And this is the wonder that is keeping the stars apart

Pseudo-Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-12-05T02:26:00.001-08:00

AKA: What Thanksgiving looked like at my house.

Dennis went to Chile on Thanksgiving to visit with his daughters, (his oldest graduated from high school *tear*). So we had a thanksgiving-y dinner the night before. I didn't want to tackle a turkey, because that is toomuchfood but I wanted to do something unusual. I found this recipe for a Ginger Sweet Potato Chicken Bake and decided it was fallish enough to work.

I started by making some gingerbread cookies. This is special because I never make gingerbread cookies (or cookies at all), but they make ready-made dough for this now! So even people like me who can't flip a pancake can make a gingerbread cookie! I have ONE cookie cutter in my kitchen, conveniently a snowman. An old Chilean Pisco bottle served as my rolling pin.

I made 12 angry (snow)men! hahahahahaaaaa!!! (and I ate 10 of them!)

Then I followed the recipe. I had to shred the chicken because I didn't have boneless chicken, so I had to boil chicken, shred it, and then bake it. It was understandably dry. But the sweet potato made up for it. If I did this again, I would add more sweet potato and make sure I had some boneless chicken. Also, my sweet potatoes are clearly sweet potatoes and not YAMS. (Because I hate yams).

I rolled out the good dishes for this one. Also served: asparagus with lemon juice, pillsbury crescent rolls, and a white wine that was like $2.

What to do with miso?

2009-11-28T01:25:00.000-08:00

When I went to Japan, I admitted that a)it's hard to find Japanese food where I live and b)I'd love to learn to cook Japanese. Yuko, one of my most favorite readers, gave me a BUNCH of miso paste (they use it mostly in soups). So now I have a bunch of miso paste and no idea how to use it. I think Japanese people probably go through a lot of this stuff, because they eat a lot of miso soup and you can use miso with other things. In an effort to use my own miso, I decided to do a marinade. I felt so very domestic. I got the idea from this blog post

I did this before thanksgiving and it was a hit so I've been meaning to post it.

First, I thawed some chicken breasts. Then I mixed some paste with a couple of garlic cloves (using the garlic press), a little oil, a little ginger and a splash of Chilean Pisco. I used a butter knife to spread that onto the chicken, which I chilled for an hour. (note the new pump tubing next to my mixing bowl. I needed to do a set change and was trying to cook at the same time.)

While chilling, I took the time to clean out my diabetes-supply closet.

These are the bunches of old meters that I found that I realized I really needed to throw out. Some of them are so expired that I don't think I could even donate them.

I took the miso chicken out and browned it. Super easy.

And this is what it looked like! It was really good and I will do this again. I had a salad and gave Dennis mashed potatoes.

Things that sound more gourmet than they really are

Trying to Make A Spanish Tortilla

2009-11-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, I decided to make a Spanish Tortilla. I didn't have any meet thawed and we had a lot of eggs to get rid of. It's something that we had at a friend's and I loved the light but filling omelette style.

Alas, it was kind of a disaster. I had 6 eggs and 4 big potatoes and I thought I'd use them all, which ended up being my undoing.

First, I started by peeling these ginormous pototoes.

Then I sliced them thin. I was supposed to add an onion but only had green onion. It ended up not mattering at all.

At this point, you have to cook (but not fry) the potatoes until they are very soft.
This took FOREVER. Over an hour. And it never really softened the way I hoped. I watched Glee instead.

When I got tired of waiting, I turned the heat off. It was time to crack some eggs.

I poured the potatoes into the eggs. You are supposed to drown the potatoes in the eggs because, I guess, there should be more egg than potato (slightly). I used way too much potato.

Anyway, you pour it back into the skillet and it is supposed to fluff out.

After it fluffs out, it's supposed to be something you can flip. I couldn't figure out when that was or if it happened at all. It should look like a fritatta but it didn't really stick. Dennis was the designated flipper.

So it ended up being more like a giant hashbrown. It was good and very filling but I ended up using ketchup because it was definitely NOT a Spanish Tortilla.

Oh well. I will try again.

So I decided to make some chili.

2009-10-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

My version of Blonde Mom's chili. It took FOREVER to make.

1. Onions, garlic, bell pepper and ground beef browned in my favorite Wolfgang Puck pot.

2. I used less onions than the recipe asked for and I STILL used 1 more onion than I usually do.

3. My eyes. After chopping onion. I learned that my blender doesn't chop onion and cutting an onion underwater is as impossible as it sounds unless you are Ariel. Oh, they burned.

4. Canned tomatoes, kidney beans, and tomato paste. I used less tomatoes and beans than the recipe called because Dennis hates beans but I think 1 can more would have worked ok. I also learned that tomato paste does expire. (We had 3 cans in the back of the cupboard that were about 6 years old. Which shows you how much I cook.)

5. I did follow the suggestion to add 2 cups of beer in place of water. Except that by this time, I didn't want to bother with measuring two cups. So I poured the whole bottle.

6. Dennis came to my rescue when I cried with the onions and he also helped me open cans. This is the can opener that we had to borrow from a neighbor because our can opener died. (Our can opener is older than those cans of tomato paste).

7. This was supposed to be Tex-Mex. So I added cilantro to make it California-y. Not a lot though, because I don't know how to cook with cilantro and my kitchen was smelling very cilantro-y (like soap).

8. The end result was so good. It was a little bit more sweet than spicy but like every other mexican dish I make (tortilla soup, enchiladas, taco lasagna...) I know it will end up being better tomorrow. I will definitely make this again.

I can cook Yakisoba

2009-08-21T23:19:00.000-07:00

After spending two weeks this year and two weeks last year in the company of Japanese women who know how to make a feast out of noodles, a couple of hot dogs, a tomato and some soy sauce (this is a slight exaggeration...) I decided to add Japanese cooking to my very limited menu of things I can cook besides frozen pizza. Tonight was an adventure in making Yakisoba (actually not very hard but definitely Japanese...)

It helps that I found soba noodles and yaki sauce mix (it's pretty much a powder), in my grocery store (look near the tofu!). Soba noodles are cooked yellow noodles that are fat in the beginning and then get thin at the end of the recipe.

First:
I cut up some bell pepper, green onion, and this handy mix of cabbage and sprouts that I found in the bagged salad section. I think it's for things like cole slaw. And now, it's for things like yakisoba! Anyway, I added just a little oil and started stirring in a regular pot. I don't have a fancy wok and I didn't see one in the church I stayed at in Japan so I'm wondering if a wok is even necessary.

A photo of the fancy cooking chop sticks I used to stir the meal. I was pretty proud of this.

And then I remembered the beef that I was supposed to cut up and add to the veggie mix! My mentor, Chieko, who taught me how to make this in a different way than the instructions on the soba package, said stir the veggies and meat until the meat is cooked. I think I should add that I did this on medium heat so as not to burn anything.

Next I added the soba noodles. The package said to remove the veggies. Chieko said just put the noodles on top. I watched and took notes and decided to do it her way.

The package of noodles looks like this by the way:

The package said to add the sauce to the noodles with some water. Chieko said to add the mix at the very end. I got excited and added the mix right away.

So, I added 1/2 cup of water, the noodles and the sauce mix. And then I covered and simmered for 5 minutes before stirring to make sure the mix was evenly spread over the noodles and veggies. Note that my pot doesn't have a lid. I used our pizza tray.

And then I plated it! Dennis said it was pretty good, it was what I expected! (Kind of like a chinese noodle/broccoli beef type flavor except not as greasy as the chinese restaurant noodles and no broccoli.

So I count this one as a success!!

geocities closing? WTH?

2009-08-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

I dont even know why I'm randomly clicking on my geocities sites but I'm kind of thankful I did. Apparently geocities is closing. Which is fine, except that I'm in Japan right now and kind of can't transfer all of my files. Which I really want to do because I put a lot of work into that, especially the pages for our immigration story and such.

And this means that the website I created for my sister is forever closed and missing. I tried logging in but yahoo can't find my username. Which makes me really sad. I put a lot of effort into that, especially writing out my thoughts after she died. So I'm really bothered. There's nothing I can do about it, and I'm really surprised that yahoo didn't send out emails. I think this makes me want to print out, at the very least, all that I made about Dennis and I, because I had some really special stuff there.

I hope I can get this fixed.

10 Favorite Place to Eat.

2009-07-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

10 Favorite Places to eat... in Southern California (mostly in Malibu/101 North of like Universal City but South of Ventura....) because I am in denial about this move.

1. Roy's Hawaiian Fusion. Dennis took me here for my birthday (Woodland Hills location) because we had a gift card. It was amazing. Amazing. And pricey. And they sent me a card a few days ago saying that they really were happy we went. Me too.

2. La Paz. One of our favorite date night places, they have both pricey and affordable. And the service is usually really great. I took Dennis here for his last birthday. They brought him a flan and sang happy birthday to "Pancho" (who would be his brother...)

3. Gaucho Grill in Woodland Hills. We go here for birthdays too. They are the closest we get to Argentine food, which is often the closest we get to Chilean food because I can't make empanadas. They have good salads and milanesa too.

4. Coco's in Calabasas I have a lot of memories here even after the prices rose and fall. It's a great place to go when you don't want to eat fast food and need a sit down place. We really have had a lot of great meals here and there is this guy- Jose- who is a pretty great waiter. And right now they are having a pretty good promotion.

5. Santa Fe Cafe. Only for the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla. The reason that I love BBQ Sauce. Really. Before I had this Quesadilla, I had convinced myself that I didn't like BBQ sauce. So good. We don't go here enough but I love this Quesadilla.

6. Malibu Seafood. I love that we can go here during the year when the crowds aren't as big. It's fresh and glorious and relaxed and you can get a pretty cheap meal as long as you order the fish and chips, which is all we need. The tartar sauce, another sauce I thought I hated.....

7. Taverna Tony. Oh, this place is so good. It's another place that is kind of pricey and so we only go for ultra special occasions but the last time we went Dennis ended up dancing with old ladies that used to be belly dancers.

8. Spruzzos. I'm suprised to see bad reviews for this place on yelp- this place is another place so close to our heart! I think they have pretty good service! And they are NEVER packed. And I like that it's kind of a hole in the wall.

9. Yamato in Agoura Hills. I love the big portions here and it's a great place to go for anniversaries and (fake) birthdays.

10. Jack in the Box. This is all that Dennis eats when I'm out of town. It's not healthy and you don't really eat here when you visit us- we usually get it to go. But we know everyone there by now and I like visiting with he workers. (Exception of the guy who works the late shift. He's always been a little withdrawn...)

**I could have put La Salsa or McDonalds in this position. We go to those places alot too and know the people at McDonalds in Malibu too. I wish I could list our KFC but sadly the chicken sucks. I wish the one near LAX was better, because I love KFC, but although it might have better chicken, it is always so filthy.

Michael Jackson's Memorial Service- We aren't invited

2009-07-06T21:38:00.001-07:00

We kind of wanted to go, because we live so close and because we both know that this is going to be a huge deal and we would have loved to say to future generations that we were there.

But I will say "okay but it is also strange and morbid to enter a raffle to go to someone's funeral." (and then I remember the strange relationship that Michael Jackson had with the public and this kind of also makes sense.)

So we aren't going but we are really really close to the whole circus.

airport stress

2009-06-28T00:38:00.001-07:00

AKA one more reason why I love my blackberry.

I am an absentminded idiot sometimes.

I can't find my mp3 player and in all the drama looking for it, buying a cheap one at radio shack that immediately doesn't work, and then finding a discman... I forgot about ID.

I have ID but my ticket is in my maiden name (I used my passport as ID until I got my license, like 2 years ago and my passport still uses my maiden name because we didn't want to buy a new Chilean visa when the current one is still valid.)

So the guy at security let me go after making me feel pretty guilty for being married 6 years but still flying domestically under my married name. I agree- I think it went to my maiden name by default when I put my miles card in the system, when I bought the ticket.)

I was thinking I'd have more trouble then I did. The guy at the check in counter basically reissued the tickets for my entire trip to match my driver's license. I'm thrilled with the outcome and can say that THIS American Airlines representative was helpful.

I also forgot my car insurance proof, which is only important because I'm driving a rental car with my aunt in Wisconsin. Dennis is sending a scan to my email. He is the best husband ever.

Did I mention I'm going to Wisconsin for a family reunion? (on my mom's father's side) its funny because no one in my family is from Wisconsin. Expect constant updates from twitter.

Friday afternoon in Beverly Hills

2009-06-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

So we've been here in So Cal as a married couple since 2003 (I lived here before but didn't ever do anything interesting so my tourist-y life starts with Dennis). And it took us that long to go to Beverly Hills. I think we wouldn't have even gone but Dennis has a friend from the bank who wanted to do our hair and it was something we couldn't pass up.

We felt like huge tourists. And I felt like I was in the movie "Pretty Woman" (as an extra...)

Here is a red-carpet event with photogs and security... For what looked like Hennessy. The alcohol.

At Tiffany's (well at the doorway...)

As close as I'll ever get...

On Beverly Drive, right before we went to the Gap (which I know we could have found anywhere but they were having a good sale on jeans...)

Dennis on the corner of Wilshire and Rodeo :)

Dennis in front of this mega- Rodeo Sign that I kept zooming in on...

Zooom

Zoom back out...

Wait- What in the world is the woman behind me doing? Is she a mime?

Dennis wanted to have a photo here too...

Hahahahaa! I was sucking my tummy in super hard for this shot and Dennis didn't even get my whole body!!

And we ended up missing the evening traffic on the 405 so it was a nice evening! (I can't say we had anything glamorous for dinner- we had McDonald's, which ended up upsetting both of our tummies).

What I'm thinking about now...

2009-06-25T22:02:00.000-07:00

1. I think it is adorable that my husband toasted a tortilla in our toaster oven because we didn't have tortilla chips for dinner tonight (I ate them in yet another mindless example of how I am incapable of following a truly diabetic diet...)

2. I'm going to Wisconsin this weekend with my Aunt, for a family reunion. I need to get some photos printed to show our family. Should I bring my bathing suit. Should I check in some luggage? I wouldn't except that I hate the rules about liquids. I don't even wear makeup, but I don't want to stress out about whether or not I can put it in a carry on. I just hate that you have to pay a ridiculous amount of money for carry-ons now.

3. Which reminds me that I need to find my mp3 charger...

4. I'm getting obsessed with Twitter.
People who read this blog know I've had twitter for awhile (I got it after I saw it on Cindy's Blog) but the days pop culture events revised my twitter interest.

5. Chilean News article about Michael Jackson. My aunt and I talked about it earlier this evening- we weren't "shocked", just sad for his family.

High School Reunion

2009-06-24T01:29:00.000-07:00

I just got a notice about my ten year high school reunion. Already?? Has ten years already gone by? Were did those years go? (most of them were spent married and all were spent in school, actually). I don't know if I will be able to go to my reunion- I don't think I will be in town.

I'm not against going, in theory. I have a pretty good marriage and I'm pretty impressed with my scholastic endeavors.

I think any reservations I have about attending are because I don't want to see certain people I've spent ten years forgetting about. More than people, there are feelings (like feelings of inadequacy) that I want to forget about. High school sucked. Maybe in ten more years... (Plus, hello, they have facebook and myspace so if anyone wants to know what I've been doing all they have to do is google me.)

Some news!

2009-06-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

We are moving to Florida at the end of the year!!!

Dennis is accepting a job at a university in Fort Lauderdale, so we are planning a move to Florida in December/early January after I finish classes! So we are moving from one coast to the other! (Hallelujah, he's got a job!!)

I need to get rid of almost all that we have, because apparently it is ridiculously expensive to move things and we don't have a whole lot that's worth anything so I think I may be having adventures in craigslisting soon. (Seriously, it's like $4000 to move a two bedroom apartment from one side of the country to the other. Ridiculous).

When I first found out that we were moving, I was more afraid of the alligators and bugs than the hurricanes. I'm still worried about the wildlife but I'm glad we are moving to a warm climate. And it's cheaper to get flights to/from Chile to Miami then to Los Angeles so hopefully this means we can invite the girls out and even Dennis's mom.

Surreality via googling my name.

2009-06-02T23:49:00.000-07:00

So I googled my name. This is a legit activity because I realize that other people (i.e. future employers) might also google my name.

I was relieved to find that there isn't much aside from links to my twitter account. But I did think it was strange to find this article about my sister. I don't even know how they got quotes from me about my sister's death but I am glad that they noted how important it was to me that she died because of a drunk driver. I guess the bizarre-factor is that an article was written and I was quoted without my knowledge. In 2007!

Anticipating Summer Photos...

2009-05-30T01:24:00.000-07:00

check out Be Funky for some fun ways to mess with photos and
This page to make photos look old (Japanese site with an english-translation option).

I love this candy.

2009-05-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

It's a green tea flavored candy- not a hard candy that you suck on but not super chewy either. It's just amazing. My Chinese friend gave me 3 bags and I have one and a half left. I love this candy and would love to buy it somewhere. But where? Where oh where can I find this candy?

neither have talent.

2009-05-21T00:19:00.000-07:00

okay. sometimes what kara said was helpful during the season. but srsly, the show didn't need her.

So. American Idol was tonight.

2009-05-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

In case you were under a rock.

Last year, I had time to live blog the American Idol finale and thought Archuletta was going to win until oh snap! David Cook totally won!

And then I heard David Cook on the radio a few times and then totally didn't ever really buy his album or anything.

This year was the first year that my husband and I actually watched AI from beginning to end. Cause there was nothing else on. I liked both of the final 2 guys but in the end, just felt like Glambert was too "jazz hands" meets "glam rock hair band". The dude can sing. He can hit notes that I will never in my life hit, and he has skill. And he is perfectly suited for a Vegas show.

But Kris Allen totally deserved it, if only for his easy appeal. Come on, people. He totally is like every other guy you hear all the time on the radio. And I know that isn't necessarily innovative or anything but if it's already on the radio, it means that people like me (aka the masses) are more likely to buy it. And he did have some great covers.

So, almost 2 hours later, I'm obviously not live blogging this. But I thought I should keep the tradition alive by at least saying "WTG America for voting for the dude who we actually will probably hear on the radio maybe".

Small complaints:

-don't make the entire idol cast wear white ever again. it is not a good color for anyone. I can't find a screen cap/photo so let's see how long this youtube vid of poor quality stays up...

-don't let Kara back. That song was lame and the bikini girl showdown was lame.

Okay. Now time for bed. Sorry Adam Lambert fans.

It's about cheese.

2009-05-19T23:13:00.000-07:00

I love being a hostess and having guests over, but I have learned that I am territorial and immature the longer I have guests over. The last time that we had guests, I secretly freaked out when one of our guests used one of my brand new glasses for soda (one of two novelty glasses purchased at the Coca Cola store in Las Vegas). She had lipstick on and the glasses were brand new. I nearly wigged out because I wanted to be the first one to use the stupid glass.

It's like this: I say "Make yourself at home" and I think "no, but not really..."

So we have this guy visiting from Chile. It's important to me to be a good hostess, because I do care. But Dennis and I are both busy and our guest knows that we aren't going to be cleaning/cooking/entertaining much. Which is cool as our guest is not as much here for tourism as much as he is looking for prospects for when he moves to So Cal.

He's a guest. But he is making himself at home. And Dennis and I are slowly turning into Angie Tempura.

It's about cheese. We bought some expensive cheese tonight because we had an awesome coupon for it. And after I put it in the fridge, I realized I would have to share it. Because we are not going to hide cheese from our guest. But at the realization that I must share, I nearly lost my sh#t.

It's not just about cheese. I mean, last night he delighted in telling me that Jimmy Fallon is doing cocaine because he has bags under his eyes and he can't tell jokes without laughing. Because those are 100% tell-tale signs. I don't even care about the celebrity part, just the smug "you know you are a loser for laughing at the jokes of a drug addict" tossing of information my way. I prefer to be ignorant, thanks.

Or it's about how he asked me if he could help me cook dinner as I loaded three baked potatoes into the oven and then told Dennis "I can't eat potatoes. I have a glandular problem". Dude, why couldn't you have said that before you watched me load three potatoes in the oven? There are only three of us in my apartment. And why are you eating french fries in the biggest possible size at every restaurant we've taken you to then?

Or it's about how you made my husband drive around to fix our other car so you'd have a car to drive around and then you called yesterday from Hollywood and said you took a cab. You drove the car to Hollywood. And then hailed a cab to some place. And then drove home. I don't know why you needed a cab if you have our car, but I'm annoyed.

I really like certain aspects of having guests. I really do. And this guy, now that he has one of our cars, has made himself scarce. I cannot be the only one who regresses to a 2 year old when people come over.

10 Favorite Cities (that I've really been to)

2009-05-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

I have some vents but I really want to blog positive so I think I'll put those in another post.
Instead, a blog meme.

10 Favorite Cities.

1. Santiago, Chile. Obvs. beautiful skyline and you don't have to own a car to live.

2. Los Angeles. Also obvs. I actually miss the rudeness when I've been gone too long.

3. Vegas. We got married here. It's a pretty neat place in small doses.

4. Rio de Janeiro.

awesome shopping, cheap, people walking around comfortable wearing bathing suits when they normally wouldn't.... people in Rio are generally super nice, even when they are robbing you. (I've never been robbed in Rio, note).

5. Hachinohe, Japan. The only Japanese city I know. Some say it's more country than city but they had a downtown. It is a good way to get to know Japan, in my opinion, and hell to the yeah I want to visit Tokyo and the rest of Japan now!!

a country that sells 20oz. cans of Diet Coke Zero earns a lot of stars in my book.

6. Buenos Aires. Best gnocchi, choripan, dulce de leche, and ice cream ever. BA is a brilliant place to eat. (and it's also pretty.)

7. I'm not going to lie. I actually don't LOVE Albuquerque. But we are running out of interesting cities that I love that I've actually been to. I grew up in Albuquerque. They have great Mexican food. And I see pretty in it the older I get. The key to loving Albuquerque is in visiting with money. Which I didn't have growing up. I almost substituted this with Santa Fe. But I have only been to Santa Fe once.

8. Dallas. Another one I don't really LOVE. But there are some good things. I like that everyone is so friendly. I like that they drink Diet Dr. Pepper like water. I like visiting Dealey Plaza with my husband to better understand the mysteries of the grassy knoll. Another city that is full of great food too.

9. Hollywood. It's a great place to people watch. But you have to pay to take pictures with people dressed up like action figures/dolls from horror movies/pirates.

10. Malibu. Oh, Malibu, I will miss you when I have to leave you. It's weird living in Malibu, because Malibu is an unrealistic place even when you have money. But there are things I will miss! Like people leaving their cars ridiculously open and unlocked! Like random celebrities!

Like seeing Barbie doll colored cars parked at the grocery store!! (Honorable mention- that the main doctor at Malibu's Urgent care clinic advertises her skillz in plastic surgery and that the movie theater seats are LEATHA!!)

One more thing we can do because we don't have kids...

2009-05-10T02:07:00.000-07:00

We did Karaoke in Los Angeles's Koreatown tonight to celebrate Dennis's birthday! Some 80's classics and a few Disney songs and even some Spanish and Chinese songs were sung (I have videos that Dennis doesn't want on youtube....we shall see...)

one note regarding Korean food- we had some really good noodles and the guys approved of the Soju but the kimchi... I think it's just too strong. Just say no to Kimchi....

There, I've said it...

2009-05-05T01:14:00.000-07:00

Back to blogging (oh how I missed you!) by saying some things:

1. I like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

I think he's funny and cute, even though he laughs at his own jokes. There, I've said it.

2. My husband is in Florida, trying to find a job and to take an exam for a second graduate degree. He's only been gone for one night and he's coming back tomorrow, but I think I'd like another night alone. It's quiet and I can eat whatever I want and I don't have to watch Spanish news (even though I do). I wish he would stay one more night. Things have been so stressful with school and lack of full-time employment, and we have been bouncing anxiety and panic attacks off of each other. So, I really miss not having someone to talk to but I also really enjoy the alone time. There, I've said it.

3.
I think Steven Tyler looks like a lady. The aerosmith classic song has come full circle. There, I've said it.

4. This is the Cutest Commercial EVER.

Bonus: link to the song in the commercial. Yessss

Jon Bovi. Best Band Ever.

2009-04-26T00:43:00.000-07:00

(I will try to get Dennis singing Karaoke of "Living on a Prayer"- he's pretty good!)

Anyway, I am blogging. Just not really well. Because I have some mega papers to write. But they are do very soon. And then I want to blog regularly again! And hilarity will ensue!!

G-Rated

2009-04-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

based on the word "steal" found one time :)

What's better than writing a book report?

2009-03-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

I have to write a report for This book. It's a good book. I would just rather do so many more things. (It really is a good book, about women in Greco-Roman history.)

But per the title of this post, what is more fun?

LOL Cats. They are always more fun.

updates!

2009-03-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

I had a good birthday. I turned 27 on Wednesday. It wasn't as traumatic as my 26th birthday- I got a lot of love this year in the form of cards and online greetings and Dennis took me to a really really nice restaurant (Hawaiian fusion!). My Dad actually sent me flowers. They are gorgeous and moved me, considering the fact that Dad rarely even sends me a birthday card (he has a new girlfriend and I surmise that she is pretty awesome). Unfortunately said flowers have given me serious hayfever and allergic reactions. But I love and cherish them and am really really sad that they can't stay in our living room. (They are hiding in our guest room/office right now because I can't throw them away! My Dad bought me flowers!!)

I did break lent for my birthday but I had already decided that you can't blow candles out of an apple. You can't tell from this photo, but it's a chocolate souffle with a candle. And bananas foster on the side. (I can't even just have a little sugar on my birthday.)

On an unrelated note, we are still seriously talking about moving to Monterrey, Mexico. Don't anyone freak out because it highly depends on Dennis getting accepted to the PhD. program that he is applying for. I think he has good chances. Things like this have increased my stress level and I wonder if I might rename my blog to "ERIN FREAKS OUT ABOUT EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME-BLOG!"

So I'm trying to figure out how to get caught up and organized for life. Right now, school is a priority (one reason my blogs are few and far between and always end up like updates!) I need to make a resume. I registered the other day for my last classes in this degree that has taken FOR-EVER to finish and that was kind of a strange feeling. I imagine that I am not done with school yet, as I have started thinking about getting another degree (in what? not sure!).

Can I put LOL-speak on my resume?

Ode to bad wine...

2009-03-07T23:41:00.000-08:00

It's from Argentina, which is good. In my opinion, South American wines are not as spicy as Californian wines. I should have read the label.

It has a hint of tobacco and chocolate. TOBACCO. I tasted this hint last, in the back of my throat and it lingers with you. So the wine tastes like your regular notspicy red wine with an interesting woodsy-definite berry flavor. And a bit of tobacco. I'm not a fan.

What you missed in the photo that I so artfully took with my camera phone, is the can of Pringles and the bottle of diet Dr. Pepper.

The good news is that I've kept to my lent about no sweets. Tomorrow (or today?) is a church potluck day so that will be my real test. Wine doesn't count as a sweet.

I can haz your cheetos?

2009-03-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

It's Lent time again. Last year, some may recall, I gave up Perez Hilton and celebrity gossip. It worked marvelously and by Easter, I was so over it!

This year, I've given up sweets. It's hell. I am hungry for snacks and there is nothing in our house except for a can of tuna and ginger snaps. Dennis bought a box of ginger snaps to celebrate the fact that I'm not eating sweets. This is clearly going to be way harder than giving up celebrity gossip. I have already started reminding myself that sweets are nothing compared to the cross.

(It was either sweets or facebook. I love facebook more than I love chocolate.)

(How much do I love facebook? As much as Dana-->

Have I been just as guilty as her? yes, absolutely.)

Milestones...

2009-02-22T23:15:00.000-08:00

I belong to a forum for diabetics who are women and who are mothers or who want to be mothers. I'm not planning anything right now but it has been motivational for getting my health under control. Anyway, when your diabetes is under control, you tell everyone in the forum and they give you a dancing frog (so under 7.0 A1C). My A1C two weeks ago was a 7.8, which is the best I've ever had. It's a milestone and the forum members awarded me with a tadpole. I've been keeping it on my computer harddrive but I haven't been really keeping up with trying to do better. But posting it here might help me to stay focused (I've caved twice in the past week and had some french fries and I've decided to give up candy and cake, except for Mar.11 bday cake, for lent). I just feel like I have so many goals and things I have to do this year, and I think I've been putting the goal of being healthy on the backburner.

I got this email when I was wasting time on facebook (which very well might steal my soul). I'm going back to Japan so I've been raising money. I've reached my half way point, but I don't know how because I can think of 10 people that I know I need to talk to but that I have put off writing letters too. It's another goal.

I'm also taking Japanese, kind of. I'm sitting in on a class but I'm not really auditing it because I'm not paying for it, because the professor and his department have been really ridiculously graceful and generous. But tomorrow morning, there is an exam. I haven't studied and now I feel like I should talk to the professor and just ask him if I can not worry about this exam? I feel really bad, like I'm already wasting his time and like him grading my exam would be just worse. I feel like a flake.

Which brings me to my 10am midterm tomorrow morning. It's something else I haven't satisfactorily studied for. But I'm paying for this class, and I think I might be smarter if I studied and did well for it. But this is like the story of who I am as a student right now- I'm flaking on my studies and putting things off and hoping that I can just get by. It's not how I want to do things, and I'm probably being too hard on myself. I'm just really tired and stressed out.

Which brings me to my whole life right now. I finish school finally in December. My husband doesn't have a job and the US economy is not providing him with anything. We are talking about moving back to Chile or to another country, in general. Which freaks me out. The thought of moving to another country and changing my life so dramatically all by myself (with Dennis), so freaks me out that I feel like I'm almost paralyzed. It's like I'm sabotaging myself physically, spiritually, and scholastically because I'm terrified of the real world, of moving away, of the very very unknown. It's not that I don't have faith in God or in Dennis or in myself. It's that I'm just so anxious about this that I can't even concentrate properly. Me, who has to two hours early for a flight when they say be one hour early. Me, who has to show up 15-30min. early for a movie just because I want to pick the best seats possible. I turn into Godzilla if we miss one preview. Not knowing, not having a clue, not having any control.

I realize, as I type this, that this is what I'm doing. I'm so freaking out that I'm sabotaging myself. Which is absurd because I, of all people, know how amazing God is and how much things can change in one year. In less!

The Invasion...

2009-02-11T00:22:00.000-08:00

Of the Cold/Flu Bug. Our whole apartment complex/church/community bubble has it. Dennis has been sick for about a week and I'm full of mocos myself. I promise I am trying to wash my hands more and I washed our sheets today to get rid of any germs. Alas, this is a tough bug to beat.
My dear husband, bless him, is consequently unable to sleep at night. He refuses to take benedryl because they make him sleepy. But last night for example, he was on his blackberry or channel surfing or touching my face all night. It was cute, endearing, pathetic, and annoying.
My cure for the cold: cup o' noodles (ramen), liquids (not always good ones but nonetheless we try), and lots of wasting time on the internets (aka facebook games instead of studying).

this is my reason for post- Dennis citizenship ceremony blog hiatus:

*common cold plush doll via Cool Stuff Express
*Passive Aggressive Note about coughing via Passive Aggressive Notes

Dennis became a US Citizen today!!

2009-01-30T00:22:00.000-08:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We are officially done with immigration now!! Woohoo!!

second best site of the week. ever.

2009-01-24T21:34:00.000-08:00

Blingee aka "Seizure-inducing site of the week"

I decided to bling out my Kindergarten picture. Because my 7 year old face needed some glitter and some Kanye West glasses.

And then I thought "what else can I bling?"

Tom Cruise!
(Note: The creator (me) does not want to imagine a world where dancing snoops rejoice as a gun shoots in the general direction of a bunny rabbit wishing the world lots of love.)

best site of the day. ever.

2009-01-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

Be inspired.

(Obama-Me)

I am a banana in pajamas.

2009-01-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

Let me rejoice in this glorious time, when I can be in pajamas for most of the week and blame it on my status as a graduate student. I had a big retreat on Friday and Saturday for Japan and now I have nothing until Thursday morning. Which means I celebrated Martin Luther King in my pajamas perusing facebook. And while I did indeed watch the presidential ceremonies today and I did tear up and fall in love with the Obama daughters, etc., I did also return to bed after I saw George W. board the helicopter.

I do have more important things to do. I can get dressed, go for a walk, do the dishes, clean our apartment or do the laundry, or take out the trash... Or really more importantly, I could do my homework. I have some reading to do, especially for all of the many book reviews that are due at the end of the semester AKA in two months. And if I did do my homework, it would certainly lend credence to any of my arguments when they do happen, with Dennis about just how busy I am as a graduate student. (As in "hey, I work really hard! I'm a full-time graduate student!")

I think that this is my last year to use this excuse. I am finishing classes in December and while I expect for the comprehensive exams to be really tough (the ones I must pass in order to get my degree in April of 2010...), I know that a year from now I am going to be worrying more about my resume (which I still need to write...) and all of the real grown up stuff that comes along with GROWING UP.

I'm rejoicing. And freaking out.

crossing the line between healthy and unhealthy...

2009-01-19T19:07:00.000-08:00

Where is the line between a healthy obsession and an unhealthy one?

I'm talking about Twilight, the Vampire movie and book series that has a bunch of teenage girls and older girls freaking out about guy vampires. So much so that you cannot NOT find an online facebook game or whatever where a girl does not name her facebook self "Bella" or "VampireFan4Life"" and where you do not see girls declaring their love for a fictional character. Okay. fine. Whatever flips your switch. If you are in this young and pretty much FEMALE demographic, then for you to say that you love "Twilight" and "have an unrealistic expectation in men" because the male lead character is a vampire who expresses undying love for the female lead but they can't have sex... I can totally understand.

Is it perhaps UNHEALTHY however, when you are a 32 year old single male? And all of your best friends are young(er) girls who are equally obsessed? And you start actually reenacting Twilight the way that Star Wars nerds reenact Jedi fights??

We have a friend, who is aforementioned 32 year old single male. He is also kind of (at least pre-Twilight) a loner and a perpetual bachelor. Who suddenly has loads and loads of young girl friends (not girlfriends romantically) and they are posting facebook photos re-enacting Twilight. But he isn't dating any of these girls, who all look really young (I will give him that they are all probably legal and that they are all probably friends from church...) But it's kind of freaking me out. It freaks me out that a 32 year old man likes Twilight. Not just likes Twilight. But actually is starting to dress like a main character from Twilight.

Am I the only one who thinks this is weird? He's got dark hair like Dennis and he totally has started dying his hair and dressing to look like this guy:

Okay. He's trying to act like the father character in the series, not like the character that all the teenage girls are falling in love with. But it's still really weird!

Going back to Japan...

2009-01-18T22:53:00.000-08:00

I'm exhausted after a weekend of training and bonding with the students who I will go to Japan with this summer. Really. My brain hurts from the thoughts of personal and team strengths and weaknesses, from the challenge as you prepare to not only go to another culture but to do so wearing your faith on your sleeve. But I am confident in our team and in being the only girl. I made it clear that I like to have structure, even if I'm not necessarily in charge, and I realized that I have a high need to be included and to have approval. We did some personality quizzes and my leadership skills were affirmed. Some aspects of my marriage were also affirmed because I realized the following:

*my need for approval and affirmation (normal qualities) explain why I ask Dennis daily if he loves me and for why I LOVE when he says it, especially out of the blue.

*my need for structure and yet for everyone to put in an equal amount of work, explains why I get frustrated for when it seems like I'm the only one doing house chores and then for why I get frustrated when Dennis does things like the dishes "wrong" aka not my way. It also explains why I am a horrible flier, why I have to be early at the movies, etc. I can't have surprises. I must be early. I need to see the trailers lest I miss ANYTHING.

*Dennis rated high on control, meaning that he is confident and capable and is a leader who takes on things even when he is in unknown territory. Which is why I love him- he seems fearless sometimes. But he also thinks, with a lot of confidence, that his way is the best way. Sometimes this is true. He excels in spontaneous situations, opposite me. This is helpful in airport situations where I freak out.

*We both rated high on affection and relationships, meaning that we seek close relationships and affection from others. It makes sense because we both feel love in hugging each other or just holding hands. And it makes sense when I think about how warm and open Dennis is with others (old ladies love Dennis). He really is so open to new friendships and really would do anything for a friend. I love this about him. He really is so optimistic when he creates friendships and expects people to treat him with the same high regard. It's just amazing how open he is.

It was an exhausting weekend but it was a good weekend and I am optimistic, at least about my faith in 2009.

Photo explanation: Our team had to compete with other teams to build a tower using tape and hangers and newspaper and paper clips and straws. We won and our tower was the highest.

With one minute to spare...

2009-01-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

On an unrelated note, I have discovered that there is a problem with my body clock. One week ago, I was able to without a clock, wake up at 6 or 7am. Now, because I have to be in class at 8am, I am automatically exhausted and cannot wake up on time. I woke up at 7:59 for my 8am class today. I did not wear my pajamas. Exactly. (I wore jeans and a sweater).

And here is a blog post you should read as it had me thinking about our daughters (our collectively as a people, but also Dennis's daughters and the girls that I teach in Sunday school and see around at church): Real Girls, Real Pressure. Let's not reinforce old and bad habits, mmkay?

AKA my Dad

2009-01-10T22:17:00.000-08:00

Seriously. Crazy Lady= Female version of my dad. Except that one of his two cats just died in a car accident. But the crazy cat part totally describes him, bless his hippy soul. My dad calls me to tell me when he hears a Grateful Dead songfest on the radio.

Give the gift of syphillis!

2009-01-07T19:09:00.000-08:00

I think I kind of want one of these stuffed microbes. Perfect for the office. (And also perfect gift for your school nurse if you and the nurse are BFFs).

In other news, please Madonna, I will not say it again, please stop. Stop and go away. Please just go away. It's not working anymore.

Chew your food.

2009-01-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not "trying to lose weight" as a New Year's Resolution. As I am always trying to fix myself, my method of attack is to just keep trying to do whatever I can to be healthy. Not gonna make promises to go to the gym every day or even every week because I know myself. That ship has sailed.

But in the past two days, I've been experimenting. One of my problems is that I tend to scarf my food down. I don't taste my food. And then it's pretty predictable that I end am still hungry later. How do you eat a ridiculously huge meal and still feel hungry five minutes later? By eating your food so fast that you have to remind yourself that you need to stop and breathe or else you are going to choke.

So as I was eating pizza the other night, I had a lightbulb moment and realized that I'm not chewing my food. I'm not even tasting it. By my second piece, I'm still hungry. So I have started chewing my food. I know this is the most obvious dieting advice ever but for anyone else out there, chew your food. Put down the fork or whatever you are eating with and let your food break down. Swallow it completely. Maybe take a drink in between. And you shall enjoy fullness in thy tummy. Amen.

Boobtarded...

2009-01-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

there are a bazillion jokes and puns for this. Am I the only one who heard her say "ow!" a few times??

Question: Is it really sexy to be with a woman whose breasts are so synthetically enhanced that she can use them to crush watermelons?

vacation is ending :(

2009-01-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

Winter break always goes by so fast! And this is probably my last one as a student! I've spent most of the break blissfully doing nothing and school starts back up this Wednesday. I have a few tasks to do before things get crazy (i have to write some fundraising letters and there are like 3 greeting cards that need to be composed and sent to Japan and Chile).

As mentioned, I was sick for most of the past few days (since Christmas). But today i felt pretty good (pretty normal) and I really don't have any excuses. I'm still in pajamas and all but I really don't have any excuses for not going out. It's a good thing that I didn't resolve to go to the gym (I make resolutions I know I can do).

But yeah, I've been getting out of bed in stages.

Long December

2008-12-30T22:30:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty tired. I think I just poured out all of my leftover energy into the semester and then as soon as school was done, I just turned into a zombie. I've been sick since Christmas, so I am actually really tired. But tired in general. I think there must be a certain amount of energy points that you get in a year and by the end of the year, you just need to be refilled.

It wasn't the worst year of my life. I had a lot of family drama etc. but nothing that doesn't usually happen. And my cousin's witchy wedding was actually a good week because I was able to reconnect with my family. School is a blur, but I know I learned some things. My language skills have certainly expanded as I finished the required Greek and Hebrew classes this year and then took on Japanese. One of the best moments of this year has to be the day I figured out concretely that I am done with classes next December. It's scary and liberating at the same time.

My marriage this year was also pretty awesome. Going to Japan with Dennis was amazing, and I love seeing him serve others. I love how we have grown and evolved together. I was thinking about New Year's, which is mainly his traditions from Chile with the ball dropping on TV. I typically blog about this as "Chilean New Year's" as if I'm a tourist in my own home for this holiday. But really, these have become our traditions. And my husband is, if anything, a traditionalist which makes me love him so much more. I love our Christmas tree, I love our discussions, and things are good.

My faith isn't the strongest it has ever been but it isn't the weakest either. I saw God do good things for me and for others in 2008. Just looking at how many people generously gave for our mission trip to Japan, was an experience in faith enough. To say that Japan had an impact on my faith is an understatement. We didn't visit a third world country but I loved the people in Japan, who are so giving and kind and patient and humble (even to a fault) and who really are not that different from people here. I loved showing them my faith honestly. I loved moments like talking with one woman about how hard marriage really is, especially on days when you come home and are just too exhausted to even talk. It was important for me to show that I am a Christian but that I am also a real person who isn't perfect. The friendships are really what they have given to me, as I really love the email and cards and the continued conversations.

My New Year's resolution last year was to get better about my health, and I think I've pretty much kept that one. And I gave up celebrity gossip for Lent so I actually ended up not even returning really fully to celeb gossip. And I am a better diabetic.

So this year, on a faith related side, I am going to keep praying at night with my husband and I resolve to add "not hating" to my resolution list. I have become a major hater and it has really affected my faith. I hate certain things about my community, for example, and then I can't get past them to find any room to give out any love. But really, I've almost become one of those people who are just really apathetic. Maybe I'm being too hard on myself. But it's hard to be graceful to people who are so clueless that you want to just quit trying altogether.

Here's to 2009. May I lose some more pounds, get some better blood sugars, a few more A's in school, and some money. And more grace in my heart.

I'm still here.

2008-12-30T06:53:00.000-08:00

I'm still here. It's almost 7am, which is ridiculously early, because I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I've been sick with the flu since Christmas which is no excuse for why I haven't been blogging (actually I completely blame facebook games for this).
I think I will try to blog again later today, maybe a list of great 08 moments, but I hear my husband calling.

mental housekeeping...

2008-12-07T00:15:00.000-08:00

there are some things I need to get down in words.

First, the facebook photo situation has been resolved: My nephew complained that he hates this photo. I can relate. People have photos of me tagged where I look like a fat cow. But maybe I was looking at this from the most selfish of all angles. My nephew is a young college kid who needs as many facebook photos of himself where he looks cool as he can get, because he is a young kid in college. It all makes perfect sense. So, I have conceded. I removed his name from the photo and he is no longer tagged. But I keep my photo online. Those are my terms and we are no longer in negotiations. (At least, I'm no longer negotiating).

Second, my brain is mush. I have finals this upcoming week and while these are mainly papers, this is where my focus of attention is resting. I need this week, at least until after Tuesday at midnight, to focus on school. Hence, the following open letter is necessary:
Dear husband,
Apologies, because I cannot be bothered until I finish my assignments. I have, literally five brain cells and they are all on school. So this means I am not going to have time to clean out the spare bedroom so my brother is at home when he visits on Friday. It will get done but maybe not to your satisfaction. Oh well. My brother is quite possibly the messiest bachelor ever so I'm sure he will not mind.

I'm also not in a position to care about cooking. I'm eating a salad and that alone deserves applause. Do NOT give me "that" look when I eat a few oreos. I'm stressing out majorly and a few oreos are not going to kill me. Yes, I know I had a panic attack last week about how I was feeling fat and I'm such an idiot for not caring better about what I eat. And I fully expect you to react as you did last week, by being supportive and helpful. Do not act like the food police when I decide to binge and have 3 oreo cookies as a reaction to my body's natural cortisol production as a response to stress.

Also, don't freak out because I am also coincidentally very absentminded right now. As I said, I have FIVE brain cells functioning right now. So if I mess up dates and times or forget words, lay off.

Finally, keep on with the supportive hugs and such. You are the best ever and the source of my sanity.

Much love,
your wife, who wishes she was really always right.

another reason to buy oreos for the church potluck

2008-12-02T21:29:00.000-08:00

Another reminder from Passive Aggressive Notes about why I should not try new recipes when cooking for our upcoming Church potluck! (When in doubt, store-made rolls always work!!)

10 Ways to Save Money...

2008-12-02T02:43:00.000-08:00

Because I cannot sleep. Lately, I'm having the hardest time sleeping at night. Which affects my energy level in the morning.
So here are Ten tips for saving money:
1. Ramen Noodles (more cup of noodles). The Japanese eat them regularly and we have grown to love them despite their negative reputations amongst college student eaters.
2. Coupons at grocery stores. They don't double coupons any more but every bit counts.
3. Recycling bottles. Ten cents for 2 liter bottles of soda, 5 cents for small bottles. It adds up.
4. Paying your bills on time. It might sound like a no-brainer but those late fees kill you.
5. Asking your doctor for samples. Insulin can cost me over $45. But my doctor gives me samples when I ask. It helps out loads.
6. Going generic on just about everything so that you can go name-brand on things you can't live without. It's like pasta sauce. To us, pasta sauce is tasty no matter the brand so we don't mind buying the store brand.
7. Using internet and cellphones for long-distance calls. We call our family in Chile using MSN video chat, which is saving us loads in calling card expenses as is calling my family in the states using our cell-phone plan.
8. Drink water and eat out less. When Dennis got kidneys stones, I quickly realized that the best way to avoid future medical expenses related to his knack for kidney stones, is to drink less soda and eat less junk food.
9. Do your own pedicures. It hurts, oh it hurts, to sacrifice this joy. But in the end, that's money best spent elsewhere.
10. Don't succumb to the pressure of Christmas shopping-buying-going into debt!! This is the hardest! I really feel the pressure to get Dennis something nice this year but I know that we can't afford it. I am positive that many of those people who camped out on Black Friday to spend more than they had using credit cards to buy what "seems" like a good deal on a laptop or a plasma TV, are going to regret it later.

Thankful it's Friday!

2008-11-28T18:11:00.000-08:00

10 More Reasons for Why I'm Thankful:
1. We have electricity. We didn't on Wednesday, when my paper was due. It came back on early Thursday.
2. Our Thanksgiving was simple and yet special. We had store-bought friend chicken and baked potatoes. So my blood sugar didn't spike and yet we were still stuffed. I used my mom's fancy china because I wanted to convey that it was still a special occasion. The dishes that we had to do were minimal.
3. We have realized that we cannot afford $300 for a Wii. I'm thankful that we are not among the thousands shopping and spending what will later turn into debt. I did make a credit card payment today and I'm thankful that I could do that.
4. My credit score is growing. Also a reason to rejoice.
5. It is almost time for Christmas.
6. This means that it is nearly time for a break from school. A very much much needed break!!
7. My marriage is really good. We argue about whether or not the caffeine in coffee is the same as the thenine in tea, but that is our big argument. He makes me laugh.
8. I have the "necessities" of life. A cell-phone, a laptop, TV with cable...
9. We have hot, running water that we can drink from the tap.
10. Our families both love us. I am very lucky that Dennis's family loves me and that my family loves Dennis.

10 Things I want for the Holidays...

2008-11-26T02:22:00.000-08:00

On a lighter note:
Ten Things I want for the Holiday

1. A wii.
2. Money.
3. For Dennis to get a nice job.
4. For my dad to spend Christmas or New Year's with us.
5. New bed sheets.
6. For my computer to be upgraded so that it runs faster.
7. A CGMS (rarely covered by insurance, you usually have to pay out of pocket.
8. New clothes are always appreciated.
9. A pedicure.
10. A parking permit that allows me to park where ever I please when I park at Pepperdine. I had it all last year and it was soooo freaking sweet.
**11. New pots (larger) with lids and a larger cookie sheet.

'Tis the Season...

2008-11-26T01:55:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for stressing out about papers. I have two papers that I have procrastinated on and one is due tomorrow evening. I have faith in myself, but I can't sleep because my papers are one thing that is going through my mind right now despite the sleep aids. This is what happened last night. I started freaking out about my term papers, especially the one due before Thanksgiving, and I spent the night working on it instead of sleeping.

Which has led me to believe and come to terms with the fact that I'm 26 and not 20 and that all-nighters are no longer feasible for me. I've also been thinking about how my undergraduate classmates stress so much about their grades. And I'm reminded that I really could care less about grades I received years ago so it doesn't really matter. The problem that I face is that in recognizing that my grades don't determine my self-worth, I find myself sometimes sliding into an apathetic and unmotivated academic attitude. If it doesn't really matter, why should I stress myself out. Unfortunately, stressing myself out at the last minute for things like papers is the key to my academic success. I always seem to triumph or at least slide by if I work up to the 11th hour.

My apathy towards school is really a symptom of a larger picture. Quite frankly, I have bigger issues in my life. Dennis isn't working, my hormones are freaking out, I'm worried about my dad, etc. And I am starting to think about life after school, where they really don't care what grade you got on a certain paper. I just don't want my apathy to turn into laziness and apathy in other aspects of my life.

So, I've been stressing myself out and thus I feel like garbage. Trying to pull an all-nighter didn't work and made me feel sick. So I was lying in bed listening to the rain outside, thinking instead about all the things that worry me. I'm worried about school. I'm worried about our future after I graduate. I'm worried about my diabetes. We want to have children, eventually, and I want to be healthy when we do that. In realizing that we will be moving a year from now, I am also realizing that "right around graduation" was when we keep telling people we will start trying to pop out kids. Which means I can no longer procrastinate and not take things like my blood sugars seriously. I have to care. So I find myself caring more about things like my diabetes than I do about my Old Testament Pentateuch class.

I can't sleep so much that I am actually trying to think of things to make for Thanksgiving. Typically, we get invited to a local family's house for the meal. Not family but church friends. This year we don't have invites and I'm actually a little relieved because in our early married years, we went to Denny's for Thanksgiving. A part of me (the part of me that is pushing towards being a real grown up), wants to make something on Thanksgiving. Not a turkey (we wouldn't eat it) but maybe some comfort foods (I'm thinking about deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, stuffing and a small small ham of sorts.) I'm debating on whether or not desert should be included as I am the only one who really eats sweets and Dennis isn't a big pumpkin fan. I'll figure it out but this is what is keeping me up at night.

Or my mind wanders to the stuff our church is doing for the poor people in the area and when they travel to Mexico. They have asked for blankets and I think I am going to give a bunch of blankets away. I came from a family that never ever through away blankets. I don't know why but blankets were just always valuable, even second-hand ugly and outdated ones. We have a few that we never use and don't need. I'm trying to downsize everything we own whenever I get the opportunity because as I've hinted earlier, we are probably moving.

According to Dennis, we will ideally stay in Southern California. It's the easiest way to move. He is looking at jobs in Florida and in Texas. If he cannot find any jobs, we are considering moving back to Chile. In Chile, Dennis can work as an online professor for a school in the states and get a job in Chile. Chile, as in every other place in the world, is economically freaking out. Someone needs to give my husband a job. We need health care and he needs to feel like he is providing again.

This list of things going on in my mind could go on forever. One of the things that I've been hearing again and again and trying to process is this idea of "God's timing". God waited until Sarah was 90 something before letting her have a baby. He waited YEARS before he got his people out of the desert to the actual Promised Land. And even after they arrived, they still had to fight for YEARS more to actually get the land. Things that happen in one or two verses in the Bible actually take a lot longer in real life. And so I'm told to be patient. God is all powerful and all knowing and has control and I just need to wait and have faith. It's just easier said than done. I can see, looking back on my life, times that I have felt God acting slowly and now those times seem to have gone by so fast. A week or even a year flies by and the person I was a year ago and the place we are in our life is just so different. But just every once in a while, it would be so nice to know for sure what is going to happen. More than what grades I'm going to get- where are we going to live? What will we be doing professionally? When will be start a family? I wish I could see God's plan instead of passively waiting on Him to act. It's frustrating and challenging and ever so easy to ask out loud "God, where are you? What are you doing? What is the point of this??"

Okay. I need to try to go back to sleep. I have to wake up early tomorrow to write this stupid paper.

Kung Fu Panda is an awesome movie.

2008-11-21T22:09:00.000-08:00

It is a fact. "Kung Fu Panda" is an awesome movie and I am officially a fan. A panda who emotionally eats and this is the secret to how he gets his kung fu skills. Awesome.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

Do the dishes!

2008-11-19T02:16:00.000-08:00

once again, thank you Passive Aggressive Notes for making me laugh. Illegal indeed.

Now Dennis is all American...

2008-11-18T19:32:00.000-08:00

Instead of just "south american" or "north american".
Dennis is a flag ceremony away from being a citizen of TWO countries. He passed the US citizenship test at 100% and had a harder time finding the immigration building than actually taking the test itself.

My husband officially knows more about the United States than I do. We did have some fun bedtime discussions about who Patrick Henry was or why it took about a decade for the US constitution to be officially adopted by the 13 states... My old history professors might be proud of what I still remember. Or they might cringe.
In other news,

Cindy, I am really addicted to Pet Society. Thanks!!!!! (There are times when I'm trying to catch a frisbee that Dennis just cannot talk to me!)

internet banalities...

2008-11-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

I don't think I will ever stop loving LOLZ cats.

In response to Angelina hate...

2008-11-16T04:33:00.001-08:00

Touche.

Thanks to Gallery of the Absurd and my dear friend Sarah

Middle of the Night Wordle!

2008-11-16T04:13:00.001-08:00

I'm listening to This song. It inspired a wordle.

In other news, the air in Malibu smells like BBQ again. There are two to three fires within 30 min. of our home and so the air quality has been horrible for 2 days. The good news is that I'm drinking water to stay hydrated. The bad news is that it smells like BBQ, it's hot, and my allergies are acting up.

Also, on a side rant, my little brother- God Bless Him- has decided to make his facebook profile a photo of him smoking out of a bong. That's a marijuana pipe, FYI. I told him that this was definitely not sexy but maybe he isn't going for sexy. Maybe he's going for Seth Rogan/Pineapple Express/Knocked Up/lazy and never going to work cool. It's endearing in the movies and less so in real life. He's a really good kid, I swear. It's just so funny how different we are sometimes. (He can't believe that I have never smoked anything or that I only have one glass of wine just to relax.) It's cute because today he asked if he could come over to visit and then said "I don't have to go to church do I?" Nope. You are 23 years old. Church is not required for you because you have to work things like that on your own. If I was going to try to influence my little brother, it would be by being responsible and stuff.

Facebook in real life

2008-11-15T18:32:00.000-08:00

Three things I know to be true:
1. I love facebook.
2. The British have yet again proved to be very very funny.
3. I will not un-tag or remove photos of friends just because THEY think they look bad. Tough. They are MY photos and my memories. (I've actually had a request to take a photo down from my young angst-filled emo nephew who is horribly embarrassed that I have a photo of him on facebook where he is smiling and looks clean and normal.)

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

PS:

POKE!!!! Juan Manuel, I will never ever ever remove this photo! One day when you find that Mormon girl you want to marry and have loads of kids with, you will thank me!! You look normal and handsome here!! (Plus, you CAN untag yourself from photos. duh.)

On God's Wisdom...

2008-11-13T23:40:00.000-08:00

Rarely, I actually read something required for class that makes me feel really good about God.
This is from my Systematic Theology Professor's book:

"Viewing the other attributes from the perspective of God's wisdom enriches them, and wisdom in turn is enriched by them. For a "love" without wisdom would be no more than sentiment without effect. And wisdom without love would be reduced to craftiness without morality. Grace without understanding would be but whimsical indulgence, and understanding without grace rises only to the level of cold calculation. An unwise mercy does more harm than good by its clumsy kindness, whereas wisdom without mercy surveys suffering heartlessly. Patience without wisdom inspires no confidence of success. But wisdom without patience inspires terror. While in his righteousness God always does right, in his wisdom he always does the best. And for the loving God, the right thing and the best thing are always the same. In his holiness, God maintains his unique being in all his acts, and in his wisdom he acts in ways that will accomplish his will in all things. God is always wise in his holy acts, and always holy in his wise deeds.

God is infinitely wise in all he does because he is wisdom itself. For in his triune life, God is God in the most perfect way. God is not God automatically and unconsciously, but freely. God is not on a journey of self-discovery in which he comes gradually to understand his nature and learns how to act as God more effectively. God knows hot to be God. God knows the why, the how, and the wherefore of his deity. He knows, therefore, how to be God in relationship to his creation. He is "the only wise God" (Rom.16:27), and he deserves glory and wisdom and power forever and ever."

From page 220.

They are available for weddings...

2008-11-13T18:38:00.000-08:00

Add This:

Plus This:

And you, delightfully, get this:

The website doesn't work, BTW but I think this is a real church choir. If it isn't, it is at least cheap Thursday entertainment. Could at least SOME of what they sing work and not conflict with the idea of worship? (I mean, you can't sing Nelly in church, obvs, but maybe you could work with the Eminem song??)

Why Angelina Jolie hate?

2008-11-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

So apparently, no one likes Angelina Jolie! I'm a little surprised! (A little.) I think that Brad is kind of annoying personally (actually he does a lot of good things). I just don't like him because to me, This is a massive cop-out. (Or a massive win for Brad, who has the cow and the milk for free).

Anyway, this is me today. I'm not sick just completely tired and unmotivated as far as school. It's just a lack of energy- I don't want to wake up for the 8am class I'm auditing and I don't want to read for my other classes. This will lead to panic in the coming weeks as two papers are due before thanksgiving which is approaching fast.

On a side note, Dennis and I are working with two other guys who may go with us to Japan next summer (fingers crossed that the timing works and we all have the ability to do what we are planning!) We made dinner and talked about it tonight with them and things look really good but I realized that once again I have a big mouth and I am very intrusive. God, I'm such a girl. I hope that we can work as a team without me interfering as an annoying female who wants to know marriage plans and medical histories. I know that Dennis, rightly so perhaps, says that I talk to much and I probably embarrass him. I've never met someone who is so closely the epitome of a meddling chatterbox, as I am myself.

*On another side note, this is like the 4th time this semester that Dennis and I have had a dinner for students/undergraduates. We are very old married couple mentorly aren't we. :) It's not heavy cooking- I made a frozen lasagna tonight.

10 Predictions for the Next Four Years...

2008-11-11T01:21:00.000-08:00

Haven't done this in awhile. Trying to get back into blogging and back into LIFE. (November started off as a really odd month... I've got a Vitamin D deficiency!!)

1. Obama will be heavily criticized for not being perfect.
2. We will get pregnant. (4 years is a long time.)
3. We will leave Pepperdine and California.
4. Dennis will indeed finally get a good job.
5. I will actually get a real job and thus have a real resume and real work clothes.
6. My brother will find a real, meaningful relationship with a girl who will probably get pregnant too.
7. Issues on gay marriage, war, immigration, the economy, health care, education-- none will really get solved.
8. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will break up.

9. Katie Holmes will have another Scientology baby.

10. Michelle Bachelet will not be re-elected as President of Chile.

The fallout.

2008-11-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

The end of an era.

2008-11-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

I had a really good night. We watched the elections, which ended a lot faster than I expected, and had hot dogs with good friends. It is the first time, since I've been old enough to vote, that I've enjoyed presidential election night. Now youth who voted for McCain know exactly how I felt for the past 2 elections. (Facebook status updates show a forecast of high depression and anxiety for our young Republicans.) I hope that what Obama said is true, and that we really do find change. One can only hope that it really is the end of an era and not just a bunch of hot air.

At the end of the day, it is the same circus with a different clown. Obama is not my messiah and I know that the only hope I have for certain is my hope and faith in Christ.

These are ghosts?

2008-11-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Cake Wrecks for this ghost-cake. AT least I think these are ghosts. Now I know the trick to drawing ghosts that look mysteriously phallic.

Halloween at the Mall.

2008-10-31T19:12:00.000-07:00

We totally forgot that kids go to the mall to get candy as the safe alternative to neighborhood trick or treating. (we went for other reasons). It was so adorable. I expected loads of slutty pirates and saw loads of what halloween should be: cute kids dressed like princesses, jedi, dinosaurs and every other kind of animal, angels, vampires, etc. So precious. I didn't want to look like a child predator so I totally limited the photos I snapped with my beloved camera phone.

There were a few people (parents) who took it a little far. This guy- I'm assuming he was with his kids and his equally creepy wife (a very elaborate witch costume that was more like the witch from snow white than the witch from like a Shakespeare tale). Point: The guy was trying to be a devil or something? Hellboy? He had the body for it but it was weird to see a man in all red (body, hair, clothes, no shirt) standing with his kids in the mall waiting for the CHILDREN'S costume contest. I think if I was his kid though, I probably would think he was the coolest dad ever.

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-31T11:23:00.000-07:00

Question of the day: Is there a bear? What?

PLUS: One alternative to the halloween costumes you know you will see this year (the joker and Sarah Palin):

kudos to BWE and Passive Aggressive Notes for today's spooky/cute/aggressive material!

1963

2008-10-26T23:23:00.000-07:00

I've stolen an idea from Sarah and decided to do more Wordles. I picked this song because it's the kind of piano-y romanticky music I'm in the mood for.

In other news...

2008-10-25T22:51:00.000-07:00

My cousin is pregnant! I just found out! Man, they did not waste any time at all (she's two months now and they got married in June).

Stay with me a little longer please...

2008-10-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Alright. I feel like I should apologize in advance. Posting so much political activity on my blog makes me feel like I'm either a "liberal" blogger that thinks Karl Rove is the devil and has a laundry list of examples and quotes and knowledge... I don't. I know what the Democratic party stands for in theory- "socialistic" government, anti-war, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro- a lot of stuff that means taxes, especially on the rich, so that poor people can get more welfare. And I know that I run the risk, albeit quite slight as I'm not exactly a celebrity blogger, of someone who is voting Republican commenting on my post(s) with their FOX news rhetoric/information to prove I'm wrong/naive/ignorant myself and that I'm certainly not "fair and balanced". Stay with me here, I promise that this will all be over soon and it will soon be filed into my archives to collect internet dust and I can look back and for my own personal reasons, remember what I thought about this election.

The tongue cartoons just don't stop. Ok. They totally will after November 4th, I swear. And look, I have an Obama cartoon too. I know it isn't entirely fair but it's a little more fair.

My Aunt, who is young enough to be open to voting for a democrat and old enough to still be freaked out by democrats, has been anti-McCain all summer. But she sent me an email today saying that she's having second thoughts because of all the campaign funding Obama has received. Fair enough. Obama has a lot of campaign funding.

Maybe I should make things clear. Just because I think pictures of McCain's tongue are HIlarious doesn't mean I completely think that Obama is a Messiah. I voted for Hillary. Obama isn't a perfect guy. He's a politician. They change the clown but the circus stays the same. I just... I can't even put into words how ready I am for this political season to be over. I'm tired of thinking that my Republican family members and friends are terrorist voters or worse that they are ignorant or racist. And I'm tired of the whole argument for or against. A lot of what Obama says IS rhetoric. And he is really green as in inexperienced. And he does have a lot of campaign funding and he is totally loved by the media. This happens to me every election year. I wish I could remember what it is like to not care about who will be elected.

But McCain did pick Sarah Palin... I really think he would do anything to be president, even if it meant picking a good-looking governor with a short resume (so she's more maverick) that he didn't even know earlier when he could have picked other token women to better help him out. And even though a lot of Obama is rhetoric, his rhetoric and the way he interacts with the camera is moving and compelling. I don't know that I can relate to Obama 100% but I know I can't relate to McCain.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who I vote for- I'm in California and it's probably going to swing to Obama. And my aunt- she lives in Texas. I'm guessing that her vote will get canceled out by the gazillion of McCain voters.

BTW: if you are down here still, google "tired of politics". I'm not the only one, apparently who is basically blogging the same thing. (I liked what this guy had to say).

testing funny japanese script/graphics

2008-10-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

French Fries?

2008-10-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Lip Dub IUT SRC Rouen 2008
by arcanes-prod

I give you the French doing Thriller all in one shot and I give you another food item with Christ. (Potato)

French people singing pop songs
+
Jesus potato
=
HOLY French Fries.

Out of the mouths of babes....

2008-10-21T19:42:00.001-07:00

Hurrah! to one very politically-minded 7 year old for her open letter to Barack Obama. I am biased because I think her parents are awesome but even if she was voting for McCain, I really appreciate that she is even thinking of who should be president at the age of 7. Kudos, parents, for talking to your kids about what is going on in the news.

I'm not sure about my grandpa either. (Actually, I'm pretty sure he's not voting for Obama because he votes based on who he would rather have a beer with.) But I do appreciate that I have always been able to openly talk about many political issues with my family and I have really good memories with my mother where we talked about political issues.

Osmosis.

2008-10-20T16:38:00.001-07:00

because I've been pretty exhausted for the past five days or so. not studying as much as I'd like....

(Seriously. I've noticed a new self-diagnosed ridiculous monthly body symtom. I'm comatose for 5-7 days. I have NO energy. I slept more than I was awake this weekend!)

Halloween Spirit.

2008-10-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

Oh they keep adding new photoshop photos!! Nice :)

Most unproductive day ever.

2008-10-19T00:36:00.000-07:00

Ever. I did not do a single thing today.
So, all I have to offer is this:
Photoshop Contest
That weird photo of McCain that was on the Chilean news site? The internets have blessed us with improved versions.

Our favorites (well, we have many. including the Godzilla-McCain's). Dennis especially likes the one of McCain from "The Christmas Story".

Redemption Song...

2008-10-17T01:46:00.000-07:00

Taken from Exodus 15. Cause we all need some salvation and deliverance.

News from the World.

2008-10-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

Actually, just from Chile.
This was the photo on the front page of a Chilean news/entertainment/google site that I frequent. They seem to favor Obama and called McCain desperate. This is not Chile's official position and they are not officially endorsing any candidate. Feel free to insert your own captions to their choice of photo.

In other news, I was sick all day. Diabetes took one more for their team.

Oh Madonna, no.

2008-10-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Madonna:
Please go away. Just go away and retire and stop showing up in public with Justin Timberlake. These shoes are ridiculous, you will only wear them once, and they probably cost as much a month of rent in Los Angeles. Just stop. Guns? Really?

Thanks,
Erin

give my husband a job!

2008-10-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Everyone town has them.

2008-10-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

Every town/city/hamlet must have their own idiot drivers who are especially annoying at grocery store parking lots.

Malibu collects idiot drivers who are really idiot people who hire limos to go to the grocery store to buy things like ICE. They are annoying especially because:
a)They block the entire lane with their limo and then motion for you to move around.
b)They think they are more important as people than they really are.

These are the same people, mind you, who park their hummers in compact car parking spots so that you can't around them when you are pulling out of the parking lot or so that they end up double parked thus limiting where you can park.

Is this what I think it is?

2008-10-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

Is this Saran Wrap? Or is it my computer screen and the bad lighting?

It's a tomato.

2008-10-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

Not 'Jesus toast' per se, but seriously. It's a tomato. Why would anyone bid on a smiling tomato? Someone apparently has already bid on this tomato on ebay! Seriously. Seriously.

Here is the description:

Greetings!

After I made a salad for my family, I was shocked to see this tomato (which I refer to as my Jesus Tomato) smiling up at me. I was having a really bad day and then I saw this tomato, smiling, and I realized it must be a sign from above to let me know that everything is going to be alright! I could not eat the tomato. I washed the dill dressing from it and put it in a ziplock bag and in the freezer so that it would stay fresh, and smiling! I was going to keep the tomato but then I realized that all of us need a sign from above, even if it is in the form of a tomato. So I decided to put my tomato up for auction on ebay. One lucky bidder will be the proud new owner of the tomato. The tomato is frozen and I will have to ship it on dry ice. You can decide from there what to do with the tomato. You can keep it in your freezer and pull it out to look at it smiling at you when you are having a bad day or you can pass it along to a friend in need of some spiritual lifting.

Please email me with any questions prior to bidding. I am starting the bidding off at the small amount of $1.00. The amount for shipping is within the USA. Any amount to ship out of the country will be the buyers responsibility.

Best of luck to you!!! :o)

I really hope that the lucky auction winner of this tomato feels God's love when he or she opens the package. If you bought a tomato like this from Ebay, would you be a total jerk to just eat it?

Vale Mas...

2008-10-08T22:10:00.000-07:00

Women, according to Dennis, cannot sing Serenades to the loves of their life. But if I could sing a song to Dennis, I would sing this one. Preferably with a big sombrero and a fake guitar. I am pretty sure I can pull the chorus off quite well. (The song is basically about how a really great love is better than anything in the world, and how the most important thing is that the guy singing loves the woman he is singing to and that she loves him back.)

I'm typically very not into traditional Mexican music, but I make allowances for awesome and legendary songs.

It's Chile for me....

2008-10-07T22:34:00.000-07:00

(But not just because you might become VP).

my brain is fried.

2008-10-07T21:09:00.000-07:00

As in "KFC sad bowl of chicken/mashed potatoes/mac 'n cheese/gravy" Fried.

I would like to not post something about tonight's political debate. It seems that there are loads of possible drinking games that one could create in this particular race. But I don't have any alcohol and I don't like getting drunk and sick. So instead, I offer this:

it's a bonus because this guy was referenced by my boss a few days ago and it made me think of authority figures who have talked to me with this exact voice (I'm thinking of someone in particular and this is that line, where you don't know how specific you can be because you know that your blog is public enough to hurt people's feelings. But there is a certain "authority figure" that definitely reminds me of this guy from "Office Space" that I deal with on a fairly regular basis... (Not you, Dave).

Nope. It's not.

2008-10-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

People's Court LOLZ

2008-10-06T17:21:00.000-07:00

Because of our situations in life, Dennis and I have the unique time available to watch "The People's Court". It's kind of trash tv but not quite Jerry Springer... I think.

Point: Seriously, there are some stupid people. We are watching a case where this guy is suing because he bought a dog- he wanted the dog to be a boy and found out later that it was a girl. He wants to be compensated because he was given a girl dog. How do you buy a dog, keep a dog for long enough to name it and dress it in outfits, and not realize it is not a boy?? Seriously. There are some really obvious things that you as a man yourself should obviously notice as missing. He is claiming this was fraud. Seriously.

This is the poor dog who is too embarrassed to look at the TV because her owner is retarded and gave her a gender-identity crisis.

And this is the retarded owner, who also wants compensation for boy dog clothes that he obviously cannot use on a girl dog. (OMG. Seriously.)
The case before: I can't even recall the actual point of the case. This guy was suing this woman because he put new windows in her apartment and paid for it all and she didn't pay him back. Her defense was that it was a gift or something and that he was trying to get romantic with her. He said that this wasn't true because "look at her" (i.e. "she's ugly, judge"). I would not say she is ugly. But I will say that the reason I can't tell you the main part of the case is because I was transfixed with this woman's hair. A Sculpted hot mess that I'm sure someone spent a lot of time on. It's talented and bizarre at the same time.

This is a blackberry pearl camera phone- I'm not sophisticated clearly. But you can see kind of what I see (plus the look on her face because she lost because she basically has to pay for what she thought was free windows from a guy who just called her ugly on national tv).

Point/CounterPoint: Martini(s)

2008-10-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

Point: (My point). Martini clearly does not need that apostrophe as said apostrophe means possession. This sign does not make grammatical sense. I would, however, really enjoy a martini right about now.

Counterpoint: (Dennis' point). According to Wikipedia, Martinis were inspired by something Martinez. So it's like saying "Mary's". Or "Grandma's" as in cookies.

OMG. I have just turned into my Hebrew Professor,/actually any Old Testament Professor I've ever had... who is kind of a grammar Nazi. After 3 or 4 Martinis, who cares, right?

image found via Apostrophe Abuse BTW.

facebook politics.

2008-10-02T19:45:00.001-07:00

I tried VERY HARD to disguise any comments. My goal is merely to show that BOTH sides were facebooking away tonight.

So it looks like I've bitten the apple. I am blogging politics. My apologies- I tried to stay neutral or at least to not put any thing too political on my blog.

I'm a hypocrite, and I apologize.

2008-10-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

Watching the VP debate, I realize that I have a gut instinct to react and I'm trying really hard to not do it on facebook. But I realize that putting it on my blog might not be any different. (This is kind of a "live-blog" of the VP debate.)

1. Sarah Palin and John McCain are Mavericks! So she can speak!!

2. She does this jokey thing "All you kids get extra credit for watching this debate!" and the whole "wow, I guess I'm just not used to how you guys work in Washington because I'm from Alaska..." I get what she is trying to do but the cutesy-ness is just.... well, it does recall a disney movie (Matt Damon reference). ("Say it 'aint so Joe!!")

3. We are in a WAR and we need to win!!! I can't go into this. I just can't. I can't write just how wrong it sits with me in my inner core that we still think that we are fighting evil terrorists and that we are in danger and that we have to spend resources "winning" against Bin Laden and Iraq.

But of course, she knows what a VP does!!! :) (and she's from Alaska! And there is energy in Alaska!!)

Dennis's Japanese Commercial

2008-09-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

Something I have been meaning to post...
On our first day in Japan, Dennis and I went with our teammates and some friends who were local, because I needed to go to the pharmacy and they wanted to take us to dinner (another story for another day...)
]]

This is Dennis's Japanese commercial for an energy drink.

(Happy Drug. Exactly the kind of drug I like, right?)

Facebook passive aggression...

2008-09-25T21:17:00.001-07:00

Facebook is pretty awesome. But honestly, can we all vote for people to NOT use facebook for voicing political opinions in status updates?? Especially when said opinions enforce stereotypes about political parties.

Honestly, this is exactly why republicans get picked on for being elitist, out of touch, and for misusing their Christian faith by mixing it with politics.

And it's annoying. I really don't like reading that someone is so angry about a lesbian tv personality that she has to post it on facebook, in the same way that I don't want to read about people breaking up or fighting on facebook. Politics, please understand, are not the only annoying status updates discussed on facebook. Just, look, I'd much rather read about how you are tired or happy or things about your life and not that you are proud to be a homophobic hater of liberals and damn hippies living in Santa Monica. That's not why I am your friend.

Also, Republicans and Democrats: Please don't use Facebook Status updates to argue about whether or not Jesus was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a small-town leader. You are both being annoying about this whole thing.

riro!!

2008-09-23T23:13:00.000-07:00

Can you take a language seriously when it is so goshdarn cute??

I'm pretty sure this is "Hello" (ri+ro+extra o) but if anyone knows....
Image courtesy of Rumiko-san,who was one of my readers this summer,and who is really shy but so sweet :)

Is Sarah Palin also Cruella de Ville?

2008-09-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

see Sarah Palin pictures

Or are people picking on her because she's from Alaska? Because other people wear fur too, who are famous.

If I had to pick, I might say "don't hate a woman who likes her fur." (Feel free to dislike her for other reasons.)

(Imagine the dialogue though...)

phone broken.

2008-09-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

My beloved phone is broken and I will have to drive "out there" (through the canyon, outside of my bubble...) to go to a "special" AT&T store that deals with warranty issues like replacing the phone. Yesterday, we went because I've been getting SIM card (data card) errors. So they gave me a new SIM card. I'm convinced that the guy who handled my phone had sticky fingers or something because now (well, since last night), only half of my phone works. Not the important half. Basically, I can only make and get phone calls. And I can't end the call because the "end call" red button is one of the buttons not working.

I could go into details about why I'm annoyed with technology and AT&T etc. but I'm tired. So I will just say that hopefully today we can go out to fix my beloved phone. I didn't realize until I couldn't use it just how much I use and love this phone. I knew I loved it but really, I feel paralyzed.

also not working- the volume buttons and side button that turns camera on. WTF blackberry.

ridiculous before the weekend.

2008-09-19T23:35:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post this kind of thing for YEARS.

It's a pro and a con to living in Malibu. The pro is that people are really generally honest here. You can forget to lock your car and be pretty confident that nothing will happen. I'm guilty of leaving my phone or my backpack in plain sight and I realize that I have this security only in Malibu. But it is really ridiculous. I remember when I moved here from the Valley, which is only about 30 miles away and yet so different, that I was really shocked- people who own convertibles leave their tops down all the time, when they are parked outside everyday places like the grocery store/movie theater/drug store/Starbucks. I still, after 7 years of living here, think "But aren't they afraid someone is going to steal something?" People don't just leave the top down (which invites theft of the entire car, right?) but they leave things inside. It just boggles my mind. Who leaves their car so vulnerable? Outside of Malibu, is that normal??

senioritis

2008-09-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

I've got senior-itis. Which is fine when you are a senior in HIGH School or even undergrad. I have one more year, officially. And I have formally decided that stressing, or atleast stressing about certain classes, is just not worth it to me.

I have this ONE annoying beyond annoying class. It's the last one in an area that I need to have completed- I need this class. But the professor wants us to "respond" in an online message board, to our readings TWENTY FOUR HOURS before class. And he said that he cares about whether or not we are late, as far as grades. I think this is retarded. I think it is retarded that you as a professor are so worried that I won't do the reading before class that you are enforcing a 24hr deadline before class to post a summary about the chapters. Most of your students have lives. They read but they usually read until right before class. That's just the way it is. Also, it is incredibly LAME and retarded that you are requiring us to either pay for $60 book because it has three essays that you decided would be good a week before the semester started.

I suppose my senioritis comes from the revelation that I am growing old and these rules just seem to be pointless. It is my free choice to not post but to instead spend time with Dennis and to study Japanese, which I chose to audit this semester and which is much more fun and interesting.

More ridiculous, before bedtime.

2008-09-17T22:19:00.001-07:00

via http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com which is one of my all-time favorite sites,

Man, this is the reminder I need to never show up at a church potluck without bringing a dessert as a contribution instead of thinking "whoohoo free food!!"

Also good:

Ridiculous things

2008-09-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to ease back into blogging. I realize I have left loads of unanswered questions in posts lately and that my posts are sporadic. I am taking some ridiculous classes right now, ridiculous in part because of the amazing amount that is required for reading. It's easy for me to forget how important blogging is to me, because of the therapeutic sides to being online and having friends you've never met comment on your life and to have them totally validate you by knowing exactly what you are trying to say.

Any way, in the attempt to ease back in, I thought I'd go back to what I think I do best, which is essentially bitching about life. I really became self-critical as far as blogging and thought "I am just too negative and there are already too many people on the internet to be negative."
Somethings cannot be ignored. (Like the ANTM clip of Jay Manuel kissing Tyra Banks on the lips tonight whilst being dressed as a silver haired plasticy prince charming, in a scene that was awkward and nauseating... or Tyra in the entire makeover episode this season as a dumb fairy godmother with a dumb fairy godmother voice. Honestly this show needs more models and less judges...) It was pretty ridiculous.

This is also on the list of ridiculous:

This is Ivy Queen and her ridiculous nails. Ivy Queen is a pretty big deal in the spanish-speaking world, and specifically as a Reggaeton artist but she always has these RIDICULOUS dragon lady nails that I thought only existed in the dark world of the 1980's. She's on "Don Francisco Presenta" right now talking about her life and stuff and I can't concentrate, in part because of her ridiculous nails.

Finally, this car is ridiculous. I've seen it around campus for about a year now, and I've been meaning to take a photo for months. It's one of many ridiculous vehicles (someone has a European car that is like smaller than my kitchen table and gets into the smallest parallel parking spots, which is also ridiculous but a little smart...) It's ridiculous because it shows the wealth at Pepperdine. I'm assuming that the owner is a girl. Probably a girly girl. And I know that I really like the pink wheel-cap for her mercedes benz SUV, even despite it's Barbie color. I wish I had such a glamorous car. And the ridiculous part is that this is probably a student. I'd bet money it's an undergrad student who is younger than 23. And that is ridiculous. I am jealous, that this is even possible and that this isn't the only great car. It makes sense- we live in Malibu and I see so many great cars that I'm desensitized. Hummer Limos? Eh. Over it. The frustrating part is knowing the difference between THEIR bank accounts and MINE.

I hate this commercial

2008-09-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

This is actually the "original cut" (and the first and longer one I remember). The annoying voice, dancing that includes a funny pasta-shaped rapping thing spanking the air, and the climactic "pasta playa hater". (Domino's Pizza has since changed the voice of the pasta guy and he no longer does the spanking).
What's so annoying? The shape of the pasta guy is creepy? The fact that only the kid is cool enough to recognize the "tightness" of the pasta/carb infestation/a random rapping pasta guy on the table? The way that Domino's has reinterpreted the term "playa hater"? (Actually, according to the Urban Dictionary, they have it right.) I think it is because of my understanding of the term "playa" combined with the general creepy phallic nature of the pasta. I know Macaroni wouldn't have worked but maybe at least ravioli??