After many years of LiveJournaling I'm saying goodbye! With 2 kids I no longer have time to waste on the internet. :) I've been on a deleting spree lately - I've deleted my MySpace & Twitter accounts. If you want to keep in touch, I'll still be on Facebook. Add me if you haven't already!

also i have noticed that my writing and grammar has gone downhill since i have 2 kids now. no time to think of how to write correctly. or spell. or use appropriate punctuation or capitalization. i apologize.

If you're in the mood for good psychological thriller, get "Bug". Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr. are in it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470705/

Am very sick with a cold. My nose is as red as Rudolph's.

Rylan and Steve are sick, too. :(

Christmas was OK. Rylan's still too young to open presents on her own so I opened them for her. She had more fun playing with the boxes and ribbons than the actual toys. That was expected, though. :)

I got Guitar Hero III from Steve. And I got him an iPod Touch. It's awesome!

Rylan got many toys and books and clothes.

And now we have to start taking down all the Xmas decorations. Boo.

If you're looking for a good movie to watch this weekend, I would highly recommend getting "Le Moustache". Yes, it's a French film. It's subtitled. And it's weird. Kind of like a French episode of the Twilight Zone. :) It's about this guy who's had a mustache his whole adult life. He decides to shave it off. But then no one remembers that he even had a mustache. Ever.
Add it to your Netflix queue!

After nearly a week in So Cal, I finally have some time to sit down and post a decent entry. (If Rylan can stay asleep longer than 15 minutes.)

We left Seattle on June 23rd at 0600. Steve, Rylan and I were in the Mazda and my dad and mom were in the UHaul. It was a long, boring drive...but the baby was VERY good and slept most of the way. We stopped for the night in Red Bluff, CA which is just south of Redding.

On Sunday morning we left Red Bluff for our final leg of the trip. This was even more boring than the drive through Oregon. Northern California sucks. I'm sorry if you're from there, but it's hot, dusty, and often smells like cows.

We pulled into Murrieta around 6pm on Sunday evening and immediately started getting settled in by drinking beer and unpacking a few necessities. The major UHaul was stuff was left for Monday morning.

The next few days were spent helping my parents get ready for their month-long trip to Indonesia...running errands...taking my aunt to the airport...buying groceries. On Wednesday we dropped them off at LAX and stopped for a quick visit in Santa Monica to visit zuvysurfer.

Thursday, Friday and today we treated ourselves to a mini shopping spree! :) Since we have no rent to pay, our bills are caught up, and we actually have some extra cash (for once!) we decided to buy much needed clothes. (It is really too hot here to wear my usual Seattle all-black style, hmph!) Steve insisted that I buy many tank tops and short skirts and shorts. None of which are "my" style at all...and I can't stand the thought of actually exposing my paper-white skin...but I gave in and bought them.

I let Steve buy a Very Expensive watch. Let's just say that he will not be allowed to buy another watch for the next 20 years. And I expect this watch to be passed down to our children and grandchildren. :) But he really wanted it, so I'm happy that he's happy.

We also bought a cute star-themed bumper pad and star and moon themed mobile for Rylan's crib. And many thanks to ladyhedgehog for the crib, it is perfect!! We got screws at Lowe's no problem.

Anyway, I guess that's about all I have to say for now.....

http://homepage.mac.com/tactica/furniture
Look at our website & keep checking back, we'll be adding more stuff to it later. We'll also have boxes and boxes of FREE items. But you'll have to stop by our apartment or inquire because there's just too many items to list or take pictures of. (Trust me, a lot of it is NOT junk...just various items that we no longer need. If you, my friends, do not want the free stuff then we'll end up donating them.) Here's a sampling of what's free: assorted silverware, hanging plant baskets, glass vases, Wilton brand baking pans, purses, 16-piece dinnerware set (it's clear glass with a flower pattern) & many more!!
:)
Non-locals, if there's something you're interested in, you're more than welcome to it. Most non-furniture items are small enough to ship. All I ask is that you reimburse the shipping cost.

I took this from smadaf's journal:


News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2007
Contact: Dennis K. Bohannon
Voice: (DSN) 338-7612
Comm: (0611) 380-7612

US Ambassador to Speak at London Central’s Closing

WIESBADEN, Germany – The United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom will be the guest speaker at the May 15, 2007 closing ceremony for the Department of Defense’s London Central Elementary – High School, located in Daws Hill in High Wycombe, west of London.

The Honorable Robert Holmes Tuttle, the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, will deliver remarks at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony commemorating the closure of the oldest American high school still operating in the United Kingdom. All alumni, family and friends of London Central are invited to attend.

The closing ceremony is intended to offer alumni the opportunity to share memories of the school, and to reflect on the historical significance of the school, which has been in the London area from the beginning of the Cold War to the present.

London Central School opened at Bushy Park in South London in 1952 and remained there until 1962. The school was relocated to Bushy Heath in Northwest London until 1971, when it was finally moved to its present location on RAF Daws Hill.

The school complex, which includes a dorm for students, is closing as a result of downsizing by U.S. Navy and Air Force units in the London area, making it impractical to provide continued logistical support to the facilities.

Principal Theresa Barba, in a message to students, wrote that she accepts the closure with sadness. “Our school has a rich history and tradition of student achievement and teacher dedication. Current and past students and teachers must hold London Central traditions with great pride. Our school is special because of the people in it and communities we serve.”

Alumni of the 54 year-old school include retired Air Force Lt. General Thomas C. Waskow, who attended London Central at Bushey Hall from 1962-65. Members of the pop group "America," Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley met while attending the London School. They went on to record the hit single "Horse With No Name" in the early 70’s. Author Robert Davenport is a London Central High School graduate with the Class of 1968. Starlet Kathleen Turner attended the school in London in 1972. Bo Bice, the runner-up in the 2005 “American Idol” television program, and now a successful recording artist with RCA, attended the school from 1990 to 1992.

Persons desiring more information about the closing ceremony can contact Cary Sand, Closing Ceremony Chairperson, at London Central High School by calling (DSN) 235-5720; or through commercial telephone at +44 (0) 1494-795720; or email Cary.Sand@eu.dodea.edu.

First, I was under the impression that ALL DoDD schools were closing (that's what I read in a different news release, anyway) not just LCHS because of "downsizing in the London area". Second, "the pop group America"????? *shrug* I never thought of America as a POP GROUP. A 70s folk rock group, yes. Pop group, no.
Third, I'm really sad the school is closing. I was really hoping to visit one last time. :(

"No, I don't drink very often. Drinking interferes with thinking and I
find that most people who aren't very good at thinking are better at
drinking."

Well. I guess I'm not a very good thinker. I'm working on improving that though.

In other news, Steve and I had a funny conversation tonight about what we will name our future kid. (Some time next year perhaps?) We joked that his/her middle name will be Starbuck. No, not Starbucks as in coffee...but Starbuck as in: hero character from Battlestar Galactica.

Hahaha....I dunno about that. Magic 8-ball says: All signs point to no.

On that note, I should go to bed. Steve is already asleep and I have to work 10-6 tomorrow, which I'm totally not used to. My AfterEffects project at work is coming along nicely. I find the program to be pretty simple to understand ( esp. since I already know most Adobe products) but it is quite tedious.

Make a list, post it to your journal of things you enjoy, even when no one is around. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level? Not because you have to, but because you WANT to do them...

(in no particular order)

Lay in bed and read
Give the cats catnip
Go to the beach
Go swimming
Surf the internet
Drink at a bar
Buy vinyl records
Buy new clothes/shoes/jewelry/makeup for myself
Buy gifts for loved ones
Cook and drink wine
Watch the Food Network
Daydream about winning the lottery and what I would do with a million(s) bucks
Drive around with the sunroof open
Doodle in my sketchbook
Cuddle with my husband and two kitties
EAT! My favorite thing to snack on is popcorn. That's what I always make when I feel depressed. I make a big batch of homemade popcorn with lots of real butter and salt. Not so healthy, but no worse than potato chips I guess, eh?

View from the restaurant we had lunch at. I had a really yummy cajun-blackened halibut.


The trail -- a 1.3 mile hike to the beach. I should really quit smoking, hiking + a smoker = a really slow hiker who complains a lot.


A big tree.


The beach!


Waterfall that emptied into the beach.


Me on some rocks. I look really fat in this pic for some reason. And I it was cold and rainy that day. And I'm dumb and didn't dress warm enough...so I had to wear this stupid Old Navy sweatshirt zip-up thing. Yeah.

WANTED: A NEW EMPLOYER
Will pay me a lot. With little/no overtime and plenty of benefits. Must let me have creative reign to decorate the office however I wish. Traveling distance within 5 miles A+.

Does anyone know of any cool job openings?

Here are some of my skills/traits/shortcomings:
I'm pretty good at Photoshop. But I suck at learning any other programs. I'm good with both Macs and PCs. I'm not good with numbers but I'm a good speller and proof-reader. I'm good at organizing things. I'm good at typing. I hate talking on the phone, though. And I hate being nice to people. I'm good at decorating and coordinating things. I'm good at making coffee. But I'm awful at being nice to my bosses.

Why oh why can't I just decorate Christmas trees or make handmade candles for a living?!?!?!? Well...I could but that wouldn't pay the bills...

Just a few random things:

Our new friends Justin and annie_bea came over last night and brought a really yummy cheesy potato soup. Thanks guys! Shitty thing is, I had to work at 9 ay em today...so I didn't get to drink and hang out with them for very long. But we'll all have to go out sometime soon.

I really really really need to go to the dentist. I think I have like 124 cavities. Ok not really that many. Growing up, my parents always took me and my brother to the dentist for cleanings and check ups--twice a year! I didn't have a cavity till I was 21. Needless to say, I haven't been back to the dentist since I got my own health and dental plans. Hence the 124 cavities. Damn co-pays. Damn beer for being more important than my teeth.

I have the next 4 days off! Yay!

Steve told me not to write things about him in my journal. Okay. Sorry Steve! Even though you don't read this. I'm sorry.

I'm thinking that I should maybe get a 2nd job. I don't want to. But I need money.

I don't say this very often, but I've actually had a pretty good week. I worked Monday & Tuesday...and now I'm on "vacation" until Monday. It's been relaxing! I love waking up late...and having absolutely nothing to do! I can lay around in my PJs all day. I can watch stupid soap operas all afternoon. I can stay up reading till 3am. It's great.

In other stuff....I think Steve and I picked the wrong time to quit smoking. My birthday is tomorrow! Because of the no-smoking attempt, I had been planning on just going out to dinner and then to a movie...but now I really really want to go out to a bar. Which...is...really...bad. Cause I know if I take just ONE SIP of beer or wine, my damned body will crave some nicotine. And we're both wearing the strongest of nicotine patches. So...I dunno what to do. Maybe I should just try to quit Monday........

Speaking of depriving myself...I've been doing pretty OK on the low-carb diet. Not like I really need to lose a lot of weight...maybe just 10 pounds or so. I did cheat when I took my brother to Red Robin last Monday. Their fries are so good. And then I cheated yesterday because I had an annoying craving for pizza. I tried to make myself feel better by getting the pizza that's loaded with lots of fresh veggies and getting a side salad, too.

Anyway, it's almost 2pm...I suppose I'd better take a shower and get dressed....or maybe I'll just lay around some more. =)

Dammit! I have been looking for red curtains for our living room for about 6 months now. I can't find any that I like! Does anyone have suggestions on where to find some? We are unlucky enough to have a brand spanking new set of 4 townhouses built 25 feet away from our living room windows!!! AGH! So of course, I need some curtains that are actually opaque enough to give us some privacy. I'm surprised that I can't find any basic darkish red curtains anywhere! Even IKEA didn't have any good ones. Everything I see is either not quite the right shade of red, too expensive, or too sheer. And I need about 6 panels, I think. We have a huge corner window. Alas...maybe I should just wait to buy the damn curtains. I really wanna move soon. To a place with hardwoods!

In other news, Steve is out tonight at the Decibel Festival. I didn't buy an all-weekend pass like Steve did (since I gotta work till late anyways)...so I'm just gonna go home, drink a few glasses of red wine, finish watching The House of Sand and Fog(which Steve watched last night after I went to sleep--he said he almost cried!), and go to bed early. Steve will be going to Decibel Festival again tomorrow night too...so I probably won't even get to hang out with him till Monday night! =(

Wow--so my week was pretty busy. Monday & Tuesday = work work work. Wednesday = shopping with Steve! I bought a cool little track jacket and new pair of jeans. Steve bought a pair of Diesel shoes and a light jacket for fall weather. I love shopping. Thursday = went to Chop Suey for Thursday's line up of Decibel Festival. Great music, it was really fun. Friday = spent the day recuperating from a nasty hangover due to too many vodka & redbulls. Went to see The Forgotten. And now = I'm back at work. It's okay though -- I just have to make it through Tuesday -- and then I'll have 5 days off for my birthday!

i can't wait to buy interpol's new Antics album...sorry...no links cuz i'm lazy like that.

in other news, i'm a really bad tipper at bars. tonight, the bartender even compained to my husband about how bad of a tipper I am. but really, i used my credit card...and i was afraid of going over the limit....so i couldn't give much of a tip. =( damn i feel SO bad about that. but hey, i can't afford it. steve told me not to worry. but, i do.

yikes...and to change the subject....steve just brought his sister's cat into our apartment.....uh yeah our apartment with two house cats in it. you can imagine the rest of the story.....

Wow--you know I"m really really bored when I post three times in one day!

Yeah, I thought it would be relaxing to have the night to myself...but no. I'm so bored without Steve here. The kitties are sleeping...they usually get really hyper when I come home from work, but not tonight. I don't feel like reading. There is nothing on TV. I don't have any supplies to start an art or craft project. I made some cheese ravioli with spinach cream sauce, but I don't feel like eating it. I'm dreading going to work tomorrow morning...mainly because I have nothing to wear -- I haven't done laundry in ages. I can't go hang out with Laurie because she's probably sleeping already. Blah.

In other news, Steve finished a KILLER painting today. Too bad it's for a friend's girlfriend. Steve did the painting in exchange for some software...like AfterEffects, Flash, Fireworks, and Dreamweaver. Hey! I guess that's something I could do in my time of boredom! Learn AfterEffects! Nah--I'm too lazy right now.

Oh well. Maybe I'll go watch Unexplained Mysteries on UPN. It's lame...but still somewhat intriguing.

Ugh. I feel so miserably sick. Atleast my nose has cleared up. But my throat feels like I've just swallowed sandpaper and my chest feels like it's full of bricks. Steve just came to my work to get the Mazda and drop off the Taurus. He's taking a friend to this place called the Deep Down Lounge where there's gonna be some house music goin on. So I let him take the Mazda so he wouldn't be embarrassed by the "mom car". And since I'm sick...and I have to work at 9am tomorrow...I can't go with him to the club. I think maybe I'll just go home, guzzle a glass of wine 'cause we are all outta Nyquil, make a nice little dinner for myself, and lay in bed and finish reading my book. I would take a bath...but...eh...our tub is gross. I don't mean dirty gross...I just mean that it's a gross 1960's pink bathtub with disgusting black mold growing in the grout because the people who lived there before us never cleaned their bathroom and our dumb ass landlord put clear caulking over it, so there is no way I can clean it. Whew.
Anyways. I suppose I had better get back to work...only one more hour to go of this damned shift!

Oh yes, and...I think Steve and I are going to get rid of our silver IKEA chair (I tried to find a pic of it on their website, but they don't have it up) and a coffee table. We are in the process of buying new and better quality furniture and making our apartment as modern-minimal as possible. Any takers on this stuff?? Patrick...maybe you want some of this stuff since you're in your new place now??