Thanksgiving Day Surprise

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Mine started out well. Brian and I woke up just before 9 and flipped back and forth between football and the Macy's Thanksgiving parade while I started prepping the yams - Nice lazy morning.

Dinner at my Grandpa's went well...it's always great to see everyone - although, it certainly has been kinda weird since my Grandma died. This is the second holiday season since she passed away and everyone is still settling into their new roles. Unfortunately for me, that means more time spent in the kitchen. lol.

Oh well, I was bound to 'graduate' soon anyhow.

Stupid adulthood.

After that, we went over to Brian's dad's house to have dinner with his mom, dad and sister. That also went well, and was good to see everyone. Unfortunately, from the second I walked in the door I started feeling progressively worse. What I thought had been allergies I suddenly realized was a full blown cold.

I spent last night so stuffed up I could barely sleep. Around 2 a.m. I had to come out in the living room to sleep on the couch so I could sit at a slight incline.

I'm starting to lose my voice tonight, so I know this isn't going to be an easy one.

Go figure. Right when I have 2 huge papers and an exam next week.

wish me luck

oh, and anyone want to rig me up one of those hats?

Random Thought

I never quite know what to say at the end of a voice mail.

My co-facilitator called me while I was in class today to let me know that she is sick, running a fever, and will not be in group tonight.

No big deal. I run groups by myself all the time. It gets a little hard when you are teaching the lesson AND have to take notes (what the co usually does) but it always works out.

So, I called her back and got the voice mail. This is what I told her:

"Don't worry about finding a replacement, I'll be fine. Just take it easy and I hope you feel better soon. Have a good Thanksgiving, and I'll see you next week.

thanks, bye."

It started off as such a great message and then just crashed and burned...thanks, bye? thanks for what? for being sick?

Anyway, that's my thought for the day.

Shopping Shenanigans

One of my favorite things to do with my cousin used to be going shopping. We were both in school and working at Mervyn's part time, which meant we were both pretty much broke all of the time. Neither one of us could afford to go on a spontaneous shopping spree.

Keeping that in mind, sometimes as a way to relieve stress, we would go to somewhere like Macy's, pick out all the ugliest dresses we could find, get dressing rooms right across from each other, and point and laugh at one another.

I'm telling you, fun times. I practically peed myself on numerous occasions:

Big blue bow

Coral crinkly goodness

Orange sherbet ruffly awesomeness

Oddly enough, some of the things that looked TERRIBLE on the rack, and that I would have NEVER chosen, wound up looking a lot better on. Fun AND a learning experience!

We used to have fun in the other stores too:

one can never pass up a good "that's what she said" moment

We figured it would be interesting to see what she did if someone pressed her.

Later, I sucked other friends into it




Fun times for poor people

New Look and Cram-tastic Success

So, I finally figured out how to make some changes to the look of my blog. I'm not sure I'm so keen on the sidebar being on the right rather than the left, but I'm slowly starting to get used to it.

The only thing I don't like about this layout is that there are no distinct breaks between posts.

Oh well. Overall, I think it is super cute :)
----------------------------------------------------
As for the exam, it went really well. I didn't feel prepared, mostly because she didn't really tell us exactly what we needed to know. She told us to just know ALL 11 topics really well.

Turns out, the exam only covered 4 of the 11 topics (Panic disorder, and 3 different types of therapy used for depression)

I feel like I did really well....what a nice little confidence boost!

Hey, in grad school, positive reinforcement is so few and far between...I'll take whatever I can get.

And thanks Marni for the kind words. I'll only post blogs complaining about grad school when I really need too, lol.

Cram-tastic

I've been studying for this exam ALL day (no kidding) and I STILL don't feel like I know everything I am supposed to know.

For 11 topics, I'm expected to know how to conceptualize the disorder, what is believed to cause and maintain it, what the data shows, what areas to assess, with what measure, and why, and empirically supported treatments.

I've got a 13 page study guide I created from the 500 pages this exam is on, and I've been reading over and over all day

...and I still don't know it

Grad school sucks.

Miss Popularity

My blog has TWO subscribed followers!

I don't know what I'm going to do with all this popularity...

Bottle it up and sell it maybe.

Dirty Little Secrets - Part Deux

When people ask us how we met, Brian and I say that we met through a mutual friend.

Technically, this is true. However, we are aware that this implies we met in person.

Nope.

I actually spotted him on Paula's MySpace page, thought he was adorable, and sent him a message. I had known Paula for several years working at Mervyn's, and he knew her through the teaching credential program at SJSU.

So, technically mutual friend.

We got to know each other through AIM conversations, and found out we had class right next door to each other @ SJSU. I met him in person for the first time after bumping in to him outside of class.

And by bumping in, I mean I purposely went to class early and pretended to have an important phone conversation out in the hall so I would be there when his class let out.

Why did we do it? I guess when we first started introducing one another to our respective families, telling the story to our parents/grandparents about how we met on MySpace didn't sound very appealing. I wouldn't imagine my grandpa would have taken him very seriously.

Thus, glossing it over as "through a mutual friend" seemed so much easier. No one questions that.

And technically, we weren't lying...right?

Dirty Little Secrets

I LOVE Grey's Anatomy. I've seen EVERY episode...

Even worse...It makes me cry almost every week.

Especially this new Izzy/Denny stuff....

God, I hope they aren't slowly writing Izzy off the show.

I also love Desperate Housewives...

Soap opera for prime time...

I know it's lame, but I can't help it.











Ok, this one was a little harder to give up. I love The Little House on the Prairie. I've seen pretty much every episode of the show that was on back in the 70's & 80's.

I also own seasons 7,8, & 9 on DVD...AND I've read all of the books.







Harry Potter...I've read all the books and seen all the movies.

In fact, I OWN all the books and all of the movies released thus far.








I have worn Dr. Pepper lip gloss since the 7th grade.

When my mom let me start wearing makeup, I used to layer dark brown lip liner with this lipstick called "buff beige."

All my friends looked like clowns back then.

Once I left my "clown phase" I started using this. I hate lipstick, so I'll wear this as long as they will make it.







Speaking of the 7th grade, I used to love Sailor Moon.

In fact, among some of my friends, we all kinda identified with certain characters from the cartoon.

I was Sailor Jupiter.

I even went through this short phase where I thought I could draw. I drew the eyes of anime characters.

The problem was, I wasn't very good at it.

It was a short lived phase.



And finally...I've developed a bit of a crush on Edward Norton.


I figure it's ok because he looks just like Brian:



Seriously, don't they look alike?

What are your dirty little secrets?

You Get What You Ask For

So, it was time for an oil change, and I figured it would be good to take my car into the Toyota dealer. I usually go to any random oil changing place to get a good price, but they don't usually check the car for anything else. As my car is nearing the 40K mark, I figured it would be good to take it in to the dealer, where I knew they would catch any other problems.

After waiting about 45 minutes, the guy comes in to tell me all these things are wrong with my car:

1. One of my tail lights it out - no big deal
2. Some filter is dirty and could stand to be replaced. Not my air filter since I replaced that a few days ago. Again, not a huge deal.
3. My tires need rotating. I'm actually getting NEW tires next month, so no big deal
4. My water pump is leaking and all my coolant fluid was gone

OK now THAT one was weird. I don't know a lot about cars but water pumps should not have gone bad at 36k. Man, all the fluid had already leaked out meaning I could have overheated and created a LOT MORE damage.

Anyway, apparently it is covered under warranty, so I don't have to pay to have it done. As for the other three, I can do those myself.

I guess when you go looking for problems, you're bound to find some.

Sweet Tooth

You know you're getting down to the crappy candy when you're digging through the Halloween bowl for the last package of Rollos.

Either that, or it's when you realize you're completely disgusting.

Either way, my sweet tooth has got the best of me.

ick.

Well Said Keith, Well Said...

Reasons to Believe

I thought this was kind of cool, so I figured I would pass it along.

Macy's will be setting up Mail boxes within every store so that kids can come in and mail their letters to Santa.

For every letter mailed, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make a Wish foundation.

What a cute activity to do with your kids while making a difference in the lives of sick children all over America!

Ten Thousand Cats

So, I'm updating on my cats because there isn't anything interesting going on right now.

OK, well, my ONE cat.... and the neighbors cat who spends more time with me than him.

So, he's kinda my cat.

Right?

I have seriously considered stealing this cat when I move out. I don't know if the owner just never lets him in or what, but he's ALWAYS here. Seriously, who couldn't love a cat who sits and sleeps like this:


We like to call him Thomas.

I would never actually steal him...but I'd seriously consider asking the neighbor if he would be willing to part with him...

How do you even initiate a conversation like that?

"Excuse me sir, I'm moving across town and wondered if maybe I could pack your cat with my things?"

Except, in Spanish, because I'm pretty sure he doesn't speak any English.

Oh dear lord, Brian better seal this deal soon or I'm going to end up a crazy cat lady, won't I?

Ray LaMontagne and Lesbian Lovers

So, Brian and I went to the Paramount Theatre in Oakland to catch Ray LaMontagne in concert. For those of you who have been to the Paramount, you know what the seating is like. If not I'll explain.

With the stage down at the bottom, each row gradually steps up, kind of like a stadium. Basically, when you are sitting in your seat, your knees are roughly mid head level to the person below you. Furthermore, the rows are so cramped and packed together that your knees are literally 1-2 inches from the head of a person sitting normally in their seat below you.

A few minutes into the opening act, the couple right below us began feeling each other up in ways only people on ecstasy do. We kinda giggled at it in the beginning, until they started making out so hard that they were bumping their heads into our knees. At this point, Brian had to kind of spread his knees out so they wouldn't bump him. Unfortunately, when he did this, they chose to take advantage of the extra space and make out with their heads literally between his knees.

Needless to say, it was somewhat distracting. Fortunately, by the time Ray came on, one of the girls had zonked out, so all was mostly calm.

It was an AMAZING show. He is by far, the best artist I have ever, ever seen. If you have never heard his music, I strongly suggest you check him out.

Not only that, but Brian now has a cool story to tell about the time two lesbians made out between his thighs while his girlfriend watched.

Hells yes.

What's the deal California?

I was deeply saddened this morning to see that proposition 8 is likely going to pass this time around. At this point, 95% of the precincts have reported, with 48% no and 52% yes.

They are currently saying "too close to call", but I really doubt we're going to see the percentages shift enough when the remaining 5% report the results.

It is incredibly discouraging to see a state that can say African Americans are equal, but gays are not. I don't know about anyone else, but "separate but equal" is not how I define equality.

I'm now left in a place where I feel guilty that I can marry, but some of my friends cannot.
Why am I any better? Why is my love more valuable?

It really makes me want to throw up my hands and decide not to have a "big white wedding" when that time comes. After all, why should I pump my hard earned wedding money into an economy that tells me only certain kinds of love are sacred? I don't want to support that shit.

I spoke with a good friend of mine who will be deeply affected by the passing of this proposition. She recently got married, and is hoping that they will be "grandfathered in." After speaking with her, I saw that the only thing we can do now is try to look at the positive, and keep moving forward.

Supporters for NO on Prop 8 have stated that if they were defeated, they would take the issue to the supreme court. Historically, the supreme court is largely in support of non discrimination, so maybe we can turn this around.

Even if it doesn't happen there, if you look at the history of our country, discrimination always loses. That is what makes us so great.

It just takes a really long time.

When looked at in perspective to other issues, we have come a LONG way in a relatively short amount of time, and I feel confident that this battle is not over. 10 years ago, this would not have even been on the ballot, let alone with such a tiny margin between those for and against.

Ultimately, this WILL NOT stand, and we WILL prevail.

But it still hurts.

Barak N' Roll!

I know I've already posted for today, but I just had to say...

BOO YAH!!!
Obama gonna knock you out, bitches!!

Wiper Blues

So, I was in the parking lot after buying new wiper blades at Kragen, trying to figure out how to put them on. I had no idea how to do it, but I've always been pretty independent, and try to figure those things out on my own.

Well, I must have looked pretty ridiculous, because a guy who didn't speak any English came up and put them on for me. We couldn't really communicate, but he went slow to show me how he was doing it.

I must have looked so incredibly lame to have a man who speaks a completely different language figure he better walk over and do it for me.

Silly white girls.

VOTE!

I have never been a very political person, and I am NOT the person to get in to any kind of political debate with, but I felt inspired to share my two cents today.

FIVE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN votes determined the last election.

That's it.

Even though I've made it pretty obvious who I am supporting, my goal here is not to get people to vote for my candidate. Honestly, I just want people to realize that their vote DOES MATTER.

For the first time in history, we have an African American candidate for president, and for the second time, a female candidate for vice president. That alone should provide some motivation.

What it comes down to is the fact that we are lucky enough to live in a country in which we have been given the gift of voting. There are many countries out there that do not give citizens this seemingly basic right. Ultimately, no matter how corrupt you think our country is, or how many problems you believe we have, your vote makes a difference, and is the only tool we have to promote positive change. What is the point in throwing up your hands and just giving in to the powers that be?

If nothing else, vote simply because you CAN. If you give up that right, you may one day end up in a country where you no longer even have that option. Trust me, it has happened before.

He Rocks My World!

Earlier this month, we hit our first year anniversary. He is everything I could have ever wanted to have in a partner, and then some. Most importantly, I feel as though I don't have to be anything but exactly who I am when I am with him. He really is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I look forward to many, many more years.

Halloween Fun

I hope everyone had a good Halloween. We played it mellow this year with some pizza, beer and bowling. Good times :)

I had an AWESOME costume all set for this year, but since we are all so busy, and decided it would be best not to go to any parties, I figured there was no point in wasting it. I went with some standard cat ears instead.

Oh well, I'll save it for next year :)

Anyway, because of the rain we really only got a couple of kids this year....I still have a SHITLOAD of candy. That's never a good thing around here...I have the biggest sweet tooth EVER.

Anyway, here are some shots from the night. Enjoy:)