Monday, February 25, 2002

This weekend was really hard. The drive there and back with my dad was good though.....we had plenty of time to play different music for each other and tell a bunch of stories. My brother and I even got some alone time Saturday night. We stayed up pretty late bonding.....but Grandma.....she is so forgetful. She repeats herself all of the time. Health-wise, I think she's fine......she was just needing a bit more fiber in her diet....and needed to be eating more. She cut everything out of her diet because she thought it was making her constipated. Oy....it was good to see her though. She gave me an old watch of hers that she got in Germany before she boarded the boat.....after the war. It's a beautiful gold watch. I'm very thankful. She said "You remember me"....just like my Grandpa used to say. She also gave me a bunch of her old slips that she thinks are "sexy". These are the long slips that go past your knee....the full body kind. They are probably 50 years old. Makes me smile though......maybe my kids will dress up and walk around in them someday.
5:47 PM

Friday, February 22, 2002

Man, I just wrote a bunch of stuff and hit Control-C to copy it and it all disappeared.....DAMN...I guess you can't do that on a MAC. Isn't there a way to UNDO? Well, I wrote brilliantly about how when I got home last night Wang was lying motionless in his vase and how I was relieved. I flushed him gladly.....I don't know much about fish but I don't think they are easily able to digest other fish. Wang was a cannibal.

Then I talked a bunch about looking forward to my trip this morning to Arizona. 6 hours there a 6 hours back father-daughter bonding time! And I get to see my brother who is flying in tonight. AND Erin will be there competing in a horse show. She already one 3rd place on Wednesday's competition. ERIN, I am thinking good thoughts for you today! Kick ass. Then, I complimented her on doing school and horse stuff.....saying I remembered my UC Irvine days of doing school and performing and how difficult it is. But when you are that passionate about something, it somehow seems easier and well worth the added stress and energy.

Ok, I have to get ready- gotta go make the bagels. Think good travelling thoughts.....
8:25 AM

Thursday, February 21, 2002

Tomorrow- leaving for Arizona to go visit my grandma. I'm really looking forward to getting away for a couple of days......a road trip with my dad.... meeting my brother up there.....catching up with grandma. I miss her....it's been so long since I've seen her. Plus, I'm looking forward to enjoying the warm weather!
3:38 PM

Wang ate Leon. I know....it sounds weird. But, remember my fish that I got a couple of months ago? Well, Wang (my orange, big eyed fish) ate Leon (my black, big eyed fish). Wang even has some battle wounds on his side. It looks like Leon put up a good fight. Poor Leon.

Wang is now in isolation. I took him out of the tank and put him in a glass vase. He is a bad fish. I emptied out my tank, cleaned it, got rid of Leon reminants, and then put my frogs back in. My poor frogs.....they were totally traumatized. Before I took Wang out, he was chasing around one of the frogs with his leg in his mouth. Can you believe it? Wang has some violent tendancies.

So, I called Petco, and asked if these kind of fish actually eat each other. The Petco man, probably laughing at me, said that those kind of fish can get violent and fight each other......and could end up eating each other. Oh my goodness..... I never knew.

Now the question lies with what to do with Wang. I've scolded him......but I really don't think he cares. Some say I should flush him because he's a bad seed......and will probably die soon due to the flesh wounds on his side. Others have said I should feed him to Clarence, my beta. "That's what he deserves", they say. What do you think?

poor Leon......
12:52 PM

Tuesday, February 19, 2002

Came into work early to put in some overtime and of course the system isn't working.....so, here I sit.....thinking about my quota that I am supposed to reach today..... that I won't.....because their system is down. Somehow, that just doesn't seem right.
7:35 AM

Sunday, February 17, 2002

Ok, deelio.....I'm sorry I haven't been posting enough for you. hee hee hee. Yes, my new car is wonderful. I haven't named her yet....just haven't quite gotten a feel about it. It was raining on my way back from Jon's this morning and I wasn't as scared driving in it. This car is so high up.....and much heavier....it doesn't slide around like my old civic did.

Nothing much new.....went down to Jon's for the last couple of days. We had a few really nice dinners....hung out....watched the sunset at the beach both nights. That was nice.....beautiful actually. Now, I'm back to work again. I'm going to put in a bunch of overtime this week......partially because I need the money, and partially because I have to!

I had the opportunity to audition for a new show last week called Shreek. The producer called me in but I didn't go. I just couldn't get time off of work and can't really afford to do it. As much as I bitch about the overtime at work, I really need the extra money. Plus, this gig was going to be a one time show.....and who even knows if I would have booked it. It would have been good to audition but, I'm all out of pictures and resumes, I haven't danced or sang in front of anyone for months, and I'm totally out of shape. I don't know......it just didn't seem like the right time. It was a hard decision to come to .....but hopefully, in the future, there will be more opportunities knockin at my door. Isn't it funny? It seems like when I really want to perform and am training hard, it is totally dry and I can't book anything. And now, I'm settled into my 8-5 job and a new car to pay off, and the theatre world waltzes back into my life. Man, what a hard business.
10:03 PM

Thursday, February 14, 2002

Happy Valentine's Day. This Valentine's day has already been so much better than last year's! I don't think I ate or got out of bed last year......talk about depressed and unhappy. Today, I am working until 3:00 and then heading down to San Diego to have dinner with Jon. I'm not sure what we are going to do yet. I know neither of us have a lot of money.....so, we may just get some food and eat it down at the beach with some candles. That's romantic! He basically lives 20 feet from the beach anyway. And tomorrow.....I am SLEEPING IN!!

Last night, I met my dad for dinner at this little Italian restaurant here in Pasadena. It was so GREAT. I don't think I've had a better adult to adult conversation with my dad in a long time. Can I hear an AMEN? It felt really wonderful to connect like that.

Speaking of feeling really wonderful....my mom took me to Glen Ivy for a full body massage and day of beauty on Monday. It was amazing....she got me an aromatherapy massage that rocked....and we floated in the three foot deep warm pool in the sun.....went in the jacuzzi.....and even ended the day with a pedicure. Man, it was such a nice day.

Let's hear it for Jenn's parents!! Wooooo-hooo. You guys rock.

Have a great Valentine's day. Hope you all are *smiling*.
1:07 PM

Saturday, February 09, 2002

Leasing a car IS like having a baby. Everyone has their success and horror stories about it.....everyone has advice of the do's and don'ts......and I feel like I'm going to have an anxiety attack.....*deep breath*

The good news is everyone thinks I got a good deal.....the final outcome is that I should refinance it to buy after 2 years. That is what I was thinking about doing anyway. There are just so many things to consider......at least my co-workers here know what they are talking about and are helping me out. Oy....well, I've always said that everything happens for a reason, right? So, all I can do is feel secure in my decision, love my new leased car, enjoy it, and work overtime to make more money!

Oh- and Mercury offered me a good deal so I am now insured with them. My insurance will go down in a couple of months because I will have been insured for a consecutive 12 months. I didn't know that cancelling my insurance when I moved to New York would be a really bad decision. Apparently, if I had stayed insured under one of my parents as an occasional driver, my insurance would be $200 less. When you are not inusred for 12 months prior to getting a new policy, your quote is a lot higher. Who knew? I had no idea. So, I started insurance in July 2001 when I came home......as of July 2002, my insurance will be lowered. *another deep breath*
11:00 AM

Ok.......figuring out ways to save money. Yesterday, I took back a pair of thigh highs that I bought from Victoria's Secret. I bought them in October for a special event and never wore them AND believe it or not, still had the receipt. The best part about it is they put the money back on my versateller card! SCORE. So, there is an extra 21 bucks in my account (which equals a tank of gas, right?). Then, this morning, I changed my cell phone plan to a cheaper plan. That will save me about $15 per month......as long as I don't go over my alloted minutes. But, I spoke with the very nice Sprint PCS representative who told me that I haven't used all my minutes in the past 3 months anyway so I think I will be ok. At home, we are barely running the heat anymore and turning off all of the lights when we aren't in our rooms.....which we should have been doing all along but it wasn't as important before. Hmmmmm.....other ways to save money.......I welcome any thoughts. Please email me!
7:32 AM

Friday, February 08, 2002

Tonight at 5:30.....meeting with Mercury Insurance. Out of 21st Century, State Farm, AAA, and Geico.....Mercury had the best deal. So, hopefully all will work out tonight and I will get my baby insured for all she's worth. Still haven't come up with a name yet.....any suggestions?
4:41 PM

Thursday, February 07, 2002

I would like to announce the the new addition to my family *smile* Yep, I did it.... I am now leasing a beautiful silver 2002 RAV4. My Honda Civic with 177,000 miles on it was dying quickly. The choice to spend more money on my old car that would sometimes start and sometimes not.....and the clutch that was almost gone....and the stereo that died.....it was all looking grim.....or to just get a new car was a hard decision. But I am an adult.....and I decided that it would be best to get a new car. The other decision was why not get something that I really want and make payments on it rather than getting something that I don't absolutely love, and make payments on it? Right? SO, I have entered a HUGE commitment.....I feel like I've given birth. Honestly.... I've been so nervous and anxious and excited and scared all at the same time. No, I'm not sleeping well. But mostly, I am terribly excited. Now I just have to work on my budget....no more shopping sprees at the GAP....no more shopping sprees at Target....no more going out for sushi four times a week. The time has come to be ...... dare I say it..... responsible!! Yes, I am going to be financially responsible......please send crackers and food as I may be eating my car for the next year!
4:15 PM

Tuesday, February 05, 2002

Guess who just woke up and jumped out of the shower! Yeah- that would probably be the same person who is getting ready to go have an hour massage. hee hee hee. I thought I'd pamper myself on my days off. Is that so wrong?

Later today, I am going to test drive some new cars. My car has slowly been dying for the last year. Last week, my stereo lights went out so the only thing I could see was what was playing or what station I was on. All of the other buttons were dark. Then last night, I put the stereo face on and the entire thing was dark. I guess the positive side is it still plays music..... I just have no idea what station I'm listening to or what number song I am on my cd player. So frustrating.....but why buy a new stereo when I may buy a new car, right?
10:26 AM

Monday, February 04, 2002

So tired..... last night, Erin and I left my dad's house around 8:15...hoping to be home by 9:00. But no...there had to be two overturned cars on the 134 freeway. We were in stopped traffic for a good 15 minutes and then they lead us off of the freeway. There were tons of people on the road because everyone was getting out of their Superbowl parties. We were left to wander the streets of Glendale, looking for a way around the accident as well as the other 100 people. Finally, we found a way back on the freeway. I was so tired and cranky by the time we got home. I got in bed around 10:30 and was so wound up, I couldn't sleep at all. I think I got to sleep around 1:00.....only to have my alarm go off at 5:00 for work.

Now.....I'm sitting here at work....in my sweats....and scarf because it's the frickin North Pole in here. Why the air conditioner is on is beyond me. Today is my sixth day of work. But, the good news is...today is my Friday. I have Tuesday and Wednesday off this week....and this is my last week of this horrendous schedule. Next week, I will have Friday and Saturday off. YAY! I can't wait to flip to my new schedule 8-5 Sunday through Thursday. I will be so happy not having to wake up at the butt crack of dawn anymore. I will be able to sleep until 6:45. Oh...heaven.

Only 7 1/2 more hours left of my day.....and counting.......off to get another cup of coffee....will write about my fun family affair later.
7:26 AM

Sunday, February 03, 2002

Leaving soon.....had a pretty productive day. Looking forward to spending the day with my family. It's so rare that we all get together. It usually happens for weddings, funerals, christmas, etc. This time, it just happens that we all just want to get together....no special occasion....just family time. How cool is that? *smile*
11:35 AM

Only working four hours today. My step-sister, Kari and her husband, Steve are in town from Chicago.....brother Derek and his girlfriend, Heather are in town..... and step-brother Jon and his wife, Laura are all gathering at my Dad's house. Totally excited. I haven't seen Kari and Steve since Jon and Laura's wedding which was September of 2000. This will be the first time since then that the whole fam will get together. I'm taking Erin with me.....which will be cool. She hasn't seen my brother in years.

Last night, Ryan and I went to dinner and then saw Amelie. It was really wonderful. The problem was, it is a pretty long movie and it started at 10:00. With my crazy work schedule, I have been going to sleep around 9 or 10 every night.....so, staying awake was a bit difficult. Especially since we had a few drinks at dinner. I really enjoyed the movie though.... I thought it was extremely creative....and well done. I enjoyed getting to know each character and find out all of their little quirks. The woman who played Amelie was brilliant. When she was a young child, she kind of reminded me of my little cousin, Leah. I would definitely reccommend this movie!

So, I turned in my time card yesterday......I worked 115 hours in the last two weeks. I'm sorry....but that just ain't right. No wonder I'm so cranky. Well, at least I have Tuesday AND Wednesday off this next week! Then, my schedule changes so I will have Fridays and Saturdays off. I think that will be much better.

I have so much on my mind but really no time to write. I am here at work and must meet my numbers for the hour.....hopefully I will have time on my days off to write a bit.
8:53 AM

Saturday, February 02, 2002

Yesterday was a horrible day.......last night sucked.....and I'm at work this morning, CRANKY! So there!
7:13 AM