. Without going into details, an ambulance came because he bashed his head, causing some major bleeding from the crown of his head. We weren't sure if he had a heart attack because he had chest pains. According to the doctors, he didn't have one because his EKG results weren't abnormal. But they're still not quite sure what happened so he has to go to his regular doctor this week.
I was so scared. I know my mom was frightened (she's the one, along with her friends, who discovered him in such terrible shape) and so was my sister. My dad was sad to know he would be in the hospital the day of his birthday. But, as I mentioned, they don't think he had a heart attack so he was released today and able to spend at least half of his birthday at home.
Our Dad is pretty outstanding. I know, everyone thinks their dad is Superman but our Dad is a wonderful man. He loves his family so much and always puts us first, in everything he does. He is also a spectacular grandfather and is extremely loving to his daughter's puppies, too! And, at 72 years of age, he is STILL a Superman who just goes at a little slower pace. He still wants to build us things (he's a very handy man), cook, and provide for us, even though we are grown.
We love him so very much, wish him a speedy recovery and many, many, many, many, many, more birthdays.

Double the fun, double the poop

I'm hesitant to get another puppy. But The Man doesn't want Piko to be lonely when her grandparents leave for four months to the Philippines (they puppysit every weekday!) We like to peruse the petstore site where we found Piko just to see the newest puppies. We "oooh" and "ahh" but that's about it. I'm not ready for waking up every two hours and neither is The Man.
But last night, we saw that the store now has a Pekatese:
Oh me, oh my. I don't know if we're ready. But she's only a month and one week younger than Piko. And she looks just like her!
So we're going to the petstore this weekend to see if Piko and puppy-on-the-left will even like each other. And if The Man and I click with her. There is definitely no rush so if it's meant to be, great. If not, it's OK too.
But in the back of my mind, I keep thinking, "that's a lot of poop." *Sigh* But I want my girl to be happy so we'll see.

It's beginning to look a lot little like Christmas

Although I love Christmas, I haven't gotten into decorating my place. Last year was my first Christmas in my home and I didn't put up a thing.

This year, I fell in love with the teeny tiny Christmas trees that I saw at Target but held back. And then, whadya know?! Target also sells minature ornaments, mini lights and even a itty bitty glowing star! I love Target.

So here is the very first Christmas tree I've bought on my own-

Cute, isn't it?? And I bet you wondered where Piko's been. Or not.
Sister called me and told me she couldn't believe I let Piko on the table! But I couldn't help showing off my mini tree and mini puppy!
Excluding presents, this is the extent of my decorations. But I guarantee it even smells like Christmas in my house. The mini tree is mighty fragrant and I have an apple cinnamon plug-in ;)

Love, thanks, and a load of turkey

I adore the holidays. Specifically, Christmas. And Thanksgiving is a great kick off holiday to the big shin-dig that is Christmas!
What's great about Thanksgiving, though, is there are no strings attached. Giving and receiving is AWESOME but Thanksgiving is all about being with loved ones, eating a HUGE meal, watching the Macy's parade and then catching some football. Holy smokes, could you ask for anything else???

LULU GIVES THANKS

1. Parents: My family is the best. I love them to pieces. My parents are so generous and loving. They have a thankless job, being a parent and all, and they would give everything to make sure their kids are safe and happy. I love them soo much. Plus, they are so teeny tiny and cute!

2. Sister: She is my best friend. She was my third parent growing up - she was the hip one - but now I get a best friend out of the deal. What a steal!!! She is so kind and generous (she must have good parents) and funny. She is talented, stylish (did I ever tell you she made me a color chart when I was little because the outfit I put together hurt her eyes?) and just simply divine.

3. Brother: He is our earth angel. If anyone has a non-stop flight to Heaven, it's him. He teaches me patience and compassion.

4. The Man: My other best friend. He knows me so well. He is a dork trapped in the body of a hottie! How can I not love that he is beautiful inside and out yet is humble, bashful and shy? He is truly a good man who loves me. Plus, he be my puppy's daddy. Word.

5. My friends: I'm not very good at keeping friends. It's a lot of effort to stay in touch and before I know it, I haven't talked to a friend in almost a year! Plus, if I am wronged, it's very hard for me to let a person back into my life. So the friends I do have really are super stars. They are kind, funny, supportive, smart, generous and all-around wonderful.

6. Power Yoga: I haven't been to class since April because of my new job schedule. But I'm going to today!!!! I can't possibly convey how excited I am. Just know I am beside myself because I love my nazi yoga teacher (by that I mean like "soup nazi" and not "genocide leader") I am so happy today!

And I'm thankful for a lot more (like my wild Pekatese puppy) but that's the jist of it. So, because I am a pretty cool gal, and I mean, pret-ty cool, I am giving y'all a little gift:

Go to www.sephora.com and shop your little heart out. Buy about $100 worth of stuff. Then get 20% off your Sephora purchase when you enter promotional code "FF2006" at checkout. You should also have free shipping because you spend over $75. And you get the dope discount. Seriously.

Told you I was a pretty cool gal. Happy Thanksgiving!!!! xoxoxo

SF Hula Girl is BACK!

Me and my old hula sisters hammin' it up at a dance festival in 2003.

Hula was something I wanted to learn back in 1996. It wasn't until my then-boyfriend and I broke up in 2000 that I really did something about it and joined a San Francisco halau. Five years later, I stopped dancing because I never made the time to practice and to do anything well, you've got to practice! I had also moved back to the East Bay and had to deal with a round-trip two hour commute just to go to class.

It's been nearly two years since I left. And lately I've been feeling like I need an outlet. Something to look forward to other than going home after work! I've been wanting to check out a local halau that my former teacher worked with for a performance. I attended my first class last night. So far so good - it is less than 1o minutes away from my house! The teacher seems cool, if not unorthodox (we were doing hula warm ups to an old Michael Jackson song. Never done that before.) Unlike my first halau where there were over 100 students learning in a school cafeteria, this class had less than 10 people in a dance studio. I like it, even though I feel like such a beginner! I may need to sign up for private lessons just so I can catch up.Wish me luck!

Here's to healthy outlets, *raising a glass* cheers!

I adore Tina Fey!

Tina Fey: Paris Hilton Is A “Piece of Sh-t”

Tina Fey, the former head writer of Saturday Night Live, and creator and star of the new NBC show, 30 Rock, dropped by Howard Stern’s Sirius Satellite radio show on Wednesday to share her thoughts on various past SNL guest hosts.
She revealed that Paris Hilton asked the writers to make a skit in which she could play Jessica Simpson "because I hate her…she's fat.” Fey also claims that Paris was so self-centered that staffers had a bet going on as to whether she would ask anyone something personal (like "How are you?") during her week on-set. They only lost when she asked, “Is Maya Rudolph Italian?" (she's half Black, half Jewish). In excerpts from the interview below, Tina dishes more on Paris, Matthew McConaughey (See: personal hygiene, lack thereof) and losing her own virginity. On her virginity:TF: I was 24 when I lost my virginity. I was still a virgin when I met my husband.
HS: Why do you think that is, you were the hot girl on SNL?
TF: I don't know, I was a drama major, so it was me and 100 gay guys, so maybe that was my problem.
On Paris Hilton:HS: What is Paris Hilton like?
TF: She's a piece of sh-t. The people at SNL were like maybe she'll be fun, maybe she won't take herself so seriously. She takes herself so seriously! She's unbelievably dumb and so proud of how dumb she is. She looks like a tranny up close.
HS: Was she bad on SNL, was she hard to deal with?
TF: She was awful. People never come in and say "I'm not doing that." So, this guy Jim Downey wrote a really really funny sketch, it was supposed to be Lorne Michaels just finding out that she had a sex tape and telling her she couldn't host the show because SNL has standards... So she was like "I'm not doing it!" and refused to come out of her dressing room. Also, you would walk down the hall and find what just looked like nasty wads of Barbie hair on the stairs... Her hair is like a Fraggle.
HS: Did she give you ideas for sketches?
TF: Yeah, she wanted to make fun of all the girls she hates. She was like "I want to play Jessica Simpson, I hate her." She would come in the room and say "you should do a show about Jessica Simpson because she's fat."
HS: What was the bet you guys had going about her?
TF: The cast had a bet if she would ask anyone on the cast anything about themselves, you know like how are you? where are you from? anything. I think Seth Meyers won because at one point, she asked him if Maya Rudolf was Italian.

Source: http://www.usmagazine.com/node/3875

Umm, I HAD to share

These are comics that were forwarded to me.
Foul. But funny.
But oh so foul.

My favorite is the naked comic.

I need an outlet

That's what The Man tells me.
I've been frustrated with certain aspects of work and The Man says I'm working myself up even more because I don't have hula or yoga. He suggests I go back to hula.
It's a little tricky right now seeing that I need to persuade my parents to puppysit a while longer (to which they probably wouldn't say no, I just don't want them to feel like I'm taking advantage of their kindness.) But he's probably right. I feel like a blob because I am NOT active at all. I don't feel an ounce of attractiveness and I'm so tired that I can only mildly care.
I've been thinking about going back to hula for quite some time and now that I'm putting it out there ("there" being my blog) so I will have to have some accountability to go through with it.
Well, OK then!

All cleaned up (no bow!)

Fur, teeth and claws

I can't do anything about the teeth but my pup looks like an little, old Ewok with a buttload of fur. Foreel. See?

We purchased clippers and claw cutters (or whatever the contraption is called.) Her claws are too long and the fur on her face needs to be trimmed. As well as her rear end.
But I don't want her to have a baboon-butt so it will just be a trim and not a shave. (This ensures no traces of "eliminination" stay on its owner. Ick.) Anyway, we tried to trim her fur and, after some denial, we realized we made absolutely no impact. The thought of us trying to trim her claws is just too scary right now because if you cut them too short, so I'm told, it really really hurts. I don't need that kind of guilt. I've decided that Piko will be groomed by a professional because I'm chicken. So we're going this Saturday to get my girl cleaned up. And no, there will be no bows. NO bows.

As for me, three of my coworkers were/are sick. Two of them powered through and just came to work under the weather. The third colleague pretty much said, "F-that, I'm sick" which is kind of how I feel right now. I'm not congested but I have a sore throat, my temples and the back of my head hurt. I downed a few Emergen-C packets but I didn't drink as much as I have before (when I know people around me are sick I usually drink two packets 3x a day) and guess what? Half ass doesn't work! So I may be going home mid-day. I've already made appointments with clients this morning and would hate to cancel.

Remember when you were in school and you stayed home sick? Better yet, remember when you were in college and you would stay in bed if you didn't feel good? That's one of the things I miss. Sans midterms, papers and basically any studying, of course.

Got my vote on

Last year, I was hoppin' mad at myself because I didn't realize that I would be out of state during the elections.
This year, I was READY. But I guess I still can't beat stupidity:
* Ah-nold Schwarzenegger will be governor for a second term
* No on the cigarette tax
* No on oil tax and alternative energy incentives
Sweet mary mother of pearl. What the hell?! What's next - being allowed to marry our first cousins?
But on the upside:
* No on the abortion waiting period and parental notification
(I don't pretend to be politically savvy - why does this keep popping up? Wasn't it voted out last year?)
So while I'm not ecstatic, I'm happy that ONE issue I feel strongly about was voted down. Again. And just to stick it to the man (not mine but the other), let's all make a donation to Planned Parenthood and support this organization for all the good they do in our communities. Planned Parenthood doesn't just make sure every woman has the right to choose and exercise her options. It also provides low cost medical care to everyone. Yes, PP helped me out when I had NO medical coverage when I was a poor student and when I worked at a sweatshop television station.
OK, I'm stepping off my soapbox and putting it away.

Sister is brilliant!

The Man and I are going to have a dinner and a movie date night this Friday. We will see Borat.
We haven't gone on date night for a very, very, very long time. We usually watch TV and then go to sleep.
I'm hoping my parents will puppysit so that Piko will get to keep her schedule on falling asleep at 9:00pm and waking up at 5:00am which happens to be my mom's schedule when she works. And, 'lo and behold, AL's working on Saturday. Whoohooo!!
I hear Borat is freakin' hilarous. I am very excited to have a date night.

I should probably make sure my parents can watch her.

I used to have a kitchen ...

Well, not that I cooked much. But still. I used to have a kitchen. Now I have a puppy play area which happens to have a fridge and a sink.
Yes, those are real baby gates. Which, by the way, the more expensive one on the left is great because it swings open. I am concerned, though, about the expanding and retracting feature and how you can't lock it into place. All I could keep thinking was, "Tiny fingers could get smashed! Tiny PAWS could get smashed!" But it's very handy. Anyhow ...
A friend who owns a puppy asked me how life has been for me/us. What's funny is before I had Piko, I probably wouldn't have thought to ask that question to a couple. I mean, I know it's serious business to have a pet, believe me. This is why I haven't had one in nearly seven years. I knew I couldn't handle or wanted the responsibility! But, even knowing all of this, I have to say it's so much different having a dog as an adult in comparison to when I was a kid. (And believe me, I keep thinking, "My poor childhood dog!")
I'm not going to lie. It has been taxing on The Man and me. We don't necessarily fight about her but our nerves are shot from lack of sleep, extensive cleaning and constant supervision of a furry little body. There is very little down time anymore! I didn't notice it until today, and The Man also pointed out, that we aren't as affectionate or even talkative because it's all about her. But there are upsides, too. Even though The Man wanted a big ol' Doberman (I will repeat, I just don't see me cuddling up to a Doberman,) he has really taken to Piko. He has a hard time disciplining her and he will stay in an uncomfortable position just because she fell asleep on his lap. He's also been kind to me and my needs. Knowing how uncleanliness gets to me, he researched extensively and bought us a top-of-the-line SteamVac so we could thoroughly clean Piko's messes. Over and over again. He's also the best at detecting an "elimination" in progress. I'd say he has a 80% success ratio in getting Piko to the peepee pad before she leaks or pops a fatty. (Hey, you think that's gross, try SMELLING it and, all the while, praising her for getting it on the pad!) He's also the one who installed the baby gates and a doggie door that we will be introducing to her soon.
Despite the lack of sleep, adult conversation and social life, I really am glad we have Piko. She really IS great practice for a real one. I know, a puppy isn't the same but what a remarkable simulation ;) Oh, and as mentioned, I have start a Dogster.com page for her so there will be a healthy outlet for my obsession with taking pictures of Piko without subjecting all you lovely people.

The reason why I went to bed at 8:00pm on a Friday night

A Friday night!
Being in a four year relationship, I am no stranger to staying home and making Friday a Blockbuster/ Must See TV night. But to go to bed at 8:00pm?! Clearly, waking up at 12:00am and 3:00am finally caught up with me.

As you can see, Piko isn't much bigger than my slipper and, while I'm not ittybitty, my feet are on the small side. Thus, Piko is quite tiny. But she sure dishes it out! I won't gross you out and take a picture of her "elimination" (that's what the book calls her booboo and pee) but her #2 elimination has gotten much bigger from when she first came home. And stinkier. Boy, is it stinky.
Today, she got her first hair cut. Because the Fu Man cut wasn't working for us anymore. Not only was it not aesthetically pleasing but, when she would drink water, she would have enough water on her chin to soak her kennel blanket. So here is the now three-month-old Piko:

The Man fluffed her up to prove that Piko can have a straight-haired afro. Like her Mama Lu.

You're probably thinking, "Doesn't she have anything, anything else to write about?" No, I don't. I take care of Piko, go to work, take care of Piko and sleep. I would love to have something else to write about but I don't. So I continue to type about my puppy.

Completely smitten

Piko now weights four lbs, 10 ounces. She survived her first vet appointment and her first thermometer up her private-puppy-part.

She is named Piko for two reasons. One, she is half Pekingese so her name sounds like Pee-koh. The reason why her name is spelled P-i-k-o is because she had an umbilical cord repair and has a small scar. "Piko" means navel or belly button in Hawaiian. So there you have it - Piko.

I am SUPER tired. She and I have been getting up at midnight, 3am and then 5am. I'm hoping to eliminate midnight tonight. We shall see.

Although I am not going to write much in this entry, I've filled it with pictures of Piko. Here are some pictures that will give you a better perspective of her size and personality:

With her snazzy Target reindeer.

Ready to kick the reindeer's butt.

Piko displaying her determination to take the "Alpha Dog" title from her Daddy.

Introducing a new member of the family

Not since Big Martha, has someone commanded so much space in my home. I introduce to you the most littlest kick ass dog on the block, weighing in at a whoppin' four pounds:

PIKO (Pee-koh)

She probably went wee shortly after taking this picture.

Since her arrival home, she's had two accidents, four successful wees on the pee pad, and made a small poo on our first neighborhood walk (being responsible dog owners, Jon2 dutifully took out the plastic bag and picked it right up.) And like a baby, it was green. I just thought you'd like to know.

We are tired. We have watched her every single moment so we can predict when our little one has to wee so we can haul ass to the pee pad. And the reason why she is kick ass? She went by herself to the pee pad by the end of the day. Unfortunately, my cousin tell me that she will probably forget.

I will be the one to wake up every two hours to get her from her crate/kennel to the peepee pad in the hopes that sooner or later (and I'm rooting for sooner) she will be able to hold in through the night.

Piko, like many A-list celebrities, can only take so much of the camera before she will have no more from the paparazzi.

Big news - fluffy package

OK. Jon-Jon and I have been talking about this for a while. I didn't want to share with you guys yet because we wanted to make sure we were serious. We know that this is a big decision - big responsibility and big money! So we've started some preliminary research on finding the perfect puppy for us -

We weren't ready to get a puppy for quite some time, even though we've been wanting one. For goodness sake! When are we ever home? But Jon2 is going to have three weeks off very soon. This will give us (OK - HIM!) time to acclimate the puppy to its new surroundings. What about never being home? Well, The Man will most likely have a trailer at his next job site and he is allowed to bring a dog to work,. So puppy will most likely go with him nearly every day to work. I hear it is quite possible for me to bring a tiny dog to work, too but I kind of doubt that. I have, however, a friend close by who said that as long as my dog is not possessed, she will take care of it once a week and she works within five minutes of my work place.

My heart is set on a Maltese. From the research we've done online, this breed is the most compatible with our ideal puppy traits. But we've come across two problems. The first is that we do not know Maltese breeders in our area. We've looked them up but we don't know them from a bucket of paint. The second is that the one breeder that was referred to us by a coworker wants $1,700 for her puppies. I won't even tell you why that's a problem for us.
I'm not sure where that leaves us. If any of you know of a good breeder or know someone that knows someone, please help a sister out. We are very loving couple who would give a puppy a very nice home. And if not a Maltese, a reputable place we can buy/adopt a small dog, pure or mixed*? Open to most small dogs except a chihuahua. Or any other dog that may pee if you look at it funny. I cannot stand nervous dogs.
*If you're wondering why a small dog, it's because small dog=small poop. I can't deal with big poop.

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10/26/06: (Please read my last comment.) And here I go, already breaking my promise! This was taken by the seller. She is MUCH cuter in person/doggie. (I took a picture of her with my phone and I've discovered the gal just isn't photogenic! It's OK, though. She's cute - she looks very much like a lhasa apso puppy.) Oh, and we have a name. I'll introduce you when I post a picture that WE take a picture of her. Maybe she will learn to flirt with the camera by then ;)

What the F*CK is happening to my show?!?!

Isaiah Washington -- A Terror on the Set?
Posted Oct 22nd 2006 3:00AM by TMZ Staff

Isaiah Washington got into it big time with Patrick Dempsey on the set of 'Grey's Anatomy.' Now TMZ has learned that Washington has had other on-set blowups.

A simmering feud between the two actors bubbled over last week, when Washington reportedly got in Dempsey's face, said some "disgusting things," then allegedly pushed "McDreamy" against a wall and choked him. We're told the incident was so intense it shut down production for a short time.

Now TMZ has learned of two other incidents that make Washington sound like "Dr. McNightmare." In the year 2000, Washington was shooting the TV show "Soul Food" for Showtime in Toronto. Washington and an actress, who played his wife, were shooting a scene in which Isaiah was supposed to give the woman a superficial kiss. We're told to the horror of everyone, Washington grabbed the woman and planted a "forceful, aggressive kiss."
The actress became irate, which then infuriated Washington who began screaming at her. At that point the director stepped in to correct Washington, and the actor went off on him. Executive Producer Tracey Edmonds then took over and Washington went off on her.

In 1997 there was yet another incident on the set of the TV show "High Incident." Washington was a guest star on the show, but we're told the gig ended abruptly after the actor had a physical altercation with a crew member. We're told it was serious enough that police were called.

As for the "Grey's Anatomy" melee, there are reports that Washington taunted Dempsey by saying, "I'm not your little faggot like [name redacted]," referring to a fellow cast member. Yesterday, "Grey's" cast member T.R. Knight revealed to PEOPLE magazine that he's gay, possibly prompted by public revelation of Washington's outburst.

People, learn how to act right! Especially when you are on a hit show! NO ONE is too good to get fired.

Creature of habit - the news

I like surprises. I dislike monotony. I like challenges and overcoming them. I'm up for trying almost anything once (the exception would be me going splat. And by that, I mean bungee jumping. F-that. But that's not my point.) I'm a fun-lovin' gal.

But sometimes, sometimes, I do not like change.

I have caught whiff of a rumor that I know is more than a rumor. Details to come when I know I won't get canned for writing said details.
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10.21.06 - My boss, the one who hired me, the one who convinced me this was a smart career change, the one who has basically been my mentor, the one who - when I compare to other managers - is by far the most fun, caring yet still successful, the one who I genuinely like as a boss, is being promoted and moving to another team.
If you've ever wondered if it's possible to be pissed at and happy for a person at the same time ... it is very possible.

Refreshed, rejuvenated and I have pictures!

I love the ocean. Even I wonder why since I'm not exactly a water baby - I'm not a strong swimmer or participate in any water activities like surfing. But I love, love the ocean. I like to go to the beach when I'm upset, sad or happy. Something about the way the water stretches all the way to the horizon, that I can't even see where the ocean touches land again, the sunlight dancing on the water, the waves crashing or just lapping against the sand. All of this makes me feel better. It's like free therapy. For real.

Anyway, about my trip. It was great. Of course, there was the main reason why we went to Hawaii. Look at my friend's beautiful wedding!

Absolutely gorgeous, right? They really had the most amazing backdrop. You can't tell but it was hotter than all-get-out. For whatever reason, there is very little breeze where The Kahala is located. No ocean breeze=sweating in uncomfortable places. But it was beautiful!

Since it was The Man's first time on Oahu, I wanted to take him to all the places I enjoyed on previous visits. Unfortunately, he could only take two days off of work. Well, one day for arrival, one day for departure, and one day for the wedding left only one day for him to explore (I took five days off and arrived on a Sunday so, um, I was good to go. I make no apologies!!) So we tried to fit in as much as possible.

(Day of wedding) What's a trip to Oahu without squeezing in a hike up Diamond Head first thing in the morning?

Day after the wedding: On our way to the Polynesian Cultural Center, we went to Kualoa Beach Park. (I think Lost tapes around this area.)
Helpful tip: Don't assume places open the standard 9:00am or 10:00am. The freakin' PCC doesn't open until 12:00pm! (Oh, and a very helpful tip: Don't try to visit the PCC on a Sunday. The Mormons are diligent about getting their church on so the PCC is closed on Sunday. Did you know that Brigham Young University runs the Polynesian Cultural Center? That explains the "no alcohol" at their luau. That's OK. It's a damn good luau. I digress.)
So we killed some time and explored La'ie:

La'ie Point

It was finally noon and time to go to the PCC! We took a tour with a bunch of other peeps (but I think we were the only brown ones. I'm just sayin'.) I like the PCC. It's not cheap but part of our admittance fees went towards student scholarships to BYU. I'm a sucker for poor college students, being a former one myself. Anyway, our tour guide was "Cousin Lety." (FYI: The tour guides are all called "Cousins" and each tour group is a "family.") Cousin Lety sounds like a she would be a cute tiny, maybe even Filipino, woman. Well, our Cousin Lety was a six foot plus, solid Samoan dude. Very nice but bubbly, he wasn't. The Man and I dug him. He toured us around the PCC and took us to the seven islands. At the end, Cousin Lety said he saved the best for last. Our tour ended in Samoa. Like most of the tour, I had to pee. Again. When I came back from the bathroom, The Man told me to sit in front instead of finding our normal relief in the shade. WTF? It was hot! Well, Cousin Lety had asked The Man point blank to volunteer for the show. The Man didn't know what to say. Except yes.
If you know The Man at all, you know he is a very shy feller! Damn straight I was going to sit in the front and take pictures!

"Hey there, sexy!"

The Man later told me that he had a couple of minutes to learn how to start a fire before they were called up onto the stage. Right before they went on, they told him he had to go authentic and take of his shirt. Sweeeeeeet.

Once our tour was done, it was nearly sunset and The Man and I agreed to skip the luau. Instead, we went to an awesome, and I mean awesome, shrimp shack in Kahuku. Unfortunately, no pics. Sure, it looked like a Roach Coach but the town is known for their mobile shrimp shacks. And The Man and I dined on TO-DIE-FOR garlic butter shrimp. Bomb ass shellfish. What a great way to end the day.

The next morning and our last day, we walked to the Royal Hawaiian ...

... and ate breakfast. Then we took one last dip in the ocean. A few hours later, we were on a plane going home. And that concludes Lulu's trip to Hawaii! OK, there was a lot more but (1) I'm a little drunk now and (2) I'm lucky if I've kept you captivated this far. Just know that I had a great time and I'm glad that The Man had a nice first trip to Oahu.Where there's smoke, there's fire, right? Um, no. But The Man was the closest! If you look closely, the dude next to him used a lighter. Cheater! Like his shirt? Courtesy of the Lulu:)No judging, it was humid. The Kahala

I don't expect you to do this ... but it would be nice!

Another survey (thanks, Sister!) until I'm able to post my Hawaii pictures :)
Q. What is your occupation?
A. Staffing Manager
Q. What color are the socks you're wearing?
A. none.
Q. What are you listening to right now?
A. The TV, we we're watching 24
Q. What was the last thing that you ate?
A: granola bars and yogurt
Q. Can you drive a stick shift?
A. no
Q. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
A. perwinkle
Q. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
A. Marisa
Q. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
A. I looooove her!
Q. How old are you today?
A. 27
Q. Favorite drink?
A. Rum and Cherry Diet Coke
Q. Have you ever dyed your hair?
A. Yes.
Q. Pets?
A. None
Q. Favorite food?
A. Dad's lumpia. And spaghetti. And fried chicken. And fried banana. My daddy can cook!
Q. What was the last movie you watched?
A. Little Miss Sunshine
Q. Favorite day of the year?
A. Christmas!
Q. What do you do to vent anger?
A. rant and rave
Q. What was your favorite toy as a child?
A. My cabbage patch doll, Windy.
Q. What is your favorite: fall or spring?
A. Fall (Winter wasn't a choice. Haters)
Q. Hugs or kisses?
A. Hugs
Q. Cherries or Blueberries?
A. Blueberries. In muffins
Q. Do you want your friends to email you back?
A. Yes. I'm very sensitive
Q. Who is most likely to respond?
A. Not a damn one. It's too long
Q. Who is least likely to respond?
A. Everybody
Q. Living arrangements?
A. In sin
Q. When was the last time you cried?
A. the car ride home
Q. What is on the floor of your closet?
A. a bunch of crap like bags
Q. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to?
A. Sister
Q. What did you do last night?
A. Watch Grey's Anatomy
Q. Favorite smells?
A. baking smells, The Man's cologne, apple & cinnamon
Q. What inspires you?
A. Good deeds and people
Q. What are you afraid of?
A. Failure
Q. Favorite dog breed?
A. Maltese for now
Q. Number of keys on your key ring?
A. 3
Q. How many years at your current job?
A. less than 1
Q. How many states have you lived in?
A. 1
Q. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery
A. Nope
Q. What is your favorite hobby?
A. Knitting & Yoga (if I could attend my favorite yoga class which I can't b/c of my work schedule!) Oh, and Hula because I've been reinspired by my trip to Hawaii!

Almost there ...

I can almost smell the ocean air. I swear to you, I'm not bragging. I have earned this vacation. And if I could, I would pack each and every one of you with me in my carry-on! It would be just one big party.

One day, my lovely peeps, one day. Except not in my carry-on. That would just be weird.

9/30/06: Bye everybody, see you online in about a week! Aloha!!! PS: It's 7:35pm and I still haven't packed. Procastinators of the world - unite!!!

Four more days until ...

HAPPY BIRFDAY, SISSER!!

(Lucky for both of us, I have no soft copies of our childhood pictures!)

Demondoll's birthday is today. She is my best friend. When I was little, she was the "fun one" in the family. Unlike most older sisters, she took me almost everywhere she went. She was maternal way before she had a baby. Of course, I have to tell you about just how feisty my sister is to celebrate the day of her birth.

When I was five or six, I was the smallest kid in my class. I might as well have worn a "Kick Me" sign on my back. The second smallest girl, of course, felt the need to pick on me. More than twenty years later, I still remember her name. It was Valerie.

Maybe it was a week but it felt like months. Every day I would come home and tell Sister how she would pick on me. Valerie turned my friends against me, said mean things to me and behind my back, took things from my desk and hid them, and once, had the nerve to push me. I remember when I came home and told Sister about that. I think after hearing story after story about Valerie, my Sister thought enough was enough. She gave me "tough love." Sister basically told me that I better stand up for myself. Yes, mom said she would punish me if I got into trouble. But so what? "You had better shove her back if she shoves you or I don't want to hear it anymore" Sister said. I didn't know what to think. I was five years old and my Sister was telling me to go again what Mommy said. After she gave me a-talkin'-to, Sister gave me a hug, told me that she loved me and she just doesn't want someone to keep being mean to her little sister.

I don't remember the details. But Sister told me that the next day, Valerie pushed me again. Keeping in mind my sister's advice, I pushed Valerie back. Hard. And she fell back. In a puddle. In her faux fur white coat. That's what she gets for wearing a tacky article of clothing. My teachers told my mom who scolded me when I got home. Again, I don't remember the details but I'm betting that my Sister gave me a big hug and either took me to the movies or bought me an accessory for my Barbie to let me know I done good.

Over twenty years later, Sister still gives pretty great advice. And she is a very very cool Sister. She is loving, sweet and wonderful. But she also knows when to whoop some ass.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SISTER!!!!

Crotchless panties or spa treatment?

I know, it depends on the gal. But I know my friend and she digs spa treatments more than lingerie. (I'm not knocking it, I'm just sayin'.) We are leaving for Oahu next week for her wedding and, as a bridesmaid, it's one of my duties to make sure she's relaxed. So off we went to Burke Williams!

Today I took her for an awesome pedicure -
"Foot Fantasy - We soak your hands and feet in a special blend of essential oils. Your feet and calves, hands and forearms are cleansed and exfoliated. Then, your tired muscles are gently but firmly massaged, again. Finally, your nails are trimmed, shaped and polished."

While this place doesn't give the best massages, they have plenty of space to lounge around - a quiet room with comfy recliners, a big jacuzzi, and an area that looks like a living room. It's closest thing I've seen in the Bay Area to the wonderful spas in Las Vegas.

We went to Burke Williams bright and early this morning. It was soooo nice. There weren't as many people around so it was very peaceful. In the Manicure/Pedicure Room, there were only three pedicure chairs in the room and, because it was early, my friend and I were the only one clients. What was different from most nail salons is that the pedicurists didn't talk to each other. They were quiet. And that was just wonderful. My friend and I relaxed in peace as our ladies loved our poor feet.

Anyhow, I don't remember her name but my woman was wonderful. (How very man-ish of me.) She gave an awesome foot massage - the kind that makes your feet tingle even after she's done with the massage. And my friend had a great pedicure, too! We were very happy gals when we left. My gift to her before she goes to Hawaii and gets hitched. I like these kind of gifts.

A tribute to this season's Dancing with the Stars

I admit that I don't take the time to watch this show. But I do know who the "celebrities" (rabbit ears fingers motion) are this season. Blogs aren't meant to have reruns but c'mon, this was an oldie but goodie:

HEY, is that SLATER?

I am so EXCITED!!!

The season premiere of Grey's Anatomy is tonight!!!
I love, love, LOVE this show.
With that said, it better not pull a "Desperate Housewives" and stink to high heaven in its the third season.

And know what else is really cool? Well, I took The Man to Monterey this past weekend for his birthday. It was freakin' expensive (and I mean, expensive) but he's worth it. The poor dude has been working 21 days straight. I think he was grateful for the little break. Also, knowing what a broke gal I am, he was truly appreciate of my efforts. So, being the cool guy he is, he surprised me a couple days later with this ..


Sweeeeeeeeeeeet.

Thank goodness it's almost Fall

Knitting* in 80+ degree weather is NOT cozy. It is hot and causes me to have sweaty hands. Ew.

But it was all worth it because ...

Here is a Summer purse:

(A gift for a lucky someone!)

And a scarf when it finally becomes cold. I love the Fall colors.

(It's only half way done. These freakin' reversible cables take for-ever.)

*This is what I do when The Man and I relax and watch 24. Which, by the way, I swear was written by someone who HATES women. The female characters are all helpless and make stupid decisions which annoys me. They make me yell at the TV and I actually wish them death so they are written off the show. My behavior is completely out of my control. The Man is used to my outbursts. Plus, he hates President Palmer's ex-wife. I hear, however, that in Season 2 the women are FIERCE. I am so excited.