Get off the phone...

...or you might get hit by a train? In a nutshell, some nutcase who couldn't get off her cell phone was "tapped" by a train last night. An Amtrak. Not like those things move at a steady clip OR with a soft foot. She saw the one train go by, thought the gate was taking too long to lift, walked around the "Do not cross" flashing signs and bam!

I bring this up only because I am now ultra curious to know if my BF's roomie's parents (get all that??) got caught up in the mess? It was at about the time they would have been on the train heading back to MN. What a fantastic couple of folks. Now it is prep time for my mommy to breeze into town for a visit.

BF is not stressing that one at all because, well, she was supposed to come before. When I graduated. From grad school. She couldn't make it then. Something or another and I was totally bummed about it but chalked it up to the usual. So if she doesn't come this time, I think there might be words. We have not seen each other in close to 5 years. Same with my cutie newphew tagging along for the ride. Brace yourself for the kiddie pictures sure to ensue.

Went to lunch and ate way too much--11 courses! That is just wrong. This is why I am not a lawyer. No way I could attempt to keep pace with folks who, evidently, think it is perfectly normal to serve not only 11 courses, but a full bar (or, at my table, a full bottle of wine...or two) on a 91 degree day and then expect some productivity for the last 4 hours. Right. Time to go swimming. Here's hoping like heck I don't cramp up and sink to the bottom of the pool. Actually, sinking to the bottom--not half bad. Fat girls float. Especially those with the built in flotation devices. Uggh. Swimsuit time again. All in the name of love, getting fit and a fantastic journey that I just might have to start another blog about. Stay tuned my pretties...

What?

A wednsday and no post. Stalkers are in an uproar! I'm going to post some intense personal info below so be warned. But before we get there:

I FINALLY got my music to transfer over to my player. Finally. Now I can rock out to my trash.

I walked. A lot. Yesterday. Then had this amazing japanese food at a good restaurant. Amazing what happens when you branch out.

Time to plan to lose my shirt this weekend.

Why am I at work? There was a fatality accident on the West Seattle Bridge today. Thank goodness I didn't have to drive or ride by that. I would have freaked. BUT...my boss so didn't expect me to be in today because of it. She didn't think I was in it, but the bridge was shut down for the investigation. Maybe tomorrow I'll not be in...

okay...personal:

1. FIRST NAME? Bernadette. Yeah and now that I’ve “grown up” people actually call me by it.
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Yesterday…probably. Frustrated with something or another.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Love it.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Pesto chicken breast.
6. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Alas…no.
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? probably
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? You mean beside pouring out my soul on here?
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? No. not at all. Never. Ever. Okay. Always.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Let me look…
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? How much are you paying me?
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Pullleaze. Queen of lazy here…
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Emotionally…nope. Physically…well. Mentally…tough as nails.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Peanut Butter Cup Peanut Butter Ice cream.
16. SHOE SIZE? Well…9-11 depending on the shoe.
17. RED OR PINK? Depends on the mood. Love the color red for just about everything but prefer to wear pink
18. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Do it perfect and successfully or don’t do it at all. Can be a bit inhibitive.
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandmother
20. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? 1977 – out in the West Texas town of El Paso…
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? no pants, no shoes. Oh yeah I am wearing shoes…brown.
22. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Icki “catered” breakfast. Pan fries, scrambled eggs with cheese (I think), two sausage links, a bit of watermelon, pineapple and cantaloupe. Time to go purge…kidding, kidding, kidding. I know, it’s not funny.
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The chatter in the cubicles around me
24 IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I think they call me mocha (smile)
25. FAVORITE SMELL? The desert after it rains
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED WITH ON THE PHONE? Robert (of course)
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU MEET? Eye color
28. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Define “special”
29. FAVORITE DRINK? Jones Crème soda of course
30. FAVORITE SPORT? Come on…I was born in TX…that’s a no brainer
31. HAIR COLOR? Black(ish)
32. EYE COLOR? brown
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope—20/20 baby! And then some when I’m not faking it and trying to land some cool glasses
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Thai, Mexican, Indian, Ethiopian…the theme—spice up my life!
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Both. Just don’t try to mix the two.
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Stupid waste of my life “The Beach”. Really…classic.
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Orange…or tangerine for the fashionistas out there.
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? Both—love the summer weather, but I’m really a winter baby and love the snuggling and hot chocolate and did I mention the snuggling that comes along with it.
39. HUGS OR KISSES? Both…
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? Peanut butter cup peanut butter ice cream
41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? An End to Poverty, The Summer Fletcher Greel Loved Me, Our Kind of People: The Story of the Black Upper Class…heavy stuff.
42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Mouse pad? What mouse pad…
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? rain, filthy crazy rap music, my nephew chatting with me, my boyfriend telling me to think calm girlfriend thoughts…
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Who or who??
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? St. Martin (or maybe Toronto is farther…)
46. IF YOU COULD PICK ANY TWO PEOPLE TO HAVE DINNER WITH, WHO WOULD THEY BE? My boyfriend and Bill Clinton. Fun times (smile)…

New Toy...

Look what I just bought. Here's to hoping there is no buyers remorse.

See, here are the issues. At home, I have no internet. At home, I also have no laptop. I used to have both. Now I have neither.

At home, I like to listen to music. To dance. To procrastinate. To scrap. To live. I, clever gal that I am, had rigged up this whole system for being able to do so.

Easy really. On my laptop (which no longer exists) I had downloaded Yahoo Music Unlimited. It was cheap, they had the songs I wanted, and there was free player. It worked. Cause see, you can use the player even when you are not online. It automatically saves all your downloaded subscription music to your computer. Each time I went to BF's place or took the laptop to work, when I was on the player, it would automatically update my playlists and music from other times when I was online and snagging music.

Snazzy.

Then it got wonky. Was giving me error messages on the laptop but still playing. Then said laptop died. On the new computer, I have sound card issues. Really. So the really cool speakers I bought to bump my music from my laptop were really going to waste. Sad.

I really like music. But I really needed a mass storage device (ie, a jump drive).

If I were smart and had done my research, I would have seen that I could have both an MP3 player AND a storage device for transfering files (see above photo). Would have had an FM tuner too to listen to my Kube. But I don't research like that.

This evening, I will pick up the toy above. God help us all if I have download issues after spending hours trying to switch my Yahoo music subscription to the "to go" version so I could listen on this little thing. I'm assuming (yes, I know...) that I can plug my speakers into the headphone jack and fill my home with sound. Lord REALLY help us if that doesn't go down.

Thinking calm girlfriend thoughts.

Column went out today--look for it in print in next Friday's Olympian. All about diversity in scrapbooking and why it matters (smile).

Need to pick up the shredder for the bf at OM on the way home. And then make my way to Paper Zone 2 just to be sure that there are not items there that I couldn't find at the other one to create with. I got out of that place for $55 yesterday! And I bought a tool! No idea what I'm talking about? Check the scrap blog my pretties...

...sOOooOOoo...

...bf is gone. In chi-town. Boozin' it up. Tomorrow night I get to go and play spades. Tonight, if it clears (and i do see patches ofblue) i get to go and take pictures. Then I spend all night long online trying to proof and assemble them. Real fun times.

Work is slow, scrap life is heated, photog times are all consuming. But I do have a bit of nerd fun to explore. Like how the UN is not really hosting an Early Entry Professional program (you think?!) and how I really need to find something to DO with my life. I woke up and laid in bed for a good hour this morning. Contemplating what I had to do...looking out the window...figuring that I didn't really "have" to do anything because everything I wanted to do was fun. So...time to revamp the blogs. I can't believe I've been here for half a year. Time to clean the house (and I mean really clean it). Time to head to the spa.

What a life...to have TIME to do whatever I want. No pressures. No worries. Did I mention I love my life?

"Work"

I kid you not:

From: [innocent party]
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 5:28 PM
To: lawstaff list of lots of folks
Subject: Monday, July 3, 2006, Work Day

All, Monday, July 3, 2006, is a scheduled work day at the University. Due to the Independence Day holiday on Tuesday, July 4, 2006, we have cancelled classes for Monday, July 3, 2006, since we believe many students would choose to take this day off if we held classes. Since we will not have classes on Monday, July 3, 2006, we will officially be closing our offices and declaring an office work day, with no services available to students.

Monday, July 3, 2006, is an official University work day. However, since we will not be providing scheduled services to students all employees may choose to schedule a vacation day with their supervisor on this day. Please coordinate the scheduling of this vacation day with your supervisor. Employees may also choose to work their normal schedule on this day.

Have a happy Fourth of July, and a very long weekend if you choose to use a vacation day!

So then says my boss:

From: [coolest boss I've ever had]
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 9:51 AM
To: [coolest bunch of co-workers I've ever had]
Subject: RE: Monday, July 3, 2006, Work Day

I think this is a perfect day for “staff enrichment!” If you would like to stay home and think of new ideas for the office, that is fine with me. J My expectation is that you will come up with 3 ideas on how we as office can work together to make your work more fulfilling.

[innocent]

Assistant Dean for Admission
[fantastic] School of Law

Did I mention that I just LOVE this job?!

Friday? And you're blogging...

well of COURSE my dears. Although it is actually Saturday now, this is about my wonderful Friday.

Got everyone trained for the LSAT. Gotta love working in a field "on the other side" so that you know just what you need to do to get in on "this side". Anyhow. Confused myself with that double talk.

Got to do the alumni welcome for my grad program's graduate dinner this Friday. I always tell the BF that I hate networking and rubbing elbows because I'm just so shy. Really. Okay...then you stick me in a room and it's dynamite! I preface this by saying that this night was not at ALL about me. BUt it felt so GREAT to be there. It was like going home again. Speaking of which...

I need to get back home to El Paso, TX. Quick. Or not. My mouth is watering for Chicos tacos and I think the BF is starting to wonder just why it is I don't want to introduce him to my family. Trust me and you both...it is not him. It is not even them. It's just...yeah.

Anyhow.

Last night was fantastic. We had a few people over at his place and we chatted with how those folks from Canada are thoroughly confused. Why not just call them states already? Or the bathroom--not the washroom. It sounds about the same...but really...it is not. Glad that is cleared up.

Had some FANTASTIC stir fry that my BF whipped up. I get to cook tonight. He did last night. I also need to figure out something to do today. Details. Something cultural. I'll figure it out somehow.

Time to go home and scrap away. OR not.

Toronto

Wow...I'm exhausted. But what a trip.

Other than the fact that I had to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed, let's see.

I helped to fund terrorists by staying at a hotel owned by a Saudi Prince. So the picketers say.
I met some amazingly powerful lawerly types that made me think and made me like it.
I got to catch up with Rick who is always a pleasure to sit and just chat with. Pure Pleasure.
I went to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
I tried caviar and actually LIKED it.
I want to have some more risotto with mushrooms.
The CN tower is better than the Space Needle?? Said my coworker
I missed the BF far more than I ever thought I would.
I learned good and bad news all in one moment, one morning, getting out of the shower.
I love fruity deserts with fruity sauces.
I like using my passport and only wish that visas were required for entering Canada.
I like the fact that I might need a visa soon enough if all mountain plans pan out.
I have a great new computer that was old once.
I spend way too much time playing Cubis now that I have returned home.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I have some scrap stuff to complete today. Have a lunch at 1 to attend. A toast for my grad program to write. A proposal to propose to my Feminist Women's Health Clinic colleagues. And an LSAT to proctor. Time to get getting.

Create

what. writings? art? life? I'm a bit tired. not tired like "sleepy" but tired like, ugh. Don't quite know why. Maybe a combo of the past weekend and work (or lack of work that really makes me work) and just boredom. I don't know what I am bored of though. Think I'll go home (no computer at home, no internet...BF is working on the computer for me though). Entertain myself at home. Have about 4 hours before I have to hit the road. Interviewing for an organizational change consultant. Which is interesting because as I sit across from the table, I think, "I can do this" and wonder why I have not. I need to settle in, simmer down some. Need to have a reason to do that I suppose. I just need to find some sort of balance I suppose. There are parts of my life that are absolutely amazingly fantastic. Others that are "ehhh". And still others that are bad or downright non-existent. I want to figure that out. Maybe I'll take some time to start working that. Yeah. I'm going to go and do that.

ETA: The interviewing went great! We selected the consultant that I most wanted to work with so I hope she does a bang up job so that I'm not responsible for the downfall of the organization. If nothing else, I certainly have the powers of persuasion!

wOw

Is that a good enough title to tell you what is contained within? Probably not. I cannot even begin to put in words everything from this weekend. Almost a thousand pictures between the two of us later, I couldn't even begin to put it into pictures.

So a simple list of 10 {in no particular order}

Fireplaces are cozy

Falcon Cove is Rad {dude!}

Sand Dollars are squishy

long drives when he talks are my favorite

Go Mexican...it's always a safe bet

13 speed zones...and counting

Pizza Hut is open late on a Sunday

Was that an earthquake?!

You've never seen a sunset until you've seen an Oregon coastal sunset

I absolutely, positively, unequivocally ADORE this life and love that man

Dead...win...yummy

The computer is dead. So goes the laptop. Thankfully I have a computer genius on hand to just build me another AND I work for an institution of higher education so worse case sceneraio, I get a Dell for peanuts and lots of built in, on site maintenance. Hmmm.

Win! Took her DOWN in court. She didn't want to mediate. Which is a shame for her because I would have said, fine, we can drop the $335 if you agree to agree not to sue me in the future. Instead, the judge had to take her to task and tell her that the Roto Rooter contract was not valid as evidence since I couldn't...

Anyhow, I won. On the way out of court she muttered that she was going to sue my ass for the $7000 I owe her. Told her that essentially, this ruling meant that I didn't skip out on the lease and that I don't owe her shit. Then she came to it and instead said I would never rent another apartment. Good thing BF is pretty up on how to be the heavy...

Yummy...Morton's steakhouse. I had no steak (come on now) but the crab cakes...and Shrimp Alexander...and the wine. Wow. It was for BF's birthday. Never paid that much for a meal in all my life, but would definitely do it again. He thoroughly enjoyed himself as did I. Good times are worth good money.

Off to prep for the trip to Oregon. Lots of close time...I'm so looking forward to it.

Ready...set...

...wait. I'm not ready. Nor am I set. I ... uhmmm. I have to stay at BF's place tonight so that I can try to get my computer up (there will be lots of downloading of software and drivers to to get my system back up...no eyepatches necessary). But mostly, I have to so that when it comes time to wake up in the morning, I not only wake up, but I get up. Sure...he could call me, but I'll just think it is my alarm, hit the phone and go back to sleep.

Gotta love a girl who knows what her weaknesses are.

Tomorrow morning court. Yesterday night, dropped the car off for repairs. Today...not so sure, but I *{thought}* they were supposed to call me back with an estimate. Tad bit worried, but not really.

If I wanted to be a total book groupie nowadays, I could go to another book signing tonight, but I think I'd rather get stuff done around the house.

Because (of course because), I go to Morton's tomorrow. No...I really am NOT a steak lady. But the boyfriend is definitely a steak man. I figure if he can take me out for organic veggie food on Valentine's Day, least I can do for his special day is get him full on beef. Then...this weekend we're going south. No...not straight to hell...just Oregon. Which is much more pleasant I have been told (smile).

Off to drive my mini rental. What a beautiful day and so much time left to go play in it!

Ensure you are insured

And I am. And so was he. Good thing about insurance was that in the event that he wouldn't have been insured, I would have only had to have paid $100 to get my car fixed. Not bad.

But he is insured. By my company. So they essentially know that they're gonna pay through his or mine to get my car fixed. So it's been painless. So far. I drop my car off at 2:00.

I called it in yesterday after work and went through my insurance. I haven't heard "it's clearly not your fault because...well...you just can't run a red light" so many times in all my life. Go figure--you cannot run a red light? Not even when you're in a hurry?

Right.

So the saga continues...

Krash...into me

That's what happened yesterday.

So what happens when you're in a hurry? And you don't take the time to slow down. And to be present. And to look? Life gets blurry. And crunchy.

I was in an accident yesterday. Coming off of the James' St. Hill right at the turn on to the 5 (sure...the, I...I don't care...the interstate).

I was waiting at the light looking straight ahead at the tow truck towing someone out of my lane up at the next light.

Then I glanced right a bit and saw the woman on the corner doing her stretches at the streetlight and I wondered how long it would take her to get up the hill I had just come down.

Then I glanced into my passenger side mirror and saw the car behind me creeping forward. I remember thinking he was impatient.

Then I glanced left and saw that the light was red..."Oh" I thought, "My light must be green and that is why he is impatient."

I looked forward, and let up off of the brake. Out of the corner of my eye, to my right, I saw the look of terror on the woman's (Madam Hillclimber) face so I looked right to see what was her problem.

My heart dropped.

I thougth I was about to witness an accident.

Then I heard the deafening crunch. I watched a car spin through four lanes of on ramp traffic just after rush hour.

I saw people scatter. I pulled over. Hit my hazards. Turned off the radio. Popped the ashtray ("I have an ashtray?" Was the thought that went through my mind) back into it's slot. Pulled up the e-brake, put it in park. Looked out the driver side mirror, pulled up my cell phone and dialed 911. Amused, but not understanding why (until today) the operator didn't "get" that of course I was at 6th and James in Seattle. Now I get the issue with 911 and cell phones. Got out the car.

Guy in the black SUV that was sitting behind me pulled over too. Asked if I was okay.

Yeah...I'm fine.

Tow truck driver is also on phone. I'm still on phone talking to Seattle PD now. I'm flustered because two driver wants to know if I need SPD. I tell him I'm on phone with SPD who is telling me that as long as both drivers are WA residents and no one is injured, we just need to exchange insurance info and be on our ways.

"Uhhhmmm...well, sir, the problem is that this guy really blew this light and I think there needs to be a report." I say. I think "Hell if I'm paying to replace his Lexus because he didn't stop."

Hillclimber overhears SPD telling me to carry on and is adamant that a report needs to be taken.

While waiting for a car to come out, Red Light Driver comes over and apologizes to ped who says he almost killed her. I tell him I thought he was going to tag her too. He tells us he knew he wasn't going to be able to stop in time and he tried to honk, but couldn't do that either. I ask him where he was going in such a hurry. I am remarkably cheery. Probably because I'm just happy that we're all alive and walking and really, some burn and a crunched bumper is fixable.

Car arrives and statements are taken. Officer Patti (fantastic lady) gives me the case number and is amused that Mr. Red Light wanted to just give me his insurance info and be on his way. More amused when I note that he didn't even ask (and I wasn't giving until demanded to) my insurance info. Unfortunately, it is now on the police report, BUT he has all sorts of tickets from the accident so I want to see his insurance try to get mine to pay for this.

Dilema--it was not my fault of an accident. Do I get my insurance involved on this? I think I do--rather they hear about it from me and I get them the proper reports than have his company call and get it from him. Thing is...we're insured by the same folks so...

Anyhow. That was the drama of yesterday. Krash...into me. Slow it down folks...slow it down...

Smart, funny and she scraps

So...how do you know if those absolutely famous people scrapbook? well, duh...you ASK them.

Madam [former] Secretary Albright does it. Do you? If not, you should!

Why? Because aside from it being fun, it is therapeutic (trust me on this one), justifiable, smart, easy, out of the box and just...well...she does it, why not you?

You know how I know she does it? Check out her Memoire. Scraps galore! Pics and memories and she shares them with the WORLD. So there...she scraps.

How do I know she's funny? Well...I saw her last night. Though I was in a crowd of 800 folks, it was such an intimate gathering. Course, you feel that way when about 750 of those folks are chillin' behind you, but no matter. She has a way of speaking that just draws you in. Honestly, it probably helps if you are relatively (if not wholly) liberal to be able to stomache her obvious dislike of Bush Part II. But this IS Seattle so it's not like she was being lead into the Lion's Den.

So then. The evening was moderated by Michael Kinsley who has written for everyone and their mother. I strongly suspect that he scrapbooks too, but he was not the focus of attention tonight.

Some of my favorite comments (loosely translated because I don't write so fast) from last night:

Kinsley asks Albright where she feels the contradiction is in Bush's contention (during the election) that he would not do nation building as opposed to the nation building that appears to be happening in Iraq now.

Albright responds that rather than looking for the contradiction in assumptions that "nation building is nation building is nation building" just because you say it is, we should really define what nation building is. To that, she speaks of her time in the UN where she found herself separating the member countries into 4 categories:

Internationalists, New Wannabe Internationalists, Rogue Nations and Failed States.

{though these are the gist of her characterizations, I did the labeling}

With nation building, Internationalists (most of the super powers of course) provide resources to New Wannabe's (those would be the new and newly free countries that are trying to be international in scope) so that they can establish the structures to be international in nature. Internationalists also do their share of pro bono work by helping the Failed States (think Africa by and by) keep their heads afloat. Failed States are not wannabes in that wannabes have no structures yet (they're babies...let them grow into it) and failed states have or had the structures, but they (obviously) failed. failure, being relative of course I might add.

Anyhow. The key to all of this nation building as she sees it is that it is building when we offer and provide, not when we force and demand. When we offer democracy without forcing it upon people, that is when we are nation building as opposed to mini me shaping.

All in all, Albright had some VERY strong opinions. BF noted that she must be done politically to so blatantly, negatively, speak her mind. I don't know...one of the aspects I most loved about her was that she was (and still is) no holds barred. For what that is worth.

One of the almost throw away comments she made that really hits home with the message of her book is what I loved:

While you can separate church and state, you can not separate people from their faith. Nor should you.

Future leaders take note--you don't have to advocate theocracy to embrace the need to understand people at their base, most holistic level. Everyone believes in something unbelievable to another. Theology should be required coursework for any emerging leader.

Off the soap box. First book signed...Madame Albright. Thanks chica!

Yesterday, James Whitaker (first American to climb Everest), tonight I get my Post Secret book signed. Check out the blog, the project, buy the book, head over to Elliot and get it signed! See you there!

Work...

You know, if folks would stop passing by my cubicle, I could blog this already and be done.

Right.

I have a few tasks to get done. Reminded by one that just walked by. Another story for another time.

In the meanwhile...BF comes home tonight! Well...very early tomorrow morning. As in midnightish. I don't know if I'm going to make it. I think (shhhhhhhhh) I'm seriously smitten with this cat. To the point of really wanting to hang with him lots more. And then some.

So...maybe I'll be traveling to NYC soon.

I'm definitely going to Oregon this month (real big time, I know, but trust me on this one...)
I get to see the Funky Divas this Friday (smooches!) and guess who is being dragged along for the ride?

I just finished my ordering for the month (well, not ever done) and I just finished a piece that is to be reckoned with...

All systems a go. Maybe I'll walk the beach this evening...procrastination alert.

Selfishly...I don't wanna

There are lots of things I don't wanna do:

Get up before 8:30 am
Sleep all day
pretend to like people I don't
be embarrassed

None of these tie together, but I must say that my poor BF is struggling with finding win/win situations where really there are none.

This morning we had an interesting information exchange about bully countries and oil and Collapse by J. Diamond (it's really not a school book and you really SHOULD read it).

All said, there is a much closer to us real life situation where we just keep giving and giving and getting no compromises or nothing in return. I won't go into the gorry details (gossipmongers!!) but let me just say that:

1. I will not ruin another person's special day
2. I will not sacrifice myself for people who would rather die on the sword
3. I do expect friendships to be reciprocal

I'm not going to stress my BF outover whether he should or shouldn't out of respect and honor to me because he's a real man and will go there.

I'm not going to make a big deal out of how ridiculously selfish I could be over this...well...ridiculously selfish proposition.

Now that you are thoroughly confused...we will move back to the regularly scheduled program.

United 93.

Bracing ourselves for this one tonight.

Right after Thai Food.

Only because King Fish doesn't accept credit cards?

Who knew?

Could have sowrn I paid with my debit card there last time

Who carries cash anymore anyhow?

Tulip Fest

I promised...and shall deliver. Some very quick pics from Tulip Fest. There are tons more...but that requires tranfers from other cameras/broken computers/taking time out of life. Here are a few. Check the Shots Fired blog and the B3 Designs blog for my fave photo and a LO done with one of these pics.

Enjoy!

And Going back to Cali...

...well...not me. Him. Sigh. I wish there was so much more that I could do to help. I do absolutely adore how much stock and weight he puts on his opinion. First he was going to go down. Then he wasn't. Then he asked me if he should go. I was half asleep while we were watching The Right Stuff (absolutely most amazing space movie of all times--how in the WORLD did I miss that one Madame Wannabe Astronaught Gal?!) but when I woke up I told him yes. He should definitely go. At this point, I honestly think it is worth the time spent.

He's a fixer. He likes to fix stuff. I tell him I'm anemic and he's ready to give me a transfusion. Probably in his living room. Probably not a good idea. I tell him I can't decide which camera I want to buy and he buys me one that is super fantastic AND offers to let me use his scary set up (scary cause neither of us are pros and I don't think I've spent as much on camera equipment in my whole LIFE as is currently on that get out...I'm scared to touch the thing and he's all about "it's only money...long as you don't hang yourself by the strap, nothing bad can come of your use of it.") I digress.

My BF Mr. Fix It is stressing the trip down to see the parents because he cannot fix it. The God Can is never broken and all. Anyhow. I told him he needs to go down. Often. As much as he can. Because really it is about time and letting go. Not about fixing it and being right. If there is ANYTHING in this world I wish I could take back and do over again, it is the last four months of my grandmother's life. Another post, another time.

So. He's going back to Cali. If only I could get inspired to take a picture. Or inspired to go out with someone. One of our friend's is depressed over companionship issues. Time to really be a friend and help her out. Time to adjust my attitude--yesterday I learned that a phenomenal young lady I used to work with died. Her brain busted (cause I don't know how to spell that "A" word that denotes, essentially, the same thing). Out of nowhere. She wasn't even 21 I don't think. I cried. Cried hard for all the people who never got to know her. Cried harder and more selfishly over the fact that I was really crying because I'm so very out of it that I'm stressing the little things instead of living the bigger life.

I'm rambling. I'll stop. I promise.

Coming back from Cali

Because I could do going back to cali, but we've gone and returned.

It was a short trip, but oh how I enjoyed seeing BF in his natural habitat. Here are some things you only see/do/get away with in California.

{in no particular order of course}

In California...you can go 85 mph on "the 5" (I-5 to everyone east, south and north of Cali) and not pass a single soul.

In California...you can pay LESS to fly into a vintage airport (ie, Long Beach). Personally, I think you should be charged more because not only do you get a convenient (enough) flight, but you ALSO get a trip to an air museum tossed in for free. Time to capitalize on that...

In California...there are 5 lanes (plus a private toll road's worth) of traffic in the absolute middle of NOWHERE at 11 pm on a Thursday night.

In California...there is valet parking at the hospital (I kid ya not...)

In California...you can play craps at the table, but there will be no dice (how crappy is that?!)

In California...you can get Menudo at the Sizzler brunch (complete with all the fixins!) in Perris.

In California...you will be told that it is a 45 minute wait at Cheesecake Factory. They will gauge your willingness to commit and then tell you to come back in 30 minutes before they will even give you a blinky thing. THEN, you'll REALLY begin the 45 minute wait which means (do the math) you're really waiting for an hour and 15 minutes for a table. To top it all off, they will watch you limp over to PF Changs and laugh mercilessly at you when you come back after finding out the wait is 2 HOURS over there. Density factor as BF likes to often say.

In California...you can sneak into really posh resorts, give them a bogus room number and your real last name and they're not going to stop you (or any of the other 900 people) from going to the pool. Try it. Trust me on this one...

In California...when the above doesn't work (only because there are too many people to actually swim...density factor again), you can wait until the sun goes down and then sneak into the old folks pool and swim in water that is actually cooler than the air temp...even though the pool is heated!

In California...you can watch your light turn green and still watch 3-4 MORE cars take the red in the other direction (apparently, traffic signals are mere suggestions...)

One more to grow on...

In California...you can leave the top down when you leave the car behind. Word. All about the convertible...even if it is merely a domestic.

Persistence

Oh yeah...that non-mushy (sorta) post.

Why I am so smitten with my bf?

Because he has the patience to get it on the tee.

A feat I had pretty much chalked up to one more impossibility in life.

Cutie.

[image blurred to protect the innocent...trust me on this one...]