Thursday 3 am

Last night, I fell asleep to the french movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I will watch it again to see what happens, this happened to me several times when I was watching the Darjeeing Limited. I am wondering if it is certain movies that do this to me, but since I went to bed so early I am up at 3 am. I probably will go back to sleep but it is weird to have such a weird sleep pattern. This week, I went to my first private french lesson. It was helpful, since my pronunciation in french isn't that great. I have american tendencies to pronounce the silent letters and it is good having a live person tell me what I am doing wrong. I was hesitant at first because I am spending money for a tutor when I can buy all the french cds, books etc.. but it really is another tool to accelerate my learning instead of becoming stagnant. In other parts of my world, our 2nd (oldest) big screen tv is doing some psychedelic things and so it is time for a new tv or a big empty in our wall. I wouldn't care either way but Ed insists that we get the latest and greatest technology to fill the void. I am so good with my macbook pro and my itunes account. But tv is america and we need the biggest there is. GO showtime! Love my new show Diaries of a call girl and weeds is back on! Love it, Love it. Now to subscribe... I totally got sucked in to these shows. List time...
Loves at the moment:

French
Paris
French Music and Movies
Happy Hippos (Candy made by Kinder)
Still the cute stuff
Crocs- LOVE LOVE them
my bed
sleep (should be sleeping now)

This week ahead....
Weekend, nothing really.. maybe clean up junk in garage and my office (craigslist a few things)
Sunday dinner with friends at Laurel (restaurant week, 3 courses $40 equiv to 25 Euro)

Tuesday another dinner at Flemings Steakhouse (another restaurant week goodie)
Other than that, working and taking my kids to summer camp. Fun.. Fun in the SUN.

Saturday

Typical Saturday

Lazy, yet I still managed to go shopping.  I had not been to IKEA in a awhile, my lights went out in my office.  They are dependent on IKEA's bulbs, I went to IKEA and spent a few dollars more.  I guess that is how it goes.  Target, IKEA, it doesn't matter, I will find something else I want and must have.  I went to also get a massage, got to get all those toxins out of my body.  Massages are relaxing, then I seem to feel like crap for a little while.  I think it is the toxins being released. Anyways, can't go to Europe, what is the next best thing?  IKEA.  I managed to buy a outdoor light set and some cookies and gummy candies.  Also, some designer ziplock bags (couldn't resist the design).  Here are a few pics I took today.

Just Life

I adore life, lately, I have been privilaged in taking a breather from my everyday life and seeing what else is out there in the world. People all around the globe are breathing, eating, and sleeping as we do here in America.   I am more inclined to retired part-time in another city, than pick up my things and leave San Diego all together, when I am 55 or so.  I feel it is important to have a home base.  I see the economics in just being a free bird and living in a city that makes more thrifty sense  but I know I will miss the weather and the things that make San Diego the city it is, for better and for worse.  It is important for me to work, have a sense of self and create more to improve upon myself. I so want to win the lottery and not have a care in the world, but that just wouldn't be who I am today (maybe in 10 yrs. :)).  In a little way, no matter how little it is, I am still contributing to the economy by giving my country my hard earned tax dollars.  The sweat from my brain that gives the government, those dollars better create a future for my kids.  Hopefully, the powers that control my tax dollars are wise enough to see that America is falling into the toilet. They better not mess up my retirement fund for my travels abroad when I get of age. 

Working to Retire

So someday I am going to retire.  This is a goal for many Americans like myself.  I just went back to work after 2 weeks of vacation, the most vacation I have had for one time since I was unemployed.  This was a grand treat.  No worrying about kids, dog or money for 2 weeks. Granted, I will be seeing my credit card bills in a few weeks, at that time there were no worries.  I went back to work and it was satisfying to an extent.  The buildup of work made things stressful, but I guess that is what time management is all about  This leads to my thought on my working to retire.  I work in order to live, buy necessities and perhaps save for a rainy day.  I also, plan to retire someday so a chunk of the check also goes to a black hole in a financial institution where my money fluctuates up and down, lately, mostly down, to someday rise to the occasion of my retirement when that day comes, knock on wood, the til will be huge enough for me to stop working.  I don't think I will ever stop activities, but working I really do hope someday.  These days, us Americans cannot afford to not stop working. We buy more that we earn and are incapable of making adaquete payments.  This starts from the top down.  This leads to the question, am I going to get to retire?  The answer is going to be yes. I will not buy a bigger house than I need, I will splurge a little like put in a swimming pool which will add to the yrs. I will need to vacation at home instead of going on a weekend excursion somewhere.  In return, when I am out of the country for a month or two at a time, I can sublet our home to vacation renters who want a quiet place to be and still have the city life closeby.  By that time hopefully, my house will have character and a homeliness for all to enjoy. 

Getting back into the groove

My clock is still a bit off.  I went to bed around 7:30 tonight, but just woke up and am up for a few more min. before I go back down for the night.   My last day of vacation was a stressful one.  Elise was supposed to do her magazine shoot but instead had a breakdown in the midst and I tried but to no avail.  It just isn't in the cards...she is too divaish at 6 yrs. old and that will not cut it. My fear is that I let my friend/photographer Suzanne down, she was too stressed to get her to work out, and i completely understand, but at the same time, I should of read the writing on the wall that Elise is too complicated to work with.  I am going back to work tomorrow morning.  Ready, set and hesitant.  So much going on at work, and i am sure I will not know where to start.  My mind really still is in Europe, all the pics I took are still fresh in my memory and it was just a glorious break of life to be going back to reality.  I read the news and am so depressed of what America has become.  America is too worried about the image that they are destroying the soul of what we have contributed to the world and to each other over the last 50 yrs. Granted, I am still proud and would like to contribute a spec of my soul to the cause... I am still brainstorming of what can be my realistic contribution to the world. \ Hopefully, our new president to be will psychologically bring this country out of it's funk and I can then get my food at a decent price when I travel to Europe.  I am just happy/grateful to be back with my family and my dog wherever I may be.  

I'm Back

12 days in Europe and I am back, countless metros, trains, planes and buses got both Ed and I where we needed to go.  I am back on my CA time, with getting up in the middle of the night, my homage to Europe I suppose.  Stewie is sleeping on our bed.  He is happy, he had a few adventures while we were gone.  We had a snowglobe casualty last nt. my mini Amsterdam globe burst in the luggage and the Paris city globe is nowhere to be found.  Survived is the London and Disneyland Paris snowglobes for Elise, with various other knicknacks, a t-shirt and candy for her.  Ryan made out with a Disneyland Paris Alarm Clock, windmill pencil sharpener, big pencil from disneyland Paris, T-shirt from fat tire bike tours and a money holder from London.  Paris will be missed, I love the fact you can get fresh bread everyday at a store that only serves bread.  Some of the parisian food I can do without, but overall the atmosphere, the culture and speed of their lives entices me to go back someday.  What I will not miss are the prices. I just got my AMEX bill with a chicken caesar salad and a bottle of water. This cost me $26.  Which is about 16 Euros.  I know that in some cases Ed and I spent $60 for a basic chinese dinner meal.  Something that would cost about $20 here.  Amsterdam is very calming.  I would stick to the parts of the city away from Central Station.  The canals are quiet for the most part and there are more bikes than people on the streets.  Yes, there were the coffee shops but it wasn't a big deal at all. The stuff isn't off the wall strong and  we avoided the obnoxious establishments.  The beauty of each home along the canal is just astonishing.  Every single building there has a history and the architecture in that city is a good mix of modern with the old. I am taking a few days to soak in what I saw and recuperate before I return to normal life.   It has been a amazing experience and grateful I have something to look back on with good memories.

Down to the wire

Last weekend in San Diego, this time next weekend, I will be at the Lourve, seeing the Moulin Rouge Show and leaving Paris for Amsterdam.

I took my last French class (for now) at Language World on India St., I can actually speak a teenzy bit, I feel confident just enough to get around without feeling lost. Also, went to Parkway Plaza to buy the last of the odds and ends for my trip. Watched Amelie, cutest movie ever....I love the haircut Audrey Tatou has in this movie, but it would look very childish on me.

I will probably go to yoga, this morning and then pack some more. Also, need to pack the kids and Stewie up. Kids are sharing their time between grandparents and Stewie is going with Debby the whole time. Monday is cleanup day at work, need to tie the ties and dot the i's. I vow not to check work email, it will only make me anxious. Flight is early Tuesday....arrival in France, in the morning on Wednesday. So excited, can't wait.

This weekend and beyond...

French Class- my second to the last class before I go to Europe.
Confident enough to say oui, non, ca va, de rien, where es la bain de salle. Which translates to yes, no, good or ok, it was nothing, where is the bathroom. Maybe I can count to twenty too and say right and left. I think I know more that that but really you need to be immersed in a language to learn it properly.

Pool Material investigation. We are looking into a swimming pool in my backyard. Nothing is definate, but it is a good chance, we may be swimming by my birthday. We may visit the block and brick to see what materials are out there. We will get out to the great city of Lakeside in the next weekend or so.

Mother's day- My 10th celebration, The last two m days sucked majorly like two bad nightmares. I guess it is really my 8th Mother's day on Sunday.
Elise wrote me the cutest card book. She loves me and I love her too it says. I also rescue her from her bad dreams letting her sleep in my bed. How cute.

Packing for my trip- I hate packing, but I guess this is for a good cause.

SeaWorld day trip with Elise- This Tuesday with her school, I will get to ride on the special bus with the rest of them. No rides, just good ol' Shamu and ocean education.

Going on my trip, I think I have been planning for like a year and putting the trip to Europe off for like five years. Rick Steves has become my friend, I have invested hundreds in his madness.

My presale for the Madonna concert. 7pm on Tuesday..May 27 at a fast internet connection in Amsterdam. I will take out a small loan for these babies. There will be two good things happening on Nov. 4, Election Day and my date with Madonna.

Possible future model in Elise...she will be doing the next photo shoot that Suzanne is doing with bridesmaids, Elise will be playing the flower girl. Did I mention, this will be published in a San Diego Bridal Magazine?

Summertime.....Is there going to be a weather change? Al Gore will know the answer.

Other Travels

Found Blog from Suzanne with travel to LA/Hollywood, March 2007

Elise had her 6th birthday last Sunday, It was a small party with family but it was a good time. She got lots of presents, I bought her lots of little things useful and cute.

Life's choices

This week has been challenging with person decisions. Do we move into a bigger home and then sell our existing or do we stay where we are and be comfortable. We can put some improvements into our existing. The house we are looking at is a bit bigger in the bedroom but not so in everything else. The bathroom is still a 2.5 and still would have a bathtub and shower, no huge sit in bathtub. Anyways, pondering and looking at what the bank has offered to us, we are going to stay in the existing home. But the week of adventure has not been a total loss. We have discovered that the bigger homes are just like mine. Most of them need work in some way whether it is aesthetics or just new this or that. peace out on this subject. We will stay in my lovely house for a while.

Disneyland 2008

Such a tiring experience, I accomplished much.. My goals to go on the new Finding Nemo Submarine ride and to see Mickey Mouse and I did both. I have been to Disneyland a gazillion times but always find myself in the escapism mood when I am there, which is a good thing. Unfortunately, I also managed to lose my camera, which had some wonderful pictures of the kids and I on it (I went with my cousin and aunt and they both had cameras, so I do have a few backup pics). Hopefully, I will be one of the lucky ones that have their item turned into the lost and found. Overall, it was a fun trip, but the crowded lines and hordes of people weren't so much fun. No fights broke out between Ed and the "happy" employees of the Magic Kingdom, so I can say the trip is a success with a glitch. And the kids were happy and all sugared up which is all that matters in the land of the mouse.

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.

found a dog

was supposed to take stewie to his weekly dog training lesson, and i walked outside and a little Chihuahua was outside under the neighbors motorhome. I took him in for a few minutes and then had Ryan see if it belonged to the people down the street, in which it turns out the poor dog belonged to them.  That is all.  The end.

Here is my Facebook Badge, isn't it pretty, I have learned that there are pros and cons of both Facebook and Myspace.. Myspace is more fun, yet there are too many intrusive elements, like spam and unwanted weirdos wanting to be your friend. Facebook is more professional, and it can keep up with your up to date doings and if you have common friends can keep up them as well. Facebook doesn't have a blog, or a counter to see if people have seen your pg. or not. I do have all my friends on myspace and only a friend from Europe on my facebook pg. , also, I do not wish to join niche networks, so until I do that function is not useful to me.

All by myself

I don't wanna be all by myself...anymore. no no no.

Ed is away this weekend, so I am queen and king of the house. I have the kids and dog to fend for and it will be very challenging being the queen bee for all. Of course, I will miss Ed and will miss him even more come Sunday.

SO much too do, so little time. I really need to focus on one thing at a time. I have all these projects in my head, books to read and movies to see and nothing is accomplished. Only time will mend this madness.

Le Weekend Dernier

So I had a pretty full weekend. It was daylight saving time, so I had one less hr. to my weekend. I am acclamated. I had fun making a myspace page for my dog Stewie. Have fun requesting to be a part of his life. Spent tons of money, went to a indie fashion show at the Abbey in Bankers Hill yesterday, bought some boy baby gifts, a dress and a shirt for Elise, a cool bracelet for me, and some random tees, even one for Stewie. This week, just dog training for Stewie Monday night.. That is all.

Le Weekend

This weekend ahead:

French Class
Take Elise to her birthday party at Tori's
Take pictures of Stewie and the kids for my mom's birthday
Clean the house
Go to clothing show at the Abbey on Sunday
Organize my Blythes
Organize my dog Stewie's wardrobe
Relax!!!

PS. it is the middle of the night and I can't sleep again.. what is up?

Saturday,

Went to MCASD's Fundraiser with Suzanne, we had lots of fun, it was Andy Warhol Factory Party themed. http://www.myspace.com/madameur Band from TJ, good sound played there. Cool iced cupcakes and devine desserts. Definately, something up my alley. In other news, my latest guilty pleasure, blogs:

Stuff Asian People Like
Stuff White People Like

Last week, we got a new member of our family.... *we tried one more time.. His name is Stewie, pics to come, my camera lost it's battery power. He is very sweet but spoiled and tries to play with our smelly neighbor dogs. He has hardly any bad dog habits, but is in need of good potty training and knowing where and where he cannot go in the house and trying to get friendly with the big neighbor dogs.