Very Scientific

I picked a class. Quite literally. Out of a hat.

You just can't argue when Energy Systems I: Thermodynamics comes out of the hat 3 times in a row. I suppose it was meant to be.

Besides, the Materials class was basically for undergrad students. And I wasn't nearly nerdy enough for the Airplane Design class.

Back to school. Weee!

No, I Did Not Fall Off The Planet

You know when you go away for the weekend and you get home late Sunday night and when you wake up Monday morning, even though you had an AMAZING time, it still feels like you had no weekend whatsoever. And then you spend the whole week playing catch up, frantically trying to find time to do all of the chores you didn’t do over the weekend because you were away, and then school starts and you haven’t even picked a class yet so you attend no less than three separate classes in an attempt to find the right one for you. And then you have to work late to make up for all of the hours you are spending attending random classes. And then you have dinner plans with various girl friends. And a book club meeting that you CAN’T miss because you actually read the book this month. And then, because you’re so busy, your blogging goes to pot?

What? You don’t you know?

Fine. I didn't want your sympathy anyway.

Anyway, Michigan was a blast. Kyle’s family is warm, inviting, and huge! Kyle has a sister, a brother, 2 parents, 4 grandparents, 6 uncles, 7 aunts, and 16 cousins! (So mid-western.) And most of them live in Michigan, and they get together every Monday and Thursday for dinner. So it’s sort of like the holiday season year round – with roughly the same amount of over eating but significantly less stress. It was really nice. And the football game was awesome! Michigan kicked butt (after a shaky start) and although a thunder storm was predicted and menacing looking clouds loomed overhead, it didn’t rain a drop on the game. Whew. For the rest of the trip Kyle had fun dressing me – head to toe – in Michigan gear (as though I was his own personal “My-Size Barbie”) and taking me to all of his favorite restaurants (yum!) and showing me the Henry Ford Museum (which is AWESOME by the way! They have the chair that Lincoln was shot in!! With the blood stains and everything! Eek!) The whole weekend was pretty much perfect.

:)

Ok, I’ve caught you all up – I will now return to frantically running around for the remainder of the week.

But first, my latest entry in the CutestCoupleEver photo contest: (modesty is not one of my stronger points.)


Me and Kyle decked out in Maize for the Michigan game.

Go Blue

The brainwashing is almost complete. He’s got me answering the phone “Go Blue” on Saturdays, hating Notre Dame, and rolling my eyes every time the Wolverines decide to run Grady up the middle. (Again.) I am officially becoming a U of M fan. Ugh. The final nail in the Maize and Blue coffin will be a trip to Ann Arbor this weekend to attend the Big 10 opener. Weee.

I suppose we’re also going so that we can spend some quality time with Kyle’s family… but I think we all know that the family bonding will come second to the rooting for Michigan to destroy Wisconsin.

To be clear – I will always be, first and foremost, a Cal fan. GO BEARS!!! (Note that “Go Blue” doesn’t even get all caps.) And I will always bleed Blue and Gold. But Blue and Maize (well, technically Maize and Blue) isn’t all that far of a stretch. And it makes the boyfriend SOOOO happy to see me cheering for his team. So I figure what the heck.

Besides I’ve always hated Notre Dame.

For You, My Friend, $1

I never knew that people, grown-ups, grown-ups in posh parts of the San Fernando Valley who presumably make good money, because, hello! it costs a fortune to live there, would haggle with me over a quarter! A Quarter! GAAAH!

My siblings and I had our first ever garage sale this past weekend at my dad's house to continue the process of going through/dealing with/saving/getting rid of 40+ years of stuff.

It was exhausting.

And sorta fun.

And lucrative. (!)

Grand total from Saturday and Sunday: $1600!!! (Which we divided… $400 per person) Not too shabby.

The biggest shock was that people were willing to pay money for ABSOLUTE CRAP!!! Broken dishes, faded posters, old used coffee mugs, dirty stuffed animals, fanny packs, outdated cameras, half melted candles, a hideous orange back massager from the 70's that had definitely seen better days - you name it, they bought it. And then they came back for more! I'd say 40% of the people we saw on Sunday were repeat customers from Saturday! One lady - bless her heart, she was so sweet – brought us a loaf of fresh baked bread on her second visit. Too cute! And then she spent $2.50 on our garbage... I mean priceless antiques and knick knacks... we liked her.

In fact, we met (and liked) a ton of our neighbors, including one member of the once fabulous pop(ish) trio Wilson-Philips. Yep, she lives across the street... and she came by our garage sale. Twice!

Most people were great - a bit of bargaining here and there, definitely to be expected. But SOME people! Oh my! I literally haggled with one lady for a solid 2 minutes over a quarter!

Her: How much is this (brand new, in the package, broiling pan) thing?
Me: One dollar. (Such a deal!)
Her: I'll give you 50 cents.
Me: 50 cents!? It's brand new!! Never been used! It should be like 10 bucks! (Note to self – in future do better job of pricing things for garage sale)
Her: 50 cents.
Me: No!!! I'd rather not sell it.
Her: I'll give you 75 cents.
Me: Ummm.... no.
Her: Please. Please give me a deal. You HAVE to give me a deal.
(Ugh! I should have priced it at $10 and then been fabulous enough to give it to her for only $1. Note for next time.)
Me: No, absolutely not. Not for 75 cents. (I don't really want your change lady - please give me a whole dollar!)
Her: Please?
Me: No.
Her Please?
Me: Noooooo.

And then she proceeded to take 75 cents out of her wallet, place the coins in my hand, and walk off with my broiling pan.

Me: HEY WAIT!!!! I DID NOT AGREE TO 75 CENTS!!!!!
And then again with the...
Her: Pleeeease. Please give me a deal.
(UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I'm arguing over a quarter.)
Me: Fine! Fine! Take it for 75 cents. (See if I care) But wait! Is that a (crusty, old, oddly shaped) cookie cutter in your other hand? You most certainly did NOT pay for that. It's a quarter!!! (HA!!) Now you have to give me a dollar!
Her: No. You gave it to me.
(What!?!)
Me: What!?!
Her: Please, I need a deal.
(Kill me, kill me now.)

I snatch the cookie cutter out of her (filthy stealing) hand and look at it. What the hell is this, I think to myself. I literally cannot tell what shape cookie it would produce. It sort of looks like Quasimodo. But on crack. And maybe with an extra arm. I decide that I really don't want the thing and hand it back to her. As a gift. Because I'm *so* generous. And then I shoo her away before she steals anything else. Sheesh.

And that really was the worst of it. Most everyone else was sweet, and friendly, and more than happy to shell out a few bucks for the pleasure of hauling off our crap.

And my brothers and I had the best time selecting the "New Hot Item" of the moment - which, really, was just the most horrendous, unsellable, why would ANYONE want that, thing we could find - and seeing who could sell it first. We managed to sell (or at least give away as a "Free gift with puchase") each and every "New Hot Item" we selected. It was awesome.

All in all, I'd call the whole weekend a success.

And Then There Were Five

And the five were Kyle, Kyle’s Ex-girlfriend, Ex girlfriend’s Best Friend, Best Friend’s Husband, and me.

What a party.

The five of us ended up at a bar together last night until after midnight and, actually, it was lovely. I am constantly amazed by how much fun I can have while spending time with someone who has seen my boyfriend naked. Because, let’s face it, it’s just weird. I’m not normally big on remaining BFF with the ex. Polite, civil, heck, down right cordial is fine – but continuing to hang out on a regular basis has never been high on my list. But Kyle and his ex were determined. And I must applaud their tenacity – because, darn it, I think it’s working.

I’d like to offer a nod in Kyle’s general direction for having fantastic taste in women. Kyle’s ex is smart, nice, pretty, good natured, compassionate, driven, and fun. Plus she has great taste in shoes and purses. Seeing as how we have ALL THIS in common it’s only natural that we should get along. And (I think) we do. At the very least, I can say that I genuinely like her.

Darn it all to heck, I like my boyfriend’s ex girlfriend. If the earth stops spinning, you can all blame me.

20/20

:(

Is it wrong that I'm sad that I have 20/20 vision?

I went in for my FIRST EVER eye exam this week. Driving at night has gotten tougher than it used to be lately so I decided that I must need glasses. And then I got all psyched at the thought of picking out (and have insurance pay for) a fabulous new accessory!! Weee!

But no luck.

My eye doctor checked and re-checked - but alas - I have "perfect" vision. Blast. I think she saw my disappointment and tried to prescribe the absolute weakest prescription available... but even those made my vision fuzzy. Even in the dark!

So no fun new frames for me. Boo Hiss.

Maybe if I stare cross-eyed at my computer screen for a while...

The Loss Of A Sister

Today I mourn the loss of a sister.

Not my own sister, Thank You God, but the loss of a stranger’s sister. Anisia C. Abarabar lost her sister, Marlyn C. Bautista, on the morning of September 11, 2001, in the World Trade Center.

It breaks my heart.

There is something about the bond between sisters. Something beautiful, magical, special. More than the sharing of secrets and hand-me-down clothing, it is an unconditional love like no other. It is intimate, and pure, and deep, and real. The greatest gift that my parents ever gave me was my little sister. And I am forever grateful.

Anisia and her sister, Marlyn, were born and raised in the Philippines. After marrying her childhood sweetheart, Marlyn moved to the United States. Anisia, and other family members, soon followed.

Marlyn and Anisia both worked in the World Trade Center in New York. On a September morning, five years ago, Anisia arrived downtown to find smoke pouring out of the building. Hoping to find her sister already praying, and safe, Anisia rushed to "their" church - the church they had so often visited on their way to work. But Marlyn wasn’t there.

On that September morning, Marlyn woke at 6am, kissed her husband, Rameses, goodbye, hopped on a bus from her home in New Jersey, and went straight to her meticulously maintained office on the 98th floor in the accounts payable department of Marsh & McLennan.

From the church, Anisia ran back to the World Trade Center to search for Marlyn, but the building was burning and she couldn’t get in. There was nothing she could do. On the day that America lost its innocence, Anisia lost her sister.

I cannot begin to imagine.

And so today I thank God that my sister is alive and well, and that we are happy and healthy. And I mourn for Anisia’s loss and for the hurt that she must feel everyday. How terrible, to lose your sister. In her honor, and in honor of every single person who gave their life that day, I post this entry and take a moment of silence to remember


Marlyn C. Bautista
Died at the age of 46 during the attacks on the World Trade Center.


*A big Thank You to the 2,996 project, which allowed me to attach a face, a name, a LIFE...to this day instead of just a number. On the five year anniversary of September 11, 2001, I remember the life of Marlyn Bautista and hope that you will take a moment to remember her, too.*

For A Weekend, We Were Kings

At the very least we ate like Kings.

Total $ spent on groceries for 2 people... for 2 days and 2 nights... $200. (!!!) What were we thinking?

Oh well, everything was yummy... and as long as I don't eat for another week, I should be able to fit in my pants again.


Car Camping Groceries. Oink Oink.

Hi-Ho-The-Derry-O

... a camping we will go.

YAY!

In 3.5 (if they were moving any slower they'd be going backwards) hours I'll blow this cube farm and take off for the great outdoors. Woo-hoo!

My friends and I have been trying to go camping since April. April!! We were all set to go way back when, but we were overcome by events (read: rain! Which, by the way, I really didn't appreciate because, darn it, I pay GOOD MONEY to live in California and RAIN was not in the brochure.)

So we, quite literally, took a rain check.

But of course, it's not like we could just up and go camping as soon as the rain cleared up. No no no. You need reservations to pitch a tent anywhere decent in them thar hills. And the VERY FIRST reservation we could get was THIS WEEKEND! Ugh. It's awfully late for camping, in my humble opinion, I mean we're past labor day and pushing Halloween here, people... but whatever.

Anyway, so here I am (not so) patiently counting down the minutes until we simultaneously kick-off and wrap-up the 2006 camping season. Weee!

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

As long as "Anything" = "Install A Garbage Disposal"
and "I" is understood to mean "Kyle and I"
and the word "Better" implies at least 1 trip to the grocery store for WD-40, no less than 3 trips to Home Depot for plumbing supplies, and a grand total of 7 hours to finish the project.

Then yes! I can do anything better than you!!!

:D

Check out my (our) handy-work!


New garbage disposal... complete with electrical power cord that we had to INSTALL ONTO THE DISPOSAL ALL BY OURSELVES!! (Electrical work = Scary!!)