All you princesses will appreciate this story

I love spa treatments. Obviously.
Earlier this week, after a meeting, I talked with a new colleague, letting her know that I used to work and play on the Peninsula even though I live in the East Bay. But now that I work where I live, I want to embrace my new playground. This means spas and salons. Nail, that is. I refuse to leave my hair stylist - we have eight years together.
Anyhow, my coworker said there was a spa she and her boyfriend tried in Fremont and she liked it. She warned me that it isn't as pretty as Burke Williams but she really liked her massage. Well, pretty is as pretty does. I only like BW because of it's environment but none of the massages I've received from there were very good. She assured me that she and her boyfriend really liked their massages. But ... the layout is a little odd.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Well, they have a Chinese buffet in the lobby." She replied.
"What?!"
"Umm, and they also take numbers in the lobby. Like a supermarket."
I told her she just had to take me there. I wanted to see it for myself.
So we immediately drove to a Perfect Day Spa. (Check out the link for pictures. I don't think there are any of the buffet.)
The place had hard wood floors and was spacious. And yes, there was chinese food in the front lobby. And a red number dispenser prominently placed where the receptionists sat. They gave us a tour and it was nice enough. They even had a special - $48 for your first treatment.
Lots of thoughts were running through my head. But my colleague swore that she got a good massage. And, as someone who has frequently visited a third world country, I've learned to be open minded about things that are not typically American. And I could TOTALLY tell this one was ran by Asians. (I'm Asian, I can write that. Plus, I really could tell.)
So I signed up for a hot stone massage. Heck, I can spare $48 to check this place out.
Some things I found out:
- They make you take off your shoes when you leave the lobby and go into massage area
- While I had a blanket covering me, the bed was lined by tissue. Like a medical office.
- Hot stone massage to them meant they placed stones on my body and massaged around them.
- Curtains as walls just aren't the same
- I can hear EVERYTHING
There were some positives. My lady was pretty good. She made sure she got the right pressure so she wouldn't hurt me. And the place was clean.
But I can't get past the "cutting corners." Tissue-lined massage tables, curtain walls to maximize space and the on-the-side business of selling Chinese food.
If you're intrigued, you can read these reviews.
I visited Skin Fitness Day Spa in Fremont for a pedicure but, again, little things make all the difference. I received a nice pedicure but it wasn't in a massage chair. And where the hell was the head rest? I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to try their massage at $135 a pop. (Armi, do you strongly recommend this place? If so, which masseuse?)
I am still on the search for a fantastic East Bay spa. Sigh.

Odds and ends

I weighed in for the second time. I expected worse.
I'm down .2 lbs. Note: the point is BEFORE the two.
I wish it were more but I'll take what I can get.
Work is good. I've been busy but it's good busy.
I'm doing Power Yoga and have definitely walked around more than at my last job but I also know I can do more.
I'm signing up for the half marathon tomorrow so now there are no excuses.
Jon isn't excited about training with me but I think he's going to come for moral support. Well, he needs a little more convincing.
Piko is set to be spayed in two weeks. This will be our third try. She goes into heat in June so we've got a time line.
And I'm not down for dealing with her four weeks of period again so they best get it right this time.

I woke up at 5:30 am to go to yoga!

I then texted my friend and told her I was going back to bed.
I slept for probably 15 minutes and played out a whole argument in my head.
"C'mon fat ass! You complain you can't fit into your clothes and you won't even get up to go to yoga? What good is Weight Watchers if you don't exercise? Stop being lazy!" My other side can be mean.
"I just want to sleep!"
"Get up. Just GET UP!"
At 6:15 am, I felt too guilty to go back to sleep so I got out of bed and went to yoga.
Whooohooo!
I love Power Yoga. Specifically, the way this certain instructor teaches it. She's brilliant (she graduated from Stanford) and is some sort of engineer. So she's not very friendly. But I think that's part of the reason why I adore her. She means business. She pushes me way beyond what I think I can do. She doesn't talk much so when she does, it means something. When I took my last job, I was very sad that I couldn't take her class anymore. But now with my shiny, brand new spankin' job, I'm able to take her class again. Hurray!
Right?
She told us this morning that she gave her two week notice.
Son. Of. A. Bitch.

"So what are you going to do about?"

This was the exact question asked by two people in completely different conversations when I complained that I was getting fat.
To which I replied, "Nothing, I'm going to wallow in it for a while." (I really said that. Sister will tell you.)
I blamed my old job for making me "solid" and, of course, 15 lbs. makes clothes fit not-cute-and-too-tight. Now that I have a new job and am not wallowing in self pity, my excuse to stay complacent is gone. So what the hell am I going to do about it?
Obviously this is a "Bitch about Gaining Weight" entry. I figure if I put it out there, I will have to go through with a plan to change myself. I know that other people fight much bigger battles than me and I'm fortunate to be somewhat healthy. But it's still my little battle. Losing 15 to 20 lbs on a five foot frame isn't exactly a walk in the park!
A few years ago, I joined Weight Watchers when I was at my heaviest. (Ironically, my heaviest now is 2.8 lbs more than my previous all time high.) It worked and I lost 15 lbs! I was so excited! Then I went to grad school, started dating Jon, and got "comfortable." You know what I'm talking about. I tried joining again a couple years later but, unfortunately, it wasn't effective. I didn't make it to all the meetings and I finally just quit because I was paying but not truly making an effort.
I know WW works. It worked for me before! But failing at my second attempt shook my belief that I could lose the weight again. Because I failed. But it really has been the only thing that has helped me lose weight. Mono doesn't count but it did get me down to a size 2. So last week I signed up online for Weight Watchers. My friend told me it's $9.22/week with e-tools access. I didn't make the time to attend a meeting, though. And if I'm going to lay it all out there to tell the truth - it's because I didn't want to find out how much I weighed. But I would have to eventually find out so I got my tuckus to an 8:00am meeting today. Know something funny? The lady that was leading it was the same lady from six years ago. And although she didn't know my name, she looked at me and said, "Welcome back. How long has it been?"
Hot damn. She remembered me.
I wish I could say that I could relate to the people that were there. I remembered even back then the lady drew big crowds. There were 20+ people at this meeting. I guess I just wish there were younger people. For the most part, everyone was over 45. Oh well. I like the lady leader and she remembered me so I want to keep attending this particular meeting time because she is a good motivator. So of course I bought the new starter pack because all the literature has changed.
I decided to go on the Flex Points plan just because I love me some bread and chocolate so it's a heckuva lot easier to do Flex than Core. I almost fell out of my chair when I found out I only had 18 points a day (I think some Jamba Juice smoothies are more than that.) 18 points are supposed to last me an entire day! Last time I was on WW I only had 20 points and that was a struggle. Oh lawdee. But then leader lady told me that I had 35 extra points to spread out in the week so I could split it up, add 5 more points to the day and that would bring me up to 23.
If you have ever done Weight Watchers, you know that makes a BIG difference. Thank goodness!
So there. I done did it. This and exercising more is my answer to "So what are you going to do about it?" My work sponsors half and full marathons so I'm also going to train for a half marathon in August. I'm also going to try to go back to yoga. It's a little tricky just because it's not close to work but I desperately want to go back to it. It makes me FEEL good. I'm also trying to psyche myself up to either go to the gym with Jon or bust out my oldie but goodie exercise DVDs.
I'm nervous to fail but excited to finally be doing something about my weight gain. I'm relieved that I have a friend to call if I ever need support and will understand me when I scream, "But is cheating 10 points REALLY a big deal?" and will talk me out of it. So yes, I'm jumping back on the band wagon and drinking the sugar free Kool-Aid, too.
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R.I.P. BLOGS - It appears that three of the blogs that I found to be really cool have either gone on to greener pastures (damn that MySpace) or just have too much going on to update.
So VS, XT, and Sassy, thank you for the entertainment and for giving a gal some good reading. If any of you should ever decide to go back to your blogs, please let me know and I will immediately put you back on my list of favorites. I truly miss reading you guys!

Should I be around small people?

I'm not so sure.
Part of my job is to speak in front of little kids. That's not such a big deal, right? Tomorrow, I will speak in front of 600+ children. OK, two workshops with 300 kids so I guess that's not a big deal.
Right.
I am dandy with interpersonal communication. And comfortable with small groups. But a mass of 300 and they are of the tiny persuasion?!
Wish me luck.

Just when you thought the Sanjaya love couldn’t get any stronger …

Has it been five days? Whoops!

First of all, thanks for all the well wishes! It means a lot. After gaining 15 lbs and having irregular or no menstrual cycles (hey, it's MY blog), I am so happy and relieved to be at my new company!
Yes, Jon broke his hand. His right hand looks like Popeye's. But he's had surgery and is getting better. Well, he's in a lot of pain but I'm sure it will get better.
Our five year anniversary is coming up. I can barely believe it. I met Jon when I was in my early 20s. Oh, how young and fresh we were back then. It's been a fun ride, hasn't it, Jon? (He never reads my blogs.) We aren't going as extravagant on our presents this year but I think I did pretty well. Pssssst Jon, if for some strange reason you decide that you'll read my blog for the first time, STOP. You will spoil my surprise! Now git!
We've been watching this show lately and he really digs it. He even suggested we eat at this place in Berkeley that serves raw vegetarian meals. Bless their hearts, the wait staff were super sweet but the food wasn't very tasty. And it was expensive! Yet I was so happy that my carnivorous manly man actually suggested we check it out and he really tried to give it a chance! (But raw veg eaters we ain't.) Anyway, for our anniversary, I booked reservations to Chez Panisse because he's been wanting to go there for quite some time. I also bought him cookbooks by Emeril, the Barefoot Contessa and Daisy Martinez (with the hope that I somehow will benefit from these, too.) I think he'll be happy.
I end this entry with the latest picture of two reasons (among others) why Jon and I are a little less young and not so fresh anymore:

Cute, right? We love our little foofy-foofies.

I heart my new job

It's been a busy few days. It was my first week at the new J-O-B. It is such a change from my former rat race of a job. It's even different from my other non-profit fund raising position with the Y. But just because this new position is so different doesn't make it a bad thing.
So far, so good. I like what I'm learning, the people are very nice, the office is pretty (I didn't know how much aesthetics meant to me until my last job - I know, it seems like I'm slamming it but it's so true) and I like my little office space. I'm in store for a lot of training but I don't feel overwhelmed. And you know when you get a good feeling about something, like it just feels right?
On my first day we had a branch meeting and I found out that the company gives Good Friday off. No way, really? I just came from a place that didn't give New Year's Eve or the day after Thanksgiving off. And this company gives Good Friday off?! Then I found out that my region of the company met its goal so we were being rewarded with Thursday off, too. On my first week I get a four-day weekend?!?!?!?! You bet your hot tuckus I was excited!
I know that non-profit isn't as lucrative as for-profit. Believe me, I know. But it is rewarding. I've also learned that it makes such a difference when a company appreciates its employees. It also makes a difference when a company is conservative with its money but still recognizes and rewards good work.
After being at a job that made me feel like I was running on a hamster wheel, it's nice to be able to breathe. I know that no job is perfect. I'm 100% that there will be some things that will tick me off about my job. But I also know that my previous experience has made me appreciate good employers and good companies.

Stompin' around with the babe in the boonies

OK, more like leisurely strolling with my sister, WGD, and The Boy.
I can't believe it's my last full day here in Port Townsend. I've been here since Tuesday (OK, well, on Tuesday we were actually out gallivanting in Portland, Oregon and then made our way back to Port Townsend around 2:00am on Wednesday.)
We have been going to the gym (wahooo!) and all about town. I love her town! There are so many cute cafes, yarn stores, fun shops and very cool consignment stores. I'm a fan of the cute cafes. Although Sister and I must always partake in dessert because I love me some dessert, we have also been eating oatmeal, salads and turkey sandwiches. [Sidenote - I have gained a significant amount of weight from my former job and need to relearn how to eat healthily. I am certain that it is in my best interest to go back to WW. That and Tel did her best to convince me to get back on the wagon - she said I can call her when I have a weakness for Snickers. I am set to sign up for the WW when I get back to the Bay Area so I can no longer be a five foot heiffer.]
Anyhow, today is my last full day in Port Townsend. Tomorrow we head back to Seattle where my plane takes off around 7:00pm so we have all day until about 5:00pm to explore. I think we're going to hit the outlets, too. Ohhhhh snap. I love visiting Sister and her family. Her town is truly like a vacation destination and they always make me feel so welcome. Her friends are pretty cool, too :)
And then on Monday ... I start my new job!
PS: My sister is on CLOUD NINE because when we visited a consignment shop owned by a halfee Filipino, he looked at my sister and inquired, "Are you part or full Filipino?" (completely ignoring me - I don't think he figured out we were related yet.) Then when she explained that she was full Filipino, he said, "You have the generic Filipino look." (We think he meant, "general.") She was soooooooooooooo excited that he singled out her and not me. Later, he asked if I had any Filipino in me. I stated that, I too, was full Filipino. To my sister's glee, he seemed surprised.
She asked me to include this.

Oh SNAP. (This is funny)

Odds and ends

I should have posted more having all this time off. But time has really flown for me! I've finally been able to do some of the chores/errands/shopping/maintenance (and yes, pampering) I've put off for nearly a year! I've also had some major quality time with the pups, been able to lunch with some friends, and, best of all, have some Daddy time! My dad and I have been meeting up in the mornings and going on walks with Piko and Pili. I really missed having Dad time when I took my last job.
Oh and I love sleeping in! Even if it just means 6:30am! I used to have to wake up at 5:00am. Phooey!
Of course, I also have time to think about trivial things. For instance, TV. Now, if you know me at all, you know that I studied television so it's really not that trivial at all. But I'm not talking about news, I'm talking about guilty pleasures. The shows that make me laugh, feel good, and forget about my reality. Like -
Grey's Anatomy: What the HELL is happening to this show?? Seriously. Seriously? Seriously! Izzy and George? The boringness that is Meredith and Derrick's love life? The lukewarm sexual tension between Karev and Addison? And enough with this whole Chief crap! Where are the great scenes with the Nazi? Give us back the Nazi!
Needless to say (but I'm still going to say or at least write it,) I am falling out of love with Grey's Anatomy and they are truly testing the patience of this fan. I want the smart writing and acting back!
The Office: Oh, how I love this show! Jon and I watch the DVDs from previous seasons and we just laugh and laugh. I think Jim and Dwight are the best odd couple. The boss uncomfortably reminds me of a terrible boss I had a few years back and the dreariness of the lame office parties and morale boosters remind me of a former job. But they make me laugh about it!
American Idol: Talk about a guilty pleasure. I was never interested in the previous seasons and, to be quite honest, I only watched because Jon enjoyed watching the auditions. (Those auditions are so painful for me. I am one of those strange people that get embarassed for others, especially when the person is not aware of the fact he/she is making an ass of himself/herself. I will fidget, blush and get really uncomfortable watching. Many times I need to walk away.) But now I am hooked and am 99% sure I will watch until the very end. But it is killing me that Sanjaya and Haley are STILL on the show. Or, as Jon and I affectionately call them - Sanjina and Snow White.
OK, I should really be packing. But because history repeats itself and I have embraced my procrastination tendencies, I will futz around until 10:00pm (because I HAVE to get back into 24 - it's killing Jon that I've been a lazy fan) and then start packing. I am going to see Sister, WGD and The Boy!

Our baby girl

Last Friday did not go according to plan (details are on the puppies' page - I told you not to judge.)

Piko will be getting spayed next month. The vet said her mammary glands are too swollen. That's right, her boobies are too big right now.

Pili, on the other hand, got it from every direction. She not only got spayed but she got three of her baby teeth pulled and a biopsy because of a tiny bump on her back.

I expected this:

OK, let's not be shy -
But what the F*CK is this?! -

She looks like she was in a battle! The bump was half the size of a tic-tac. How did it merit a scar like that?! Especially when her other scar was practically invisible! Did they let an intern do this one? A rightee wanted to practice using his left? WTF?

The Man and I weren't the only ones concerned, Pili's aunt and her grandparents were worried. My folks wanted me to put a bandage but decided it would probably rip out her fur. Pili can scratch the cut with her hind leg so the head cone wouldn't work. I ended up buying her a shirt because it would cover the wound and prevent her from scratching.

Pili is now sportin' this -

If you look carefully, you will see that the shirt matches her collar

(there are little rhinestone hearts!)

Isn't that cute?! I tried to find a red shirt but the only thing small enough to fit her was this here pink shirt with a red heart.

The Man took it well when he came home from work and saw Pili's new outfit. How could he resist? (But we won't see him walking her with this shirt on.)

A woman of action Part II

These here blogs are a funny thing. It's great to share your life with friends through it. Sister and I are able to share little things that happen that we sometimes forget to mention on the phone. And I've become quite closer to Pookie and Tater through it. Much closer than if we relied upon just seeing each other every once in a while. But I know better than to divulge information that could get me in trouble. Like writing about a fight, or me being upset with someone. Or my displeasure with work.
I'm sure I wasn't very subtle at all when I did refer to work. But I really didn't like my job. Hate is a strong word - I didn't hate it because I worked with really great people. But I knew right away it wasn't something I wanted to do as a career. So then what? It would look bad on my resume to leave before two years because I would show instability. When I realized I could barely hold on for one full year I knew that I would just have to deal with that issue. But it looks even worse if I were to quit and then look for a job rather than currently have a job while looking (I know, my HR friend told me so!)
I kept a lot of contacts at my old job and it had looked like there would be a spot for me. Then the restructure did not take place and I was so depressed. Never mind that I felt like a vulture, waiting for people to get canned so there would be a restructure and an open position for me. So that's why I was down in the dumps earlier this year.
I looked at other opportunities and while there were some interesting ones (keep in mind I had to be reasonable and think of what I qualified for!), nothing was great enough to put in my application. I figured I would just have to wait some more until something came along. But I also knew I had to be proactive and look daily at job opportunities. Well, looking for a job is a full time job! So when I would get home after working 8+ hours, it was such a chore to look at jobs. Unfortunately, it was also apparent to friends and family that I was different. I stopped being social and hardly talked to anyone. But I just kept on keepin' on.
It so happened that The Man and I decided to visit a friend because she wanted to see the pups before she moved. She had no idea that when she asked "How's work?", it would open the flood gate of unhappiness. She then told me she had just put in her two weeks notice and why don't I apply? I promptly told her, "Hey, I read your blog! I know you hate your job!" She replied that there were certain things she didn't like but, overall, it was a good company and a good job. She told me to send her my resume and also apply online to the position. I looked at the description and it was sort of a combination between my current and old jobs. And it was closer to home!
After six weeks, a phone screen, application process, preliminary in-person interview, online personality assessment, three and a half hours three-person panel interview, skillset evaluation, and four 30-minute references later, I got the job!
Things at my current (now old) job ended pretty badly. Long story short, when they knew that I was in the final stages of the interview process, the manager decided that rather than me giving two weeks, I would end in four days - the same day another person on the team was leaving the company. There is much more to the story but that is basically it. After getting over feeling like I was treated like trash, and then not sure if I got the job and what the hell was I going to do if I didn't(??), everything fell into place when I was finally extended a job offer. I will be gainfully employed in a a few weeks. I unknowingly received a three week break and am enjoying it!
So it's been a crazy seven days or so but everything ended up OK. I am really looking forward to starting this new job. And it's with a company in which I can see building my career! I would be lying if I didn't say I was very close to shatting bricks when, for about three days, I didn't have a job and wasn't sure if I was going to be offered one! While this isn't how I would have preferred to transition between jobs, it was probably best. If it had been done my way, I would have had to work for two more weeks and then have one week off. I now have three weeks. Whooohooo!

Dolled up for Summer

The pups and I went to visit The Man's family this weekend. They were H-O-T. We realized it was time to help them shed their winter coats.

The groomer knows that we don't enjoy the bows. But she keeps putting them in. I don't even fight it anymore.
Aren't the girls cute?? They're growing up so fast. Piko is seven months and Pili is six months. They are fixin' to get fixed this Friday. The vet said that Piko can get spayed as long as the swelling of her vagina has gone down.
Our fingers are crossed.

Meat Fest

Or Man Fest.
It was kind of the same thing.
My friend, Maria, asked me if I wanted to help her with a fund raiser. It was for a service club in Half Moon Bay. I believe the event was actually called, "Wild Game Feed." There was all sorts of meat (if you can shoot it, fish it or stick an arrow through it, it qualified as wild game.) This was the club's second time doing this annual event as it was a big hit last year. There would be tons of meat, alcohol, a couple of Bud Girls, games to win raffle tickets (one of the games was what I would be running) and, best of all, the raffle prizes were all guns.
"Sign me up!" I told Maria.
I know, it certainly doesn't sound my thing. But I was intrigued about the array of meat (I'm not big on steak but I love me some chicken and fish) and I've never had wild boar before.
What. I haven't.
I pretty much knew what to expect because Maria described to me how last year's event had gone. I wasn't surprised by the amount of fatigues and flannel that were worn. I wasn't surprised that there were a lot of trucks with rifle racks parked outside. And I definitely wasn't surprised when I went to the bathroom and there were Bud Girls getting ready and, when overhearing their conversation (I was in a stall, doing my business, so can you really judge me?) heard one of the girls saying, "Well, she is pretty smart for being a exotic dancer."
I'm making it sound bad, aren't I? Actually, those were the things that made me laugh. (And the BGs were dressed in appropriate black cocktail dresses with plenty of cleavage but decent skirt lengths.) It wasn't bad at all. In fact, all the guys were so nice. There were a sprinkle of woman in the room but it really was a Man Fest. They were more behaved than a bunch of college guys (some were VERY enthusiastic about the BGs but that was to be expected) and they just wanted to eat meat, drink beer and gamble for raffle tickets to hopefully win the big guns!
I had tons of fun running the craps table. The men teased each other ("Want to blow on my dice?" "What?! Blow this, a$$hole!") and made me laugh. They were dropping $20s like it was nobody's business and totally fine with it because it was, after all, a fund raiser. Plus, they were plenty liquored up. The men were respectful (I don't mind cussing as long as it's not AT me so I thought they were gentleman-like.) I, also knowing before hand that there would be Bud Girls, dressed in my most sexiest outfit - a sweater, a big cardigan over that, work slacks, and no-nonsense heels. Purrrrrr.)
I bet you're wondering, "But what about the meat?" I tried wild salmon, buffalo meat balls, deer and finely sliced don't-remember-the-animal tongue. It was suprisingly tender and not chewy at all.
I think I'll sign up to volunteer again next year.

Guess who's growing up?

I went to my parents' house tonight to pick up the pups and my dad says, "Um, I think Piko is menstruating."

"What?"

"I found a couple of drops of blood on the couch cover. I thought that the girls were playing too rough and got cut but they were both fine."

My dad leads me to the couch and shows me the two drops. Then he looks at me and says,

"I think she's becoming a little lady."

Sunuva biscuit! I just scheduled an appointment for them for this Monday for a pre-spay consultation. I called the vet on the way home and asked what I should do.

"Hi, this is Lulu. My pups, Piko and Pili, have an appointment this Monday to make sure they are ready to get fixed. Well, I think Piko got her period so should we still have the appointment on Monday?"

"Yes, then we schedule Piko to get fixed in about six weeks."

"Six weeks? Why so long?"

"She'll have her period for about four weeks and then we need to wait a couple more weeks for the swelling to go down."

"FOUR WEEKS?! Piko will have her period for four weeks?!" (And, evidently, her vagina is swollen.)

OK, so sue me. One of the few things I evidently skipped over in the doggy book. So now I have a menstruating pup. With my beige couch and carpet. Well, something's got to be done.

Who knew they made doggy diapers?

My first time EVER putting on a diaper.

Pret-ty fine work.

I learned my lesson

I sent a mass text to my friends, wishing them a Happy Valentine's Day. More specifically,

"Have yourself a happy VD! Hehe, I know."
Just my way of wishing everyone a nice day on a holiday that may not be fun for all.

I got a few, "hee hee, that's funny!" and "Happy Valentine's Day to you, too!" and all that good stuff.
But then I got three or four messages back, asking, "What do you mean?" or "Haha, what?" or "What do you know?!"
So then I thought, "Oh, SNAP. Some of these people may have a little somethin'-somethin' that I don't know about that they now think I know about." I mean, joking about an STD is all fun and good until someone has one. Or maybe not.
So I learned my lesson.
Only joke around about venereal diseases if you are positive the person you are joking with does not have one.

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On a completely different topic, The Man came through and showed me some love at work, even though I wasn't there (I was at an offsite training.) These were on my desk when I came back the next day -

He sent me two dozen red roses and a box of truffles (because this girl loves herself some truffles.)
JonJon, thanks for keepin' the romance alive!

Here's your freakin' survey! :)

A=Available - For what - Lunch? A cocktail? Most definitely.

B=Best friend - Gil. Sister.

C=Cake or Pie- Cake. Ice cream cake.

D=Drink- Rum & Diet Cherry Coke

E=Essential item you use everyday- hair brush. Could you imagine the rat nest I would have without it?!

F=Favorite color - Blue. All shades.

G=Google your name (first), what comes up - Funky Mama. Unfortunately, that's not my site.

H=Hometown- Hayward.

I-Indulgences- Spa services. Going to Hawaii.

J=January or February - January, I suppose. But I really like December!

K=Kids- They're cute in short intervals of time.

L=Life- I try to remember to wake up every day thankful to have one, especially when times are tough.

M=Marriage date- Unknown

N=Number of siblings- 2. 1 older sis, 1 older bro.

O=Opinion (state one)- Mean people suck.

P=Phobias or Fears- Heights.

Q=Quote- "I am a cuddly barracuda."

R=Reason to smile- Good deeds.

S=Season- Winter. Only because of Christmas and my birthday.

T=Tag 3 or 4 peeps- C'mon Sister!! And have you done this, Tater? Cyn? Tel?

U=Unknown fact about you- In the 80s, my picture was in a YMCA brochure for their gymnastics. What's interesting is my mama told me just a couple of years ago that when it was published, she had overheard a woman who was really mad because her daughter's picture wasn't chosen, especially over a minority (let's just say it, "colored") girl. Sad, ain't it? But I like to think more like, "Take that, you old prejudice hag!"

V=Vegetable you don't like- Celery.

W=Worst habit - picking up the habits of the people I make fun of.

X=Xrays- Pardon? They're good in moderation, I suppose.

Y=Youth (a memory)- My dad building me a sandbox and then a monkey bar (not bars) so I can practice spinning and the dead man's drop.

Z=Zodiac sign- Sagittarius

The Man bought me smut

*That's the word he uses to refer to my celebrity juice.

Knowing how much I love "Pink is the New Blog," he surprised me with a subscription of People Magazine. (Now that I don't work at a gym, I never get to see the magazine anymore. It's been rough!)
What a great guy. It was just because. Isn't the nice?!

I give it a month and a half until he realizes how much it costs to give me a magazine that comes out weekly instead of monthly.

But what a sweet and loving gesture. I'm telling you, it's the little things.

A Poem for Hump Day

He didn't like the casserole
And he didn't like my cake.
He said my biscuits were too hard
Not like his mother used to make.
I didn't perk the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.
I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue.
Then I turned around and smacked the shit out of him
Like his mother used to do.

A woman of action

OK, so I've been a little down lately. I was kind of doing something about it. Now I'm REALLY doing something about it. Sorry for being so vague but, as well all know, a online journal is quite different the a personal and private journal :) Just send me good mojo and I will eventually give details!

I also know that I'm a very blessed woman. I have loving family and friends. I have a lot to be thankful about so I know that while I'm sad about certain things, I should really appreciate what I have in my life. And I do! Truly.

Update: The pups supposed first day of class was a human only orientation! I mean, the orientation made perfect sense but I hope the girls get a full six weeks of instruction and that didn't count as one week! (Although I have a bad feeling it did. In which case, that sucks!!!!) So Piko and Pili's official first day of class is Saturday. Wish them luck! I think they are either going to be the runts of the class (Pili for sure!) or be in the top three. There was a chick with a six month lab weighing over 70 lbs. Oh well. If I survived being the smallest in my classes growing up, my pups sure as heck can deal with it, too.

Have a great week!

Got my drink on

I haven't been in the best of moods. My boyfriend has been really great. He has made weekends a time to hang out with our pups. Piko and Pili make me laugh so much. The three of them, along with my family and friends, have been my saving grace. I don't like to talk much about faith, just because people seem so touchy and judgmental about it, but I've been praying regularly, too. It's nothing severe, just needing a little guidance! Anyway, enough about that ... I bet you want to know the juice so that's what I'll give you:)
I knew it was going to be a good night when the bus drove up with the logo, "USASIA" was on the side. (Keep in mind the crowd I was with was predominately Caucasian.) I had jello shots and a little bit of rum & diet coke. But earlier that evening I had very good Mexican food with The Man so barely any of the alcohol affected me. I had a nice buzz, though, which is much needed when dusting off some old ho clothes and going to three clubs when I haven't even been to one in almost a year.
As far as any scandals, there really weren't any. My dear friend, the main reason why I went on this party bus bonanza, said "cooter" repeatedly to the big boss who just smiled uncomfortably. (We love saying different vagina words - it's a healthy outlet. I just don't share it with anyone at work.)
Oh yes! At our third and final club, we saw three fights, one being a girlfight and one with a tazer. We wanted to board our safe bus but guess what? It. Wasn't. There. I was truly scared for our white folk. We hid them around the corner. I kid you not! OK, it's funny now. Of course, our bus finally came and I have never been so happy to board a friggin' bus.
The cops came after all the fights were over and actually came onto our bus (which couldn't have more suburban people than if it were from the Midwest) to see if anyone had blood on them. You know, in case anyone participated in the three fights. I guess they overlooked the guys that were running away from the club. Good times. Really. But I'm happy to be back in my home with my frou-frou dogs and my tough looking boyfriend.

Sorry it's been a while

I'm tired. I'm a little depressed. Maybe it's because I'm so tired.
But The Man and the puppies are great. I love them so much. Even though Piko is unlearning her bathroom manners and is now 70% potty trained. But the three of them make me laugh. So that's good.
Tonight I'm going on a party bus that will stop at three bars in San Francisco. Do you know how long it's been since I've worn hoochie-going-out clothes?? I don't even think I fit them anymore (one of the reasons I'm depressed - Mama Lu's gained some weight.) Anyhow, I'm going out and staying out until 2:00am. 2:00am!!!! I can't recall the last time I've done that.
The Man has opted out. I don't blame him. I'm going because one of my best friends is going and she would kick my ass if I flaked. Plus it's mainly with work people (as opposed to non-work people aka friends) so it is going to be very interesting. Very interesting. I know I am going to try my hardest not to heave so I'm pretty sure I'll be on my best party behavior. That means a three drink max. But I'm sure I'm going to witness a lot of sinful behavior.
Heads up - that means I'll have some great blogging material.

The kids are going to school!

The Man and I have enrolled our babies. Piko and Pili start their puppy training class next month!

It's going to be interesting. Our pups have such distinct personalities and we wonder how they will do not only in a social setting but with the training itself.

Piko is the quiet one. She is also very sensitive. Even if we're disciplining Pili, Piko becomes frightened while Pili just wags her tail. Piko is also very fussy about food, can out run The Man (really, it's kind of funny considering she's just a tiny bit bigger than his foot) and is 98% potty trained.

Pili is the feisty one. She thinks she is way bigger than her 4 lbs self. She's as agile as a cat, forgets just about anything in two minutes, eats anything, sleeps a lot, yaps too much is messy, sturdy, clumsy and 50% potty trained.

They are both very cuddly and cute. Most of the time.

They do have a dark side, though. So we have to tame those wild beasts!

I was mad but now I'm OK.

I love my computer! I just had to say it again. Told you I'd write more if I had my baby back!

The Man is the best. He is a best friend, a girlfriend (he hates that but it's true! I sometimes catch myself treating him like one. I even said, "Girrrrrlll!" once - he was not amused) a handyman, and a great boyfriend. Can you tell a big fat complaint is going to come up??
He presses snooze. A lot. Just keep that in mind while I tell my story . Also keep in mind that we have been very lucky. Piko and Pili now sleep through the night. We figured out that they were waking up in the middle of the night because they were too hot so we placed them in the coldest part of the bedroom (I guess their shared bodyheat is good enough.)
Anyway, The Man's alarm went off this morning. Bam, he hits the snooze. OK. It goes off again. Bam, he hits snooze. All right, it must be about 5:00am because I've learned from living this every work day that a couple minutes after he hits it for the second time, my alarm goes off and it's time to get up.
I go to the pups' crate and start to take them out to take them to the pee pads. The Man asks, "What are you doing?"
What am I doing? I'm being nice. I'm taking the freakin' dogs to the pee pad. But I say, "I'm getting them up."
He says, "Look what time it is."
People. It is 3:30am.
3:30AM!
"What?!" I reply. Then I remember. He has to be at work by 5:00am today. Maybe I'm being irrational because I'm tired. But I. Am. Pissed.
I take them to the pee pads because OF COURSE they have to pee now that I've woken them up.
I bring them back to the bedroom, but them back in the crate and crawl into bed. The Man puts his arm around me and I'm so heated that I'm actually HEATED and tell him to please remove his arm because I'm hot. And I basically toss and turn for another hour and a half.
Now, and I mean at 6:20am now, I am not pissed. We make booboos and he didn't mean to wake me up. But by golly -
I'M GOING TO BREAK THAT DAMN SNOOZE BUTTON IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

---------------------------------------------

Later that same day: Guess what The Man done did?! He send me a dozen roses at work just to thank me and let me know he appreciated me. (It's been kind of rough week, in general, for both of us with work and the pups.)

Awww ...I'm still keeping this post :)

But they are beautiful. What a great guy.

These are what he actually sent me.

Hallelujah!!!

The Man carefully unscrewed a gabillion tiny screws on my laptop, removed the broken part and carefully placed the above object inside. Then he put everything back together. The best part? It works. It REALLY works!

I HAVE MY COMPUTER BACK!!!!!!

It's a Sony Vaio from 2003 (practically an ancient relic) but I love it so so much.
So big thanks to The Man!!!!!

My life has gone to the dogs

To be fair, so has The Man's.

A lot of people have told us that Piko and Pili are good practice for having a kid. And we know that it's not the same - you can't put your child in a baby-gated kitchen when you need a moment's peace. Well, you could, but it wouldn't be well received. Anyway, these people are right - puppies are good practice. We wake up in the middle of the night if we hear our dogs because they have to a deed. Or two.

And so much more.

Just today The Man commented how our lives have really changed. We gave up our partying ways a long time ago (2001 was a good year. And for those that partied right along side me/us, you know what I'm talking about.) But we used to do a few things that I miss -
I miss sleeping in.
I miss being able to go on a day outing on a whim - we used to go to Monterey, Capitola or Santa Cruz.
I miss leaving for an errand and not worrying if I did a few things and came home several hours later.
I miss having a kitchen with no baby gates.
I miss going out at night and not worrying that there will be poo or shredded peepee pads when we return.
I miss being able to work out in the morning.
I miss a full night sleep. And naps on the weekends.

Well, we knew what we were getting into when we got a dog (not so much when we got the second but that's OK - it's pretty much the same.) And we wouldn't trade our little puff balls for anything in the world (Well, The Man might - he really had his heart set on a doberman but it's doubtful only because he really has fallen in love with Piko and Pili.) So while I do miss all these things, I adore our puppies. But I cannot wait until they are housetrained!!!!Little brats. And I mean that affectionately.

I LOVE a four day work week

I've had two in a row and am LOVING them! I can't believe tomorrow is already Thursday. That's my kind of work week.
A coworker and I were talking about how painful next week is going to be because it's a full work week. Worse, this weekend is only TWO DAYS. Oh lawdee. People are going to be moo-dy next week. And when I write "people," I mean "me." I will try to contain my hostility and keep it to a minimum. No, really.
Now cross your fingers that my computer part comes soon!

Hot damn, it's 2007!

It's so cliche but, really, where did the time go??
I noticed that around this time, people get this itch for change. Maybe it's because it's ingrained in us to have resolutions at the beginning of each year, to change something about us for the better. Or for what we perceive to be for the better.

Hey, I'm not knocking it - I feel it, too.
Of course, there are the norms like weight, exercising more, so on and so forth. I won't bore you with those because OF COURSE I would like to lose 15 lbs, of course I would like to dedicate more time to yoga or exercise. But here are the things that I really want to take care of during my 28th year:

1. Buy a home

2. Find my professional home and excel

3. Be more patient and understanding with those I love most

4. Rise above the pettiness and gossip (excluding celebrity)

I could go on and on if I tried but those are the big ones.

On something completely unrelated, Sister has inspired me to want to decorate my home with Christmas cheer. Of course, I know it's too late but I'm seizing the opportunity to get as much 50% off Christmas Cheer I can get my mitts on! Hurray for Michael's, Cost Plus World Market and Longs Drugs. I have two wreaths, a bunch of ornaments and stockings for everyone in the house, even the puff balls! The Man thinks I'm a wee bit nuts but doesn't try to stop me (which is good because I've picked up a bad biting habit from Piko and Pili.) Speaking of which ...

I hope that you have a fantastic start to 2007 and you didn't wake up looking like this -

Can you believe they sleep like this? They look like they've had a rough night.

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.