Tuesday, February 28, 2006

When Did We Move To Kansas?

What is up with this weather? I'm tuned into an extended coverage of the morning news right now, because there is a tornado warning for Fairfield, Vacaville, Solano County and Sacramento County. CRAZY! The storm is currently in Vacaville, no tornado sighting yet, but it's 20 miles away and heading straight to EG! As I was typing the last sentence, there was thunder outside with the sky getting darker by the minute, and now they're talking more and more about the EG area and how we should be taking tornado precautionary measures! My husband just called--he's at the kid's school right now because my daughter is getting an award. He said that the school has already taken precautionary measures and that my daughter's class is staying indoors and that my son's class is in the multipurpose room. The storm's moving about 30 mph and is about 15 to 20 miles away. (sigh) What a day to be home by myself! LOL

(10 minutes later...)

So the tornado warnings are all cancelled, but we're still expecting heavy rain, thunderstorms, and hail in the area. It's still pretty dark outside and the rain has come, although not heavy yet. They're saying that it's a fast moving storm, so luckily it will be here and gone within a few minutes. I've always hated crazy weather like this. When we were living in Baltimore, we would have these crazy storms...some that would come out of nowhere, and I would always get freaked out. I've still got the news on...they're showing EG and reporting that they had some hail and lightening where they were reporting from--I5 and EG Blvd, which isn't that far from me...about 5 minutes or so. Lucky for me, I missed all of that. :) Whew! And now there's sunshine...yay!

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Ewww, I'm Going To Puke!

Right now I'm watching the Mtv's True Life: I'm a Competitive Eater episode that I have tivo'd. It profiles three individuals who are competitive eaters and shows how they train for various competitions and also shows them competing as well. I am seriously going to puke. I'm sitting here watching them stuff food into their mouths like they're some sort of garbage disposal and it's truly disgusting, not to mention so unattractive! How can one eat so much food? And why would you want to? One of the guys that's on here is from Japan, who is a champion competitive eater...including the Nathan's hot dog competition. He says that when he competes, he competes against himself and always tries to beat his personal best. For the Nathan's competition that's approaching, his goal is 55 hot dogs in the given time frame. Bleh! That's a BIG chunk of cow! Aren't hot dogs made from cow scraps? I'll eat a hot dog here and there, but 55 in one sitting? Oh and the prize isn't even money...it's the mustard belt! It's insane! His occupation is only being a competitive eater. He must make a good living considering that he's THE top dog in competitive eating. I wonder how much money he spends in food for training, not to mention a good plumber? By the way, he came in first by eating 49 hot dogs!

They showed another individual who is a wall street trader by day and a competitive eater on the side. He's trying to stretch his stomach out for these competitions by eating 11 pounds of various foods (bananas, yogurt, oatmeal, strawberries, pudding, etc.) and then drinking 2 pounds of water afterwards. He came in second for the Nathan's french fry competition and now he's training for the Nathan's hot dog competition as well. This is so crazy...all for a bedazzled mustard colored belt that resembles a wrestling belt! Unfortunately for him, he came in 9th out of 16th. Sorry Charlie! Hope you're good at being a day trader. Don't quit your job.

The last individual seems small time to me in mostly entering local contests, and isn't as "skilled" as the other two. He entered a hot wings eating contest and they're now showing him in a spoonbread eating contest. Why? Why? Why?

So here's the kicker. All of these guys are slim! What the hell!?! Is that some kind of sick joke for us who aren't so blessed with their metabolism? Whatever. I'm over it. Delete.

Timing Is Everything

I don't know why this happens, but by mere coincidence my husband often calls me when I'm in the bathroom. Maybe it's because of the high blood pressure pills that I'm on that acts like a diuretic and makes me pee a lot, or maybe he has a camera hidden in the bathroom and finds it entertaining to call me when I'm in the lua. Who knows? It's funny though and it happens about 90% of the time! Today it's happened twice. The first time I called him back, he answers and the first thing that I say is "I was in the bathroom." He starts laughing because he knows how "lucky" I am that he often calls while I'm otherwise occupied. The second time I called him back, he answers and I say "I was in the bathroom again!" His timing is impeccable! Is that why some people install phones in the bathroom?

Monday, February 20, 2006

Rants and Raves, Poos and Oohs

I am miserable. Not only have I been sick with a bad cold and sore throat for over a week now, but I woke up with a case of pinkeye on Friday in addition to the usual back and leg aches that come with the bad disc. Under protest (because I HATE going to the Dr), I went to the doctor on Friday (only because I didn't want the kids to get it) and got some eye ointment, which I hate because it is a pain to apply and my vision is blurred for awhile after application. I've had pinkeye before and was given eye drops...so much better than the ointment! I have a different doctor this time though, and didn't feel comfortable asking for the drops. It's looking better today. The eyes still ache, and I'm still waking up with the crust but it's doing better. As for the cold, I guess I'm getting better slowly but surely. At least I've regained my sense of taste. (sigh)

On Saturday, we went over to Nextel and I traded in the blackberry 7100i for the i355 . It was a cool phone, but I couldn't do as much web stuff as I wanted too, and the battery life sucked. And I got a proposition from Alex that I couldn't turn down...why don't I exchange the phone and we'll get a laptop! Nice! I'm happy with my new phone, though. It's a very butch phone...not at all cute and sexy. Alex says that it would match the Hummer H2 that I want! LOL From the Nextel site: "It's certified to Military Standard 810 F for blowing rain, humidity, and salt fog. Designed to withstand exposure to rain, sleet, and snow. Rubber encasing, interior linings and seals protect the phone's antenna, speakerphone, keys, battery door, and accessory connections against water intrusion." It's a lot different than one that I would normally choose, but I love how it is really durable and can withstand being dropped or splashed by water (which I've done in the past). I've already personalized it by downloading some games, wallpapers, and ring tones. Love it! The only downside that I've found so far is that because it's made so durable...it's heavy! The muscles in my arm hurt a little from playing with it over the weekend, and my fingers hurt from sending text messages. It's not that I've sent a ton of messages, but you have to really push down on the buttons to key in your entries. We're all set on a laptop choice as well. Alex stayed up late to shop on Dell's website and I think we've settled on our choice. I'm so excited...I can't wait! :)

OOH, we went to Indian Buffet on Saturday night at Sher-E-Punjab. Everything was sooo good! Alex and I even got into the Bollywood movie playing on the plasma screen that was mounted on the wall...so much, that I'm having Alex call the restaurant to ask what movie was playing that night so that I can add it to my Netflix queue!

Since today's a holiday, the kids are home with me. It's been a good day so far and they're both doing a great job, not to mention the fact that they're getting along almost perfectly. Did I just jinx myself? Hope it lasts! LOL

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Valentine's Day

I don't like having a big production made for me for Valentine's Day. As a matter of fact, I have a rule...no flowers! It's not that I hate flowers or loathe the holiday. In actuality, I soooo love getting them, and I know that Alex loves me dearly and I don't need a Hallmark holiday for him to prove it. The part that I don't love is having my husband spend a fortune on flowers just because florists have marked up the price of them for the sake of taking advantage of the holiday and making an extra buck. Flowers are expensive enough on any other given day, but when it comes to holidays the prices are insane!

Yesterday was really nice. The kids had a great day in school and each came home with a bag stuffed with valentines and candy from their classmates. We wanted to exchange our valentines for each other when everyone was home, so when Alex got home with our son, we decided on dinner, ordered Thai and had it delivered. While we waited for our food, we exchanged our valentines. Alex gave me a mushy card that made me cry when I read it out loud, a cute big mylar balloon, and a bouquet of a dozen mixed white/milk chocolate covered strawberries. The kids bought me some really cute cards and made Alex his, which came complete with hugs and kisses. Alex and I gave the kids each a puzzle and a handmade valentine, which they loved. Since I've been homebound, I couldn't go out and buy a card for Alex this year. I wanted to do something different than the usual printing up my own card from americangreetings.com, so I was crafty this year and made Alex a mushy valentine. I decorated it with crafty scrapbook paper, a paper with a watermark of the sun setting over the beach, flower petals and a picture of us cut into a heart shape. On the watermarked paper, I wrote a mushy poem of how I loved him--my soulmate, and I believed in us. He loved it. :)

Our dinner came shortly after we exchanged our gifts and everything was so good. We ordered some chicken coconut soup, an order of golden bags (which is minced chicken and shrimp wrapped in a won ton skin and deep fried, served with a sweet and sour cucumber sauce), pineapple fried rice with chicken and shrimp, sweet and sour pork (because the kids don't really like spicy foods too much), and chicken panang curry. Everything was sooo good and the kids really enjoyed the food, even my picky son!

So we all had a really nice day filled with goodies, warm fuzzies, and most importantly--love. Hope you all had a really nice Valentine's Day as well, whether single or in a relationship. Happy Love Day!!!

Monday, February 13, 2006

Winter Fun and Games

I absolutely LOVE the winter olympics! LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about them! Ok well maybe not everything...Why was Yoko Ono there? Is she supposed to represent unity because I thought that people blamed her for breaking up the Beatles? Also, I could have done without those funky alpine mountain dresses that those poor women had to wear during the parade of countries at the opening ceremony. Who designed that? Did they think it was fashionable couture to sew plastic olympic people and fake plastic trees onto a dress designed to look like a snowy mountain? Whatever. I'm not big on hockey either and could do without curling, but I'm so loving everything else. Did I mention that some of these guys are HOTTTT? I'm so excited that it's here once again and wish that it was longer than 17 days. The U.S. is doing pretty well with 4 gold and 2 silver medals so far. I would love to watch the winter olympics in person someday.

Speaking of winter, did you hear about the crazy winter storm that the East Coast is having? The Baltimore/Washington area got 20 inches! Could you imagine? I'm so glad that we're not living in Baltimore anymore because that is just too damn crazy! I lived there for a few years back when Alex was still in college at Johns Hopkins University. When I first moved there in December of 1993, they were having the worst winter storm in years and I must have stayed in bed for 2 weeks because it was so damn cold! Coming from Hawaii, it was a shock. Looking back on it, that storm was nothing compared to 20 inches! That is an insane amount to be getting at one time. I couldn't imagine, nor deal with all of that mess!

I kinda feel guilty enjoying the nice weather we're having out here. We're supposed to have a high of 74 today. Nice!

Tomorrow's Valentine's Day! YAY! :)

Friday, February 10, 2006

In Loving Memory

It's been two days since the funeral. I can't stop thinking about how we should have been there...I should have been there. I just can't believe that she's gone and I never got the chance to say goodbye or be there for the family. There was no way that I could have made the trip. Even if we flew, my back would never have made it. I know that she understands, but I guess I'm having a hard time understanding.

I went shopping for some sympathy cards last night, and had to fight back the tears as I picked up different ones and read the sentiments. I am still struggling to fight back the tears as I write this. It's hard to see your loved ones aging, seeing them as mortal, and then ultimately saying goodbye.

I still have the Christmas card that she sent us a couple of months ago. I'll always have it now, along with her memories...


Thursday, February 09, 2006

The 2006 Grammys

Do you know what the best way to watch the grammys is? TIVO! I recorded it last night and I'm loving the fact that I can fast forward through all of the crap that I don't want to see. I've already watched 2 hours of it in 45 minutes! Did anyone see Matt Dillon? Damn he is still hot! And I am so impressed that Kelly Clarkson won 2 grammys! I wonder if other past AI winners will achieve the same success. Hey is it just me or is there always a ton of commercials on during award ceremonies? And is there anyone else tired of seeing Destiny's Child? It seems like it's taking them forever to retire! Just go already! Damn that's like when performers go on a farewell tour for like 3 years or something! Other disses of mine for the night... Madonna in spandex. Yes, she absolutely has the body for it, but that thing was just fug! There were some things that I loved about the grammys as well. The opening with the gorillaz animation was awesome! Also, Gwen Stefani looked so radiant in all of her pregnancy splendor. Too cute! This year's Grammy awards have left me kind of empty this year...and not just because I spent most of the time fast forwarding. It was just kind bland this year. I don't know, maybe it's because the music that I like isn't featured too often, or maybe I'm just over the music awards altogether.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

This Is Cool!

I'm writing this entry from my new cellphone. Over the weekend, Alex & I switched over to Nextel and I got a Blackberry 7100i. I wanted to see if I could blog with it especially on days where I can't sit at the computer and it works! Woo hoo!

Anyway, have a great week!

Monday, February 06, 2006

They're Going To Disneyland And They're Taking The Bus!

Congratulations to the Superbowl XL winners, the Pittsburg Steelers! WOO HOO! The Steelers win! The Steelers win!


Friday, February 03, 2006

And So It Goes...

After all of our arrangements were set, we decided---well I decided, that I can't make the trip. I cannot physically do it. It's at least a 6 hour drive and I have to face the truth. My back's been getting worse...I can hear the bones in my back more frequently when I walk and the pain shooting down through my legs also occurs more often than it used to. The longest that I can sit in the car is about 20 minutes before things REALLY start to get uncomfortable even with meds, so I don't know how I thought that I was going to make the trip.

I really need to be there...I should really be there and I can't. It's disappointing. We're all disappointed, but there's just nothing that I can do. I'm sorry.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Funky Fresh

Finally, my renovations are complete and I've finally settled on a new blog template. Thanks to Blogger Templates by Caz for the new look! It looks great in both Internet Explorer and Opera, and after personalizing it with my own html touches, I love it! Perfect! :)

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Life...Or Something Like It

I sat down to write this morning, determined to post something in the blog. I have so much to say, yet I'm at a loss for words and can't seem to collect my thoughts. These past few days have been kind of sad. There's been a sudden death in the family and I still can't believe that she's gone. I keep thinking about the others that she left behind and if/how they'll be able to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives. She was a wonderful person and took care of everyone. She was one of my favorites...so easy-going, laidback, nice, never judgmental. One summer while I was still in elementary school, they all came to Hawaii for the entire summer and stayed with my grandparents. She was like a second mom to me that summer, because she let me stay with them there for about a month and took care of me, even though she had my cousins to care for as well. I used to stay with them whenever we would take our trips down to LA after we had already moved here, and it always felt like home. Her funeral's on Wednesday, and all of our travel arrangements are made, yet I'm still not sure if we should go only because of my back problems. I don't think that my back will be able to handle the drive down there even with the meds that I'm taking and I'm torn because I really need to be there. She was loved by so many, and she will be missed.

Because of everything that's happened this past week, I can't help but think of Dad and how lucky we are to still have him. It could've been him.

We live our lives thinking that we have all the time in the world, yet life takes a turn and makes us realize that it is too short, and anything can happen in an instant. Time is too important to be taken for granted. Love your loved ones and tell them you love them. Don't forget to show them you love them. Let the petty things go. Make the most of every moment so that there aren't any regrets in the end.