Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Best Day Ever Actually Got A Little Better

After Tom's departure, I sat around wallowing in self-pity about my crumbling house and imagining all the destruction that was going to occur as a result of my slab leak.

Then an angel named Joe appeared.

Joe, is the "leak detection specialist." His fancy equipment was a flash light. He was a man of few words, he walked into my kitchen, took off the front part of my dishwasher and said that's the leak, there's no slab leak here, you need a new dishwasher.

I started doing a happy dance about no slab leak. Joe looked at me like I was crazy. Then I made him check the slab just be sure. I'm sure he loves going to houses with crazy women who know nothing of plumbing demanding things and doing happy dances. So he confirmed that it was not a slab leak and was on his way.

I'm so excited, yes I still have to do mold remediation, but my dishwasher is covered by my home warranty so this is going to be way less costly than I thought it would be.

But, I'm left wondering, why the hell did freaking jolly Tom punch all those holes in my wall! All he needed to do was to look under the dishwasher.

Best Day Ever

This is me drinking wine at 11 a.m. on a Thursday when I am supposed to be working from home.



This is why:



Allow me to introduce Sebastian, the evil mold monster living in my walls. I am not sure why I'm calling him Sebastian or why I'm referring to him as a monster, but if pretending that I am a princess who is going to kick the ass of a mold monster gets me through this very expensive endeavor then so be it.





A plumber came over today to assess the situation and determine if I have a leak or not. He was a jolly man named Tom who punched a hole in my wall with his fist.





Then proceeded to tell me that there are no water lines in this wall and the leak must be coming from the slab underneath the house. He also called a plumbing buddy to describe the situation and said that its "kinda strange." I so didn't want to hear that.





Thanks Tom, for brightening my day by punching multiple holes in my wall with you big ol' fist and then leaving. Supposedly a leak detection specialist is on his way. Today? Tomorrow? I have no idea. Am I supposed to wait for him? Go back to work? Tom was not very helpful when it came to answers. Apparently, punching holes in walls with his fist is his specialty.

And that is why I'm drinking wine at 11 a.m. on a Thursday when I am supposed to be working from home. Because I probably have a massive leak underneath the slab of my house and only the Good Lord knows how I am going to pay for this.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference.....and super powers to kick Sebastian's ass.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Baby Brother

I realized that I have yet to mention my brother, or maybe I've only mentioned him in passing. Anyways, I have a little brother too. He is 16 months younger. So when I was 5, Chris was 4 and my sister was born. I think my mom is a little crazy for taking that on.



I have many more pictures of my sister and me because, let's face it, we are big hams and love having our picture taken. Chris is not a huge fan of having his picture taken and not a big fan of the internet (hello, he doesn't even have a facebook). But anyways, he exists and is way taller than any of us.

A Little Family Time

Tonight I went over to my parents to hang out and have dinner. My sister joined us because she had to do laundry. As annoying as owning a home can be, I am extremely grateful that I no longer have to cart my laundry to my parents.


This is my mom's baby Maddie. She is a yippy little ragamuffin but we love all 8 pounds of her.



And this is my dad's baby Jaeger, as in the disgusting alcoholic drink. My dad did not name him, he was my brother's best friend's dog. Mark got him while he was at San Diego State, big surprise he ended up with the name Jaeger.



We got The Hat for dinner. The Hat is a pastrami place that I dislike greatly, its all just gross junk, gross pastrami and most people who have eaten The Hat would punch me in the face for saying that because supposedly its the best pastrami sandwich ever. I wouldn't know because I had a turkey sandwich on wheat (weight watchers would be so proud).

Here is something that I don't understand, here is what my sister ate for dinner, pastrami sandwich and chili cheese fries.




Yet she is always thinner than me! She eats fast food every day, never works out and is at least 20 pounds lighter than me. Damn you almost 30 year old metabolism!




Then again, she has always been a voracious eater. Mmmm, spaghetti!

Argh!

Lately it seems like everything has been going wrong. Here is a small sampling of the trials and tribulations in my life currently:

1. There is mold growing in my kitchen, black, disgusting mold. I fear that drywall will have to be ripped out.
2. My dryer broke and cost $200 to fix.
3. My brakes and master cylinder in my car had to be replaced.
4. My bulldog Frank is experiencing head tremors and we don't know why.
5. I don't have the money I need to buy my new camera.
6. My backyard is an embarrassing mess and I'm hosting a dinner party in 3 weeks.
7. I feel like we will never be able to afford a baby (i.e. daycare).
8. My bedroom looks like 2 college kids live there.
9. My house is being invaded by ants.

Ok, that was depressing. Let's think of some positive things.

1. I have a wonderful, loving husband; despite the fact that he does not do dishes.
2. I am healthy and my weight loss journey is progressing nicely.
3. I have a job, a job that I actually like a lot.
4. I have great friends and I got to see a lot of them this past weekend which was a blast.
5. My car did not blow up with me in it and I fixed it before it became dangerous.
6. My dryer did not catch on fire.
7. The black mold has not made anyone sick and I believe I am catching it in its early stage before it does major damage.
8. Frank does not appear to care that he has head tremors; probably because I give him vanilla ice cream when it happens.
9. Mickey is totally healthy.
10. I have an awesome family and I get to see them tonight.

Ok, the positive things outweighed the negative, even it was just by one. I feel better now. I shall return to work so that I can keep the job that I actually like!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Like Father, Like Son-In-Law

They say every girl wants to marry a man like her father.

Well, I certainly did.
Father:

Husband:

Freud would have a field day with me.

When the cat is away, the mice will play.

My husband is out of town tonight for work. So I am going to have an illicit affair.

Hello lover,



I met him at the grocery store and he just looked delicious.

Mmmmm, if only my husband knew.

Here is a neat little eggplant trick I learned on my favorite blog http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/.

Slice up your eggplant, place on a baking sheet and generously salt. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, you'll see little droplets of moisture collect. Then flip the eggplant over and repeat. Rinse and pat dry.



Eggplant can be tricky to cook, sometimes it comes out all bitter and oddly chewy. This salt trick eliminates that. I don't know why, it just does.

Back to my affair, which ended in a naughty combination of whole wheat pasta, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, basil, and of course, eggplant. If only my husband knew, he'd leave me for sure. Probably for that bitch Del Taco.

True Love

Oh French vanilla coffee with one equal and one mini-moo, I love you so much. Thank you for making my work day possible and keeping me from becoming a slumbering mess under my desk.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Monkey Business

I am really tired tonight, like bone aching tired. I stayed up past 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night of this past weekend which is highly unusual for me. When I got home on Sunday, I cleaned the house, washed the bullies, did laundry, and went to the gym. I have officially exhausted myself.

So here are some pictures of the bullies playing with a monkey.




Mickey likes monkey brains.




Poor monkey, getting it from both ends.



I mean the poor thing already had a water bottle shoved its butt.



And Frank showed the monkey no mercy.



Poor little monkey, you just take a little rest.



Wow, and my original plan tonight was to read Jane Eyre. I certainly got off track.

Hot Dog

This kind of stuff cracks me up. And I wanted to try this blogging from my blackberry thing.

Like What?!?

Last night, my husband was reading my blog when he wrinkled his nose in apparent disgust and said "you sound so...."

"I sound so what?" I asked with a tone that said you better explain yourself boy.

"Oh never mind, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." That's his response!?! What is that supposed to mean? Brady would not elaborate on his dislike of the "tone" of my blog and I was left to wonder all night what he meant by it.

Do I sound stupid? Fake? Ignorant? Like a know it all? Is my spelling horrible? Is my grammar offensive? Do I sound offensive?

I have talked about the "tone" and "identity" of one's blog with my other blogging friends. I am very much aware that my blog doesn't really have a set theme, its more kind of ramblings from my head, a slice of life blog. And that's how I want it. I don't want to be tied to only blogging about one topic. I want to be able to write about whatever I want, whenever I want.

As for the way I sound, I still have no idea what my husband meant. All I know is that I get a thought in my head, bang out a couple paragraphs about it, try to put up some pictures to make it interesting, give it a quick proofread and post it. I'm not trying to sound like any one thing or theme. I do have a rule to not intentionally hurt anyone I am posting about and if someone is uncomfortable with a post about them or picture I would immediately take it down.

So I sound the way I sound and my husband and the blogging world can just deal with it.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Saturday Night

Celebrating Jader's bachelorette party this weekend in Santa Barbara was such a hilarious trip down memory lane. We met in the Spring of 2000 when we joined the same sorority. Back then we were just two silly party girls who loved to shop, dance, cause a little bit of trouble, and have a ton of fun.

This is a shot of us at a fraternity date party, I think its from 2001. Jader actually looks the same, but good lord I look young.



I am so happy that nearly ten years later, we are still such good friends. We are still two silly girls who love to shop, dance, and have fun. Although the partying has subsided as we switched shots for glasses of pinot noir and frat houses for upscale restaurants. And we are usually asleep by 10 o'clock on a Friday night and both have the same inability to sleep in on weekends.

The bride and me ready for a night of fun, I love that I bought her the most gigantic veil I could find.



Not only did we go to college together, we were also in law school together. Jader was the reason I even applied to law school. During our senior year I was all set to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Then Jader announced she was applying to law school and I thought, hey that might be fun. Long story short, we are now both lawyers, she was a bridesmaid in my wedding, I am going to be a bridesmaid in hers. Now we both have mortgages and dogs to take care of, houses to clean, trials to win. This Saturday night was a great reminder of how much our friendship has grown as we have grown, and that we may be grown ups now, but part of us will always be just two silly party girls.

How I ate my way through Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California is both a resort town and a college town. Downtown Santa Barbara is home to fabulous shopping, world class dining, wine tasting rooms, and an awesome boardwalk/pier. U.C. Santa Barbara is just north of Santa Barbara in Goleta. Adjacent to the campus is the very unique college community of Isla Vista. When I was a freshman at UCSB, everyone said it was the most densely populated square mile west of the Mississippi. I have no idea if this is true, but I do know that I.V. is a crazy home to college students, parties, burning couches and that I had lots of fun there, but was quite ready to leave after four years.

The combination of resort and college town results in a wide array of food choices...and its all great. From college style breakfast burritos to perfect steaks and wine, Santa Barbara is a great place for eating.

This past weekend, I was in lovely Santa Barbara for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. The party was oh so fun; a great weekend of relaxing, laughing, drinking, dancing and reminiscing with great friends and toasting the bride. What set this bachelorette party apart from the others I have been to was the amazing food.

On Friday it was just the bride, Jader, and me, so we headed to Blush on State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara, for dinner. The building that housed Blush used to be a sketchy 18 and over club that Jader and I used to go to in college. We joked that the building was like us, growing classier with time.



The food at Blush was exquisite, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. I had juniper roasted chicken with lemon puree and a potato gratin tower looking thing that tasted like heaven. I regret not taking a picture of it, but it did not last long on the plate as I ate every bite!

After our dinner at Blush, we went to Elements which is also in Downtown Santa Barbara. This restaurant was so artsy and cute. In fact, it was pretty close to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.



We did not eat at Elements and I did not see the menu, so I cannot comment on the food. But they had an amazing martini menu and I thoroughly enjoyed my champagne cocktail adorned with a hibiscus flower (which you can't see because my camera sucks and I'm still dreaming about my nikon).



On Saturday morning, after a night of champage coctails, I needed a substantial breakfast. Jader and I went to Bagel Cafe in Isla Vista. Here is a great example of college food, all they serve are piled high bagel sandwiches with every ingredient a starving college kid can think of. They do make fresh strawberry cream cheese that looks amazing. I opted for the "slammin' salmon" bagel and was not disappointed. It was stacked with cucumber, tomato, lox, and a ton of cream cheese. I had light cream cheese, that combined with all those veggies and fish made this health food, right?



The real bachelorette party was Saturday night. We ate at Blue Agave in Downtown Santa Barbara where I had a life changing experience. I ordered a margarita pizza with fresh mozzarella and basil. It sounded like heaven and a complete meal, until I saw the option to add a fried egg. I thought that sounded either totally disgusting or like the best thing ever. So I went for it and...it was a-maz-ing. The broken yolk oozed over the mozzarella and into the crust and was so rich and delicious. I am definitely re-creating this dish for my husband who doubts the wonderfulness of a fried egg on pizza. Again, I wish I had taken a picture of it but that pizza was not long for this world with me around.


Sunday morning, after a long night of dancing, the girls and I ended our Santa Barbara weekend with good ol' college style breakfast burritos from Cantina in Isla Vista. They were everything a girl needed on a Sunday morning, greasy and delicious. A perfect end to an amazing weekend.

Friday, July 24, 2009

SB Style

This afternoon I am heading up to Santa Barbara for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. We met while attending U.C. Santa Barbara, were in the same sorority (yes I'm a sorority girl, don't hold it against me), and lived together for a year. I am so excited, this is going to be so much fun.

We were quite the party girls in SB. I would go out at least four nights a week. I had excellent time management skills back then and never ending energy. My senior year I worked at Rampage (a teeny bopper clothing store). Every Friday I would go to class in the morning, work a 9 hour shift at the store, close the store around 10pm, race home (en route home I would call my friend to have her lay out my party clothes for the night: low rise sparkle jeans, pink tube top, hoop earrings), party all night, and be back at the store to open it at 8am. Despite going out four nights a week, I got good grades, worked, was accepted to law school, and was involved with my sorority. So yeah, I had excellent time management skills back then; I certainly could not keep that kind of schedule now.

I do not think I can handle that kind of SB style anymore. Its pretty rare that I stay up past 11pm and Lord help me if I have one too many to drink. I am out of commission for the next day. So while I do not plan on revisiting my college ways, I am definitely looking forward to a sunny, relaxing weekend, SB style.

Sister Love

I heart my sister, when she was little she was so blond and cute (she is the little one in this picture). She is five years younger than me and we used to have so much fun playing.



And now that she's all grown up she drinks lots of wine with me.


What a great sister!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Chi

One of my favorite blogs posted today about a trip to Chicago and that got me thinking about my trip to Chicago for my 27th birthday. My husband (boyfriend at the time) took me to Chicago for the weekend and it was amazing. I loved the big city feel, the people are so friendly and the deep dish pizza is to die for.


The best part of the trip (other than the Art Institute, the Museum of Natural History, staying at the Hard Rock Hotel, Michigan Avenue, and the pizza) was getting some local recommendations from a sales girl on Michigan Avenue.





I love traveling but hate being a tourist. When I told this sales girl that I was from California she recommended a French-Vietnamese restaurant and local brewery that I never would have found as a tourist. They were both so awesome. I highly recommend chatting up the sales people, waiters, hotel clerks and getting the local scoop on fun places when you travel.





I wish I could live in Chicago for a year or so. Unfortunately my career does not allow for such a move as I would have to take the Illinois bar to practice law there. At least I can dream about having a hip city loft and eating all the deep dish pizza I want. Weight watchers would be impossible in the Chi!

Someone get the ice!

I have been taking kickboxing classes at 24 hour fitness for about a month now. When I first started I could not keep up, I would pant, I couldn't follow the choreography and I just sort of flailed around tricking myself into thinking I was actually working out.

I am happy to report that I now have the choreography down, although I am still pouring sweat after a class I no longer feel like I'm going to throw up. I have only punched myself in the face on accident two or three times and I have been consistently going at least three times a week.

Today as I was doing a back kick (which are getting way higher by the way), I felt a sharp pinch in my back. I have definitely pulled, pinched, or twisted something in my back. After feeling that I was rocking the kickboxing, I am reminded that I am old and need to remember to be careful. At least I know the moves better than those skinny little high school girls in the booty shorts with stuff written on the butt.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Saturday Night

This past Saturday, my husband and I packed up the bullies and headed to San Diego for a good friend's engagement party.
Frank thoroughly enjoyed the car ride, but was upset that he had to ride in the back.


He didn't want to share a seat with Mickey.


The party was a lot of fun, the newly engaged couple had an excellent spread of Mexican food and all of my good friends were there. It was so nice to see everyone in a relaxed setting, enjoy some cocktails and a chicken burrito that consisted of diced chicken in Alfredo sauce (amazing, don't tell weight watchers on me, I went to the gym the next day.)
This picture looks just like every other picture of my husband and me. I always stand on the same side even. Sidebar: I am so happy to be blond again!



For some odd reason, whenever I am feeling a little tipsy I take a million pictures of my husband. It annoys him to no end, but I always feel the need to document his inner "gansta." Here it is:


Since we had the bullies with us, we stayed at Brady's aunt and uncle's house which is amazing. They have a saltwater pool which is the most refreshing thing ever. I got up early on Sunday to enjoy the cool morning and let the bullies play in the yard.


Frank is so stoic.

Marriage

Here is a picture of my parents on their wedding day. They have been married for about thirty three years (I think). Despite being married on Friday the 13th, they have had a long, happy (most of the time) marriage. Don't get me wrong, they have had their blowout fights as we all do, but they really know how to stick together through the tough times and enjoy the good times. I think that is the secret to a long lasting, happy marriage. That, and never cooking on a Saturday night. Oh and your having your husband take out the trash because that's boys work.


As I was writing the above paragraph, I caught myself: I said have your husband take out the trash. What if your are a wife and you have a wife? Who is going to take out the trash? I am an adamant support of gay rights, one of them being the right to marry. I believe that homosexuals, transgendered and transsexual individuals must have the right to marry, to be free from discrimination in school, employment and the military. To have all the rights that "straight" Americans enjoy. I do not see this as a religious battle, I do not carry judgment against those whose religious views conflict with my views on this issue. I only hope and pray for them that their minds be opened to realize that all individuals should be treated equally. That being said, I do not see this as a religious battle because I am speaking of rights granted to us by virtue of law and due process. I want the equal protection clause to apply equally. I want due process to actually be served. I was disheartened when proposition 8 passed, but I am confident that the right in this fight will prevail, and all who wish to do so will be able to be legally married.

So back to the question, if you are a wife and have a wife, who takes out the trash? Rock, paper, scissors. Which is actually how my husband and I decide who is going to take out the trash most of the time because even though our trash cans are right outside our house, we are both lazy and do not care to deal with trash.

Miss Mickey

Mickey was feeling unrepresented on my blog. To appease the princess here is a picture of her in her ladybug costume. As you can tell, she was really excited about this costume.

A Trip to the Fair

Last week, Brady, Stephie and I went to the Orange County Fair. I love, love, love the fair. I beg every year to go even though it is always the same as the previous year.

I love all the vibrant colors, kitschy prizes, crazy deep fried food, the animals, and of course the people watching. The fair brings together all walks of life. Although my favorite are the girls who have clearly never been to a fair and are on a date, they show up in a little white sun dress and four inch heels to go walk around the sawdust, animal droppings, dirt and such.


As he does every year, Brady tried, unsuccessfully, to win me a prize. Although he did win me two prizes in Santa Cruz the weekend before. I wasn't there, I must make him nervous when I'm standing behind him yelling "I want the biggest stuffed animal there is!"

I like to look at the rides, but not go on them. I just do not trust them and I know that I will probably lose all my fair food after one ride.
Oh fair food, how I love you, and how you hate me and weight watchers. I mean, come on, they are serving tortilla chips in dog bowls and those corn dogs are as long as my arm....heaven.


We paid a dollar to see the world's largest steer. He was large and in charge, this picture does not do him justice.

And here is a perfect example of why I need a new camera, this picture would be awesome but its so grainy because all I have is a cruddy point and shoot digital camera. Oh Nikon D40 you will be mine soon.
Pregnant goat, she looks like she's ready to get the show on the road.


Once again, fair food, curly fries drenched in cheese. Brady bought these, set them down to get napkins and returned to find an empty plate and two sisters with cheese on their chins, oops.


The only ride I will go on is the Ferris wheel and even that gives me the willies. But the view is amazing.

I opted to not post the picture of my sister doing indecent things to this cow.

After a night at the fair my dogs were barking (that sounds like fair talk right?), luckily I have a nice strong husband.