Weekend- the fastest two days of the week

It seems like my weekends always fly.  It is already Sunday... I have a whole day to clean my house, do my french homework, and get ready for the rest of the crazy week.  I feel like I am obsessed with this learning French thing, reading up on Paris and people's blogs abroad on how they live.  I think the best thing for me right now is just to visit.  Plan in the next 5 yrs. a strategy on how I can stay a whole month over there.  I guess this means to get in to something that self sustains my living.  I am going to start brainstorming... I think this is the beginning of the "5 yr. plan".  I actually think that I can get the best of both worlds eventually.  I love the conveniences of america, thinking of leaving for good- is just talk for now.... but I just love the crappy food, crappy tv, my prius. Yet,  I love the culture and lifestyle of the parisian- slow pace in a fast environment, french crap tv not understanding anything, their crappy version of American Idol, nutella crepes, the metro and the smell of old buildings.  I am sure I will love other parts of France as well, and other European Countries for that matter. What can I do to marry these two worlds together into my world.  I need to find out fast... not too fast.. Just 5 years fast.  This can be done. I will do some research on trades I can get into that can be transcontinental for future endeavors.  This does not mean that I would pick up and go permanently, just a good transition into dabbling in the life of a european, one month at a time.  The 5 yr. plan is to spend a month in Paris/Europe, no interruptions.  Whether this be while on current job's vacation time or whatever life brings to me at this time. The goal is to go there and not be broke, sustain living with the family. Hopefully, all of my family will be able to partake in my experiment. 

My so called life

So how has been life been treatin' ya lately? You might ask me while runnin' in to me unexpectedly at god knows where. Well my answer to you probably on the fly would be "fine, busy, great, grand, astonishing". Well here is the lengthy, thought out answer in a ramble:

Lately, I have been feeling like crap. I have this awful cold that won't go away. Everytime, I think it is going away, it comes back in a different form. My breathing may be better, but the wheezing still exists and the cough sounds like I just smoked a pack of cigarrettes. My neck and back aches and my nose started wanting to drain all the snot I have in my system. Maybe this is a good thing that my gooey bodily fluids want to escape but please now, can I just return to my normal self, where it is ok to do some streneous exercise and return to my weekly yoga class.

My kids are grand, they are kids... They fight and do some idiotic things, but they are good kids in general. Elise can't keep her room clean but I guess neither can I. Ryan is lazy, but I guess that also runs in his genes, but he is overcoming this laziness by playing soccer once a week and doing the household duties of our choosing. I am not lazy but I am not greatly motivated and do not wish to become vice president of the US of A either ( which I may ad could be a heartbeat away, if that idiotic pagent wanna be can, I can as well). I will not go to my newly found following of the political world right now.

My husband is grand as well, he is keeping busy with keeping our family in tact. Thank god he does our finances and keeps all that in order. His obsession of the moment. Faux drumming. Yes, faux drumming.... Rock band style. Takes all the time away from those nifty household projects around the house and constructive work he could be doing. Also, he is a stones throw away from graduating college, which I may add... video games equal time drainer.. therefore school would not equal video games.

Myself in general, my real thoughts....I am loving my house, my dog and my family. If all of those moved to France. I would be really loving my house, my dog and my family. I so wanna learn french, so I am taking classes stateside. In the event, I am able to move across the pond. Which I can say may be more of a reality if last name M and P become the leaders of this free world, I will be semi prepared. I like my job as well, but it is not the end all be all of jobs or careers, it sometimes stresses me out, but there are more pros than cons at this point that I will not turn it in for something else. I wish I could reach out more to friends that are a stones throw away but we are often to busy to do stuff. I am loving tv at the moment...all brainless activity a go! My guilty pleasures.. crap teen dramas... Gossip Girl, 90210... adult crap dramas.. dirty sexy money, californication... good shows about crap... entourage, the office, picking daisies..vampire shows... True blood. All of these shows I am lovin'. The hills not so much, but it is fun to easedrop from time to time.

Well that is all that has been going on...I am sure things will change in a month or so, but this is my so called life at the moment.

Challenging life

This last week has been challenging, I have been coughing, wheezing and my throat irritated enough to initiate this hoarsy sounding cough. I also had a really bad migrane a week ago to set off this annoying respiratory problem I have. I am on a bunch of prescribed inhalers and usually they work, whereas, this the wheeze goes away but this has not happened yet. I know I have improved since last week, where I had no voice and sounded like crap if I did try to talk. Lately, I absoulutely have not had any fun with exception of watching first episodes of the new season of grey's anatomy and the office. This also has prevented me from spending any money walking around stores due to my shortness of breath and limited exercise abilities. Maybe the part about spending money is a good thing. Due to economy and unsureness of everything, we have suspended pool installation for the time being. I don't have a huge stake in stocks, I do have a few mutual funds going from my 401 K, but plan to ride all of those out. I still think the stock market has some good in it, despite this weird turn of events our US has taken in the past couple of weeks. I guess my take is long term, if this happened when I was 60, I would be crying because of my dependence on my retirement. What is this lesson to be had from all the headlines going on about financial institutions crumbling? Don't spend out of your means. I seem to find myself guilty of doing that sometimes but in actuality I am too hard on myself. People still haven't learned that lesson to spend within your means. People think money will just fall out of the sky so they can pay their morgage and credit cards. Just because I get a credit card in the mail for a 20,000 limit doesn't mean I need to spend it. I cut it up or just don't activate it. Granted, there are those who don't have a choice to overspend in order to live and are still in debt, are using the credit cards to buy groceries and to pay for healthcare, I feel for those people. Because of this economic fiasco, we have lost a lot of equity in our house which sucks because it means any improvements we do is deemed worthless to add to the value. In other news, one of our leopard geckos died. We thought she was pregnant with eggs and was doing fine, the next day she was dead. It always sucks when one of your pets die, no matter how unattached I was to it. C'est la vie...looking forward to the weekend to rest and recouperate. Hopefully, I won't be so downer debbie in the future.

What's Happening

Freshly off of my newly turned age. Life is taking a few twists and turns lately. I believe age is simply a number. There are many experiences, many good a few bad in the last few months. I am fortunate that my health, family needs and wealth are not affected by these financial/natural disasters happening. For those that have been hard hit, my hat is off to you. I can't imagine having a flooded house, having to rebuild again or life changes in health or wealth. My personality is to lay low and ride things out. My nose is on the news streaming on the internet, depressing it may seems, the reality is nothing is happy anymore. I think Brad Pitt is doing more positive things for the world than the US government is right now, which in a way is really sad. My focus is family first, myself and work second and third, respectively. I cannot ever forget that or stray from that focus. Truly, at this time of dire straits in our country, I am blessed. My hats off to Obama to pursue the goal of change for our country. With him, it really can happen... with McCain and Palin, the chances are better that hell freezes over. So anyways, if American dreams really exist, I will be celebrating on Nov. 4 with the melodies of Madonna in the brisk Petco Park air rather than plotting my move across the Atlantic to hawk lavender bundles in the countryside. Just my thoughts this week, by the way French class is going very well, I have a exam on Monday so lets hope I spell correctly and keep my tenses, objects and gender agreeing.

On a lighter note

It is the weekend.  Yesterday, I went to Ryan's first soccer game of the season, it was an exciting game ending in a tie of 3 to 3.  I get nervous and anxious watching these because you get proud and want only for your team to succeed.  But they are fun and it is great watching the kids mimic soccer stars like David Beckham.  After the game, we went to Costco to go on the "necessities" shop.  That was one expensive shop.  I guess we were out of everything.  Then after my ritual weekend nap, I perused Barnes and Nobles for french study aides and browsed for a while.  It amazes me how many people are there on a Sat. night just hanging out.  

Next Tues. is my birthday, I am still young I guess.  My last name won't be. I am actually officially changing it through the DMV on Monday morning when I need to renew my drivers license, this is a feat that has taken me 8 years to do. I want to stop flip-flopping my maiden name and my married name and just have an idenity.  I am going to take my birthday off of work and I decided to do....somewhat absolutely nothing. I may go off and take my weekly french tutor hour so I don't miss work doing so this week but other than that I plan to catch up on episodes of tv that I am neglecting.  Usually on my birthday I reflect on the last year for a brief moment but other than that it is just like any other day. I also think of all the free meals that I could get using my drivers license from participating restaurants but never take advantage of the deals.  

Ok, I haven't given up yet but there is no pool or startings of a pool in my backyard, it is on "hold".  I officially have a mowed weed yard, our gardeners probably think we are crazy telling them we are killing our lawn for nothing. I keep imagining prettiness someday.  I guess that is what hope is for. 

I erased my likes etc. on my myspace and facebook pages, it is time to think anew, what are really my favorite tv shows, movies, interests etc... I feel I have somewhat evolved in the last few months. I am going to reevaluate and rewrite in the next week or so. 

Last weekend, I went to my grandma's birthday celebration up in Los Gatos which is near the San Jose area.  We landed on a Sat. morning,  I took the kids and we drove down to Santa Cruz for the afternoon.  It was a good time, the road is windy from San Jose to Santa Cruz but all the memories of driving there as a teen came flooding back.  I used to go to Santa Cruz to boogie board and just to hang out, those were the days. After Santa Cruz, we had a family get together on Sunday with about 44 people.  This included 2 babies under the age of one and a handful of kids under the age of five.  My kids are over the age of five, which sounds crazy since the parents of the kids under five are older than I am by as much as 17 years or so.  I really enjoyed my day with my family, I have to do this a few times a year to keep me sane. It gives me a calm to see my mom and dad.  Overall, It was a good weekend trip away. 

I am a mom too

So I guess that qualifies me to be VP. I am a soccer mom and PTA member, I am even in charge of counting Box Tops for Education, I work full time and hold down a household. Following all this nonsense of backwards politics this week has made me just want to say if you vote for a backwards lady for VP, I feel sorry for you. She, Fallin is hypocritical, dumb, stupid, idiotic..need I say more. She is so extreme she thinks it is god's will for all these tragedies in the world. I am not basing on her family, because it is her family, that is her personal life. Her views and gun toting agenda are not who I want leading this country. Who knows how long the big McOldperson will last in the big chair if he becomes elected. I cannot believe the country I currently reside in America is falling for this crap. If they sit in the two top seats, all of the progressive rights America has made in the last century not inc. the last eight years (because there was no progression) will be halted and even taken away. I am all for National Security and safety of the fellow American, global conservation and new energy sources like solar and wind but I also see the value of seperation of church and state, upholding the constitution, pro choice, and the same rights for gays as married hetero people. I see the economy dwendling in front of my eyes seeing much first hand being in recruitment advertising. I even heard India has taken over writing articles for the newspapers. Our dependence on oil can be averted not by drilling more holes in the US and in the process potential harm to the environment and the wildlife surrounding the oil fields. A more logical way to reduce the dependence would be to produce more efficient vehicles and educating on how to use less and conserve. There is a lot of untapped renewable energy sources still available, it would be more efficient to invest in those than to have all our polar ice caps melt and harm our atmosphere by drilling for more oil. Think of this, if we drill our other sources, will eventually use it up at probably a faster pace because of potential abuse of oil/gas resources. I don't see drilling as a good solution. It really sounds lame hearing a group of people chant drill, drill. Come on be educated. Change is good, it is not just a motto, it is a mission and hopefully for the better. I want to stay a proud American and not second guess where this country is heading. This year, I am voting on experience on not who has served in the military for a bunch of years but who is willing to open their hearts and mind for actually changing America life for the better. That experience is Obama/Biden. My opinion, my thoughts, my blog.

Parlez vous francais?

Oui, je parle francais.... un peu. Survived or shall I say rather enjoyed my first week back at school. College that is, the same school I went to back when I moved here in 96'. I am taking French at Grossmont. Yay! It is refreshing to be reinforced, speaking for about 2 hrs., 2 days a week in a classroom of 23 people. I notice a lot more than I did taking French back in the day for credits to get my business degree. Pronouncing is key. I have already taken a handful of classes in french, but getting my foundation steady and strong is what it is all about.

It's here! Buy your copy now!!

Elise is officially a print model. Maybe the only published photo ever. But never say never. She wasn't on the best behavior at this shoot but she tried to do a few photos then just "wanted to watch". Call her the next Linda Evangelista, she won't get out of bed for under 10 dollars a day. But as her mom, it was an experience to say the least Thank you Suzanne for introducing us into the world of glam.

Weekend is almost over

boo hoo.  Not a very productive weekend. I did relax and didn't think of anything in particular. My kids came back from a week away in the desert. Ed's friend Matt came to visit from Colorado and hung out. The most exciting thing of my weekend was walking around Grossmont Center and spending my money at Target.  We did manage to go to the beach this weekend and walked OB near the dog beach. Today I went to Costco to buy the weekly grocery shopping and pick up contact lenses that were ready at their optical department.  I also bought some French Immersion software for my computer, but wasn't too excited when I popped the disc in my computer and nothing happened. So I will need to take that back.  I start French at Grossmont College tomorrow night.  Back to school, not out of necessity but for fun. Who would of thought. I thought Being a student over thirty.  There is some exciting news, Elise had done a photoshoot last June,  which I thought she wouldn't be published because she wasn't very cooperative but to my surprise,  she did get one of her pics in the mag. , can't wait to see the issue.  At least this upcoming week is a short week, I am taking Friday off and then off to the San Jose area from Sat to Monday to see family.  

Wakey Wakey eggs and bakey

Someday I will grow up, just grow up. I need to wake up and just live my life. Stop thinking what if I did this, what if I did that. What am I happy with, what are my accomplishments. Nearing another birthday in about 3 weeks I am pondering lots of what ifs. I am not going to do that anymore, I am going to think about doing now. I will think of goals far future, near future and next month, and then next week. Just go with it. Know I will retire someday, being the best that I can be- knowing I did my best raising my kids, upkeeping the house and home . Knowing I did try my best going forward from today. Find that paths today lead to other paths tomorrow, no matter how many roadblocks I had in my paths, I found my way out of them. Is this statement so hard to practice? Time will tell but at least I said it.

weekend

Not doing too much this weekend.  Relaxing recovering from the long work week.  I did relax at the beach this afternoon, got my bi-weekly manicure and pedie. Took a nap and just did nothing.  Ed and I got a quick bite to eat and went to costco to get a few essentials.  I am taking a break from everything.  I am in a semi-lull.  Hopefully, it will be temporary.  I have not been inspired lately and hope something snaps me out of it fast.  I did decide to permanently and finally change my last name to my married last name after 8 yrs. of marriage.  I put the request in the mail on Fri. and have an appt. at the DMV the day before my birthday to renew my drivers license so I will do that then.  So until then hope my cloudy head clears soon. 

Weekend as it is

This weekend, There is plenty to do but I am not so motivated. My front yard needs new plants. Ed and I looked at Target's garden shop and found lots of purple things- french lavender, little purple ornamental pepper trees, purple flowery shrubs and sunflowers I would like, Our soil is kind of bad, so we are going to try to cultivate it before we buy anything. I kind of have a black thumb, so who knows what will happen when these babies are planted. Also, I bought some clothes for Elise for school etc... She is having her "photo shoot" on Monday (a day off for me as well!), so I bought some cool shoes and some clothes for her at Marshalls. She isn't having access to these clothes. Her wardrobe is so cluttered right now. She needs a dresser so badly, I just haven't had the balls to spend the 800 dollars for a good one and she will eventually crayon, marker, whatever to. Also, bought a few hip looking storage containers and clothes for myself.

Sunday will be a lot of nothing, since Monday I will be running around town. I may take on yoga this weekend, since last weekend I was too sick to partake. Other than that, I may watch a movie at home and just take it easy.

Over it

Over the sickness, over the madness. I still am wheezing a tiny bit, it is lingering. I am up after three hours of sleep, probably will go back to sleep. What is with tv these days, I am so stupidly hooked on the makeover mobile home show on cmt. That makes of stupid tv., major couch potato tv, train wreck I need to keep watching tv. Their trip consists of nice hotel rooms and a trip about an hr. from where they live. I am not sure if that makes for a trip, they should be going to at least Disneyland or something. Also, been watching the Japanese endurance shows on G4. Crazy to think that people will go through some of those obstacle courses, but it is a different fun to watch than that mindless mobile home makeover show that totally steals from extreme home makeover in the trailer park way. Who the hell is skillet anyway?

Sunday Post

Always sad when it is the last hours of Sunday nt.  I wish I had Monday's off of work as well.  I am still a wee bit sick. Have this awful cold that hit me Friday morning.  It started out as a sore throat and slowly crept into my sinuses.  Now I have asthmatic symptoms and cannot find my prescribed inhaler.  Anyways, I layed low and tidied up a few rooms in the house and used a whole box of tissues on my nose.  My poor nose is raw and sore from blowing it so often.  So is life, we'll pick up and be better in a few days. 

Nutritious and Delicious

Starbucks Stella Bar, mmmm. I tasted this yesterday and it was good. For those foodies out there. Cafe Bleu on University is very tasty as well. I had the half chicken baked with apricots, dates and cherries with pommes frites. May I add, universal is not a place to have a clothing sale, it was too noisy, lighting was horrible and hard to navigate. I guess I will have to try thread at the end of the month. It is August already.... where has summer gone? If I was french I would have this whole month off of work, but I am not, Je suis Americane. What month do us American's get to take off of work? None of the above, just my wandering thoughts on a observation. Maybe in another lifetime.

do something

So I want to do something, seems easy enough, but I am not sure what. I think I want to make a cement sculpture with found objects. I need to think this through though, where am I going to put it together and need to sketch an idea on paper first. Also, this language learning thing, I guess I will need to raise funds to travel after a while. I guess I need to start doing side jobs or selling stuff.....because my day job only pays the bills and nothing else. I guess Aug. will be my month of discovery, weighing my options, reading the dip. We will see how it goes.

Generally Speaking

I truly am blessed with my family, my friends, my job, my dog and other pets that are with me in present time. Sometimes it takes external forces to help me realize that I need to be proud of my accomplishments and what I have created as a whole. I also need to stay focused on being a positive human being. Whether that means I let people change lanes on the freeway in front of my car in traffic, smiling at someone at the supermarket when you know the other person is not having the greatest of days, or just plain on being a nice, polite person. This reminder of what is a growing process of myself, a current metamorphosis as you will, checks myself into reality from time to time. I can no longer be angry at the world and it's doings. It is what it is and it is up to me to help change at least my surroundings. So with this general mantra, I will try to be better at who I am and what I do...starting today.

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.   

COMIC-CON part deux

Today is my full on complete geek out day. I am prepared to bear the crowds, the lines, the weirdness in order to get my twenty pound book signed by one of my favorite music makers Tori Amos. So what am I expecting? Craziness and anticipation. Low blood sugar from not eating full meals. Hopefully, it will be a cool meeting and she will pose with my blythe doll that I will be taking photos of all over the floor before hand. I am doing this all again with my crowd hating family tomorrow as well. Thank you Tori, for getting me out and about, you will be so worth it.

UPDATE:

Went today and it was great, I met some great people to pass the time in the lines, got my mission accomplished, Tori Amos was pretty and wonderful. Respect to all who contributed to her comic book coffee table project. But never again will I go to such a mad house. Love the art, hate the crowd. Also, got to meet 'kelly' from the office...Too bad it was such crowded place, if something like that was at a smaller intimate scale, i would be down for it- as long as I am invited.

When you home is not your house

I am comfortable in my skin, I am comfortable at work, I make a decision and usually stick with it. I guess outside forces has made me think my home is not my house. I guess my home is my family yet I don't have a home that is my house. I am not sure what I want anymore. I can live in San Diego forever or I can sell my "house" and move elsewhere. I guess that seems drastic because I can just move somewhere else in San Diego, but really is it my house or is it just a bank borrowed house that will continue to be borrowed on forever. No pool in my future at all, unless I move to wherever life takes me. Economics has overtaken my soul in this world. Is this all worth it, just to know your assets dictate your life. I really need to think this over.