"I rock rough and stuff with my afro puffs ...

... rock on, wit cha bad self."

OK, so I didn't have an afro. But I did rock the permed hair.

You didn't believe me, did you?

It's that time ... my ten year reunion. Even though I'm not the first in my blog family to talk about this, it's still a tough choice.

Reunion, or not to reunion?

I know I'm echoing the same sentiments of most people when I say that if I would have wanted to keep in touch with my classmates, I would have done it. And I kept in touch with less than a handful. But I'm curious to see how we all ended up.

I came from a school that was in a middle- to low-income area. There were many bright kids but we just didn't have the resources to make us flourish or to help the kids that had potential but just didn't know it. (Do not MAKE me get into the whole California High School Exit Exam. Well crap, it's my blog so I will say this. It is true that it is a bias exam and many low income kids do not have a chance to pass it because, for the most part, they are receiving a mediocre education. Granted, you aren't doing them any favors by letting them skate by. However, if they made it to senior year, then they have a fighting chance. But you cannot give all youth the same exam - many are ESL or just haven't received the best education possible. To expect them to regurgitate every subject they learned from ninth grade is ridiculous. Universities don't even ask that of its students! I would put money on it that the schools in wealthy areas are taking the time to prep their students for this exam while the kids in poorer areas are expected to fend for themselves. OK, I'm getting off my soapbox now.)

I hope my classmates have succeeded. I hope they are happy with their lives and making a positive impact in their communities. I just don't know if I want to see or hear them talking about themselves. Yes, a person can change a lot in ten years. But if I found them annoying back then, is there any chance we will have changed so much that we'll get along like the best of buds? Maybe. But not likely.

I may go if we have a casual event (I hear it's going to be at Dave & Busters) where I can blend in a public place and duck out without anyone noticing. But if it's at hotel and a black tie affair, I'm going to pass.

Like my perm? I bet my hair was crispier than a KFC drumstick.

Life change

The Man is going to move out of his place because his roommate's fiancee wife is moving in. So The Man will be moving in with me at the end of August this month.

"SAY WHAT?"

Oh no, don't get me wrong, it's good news. I love The Man. I'm open to sharing my personal space with him. We just didn't expect it to be so soon.

He's concerned about my parents - he doesn't want to piss them off. I told him that I would be ticked off if he rented an apartment, kicking down $1,000, just because of that. It's sweet, actually. He respects my parents and wants them to see him in the best possible light. They are reserved, with very old-fashioned values, and don't want their baby living in sin. After all, I am a virgin (shut up, I hear you laughing.)

Then something popped into my head and I started to worry. Since I tell him darn near everything, I knew I could be honest with him. I told him to please not pop the big question before he moves in.

"WHAT THE F- DID SHE JUST WRITE?"

Before you think Lulu done lost her mind, hear me out. I didn't want a proposal just to prevent my parents from being upset. I want to be asked because of love, not fear. If he asked me before he moved in, all I would think is that it's only because of my parents and my reaction to a question like that would probably not be the ideal.

So that's that.

The Man is moving in. Heaven help us, between my bathroom phobia, his muddy work boots and my hatred for the snooze button, we are in for quite an adventure. But I'm looking forward to it.

You best believe that I'm keeping my three (two clothing and one shoe) closets, though.

My trip summed up in one entry

I promised I would write more about my vacation when I had pictures. Come to find out, there isn't much more! Oh well. I've borrowed some from the internet to aid in illustration.
Why was this my best vacation to the Philippines? Well, there are a few factors. First, I've learned what to expect. For instance, after three visits, I knew that there might be some bucket showers, "different" toilet facilities and potentially lots of 'skeeters. And there's that teeny tiny fact that a few of my relatives may call me fat. Let's steer away for a minute about how that can really ruin a trip.
I have ranted and raved to my mom about how being called fat is mean, hurtful and just plain rude. She knows and has actually defended me when I've been so floored by an insult that I forgot to reply. No, it wasn't all of my relatives, maybe four or five at most (I have a LOT of relatives so that's barely any.) But it only takes one insult to negate the 10 compliments you received prior. And even though my mom defends me, she has tried to persuade me that it's a cultural difference, and that to my relatives in PI, it isn't an insult, just a comment. Like saying, "You have a booger in your nose." Well, sad to say (or not), I'm Americanized. It. Is. Not. The. Same. It was such a relief to not have to deal with that crap from anyone this time around.

Another plus was that, for the most part, our living accommodations were nice. We had a couple of sketchy places but overall the places we stayed in, especially my cousins, were very comfortable. And guess what? Barely any mosquitos. Thanks be! While I don't recommend this resort for overnight trips, it is a great place to go for a day trip:

Dhio Endheka Resort

I also spoke up to my mom prior to this vacation and let her know that I wanted to do fun stuff. In- and outdoors. Maybe it's because I've held steadfast about not visiting for five years but my mom heard me. That's probably why I got to go swimming with whale sharks, hiking, parasailing, island-hopping, sailboating and stay at a resort island.
You may wonder why I would have to tell my mom this. After all, I said I was pushing 30, right? If you're Filipino, you can skip this paragraph. If you're not, here's the answer: I am at the mercy of my mom and dad when I go to the Philippines. They speak the language, they are the closest to our relatives, they know the country. I wouldn't even know how to book a hotel or plane ticket while in the Philippines. Scratch that. I do but I wouldn't know how to do it without getting ripped off. It would also be a lot harder to know what kind of tourist-y activities were available. And worthwhile. Not to mention, when in the Philippines, you are with your family all the live long day. This place is the epitome of the word, "family." I was with them the entire time. That means sleeping in the same room, sharing a bathroom, and basically going everywhere together. My parents were my roommates for a week and a half. (The only reason it wasn't for all two weeks is because I spend four days with The Man.) Remember when I addressed this very subject? HA! Not a chance. Sure, the hotel rooms are inexpensive. But then I would be the spoiled American cousin! How's that? Well, when I stayed at my cousin's house, she put the three of us in one room. Even though there were seven bedrooms, she put us in one. And it made perfect sense. It was the only other bedroom with air-conditioning. In that sweltering heat, I was more than happy to share with my parents. Maybe it's because I don't live with them anymore but we didn't kill each other! In fact, other than my dad giving me his cold, we all got along just fine. When we stayed at a resort, the three of us stayed in one room again. Why? Because my cousins and their kids, all sixteen of them, shared two rooms with no air-conditioning. How could I dare ask to be in my own room? No, my relatives aren't poor but they couldn't see wasting money on additional rooms when eight to a room was snug but doable?
So, besides doing outdoor stuff, I got to do all the pampering I wanted. It was Spa Heaven for me! Whether it be right or wrong, the American dollar goes very far in the Philippines. In two weeks, I had one hot stone massage, three regular massages, three spa manicures and pedicures, my hair trimmed, and permed my eyelashes. In addition, I paid for my mom's two massages, her facial and a mani/pedi for Mother's Day. All of these treatments, collectively, cost about $200. Seriously. For instance, when I got my lashes permed at a posh salon, it cost $6. And y'all know how much I love pedicures/manicures. I had them 2x a week!
The best part of my trip was that I got to know my cousins, nieces and nephews a lot better. I adore them! Sure, I talk about the few tactless ones but overall I have really wonderful relatives. Family that are selfless - they made sure that someone picked us at the airport (several times), secured our accommodations, helped us with transportation, negotiated our trips for us, and checked in on us almost daily after work. A lot of them bent over backwards helping us plan our trips and making sure we had a good time. My cousins showed me around, made sure that I got to see the shopping areas, parks, hang outs and dance clubs. Since most of my cousins are in their late 30s/early 40s, I know they were only doing the latter because they thought I would enjoy it :)
Five years is a long time to not visit. Many of my nieces and nephews have grown up so fast. I saw my relatives and I realized how important it was for me to stay connected to my dad's family. While many of them are doing well for themselves, almost all of them aren't able to come to the U.S. If I don't make the effort to stay connected, it won't happen. I respect that some people don't want to go to the Philippines. It can be rough and one hellish experience just like any other vacation. But I've been blessed to have a wonderful time. There's talk about a reunion next year. If so, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Me with my nieces (and one baby nephew held by my cousin.)

I believe in fairies

A married couple in their early 60s were out celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table and said,

"For being such an exemplary married couple and for being faithful to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish."

"Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband" said the wife.

The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets for the Queen Mary II luxury liner appeared in her hands.

Then it was the husband's turn. He thought for a moment and said, "Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me."

The wife and the fairy were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish... So the fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - the husband became 92 years old.

The moral of the story:

Men who are ungrateful bastards should remember that fairies are female.

Forgive my negligence

I arrived home last Friday around 11pm and could not sleep for two days - I was up for 48 hours. (Props to Tater for taping Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and Lost. Gave me something to do to pass the time.) Finally, I slept 12 hours on Monday. Unfortunately, I woke up 2am today and have been awake since.

Jeg lag is a bitch.

I had a blast with my family in the Philippines. This was the best vacation I've had there so far. (It probably helped that no one called me fat. In fact, they said I looked like I lost weight. Don't think it's really true, though - I am five years older and I think my face just lost some baby fat.) I was able to do a lot of fun stuff, hang out with my very cool cousins, nieces and nephews, and actually relax.

Here are some pictures until I get it together and am able to write a decent entry:









These pictures were taken on the resort island of Boracay. This is when I love 35mm film more than digital pics. Sometimes digital is too clear. Had these pictures been taken with a digital camera, you would see the beads of perspiration on all of us. Boracay was BY FAR hotter than any of the other places I visited while in the Philippines. Hot damn, seriously.

OK, now THIS is the coolest thing I've done so far

I got to snorkel in the ocean above this ...



A whale shark! Never heard of it? Neither had I! I actually saw three different ones, the biggest was as large as an SUV.

It was really, really cool.

Hot, hot, hot!!

I've stolen some precious moments on my cousin's computer so I won't have to go to an internet cafe.

Obviously, I'm hot. No seriously, I'm burning up. I've had to wear summer dresses (they are actually called "dusters" and equivelant to "muumuus." But if it causes me not to sweat like a freakin' pig, I'm going to wear it.) No make up, no hair do ... it's actually quite freeing.

If I weren't so freakin' hot.

Some of the "resorts" and "hotels" have been questionable. Ants and overall cleanliness have been some issues. By far, my favorite place to stay is at my cousin's. She has a showerhead, air conditioning and an internet connection. Her house is better than some resorts. Yes sister, I've had to take some bucket showers.

The coolest thing I've done so far ... I went exercising with my cousin 5:00 this morning. I can't help it - even though I go to bed late, I still wake up really early. In any case, I'm glad b/c I need to exercise! Nothing but fried food the past few days and I can't be possibly sweating it off.

Anyhow, my cousin is a POWERHOUSE. She walks this hill every day and I asked if I could join her. So today, we walked/hiked up this hill (no, not the volcano, the hill in front of it.)

OK, so in comparison to Mt. Mayon, one of the wonders of the world, this hill doesn't look impressive. But believe me, in the heat and humidity which is there even at 5:00am(!!!) it's a doozie. Lignon Hill is steep and a popular hiking trail. Once at the top (which you can't see in this picture) you get a beautiful view of Mt. Mayon, the city, and the ocean. It's beautiful ... I saw the sun rise and a city wake up. I kid you not ... I think I heard every rooster crow. Instead of dogs barking, it sounded like every house had a rooster. It was a trip.

The best part of the hike was going down. Not just for the obvious reason, though! On the way down, my cousin stopped at a makeshift stand and asked me if I wanted buko (coconut) juice. Standing in our New Balance sneakers, we waited as the elderly lady took her bolo knife (it looks like a machete) and hacked two coconuts until there was a flat service with a tiny hole. She stuck straws in the holes and gave them to us. How cool is that? Instead of drinking boring old Gatorade, I was drinking buko juice straight from a coconut.

OK, got to go. My three nephews are being so patient by not swarming me around the computer but I can tell it's getting to them.

I'm leaving on a jet plane ...

Well, The Man left first. I took him to the airport last night.

I leave this weekend. I have my work cut out for me before I go. On top of my 8 to 5 work, of course.

Haven't packed. Check.

Haven't finished cleaning my house before I go on vacation. Check.

Haven't run all my errands. Check.

Oh yahhhhhhh.

I'm not too worried, though. Despite all my unfinished business, the anxiety of meeting The Man's extended family or whatever wonderful comments some of my tactless relatives may have for me, I'm excited to go to see my extended family. I'm thrilled to be going to a resort and try out snorkeling, cave exploring, and hopefully, parasailing!


The motherland may be a third world country but hey, look at what it has to offer ...

I thought I was an original ...

... the only one.

Who the F is this???

http://www.lizadawn.com/

Well, at least she's keeping up with the namesake and allegedly one funky mama.

Yes, this is a result of googling my own name. I was bored. And I wanted to check to make sure I wasn't being slandered. Or in some weird fetish porn site.

Friday is my favorite day

I am SO tired. My new job - pretty cool. My new hours - not so hot.

There are different functions so members of my team rotate each week. This week, I worked 7:30am - 6:00pm. Throw in the fact that I'm brand spankin' new and training my little tail off. I am spent. I can't believe I'm actually thinking this but I am very excited to be working at 8:00am next week.

Anyhow, when The Man sleeps over, I've conditioned myself to be able to spleep through his alarm and him pressing the snooze button several times. At 4:40am. That is not a typo.

Now that my wake up time is close to his, his alarm wakes me up.

4:40am alarm+Lulu=Bad a$s attitude!

( D-Doll & Lulu. She's included b/c she can rock the same bad a$s attitude:)

Completely off topic, I'm thinking about changing The Man's nickname to "G-Unit." I like the oppressive implications to "The Man" :) But he's sooo the opposite of ghetto that I like the irony of G-Unit. Plus, I'm delirious with exhaustion.

Why I love romantic comedies

I do ... it's true. I love romantic comedies. Most likely, if you're my friend, you want to knock me upside the head because they are sappy movies and you are sarcastic. And slightly bitchy. Which is probably why I adore you.

I can watch 50 First Dates, My Big Fat Creek Wedding and the Wedding Singer over and over again. Those kind of movies remind me what it's first like to fall in love. The heart going pitter-patter, the bumbling awkward moments, the late night calls because you just want to know everything there is to know about the person. And then some. I love the crazy things in movies that characters in love do for one another because you love the person that much. One of my favorite goofiest scenes? When Heath Ledger sings and runs around a high school stadium, accompanied by a marching band, to woo Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You. That kind of stuff melts my heart. Control yourself. I know you want to bitch slap me for being so corny. I can't help it.

I know that being in love is the best. I mean, I can't deny that things change and people get comfortable. I can't deny I'm comfortable too. Past-midnight calls don't amuse me like they once did - I get up way too early for that. I also don't go to the farthest bathroom humanly possible like I did when we first started dating. The jig is up - he knows I poop. So I can't really complain when he shows just how comfortable he's become, too. Because, despite all the hard times, nothing beats someone knowing which side is YOUR side of the bed. Or someone knowing you so well that, just by looking at your face, he knows you need a big fat hug and some major cuddling.

Some people may have the best of both worlds - being in a long-term relationship and the lovey-dovey stuff that usually only occurs in the "honeymoon stage." If you're one of those people, though, don't even think about commenting on my blog to tell me that.

I wouldn't trade what I have for the "newness" part of a relationship. But you gotta love the goofy songs Adam Sandler sings to Drew Barrymore. In both movies.

Speaking of mistaken ethnic identity ...

At my new job, I work with someone who graduated from the same university. He was also a big part of the Filipino organization that I briefly interacted with when I participated in its Pilipino Culture Night aka PCN.

Yes, California is so packed full of Filipinos that we have clubs at almost every college and university. A "PCN" is a huge yearly event when the club showcases traditional and modern dances, cha-cha, and some acting. You don't have to be Filipino to participate but most are, by default. Almost every club has a PCN. Scary, ain't it? ;)

Of course, we exchange names to see who we both know. Never mind that there are over 28,000 students. We stick to the Filipino organization people b/c we figure we would have a better chance. Surprisingly, or not so if you're Filipino, we knew a few of the same people.
Later in the day, my coworker (we'll call him PB for "Pinoy Boy") says to me fron his desk, "Guess who I just talked to on the phone?"
"Who?"
"Bing. Do you remember him?"
"The one with the hair?" Gesturing as if I have a big afro. PB nods to confirm my guess. "I loved his big hair!" I did. I didn't know an Asian guy could have a stick straight afro. But he did. I was always impressed when I saw it.
"I'm going to call him back and see if he remembers you!" says PB.
"Mmm, maybe not. But you can try."
I hear PB on the phone, "Hey. I have a new coworker who used to go to State. Do you know a girl named Lulu?"
Listens.
"Well, she was in a PCN a couple years back. You know, Lulu." insists PB.
Now I'm just thinking, Bing has no idea who PB is talking about.
PB smiles, "Yup! That's her! OK, well, I'll call you later. Bye!"
He turns to me and says, "He remember you! He paused when I said your name. Then Bing asked, "Is she the one that's Filipino but doesn't look it?" and I said, "Yes!""

I had told PB earlier that day that when I auditioned for PCN, I didn't know a soul because I wasn't active in the Filipino club. Of course, everyone else knew each other. But after a few months, I got to know some people.
After one of our rehearsals, a guy asked me, "So, what made you decide to join PCN?"
I replied, "I was in a PCN at my old college and I wanted to be in one here before I graduated."
Guy then said, "Oh that's cool. Are you also active in La Raza?"
Me, with a blank expression, "Huh?"
Guy, looking a little confused, "Aren't you Mexican?"
Me, now thinking he's special, "If I was Mexican, why would I join a Filipino cultural event?"
Guy now a little indignant, "I thought you just appreciated other cultures."

I guess that could have been true :)

Filipino reference of the day #2

(This was actually a few days ago but it's new to you, right?)

I was listening to my favorite morning show, Fernando in the Morning. Dat Phan, a Vietnamese comedian, was on the show to promote his comedy tour. A lot of his jokes are Asian-oriented (Hehehe. I said "Asian" and "Orient" in the same sentence. I've just been kicked out of the club.) The two DJs, Fernando and Greg, asked Dat why some Asian ethnicities seem favored over others. They gave an example of when they asked one of their Asian coworkers if he was Korean and the guy yelled, "I'm Chinese, not Korean!" Fernando said, "It was like we called him a horrible name or something." Dat Phan responded that it has a lot to do with people always grouping Asian cultures together and not bothering to know the difference.

Greg asked, "What about Filipinos? They don't look like other Asians."

Fernando said, "Yah, they look like a little bit of this and a little bit of that."

Dat replied, "They're like Asian curry. A whole lot of different things, a whole lot of different spices."

Greg agreed, "Yes, and they're very delicious, too."

I have to agree - The Man is quite delicious:)

For the second year in a row, Lulu has won the title of ...

BOMB A$S GIRLFRIEND.

*cheer, cheer, clap, clap*

Thank you so much *fluttering of the hands* ... I want to thank everyone, especially The Man, for enduring three years of good and crap gifts from me. This includes the build-a-bear kung-fu fighting teddybear that said "I love you" which seemed like a really cute and sweet idea at first ...

You may have remembered last year's birthday present to the Man which is why I say "three years of good and crap gifts ..." I think I got it right into our fourth year together. And I believe that I did a pret-ty fine job for our four year anniversary. As you know from reading my little blog, I do enjoy the wine. The Man, unfortunately, does not share the same love and affection that I do (my Texas Cousin and Sister may remember the incident from my graduation party. We won't delve into it.) But my honey does like himself the sauce. He gets a kick out of microbreweries and trying new and different beers. Yes folks, I got him:

A MEMBERSHIP TO THE BEER OF THE MONTH CLUB!

Ahhh-yahhhh.

And because The Man IS The Man, he gave me a great gift as well. Unfortunately, The Man has been swamped with work. He barely has any free time lately. When he does, he's either kung-fu-ing or sleeping. I was sad that we weren't doing anything spectacular for our anniversary but we are both going to the Philippines and need to save. Anyway, despite doing everything on the fly, we had a great day. We went to Capitola and strolled for a little bit. Lucky for us, no rain! We ate at a so-so restaurant. We forgot that we didn't care much for it the first time we ate there. But our waitress did tell us where we could find a spa.

Earlier that morning, The Man was looking into mudbaths online but I had to set him straight on the fact that Lulu doesn't like mud all up in her crevices. Now, most of you know about spas. It's best to book ahead because they will most likely be all booked up especially on the weekends. I didn't want to get my hopes up just to be let down. We drove south to Aptos, checked out Sanctuary Day Spa and, hurray! They had an opening for a deep tissue massage at 3:30pm. The Man did not want to get a couples massage. Especially from a dude. I told him as long as I got the pretty girl, it was fine. He still declined. But he said he would pay for my massage-his gift to me-and roam around. It was 2:00pm and we ended up killing time at a nearyby cafe, Full of Beans. (BTW - The Man and I decided we would open two shops. Mine would be "Full of Shitzu" and his would be "Just for the Halibut." We think too much sometimes.)

Sanctuary Day Spa is a cute little spa. What I loved is that they had a Relaxation Room where you could chill before and after you have a massage. Nothing irks me more than a place that calls itself a "spa" but doesn't have a locker room or a room to relax in before and after your massage. Those places should be called "spa-ish" so right away you know the difference. I digress. My massage therapist was named Dea. She was a pixie lookin' girl and, while adorable, I was skeptical that this gal packed a punch. I was sooooo happy to be proved wrong. In fact, I had to tell her to ease up a little. Dea gave me a 60 minute aromatherapy deep tissue massage and it was so nice! I told her my shoulder was hurting me (I think from knitting and my new job but I didn't want to look like a dork so I just told her it was from my new job) and she worked on it for quite a while. It was the first time someone worked on my derriere but it was through a sheet so I figured I wasn't being assaulted.

I don't know if it was the aromatherapy or her massage but it was the first time that I fell asleep. I've dozed off before but never fell asleep. Luckily, it was towards the end so I was awake to enjoy most of it. But I was SO relaxed that I konked out. Know how I knew I was knocked out? I woke up to a big ass SNORE. From me. Now, I don't snore. But I know for a fact that it was one of those deep snores, from the throat. And since I don't snore, the sound actually woke up up! I apologized profusely but Dea didn't care. She just said that it was good b/c I was obviously relaxed. I couldn't hang out at the relaxation room afterwards (something I usually love to do to bask in the afterglow of a good massage) because The Man was waiting for me. I smelled like lavendar and was a happy gal.

We ended our visit at a very pretty restaurant called Shadowbrook in Capitola. It was such a yummy meal! The service was excellent. (I'm always wary of places that don't have a lot of minorities working or frequenting the place. Hey, call it a hang up for being brown but I can't help it. Plus, we looked casual so I wasn't sure how it was going to go.) The Man ordered lobster & steak and I had a salad b/c he said I could have some of his lobster. We also ordered baked brie and jalepeno mint jelly as an appetizer. Hot damn that was good! Of course, a meal isn't a meal without a delicious dessert. We had the Jack Daniel's Mud Pie. Oh yum.

Pookie, you have to tell P-hubby that The Man was thinking about him/you both. He said a couple of times, "We have to them here when they come visit. Then we can take them to Capitola or Santa Cruz. I think they would like it a lot." Isn't that cute? He was thinking of you guys during our special outing. Wait, is that normal? Does P-Hub think of The Man when you guys have a romantic dinner? Don't answer that. I'll just choose to continue thinking that it's sweet :)

And that was the end of our anniversary celebration. Well, I thought it would be romantic to take the scenic way home, Hwy 1. Three hours later, we were home :) (OK, not the brightest of choices but whatever. Bite me.)

I just realized that I have to apologize ...

for being so GD boring lately! :(

Knitting projects and such

I still knit even though I'm bone tired. My newest project is a scarf with not one but THREE cables.

Before this scarf, I have never cabled a damn day in my life. Here it is:

(Click a picture to make bigger.)

Needless to say, there were a lot of colorful words coming out of my mouth when I started this project.

AL's getting this for Mother's Day and you best believe she's going to like it.

Excuse the attitude ... I'm just so dang tired.

I am t-i-r-e-d.

Hello, my lovelies ...

I am one tired chick. I can't believe it's only Tuesday. Coming to work before 8:00am has proven to be quite a challenge.

I've been training, shadowing and working on my own. I get off work around 5:30pm.

Over all, though, I like my new job.

But dammit. I'm tired.

10 random thoughts

1. DAMMIT! Grey's Anatomy is a rerun.
2. I'm a little nervous about starting my new job tomorrow.
3. I'm trying to psych myself up that I start work at 8:00am (I thought it was 8:30am. That 1/2 hour makes a difference in my world.)
4. The Man just reminded me that I blurted, "Bust a nut!" out of nowhere when he was driving. I asked him, "Isn't it synonymous with "Bust a U-turn?"" He said no. Whatever. We should all start using it in that context and it will eventually come around.
5. Is it normal for my shoulder to ache from knitting?
6. I wish I lost those 10 lbs already.
7. I wish I didn't like chocolate as much as I do.
8. I like most babies and kids but I can't stand the bratty ones.
9. Now that I wrote that, I fear my kids will be bratty.
10. I left Target today b/c I couldn't stand the screaming children. They made me nervous and irritated.

Take this job and ...

Last night was my Going Away party. My friend, who's also in charge of work events, asked me what kind of going away party I wanted. I asked for a small, intimate party at a very cute restaurant called Lure (it's four months old and looks straight out of Sex and the City. So if you're in the Peninsula, stop by, it's fabulous! OK, that was my plug.)

My party was a dutch event and I was A-OK with it. See, here's the thing. A lot of people have their going away party either at Chevy's or Red Robin. I'd rather have a dutch event at a nice place then have the j-o-b pay for everyone and their mama to eat at a mediocre restaurant. I'm not a snob but I wanted my party to be at a place that was pretty. Why? I want a place to have a nice enough atmosphere that I enjoy it when I come in stone sober and come out drunk as a skunk.

That's right, bitches, I got drunk. I had a glass of wine at another restaurant (before Lure opened.) Once at Lure, I proceeded to have another glass of wine and two glasses of a champagne mix concoction. Luckily, I ate the asian crackers they had out as well as dessert. Because Lulu loves her some dessert.

It was a WONDERFUL going away party. I was faded, laughing it up, and having a grand ol' time. Our waiter, a cool mister named Michael, asked me what I was going to be doing at my new job. I said, "Staffing Manager." He looks puzzled. My friend Maria, a little tossed herself, said "She sells people." So I went with it and told him that I was a pimp. In his proper voice, he said "Great, then I'll be your ho." When my soon-to-be-ex-boss arrived a few minutes after us, Michael introduced himself. "Good evening. I understand that this party is for her," pointed to me, "she is my pimp and I'm her ho." My boss was stunned that this could come from such a refined gentleman. She turned to me, "What did you do to him? You've only been here for 10 minutes or so!" And that's pretty much how the night went.

I have the BEST ex-coworkers. Normally, I don't list what I get as presents on my blog b/c I feel like I'm bragging. But dammit, my friends did a great job!
- The company gave me a gift certificate for a deluxe spa pedicure and manicure at my favorite nail salon, Pinkies. And guess who happens to have an appointment today at 1:30pm for that exact package? (Again, the result of having a friend who's in charge of also buying company gifts!) It was a present to myself that I booked earlier this week but now it's on the j-o-b. Sweet.
- My two closest friends gave me a $100 gift certificate to Ann Taylor. They both know that I will most likely go broke ass buying new clothes. Aren't they very thoughtful and generous? They also happen to be the culprits who introduced me to this oh-so-lovely store. But I'm not placing blame ;) I love them so much!
- And then another coworker went to my favorite knitting store, Nine Rubies, and bought a beautiful needle case that I've been coveting every time I go into the store but is way too pricey for me to justify.
- The j-o-b also extended my free gym membership for another year. I was VERY excited to hear that b/c there was no way that I was going to be able to pay $63/month.

I loved my going away party. And by the time it was over, I was in no condition to drive. Tod, a former coworker himself (and also one of the people that I drank with on Tuesday) was nice enough to drive Maria and me to her house. We stopped by a coffee shop with the hope that it would sober me up. It didn't. Tod dropped us off and Maria and I barged into her home to the dismay of her boyfriend. Poor Maria's honey. Around 10:00pm, he had to help Maria (b/c I was STILL in no condition to drive) get her car AND my car back to their place. They let me crash on their couch. Today, I woke up at 4:50am and drove my butt home.

Thanks to lots of water the night before and three Advil before sleeping, MamaLu's head doesn't hurt. I go into work this morning to tie up loose ends, get my mani/pedi, knit a little bit and then go to another going away party. At Red Robin. I think I won't tempt fate and opt for Diet Coke*.


*The Shampoo Drinking Theory: It is believed that there is still enough alcohol in your system the next day that if you drink again, it is a lot easier to get drunk again and that you do not need nearly as much alcohol as the first time. Just like when you shampoo your hair the first time versus the second time. You don't need nearly as much shampoo the second time to work up a good lather.
I THINK I came up with this theory but, then again, someone may have told me this when I was drunk and I plum forgot.

CDC Warning

The Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of sexually transmitted disease. The disease is contracted through dangerous and high-risk behavior. It is called Gonorrhea-Lectim and pronounced "gonna re-elect him." Many victims contracted it in 2004, after having been screwed for the past four years. Cognitive characteristics of individuals infected include: anti-social personality disorders, delusions of grandeur with messianic overtones, extreme cognitive dissonance, inability to incorporate new information, pronounced xenophobia and paranoia, inability to accept responsibility for own actions, cowardice masked by misplaced bravado, uncontrolled facial smirking, ignorance of geography and history, tendencies toward evangelical theocracy, categorical all-or-nothing behavior. Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed at how this destructive disease originated only a few years ago from a Bush found in Texas.

Why parents drink

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers, dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper.
"Hello."
"Is your daddy home?" he asked.
"Yes," whispered the small voice.
"May I talk with him?"
The child whispered, "No."
Surprised, and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?"
"Yes."
"May I talk with her?"
Again the small voice whispered, "No."
Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, "Is anybody else there?"
"Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman."
Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman?"
"No, he's busy", whispered the child.
"Busy doing what?"
"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer.
Growing concerned and even worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the earpiece on the phone the boss asked, "What is that noise?"
"A hello-copper" answered the whispering voice.
"What is going on there?" asked the boss, now truly alarmed.
In an awed whispering voice the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper."
Alarmed, concerned, and even more then just a little frustrated the boss asked, "What are they searching for?"
Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle: "ME."

"Pack yo' $hit!"

I was going to write an entry about how nifty my office looked before I packed it up. I was going to post before and after pictures to illustrate how bare my office looks now.

But I plum forgot and now it's just "after." Since seeing "after" pictures really isn't all that interesting, here are pictures of all my office crap now at home:

I'm changing jobs and I can't move all this "decor" to my new job b/c I'm going to have a cubicle. I'm OK with that. But I'm not OK with all this stuff being at home. Decorating my office and decorating my home are two different things.

That's right folks. The picture to the left is a bamboo curtain of hula dancers. (I've turned it sideways for your convenience.) When I started my job, I couldn't commit to a big as$ framed poster so I thought this was better. It was VERY cool at work (It was! I assure you. Ask Demondoll or Tel, they've seen it.) It made my office a lot brighter and more colorful.

I've learned "kitsch-y" can be pulled off at work as long as there's a theme. Mine was "Hawaiian hula." I had pictures of men and women performing hula and Hawaiian stuff here and there. Now I have no idea where I'm going to put it all.

Also, I bought these frou-frou pillows (in blue, pink and green) because it worked in my office. They matched the fabrics from India I had covering my sterile cabinet and table top. Now these pillows don't make any sense-they are more accessories that don't fit in my home. I've ALREADY bought pictures for the home, neutral pillows for my couch and didn't think to purchase any kind of bamboo curtain because, well, do you need a reason?

But I have a bamboo curtain now.

Well, I like all my stuff enough to not want to sell it or give it away. And after talking to The Man, it appears that most of my office stuff will go into my new home office - also known as "the room with a small desk and nothing else." It was supposed to be my Yoga room. Or The Man's kung fu room. No matter that we haven't done either in that room for the past six months. Now it's where my office crap is put to pasture.

Mama Lu has joined the 21st century!

Hallelujah! I finally have DSL!

That's right, Karaway. I can now view the millions of funny and crazy clips you post daily :)

Yahoo finally got this AOL gal to convert. Sort of.

I'm keeping my AOL e-mail indefinitely. I can't let go yet. I have an unusual attachment to my e-mail address. It's the only thing that's been a constant line of communication for me.

I've moved eight times in the past eight years.

I've had three pager numbers, at least five home numbers and roughly five cell phone numbers. Oh. Now it's six. My AOL e-mail address is like my permanent home address. But it will eventually have to go because it's ridiculous to pay for AOL dial up and Yahoo DSL. Please don't tell me to use the free AIM e-mail. It's not the same thing.

Anyhow, DSL is amazing. I never knew life could be like this. I can watch video. I can download music in a timely manner. I can surf the internet footloose and fancyfree!

I think I'm tearing up. It's all just so beautiful.

Filipino reference of the day

"I love Filipinos. They're Asian.

But they're not cocky about it."

Dammit, I love her character.

I'm doing this for world peace

My last two weeks with my current job are bittersweet. I don't want to blab on and on about my anxieties, excitement and sadness. What I will tell you is that I am pretty thrilled about the drinking bonanza that will occur the next week:
Monday-drinking with close work friends
Tuesday-drinking with people who have ALREADY left my work
Wednesday-drinking with the work knitting group (But that's every week. And we do knit, too.)
Thursday-official going away party for me so drinking with a lot of my coworkers
Friday-up in the air but I'm sure I'll be drinking

Don't think I'm a lush. I'm doing all this for the greater good. See, I have a theory:
+ =


Drinks + Happy Lulu = World Peace!

A classy joint

I will be the first to admit that my people - shot out to my Filipino homies - aren't known for having upscale restaurants. They are either a) Hole-in-the-wall or b) Fast food places (i.e. Goldilocks.) My Vietnamese, Hawaiian and Mexican friends can probably relate. It's not a diss ... it is what it is. And the "fusion" places don't count because that's just a bastardization of the culture's food. Yah, I said it.

The Man and I love Filipino food so we're always open to trying out new places. We're not big fans of the fast Filipino food but we're fine with hole-in-the-wall places as long as they're clean (we won't even go into places like Ling Nam's. For the few peeps that know what I'm talking about ... you KNOW what I mean.)

Surf & Turf recently recommended a new restaurant called Gerry's Grill. Last night, I decided to take The Man out. We rolled up to a place that looked nothing like a Filipino restaurant. It was ... pretty. The bar (yes, Lulu said there's a bar!) was mahogany and glass, there were three or four big screen plasma TVs, a waterfall at the entrance, and the color scheme was understated and coordinated. Now y'all, if there's one thing about Filipino restaurants it's that they love them some LOUD colors. Which don't always coordinate. Ooooo-weeee.


This isn't what the one in our area looks like (the picture wasn't great) but here are other locations so you can see what I mean.

The music was blaring (kinda clubbish) and it was definitely an afterwork place with a hearty drink menu. The Man enjoyed his San Miguel beer and I was smitten with the pretty and CLEAN bathrooms. Priorities, people, priorities. The waitstaff was a good mix of different ethnicities but I would be a liar if I said that the clientele was diverse. Only open a month, the place was packed with A LOT of Filipinos and a sprinkle of other ethnicities. The Man and I have a hunch that the Gerry's Grill advertised on the Philippine Channel. I'm just sayin'.

The food was a little too pricey but it was good. It wasn't the most delicious Filipino food we've ever had but the presentation was very nice. It would be a good place to take someone who has never had Filipino food and might find it intimidating.

Real Filipino restaurants don't care much, if at all, about presentation and the fish head (or pig head) will still be there, in tact. And that's OK. As someone who has grown up with Filipino food, that kind of stuff doesn't scare me. In fact, in my family, we say it isn't a huge to-do unless the lechon is present. And we mean a whole pig that's been roasted and isn't cut up until it's time to eat. Foreel.

So, what's the verdict? We would go there again if we were taking out people for a special occasion (visiting, never had Filipino food, drinks, etc.) If it's just us and want to eat, we'll go to another place. For the two of us, the bill came to $49.00 w/o tip. That's a little pricey for Filipino food. But it was a good experience and we were happy for our people for finally having an attractive restaurant.

Not bad ... not good either

You Are 40% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

Leap of faith

This morning, I gave my letter of resignation. I'm leaving a place that was my second home for over two years, going back to for-profit and starting a brand spankin' new career.

I'm leaving some pretty great people. They are why I loved my organization. Do I need to remind you of the tid bits of work banter I've shared in previous entries? I've spent more time with them on a daily basis than The Man or my family. They also say, "nappy snatch" at the drop of the hat. I'm going to miss them so much.

I'm scared. I'm excited. I'm hoping that I haven't lost my mind.

On that note, I'm celebrating the Irish folk by going to my local brewery and drinking some spirits to ease my mind. I LOVE holidays that give me an excuse to go a-drinkin'.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Victoria's Sucker

Why don't Victoria's Secret Underoos fit right?

Ideally, underwear should fit your body like the picture on the left. Instead, the waistband in the back is halfway up my back.

I used to think it was me and my small caboose. But even my ample-bottomed friends have told me that these trademark cotton panties are an awkward fit for them, too.

I don't care if they're 5 for $25. I'm not buying these damn bottomless bottom saggers anymore.

Tell me, where are all the good panties?

Got the day off

I went to Watercourse Way* and it was fan-flippin'-tastic.

(Unfortunately, I wasn't on a sunny beach but it still felt good.)

Since I worked 12 hours on Friday and five hours on Saturday last week, I got today off!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh .....
Can I get an amen??

*WW has special deals if you schedule your appointment during the work week and before 5:00pm. Oh, and ask for Malka. She is s-t-r-0-n-g.

You need a pick me up

It is really hard to see a friend get attacked. Whether they're outright attacks or snide comments, it's difficult to just sit back and watch (or read.) Ladies, you know how good we are at it. For example, "Mary Jane is such a sweet girl... unlike some people." Or the handy-dandy backhanded compliments, "Your dress looks great! I bet you'll be able to fit in that comfortably in no time."

Even though I'm not in the mix, I've read my fair share and have read it all silently. So I guess that makes me part of it just because this person is my friend. Tel and I have talked recently and she's had some strong feelings and opinions but nothing she couldn't handle. However, I know that my friend is now hurt, angry and upset. So I'm not going to be silent. I'm going to write about what I told her she should do which is concentrate on the positive.

Most of our egos are a tad fragile. Ninety-nine people can say how wonderful we are but that one person who says, "You're not that great" (or worse) can really do a number on our self-esteem. Well, I'm going to be one of those ninety-nine and SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOF TOPS!!!

I met Tel in the beginning of 2001 when my life was drastically changing. At the time, I was going through an UGLY break up and making my transition into the "real world." Tel welcomed me with open arms into her life. She listened to my tirades and frustrations with dating as we sunbathed, ate cheese and smoked cigarettes. She introduced me to all her friends, invited me to her short-lived Book Club, and asked if I wanted to go with her to the infamous Cow. Relatively new to the Bay Area, Tel knew what it was like to want to meet new people and the need to surround yourself with good friends. My ex-boyfriend was my social life for the longest time - I was starting anew. Without a second thought, she included me in her circle. Six years later, we're still friends.

Tel and I have different personalities. Until recently, she would say things that would just make my jaw drop. Her "shock value" may have worn off on me but she still makes me laugh. Tel tells me about places I've never heard of and wouldn't even begin to know where to find them! I'll leave it at that. She's outrageous, outgoing, outspoken and outstanding. Tel knows, while I'm neither shy or quiet (thus my appeal!), I am on the reserved side. She respects that and doesn't try to question or change me. I think our differences make for good conversation. Plus, how can I not love a girl who likes spas, wine and hula shows? Impossible.

We're still friends because of various reasons. One, she makes the effort. I'm infamous for losing touch with people because if I have to do all the work ... I'm done. She sends me random e-mails or calls me spontaneously so we can schedule a dinner, drinks or a spa treatment :) Tel's also the one who brought me into the lovely world of blogging. Two, she helps put color in my world. Some may disagree but it's important to me that I bring happiness to the people in my life. I want to be a person that makes someone's life brighter. I write "some may disagree" because people might say that creating your own happiness is more important. I think putting color in other people's lives as well as your own is equally important. Maybe that's the philanthropic side of me :) Anyway, that's what I look for in friends and Tel does this. Her outrageousness (and I say that lovingly,) fun personality, and sweet disposition is what attracted me to her as with all my other friends. Am I calling Tel a ray of sunshine? Damn straight.

Tel, you are a wonderful person. When I first saw you at our Treasure Island bus stop (can you tell it's going to get romantic?) I was a senior in college, wearing my backpack, and going to my internship. I thought you looked so confident. Seriously. Your make up ... impeccable. Your hair and clothes ... polished and professional. The cautious social butterfly that I am, (we also had crackheads on our Island, people) I waited until we saw each other a few times before I tried to strike up a conversation. For all I knew, you were going to think I was this immature student not worth a dime of your time. But no. In fact, our first words has got to be the funniest exchange I've ever had with a friend.
Me: "Um, excuse me, are you from SF State?"
Tel: "Excuse me?"
Me: "I said, are you from SF State?"
Tel: "Ohhh! No, I'm not."
(I would later find out that she was two seconds from kickin' my as$ because she thought I asked, "Are you section 8?" I told you people, we were living amongst crackheads.) From there, our friendship blossomed.

I am so happy you found "the one." I am so excited to have a reason to go to Hawaii in 2007!!! You are a great person with a great heart. Move forward, plan that wedding, have fun with P while you're doing it and for crap's sake ... smile!!

Knit happens ... all over the place

Work has been buckwild busy because I had a huge event to plan. Now it is DONE. There were 170+ people, assigned seats, a program, print materials, ... and it was a morning event, to boot. I woke up at 4:30am and started the ball rolling at 6:00am. After all was said and done, I told my boss I needed a long lunch. I then called my favorite nail salon and booked a manicure + deluxe pedicure. This was a first for me. I like to self-indulge but I could never justify two people pampering m'feet and hands at the same time. But now I can. After working six hours and it being only 12:0opm, it was well worth the small splurge. (Did I mention I had to go in to work the very next day, a SATURDAY, and work for five hours?!?! Ugh.)

Earlier in the week, my little knitting group planned an outing to my favorite yarn store, Nine Rubies, and I am 100% sure that this is a perfect place for me. Not only is it a beautiful store (it used to be a small art gallery,) but the proprietors are friendly, they stay open late for small groups, and they are hospitable, too! When my friend and I walked in the door, the lovely owners had little treats for us - strawberries, pretzels, butter cookies and a cooler of sodas and bottled water. But wait, oh my!

Is that ... wine??? Seriously? You're going to give me alcohol ... after work? Well, OF COURSE I'm going to buy stuff from you! Size 19 needles? OK, why not?! A membership? OK, I'll buy a membership! Did I tell you how much I love your store? And even though I'm sober now, I don't regret my purchases at all. Any place willing to freely pour me wine and serve me little treats deserves my loyalty and hard earned money. I love my Nine Rubies somethin' fierce!

Here are my quiz results, Sister. I'm no knitting guru (and that is why I bow to you) but I was pretty excited to score a drawing of a brown girl. Sweet.
Humph. My hair is still bigger than hers.

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer. You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days.

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

Scratch, my as$

I'm all for making stuff from scratch. (Remember when I baked drunk? Coconut crunch cookies ... from scratch!)

But there are certain foods that I will always "add 1 cup of water and mix." How can you beat that??? I just made these muffins last night. Sure, they have a bunch of sugar but whatever, they taste good.

I like boxed mashed potatoes, too. I don't care what anyone says.

And I'm not even PMS-ing

"Life choices." That is such a buzz word at the J-O-B. So I question a few of my own. Don't confuse the following self-evaluation as regrets or what-ifs. It's just stuff I've wondered about and, while I don't question the outcomes, I wonder about the swiftness (or not) of my actions.

Not sure if it's the change in my meds but even The Man says I'm more serious about stuff and he wishes I was my playful self again. (OK, the only true meds I take are BC. I take vitamins, though, and maybe I need to hit the Flinstones bottle again.) I'm hoping that if I write down some of the stuff that's been floating in my head then it would be out and I could be my more normal self. Perhaps writing it down will be like fiber for my brain and I can end my psychological constipation and take a mental poop. A huge apology to my psych friends for the poor, grotesque and crass comparison ;)

Career - Very few people I know have had as many internships as me. I had a buttload between undergrad and grad school:
1. on-campus social service agency (Unfortunately, it wasn't b/c I wanted to be this awesome world-changer. I needed the units and wasn't able to crash the classes I wanted)
2. high-tech PR firm (didn't like it and it eventually went belly up after the Dot-Bomb)
3. radio station (for free! I interned for free! :( It was OK but not what I wanted to do and I had to work another job so I would at least break even)
4. television station (liked it)
5. event management company (didn't like it at all. I find it to be thankless but I highly respect the folks who do this. I definitely enjoy attending an event rather than planning.)
6. Another television station (again, for free!!! But I had a great experience.)
These internships were often in addition to a job and I did work at a TV station for a year after I graduated.
Obviously, these were all trial and error. I figured out many times over what I did NOT want as a career. But it was and still is difficult to figure out what I want to be. I've been struggling with the thought that it is possible to have a job that I'm in love with and passionate about or is a job a career that I like just enough and its only purpose is to fund the things that bring me joy - traveling, hobbies, having fun with my friends, and taking care of my family.
Somehow, I ended up back at a social service agency. Crazy, right? Who woulda thunk it. And I don't regret it for a minute. I love the people at my work. But I don't know if it's where I'm meant to be. I'm really torn about this right now. Luckily, I've been able to express this to my boss and am currently trying to figure out where I can grow in the organization and if there's a place for me. So that's a big fat "to be continued."

Love - no, not The Man (I can just imagine the e-mails and phone calls of "What the hell happened???") More like who I am when I'm in a relationship and do I like myself when I'm part of a couple. So yes, this is all about me:P For the most part, I do. I learned A LOT about myself from the previous one. I was very immature then. I didn't believe in compromise, I threw tantrums, I wanted to change him into someone else. Now don't get me wrong, despite all this, I was still a dandy girlfriend. I was 17 years old, for crap's sake! (And for me to sing my own praises, I'd have to put the Ex on blast and there's really no need for that. Just know we clearly were not meant to be.) After that relationship was over, I knew that I didn't want to be THAT girl again. What do I mean? I would have to take the next guy "as is." No man-project, no trying to change someone. Because I didn't want anyone to try to change ME. That's right, people, I come "as is" too.
I have learned to compromise, keep my tantrums at bay, to have patience (that's a new one) and am still working on some other stuff. I am guilty of making the love of my life my entire life. Not because he asked me to but I just did it. I've put that person ahead of my friends, family, school and/or work. Bad girl!! That's something I continually work out in my head. I've gotten better at having balance in my life.
It's also hard for me to distinguish the different between compromise and settling. If you can't tell already, I have stubborn tendencies. I know this so I work on it. (I don't want to be anyone else's project but I believe in making myself better and being my own "work-in-progress.") When do you know that you've crossed that line of compromise and ended up in the world of settling? I'm always getting ticked off at myself for that because that line is fuzzy, if not invisible, to me. Like most women, I was brought up to be an independent woman [insert Destiny's Child song] and not to put up with any $hit. However, when being part of a relationship, there is a certain amount of "$hit" one deals with because, whether you like it not, they are putting up with yours!
No one want to be taking advantage of and that's what happens when you go into the world of settling. Have I confused you yet? I fear that I'm the only one that wonders about this one. I know The Man deals with this too even though he doesn't come out and say it. From time to time, we express our frustration, happiness, likes and dislikes. But not a lot. And I am A-OK with that because you can only talk about your relationship so much (we don't want to be THAT couple.)

I'm sure there's more tucked away but being stone serious isn't something I like to do for a long period of time. My head feels a little lighter now, in a good way. Nothing like a good brain dump to ease the mind.

See what you did, Pookie?? You went and put up that picture of how a chick's brain works and I got all mushy and crapped out an emotional post ;)

I promised to explain

A follow up to my "Mabuhay y'all!" post.

1. "My hair is too long for bucket showers" - The bucket shower, better known as "Tabu"(sounds like "tah'-boh'") is where you use a large bucket and a smaller bucket to bathe. What you do is put hot water in the bucket, add the cold water until the temperature is right for you, and use the smaller bucket to scoop out the water and dump it on you to wet yourself / rinse off soap / rinse out shampoo. In my experience, hot water is not usually available. You would think that the humidity and heat would make a cold bucket shower refreshing. Unfortunately, it's more shocking to the body than anything else. Check out this blog if you need "tabu"clarification. (No affiliation with the writer, just thought it was a good explanation.)

If you've seen my head of [huge] hair, you know that it will take buckets and buckets (and more buckets) to wash my hair. I must shampoo twice and then condition. Since tabu showers cause lots of splashing, which leads to small and big pools of still water, the 'skeeters are almost always near by just waiting to use my body as a buffet table.

Many if not most places in the Philippines have the typical American showers. But there are still a few places, even remote resorts, that haven't caught up to the craze called, "shower heads."

2. "I'm about 10-15 lbs too heavy for my relatives' comfort" - When I was 19 years old, I took a trip to the Philippines. I had a lot going on in my life at that time and wasn't dealing to well with it. I was about 12 lbs lighter and a size 2/3 from eating a lot less and taking up smoking. (Just so you get the picture, before I left for vacation, one of my college friends asked me if I was taking drugs because I had dropped so much weight.)

Upon my arrival, a relative said, "You look good! It's good to be curvy." An uncle told me later that my body was good for childbirthing and it's OK that I wasn't skinny.

Last time I went I was probably the size that I am now - 5/6. I was flat out called "fat." One of the more rude ones said, "You're so pretty but why are you so fat?" What am I supposed to say to that? I know, sounds terrible but my relatives* are so frank with each other that when I came back to the US, I was comfortable being "fat" and had made peace with it.


*Don't think that all my relatives are a$sholes. A few of them are too blunt but the rest of them are so sweet. They always ask when I'm going to visit and are super sweet to me when I finally get there. It's just two or three that need one of my Uggs up their a$s. The majority of my relatives are extremely hospitable and are very very loving. I can't wait to see them :)

I have to add that my parents and sister have never made me feel bad about my weight or even mention it in a negative way.

Mabuhay y'all!

It's true - I'm going to the Philippines!

Now, a few of you might think, "What's the big deal? You're Filipino. You should be going to your Motherland." Here's the thing - I am 100% American, too. The whole identity or labeling thing has the potential to be a whole other long a$$ entry but just know there is a difference between being Filipino and Filipino American. Obviously, I fall under the latter.

What does that mean? Well, you can't really generalize Filipino Americans (FA) either b/c we're all different. And just like the US, the Philippines has different regions and provinces so each FA could quite possibly have a very different background from the next. For instance, like a kid from Hollywood vs. a kid from the Bronx vs a kid from Waco. Different.

Here are some of my obstacles -
1. I am extremely uncomfortable in 90+ degree weather. Sleeping is damn near impossible.
2. I speak Filipino food only.
3. My hair is too long for bucket showers. Again, this would be a whole new blog entry but I'll get to it, I promise.
4. I'm about 10-15 lbs too heavy for my relatives' comfort (you bet your sweet a$s that's going to be another blog entry.)
5. I am irregular when I travel. This probably makes me the most sad. Not a damn thing to do with being FA, it just makes traveling difficult.

Despite these obstacles, I'm very excited to be going. I've been to the Philippines a few times and know how to make it fun. Trial and error right? Here are my plans for my vacation in a few months -
1. Two weeks max. A lot of people say that two weeks is too short. That I would need to stay at least three weeks to get my money's worth. Believe you me, two weeks is long enough for me to stay anywhere. Don't judge me! That's just how it is.
2. My own room. Heaven bless my parents. They are so sweet. But one hotel room is NOT big enough for me, my dad and AL. Not when I was 17, not when I was 21 and certainly not now. But since I'm gainfully employed, I can spring for my own room. This prevents a war being waged between AL and AL Junior. Yes, I absolutely admit that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
3. Spa-ing in a third world country. Don't know if it's a Filipino thing but AL has never been into spa treatments. I didn't really get into spas until the past year. Well, guess what?? The Philippines has many many resorts where people from Australia, America, Japan and Hawaii vacation (don't ask me, they just do.) It's still a tad pricey but less expensive than American spas. And they are top notch because of their clientele. That's right, BIG PIMPIN' on a small budget.

Well, I'm pretty sure this question is in vain b/c I know my peeps. Got any suggestions for my PI trip? I'm open to them.

Oh, did I mention that I will be meeting The Man's side of the family my second week? Please, enlighten me: Why are female relatives SO protective of their male family members? Brothers, uncles, cousins, nephews. I kid you not when I say I'm a little bit skahred to meet his family. I'll ask you to wish me luck when my vacation draws nearer.

My friends kick a$s

I LOVE Grey's Anatomy. I love it so much that a coworker/friend left me a voicemail message over the weekend saying Grey's Anatomy Season One was on sale at Target.

Well, last week, I helped another coworker/friend take care of 24 kids for Valentine's Day. When the night was over, I told her that my ovaries shrunk into little raisins and that I sewed up my vagina when I went to the bathroom. She said I took friendship to a whole new level ;) As a thank you gift, she bought me this and gave it to me yesterday.

I am sooooooo happy. I am one of those people that will watch the DVD, then watch the outtakes, then rewatch the DVD with commentary and then watch the bonus material. Maybe not all at once but I am very thorough when I love my show/movie.

*Bet you thought my application (see Pookiepie's blog comments) was in vain. I think not. I've got bomb a$s friends. Fo'reel tho.

Three day weekend, anyone?

The Man is union. The Man gets a four day weekend.

I get squat. That's right. I'm going to work on Friday AND Monday. Think that's the pits? On Monday, I have a 7:30am meeting and a 6:00pm meeting so it's not like I can sleep in or leave work early. I'm going to end up working a 12-hour day. SON OF A BISCUIT!

Because it's only RIGHT but doesn't even began to make up for my NO-three-day-weekend, I will be getting a pedicure at my favorite nail salon for lunch tomorrow. In no way does my pedicure take away the injustice of working on Monday but at least I will have cute toes. Damn straight.

No one likes an ugly bridesmaid dress

My friend, Maria, was kind enough to ask me to be in her wedding. So this October, I will be going to Oahu. There's something to be said about my annual tropical tradition. See? It's fate! Hawaii beckons me. And you didn't believe me.

Bless Maria's heart, she wants us to be in comfortable bridesmaid dresses. She's decided on a short, cotton, black version of her wedding dress available on JCrew. Yes, friends, that means I won't be wearing some WHACK A$S size that they ("they" being the sadistic wedding dress makers) conjure up which, in turn, makes women subject themselves to cabbage soup only diets and a pack of cigarettes for every meal until the big day. Freakin' SOBs.

This is what she's thinking about having us wear -

Praise be, she is actually considering dresses we can wear again! It's a sunset/evening wedding and the guys will be all in tuxes so Maria figures it's best to have us in short black cotton dresses. Throw some flowers in my hair and I am good to go! Best of all, it's $98 minus tax and S&H. I could kiss her.

Yah for not having a Bridezilla as a friend. Phew!
And just when you thought I couldn't get more little old lady-ish ...
I have found my new favorite yarn store, Nine Rubies. That's right, folks! I'm completely unapologetic - I am going to talk about a yarn store.
Nine Rubies is less than ten minutes away from my work. Danger, danger! But it's the first yarn store I've been in that is beautiful yet completely unpretentious. The mother/daughter duo are pretty awesome and give spectacular customer service. Plus, how can I NOT like a place this pretty?

I know, I know. I'm a disappointment to all those that have known me as the gal with the inscripted flask, "Who's Your Daddy?" Well, maybe they'll allow me to have it at the next Knit Happens meeting. Wouldn't that be ironic*?

*Knitting drunk is very, very bad. It's as bad as, if not worse than, blogging drunk. Yarn can be very expensive and fixing f-ed up projects could be even more expensive, costing me my sanity. If I were to bring said flask, I would have to cease all projects for the evening. Eh, I could deal ;)

My back ache, my butt too tight, my hips shake from left to right ...

Haven't been blogging lately because work has been pretty stressful. Because I don't want to LOSE my job over something so silly as me writing about my job, I'll just say that it's been keeping me busy.

Thanks for being understanding!

Quick clothing update

How did I handle my business? Or a better question would be, "How did I spend my Superbowl Sunday?"

I went to the Gilroy Premium Outlets and marched my happy a$s to the Ann Taylor Factory. I LOVE this store!! I did not dress very snazzy (aka I looked tore up) but I got the best customer service. Three women helped me out. No lie.

Why Ann Taylor Factory is the bomb:
1. awesome customer service.
2. suits that fit. Well, evidently my size ranges. One pants suit is size 6 petite pants and size 6 regular blazer while my other pants suit is a size 4 pants and a size 8 petite blazer. That's right. I'm a size 4 to 8. How random is that???
3. Each pants suit was $119

That's right. $119 each. I also opened up a credit card account, advised by Karaway, and got an additional 10% off. I look forward to the future coupons that Miss K promised I would receive. Despite my many sizes, Ann Taylor has very nice clothes and bless them for having a Factory store! Between that and their Loft, I'm going to actually look like a big girl.

*Because I don't want to fully insulate my bedroom with my wardrobe, I did give a bag full of tanks, sweaters and pants to a teen program in a coastal housing project community. Ahhhhh, nothing like a good clothing cleansing.

Funny Moment(s) #5

My work started a knitting club to help us become more community-oriented. (Yes, I had a hand in it's inception and no, you didn't read my profile wrong. I am not 72 but, in fact, truly 27.) Whatever. I really like to knit and would like to be better. Don't make me kick your a$s.

Tonight, we were a mix of coworkers and clients. We were so diverse in ages! I did the introductions and found out that our youngest member was 8 years old but I didn't dare ask who was the oldest ;) Anyhoo, remember Maria and Suzy? (Click here to refresh your memory.) That's right, they joined the knitting group too. I'm sure you understand that no good can come out of our mouths when the three of us are together.

In the midst of respectable older ladies and far far away from our little youngster, we were muttering inappropriate things to each other.

Suzy, learning how to knit for the very first time: "I'm knitting a muff muppet."

Me, who forgot all her stuff at home and borrowed Maria's needles and red yarn: "I'm knitting you a tampon cozy."

Maria, always quick in response: "For the new or bloody ones?"

But my favorite moment? When Suzy found out that not only did I NOT have cable but I was barbaric enough to still use dial-up. Suzy screeched, "Are you kidding me?! My kids eat Top Ramen so I can have Comcast!"

Funny $hit, man. I love my coworkers.