Happy Holidays!

So I have to admit, the holiday season isn't so bad this year...so far. I had my doubts, but I've been enjoying the crisp weather, Christmas shopping, putting up decorations, and cozying up in my warm, festive studio. Today my Grandmama sent me some christmas kitchen towels, baked goodies, and a tree topper that added the perfect touch to my sanctuary. My mom came to visit a couple weeks ago to celebrate my birthday early, and it was THE best visit ever. It rained all weekend, but we had a blast anyway. When I got home from work she had my Christmas tree set up, presents underneath, and a stocked fridge! She gave me a really cool ipod speaker system so that I can play music throughout the room, and some new flannel sheets! We ordered CPK and had a relaxing night in, watching tv. Saturday we got up early and painted one of my walls a very calming, light brown color. It is very warm and inviting! We also went to Best Buy to get me a new tv because mine was on it's last leg. Originally, I was going to get a small normal tv, but she decided to go big and I got a 27inch flat screen sony! This is great because you all know how much I love to watch tv and movies. (Am I not supposed to admit to that?) We went wine tasting in paso robles to Bella Luna and Tobin James wineries. I even got to wax my own 72 dollar bottle of wine! :) Wahoo! After tasting we went out to Mothers for dinner and then snuggled up to Love Actually.

Other than that I've just been working and shopping. I went to my work's holiday party at Steamers in Pismo, exhanged Christmas presents with Timo and went out for a nice dinner for my birthday, played secret santa at work, and mailed out all of my Christmas cards! I leave for Arizona on Saturday and will be there through the holiday til Dec 28th. I'll be going to San diego Saturday the 30th to watch a Chargers game with Timo (his Christmas present from me) and then we are celebrating New Years Eve downtown at the ....top of the Hyatt!!! ;)

Now it's time for GOOD vs BAD:

GOOD: winning a raffle prize at the company party
BAD: winning an extra large promega fleece as the prize

GOOD: buying loved ones gifts
BAD: having to mail them since I won't be with them for Christmas

GOOD: fancy cookies
BAD: no more fancy cookies

GOOD: a new TV
BAD: no dvd player

GOOD: fresh clean laundry
BAD: having to sneak into the next door apartments to do laundry

GOOD: Birthday cards
BAD: Christmas cards that say "Oh, and Happy Birthday"

GOOD: playing music at work
BAD: playing Weird Al Yankovich at work

GOOD: New Years Eve
BAD: New Years Eve without a smooch from Rach!

Fog

I love driving around late at night through the fog. Shielded by the misty sky, I am the only person awake; the only car on the road, safe from all the worries of the day. I move in slow motion through the quaint little town, driving past murky buildings and faint lights. There is peace in the quiet night and comfort in my cozy warm car. The fog acts as a pillow, where San Luis Obispo will rest for the night, hidden among the feathery clouds and closed off to the outside world.

Quaint Cottage

ok so I finally got around to posting some pictures of my studio for those of you who haven't seen it and want to know how I live :)

Sweet November

So I've been trying to decide what to do with my life...as usual. I have a great job, but every day I come up with another reason why it is not for me. Yesterday we had a science poster session after work so that all the chemists could share their research posters from their trip to Wisconsin. First of all, they were ugly because it was just 8x11 sheets of paper pinned up in order. The main reason to take interest in a poster is the pictures right? Yes. I had no pictures to look at so I decided to try to read them. It was impossible. I felt like I was reading a different language, or English with a very heavy chinese accent. Anyway, as I was staring absently at the posters, a coworker asked how much chemistry I had taken in college. I told him I was a chemistry major, and he goes "oh cool, so you've seen all this before." HA! Yeah right. Apparently I haven't' had enough chemistry classes. So, I felt really dumb, and I hung out with the finance and admin people instead. We talked about how good the snacks were Wahoo.

On the flip side, today at work, another coworker came up to me asking if I'd be interested in writing the local ACS newsletter for next year! I told him I was definitely interested, so we'll see if that works out! I am supposed to be getting one in the mail soon to check it out and get ideas.

I've also been brainstorming other ideas for my life. Helya and I were discussing different options we had as chemistry majors and she came up with getting a masters in nutritional science, and I looked into food science. They offer the programs at Long Beach State, but we'd have to take a lot of prereq classes first which would take FOREVER. Ugg. I started looking for MS programs that didn't require the same BS degree. There are a lot of random ones out there like "MA in Fundraising" or "MA in tourism and travel management" How freaking awesome is that? Who does this stuff? Do people actually go to school to get a degree in fundraising?? I also looking into Cal Poly's teaching credential program too....I think teaching kindergarten would be fun ;) Haha

Other than that, life has been OK. Halloween was awesome because Rach, Kara, and Scott all came to stay with me! I went to a hippy party which was great because I got to see some old friends and listen to a great band. We also went to sushi and downtown in costume...after pre-partying with Alize at the travelodge of course. We are so classy.


My dad comes tomorrow for a weekend visit! I am looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather is nice so that we can go outdoors and hike or play at the beach. YAY dad.

Lastly, I booked my ticket for HAWAII to visit Heather for her birthday in January! I got a sweet deal so I couldn't pass it up. I am using every last hour of vacation time for Christmas and Hawaii. Woot Woot. I wish it was January already.

As far as my love life goes, John Mayer explains it better than I ever could.

"I don't know where you went when you left me, but it says here in the water, you must be gone by now, I can tell somehow. One hand on the trigger of the telephone, wondering when the call comes, when you say it's alright, you got your heart right. Maybe I'll sleep inside my coat, and wait on the porch til you come back home. We share the sadness, split screen sadness. 'All you need is love' is a lie cuz we had love but we still said goodbye. Now we're tired, battered fighters. And it stings when it's nobody's fault, and there's nothing to blame, at the drop of your name, it's only the air you took and the breath you left. I called because I just need to feel you on the line, don't hang up this time. And I know it's me who called it over but I just wish you'd fought me til your dying day, don't let me get away. Cuz I can't wait to figure out what's wrong with me so I can say this is the way that I used to be, there's no substitute for time, so leave me alone, just leave my side. It's alright, we share a sadness, it's alright, it's yours and mine, it's alright."

Smile!

Smile for:

• a new haircut
• Nine West boots
• a clean house
• red potatoes
• The Bachelor (and Grey's Anatomy, Lost, 6 Degrees...etc - I am a loser)
• spooning
• Tim in a german hat, smoking a cigar, while double fisting pints of beer.
  
• napping after work
• decorating for Halloweener
• lightning!
• Helya on Friday!
  
• Rach and Kara in two weeks!
• dancing to reggae
• Mr. 619
• face caresses
• costco
• my mariner

Frown for:

• TMJ
• TMJ medicine that gives me chronic heartburn
• working
• being cold
• dirty dishes
• laundromats
• waking up early
• belly aches
• heart ache
• missing my mama
• losing earrings
• lack of stores that sell quaint undies in SLO
• earthquakes in Hawaii scaring my Heatherbug
• bills
• not enough bills
• Bills

Yearn for:

• a massage
• hot springs
• Avila Barn
• my lovelies
• making out
• Skyy Melon
• vacation days
• golden trees
• wireless internet
  

Wheel

People have the right to fly
And will when it gets compromised
Their hearts say "Move along"
Their minds say "Gotcha heart"
Let's move it along

And airports, see it all the time
Where someone's last goodbye
Blends in with someone's sigh
Cause someone's coming home
In hand, a single rose

That's the way this wheel keeps working now
That's the way this wheel keeps working now
And I won't be the last
No I won't be the last, to love her

You can't build a house of leaves
And live like it's an evergreen
It's just a season thing
It's just this thing that seasons do

And that's the way this wheel keeps working now
That's the way this wheel keeps working now
And you won't be the first
No you won't be the first, to love me

You can find me, if you ever want to give
I'll be around the bend
I'll be around the bend
I'll be around, I'll be around
And if you never stop when you wave goodbye
You just might find if you give it time
You will wave hello again
You just might wave hello again

And that's the way this wheel keeps working now
That's the way this wheel keeps working now

You can't love too much, one part of it(repeat)

I believe that my life's gonna see
The love I give return to me
I believe that my life's gonna see yeah
The love I give return to me.
I believe that my life's gonna see the love I give
Return to me...


Please tell me how after a summer full of love, adventure, Disneyland, Vegas, and Lake Tahoe, two people can fall apart? Shouldn't those things just make the glue stronger? Hmph! I don't get it.


Return to me!

Ladonna

I was going through some old posts on my other blog and wanted to see what my life was like a year ago today. I was very sad then because my grandma Ladonna passed away. I remember feeling empty and speechless. I cried a lot and wished I had one more day with my beloved grandmother. Since she passed, I think about her often and imagine her telling me how proud she is and how she can't wait to give me a big hug. Her laugh echoes, and I know her spirit is always there, trying to protect me from harm and sadness. My family remembers her lovely life, and all of the wonderful things she did for everyone. We always say, 'Ladonna would LOVE this'. I miss her terribly. I miss her beautiful handwriting in the letters she'd send. I miss the softness of her sweater against my cheek as we'd hug. I miss her making green 7up on St. Patrick's day. I miss spending part of the holidays with her and making fun of my grandpa together. I miss sending her pictures and telling her all about my life. I'd like to be unselfish and stop crying about my life for a minute here, and realize that there are worse things... like living alone because your wife is no longer with you, or watching your mom suffer from a three year long illness, or being only 5 years old and losing a grandma before you really got to know her. I know one thing for certain; life was a whole lot better with her in it.

"If I could open my mouth wide enough for a marching band to march out

They would make your name sing
And bend through alleys and bounce off of the buildings"