ambientbuzz

NAMM Convention 2008

2008-01-20T23:34:00.000-08:00

So we just got back from the huge NAMM convention in Anaheim. NAMM is the National Association of Music Merchants and is the 3rd largest convention in the United States. It is freaking huge and ridiculously intimidating. Last year was the first year I went with Kevin and I had a blast. Last year I met a couple of cool people like Nikki Sixx and got to see Earth Wind and Fire and Richard Marx in concert. But this year was the SHIT.

Yamaha throws a huge concert for all their dealers and has artists who are associated with Yamaha come play at it, hence Earth Wind and Fire last year. This year the show didn't seem like it was going to be that great with the headliner being John Legend and that was about it, but they said they had a special guest who they weren't announcing... At the end of the show they wheeled out a new piano so Kevin and I started speculating that maybe it was Alicia Keyes or Elton John (both of which have done the show in the past), but then they wheeled out keyboards and we started getting excited because we both immediately thought of Stevie Wonder. Lo and behold out he comes and starts playing. It was awesome. He played superstition and a bunch of other songs. He was amazing.

Then the rest of the weekend while out of the show we saw a plethora of artists both milling around and signing. We saw Dave Mustaine of Megadeath and then the best part was walking around and happening upon Jason Bonham of Led Zepplin as he was arriving for a signing engagement. I was pushy enough to get close enough to him to take a picture with him. It was awesome. Someone in the crowd asked if the new tour was going to happen and he said "he hopes so but depends on the fans." I never really know what that means.

I ran into Malcolm-Jamal Warner AKA Theo from the Cosby show. I asked him if I could take a picture with him and he was pretty rude. I saw him again the next day and he was mostly just loitering and we decided he was just trying to be recognized. Bleh.

Saw Dave Navarro but wasn't going to wait in line for his autograph, got my picture taken with the playmate of the year again this year. Got a bunch of other random pictures of band members of other groups that I couldn't for the life of me tell you who they are now.

Saw Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins sitting in a booth tuning a guitar chatting with the proprietor with pretty much everyone walking by him not noticing him. He looked pretty chill and unassuming.

I'm kind of bummed I missed seeing Santana, he was apparently roaming around but it's a big place and there are always lots of people you miss and hear about later. Overall it was an awesome trip, tiring but awesome. I can't wait until next year.

This is what a quarter-life crisis feels like...

2007-10-05T21:34:00.000-07:00

So I have been out of school for a few months and I have no idea what to do with myself. For the first month or so I had no idea what to do with all my free time. When I came home from work I would normally rush right to school or immediately start homework but now I don't have jack shit to do. In the past few years I've forgotten how to read for fun, I've forgotten how to clean my house when I'm not avoiding homework, I've forgotten how to call up a friend and go get a leisurely drink in the evening. This is totally ridiculous. I'm freaking 25 years old and I don't know how to be a 25 year old. In my family and frankly in my life I have always been the responsible one or the one who will eat ramen noodles if I have bills to pay. I literally DO NOT know how to be irresponsible. Needless to say, I don't know how to act my freaking age.

This entire life crisis was brought about when I was chatting with my interns at work and they were talking about their plans after they graduate over the next couple quarters. Here these kids are only a few years younger then me and are totally planning to throw caution to the wind and go gallivanting around Europe for like 8 weeks with no thought whatsoever to bills or responsibilities. This literally makes me break out in hives, yet at the same time makes me incredibly jealous because I know I would never throw caution to the wind like that.

I have never been irresponsible. I honestly don't know how to do it. After talking with the interns I started looking at going on an impromptu vacation and everything I considered doing just wasn't logically feasible--or was it? Was it just simply that it is so outside my comfort zone that it immediately becomes illogical? For example, there was a great deal to fly to Washington D.C. this weekend for $199. Granted, I would be going by myself because no one I know could up and go at this time because they are still in school or have family obligations or they aren't going through the same series of crises that I am, but rather then booking it I decided I couldn't do it... I had absolutely nothing planned this weekend out of the ordinary but just arbitrarily decided it wouldn't work. Washington D.C. is someplace I definitely want to go to as well, so in hindsight it is a great example to look at and try to discern what my deal is...

This sort of all feels like a big bitch and whine fest but frankly whatever, sometimes I guess everyone needs to have it. I have never been outside the United States and never really did anything big to celebrate my graduation from UCSB, which was a really long time coming. I can’t really afford to take that big trip most graduates do because I actually am an adult with actual adult bills, and I don’t have the family members who give you thousands of dollars for graduation gifts. I luckily have parents, Rob and Karlene whom I adore who instead gave UCSB thousands of dollars in the form of tuition so I wouldn’t have to take out loans or just quit school and for that I am eternally grateful. I have an amazing boyfriend whom I adore and can’t imagine life without, yet at the same time with him I also get a ready made family which makes the thought of being irresponsible even more ridiculous. I adore Kevin’s sons and wouldn’t trade them for anything, let alone a trip to anywhere, yet at the same time I wonder if I’ve missed my opportunity to be that irresponsible youth where your indiscretions are inevitably excused by all those who love and care for you.

All in all, at the end of this rambling let it be known… even if (and I know I have been) I have been very very grumpy and hard to deal with, I love you Kevin and I love Daniel and Glenn to the ends of the earth. I love my baby sisters and my increasingly spoiled and “embracing her terrible two’s” niece Abbagale, I love my Mom for being helpful recently, I love Rob and Karlene for all that they have done and continually do, I love all my extended family for being there and hopefully trying to keep in touch. Very importantly, I love all my friends who I don’t always talk to very often but I adore all the same—there are far too many of you to name and I would inevitably miss someone.

I also love my dog Cooper who only poops on my carpet randomly rather then daily which is a SERIOUS improvement. He cuddles really amazingly though so he makes the cut!!!

I graduated!

2007-06-21T20:56:00.001-07:00

My niece Abbagale

My main man Kevin
My two lovely sisters

I finally graduated this past Sunday. I am ridiculously excited, scared, tired, happy and a million other things.

Thanks to all my wonderful friends, amazing family and especially my fantastic boyfriend Kevin for everything they have done and their endless support.

Graduation

2007-05-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

One month away...

Yowsa

God damn it

2007-02-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

I just had a crazy long new post but this new "updated" version of blogger tweaked out and it is GONE. So now I am crazy irritated and will have to try again another time.

New developments in my life

2007-01-14T00:46:00.000-08:00

I spoke about my relationship with Kevin and his kids. I thought I should put some additional faces to names.

Daniel and I

Kisses

Kev, Glenn and I

Attack of the toys

Children of Men

2007-01-14T00:40:00.000-08:00

Stacie and I went and saw this movie tonight and I must say...I thought it was fantastic. I read some reviews about it before I saw it and I will agree that Alfonso Cuaron's vision of the not so distant future is frighteningly realistic. He did an amazing job with the story as well as every other aspect of the movie. It was incredibly powerful and brings a lot of questions to mind. Stacie and I spoke about how bizarre it would be not to have children around and to have a prospect of all women being unable to conceive in less then twenty years.

In a related note I guess it was fantastic to see you again Stacie and I am sorry it has been so long!!! I know my schedule is not very conducive to having much free time these days but I hope we can do it again soon.

Life

2007-01-04T09:52:00.001-08:00

So for those who don't know--probably everyone but Stacie--I have been seeing an amazing guy for the last four months or so. He wasn't a stranger to me, rather one of my best friends. He was at one time married and is in the process of a divorce; he also has two wonderful sons who I have known since birth. We are having to deal with a lot of crap these days with really immature people and unfortunately some back-stabbing friends. One of Kevin's oldest friends, Justin has a wife named Alyssa. Sadly Alyssa doesn't understand the concept of friend. The whole time Kevin and I have been seeing each other we have all hung out and been the best of friends--only to find out that she was going behind Justin and our backs and chatting it up with Kim (ex). Not just being friends which is her perogative, but talking shit, serious shit, about Kevin and I while at the same time being our friends. These are concepts I have a hard time understanding. Most people who know me know that I am a relative straight shot when it comes to my feelings and whatnot. If I don't like you, you tend to know it. I can't fathom playing both sides of the fence. This was a serious blow to my ability to trust people and have a full idea about their intentions.

But most importantly Kevin and I are super happy and the boys are adjusting well. Kim tells Kevin she can't afford food and diapers, while at the same time throwing parties and going out all the time--fantastic priorities... But she has herself and her white trash brigade convinced she is an amazing person, friend, Mom, and God knows what else. It is frusterating. Especially since you can't even fight these type of people with logic--because they don't understand it.

Well, anyway... Here are a few pictures to catch everyone up.

Kevin and I in front of our Christmas tree

Kevin, Craig and I for Halloween... The Keg was functioning!!!

Abbagale at Christmas. She is getting so dang big and even more wonderful then before.

Fawn and I in SF on Danielle's roof. It is really amazing up there.

School

2007-01-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

School starts this week. Shit. I am taking 20 units to insure graduating on-time. The school messed up and double counted a couple of my classes towards two different requirements--so I wasn't sitting where I should have been. But I am hell bent on graduating in June dammit!!! The quarter started this week and is already off to a good start, namely I am behind in reading--but if I used that as an indicator I would have been hurting ever since the beginning of school. I always have amazing goals and expectations at the beginning of a quarter, about staying up on the reading and whatnot, but it never stays that way. I snap back to reality after the first few weeks. So I'm sorry about my obscene lack of posts and I hate to say I don't know if it will get better until June : (

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACIE--I'M POSITIVE THIS TIME!

2006-12-12T21:56:00.000-08:00

I DOUBLE CHECKED WITH SINATRA CLASSY GAL, haha. Hope you had a great day.

Serious slacker, I know

2006-12-08T22:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know. My bad. I have finals this upcoming week and then I PROMISE a serious amoutn of blogs and pictures to catch up. To Amie and Evan who were gracious enough to make my blog I promise it wasn't in vain!!!

Stacie, I miss you. Sorry I have been such a lame-o friend. I will make it up to you. We need to go out for your birthday anyway, right. I haven't forgotten about that!!!

More to come, but until then.

Me and my baby Cooper.

Ack..

2006-09-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

School starts next week... Oh the horror.

A few pictures because it's been a bit...

2006-08-25T06:42:00.000-07:00

Abba and her guard dog Cooper! She turns 1 next month. Unbelievable how the time passes.

Dess and I in Oakland to see the A's vs. Red Sox

Some friends and I at Anaheim stadium--in the corporate box!!! Hard to imagine seeing a game any other way now frankly...

BASEBALL

2006-08-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

Heading to Anaheim this weekend for baseball. The Angels play the Yankees and I'm going to all 3 games. Aw yeah baby. No, I'm not an Angels fan, no I'm not a Yankees fan--I LOVE BASEBALL--Period. Not to mention in all the games I've seen this summer I will have seen quite literally 20 future hall of famers. That is unbelievably awesome to me. I am always asked what team I like and whatnot and I always say the same thing--I am an indiscriminate fan--I will watch any game, anytime and usually end up rooting for both teams; namely because I cheer for GOOD baseball and more often than not both teams are going to produce it. Also, being from Alaska doesn't really lend to one having that sense of hometown/state pride when it comes to sports rooting so I have always watched everyone. For those who are diehard fans of one team and HATE another, they can't understand this concept of mine. I really wish I was a diehard fan for one team because I think those types of loyalties are amazing and the rivalries they create are fantastic but I feel like if I do that now I will just be another bandwagon hopper... Alas, I can't do it. So off to baseball I go!!

To catch everyone up...

2006-08-16T20:55:00.000-07:00

So the BBQ was an amazing success!! Arianne was able to stop by so that was great. Hadn't seen her in ages! Got to see a lot of other people I hadn't seen in quite a long time as well which is always great. I've been so ridiculously busy with school these days that I seem to forgot exactly how neglecting I can be with friends so for that I'd like to issue a sincere apology. I hope in the next month or so before fall quarter or so we can all, on way or the other, get in touch and catch up!!!

Stacie, Fawn, and I went and saw Talladega Nights last night--crazy funny. I am not a fan in the least of NASCAR and this pokes fun at all the trashiness of it which makes my day, but it is also just plain out funny in the normal Will Ferrell fashion. He holds back against pretty much no one--Tom Cruise, Oprah, and the Lord baby Jesus. Ah, good times!!

My little sister Fawn moved in with me last week and will be starting Cuesta next week. She just graduated high school this year and pretty much epitomizes naive. I'm fairly nervous for her and have entered into hyper protective mode and am trying desperately to draw the line between older sister who doesn't want her to screw up her life and apathetic roommate. It's a terribly fine line to walk and I don't think I've found that balance quite yet!! Working on it though.

My boss gave me tickets to the corporate box at the Angels stadium a few weeks ago for the game against the A's. It was literally one of those experiences for a baseball fan I can't really articulate well. I have seen a dozen or so baseball games recently and NOTHING compares to this. It was catered for us--free food, liquor and a waiter who was at our whim. I had 10 tickets and with those tickets we essentially had free rein of the whole stadium. We could get into any section of the park we wanted--we were VIP. Seeing games any other way now is going to be awfully hard!!! I even got to meet Huston Street, one of the relievers for the A's. Awesome.

BBQ tomorrow

2006-08-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Short notice I know, but I'm having a BBQ tomorrow if you want to stop by. My little sister just moved down from Alaska so I'm trying to welcome her to the neighborhood! Email me or call me if you need directions or anything. Going to start around 2. We have some beer, soda, hamburgers, chips and fish while supplies last so bring something else if you want.

See you then.

Who wouldn't want her in the neighborhood! She's such a doll.

Quirky humor...check out the sites!

2006-07-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have found some sites in the last few months that I am now visiting more and more frequently...

They are super funny and for your convenience I have linked them on my sidebar thing as I don't know how to translate that into the actual space of a post. Frankly if I want to put a new link up I just erase an old one and follow the same form...Simplistic and rudimentary but it works. I'll learn it one day Evan I promise! Anyway the two sites are New York Overheard and Cyanide and Happiness. The latter is a daily cartoon and I would highly recommend you check out ALL the archives. Here are a few, and I mean just a few, of my favorites so far...

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

I could post dozens of them.

As for the New York Overheard site I would recommend visiting it at least once a day if possible. People say the most amazing, bizarre, random, disgusting...shit in the world. It has honestly made me more conscious of what I am talking about in public and the volume of my voice. There are always those conversations that people can overhear the wrong snippit of and completely get the wrong idea and take it totally out of context which I'm sure some of these are but still they are hilarious nonetheless. There is also a link on this site to Overheard in the Office which is also freakin' hilarious especially since I work in an office and feel like many of the comments oddly mirror many of my days...

I hope you check them out friends. Let me know what you think.

Picture extravaganza!!

2006-07-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

Mariko and I at the Dodger game

My friend Matt and Cooper

Dessirae and I

Abba is getting so darn big.

Matt, Danielle and I from their roof. Awesome view!

Entrance to Chinatown

Danielle and I on the roof of a bar in SF

Pirates and other items

2006-07-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

Stacie and I went to see the Pirates movie last night... Now obviously for those movie snobs--you know who you are--this isn't a Palm movie and frankly it could have been on mute and I would have still gone to see it but it wasn't too bad. It is the middle of a trilogy so there is the middle-ish things to expect--i.e. set-up for the finale. Lots of plot development and not a whole lot of action. For those who still may see it and are maybe expecting something super fast paced like the first one--it isn't. More than once Stacie and I looked at each other and mouthed "It's not over yet?" Not because it was bad but because it seemed endless. Oh and in case anyone else is going to see it I will say the one thing I wish someone had told me--I knew there was a scene AFTER the credits (there was for the first movie as well) so we sat through seemingly endless credits, debatable the longest ones ever made, only to get the "extra" scene--and not to ruin it for you *spoiler alert* THE LAMEST THING IN THE WORLD, nothing Stacie and I had been thinking, nothing to set up for the next movie, nothing that anybody cares about, STUPID STUPID STUPID! I left the theater with my mouth agape cursing Mariko (who had already seen the movie) for not telling me how stupid the scene was and not to bother staying for it.

Okay, tirade over.

The National league choked again in the All-Star game. HA! 0-9. Yowsa. Especially since they had the lead all the way until the 9th inning. They were down to 2 outs two strikes and they just couldn't seal the deal... Sad really.

Speaking of baseball, I'm on a baseball extravaganza these days. I saw Barry Zito pitch against the Diamondbacks in Oakland two weeks ago. Went to the Giants v Dodgers game last week and saw Bonds get booed like crazy and go o-3, and this weekend I'm going to the braves at the Padres. By the end of this season I will finally have been to all the stadiums in California. I've gotten some pretty great (free) tickets. A girls dream come true!

Okay, so I think I will try to post a bit more often so they aren't quite as long next time. Hey, I'm taking 6 classes this summer, time is limited--and then there is baseball!!

Oh and a few more updates

2006-06-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

Abba is a crawling, almost walking, teething machine!

Cooper's ears aren't really that big...but he is really that cute.

My baby sister Fawn and I in Alaska. She is moving down here-and in with me-in August...Holy cow.

The long anticipated break...For a week. : (

2006-06-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

I took my last final on Tuesday and have barely a week or so before summer school officially starts. Even though technically I am already in summer school since I am taking some lower division pre-req courses my good for nothing advisor failed to "advise" me I was missing...grrr... So I having been trying to squeeze those in as well. God help me because there actually was a breaking point a few weeks ago when I had three papers due. I finished two after sleeping two hours a that night week (not that I average much more than that anyway, insomnia is a bitch) and pulling two all-nighters (because I still have to work during all this shit) and was about to email the third to the professor when it didn't feel right. So I opened up the attachment and it was not the final draft...it was the previous draft--so missing the last two pages I'd written. So first I tried not to panic and searched my computer to no avail, then my friend Chris (much more computer savvy than I) searched it to with no luck. Needless to say I think I scared the shit out of a few of my friends because I was essentially hysterical, almost hyperventilating (the paper was due in like an hour) plus I was sort of out of it anyway due to sheer exhaustion. Luckily my professor is a kind soul and actually believed my "dog ate my homework" story and gave me an extension... Yowsa.

Anyway. So I guess I offer that as explanation for my lack of blog entries...I am not a total slacker : )

Just a comment (or two) ...

2006-05-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Moving ever closer to retina scans...

I want to be home!

2006-05-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

So through the wonders of shitty airports my flight coming into San Francisco was REALLY late so I missed my connecting flight to SLO...So I have to wait for the next one...Shit. I've been flying since 1:30 this morning and I just want to get to my damn house. But I figured in the interim I would update my blog with some awesome pictures from my trip and the info corresponding to it...

This is the only "ice hotel" in North America...Yes the whole thing is made of ice and people actually do stay there--rich people that is...I only toured it! It's amazing.

This is the inside of one of the rooms you can stay in. The bed I am sitting on it fully made of ice...my ass was cold. When people stay there they have full winter gear and everything for the night.

And of course, you have to have an igloo...

Of course, here is the whole reason I went...

Midnight Sun

2006-05-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

I flew into Alaska last night at 12:30am. I am here because my youngest sister is graduating high school and frankly I needed an excuse to take a vacation!!! The last time I came back home, though was in the dead of winter so it is fantastic to come when there isn't much snow left and it is all warm--by Alaskan standards. The most amazing thing to me though was how, even though I lived here virtually my whole life just how quickly you can forget such basic things--Especially the things I am most frequently questioned on when people find out I'm from Alaska. The midnight sun, perpetual daylight, etc. I, apparently, had forgotten exactly how bright that sunlight was. I was asleep on the plane when we were approaching Fairbanks and awoke to the pilot announcing descent so I looked out the window and had a mild panic attack--it was freaking downright the middle of the day. Did we enter some bizarre time-space continium? Had I been drugged and kidnapped? Where the FUCK am I? Obviously, I was tired and needed to wake up a bit more but I now have a little better understanding of people's fascination with the perpetual sunlight issue. Growing up I never really noticed it. Having been away for a lot of years it is bizarre to be putting my luggage into the car at 1am and have it be bright as it is in SLO when I go to work.

Anyway, that was my realization of the day--perhaps I should have a bit more patience with peoples asinine questions concerning Alaska in the future...Even to a native Alaska some of it is strange to come back to.

Thanks Evan

2006-04-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

For the facelift...on my blog that is! : )

Hahaha...Anyway, really though, thanks!

She is a teething and crawling terror!!! But then I get to go home : )

2006-04-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

Her Mama and Auntie giving her love

She loves her auntie Jessica!

...Thanks Evan! I agree that she is ridiculously gorgeous! She has such an amazing personality as well. She is going to be a kick in the pants when she gets older and can actually verbalize more.

It's been awhile...

2006-04-22T00:32:00.001-07:00

So, I'm a total slacker and I have been completely neglecting my blog. You can look to my previous post though and have a good indication as to why. Although I will admit there is another reason... There is a new man in my life and his name is Cooper. I adore him and he takes up every free moment I can spare. I am sure when you see the following pictures you will all understand the reason for my infatuation and neglect...

See I told you so. This people is Cooper Jack Walker. My mom and sister gave him to me for my birthday earlier this month and I just can't get enough of him! He's a tiny little long hair miniature chihuahua BUT he isn't yappy like must chihuahua's. I know this for a fact because I happen to know his parents--and they aren't yappy either, and you know what they say about the apple not falling far from the tree--or something like that right???

Okay so that's just a small update on what has monopolized a lot of my time...Like I really need another distraction from school right!!!

Oh, and FYI--Stacie, Danielle and I went and saw Thank You For Smoking tonight and I personally would HIGHLY recommend it. Wickedly funny.

Until next time...

...

2006-04-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

School starts again today.

Insert ominous music here. Or a death march, either would be appropriate.

She just gets cuter and cuter...

2006-03-31T17:59:00.000-08:00

With the Chihuahua puppies at Grandma's house

Helping me with work in our pajamas...

Ah man...

2006-03-31T17:57:00.000-08:00

The last weekend before school starts again is officially here. I have decided that having a week off is actually quite cruel. There really isn't any time to enjoy yourself or kick back and just when you are about to have that time school starts again. Not cool man not cool.

Less than a week 'o freedom left...

2006-03-28T21:42:00.000-08:00

The countdown to my impending doom has seemingly begun. School starts next Monday which is way to soon. Totally doesn't seem fair but what can you do. The sad thing is this weekend when I was free of all homework I became antsy after about half the day on Saturday. It just goes to show that during school I am constantly on the go and it is always hectic but it seems to be a pace, for better or worse I thrive at. It's one of those twisted little realities. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I'm trying to get a head start on my reading for next quarter but I just keep staring at the books blankly...yuck.

I am literally giddy

2006-03-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

The quarter that almost sucked out my soul has come to an end...Officially. My last paper was emailed in last night by midnight(ish) and now all I have to do is see oh how my grades fall! It probably won't be that bad but surely will not live up to the standards set last quarter.

Now one blissful week of NO school before next quarter starts. Ah, yeah!!

Going to see Abba as she probably doesn't recognize me, catch up on some sleep, hang out with friends (movie Stacie?), and the ultimate sign of being a work-aholic--catch up on the work that is slowly taking over my desk.

Plus my blog has been looking sad lately...so few posts, not nearly enough cynicism, not up with the times, shameful I tell ya. Although I have updated my links and some of the sidebar info. The PostSecret sight is a bizarre fascination with me. I know the book would technically be totally worthless once fully looked at once but the weekly updates are something I am drawn to. Some are lame, of course, but some are completely insane!

Other exciting news--BASEBALL SEASON OFFICIALLY STARTS ON APRIL 3RD. ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO!!!!

A few things while I've been studying...

2006-03-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

South Dakota is apparently trying to work their way up in the unemployment and welfare statistics sector...I wonder if they need it explained to them?

Brokeback Mountain jokes are getting old, but it's oddly appropriate here.

Absolutely ridiculous

One final down!

2006-03-14T13:41:00.000-08:00

Thank god. Don't think I did fantastic, but at this rate I'm just glad to be done with that class. One more week with this damn quarter. The countdown has begun...Oh, who am I kidding, the countdown began nine weeks ago. All that's left now is two more seven page papers, a five page paper, and two finals--one week. Piece of cake...right?

Um...well...

Perfecting active avoidance

2006-03-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

It's the last push before finals and I have absolutely perfected the art of active avoidance. I tell myself every quarter and pretty much my entire academic career that I will not procrastinate, but alas it comes down to the last week and I have a 20 paper to finish and I am on page 3. This is a fantastic improvement considering I was only on page one a week ago and have been staring at a blank screen worrying for the 7 weeks before that. Okay so this is only for one class and none of my other homework is suffering but I think this particular one is proving so difficult because I have worked it up so much in my head. The paper is worth 60% of my grade and the teacher has given very little guidance. I have a good outline and the topic is something I'm interested in so now I just need to overcome the block the is hampering my writing. Perhaps I should just bite the bullet and wait until next Saturday and Sunday to write and stop worrying since it is due on the 13th and when push comes to shove I excel under that kind of pressure. I was just hoping to avoid the ulcer that has a tendency to accompany the stress!

Imagine the danger people who aren't Republicans or supporters are in...Yikes!

2006-02-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

Shoot an elderly man in the face and chest with birdshot, cause him to have a heart attack, withhold the information from the press for 21 hours, all this without even having the proper permits to even shoot a BIRD with birdshot--Damn it must be great to be in the elite, white, rich, office-holding sector of the United States. Anyone else probably would have found themselves facing charges of attempted involuntary manslaughter right about now and would be getting awfully cozy with a cell mate named Bubba.

Women: Say goodbye to your right to choose...

2006-01-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

We have just taken some terrifying steps backwards leading us to a time of back-alley abortions with rusty hangers. Hopefully the conservative religious right doesn't make it that far. Not to mention the many other rights they so conveniently want to suppress in the name of Jesus Christ. It is an amazing concept that whole separation of church and state bit if only the people rich enough to get elected or appointed into offices actually upheld the ideal. For a country founded by people so desperate to escape religious persecution I still find it absolutely amazing that we proceed on a daily basis as though Christianity is the ONLY religion and any and all laws made in the country need to be made so that they are in accordance with the bible. People can blather on and on about how their personal beliefs will not interfere in how they rule on the bench but I am flabbergasted how someone who has been quoted on more than one occasion (in the past of course) as saying he believes abortion is wrong and would have a problem upholding the precedent can be appointed to the most important and highest court in our country--and a court you are on for life mind you--and we are expected to believe that he would really put aside his past beliefs and comments and rule solely on the evidence? Give me a break. This is one of the most heated debates and most emotional precedents the supreme court has and it has been challenged time and time again so it is fairly certain that with a newly conservative tilt in the supreme court it will yet again be challenged and now folks is when that shift will be felt.

It's not just a woman's right to choose at stake here...

I am also not a crazy idealogical ranting feminist--okay so I'm not crazy at least...

Random

2006-01-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

So I was avoiding homework last night-kind of like I'm avoiding work right now-by flipping through Newsweek and they had a little blurb on this blog

PostSecret

so I went and checked it out and it is pretty neat. I think I may have seen the book at Barnes but it is an interesting idea and it is bizarre to read the things that people do and think. It makes me wonder how much people make up just to try to sound quirky or whatever to enhance their chances of getting on the site.

Preposterous? I think not.

2006-01-25T12:17:00.000-08:00

Yeesh as Stacie would say...

2006-01-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

Low and behold my teacher showed up to class last night!!!

I like yeesh Stacie--it's a good alternative to the string of expletives that usually come streaming out of my mouth.

I didn't know The Office was going to be cut short--when does that happen?

Match Point was a damn good movie. Kind of makes you uneasy throughout the whole thing. I kept gaping at the screen and then looking over to Stacie with a WTF look on my face. Every time I thought I had it figured out I was pretty much wrong. Not a bad flick. I would highly recommend it.

My sister is leaving me Abba with me ALL DAY on Sunday. Not that I can't totally handle this but Abba has been super grumpy as of late and I think she may be starting teething. So yeah a whole day with a potentially screaming baby who may or may not be in the process of trying to push enamel through her gums. Nothing spells rip-roaring weekend fun like that!

Shit, nine more weeks of this quarter...

2006-01-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

So, last week I was slightly--very slightly--amped to be going back to school. I was beginning to get a little stir crazy with the excess free time and was happy to begin the frantic pace again. What in Gods name was I thinking? Probably not the best way to start out a quarter by having your teacher totally not show up for class. Yes, he just didn't show. Apparently he thought it was on a different day, which in itself isn't so bad, sure we all make mistakes, but then he decides to arbitrarily move the day of our class. While I looked around flabbergasted the rest of the class is grumbling but seems intent on grinning and bearing it; I on the other hand was having none of it. I, as politely as I am capable of after sitting for half an hour waiting for a teacher to show up ask the person who has the unenviable task of relaying this new information to us exactly how this is going to work. Considering we all signed up for a Monday course for a reason; whether that be because of other classes, work, or family but you can't just change it on a whim--the day class starts. I then proceed to say that I need this class but can't take it on the day the teacher has decided is the new class day. Seeing my spirit or perhaps the venom starting to spring from my lips the other students finally decide to get a backbone and stand up for the fact that they too can't come to class at the new time. Most of them have other classes at that time or, like me, have to work. I rearranged my entire work schedule, much to my bosses chagrin, around this damn class, I already have the books and here I am on the verge of needing to drop it because the teacher has a case of the Monday's... Longer story slightly shorter, the teacher relented and kept the class on Monday mostly because I think there would have only been three people in it otherwise. Small victory. The rest of the week was mostly uneventful. My other classes weren't too bad. There, of course, is an obscene amount of reading again and quite a few papers but on the whole it shouldn't be to bad.

Ummm...Thank God the holidays are over!

2005-12-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

She's either smiling or taking a dump; I would imagine it is the latter.

The best present and by far the one that rings truest!

After Abba opened ALL her presents...okay actually she fell asleep after the first one but still.

Not everyone is Christian...

2005-12-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

While I personally do think we are slightly too politically correct on most issues, I do think this Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday's thing is entertaining. Not everyone is Christian and although this intially started out being a Christian holiday I think it is naive to think that that is really what it still is. It is a consumer driven "holiday" and if Christian's want to be irritated about saying Happy Holiday's rather than Merry Christmas than maybe they should go back to their Christian roots and realize that Christmas shouldn't be about placating your spoiled children and family but rather about celebrating the birth of their savior. That's just me though. I enjoy getting my friends and family presents around the holiday but lets call is what it really is...a consumerism and marketing ploy. I'm not Christian but I celebrate Christmas...not for the Christian reason but rather to show my family and friends how much I love them and appreciate their support over the last year. Maybe to rid myself of this whole drama I will start doing my "christmas" in September...

Happy Birthday Stacie!!

2005-12-21T08:07:00.000-08:00

Let's see a movie this weekend to celebrate!

It's Official!

2005-12-19T15:39:00.000-08:00

I earned all A's my first quarter at UCSB. 4.0 and on the Dean's List. YEAH!

A few recent pic.'s

2005-12-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

My sisters and I, plus Abba. Please desperately try to ignore the Reba shirt; or at least don't judge me by my sister's ridiculously bad taste not only in music but attire.

Abbagale-my niece-almost three months old now

Fawn and I when she was down here last month.

Ah yeah!!! A whole month off of school...

2005-12-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

Yeah! Finals are over and I feel pretty damn good about them. I might even venture to say that I think I got straight A's. Not a bad way to start out my academic career at UCSB if I do say so myself! Now I have a whole month to try to do some advanced reading for next quarter, get some much needed sleep, venture out of the reclusive hole that I have been hiding in for the past 10 weeks, and get some work done that has been progressively piling up. Going to try to do some Christmas shopping today--brave the crowds. Usually I am a total Christmas Eve shopper, but I would really like to avoid that scene again.

Random tidbit- I wanted to again say thank you to Amie and Evan for the amazing job they did creating a website for my work. Everyone at work has been supremely impressed with it. Check it out at www.centralcoastoil.com

Anyway, gotta get some stuff done and then start the day o' shopping!

A few updates

2005-12-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

So it has been awhile, but a few things.

1. Saw Harry Potter again--still have issues, but overall can say relatively definitively that I liked it.

2. Finals next week, enter nervous breakdown mode.

3. Registered for next quarter and just to prove I am a glutton for punishment I am taking four classes rather than three. Just more evidence that I want to be DONE with school!

4. On the bright side I have a month off of school, on the not so bright side I have a shitload of work to get caught up on. Not that I have been slacking, but some of my projects have definitely been pushed to the farthest corners of my mind.

5. I have been bowling really well these days...not sure what the difference is, but I'm not complaining. Yes, I realize just how geeky bowling is.

Well as a whole I think that gets me quasi-caught up. To any friends who actually read this damn thing I will be trying my damnedest to get back in touch with everyone over the next month. Going to try not to be such a hermit next quarter.

HARRY POTTER!

2005-11-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, there are few things that I even border on fanatic about, sadly one of those things is Harry Potter. After waiting in line for an hour yesterday to buy tickets because the local theater is run by a bunch of idiots who apparently dig chaos I went back to see the movie at 9:45. I went with Amie and Evan and we were in the third row...yes the third row. But if wasn't bad. The movie, while I'm still reserving full judgement until I see it again, was pretty good. I personally thought that this one, above all the others, was more of an insider movie, that is, if you haven't read the books I think you may find yourself lost more than once or looking around bewildered as to why everyone around you is laughing--that's just me though. I think there were some errors in judgement when it comes to casting as well. Fleur was not nearly pretty enough--she was pretty, but in the books she is described as some kind of Helen. Cedric was kind of odd looking as well--he looked weirdly emaciated. Other than that though the casting seemed good. Ralph Fiennes was fantastic as Voldemort, absolutely fantastic. Anyway though, not bad. Have to see it again to see what I missed.

Have a huge paper to write this weekend though, so it will have to wait.

Don't "misunderestimate" Bushy

2005-11-19T10:36:00.000-08:00

What? Things evolve? Crazy concept.

Grandma

2005-11-14T11:53:00.000-08:00

So, my Grandmother had been fairly ill for pretty much as long as I can remember. She passed away last Wednesday November 9th. This is really my first experience with death so I'm not sure if I am reacting normally. Although she had been ill with a variety of issues, it still felt unexpected. I was in the hospital visiting with her the night before she died and she was busy chastising me for skipping school to hang out with her at the hospital. That's kind of her norm. She would never want a big fuss to be made about her and I think she would be downright livid if she knew that family flew here from Alaska and Washington to be with her and celebrate her life. While we all had our up and downs with her she will be greatly missed. She was a cool lady and one of the few people who has always believed in my potential no questions asked.

Enough of the sappy rejected Hallmark card moments...

Harry Potter is this weekend--can't wait. Probably going to go see it Friday night if anyone is interested.

Got my two tests back for school last week and I got A's on both of them!!!!!!!!!! One of them I assumed I would an A or perhaps a high B because I felt really confident about the test, but the other I literally thought I would be lucky if I squeezed out a C, so I'm really stoked with that!

Anyhow, I think that is about it lately...

Yeah for Democrats!!

2005-11-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

Arnold's initiatives go down in an amazing burst of flames...

There is a God and she is a Democrat!

Nostalgia

2005-11-09T08:30:00.000-08:00

So I am having a serious case of nostalgia. I have recently been trying to get in touch with some old friends from my past and I have actually been successful with two of the most important of them. I was talking to my first high school boyfriend, Buddy, last night and realized how much that first year of high school sucked. I was transferring to a new school and didn't really know anyone, and there were few outlets. I also began thinking about how caddy, petty, and downright mean high schoolers can be--myself included. My next thought was that well at least I'm out of there and never have to go back........rewind, I AM going back, because for some godforsaken reason I had the idiotic idea that teaching high school would be GREAT, FUN, EXCITING and now all I think it will be is SCARY, SHITTY, and FULL OF BRATTY KIDS DOPED UP ON HORMONES.

Anyway, back to nostalgia--a phrase I never thought I would say--
So catching up with old friends is really great. Dustin, Buddy's sister, is married now, which is bizarre to me because she was probably the most shy person I have ever met, and I cant even imagine her dating, but she seems really happy. Her brother is in the military, about to get married, and has a little girl. When you start going down nostalgia lane you (me)immediately revert back to that age for a bit. And my 15 year old self is freaking out about my friends being married with kids. It's weird to realize how much time has passed and all the things you may have missed concerning people you once knew everything about. Events and milestones have passed unmarked and there are so many little everyday things that are too numerous to remember let alone recount.

So yeah, I think that is about enough from me on this issue. It is always really great to catch up with people and we always say not to let so much time lapse before speaking again, but who's to say if that will be followed through with. I hope to keep in touch not only with my new long lost friends but all the ones I have slowly been neglecting due to my and their ever increasingly busy schedules.

Whodda Thunk

2005-11-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

You Are Italian Food

Comforting yet overwhelming.
People love you, but sometimes you're just too much.

What Kind of Food Are You?

There are some weird little tests here. I think that for the most part I disagree with their assessment. I don't think I'm particularly comforting...

Couldn't have said it better myself...

2005-11-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

King Tut...again

2005-10-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

King Tut was really cool. Sorry I haven't updated yet. It was pretty awesome to be in the same room with that much history, but I wish there hadn't been so many damn tourists and idiots there with us. Otherwise it was really cool. I went to Disneyland the next day with Mariko then Jenn and Dave K. met us up there. Luckily we got there early enough to be able to ride all the worthwhile rides before the lines got out of control. The Nightmare Before Christmas haunted house was up which was really fantastic. Tim Burton is an odd fellow thats for sure.

I got my first paper back in english and it had a check on it. No further explanation or comments--I hope that means that I got an A and that my teacher thinks I'm a genius...

Dess brought Abbagale to my work today since they just got back in town. It's amazing how much bigger she is already. Amie got to meet her as she was here to help me muddle through more of this logo and website crap for work. It's coming together quite nicely. My boss told me today that Amie was a real "catch" for us concerning our website and logo!!!! Yeah Amie and Evan are the shit.

Jesus hates the Yankees

2005-10-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

So I saw a t-shirt online today that was following the same line as the "Jesus is my homeboy/girl" shirts and thought it was funny. Not only is it funny, but it seems to be the case. Here the Yankees have the supposed best baseball team money can buy and they get slaughtered by the Angels--not that the Angels are bad mind you but still...

King Tut!

2005-10-07T16:16:00.000-07:00

So, I'm super stoked to go to LA this weekend. Not only do I get to see my pal Mariko but I get to see the King Tut exhibit. I am really excited! It's an interesting idea to me that tomorrow I will literally be face-to-face with an amazing piece of world history. Don't get me wrong I love art and all that, but for some reason this strikes me as something totally different. It should be neat. I think we are also going to hit up disneyland. Mariko seems to think it an amazing travesty that I have only been to Disneyland once--with my crazy mom--and it was quite some time ago. This, of course, coming from a season ticket holder--is that even the right verbiage or am I just so consumed with post-season baseball that I'm thinking of season tickets--salivating actually...

Hmmmm.....

Appropriate I would say...

2005-10-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Grumpy!

2005-10-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Apparently only have 2-3 hours of sleep makes me not only a raging bitch--yes, more than normal--but it also zaps any hope of being productive. I finally finished my damn paper last night at around 10 pm. I think it is rather crappy, but at this rate I could care less. I also hit some sort of weird euphoric/giddy/slightly insane state which made it nay impossible for me to take a nap, let alone sleep last night. This is what I would imagine taking speed would be like, which definitely means I will never be taking it! I was soooo tired yet I just couldn't sleep--that is until about 5am this morning--which would have been super if I didn't have to get up at 6am for work. I have a pretty good idea that this is going to be a lousy week.

Anxiety ridden

2005-10-02T04:51:00.000-07:00

It's almost 5am and I've been up for almost three hours. I am totally having a panic attack about my first paper that is due on Tuesday. It really shouldn't be that difficult, but in normal Jessica-fashion I am on the verge of tears about finishing it. The thing is, if I don't finish it today it wont happen. I am still working 50+ hours a week at work and I at least know that realistically I wont do it during the week. Not because I'm a slacker, but mostly because there isn't enough time in my days. That being said I think the anxiety is because of the deadline. I apparently don't do all that well with one. That seems odd considering I have a million deadlines at work and I reach them easily--granted usually with a 50+ hour work week.

Amie is designing a new logo (which looks amazing!) among other things for my job and she has been able to witness the chaos I endure daily. She was fairly wide-eyed after meeting my boss--mostly because he is a bit of a whirlwind and is quite intense. As soon as he left the room she looked at me and said she could never work here but that I seem to thrive on it--notice no quotation marks because she probably said it way more eloquent than that--and I do thrive on it. I am usually pretty stressed out, but I think that has more to do with the mixing of the chaos of school with the chaos of work.

So here I am adding to my anxiety by procrastinating...

My little sis

2005-10-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

Fawn would never forgive me if I didn't put a more flattering picture of her on my blog. Ah, the vanity of a 17 year old!

I miss Alaska

2005-09-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Fawn's car before she un-buried it...

My youngest sister Fawn and I.

Snowmobiling.

Fawn waist-deep in the snow..

My sister...yeah she's pretty young

2005-09-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

Okay going back to my homework...

The best one...

2005-09-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

My favorite pic

Abba (as she will be forever know to me!)

2005-09-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple pictures of Abba...

Bye Bill...

2005-09-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

School Sucks!

2005-09-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

What on earth possessed me to do such a thing. By next week I have to have two books read--and not fun, page turning books mind you, but dry history books. Yuck. Okay so I'm being slightly melodramatic. It wasn't that bad, but there really is a lot of reading. I'm still not sure if I dig the live video feed as a way to take my course either; I feel like I'm missing out on some vital big university experience. Okay that's enough of my complaining!

I plan on doing a lot of reading this weekend...But I really want to go see a movie--Stacie, are you going to see any this weekend? Call me if you are. Corpse Bride looks rather intriguing. I can't remember the last time I saw a movie.

Walking the Green Mile

2005-09-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

This week I have been feeling like I am walking blindly to my impending doom. School starts this Thursday and I really can not believe how petrified I am. You'd think I was a freshmen instead of a junior, but I haven't been to school full time in over a year. Also my job is much more demanding than any of the others I have had while attending school. Another reason I could be anxious is because I received all my books today--and by all of them I mean all 26--you heard me 26. What the hell!

I went and visited my sister and my niece this weekend and man is she cute. She's a pretty good baby too which is a good thing for my sister. Her name is Abbagale--yes spelled like that. My sister is still young enough to want to give her kid a cool, different name much to my chagrin. So, to illustrate my point that it is a stupid way to spell her name, I have taken to calling her Abba rather then Abby like she wants. The kid is forever stuck with that as a nickname from me...She can blame her mother!

Alas, this is my last Tuesday of freedom and all I can think to do is get some sleep...maybe a little laundry. What a hip happening gal I am!

What the heck?

2005-09-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

After the euphoria of having a niece wore off I realized how unbelievably tired I am. Not that my sister is any less tired, but holy cow a weekend at the hospital can really take it out of you. Not only that but I finally had the big manager's meeting I have been preparing for last week. Thank god that is finally over.

I'm feeling a sense of impending doom about school starting next week. I've already entered into a half panicked mode and I haven't even started. All my books should be arriving pretty soon and I have already tried to get a head start on all that reading. You would think all the reading would be super easy, but there is something so different about reading for fun and being FORCED to read something. Even if it is something that I may have read for fun it totally makes it different.

I started bowling this week and bowled like crap. My team lost all our games which kind of sucks...Oh well thought there is a whole year to overcome the losses. I also got a award check from the state bowling association because I got 1st place in the women's state tournament. That's right 1st in the whole state in my division. It's not a prestigious accomplishment but still a kind of cool one.

Baby news

2005-09-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

My sister finally popped yesterday!!!! She had Abbagale at 6:09pm. She weighs 6lbs 10oz and is 19 1/4 inches long. She has a LOT of hair, thank god. She's pretty damn cute...Dess and her are both doing well. More to come--news that is.

Amie and Evan are fantastic!

2005-09-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

A huge thanks to Amie and Evan for making my blog look so amazing. I really appreciate your help!

Not bad.

2005-09-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

I read Eldest this weekend and it was better then the first book. I would highly recommend it.

Danielle and I have finally gotten on the Soprano's train. We watched the first season and are now watching the second. I am surprised at how funny they are and a little disturbed about Tony's sex appeal. He exudes it on this show. Interesting...

YEAH!!!!!

2005-09-01T16:21:00.001-07:00

So it is almost the weekend again thank goodness. This has been a really hectic week! But for more important things... So not that I was worried — okay I was freaking the hell out — but I finally got my official letter of acceptance from UCSB. Man and it couldn't have come at a better time, considering school starts in less then three weeks. Danielle called me at work to tell me of the ominous package "staring" at her from UCSB so without further ado I had her open it and finally let me exhale. My advisor had been telling me for weeks that all would be well, but I am a worrier and couldn't help having major and minor panic attacks leading up to the actually letter arriving. WOOHOO. Anyway, not like I will be all that stoked in a few weeks when I barely have time to eat what with school and my ever-increasing work responsibilities.

Anyway, on to other topics I guess. So my sister is due in just a few short weeks but this week she blacked out, fell and almost broke her arm. The doctor says she has a really bad case of vertigo so now she in on virtual bedrest. She can't go up or down stairs without supervision, she can't drive, nor can she really stand for too long. I feel bad for her, but I told her to get as much rest as possible because it's not like she will be getting much in the coming weeks, months, and years.

I was talking to my friend Jenn and she was recommending the book Eragon to me. Now I own this book and have had every intention of reading it for some time, but I finally decided to bite the bullet and read it. For those of you who don't know me and are wondering why I am reading a book that is technically teen fiction let me explain. When I worked at Barnes and Noble I was in charge of the children's section for a long time and I also ran a children's book group, that being said I was also for a bit a children's lit, elementary education major. Now that I have read this book I have come to a few conclusions: 1. It is mis-classified as a teen fiction book; it should be in adult sci fi/fantasy; 2. This kids not a bad writer, but he is a bit pretentious; and 3. I will continue with the trilogy. I tend not to like things deemed sci-fi/fantasy with the exception really of Orson Scott Card, but this book wasn't bad. A little verbose, but pretty good. The second book in the trilogy, Eldest, just came out and I plan on reading it tomorrow. I will keep you posted.

So until then...

Blah Blah Blah

2005-08-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

One step closer to the weekend!

So I finished my shot list. Yeah, I guess...Slightly anti-climatic. I will keep you posted as to when my party will be...I know everyone is waiting with baited breath for this tidbit of news.

I also got sat down today at work for a review. My work load these days has tripled since my last raise, and low and behold my boss took notice and gave me a raise. To say the least I am pretty stoked.

My mother called me last night (she has apparently forgotten that we aren't speaking) to try to shoot the shit. She tends to do this when she has decided that she is done being a bitch. She has yet to understand the concept of me not wanting anything to do with her or her wanton ways. Whatever, I bypassed her call anyway. Man, it's times like that where I love my voicemail.

I think I am going to spend the evening vegging out and reading a good book. It's during the interim before school starts that I feel the necessity to read an obscene amount of books. I guess since when school starts I barely read my email.

Until next time...

Tired

2005-08-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

So, if I didn't work enough overtime, my boss has now instituted mandatory overtime because of a couple of slackers in my office. Arghh. After working almost twenty hours of overtime last week, I am not to enthusiastic for the week ahead.

On other news, for those of you who don't know me well my little sister is pregnant. She is due in less then a month and up until last week I was her "coach"; that is until I had yet another rip roaring fight with my egg donor (mom) and I have been cast aside. You see, my poor sister is my mother's lapdog, and by lapdog I mean her bitch. Dess is pretty young and has not quite figured out the virtues of thinking for herself. I can only hope that as time progresses, she will come to the same realizations that the rest of us have which is that our mother is not a very nice person-that, of course, is putting it VERY mildly.

So, I am now at number 97 on my Century Club Shot list at Marti's. Three to go before I am a full fledged alcoholic! Jus kidding of course. For those not familiar with the Century Club you have to take 100 shots of differing degrees of disgusting to become a member of club. Once I finish I will have my caricature up on the wall (not exactly stoked about that) next to the number where I finished, plus I get a party thrown in my honor at Marti's. It's a pretty cool, if not slightly retarded, feat. Two of my friends, Kevin and Craig, finished their list well of over a month ago, but alas I have a life and am a little to busy to dedicate every night to drinking at Marti's!

Well, that's probably enough crap to unload in a day.

here goes nothing!

2005-08-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

so i have begun my foray into cyberspace. i will readily admit that i am a blog novice, although i think i will catch on quicker then a republican looking for a tax write off. hopefully i will have some relatively interesting things to say here in the near future. until then...