Gingerbread house making

This year, it was simple.  Take kit and make it with just the items it came with.  I got into a fight with the frosting, but other than that it was a piece of cake, no falling walls on the house, this year unlike last year. The trees were another story.  Anyways, enjoy the pics of gingerbread house makin' 2008...

It's Friday

Elise awoke me this morning. She drank a whole bottle of water before she went to bed. I guess she knows what happens if she does this so close to her bedtime. So I am wide awake now, almost 2 in the morning, when most of San Diego is asleep right now. I will go back to sleep after I wind down but I always feel like a zombie in the morning. The weeks have flown by. Ed already had his holiday party, we stayed the night at the HR hotel in downtown SD. So once a yr., it is a valid excuse to drink too much. Luckily, this time, I did not vomit. It was nice to see how partiers do it once in a while and how spending too much money feels like, without actually spending it (company party, company tab). Also, on my adventure last weekend, I ate fish. I never eat fish, but the funny thing, the fish wasn't fishy. But I am not a fish eater, so that was my hazy experience eating fish. This week has gone by too fast. The massive consumer holiday christmas is almost among us. I did not buy myself the Ipod touch I want. This year, I will pass on buying for myself. I do need gym socks though, maybe that will be my splurge. It feels weird seeing commercials for stores like Mervyns on the tv, saying they are closing their doors forever. I think that is where I bought my childhood wardrobe. Sadness on the memories of watching the open open commercials and the brands like ellemenno, cheetah, etc.. fade away. This holiday isn't like all the others that we will have massive present opening sessions. But at least we have each other.

Paris on my mind

Tout le temps.... mais pas le temps. Translation: All the time, but not the weather. Now how can le temps, mean the time and the weather?? I love sunny and warm. I guess that is why I live in San Diego. Also, I am not financially stable to travel right now. I have to keep my job secure and cannot spend any discretionary income. Did I mention real estate is worth nada anymore. Nada equals no credit lines. If I can have goals, then my goal is 2010....Paris awaits me again.. If I do not spend (see spending blog, starting Jan. 09), I will go to the city of lights. I am still learning this difficult language with my dictionary always by my side in class. I am even on Paris time... It is apres midi there now. But soon, I will return to San Diego time...otherwise I may turn into a pumpkin *(potiron), possibly at work today. C'est la vie.

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. 

HAPPINESS

Things that make me happy...

cute toys

traveling for leisure

Paris

kids/husband behaving

sleep

a good movie/good tv shows

family

starbucks white chocolate mochas

puppies, kittens

a good book

friends that talk to me on a regular basis

Madonna

Obama

Oprah

Sarah Silverman

watching people have fun

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now I can go to work and wonder how this all fits into the picture.  

inspiration

I am often inspired, I read blogs and see lovely things I want to buy. This consumerism bug has really got to go. I love cute stuff, but right now it is look and not buy. I go to the store and see cute dollar items at Target. I have to think to myself, is that going to collect dust in a week and is it that cute for a dollar? This leaves the poor hello kitty paper pad alone in the bin collecting its dust at the store. I want to bring a camera and photo all the stuff I am tempted to buy, but I don't think you are able to photo in stores. I am starting to buy little things for xmas gifts, but I am tempted to keep all this stuff because I quit buying things for myself. I want to try the year without experiment, but I am scared. There inspiration and temptation is too much. Maybe I can get this out of my system before Jan. 1. The year without material items. Buy only what you need (school books). No new clothes, souvenirs, crap at the dollar store. Exceptions are starbucks and eating in restaurants. You can buy kids clothes, at beginning of school season. No buying music for exception of free stuff and listening on rhapsody for free. Hmmm. Lets see how much I save and how long it lasts. I will have to be concious and journal all my purchases. This is a new leaf, lets see if I can turn it and how much money I can save.

Muchadoabout Nothing

News flash... The economy is tanking.  I am becoming cautious, I am not buying crafts at Michaels anymore, I had a handful of things and put them back. I don't think I can cut down on my coffee habit, getting manis and pedis or learning French.  I probably have to not buy clothes for a while and not dream of weeks in Europe on my credit line.   Also, we got a letter in the mail saying our house is worth nothing (it is worth something, but nothing in my head) and our second morgage credit line limit has been drastically reduced. Pool dreams are officially over. I have posted some happy pictures to make this world a better place.  I am glad for all the cute stuff I have in my possession. I am thinking of having a garage sale to fund my vacations, drastic measures call for drastic times. 

An evening with Madonna

What an evening it was, Just want to say first of all, it was an honor celebrating the night with a bunch of great people. It was on election night, so this night was extra special. I have been to Madonna concerts before but this is the first one that i didn't have to leave town and also, more importantly, it was a start of a beautiful future; Obama was elected!! Now the nameless dynamic duo will fall off the face of the earth. Madonna started the night about an hour and a half after the time on my ticket. But it was all worth it, the set on the PETCO park field where I am used to watch the Padres baseball games was gi- enormous. The stage and lights were insane, no wonder this evening cost me over three hundred and fifty dollars a ticket. Madonna proceeded to play about two hours. Ed and I sat (stood) around an array of people, straight, gay, old and young... we sat (stood all night) next to two "bears" and were kind enough to share their goodies with us ( that sounds really bad, but I can't reveal anything illegal here). Now that sounded really bad, just say it was a happy night, no one was harmed. We got to rush the stage and be a part of the concert experience. I am a little spec somewhere in that youtube video. I have real pictures from my camera, but have to wait to get my files from Ed, who downloaded on his computer and erased the camera so I couldn't get them myself. I was in awe, I am still in awe. I also have to say even though she is 50, she doesn't move like it, she is Madonna and will always be. Here was the set list...MADONNA's PETCO PARK SET LIST

"Candy Shop"
"Beat Goes On"
"Human Nature" BRITNEY dedicated video...her LA show was cameo'd by BRIT and JUSTIN
"Vogue"
"Die Another Day" (Remix) (Video Interlude)
"Into the Groove" BACK GROUND with KEITH HARING ART
"Heartbeat"
"Borderline" GREAT ROCK and ROLL version, was very nolstalgic
"She's Not Me"
"Music"
"Rain" (Remix) (Video Interlude)
"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You"
"Spanish Lesson"
"Miles Away"
"La Isla Bonita"
"Doli Doli" (Dance Interlude)
"You Must Love Me"
"Get Stupid" (Video Interlude)
"4 Minutes"
"Like a Prayer"
"Ray of Light"
"Express Yourself"
"Hung Up"
"Give It 2 Me"

yeah, lets party!!!

I found this hilarious!!

I am so happy!  Hope won!  

Halloween Weekend

It was a fun day.... Looking forward to Tuesday, finally we will know who our president for the next 4 years will be(of course it will be Obama, the real hope for America) and this endless hatefest from the McCain camp will end and what is with those who are wanting to pass Proposition 8 ( it is the keeping marriage between a man and a woman), not fair to all my friends who's partner's are of the same-sex, they deserve all the same benefits of marriage as a man and a woman.  Anyways, the Madonna concert is also on Tuesday!!  I think I have seen her three times already, but the forth is a charm.. Also it is in San Diego.  NO TRAVELLING!!  It should be a good Tuesday.  

What is this world coming to

So I was driving in my car, listening to the radio on the way to work yesterday, I hear stockpile on those mother's cookies NOW, they are being sold on ebay at twice the market price. Then the DJ on the radio proceeds to say how those iced animal cookies were the best thing on earth. Aaargh, I am in the car, there is no internet access to my disposal. I scrurry to my office and quickly turn on the computer, google "mother's cookies". The listing comes up Mother's cookies has gone out of business plus numerous other articles on the same thing. So in this post, I dedicate my love to american goodness. The Mothers Chocolate Chip Cookie, so good with a glass of cold milk. Oh, now to go find a bag.....probably impossible at this time. Oh, please some cookie fairy please rescue this company!! I know there is at least a few rich people left in this world. Oprah, please I plead. Do not let the best bagged cookie on earth go to cookie heaven.

Marriage and Life

I awoke today and news broke that my idol Madonna was getting divorced from her husband of 7 and a half yrs Guy Richie.  I am not totally shocked, but I am saddened.  This woman has (had) it all, a family, a career and a husband.  I wonder what made this match made in heaven fall apart? It makes even the brightest star a little bit more human.  Statistics now show that marriage is about 75 percent ineffective.  Relationships are hard things to master, I think communication is a big key and then understanding.  Also, it only takes one to make the relationship fall apart. It is kind of a  symetric dance that always needs to have some balance- I am not a good dancer but I guess I am surviving my relationship dance so far, nothing is broken yet.  On another note, I got my Obama, Biden Vote Nov. 4th T-shirt.  It will go nicely with my Nov. 4 Madonna concert- I am sure despite her personal setback, her show will still rock. I wish her happiness.

It is home/just thinking

Thoughts are always running through my head...can you be one of those people that do things on a whim and succeed?  In reality, this is not me.  I am cautious of my actions in life, I plan in my head and make sure that there is plan B. What I am is a survivor. If I had to survive, I know I could, those instincts are there somewhere.  I read a blog recently,  and I am paraphrasing. There are people that just have stuff fall into their lap and there are people that actually work for it.  I think I am somewhere in-between.  But the main point of the entry was we are all lucky in this world (or at least America), we are not born in a time when there is a health epidemic like the plague or crappy air diseases that wipe out thousands at a time, we also live in technological times of the internet, space travel, world travel, which is good.  I know there are scientists and others that devote their days making our country and other countries better.  I salute that.  I salute those who try on a daily basis to love, live and make this world a better place to live.  I still have thoughts in my head, on how I can leave my thumbprint on the world... I know right now, I am doing this through raising my kids in a proper way (the best way I know how).  But occupation wise, not so much... I truly am working for the man. But this is all about survival. Granted, I do this with a small surrogate family of my fellow-man working collegues. With all those thoughts running through my head, I guess I am working on changing that, and that is what is called slow-evolution.

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Just thinking

In my option, I am sick of the news... I am sick of the world economy, I am tired of the political bashing....My opinion, why has the world gone awry? Because of greed and ego-centric behavior.  But it is in the 'reality world' times we live in, I still care and keep up with this news. It is reality, but sometimes I think it is all a bad dream.  I just think, people thrive on drama, it is in a lot of people's nature to find things that are not logical.  Is that why we are in this mess? Not thinking or evolving but just doing.  Success takes process and well thought out execution otherwise it becomes the chaotic mess we live in. It may not be the plague but it is a sickness that many people put upon themselves.  Vote Barack- lets get us out of this mess now!!

my exciting weekend

Not.  Just another weekend.  I did relax a lot on Saturday, I think I watched many movies this weekend. I saw Iron Man, Nick and Norah's Infiniate playlist in whole.  Saw parts of No Reservations, Atonement...just because they happened on HBO and I was watching tv this weekend. Sun, I went to hillcrest farmers market. I bought a couple of lavender plants, two artichokes,  a watermelon, a mini cantalope, a couple white nectarines. Then walked around downtown for a while.   I have decided, I need a vacation. It seems I always need a vacation. I also forgot to do my french homework for my Mon. Nt. class.  Hopefully, I will be able to do it sometime Mon. afternoon.  I have also decided this entry isn't exciting either.  Maybe next week.

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.