This or That

I am looking for a job. Yes, it is time. I need that responsibility in my life, that human interaction, knowing I still have skills. The question that I have been getting way to often- where do you eventually see yourself? Or where do you see yourself in 5 years? I guess I never fully looked into this other than I hope I win the lottery and sit on an island sipping margaritas all day. So really, what do I want to do? Do I want to have a career where I am successful, am well known in my field, have some meaning to what I do? Or do I want to just fidget and make widgets? I guess I will need to really answer this sooner than later. It is a burning question for them and I guess now for me. Also, I have the pocketbook and the family to think about in a more serious manner. My husband just got a pay cut, along with me not working, this is no bueno. I have to admit, before we did spend on necessities that were not needed. I spent $4 a day on a white mocha. Now I drink the instant stuff and it isn't as good but it is something. That is about $1 vs. $4 a day. I have cooked practically every single day in 2010. I think my signature dish is fried rice, and it probably costs me about $3 in ingredients to feed the whole family. My kids and hubs love it, I am ok with it. When I was too busy to cook, I would spend upwards to $30 on one meal (take-out). By all means we are not in the red yet. We didn't get that pool that we wanted before the economy went to crap or upgrade to our dream house when we both had full-time jobs. These decisions would of put us up sh*t creek. I am reading this book on living simply, practicing this philosophy on life means staying away from the malls/stores, itunes, Amazon and my choice money drainer Target. Having a list of basics of food/staples and sticking to it. I am still being social and going out to select things. I still belong to the MCASD so I get invites to their receptions and belong to my twitter/social media groups. But this year, unfortunately, you won't see me tweeting about delicious dinners at fancy restaurants or buying new technologies (I really want a web-based phone someday). But really, I am ok with that. I am grateful with what I have and am enjoying my family life in the process. Hopefully, I will be able to share our family vacation (generous mother-in-law x-mas gift) to Mexico in the beginning of March. But that is my This or That choice. The cruise is booked but I need to get on with life. If things happen, things happen. It is this or that.

Brand New Year

Seems I only blog when I can't sleep so forgive me if you read incoherent caca. I am diligently keeping track of my purchases on my other blog.. Purchases I made today..which I so far have managed to pile up three days...notes everywhere in my electronic notepads throughout my email and ipod touch. My Ipod touch.. it is genius. I love it, what a time waster. It is that in a good way. I have applications galore, what is on tv, games, koi ponds, facebook applications... you name it. It is not the iphone, which doesn't bother me because I like my ghetto razr. It works and connects to the bluetooth speaker phone in my car- I think that is all that matters. I have to say, the holidays came and went.. which is a good thing. I did take a mini-trip to SF and also saw my folks and family in Modesto. All in all... pretty painless. This year I am blaring the positive vibes....maybe they should make yoga class mandatory for them politicians they seem to blare the negatives lately. In a perfect world.

BLACK FRIDAY

Why the name Black Friday for the ritual of buying countless things that you don't need, get a discount on gifts on things other people won't need?  I am sure I can wikipedia the origin, but I it is almost 5 am and I am too lazy.  I am not going anywhere on Friday, I am not going shopping, I do not need a useless mp3 player that holds 10 songs or a dvd player that plays special dvds  that makes the picture a tad better. I have an amazon.com wishlist, all of these things I don't need but want.  Someday, little by little, I may get them.  Right now, they look good on that wishlist.  What I wish for is a three-month trip to Paris...all expenses paid, my job on hold and family that can come or wait for me to get back from Paris.  I would really want to take my dog Stewie.  My other confession... watching a Parisian Bakery webcam around 8 in the evening, they are baking their morning bread in this cool oven.  And another thought, why do I buy things as gifts that I want to keep for myself.  There are these cool earrings I bought on etsy.  I am not sure who I want to give them to , I was thinking Elise (she says the rhyme from time to time), but she may loose them, that is what 6 year old girls do.   I want to say on this Thanksgiving morning at 5 am.  I am thankful for having a roof over my head to shelter this hard falling rain from me, my friends and family, a job, food to feed my family and for the internet to keep all that is far near to me.  I am going to go back to bed now. 

Life is back to normal

Thank god, I have to say.  Too much running around was making my head spin.  Today, I relaxed at the Tidepools at Cabrillo National Monument.  It really is pretty out there, the kids made me nervous with the tides coming in and their need to go to the end of the cliffs and rocks in the area. We also had a lovely picnic out on the benches using our picnic basket resurrected from the rafters in our garage after a long slumber.  I did go to the mall in the evening to pick up my prescription, ended up buying not 1 but 2 Ed Hardy T-shirts.  They are so cool...I figure that I can have a t-shirt instead of the actual tattoo.  It probably will be safer, less painful and cost thousands less.   

Santa Barbara/Santa Paula Weekend

Left Sat. Morn for Santa Barbara, total miles driven on Sat. 280 ish miles... Went to the 20th ann. French Festival. I am guessing I didn't win the trip to France, I didn't get a phone call to let me know I won. I did take Elise with me, with this I was privileged the car pool lane through LA and OC Counties. She actual wasn't bad, she slept in the car both ways. The French Festival was a typical festival except with French entertainment and food. Where else can you buy escargots at a street fair booth in America? There was Vietnamese food and corn on the cob as well. It was very cute. We got a drumstick ice cream, crepe with nutella and bananas (yum). and corn on the cob. Elise played on the inflatable slides. bounce house there and playground. I listened some french singers and watched traditional dances. Anyways, we stayed there for about 3 hours then drove to Heather(my cousin's) family's house in Camarillo where I crashed a family member's engagement party, from there Elise proceeded to make her self at home in their huge back yard, swimming, playing on their swing set, making "brown" lemonade, playing with the boys her age. Stayed at my cousin's house in Santa Paula overnight and ate brunch on Sunday and took a leisurely drive home. Sunday total mileage 210 miles, a little over 3 hrs. I get totally zoned when I drive long distances, so got to go to the destination, traffic wasn't too bad, just a few patches in LA but that was it. I definately can do weekends to the OC area, but it was long doing this drive to Santa Barbara. Got home a little after 4 pm. Did usual Sunday chores, took a nap and went to bed with another massive headache. I hate those headaches. Till my next weekend adventure at home. Au revoir...J

Disneyland HERE I COME

Going to Disneyland in a about 5 hrs. I am always awake around 3 or 4 in the morning, that sucks for me, but I can do things like blogging or playing on my facebook page. Anyways, it is cool, I spent time with my aunt and cousins from Sonora. It is amazing what you see in San Diego, and I live here. I haven't been to Mission Beach in ages. They have a wave park, lots of rides, that costs half of seaworld admission, but not the total package and tons of tourists that I normally don't see. Anyways, I will be sure to say hi to Mickey and take some pics.