i like coffee.

got myself one of these fancy things.




you should too.
its real neat.




not as fun as my anti-spill cup but neat.

it's late. i can't sleep. blogging time.

DISCLAIMER: i dont know how to work blogger so this business is out of order. whatevs. deal with it.




the photographer often wanted me in front, near kate, you know maid of honor status or whatevs. but i, in all my blue gerber daisy glory frequently rushed to hide behind the bride. or anyone. really.

so its been an uber long time since i shared life via the blog with ya'lls.
i
am
sorry.
i think i had bloggers block. also, i dont technically have a computer of my own so i borrow my work laptop which makes my own indulgences a little tough.




summer has been real nuts. i went home a ton. kate got hitched. that (above) is a picture of kate, jill (her cousin who surprised her from paraguay) and, well, me. i look like i am with child in every photo that i took because i put my hands in front of me thus causing the already poofy part of the dress to stick out some more. way to go for me. as if i need help looking more round.




so the wedding was sweet. jerry dropped the unity candle. i still giggle about it. it was a short wedding.
i do.
ride to the park.
eat delicious food.
introduce wedding party.
silly games.
speeches.
cake.
bride and groom leave to do the thing that they have been thinking about for many days.
i dont have any better pictures, not of that, of us...i dont think.

donna and i got the party started with our sassy-ness.
i cant remember how i was talked into walking with donna over to try and catch the boquet. but i was. kate let go of it and i was gone. no gracias to catching the boquet. no gracias.

i also went camping this summer. out in the cut of it. it was a great time. super ending to a real nice summer. also, as it turns out i am incapable of taking a straight faced photo.




i wish i had fun things to share. i dont.
i am fun though.
i dance.
i sing.
i am sassy, sometimes.


going back to long beach.
again.
camp. timothy. the timothy project.
its gonna be amazing




oh wait. i do have news. i sold the t-bird. she's gone. prolly hanging out in the drive way of a 40 something year old dude who drinks the natty ice. i miss it but the new car is a nice change. i have cup holders now. i have never owned a car with cup holders.
i know, classy.

somehow blogging ended up at the bottom of my to do list

fear not. i am alive.

sacramento is real warm. it was 108 a couple of weeks ago. i decided that we could prolly end the who lack of water problem by gathering the sweat of the sacramento people. think about it obama. just think about it.

i don't have a whole lot to share at 1am. im actually pretty tired. i might end up sleeping before the usual 3am.

if you have a spare moment and need a laugh you should watch some bear grylls and will ferrell on youtube. its real funny.

i was at temple today, temple the coffee shop not the jewish kind, surrounded by 3 macbooks. the world hates me and wants me to be a bad person. not having a computer is annoying, being surrounded by beautiful machines is cruel.

also, you should probably look into jessica the hippo she is neat.

you should make time to watch this movie

i saw it last friday. going again tomorrow. its my new eternal sunshine. i still love eternal sunshine. go watch this move. unless your name is john darrell, if that's the case you should watch twilight zone and drink a coors light instead because you prolly wont be into this movie.

i'll be in long beach july 2nd. lets hang out!

things.

i am losing my faith in pandora. it thinks it knows me but it doesn't. it keeps playing jack johnson and i keep wanting to throw up in my mouth a little. ugh. when did i give it the impression that i liked jack johnson. i am bummed. am i living a lie?

i am really bummed about a discovery at the target today. press on toenails. c'mon world. just c'mon back. terrifying.

i got season 3 in the mail a few days ago. the west wing. also, i am uber bummed on season 6 right now so i have started at season 1. i really do loves me some the west wing.

i am cat sitting a little jerk cat who wakes up all night with head bunting and biting. its a gentle bite but a bite all the same. lame.

i can smell. i can taste. the joy of the lord you know?

i had 2 blow outs this week. my very old denims just gave up. they were some favorites. i am grieving.

its hot. i hate summer.

dumb

i am still congested enough that i can't taste anything. i am severely bummed out. meat lovers pizza and a beer...nothin. coffee...nothin. pb&j...nothin. this is getting old.

i am considering using a long bristled brush (you know like the kind used to wash out baby bottles) to open things up.

its freaking race day and i can't taste my beer. this is horrible.

Oh...AND

i joined twitter. as if i need another social networking thing. ugh.

my name or whatevs: lilmicrophones

lets follow each other. tell me where you are.

Good Good Nights

i had a really super eve. this following a pretty shitty week. i was sick. who gets sick in june? me. i have the lingering really cute flaky nose skin and grandpa laugh from the crap in my lungs. but i am out of bed. its been a tough week outside of sickness as well and to be perfectly honest, i dont really want to talk about it.

i got home around 4 today. i was sleepy. i had a really long night of thinking. i do that sometimes. a long day of catching up on work. by 5 i was done but i had plans with the ladies to see a movie so i jumped in bed to read and try to re energize. sleeping happened instead. it was good. actually, i would have slept longer but i had this really awful dream that i wont recount because it effing sucked. i woke up to merril in the living room. we talked for a really long time about really intense things. it was good. she's a delight.

so around 10 the ladies...ahhhhhhhhh!! pandora just started playing jack johnson. that is awful. i skipped it. i thought it knew that i am not into jack johnson. ugh. ok. so, 10, the ladies off to the theatre. we watched away we go. it was super. i loved it. i left the theatre refreshed. excited. reminded that simplicity is possible and its what i want. geez, it was good. i know you prolly aren't interested in the reaches of my mind. the places that i have ventured tonight. the thoughts about my life and people and relationships so i will spare you (i am however pretty good at the email ramble and am always looking for folks to ramble to so if you want thoughts let me know). just know that some passions are being re ignited and i am eager to journey with them.

life is good. even when it kind of sucks.

i miss you long beach. but i love you sacramento. what oh what to do? shit.

good night.

xo.

p.s. listen to some good music as the sun goes down and drink some lemonade. or a beer. tis the season.

A Lil Jew Made My Life Today

i always knew jews were awesome. but this lil guy made my life. i am pretty sure he might be bummed that i keep calling him a lil guy...whatevs.

so were are wrapping up the staff meeting, praying like hey jesus whats up, you are so cool, we love you, prolly you should guide the way, keep us at a steady pace, p.s. you are awesome when a rapping on the door hushes the talking to the lord. the door is answered and a freakin energetic lil fella peeks into the room. he is called graham. he has either had lots of caffiene, many a peach ring or is just on fi-ya. in any case we all get to talking about fed-ex and how they are b-holes and living green stuff and being kosher and how jesus was a pretty cool teacher on and on when, are you ready for this? he asks what we are doing? whats are deal? we say that we are a church and oh goodness this is good lil graham says; 'in the interest of full disclosure i am a big jew' WHAT?! that is amazing. the cackles start and instant friendship. i am into graham. as i type this i realize that maybe you had to be there. it was super. just laugh with me please.

in other news: apple announced the new macbook pro price shift. i know this because an equally (perhaps more) obsessed friend sends me a text at 11:45p tuesdy (?) night with a check your email order. i do. its a link to the freaking heavens. i have asked jm to consider selling his seed in order to contribute to my mac fund. i am trying to figure out how to sell a kidney and a section of my liver...oh relax, jk. i am just spending endless hours drooling all over my work computer, lil blackie, as i watch videos on the mac page. since my other landing station dell died i am in a terrible place.

i have felt an overall bloggers block. i sort of gag as i type that because that is the lamest thing i have ever said for many a reason but i am turning a new leaf. the leaf of being a grown up and not being so effing critical.

i miss my friends. things have been quite busy lately so i dont hang out as much as i would like to. we all know i am into the hanging out.

i am in the market for a new french press as mine broke. it ruined my life. jerk.

timbuk2 is having a great sale and if i had the cash i would be the owner of a new HEMP timbuk 2 small bag, you know, the perfect size for heading to a show or biking it out to davis. p.s. i am biking out to davis soon. i am really jazzed about it. not so jazzed about the bugs between my teeth but it will make for a great blog photo so just stay tuned.

season 5 of the west wing makes me want to quit the show. i guess the original writer left. jerk. he should just c'mon back. ugh.

its after minight and i am going granny a lil early in life...i have an episode or 2 to watch i cant be chattin it up with ya'lls.

until the bloggers block is gone...later.

I LOVE Kate.

so a friend sends a text: all seasons of ww $18.99 at costco. i think to myself: this is amazing i must go to the costco immediately. turns out costco is into celebrating memorial day which seems a lil weird but whatevs. so i have to wait til tuesdy. i drive there. only seasons 5, 6 & 7. i am bummed so i text kate in the lbc and because of her dedication to help me find things she goes to the coscto near her therefore, i will soon be the proud proud owner of these:


aren't they pretty?

Eureka!

I just figured out why I haven't graduated college...

....because I don't have a mac.

MacBooks make me happy. I covet. Now, lets talk about getting me a mac because the Dell crashed, jerk.

Brought to You By: Shannon feeling like blogs without photos are silly

Two Things:

1. sometimes i laugh at things. then i compose myself. then i look at what i was laughing at and i think, 'crap, my brain functions like that of a 12 year old boy'

2. god is funny. he was so funny when he made this mushroom that looks like a butt. butt things make me laugh the same way poop things do. speaking of poop....no, nevermind.

Soiled

Some really important things have happened in my life.

i finished season 2 of the west wing. i am pretty sure i must hold some kind of record for fastest viewing. i mean i just like to do what i say i am going to do, i like to set goals and accomplish them-as long as they don't get in the way of what seems to be a lifetime of eluding adulthood. i like to t.c.o.b. or whatever. season 2 was amazing, i am glad that i didnt watch the show when it was on tv because i don't know if i could handle the wait. this way, i get to start season 3 tomorrow. if there were ever an appropriate time to ask for a booyah it would be now, so...can i get a booyah?

i have decided that if i am ever to learn a language just because it will be latin. it is neat.

i have started trying to pull every life event into a west wing story line.

since moving away from home i have learned a few valuable life lessons. i learned something new this week. i am not an effective communicator. i mean really, i think i might be dumb. i can never just say what i need to say, i talk too much, i tell too many stories and then i loose peoples attention. you see, there is is woman at church who is a really amazing listener and a super communicator and i thought heck, i want to be real good at those things so i was thinking about how to hone some skills. as i thought i realized this whole problem with my talking in stream of consciousness is an issue. so i need help, help me. my name is shannon, and i talk to damn much.

going to the gym at 6am makes me feel like a grown up because i am up and ready to face the owrld by 830a, this means i need to stop going to the gym so early. refer back to the eluding adulthood comment above.

i have started chilling the left over morning coffee so that i can have it over ice in the afternoon as i read on the porch. i like reading on the porch. there is an older gentleman whose name i do not know that rides home every everyday on his lil moto wheel chair and he has started waving at me, he makes my days good.

i have re kindled my romance with cream cheese also artichokes.

i like that the world has jumped on to the verb train.

sometimes i forget how much i like donut holes. then i eat one and i remember. when i was a wee one my dad would occasionally go to the donut shop on sundy mornings. waking up to the glory that is the pink box and lil white bag of bite sized bits of glory was amazing. i am a sucker for nostalgia. a sucker i say.

a friend recently turned me toward the google, he says look up the gambia. i do. it changed my life. this delightful little place is called the republic of THE gambia. not the republic of gambia. the THE is supposed to be there. we all know how i like the THE. the trader joes. the naked coffee. the safeway. the target. THE THE THE. i like it. back off.

i am driving home in a week. excited to be home. not excited to drive. i dont have an effing radio. gonna ear bud it up. ugh.

in terrifying news: the swine flu in in the north long beach. 5 cases. will you still be my friend if i get the swine flu? please? i would be willing to wear a fanny pack fully equipped with purell hand sanitizer and face masks. and we all know that the fanny pack is flattering on NO ONE. but because i am a good person i am willing to sacrifice.

ninja stars are now my second favorite weapon. i am now very fond of the cattle prod. i know it is not as easily concealed but i want to zap people and then call them sparky.

i have a new affinity for nick names. i wish i were better at making them up.

i am reading a book that is changing my life...again. i want a tambourine. preferably in the shape of a half circle with an american flag bedazzled near the grip. ok, that is just ridiculous. i lol-ed.

lol-ed is being temporarily replaced with, cracked my shit up. thanks keeks. aka mom.

did you know that 25 is between 24 and 26? i had a lapse in memory today and looked for it between 26 and 27. i suppose i was sleep and coffee deprived. also, i have yet to pass pre algebra so this could be the sign of a much larger problem.

pleated pants infuriate me. they are not flattering. dont wear them. just don't. please. for the love.

i will stop now. we all know i could go on. i wont. i will spare you.

later.

xo.

Nerd

I am completely committed to finishing the entire series of The West Wing.

I realized today that I have lost my effing mind. All I ever want to do is watch this show. It's real good.

In other news: Wait, I have no other news. Every spare minute that I have has been devoted to the television. The other day I waited on the porch for the mailman...netflix free trial to get through as much of the show as possible.

This is a problem.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

My car was broken into Tuesday night and all they took was the passenger side door lock and the radio faceplate. UGH! The rear quarter glass was broken so I had to replace that which was awesome.

Not Busy, Just Lazy

Mosquitos are the stupidest thing on the planet. I am not one for calling the lord a fool but I do wonder about these bugs. They are awful terrible creatures, I am being eaten alive by one right now, in me it has found a buffet and it is making me crazy. It's a quick one too because it continues to escape my slap. UGH!

Not a whole lot going on lately. The usual, just working and looking for a part time job. So far I have been turned down by 4 places. This is an annoying journey but one that I need to be committed to.

I have headed back to the gym 5 days a week in an attempt to loose the weight that I gained over the holidays, so it is a little late but whatevs. I am back on track. I want to have reached my 100 pound mark by the end of the year and I think I can really do it I just need to try and stay motivated. I am so easily discouraged by the things around me.

The Office has been superb as of late. If Andrew Bernard were a real person I would want to hang out with him every day. Pam makes me want to vomit but we have talked about this already so I will spare you.

I am feeling completely drained of creatvity and funnies so I am out.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Just an FYI

I might not post for awhile...

Gonna be on Facebook.

Lots of catching up to do.

Lots.

I like blackberries, the office and coffee. I do not like Pam.

Remember when I said I lost my cord thingy for my camera? Turns out that it was late and dark and somehow I didnt think to turn on the light and look under the checkbook....stop judging me.

SO, i know I said I would show you what my face looked like when I had bad bad bad allergies. As it turns out I am not that brave so just believe me when I say that it was bad...oh geez, really the picture is bad.

Instead I will show you my trial run with Kanye shades. Good huh? Sara and I are endlessly entertained by trying on sunglasses at Target. These were my favorite.

And since I think blogging without photos is lame I will share this with you for good measure.


The biggest croissant I have ever consumed and an americano from Temple...come to Sacramento I will buy you this!

Got back from Long Beach Monday, it was super. Went to see Bonnie Prince Billy in LA. I love him.

I feel like I have nothing important or exciting to share. I think I need more coffee....we'll talk soon.

Stream of Consciousness...again.

I was going to post some pictures of things that are silly but I can't find my camera cord. I think I left it at the office. I am lame.

So it has been lots of days since my last post. Along with Facebook and MySpace I suppose I have given up blogging. Either that or I am just lazy. Yeah, lazy. Also, I don't like blogging without photos and I've been pretty awful with the camera lately.

Coming to So Cal tomorrow. Going to the Bonnie Prince Billy show which I am real excited about.

Allergy season is here. I have real bad allergies. At this moment my eyes are watering, my nose is all plugged up and my eyelids are swollen half shut. I wish I had my camera cord. I would post a picture right now. It is gross. Wait...I am going to take a picture to share later, remind me. Oh geez, that's bad. One eyelid is more swollen than the other. Cute. I hate allergies. Claritin and Zyrtec don't work. Also, Vicks tissues are amazing but should not be used to dry the eyes. It burns. It was an accident. WHATEVS.

I am fragile right now. I can't breathe.

I watched Twilight. Then I started the book...this could be really bad.

Things I want to do while in Long Beach: see the family, go to thrift stores, try out that coffee shop in Bellflower that Rachel raves about-I just got a new journal and a good book (not twilight) so it should be super, grab some coffee from Intelligista for Merril-this might not happen but this is just a wishlist, hang at the sunken city, feel the joy of no allergies...there is more but my allergies are preventing proper brain function.

I watched 3 of my favorite movies this week.

Gummi Bears are delicious. I like the clearish ones. Also, red.

If wiping your eyes with Vicks hurts...nope, gonna stop there.

The Office is making my life.

I want to be Tina Fey.

Fine tip ball point pens are my new favorite.

Black coffee makes me really happy. Instant smiles.

I started watching Big Love. Then I watched an episode of The West Wing. I am into both. That sucks.

I love my porch at night.

It's 1 AM and I can't sleep. Not because I am not tired but because I can't breathe and my congestion is causing a headache. Its too late for PM pills. Ugh.

Goodnight. xo.

Spring is super.

The weather in Sacramento has been really amazing lately. Real nice. Today I rode my bike about town jumping from one errand to the next, I like that this town affords me that luxury. Bad news: A wee lil fly attacked my eyeball. He was real strong and smart because he managed to get around my glasses. It was terrifying for a moment as I lost a bit of control.


I feel like things have been busy lately but I guess I am just occupying lots of my time with things that I love but generally don't allow myself the time for. Reading, Writing, Listening to some super sweet sermons online....just brushing up on things you know? I am still not checking facebook or myspace and I really miss it. Who knew the withdrawls would be so intense? Easter is here in about 3 weeks. I can do this.


I joined a book club. I am really into it. I was a total loser, didn't read the first book but as I type the next book is sitting next to me so I am planning to jump on that tonight. Get a head start you know?


I am feeling like a lame-o tonight, not much to share. Maybe I am just sleepy. Just know that life is good. I will be in so cal soon so maybe I can see some of you. That would be neat.

Dear Home,

I made it back to Sacramento safely. In one piece. The trusty ol t-bird made good time. She's a real gem. I only stopped twice, at well lit filling stations. It was 4am when I walked into my house, I was so sleepy. I am definitely feeling the bummer of only 5 hours of sleep after 6 of driving. Hopefully that means that I will sleep real good tonight. Home, I will see you in April. I can't wait.

xo.

I am forgetful when filled with joy.

I realize that I am late with the surprise news but I am sure that anyone who really cares already knows that I am in Long Beach. I was supposed to hear John Perkins preach in Walnut Creek this weekend so I have Sunday free...so I decided to jump in the car and head for home, I was planning to leave here on Saturday to make it back for Perkins but I found out that he had to cancel so I am staying the extra day. I have already had some really great times with friends and family, every trip home makes it harder and harder to go back to Sacramento. I miss things here terribly. I spent this evening with Ryan and Rachel (also, the wee VerWys') and it was great to catch up , only issue is that it made me miss this place even more. My idealism is at its peak among fellow dreamers, especially dreamers who tell me that AmeriCorps is not only for those with a completed college education. The good news is that through this time I am gaining the confidence to start praying and seeking my place.

We are losing an hour tonight. Bummed! So instead of 11PM, its really midnight. That is lame.

I have a surprise.

But I can't tell you until tomorrow because right now I am working...I know. It's midnight and I am working, I got the worship songs late and I need to have my stuff done by noon tomorrow so it is crunch time.

Come back here tomorrow.

Until then watch these videos and love them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDataIWgPrw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEiftJI_Hd0

My Lame Lame Nose

My allergies are real bad. My nostrils are so clogged up. I can't get comfortable enough to sleep. It is 3 AM. I am bummed. Also, I left my vicks tissues in my car and it is cold and rainy so walking outside does not sound awesome right now.

This is the lamest.

I miss you facebook

So for Lent this year I decided to give up the Facebook and MySpace. It is only day two and I am going through some real withdrawls. I am bummed. How am I supposed to communicate with people? Back to the phone and written word. I don't think that I let everyone know that I have given up my obsession so I hope folks aren't too bummed at me.


In other news, went to a show tonight and last. Last of the Blacksmiths sort of changed my life. They are so good. You should MySpace them, I would check to see if their music is available but...well, I can't.


Courtney made chicken pot pie pockets for dinner on LOST night....they are delicious, wonderful midnight snacks. Speaking of LOST! I love it. Real good. I would encourage you to watch it but if you know nothing about it jumping in will be a little terrifying. Watch The Office instead.


Gotta check my heater...my fingers are frozen. Ok, problem solved.


I am currently reading 5 books none of which have my undying attention so if you have a suggestion, a must read, please shoot me a line.


I listened to a New City Sermon earlier today which made me want to be home. Here we go again.

It's been awhile...I am sorry.

So, last weekend was Daytona...THE race. I got home from church and was oober bummed out because it was raining and I was so tired, too tired to walk to the nearest bar with super sweet t.v.'s and ice cold beer. You see, the day before I turned the tv to FOX and it was all snowy...bummed out. Anyway, I decided that I would try out the tv, watch the race through the snow. Lo and behold it was a Daytona Day miracle the race was clearly displayed on the tv so for the next couple of hours I would be planted on the couch watching my driver go round and round. Sadler, #19 is my boy. I adopted him the year after Wallace retired, #2 was my car. Sadler had a rough year, didn't even think he would make it into the cup until he jumped on with Petty Enterprises. My heart was real happy to hear that I wouldn't have to find a new driver for 2009. Ok, so the race is happening. It's going good. Super in fact. Sadler races his way to the front of the field after starting 29th or something like that. He is leading the pack with about 50 laps to go. It is looking good. I am effing thrilled, literally on the edge of my seat. THEN half a lap before the caution flag is pulled because of rain Sadler loses the lead to friggin Matt Kenseth. Not a big deal, the rain will pass, the track will dry and Sadler will race his ass off to get a Petty car into victory lane right (something that hasn't happened since 1999)? NO, the race is called. Rained out. BUMMER! Sadler finishes 5th. I realize that this doesn't make any sense to anyone, you probably could care less. But. This is the super bowl of motorsports and I love it. I just watched my favorite get robbed by mother nature. It was devastating. DEVASTATING! Kinda like when Mark Martin was robbed of the Daytona victory a few years back by that lil shit Harvick (Harvick right? Dad?) Whatevs. On top of the bittersweet Daytona experience, Sadler has a pretty lame California Speedway experience today. Poor dude.

The good news is that Kate was in town so I didn't hang out in my sadness for too long.
When Kate is in town it means that we eat good food...scraping our plates clean. This particular meal was a buffalo chicken salad and garlic fries. Real good.

The picture below was taken at Cafe Bernardo by Jerry, Kates dude. She's gonna get married soonish so she flew him up here for a couple of days for valentines day, also to hang out a little bit. Being away from Long Beach means I am pretty detached so it was good to have Jerry here for a minute to get to know him a little. Now that I think of it the 3 of us never got a picutre together...we were way too busy eating good food and drinking great coffee.
Kate brought along with her a little porcelain rabbit with a badazzled ass flap. His rhinestone encrusted butt opened up to reveal a little cubby. Truth be told he made me a little uncomfortable but we got along well. The story goes: Someone at Kate's job won him at a white elephant exchange and now Snort, yes he is called Snort, travels the world with the public health nurses of the OC. He is a traveling bunny. On this morning he was into the Naked Lounge Coffee that I prepared to fuel our day.

I just don't have the time that I would like

I have so many things to tell you...but not right now.

Just you wait: I will tell you about work and Nascar and home and Kate and my bike and the albums that are changing my life and I will probably even have photos but for now all I have the time for is this ramble and a quote update.

Love Love.

It is a digital age...deal.

Blogging without photos bums me out.

I just re-read some quotes from a book that I forgot I loved: Everything is Illuminated.

Read it.

Also, the CD that I can't get enough of right now: Great Lake Swimmers self titled. Repeat. It's real good.

Facebook

I recently did this survey junk on Facebook and figured I would post it here as well....since I haven't anything oober exciting to share:

I had to write 25 random facts about myself....I changed number one because it only applied to the FaceBook crowd.
1. I have a little dent in my right eyelid from the removal of an eye cyst (GROSS!) if I wear eye shadow it is a real b-word to try and get it out of the little nook.
2. When I was in the 7th grade I broke my toe, it never healed right so now I have a crooked ring toe on my right foot.
3. Chocolate is lame. I don't like the way it smells and I especially hate the taste.
4. I was born and raised in North Long Beach, in fact I lived in the house that I grew up in until about 2 years ago. I now live in Sacramento and I like it a bunch. Also, I don't know snoop dogg, don't listen to sublime and I have never met Jesse James. I have however, been in the same room as a couple of them.
5. I had big dreams of being The Incredible Hulk's side kick when I was a kid. That never panned out for me...
6. I speak Spanish, I am Mexican-the whole Shannon Nicole Stevens throws people off.
7. I am not that into sweet stuff but if you deep fry it and batter it I might be swayed. I am way into the deep fried potato. For at least a year my BFF and I used to make runs to the Jack in the Box for a Large FF and Dr. Pepper.
8. I drink many many pots of coffee everyday, which means I run to the toilet a ton. This may be TMI but just in case we ever hang out for more than an hour I'd prefer to get it out there. Honesty is the way to go, you know what I mean?
9. I can't go into an office supply store without buying a pen. This has been a problem for many years, it means that I have shoe boxes full of pens. I recently got rid of hundreds. It was a tragedy.
10. When the Daytona 500 comes around you will find me planted on a couch. I have a special love for the NASCAR...whatever, deal with it.
11. I have been taking college classes since high school, I have yet to graduate, I have changed my major more times than I can count...all of this to say that I have a pretty intense fear of commitment. Also, I don't regret takin the scenic route, it has afforded me many a glorious experience and some life long friends.
12. I don't have periphreal (is that how you spell it?) vision.
13. I recently found a nest of grey hairs on my head I was bummed and excited all at once. I really want Emmylou Harris hair but I feel like 26 is a bit young.
14. I am not into the Sun. That guy bums me out. I am all about the gloomy, foggy business...perhaps all my years in Long Beach scarred me. I also get terribly homesick so I am not sure that I would make it where the sun rarely shines.
15. I can listen to anything Bonnie Prince Billy on repeat and never tire. I am still playing his last album in my car.
16. I bite my nails to the quick. My dad says that it is not lady like. I blame him for the problem, next time we are in the same room together ask us to hold out our hands. We hung out a lot, habits rub off.
17. I enjoy crafting but I am not that good at it which means that I have a box full of things that I have made which will never see the light of day.
18. I love dandelions. They remind me of my Memo. She used to collect them on her walks and bring them home to me. She encouraged dreaming big. I blame her for my love of food and romantic idealism. Not bad. She is also my hero.
19. I write letters and never send them for fear that the recipient will think I am lame. Another box full of things story...I'm a little lame.
20. My favorite word is sporatic. I was in the Borders one day and the person behind the counter used it in a sentence, I was elated, I think I terrified him.
21. I am a fan of hyperbole.
22. I am also a fan of books, I read lots of them. That is not to say that I am smart, just someone who enjoys a night in with a book.
23. My last name is hyphenated: Dominguez-Stevens. My brothers first name is hypenated: John-Michael. I guess my parents are into keeping things equal. Or they are indecisive.
24. My Dad is the smartest person I know. Watching Jeopardy with him kind of bums me out.
25. I am into nostalgia. For reals! Motor Oil, Nivea Body Cream, Bactine, Warming a Tortilla...all of these things sort of make me want to weep a bit. I am also extremely emotional. Happy tears. So many of them.

Today was a good Sunday

My Sundays are generally ok. You see, I work for the church that I go to and that poses some problems-perhaps many of them are directly related to my Jesus hippie nature and my idealism. These are things that I need to work on. Onward-so today was pretty good. I had a smooth morning of work before stepping into church attendee mode and the transition back into work after the service was also fairly smooth. I came home to my house, quiet, very still but cozy. Made some lunch (bean burrito). Read some of my book. Took a nap. Woke up. Made coffee. Rode my new wheels to the Florences. We hung out for a few hours and I took a slow ride back home. It was about midnight (ish) and the streets were so quiet. I rode slowly, thinking. The things that I thought were these:
1. Many a thing about my Dad. How I love hime and how my life is better for having him in it. Regret for being such an awful communicator. General sadness that I am not closer. Overall, good and warm things.
2. Friends. How I am lucky to have the ones that I have. The joy from my friendships is priceless.
3. Life.
4. Should have brought my water bottle, I am thirsty.
5. Where will I be in a year? Five?
6. My BFF got engaged last night and here I am. I haven't been able to hug her or talk to her. I grew jealous of all the people who get to be there when I am not. In that moment I wanted to be back in Long Beach to stay.
7. Then I got sad because I thought about how leaving Sacramento would suck.
8. Then I was excited to have 2 places that I love so much.
9. I wish I were in my bed because it is cold outside.

I could go on but I won't.

Oh, I got a new fender for my bike. Made of beer cans. Check back for a picture. Its neat.

I am alive.

It's been a long time, I know. Nothing new happening to take up my time....well, I suppose that is a lie. I have fallen into the trap of vampire books. WHAT?! I am weak. I fought it for so many months but boredom set in and Targets 25% off the list price really got me. ugh. It's the Sookie Stackhouse series and I like it. Done.


Also, one Friday (yes, Friday) night as I sat on my bed reading the aforementioned vampire books I realized that I have some things to work on. Look at the combination of colors on my feet. I am 26 years old, I was sitting on my bed at 10pm on a Friday night reading vampire books...oh geez. Is there any hope? Maybe I need a new haircut or something.

I drove home for the weekend 2 weeks ago, it was a very short trip but it was worth it. I got to see lots of family AND my brother bought me a bike for my birthday! It has become my primary form of transportation on this lil grid of mine. I LOVE it.

More to come...I need to get back to my book and DVD, watching The Wire-it's real good.

Google

Did you know that when you Google image search giant rock you get this:

Probably only interesting to the family since we have all spent our fair share of time here.

I want one of these...real bad!

They are called Lionhead Bunnies. They get to about 3.5 lbs, so cute!

Happy New Year...For Reals?!

2009 is here and I can't even believe it.

We took down the lovely Christmas tree, this is what was left of it once we took the skeleton outside. She was ever so crispy.

Sadly, just before midnight on 12.31.08 Giddyup died. Well, that is when we discovered him. He was a good buddy while it lasted. Services were held at about 11pm on the eve of 2009 round the kitchen table. He requested that his remains be left at sea with all the big fish that he looked up to as role models. With a flush I made it happen.