So this was how my post for today was going to look:

Title: We chose the wrong day to go to Disneyland

Body: I had one word routinely pop into my head today and it kept me amused in the lines--Wonky.


-----------------------------------------------------
This is what it ended up being thanks to the five minutes after leaving my parent's house in Sylmar.

Title: Fuck the police

Body: Today was one of those "If only..." days. 

• Today would have started out great if only...
  

I didn't have to get up at 7am

• Getting up at 7am would've been worth it if only...

we had left for Disneyland within the agreed upon time period

• Disneyland would've been more fun if only...

the entire population of California hadn't tried to fit into it at once

• Waiting in line wouldn't have been so boring if only...

my little cousin hadn't broken my games application on my phone 3 days ago

• I would've enjoyed the food more if only...

my woman's time hadn't come today and made me nauseous

• I could've had awesome seats for the snow and fireworks if only...

my sister hadn't whined and convinced my family to leave the park early

• The day would've been classified as "okay" if only...

I hadn't become part of the annual quota for the patrolmen of sylmar

WARNING: There is a lot of swearing, whining, and other stuff I'll probably regret writing later, especially if I suddenly want to have a political career.

Yes, I got pulled over. It was fucking bullshit too. Stupid motherfucker pulls me over literally two blocks from my parent's place and approximately 4 minutes after pulling out of the driveway. At this point in the evening I am disappointed from the many things on the above list and concentrating entirely on not throwing up because that is how bad my stupid ovaries feel. I am driving my sister's car (which is actually my dad's) because she is sick and has just chugged down Nyquil. I offered before she chugged so none of this is her fault. 

So in my kindness I start the car and go down Drell to Borden (both small residential streets). She comments on her curiosity over a couple of police cars on another corner. I was totally reading a book on the way home from Disneyland and have no idea what she is talking about. I turn onto Borden and stop at the stop sign. There are no other cars on the street with me. I check because I had been playing with the radio and I am one of those people who always think that the second they are not looking at the road some car is going to T-bone them. Its a panicked sort of glance. No cars. I continue forward at a sedate pace, because, frankly, I am exhausted and all I want is my bed and a hot washcloth. I pull up to the stop sign at Roxford and stop. Then I ease forward so I can actually see if cars are coming because the city decided to put the stop sign WAY too far away from a place where you can do this. No cars coming. 

I turn right and the Foothill light turns red and I stop behind the car in front of me. I notice a police car pull up on the other side of the street and turn. I comment on it. Then I look in my rearview and see a cop car pulling up behind me. I comment on it. Finally the light turns green. The car in front of me starts to move, I start to move. The cop behind me turns on their lights. Figuring that they want to follow the other car I had seen (this has happened to me before) I pull over to the right lane. Cop car follows. 

Now I am thinking that there must be something wrong with the car: faulty light, expired sticker, something like that. Stupid fucker cop turns on ALL the lights and I am temporarily blinded until I flip up my rearview. I am pretty sure I definitely need glasses now. Thanks. One cop on either side of the car start looking in the car with flashlights. I am now thinking that maybe they think I am hiding something/someone and working with whoever they had previously pulled over. I wonder to myself what that person did. Donut Receptacle #2 knocks on the passenger window so  I roll it down. Whilst doing this, DR #1 knocks on mine. I roll this down as well.

#1 tells me that I didn't stop at the stop sign and didn't use my signal. What the fuck? Uh, yeah, I totally stopped. I probably didn't signal cause there were no cars behind me and its 11:15 on a fucking Monday, but I always stop at stop signs. The only time I don't is that 4-way one in the mall parking lot by work when I open because there is never anyone in the lost that early. Otherwise, I always stop. Especially on that specific corner. I have been driving to and from that house for 3 years, I know its a busy street. I stop, ease forward to see if there is anyone, there's not so I turn. How is this wrong? 

Add into that the fact that I was positive there was no cars behind me. Which begs the question: Where the fuck was this asshole? Either he was driving behind me on Borden the whole time without ANY lights on, or he was on Roxford traveling in the same direction I was turning, meaning he DIDN'T SEE ME MAKE THAT STOP! All he would've seen was my easing forward, which can look like I didn't stop fully or at all. I also ask, if they saw me not stop and not signal why the fuck didn't they turn on their lights right away? Wouldn't normal curb be a better/safe place to pull me over than say, I don't know, the curb right in front of a fucking freeway entrance. Yeah, good plan genius. And they waited the whole fucking light. I think that red light gave them time to think up something they could cite me for. Fuckers. 

So D1 and D2 ask for my license and all that good stuff. Of course the insurance card in the car is expired. Which meant my sister had to call my Dad. Because I am tired, nauseous, bleeding from my vagina, and frustrated, I cry. And then I think about this costing me any money and I cry some more. I am so poor, its really ridiculous. I just got $1000 from my loan and I pretty much owe it to various peoples already. D1 comes back and tells me I get a citation (Hooray!) for the stop and a warning for the signal. I also apparently get a free lecture on how busy Roxford is (keep in mind that exactly one car has passed us this whole time) and I should drive safely home. I am weeping and clearly pissed off and in no mood to listen. I ask him how much money they are planning to take from me. Since my voice is less than stable I must repeat this several times. Unfortunately the anger is diminished with each repetition (and repeating myself, by the way, is a HUGE pet peeve). He tells me the court will decide and let me know. 

At this point I hate cops. I know my cousin is a cop and I love her, but she is totally bitchy enough for that job. I seriously wanted to kick this guy in the balls. I wanted to take their flashlights and first hit their groin and then go for the jugular. Stupid mother fucking quota collecting lying asshole douchebag. All I wanted to do was go home. That's it. 

Suffice to say, the second I get that court date in the mail I am asking for it off. There is no way in hell I am paying that bullshit. I stopped. I know it, my sister knows it, and the two donut receptacles know it. 

I am still fucking pissed, but slightly better now that I am in my bed and have eaten chocolate. I apologize for the rant, but it was that or go hunt him down. 

I'm watching Home Alone whilst home alone!!!

I just saw the picture of Robert Pattison's new haircut. The cut is not bad, but the picture is horrible. He needs new sunglasses more than he needed a haircut. And maybe a shave, too much facial hair.

Its Christmas Eve. Have a good one!

Too much of a good thing...

I just logged into my myspace and there was an advertisement that popped up and it reads "22 and overweight? I lost 42 pounds in 4 weeks no diet no exercise It was easy!"

WTF?

How did they know that I am 22, overweight, allergic to diet and exercise AND easy...no, wait I take that last part back. Regardless, I am amazed. 

Its almost Christmas and I am alternately excited and exhausted. I still have gifts I need to get, but I'm waiting for my loan check to come in the mail this week. Please, god, let it come this week. I so need it, just to pay some credit card bills. The sad thing is, on one of them my last four statements are all just payments and I am still maxed out. Lame. I hate interest.

What is santa doing in this picture? And can I help him?

I love Christmas.

I was trying so hard to get through the season without this

The internets has been down for the last couple of days so I have not posted. At this point, yesterday's events erased anything I had previously intended to write about from my mind. 

• 7:30am--Visit to dentist, where my gums were poked to death and I left with the feeling that I'd never be able to fully close my mouth comfortably again.
  
• 8:30am--Visit my mother in Sylmar in order to use her internet to accept my loan. My mom's idea of breakfast, I find out, is cookies. Where was this version of my mom when I was growing up?
• 9:30am--Begin the drive to Westlake to visit an old friend with lots of...issues. 
• 10am--Receive a text from said friend saying that she just woke up and needs more time before I come visit. I am approximately 5 minutes away from her place. I tell her this and she replies "Crap. Ok. I just need to get rid of a boy". Hmm. I try to be nonjudgmental, but this, to me, is just rude. I thought I was being rude by being 5 minutes late to our meeting. 
• 10:20am--After sitting outside her building (as instructed in a following text) reading in my car, I am finally allowed to enter her place. Met her beau. Was decidedly unimpressed. 
• 10:30-12pm--Had a nice lunch at Denny's. Was strange how casually we talked about some tough issues. I think I am getting jaded. 
• 12pm-12:45pm--Spent 45 minutes on the 101 maneuvering around drivers who fear even the lightest of rain. 
• 12:45-1:30pm--Relaxed at home. Did NOT want to leave for work. 
• 2-11pm--Worked. See below.

So it was a normal day at work. It was really slow and Alix decided to leave early since it was becoming apparent that 3 closing managers was excessive. I hopped on the Reg right before my break and ended up selling 2 glitter balls to Brad Dourif, who we all know (at least us LOTR freaks) played Grima Wormtounge. That made my day. After break, everything proceeded as usual until the last hour of the day. Apparently no one was scheduled for the main info station and all the extra sellers were needed on the register. I thought nothing of watching the station myself. At 20 minutes to close I was dodging 3 phone calls and was requested over the walkie at the registers. 20 seconds later Amanda comes up and tells me that they really needed me cause some guy was yelling at Megan. I don't really want to transcribe the whole conversation, but it consisted mostly of the douchebag of all douchebags constantly telling me "Listen to me" and "Focus". Focus on this asshole. He wouldn't let me or Megan talk because he was so convinced that he knew what needed to be done. I eventually just talked right over him and proceeded to do what I knew needed to be done to rectify the problem. His inability to trust in female intelligence exacerbated the situation, until it bordered on the ridiculous. Suffice to say, I didn't take any shit from him. His whole problem stemmed from the fact that in really teeny tiny font his gift receipts said RTN/EXCH and he thought that was tacky. I'm not gonna say again my personal prejudices against a certain group of people in this world, but he was undoubtedly one of them. I'm sorry, if I saw that on my gift receipt, I would think "Oh, okay. I can return it or exchange it", not "Oh how tacky, they exchanged something else for my gift". He was so fucktarded. He didn't calm down at all until Patrick came over and a man told him the SAME FUCKING THINGS I HAD BEEN TELLING HIM!!! To his credit, Patrick basically straight up told the man that he didn't care what the situation was cause he had faith in my abilities and trusted that I did everything correctly. At 10:10 (10 minutes after we close) this transaction was done and then he decided he needed to wrap the presents. I was shaking I was so pissed. After all this Patrick, Heather, Lauren (wasn't involved in any of this at all) and I went over to Amanda's and had some drinks to unwind. It was random and fun. 

Things I was going to mention in blog form prior to yesterday:

• Loan drama
• Racism at Roscoes?!
• My friend's problem that seems straight out of a romance novel
• Finals

After much consideration, I've decided to add the following item to my Christmas List:

• Britney Spears "Circus"

I just started reading the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I'm thoroughly enjoying them. Its like Stephanie Plum with vampires. Lots o' sexy men and a highly amusing and interesting narrator. 

It does make me cringe to think about this series in comparison to the Twilight series. It does really seem like she jacked some concepts. Yikes. 

mental break

Thank god they've made these webisodes, cause I'm dying for new episodes. Now I can't wait for friday!

Ugh, back to homework.

I just watched a segment on Showbiz Tonight where the reporter was interviewing Harry Connick Jr. and random people about what christmas songs they love and hate. When she was asking random people I was like "I recognize that crappy holiday sign!" and realized they interviewed people at some Borders location. Unfair. They interviewed some random employee and he sang 'The First Noel' with the reporter. Lame sauce! They should interview me and we can spice it up with some Wham!

Incidentally, I found out that not only does Grady have a keytar but one of it's demo songs is, in fact, 'Last Christmas' by Wham!, my all-time favorite Christmas song. Jealous!

What's the difference between trash and a Jersey girl?

Trash has a better chance of being picked up. 

Today was my last class session for theories of fiction and it made me a little sad. That teacher was definitely my favorite thus far and even though I'm not big on participation in class, I really did enjoy learning. I had to lead a class discussion on Junot Diaz's "How to Date a Browngirl,White girl, Black girl, or Halfie". My presentation was on cheese. That's all I'll say. 

Finals loom and all I want to do is watch Gossip Girl and read romance novels. The internet has now become a curse. I need to stop getting online all the time. Time to crack down and study. Lame.

"Treat your friend as if he might become an enemy." -Publilius Syrus

I ran into a friend who then became an ex-friend and is now I guess an acquaintance. It is weird. I haven't talked to them since a casual "Hello" like 4-5 months ago. It was strange because we don't actively avoid each other, but there is no deliberate contact made between us. Well today I ran into them as I was walking home from school and had a really fun conversation with them for like a half hour. We kind of caught up with each other's lives and talked about the Twilight movie for awhile and it was awesome. Clearly we are on friendly terms. Now I am confused. Are we friends?

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
-George Washington

I can't think of anything I want for christmas except new romance novels or a professional massage. 

We stayed open for Beedle the Bard and sold............(drum roll)..........8 copies. That's including one that was bought by Lauren. Lame sauce. Although two people did come dressed in Hogwarts attire. They were precious. 

Going to bed now since I have to be at school in 7 1/2 hours. 

I am just now going to sleep. 

Christmas list shall commence on the morrow.

 

So I was walking home from school and super enjoyed the weather. Its like a sunny day in San Francisco. The sun in the clear sky and chill in the air counteract each other, and if you stand in the shade its effing cold. I miss that city. We should road trip. 

Paper was done, but its total crap. I'd be satisfied with a C. 

Now on the myriad other things I have to get done by the end of next week...

finished.

two sentences over 10 pages and 12.5 font

hopefully she can't tell a .5 difference. 

sleep awaits

I have cheated and changed my font to 12.5

I now have 4 1/2 pages. 

6 more to go...

two pages

So I continue to procrastinate. I'm watching the Bad Girl's Club on Oxygen. Apparently some guy named Steve did something bad to DeAnne and I presume it has to do with cheating. Sooooooo...he attempts to win her back by doing something super cute. 

He arranged for her to meet him at Hollywood and Highland, then scattered his sister and some friends around and had them wear these signs (Die Hard 3 style). They said things along the lines of "DeAnne rocks and Steve sucks". She went to each until his sister finally told her where he was adding on that she was only the second girl Steve had ever let her meet. So, of course Steve is wearing a sign too. He is holding it up so it covers the bottom half of his face (a la embarrassed kindergardener) and it says "I'm an ass". Straight and to the point I would say. Well done, sir. No guarantees, though, that she'll take you back, sorry. 

damn you kellie. i tried to resist. 

Opening Credits: Dancing Queen by ABBA
Waking Up: A Thousand Days by Clay Aiken
First Day At School: Thanks for the Memories by Fall Out Boy
Falling In Love: Christmas Time is Here by The Vince Guaraldi Trio
Fight Song: Since You Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Breaking Up: What it Takes by Aaryn Doyle (Camp Rock Soundtrack)
Prom: Barbie Girl by Aqua
Life: Liar (It Takes One To Know One) by Taking Back Sunday
Mental Breakdown: Dig A Hole by Jay-Z featuring Sterling Simms
Driving: If I Should Die by Jay-Z
Flashback: For A Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic by Paramore
Getting back together: What I Like About You by The Romantics
Wedding: Decode by Paramore (Twilight Soundtrack)
Birth of Child: Everybody's Changing by Keane
Final Battle: In My Place by Coldplay (Its more of an emotional battle I guess)
Death Scene: Time Is Running Out (Live) by MUSE (fuck yeah they need to be on my soundtrack)
Funeral Song: It's Been Awhile by Staind (did not know I had this song)
End Credits: Pink Ego Box by MUSE 

Still only have two sentences...

You smell like beef and cheese

I still have not finished my paper. At this point I have two sentences. I am so tired of school and I have all this shit to get done. I am one lazy muthah fuckah.

*sigh*

Back to work. 

And now for something completely different

Ew ew ew ew ew

Sometimes SBTB scares me with their links. This is one of those instances. 

Close call

On Thursday morning I was elected as the grocery store runner. Since I was at my grandmother's/parent's house in Sylmar, this meant driving to the VONS on Foothill. Whilst on this little excursion I realized something. The Sayre fire came really fucking close to their house. When it was happening the news never really expanded on where exactly it was and that stupid interactive map was vague and not useful. I took the fact that my parents didn't get evacuated to be indicative of their safety. I was wrong. I drove past houses three streets down with fire damage. It scared the shit out of me. 

Then we took the 210 to the 5 to get to my Uncle's house for dinner. There are no words. If you live in the SFV or surrounding areas you need to make this drive. Its sobering. Especially going past the mobile home park. Talk about complete devastation. 

Sadness

I ate my weight in mashed potatoes

Highlights of Thanksgiving:

• Being greeted by my aunt with "Hey! Bonnie's here! Come have a jello shooter!"
• Getting smashed before dinner (courtesy of the jello shooters and delicious AMFs)
• Watching my mom get smashed before dinner time (courtesy of the jello shooters)
• Seeing my cousins from up North and listening to them talk about their love lives (I live vicariously, in case you haven't figured this out)
• Filling 2/3 of my plate with mashed potatoes, then returning for another couple of rounds. 
• Crescent rolls with cinnamon sprinkled on top and honey in the middle
• Everyone realizing that Josh was missing and yelling for his name for 5 minutes straight (my aunt has lungs on her)
• Finding out 20 minutes later that he had passed out in the other room and never heard us (even though the connecting door was right next to us)
• Seeing a bad ass shooting star while waiting for the car to warm up

Lowlights...?

• Drunk Uncle Howdy (and we thought he was awkward sober!)
• Waiting 6 hours for mashed potatoes (if I had known,  I would have stopped at In N Out on the way)
• The majority of appetizers being fish related (eeeeeewwwww!)
• The headache that followed getting smashed before eating
  

All in all, it was a fun day. I got to see family that I only see on occasions such as these and we always have good times. Mari clinged to me like she used to when she was really little so it was kind of adorable and nostalgic. Grandpa was also really cute talking about the family. And he never once mentioned kicking the bucket! Now I must go gird my loins for black friday. Off I go...

Random

Helmut!

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day

'Tis Thanksgiving and I shall eat all the mashed potatoes!!!! Muahaha!

Anyway, Happy Turkey Day! Don't forget to wear your Thanksgiving Pants!

So my phone doesn't ring when I have texts anymore. I have tested it a thousand times and ended up at the Sprint store. The verdict: they have no idea why its not working and I get a new phone! Yay! No more scratches! good times. 

Fail

I drove down to D-land two hours ago to find that the book signing was sold out. Apparently Disney didn't stick to their guns on the "no lining up until 1am" idea. By the time I got there at 1:30 there was already like a thousand people and no chance of me getting a wristband. That's fine. I'm glad that it didn't take me more than 45 minutes driving either way. Sadly this also means I actually have to go to school today. Lame. 

No Sleep + Hunger + Illogical Fools=Bad news

Ugh! I wish I had called out for work today. I knew I was tired upon waking and knew the store was gonna look like shit cause it did yesterday. I didn't really want to deal with the walk through but I told myself to suck it up. So I spent and hour being told that the store looked like shit (DUH!) and it was a good thing Preston was back because look what happens we he leaves (a.k.a. when I get put in charge). Fuck you. I did my best, but I also had 5 events to spearhead. Plus the merch team still needs a good amount of training at least as far as endcaps go, but we never have time to show them. It was frustrating to say the least. Then for the rest of the day I got a bunch of retarded logic and bad decisions thrown at me. I think the lack of sleep was like the equivalent of alcohol and loosened my tongue. I just couldn't take the horrible horrible logic (or lack thereof). 

As a result I was basically told that I used to be so nice and now I am mean. Talk about a passive-aggressive kindergarten reaction. I'm getting tired of having a 5 year old for a boss. And I'd just like to say, that I was not mean today. I can be mean. I can be a huge fucking bitch, but I choose not to. But I can't take the stupidity anymore, I have to speak up when it gets too ridiculous. 

In other news, there's a possibility I might ditch school and go see the Jo Bros tomorrow at Disneyland. I'm waiting to find out if my cousin can go with, but if she can't I don't really want to go by myself. We'll see. 

For now, I'm gonna take a nap and forget I even went to work today. 

Senate: 1 Automotive Industry: 0

So whilst watching the news last night, there was a report about the 3 major automotive companies and their plea for federal aid to bail them out. Apparently, there was a hearing scheduled yesterday where the heads of the companies could appeal to the Senate directly. Yeah, well these higher-ups decided that the best mode of transportation to this hearing was by private jet. This did not sit well with the people they were appealing to for money. The meeting essentially started with the CEOs getting a dressing down from one of them. Its pretty hilarious to watch someone get scolded so publicly. My favorite line was "Couldn't you have jet-pooled or something?" HAHAHAHA!! Jetpooling, its all the rage.

Good times.

Fucked up, completely fucked up

So, I don't even know where to start. 

My mind can't really process everything because I am so fucking angry its ridiculous. 

In my previous post I mentioned that my aunt's house in Sylmar had suffered fire damage. The fire department then yellow-tagged the structure, meaning that they can enter, but not inhabit the home. So they routinely went to the house to air it out and get more clothes and stuff that they needed. So, like the three days prior, my aunt went to the house on Tuesday and found that it had been burgled and ransacked. 

Apparently the police department decided it was unnecessary to have anyone keeping an eye on the neighborhood because the fire itself had moved on. BULLSHIT! There are dozens of houses that are yellow-tagged which means...THERE ARE NO PEOPLE IN THEM! 

Add to that the fact that my aunt actually asked the officer who finally showed up on Monday at 4 PM why all these people were being let to the neighborhood and received the rather fucktarded answer "Oh, they're just curious". Yeah, um, people who are "just curious" don't walk into other peoples' backyards. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! 

Obviously they took all the TVs and other valuable possessions. They also found some christmas presents hidden away and took those too. But the really fucked up part, was that they took my little cousin's toys. Not even the expensive ones or the portable DVD player sitting right on his dresser. No, the little dinosaurs and cars that he loves and SLEEPS with every night. WTF?

So my aunt got interviewed by several news stations today and I saw her later on in the evening when I stopped by my grandma's house. She was trying to put on a brave face, but I noticed those moments when she fell silent and you could see the defeat on her face. It broke my heart.  The kids know that someone broke into the house and took some of their things, but they have no idea that its a wreck inside. Mari's room is the worst. Not only does it have the burn marks from the fire in the garage below her room, but whoever broke in absolutely destroyed her room. 

My mother also brought up a good point. How do the firefighters feel knowing that they risked their lives to preserve as much of these structures and the things within, only to have all that risk and work negated by some stupid fuckers, who want to take advantage of already suffering families? If I was a firefighter, I'd think "Well, shit, I should've just let the fire take it all". And frankly, I'd rather have my possessions lost in a fire than stolen because I was not allowed to safeguard my own home. 

Its just bullshit, and I am stupid angry. Fuck. 

If you want to watch the interview, its on this page

The roof...no, wait...the garage is on fire

If you aren't already aware, pretty much half of my dad's family lives in Sylmar and were forced to evacuate because of the fire that started Friday night. My aunt's house was the closest to the fires and actually suffered damage. I was told by my dad that their garage ignited from within and they no longer have a tree house, but the house itself is fine. Now, I understood this, but I don't think I fully grasped what exactly happened until my aunt sent links to these pictures of the garage fire that she found online. This is actually her house.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Scary shit, my friends. 

The family is okay, a little emotionally scarred, but still safe. Needless to say, they won't be back in the house for a while. 

Ugh, school tomorrow and I need to start working on all those final projects coming up. 

I'm watching Top Chef and there's a chef on there who reminds me of Dr. Chase on House. I keep finding myself disappointed when he speaks and there's no Australian accent. 

In other news, graduation definitely not happening this school year. 

Good times

I just woke up. 

I had the best 13 hour sleep ever. Good times. 

Kickball!!!! I can't wait to just be a total kid tonight and just play. I'll probably suck, but that's okay. 

Yesterday was a success. I managed to get everything done and at least at a B level. So hopefully this semester will turn out well. 

I win

I just wanted to add on to my previously posted speech. I wrote this at 3am and could not for the fucking life of me think of ANY of the movie blogs that I or people I know have been to or frequent. Shameful, I know. I really could only think of Perez Hilton as a major name and SBTB cause I go there everyday. 

Aside from that, SUCCESS!!!!...so far. The speech went well. I flubbed a few quotes because of nerves and exhaustion, but I accept this. My poem turned out well and I feel comfortable posting it here, so I shall. One more assignment for the day, so cross your fingers that I somehow finish this book and come up with a reasonable discussion topic that incorporates the text and deconstruction theory. 

In other, exciting news, my teacher extended the 10 page research paper due date to Dec. 2. I. LOVE. HER.

Here's the poem: (and no comments on the title; it made sense)
New Moon

But you and I are brave as we traverse this mysterious void
with only 150 watts of light to guide us.
No landmarks to be seen,
all our maps and compasses useless,
now its instinct we must trust,
as we pass through this black hole—
just you and me and the used
Honda we bought in Hope on a whim.
The stars, like a frightened child,
seek refuge in the safety of their pitch-black blankets,
leaving us behind in a moonless sky—
without mom we’re all cowards, right?
I’ve taken the wheel so you can rest
and dream about an end to this endless journey,
while I dream too—ignoring the ache
of my foot pressing down on the accelerator-
hoping when you wake I’ll see the sun
reflected in your hazel eyes
and this shapeless, colorless place will be nothing
but a vague memory in our rearview mirror.

Blogging Speech

More than 175,000 blogs are created every day. That’s a little more than two every second. With the rapid development of the Internet, blogs have become an undeniable part of online culture. Many writers and businesses are becoming aware of the importance of blogs and their ability to reach readers on a faster and more personal level. Today we’ll discuss exactly what a blog is, who is blogging, and the use of blogs in mainstream media.
What is a blog? The word blog is a contraction of the term Web Log, and it has its origins in the daily logs of sea captains. A blog is simply a web site maintained by an individual consisting of regular entries. Merriam Webster defines a blog as “a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer”. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the first blog was created by Tim Berners-Lee in 1992 “to outline and render visible the ongoing development of the Web and the software necessary to navigate this new space”. From that point on the development of these personal web logs shifted from the technological elite to the average individual.
In Scott Gruban’s article “Think Twice Before You Type”, found in the Georgia Law Review in Winter 2008, he states that in “2005 surveys showed that nineteen percent of U.S. Internet users between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine have created blogs compared to just five percent of those fifty years and older, leading the study's director to assert that "[b]logging is very much the province of the young”. But young people aren’t the only ones writing blogs. Up and coming and unpublished authors have tapped into this new form of self-publication. In the article “Why I Blog” in the November 2008 issue of Atlantic Monthly, Andrew Sullivan says, “The simple experience of being able to directly broadcast my own words to readers was an exhilarating literary liberation”. Not only is it easier than traversing the often rejection filled road toward publication, but it also offers one thing that regular publication doesn’t: a personal connection with the reader. In his article, Sullivan also comments that “alone in front of a computer, at any moment, are two people: a blogger and a reader. It renders a writer and a reader not just connected but linked in a visceral, personal way”. Blogging has also become an important player in News Media.

More and more people are discovering blogs as a source of news. In the article “This Blogging Life” on the Los Angeles Times website Patrick Goldstein, a longtime contributor to the paper says that the LA Times “now has 40-plus blogs, with more being launched all the time” and that his guess is that “someday soon our blogs will be the backbone of the paper”. Almost every major news outlet has a blog portion of their website and rely heavily on it to provide rapidly updated information for online readers. Blogs are becoming increasingly relied on to provide news for all different categories. For up to date information on all things Hollywood, readers can simply check out the world of Perez Hilton, whose fame was built out of his blog. Movie buffs can get their fix at cinematical.com and romance readers at smartbitchestrashybooks.com. Blogs are everywhere, providing news coverage on every subject. But are they a reliable source for this news?
Since a blog is widely considered to simply be one person’s opinion, can we trust any blog to objectively convey what is going on in the world? The increasing reliance on blogs for news seems to indicate yes. However, in a note to the Los Angeles Times, longtime reader Lori Morse wrote “I do not care for the blogs, I just see them interfering with real news reportage. Everybody has an opinion but what are the FACTS”. The same blogger/reader connection that Andrew Sullivan celebrates seems to also hinder the credibility of the news reporter. The personal connection of the writer creates too much of a barrier between the reader and the facts in the reporter’s world. It seems even though blogs have definitely become an important part of the World Wide Web, it still remains to be seen whether or not they will be considered as a reliable news medium.
Today we’ve seen how the blog developed from the singular journal of one technologically savvy man to the daily creation of over 175,000 web logs. We also discussed the blog as the domain of the younger generation and the aspiring writer and how blogging has also become a growing part of the News Media. Blogging is a new and simple way of sharing information with thousands of readers, so if you have an opinion you want to share, check out blogspot or any of the other hosting sites and create yours today. I’ve already posted this speech on mine.

So I am being a bad student and watching Ghost Hunters as I write my speech. 

I really just wanted to say that it made me smile when Grant said he drives a Mini. He is just too precious. If that's how they grow 'em in Rhode Island, I need to go for a visit and find me a Grant. 

Everything is due tomorrow. 

I am so SOL.

le tired

Success!

The store looks bichon

I can't take that ride

I can't believe they still air this! Made me smile.

I'm doing an informative speech on Blogging and its pretty interesting reading these articles and considering their relevance to myself, amateur blogger that I am. 

Another overnight tonight. I think I'll bring an energy drink. I am comforted by the fact that I don't have school tomorrow since its a holiday. Yay! I can actually sleep before returning to work later that day. 

Things due for school in the next two weeks that I haven't done: 

1. Finish reading Geek Love
   
2. Create outline of a group discussion (that I will lead) on one aspect of Geek Love
   
3. Finish reading Uncle Tom's Cabin and start reading Ruth Hall
   
4. Write a poem that I won't be embarrassed to have workshopped on Thursday
   
5. Research Blogging
   
6. Create outline for informative speech on Blogging
   
7. Practice informative speech for delivery on Thursday
   
8. Choose topic for 10 page paper on 19th century women's literature
   
9. Research topic and write paper (due next Thursday)
   
10. Fill out speech evaluation form for fellow classmate's speech
    
11. Write 1 page review of speeches I observed last Sunday
    
12. Write 1-2 page self evaluation of informative speech
    
13. Research topic for persuasive speech
    

The only things not due this week are numbers 8,9, 12, and 13. Lame. 

In other news, someone needs to buy this and I need to play it! Get over here!

I love Scorpion.

Bobby

Today sucked. 

 

I was mostly okay until they presented arms and played the bugle. 

After that all I could think about was this:

I hate being a Debbie Downer, but this week sucks. Actually, this month kinda sucks with the exception of Fattie Day coming up.

I need a break from my life.

Elections, Inspections, and unfortunate Audits

In the 7 hours that I was not at work today we were visited by the health inspector and the loss prevention person at the same time. And our store was an utter failure. It was all stupid shit too. Oh well. I was and am too tired to really care. Even though I am getting my first write up over it. Lame. 

I also voted today, but some of it was half-assed. But I got a free ice cream, so I am satisfied with my contribution to the next four years. Good luck Barry. 

Good night world. 

The easy way is my way

I'm a failure. But I'm only human, and I have needs too damn it!

I fell asleep twice in speech class and again on the walk home after deciding to ditch my other two classes (sorry to the neighbor whose lawn I tread upon). I feel bad about ditching only because I know I won't be there on Thursday either. Hopefully we don't do anything important. 

Overnight went well. Not enough hours to finish everything, but when is there ever?

I am off to get some blessed sleep

Amendment

I have just recalled a very encouraging saying:

Mo' money, mo' problems

So maybe I'll take one of the things off my stress list. I'd rather not have mo' problems at the moment.

Thanks to my wifey and sancha for the support.  

P.S. That mention of berry cider made me want a girls night!

Don't mind me, just venting my crap into the ether

Overnight shift tonight! Yay!...not. Now begins my 34 hours of being awake. Awesome. In that time I work two shifts, go to school, vote, and at some point eat. 

We'll see how this pans out. 

Halloween was fun. The party went well with minimal drama. Most of my favorite people were there and KTP got drunk, which is a rare amusement. 

I'm looking forward to the Trivial Pursuit party on Friday. I would love to have to game to actually play, but I only have the really old original version and LOTR trivial pursuit.  I suppose these shall have to do.

THINGS THAT ARE STRESSING ME OUT THIS WEEK:

• Money!$?: I am broke
  
• Funerals: a sad interruption to my weekly schedule
• Time: where does it all go?
  
• School work: I am so behind
  
• Graduation: as in "can I plausibly graduate this school year?"
  
• Work: the holidays approach...
  
• Friend drama: can I DTB and still live with myself?
  
• Voting: I have to make my own mind?!
• Health: I need to get back on the gravy train, but its so hard!

Complaints! Complaints! Complaints!

I'd apologize, but I'm pretty sure no one really reads this anyway. 

Ugh. Pity party. Just shoot me. 

Random picture:

At least I got to see some lightning...

I just woke up to the furious pounding of rain upon my bedroom windows. My first thought was: "What is that sound?". My second thought: "Shit. I didn't finish cleaning up outside.". Crap.

So as per my usual routine post-any sort of bash, I put away all traces of food (I don't need no 'coons eating my garbage) and anything else I think my be appealing to critters or breakable. After that I usually leave the cups/bottles/cans and such for next day clean up since there are so many. Since its Halloween, I also had decorations just chillin' out there. 

Once I heard it slamming down on the roof, I went to ask Emily if she thought we should go cover up some shit. Apparently, her only worry was the electrical equipment (good point, I hadn't thought of that) so I threw on a hoodie and flipflops and started bringing in shit. Man, the more I brought in, the more stuff I realized I did not want to get wet. So after bringing in all the important stuff, I tore down the black tablecloths from the hallway and threw them over the tables, using various bottles to hold them down. 

It was at about this time when I remembered we had to do this same thing last year. I thought it was "live and learn". Apparently its "live and completely forget until a year later and about 4 hours to late for any practical application of the knowledge". Frak. 

P.S. I have an uber crush on Grant if you watched the GH clips. He's just too precious.

Possible Paranormal Experience

I have a very keen sense of smell. Most of the time it sucks. I get headaches a lot because of strong smells, especially things like cigarettes, perfumes, exhaust, etc.

That established, last night while I was sitting on my couch I smelled cigarette smoke. This is one of those scents which I can detect right away. It was starting to annoy me even though it was still relatively faint. So, assuming it was someone outside I went to the open front door and looked out. No one. I closed it anyway. I told my sister and she said she couldn't smell it. This was understandable. It often takes people a few minutes before they can smell it too. 

Five minutes later I was getting super annoyed and figured it was my neighbors since the window was right next to me. I looked out. No one there. In fact, no one has been there for three days because of a death in the family. Hmm. My sister finally came over to where I was sitting and she could totally smell it to. 

So unless someone was randomly smoking in that one spot of our living room without us knowing it, I think it was residual. Which is cool. What with Halloween and all. 

And, no, I am not making this up. My sister will testify. 

That being said, here's some of my fave GH clips in honor of Halloween tomorrow.

My favorite EVP:

My favorite video images (one of them):

My favorite hotel:

My favorite thermal image:

For Kellie

First of all check out this! Then, please enjoy the videos below.






FOR YOU WIFEY!!!
The best of both worlds.

Just watched this on tv and couldn't stop laughing. Poor Taylor Hanson.

Oh, this premiered yesterday.

For you wifey.

Chronicles of Sleep

I am so fraking tired. The last couple of days have caught up with me. 

Thursday: Stayed up til 4:30 am writing Midterm #1. 

   Got up at 6 am to study for Midterm #2

   Took Midterm #2 at 8 am

   Got parameters for Midterm #4 at 9:30 am

   Turned in Midterm #1 at 11 am

   Studied for Midterm #3 from 12 pm to 7 pm

   Took Midterm #3 from 7:30 pm to 10 pm

   Ate dinner at 10:15 pm

   Went to bed at 12:30 am

Friday: Woke up at 6 am to shower

           Worked from 7 am to 3 pm

      Went home and cleaned up house a little

         Had an amazingly fun dinner with Miguel and Scott at 7 pm

              Went to bed at 12 am

Saturday: Slept til 11 am (THANK GOD!)

  Had lunch with sister at 1 pm

  Left for Huntington Beach at 2:30 pm (and got there in an hour)

  Began hunt for hotel room (search ended at 4:30 pm)

  Got in line for Octoberfest at 5:45 pm 

  Drank beer, ate German food and danced until 11:40 pm

  Went to bed at 12:15 am

Sunday: Woke up and got dressed at 5:30 am!

Parked at Disneyland at 6:30 am

Napped in car while Emily did CHOC walk til 9 am (on and off due to comfort issues)

Explored Main Street and World of Disney from 9:30 am to 10:20 am

Drove home from Anaheim 11 am to 12 pm

Worked from 1 pm to 9 pm

Ate dinner at 10 pm

Went to bed at 1 am

Monday: Woke up at 10:15 am

Things to do today: Write a poem for class

    Email notes to classmate (from last thursday--oops!)

    Maybe look for Halloween decorations

    Work 3 pm to 11 pm ( I so don't want to!)

Total Hours of Sleep in 5 days: 32 

Average Hours of Sleep: 6.4

Number of Hours Bonnie normally needs to function: 9    (I love my sleep!)

So I am le tired and totally need food and an idea for my poem. Maybe it should be sleep deprivation.

Oh, shit. I just remembered I also need a couple options for an informative speech topic. Frak. 

I'm bored...

I wrote a haiku. Its lame, but at least I wrote something. Gotta get those creative juices flowing. 

Hit me back

i don't want your call

when courtesy makes me

an obligation

So I got the Metro Station cd for free! Yay for promos! Its pretty good. "Shake It" is definitely my favorite song so far. Some others make me wanna dance too, which is really my only requirement in a song. I don't know why, but I totally love the singer's voice. Not Trace Cyrus, but the other fellow, whose name escapes me. 

I opened today, which was strangely unfamiliar, but enjoyable. Now I can nap before hanging out with Miguel! 

Can't wait to get drunk tomorrow! Octoberfest here I come! But I can't get too drunk cause Grady needs to switch shifts and I work at 1pm the next day. Damn, I was totally hoping to go to D-land for a couple hours before work too. Lame. 

Brilliant!

Kudos to Kellie for doing this first. 

I think it fabulous that my alias is the place I want to sail to to die when I turn 50. I so want to see this movie, and now I am really sad that I can't go to the free screening. Balls.

Over-my head

Did you ever think about the words "overview" and "oversight" and their relation to each other? 

"Sight" and "View" have congruous meanings, so one would assume that by simply adding the compound prefix "over", you would also have compound words with similar meanings. However, when combined with "over", these two words become opposing ideas. "Overview" becomes the idea of seeing the whole picture, whereas "Oversight" implies that one has missed the picture.

Odd. 

I love language; so tricksy. 

I'm gonna kill you all kinds of dead

I watched one of the trailers for The Spirit right now and it looks interesting. I know nothing of the story line, but the movie definitely looks comic-booky (?!). Anyway, that one line made me smile. Its now in my rainy day catalogue of phrases. One day I will need to say "I'm gonna kill you all kinds of dead". Probably around when I'll need "No one's gonna take me alive". Both of which to be followed with "I am weary from battle". You need to be prepared. I was a brownie for 6 months; I know these things. 

Poem of the...whatever

While doing my poetry midterm I stumbled across this little beauty:

Ugly men on TV were talking about global warming.
One in particular looked like the spawn of rocks.
I wrote a letter to the various Harvards and MITs,

Dear Serious Sirs,

R & D the sexy mask ASAP if you want us hot
for the idea of giving up the living rooms
of our cars. Carbon dioxide this, albedo that:
where's the hubba hubba? And why only dudes?
My mother's not a man and she knows
to turn off the stove, you should see my wife
in a bikini when she says, "This eclipse
brought to you by coal." Everyday, TV
injects our eyes with pretty,
and then you come along selling apocalypse
and give us the Nebbish Kings of Doom.
Where is it written the mugs of scientists
have to be Golden Mean challenged? Packaging.
Don't stare at pictures of but read McLuhan.
The first impression when dispensing depression
shouldn't be ouch, now should it? If ugly's
all people have to live for, they won't stop driving
from the bedroom to the den. Beauty. It's all around us
except, you know, when you guys show up.

My wife said this was cruel and that she never
wears a bikini while discussing diffraction.
We were planting azaleas on our roses at the time,
doing our part to move the carbon load from the air
to our gardens. We'd already converted our skin
to solar panels, our breathing to wheezing.
You shouldn't call people with advanced degrees ugly,
she said, their feelings were raised in a lab.
It was a beautiful day. The desert
was still some decades west of us, and Canadians,
realizing hockey was at risk, had shot their pick-ups
and even the Zambonis. We can walk, they said,
we have the tools, which made Americans
look for our legs. We found them in the backs
of our closets. It was weird at first, using the body
to get the body around. Then someone mentioned
that you can hum, you can think while doing this,
and the air sounds better since, and now,
when we say, "I was just thinking," it's almost true.
~~~~~~~~

By Bob Hicok

FIRE!!!

So, clearly there is a fire. Well, there is actually two at the moment. I live somewhere between the two. Smokey! So far the air quality is not horrendous like back in 2003, but I am uber sensitive to scent, so I have my excedrin handy.  

I went visit my parents in Sylmar after work to make sure they were all okay. Free food was consumed. As I was leaving I noticed the fire looked worse than it was when I got there so I called my aunt, who had gotten evacuated earlier in the day, to make sure all was well. Apparently, they were at dinner and had no idea, so investigated and found out that there was no way of getting to their house. So, now they are back at my grandma's house for the night. Yikes. 

I am 50/50 on whether or not I want school to be closed tomorrow. I don't want to have to do my homework, but I also want to have the midterm review before Thursday's tests. I am getting up at 5 am to find out what the verdict is.

Magic Castle is coming up soon!!!! 

By the way, this is totally hilarious! Good learning tool as well.

Today...sucked ass

So as per my title, today sucked ass. Majorly. I woke up just as sick as yesterday, but at least I had managed to sleep through the night. I got really bored at home so I decided to go to the mall and try to find a handbag for my new outfit. I went to Macy's cause, really, I didn't want to spend actual money and I have a credit card there. After going through literally all the handbags there I found one on clearance that I thought would work with the dress. I also found some jewelry on sale and I could see myself either wearing or putting in the christmas grab bag. So I purchased these two items and decided to go to Victoria's Secret to buy more shampoo and see if they had some makeup I could use. Right before going to the register I put my Macy's bag and VS shopping bag down to sample some lotion. Then I went to pay for my shit and as soon as the lady took my shopping bag I realized my Macy's bag was not with it. I was literally 5 feet away from where I set it down and I went over to the shelf and my fucking bag was gone. The cashier asked her associates if they could look around for my bag, but if they did it was a lame search. So, some fucking mexican motherfucker stole my Macy's bag. Cause it was literally wall-to-wall mexican chicks and one of them stole my bag. I'm pissed cause I really didn't want to spend actual money on a purse and now I know Macy's doesn't have one and I'll have to go somewhere else. ARGH!!!! Stupid cheap motherfuckers! Buy your own shit! Just because you're fucking poor does not mean you should be taking other people's purchases. I was pissed. 

So, on top of being sick, on my rag, and having to close tonight, I got my shit stolen. I hate the valley. I hate today. 

After that I just went into work even though I was two hours early. Work wasn't so bad today, but I really wasn't in a tolerant mood with the employees and wasn't putting up with laziness. On the plus side, I miraculously had time to make a cupcake endcap and its so cute! It makes me smile. Oh, I also bought myself a romance novel on break cause I so deserve it. 

Now I am watching Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York on Sci-Fi and it has the worst graphics in the world. Its great. Apparently it erupted in some house's basement and when the guy opened the door all these horribly created flames shoots out and some magma rolls out. Then they have "footage" of the house burning and its actual footage of some other house burning cause it totally doesn't look like the same house or type of film. Its awesomely lame. 

I am waiting for the Nyquil to kick in. Then its off to dreamland where people who steal my shit get shanked. 

Sick and tired, but owner of a new pair of shoes

So while shopping for an outfit for Magic Castle, I was confronted with my normal shopping difficulties. My boobs are too big for everything. This makes me curious.

Everyone is getting their boobs enhanced, so why haven't designers jumped on the gravy train? It frustrates me to no end that they think that someone who needs a larger size, could not possibly need a larger bodice. WTF? Anyway, I did find a dress FINALLY with the help of my wifey. Its cute, but no one is allowed to look at me from a profile cause the shape it weird. I did also get to buy these FABULOUS shoes! Yay for hot footwear!

Now I need to buy a purse, jewelry and figure out the makeup situation. 

Oh, and I am sick. I loaded up on pharmaceuticals last night and have been chugging orange juice all morning. Hopefully this helps me not be sick for the Happiest Place on Earth. 

I was in poetry class today and as we were workshopping somebody's poem, one of my classmates said something that brought me up short. He said that the language that was used was "unnecessarily beautiful". I just though that phrase was extremely interesting. My mind went off on a tangent from there. I guess I just never imagined a scenario where beauty is unnecessary. I'm so used to beauty being seen as an integral part of everything, that this concept just threw me off.  Beauty as unnecessary. Interesting. Then again, why is beauty necessary in the first place? 

Moving on. 

I can't wait for tomorrow. I am going to spend the whole day SHOPPING! yay for spending money! 

So I finished this version of the poem. You can be the first to read it. Still needs some work (especially the fraked up structure), but that's what the workshop is for, right? Please enjoy.

Dear Friend

Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It’s the wrong kind of place
to be thinking of you
- Damien Rice, “9 Crimes”

Today I sat in the same coffee place
we haunted years ago. The same cold,
plastic seats, and sweet smelling countertops.

I asked for what I used to love, but I can’t handle
its refined sweetness, so I have learned
to consume small portions to temper the ache.

The sun flirts with the clouds and the wind skates across my skin.

Today I sat on that old and weary bench where we watched the birds
collect, in secret. Their thoughts were lost to me,
but their voices made an accidental song.

Today I walked up the steps to the library-the one with the landing
perfect for dancing. Only no one was dancing
and I was weary from the climb.

My energy fades like the blue of your favorite sweater.

I walked along the river today and thought it would be
a good day for paper boats. Maybe this time they would survive
the plunge and not be lost in the current.

Today the trees whispered your name and it made me
smile. Today I watched an old man smile
and wondered what they said to him.

The days slip through my fingers like the smoothest silk.

My day was filled with wonders,
friend. I hope your day was grace and
the stars in the night’s sky give you hope
of infinite beauty in the infinite darkness.
                       Farewell.

Mothergooseries

Today was interesting. I woke up later than I wanted to. Then I spent like 4 hours preparing for my speech tomorrow. Then I spent an hour working on my poem. Right before I went to work I decided to check and make sure there wasn't any other assignments due for tuesday. That's when I found out that my speech isn't until next week. Balls. 

So now I'm trippin' about my poem. It reads more like prose so I'm trying to integrate some similes into certain lines (as per Sandy's suggestions) in order make it flow. *Sigh* If it wasn't really embarrassing to workshop a horrible poem, I wouldn't even try. 

And stupid Time Warner didn't run through my recurring payment option last month so now I have to pay this month's bill early. Fucking bitches. It even says on my online account that I selected that option. I hate this company so much, its ridiculous.

6 out of the top 10 fastest growing companies in America are related to the oil industry. jeez.

What a glorious feeling!

It's sprinkling!! I went outside to take out the trash and the minimal cloud coverage was apparently enough to cause rain! Not much rain, but enough to make me smile. 

Disneyland is oh so close! Jsun has requested Dunkaroos and I am determined to find them! 

I added some gadgets to my blog as I procrastinate from writing my paper. 

The dodger game was fun, but I am ridiculously disappointed that I was forced to leave earlier so my sister could come home and write an essay. WTF?! We were listening to the game on the way home and of course they score 6 runs right AFTER we leave, in one inning! Argh!!!! I am so mad right now.

I saw an awesome Dodger shirt on the way into the parking lot, but had no opportunity to purchase it. I am now on a quest to find this shirt. It may be difficult cause it was one of those "unofficial vendors" that stand on the side of the road. 

SURPRISE!

Clay Aiken has confirmed that he is gay. Hmm. Shocker. 

He's still a precious little nerd. 

Dodger game tonight!!!! Yay! They play the Padres, so my mom will likely be cheering no matter who scores. 

*Sigh* I should get back to writing my paper now.

Ciao!

Nerdelicious

Tonight I watched The Sasquatch (Dumpling) Gang and it was hilarious!! If you saw Clerks II and loved Elias as much as I did, then you will thoroughly enjoy this movie. It is nerdtastic and just...precious. 

Favorite line:

"I gotta go cause my mom thinks I'm at the pet store petting kittens" (or something similar)

Jeremy Sumpter, of Peter Pan fame, was actually really good at playing a nerdy teenage boy. 

I think I might need to buy this movie.

 

Sorry in advance

Things that have been bothering me lately:

• That the trailer pronounces it Rodantheeeeee when I think it sounds better pronounced Rodanth (where the e is silent)
• That despite considerable effort, I am still a bitch quite often at work
• That despite considerable effort, I still suck at being a supervisor
• That I have to read so much for school and I never seem to finish any of it. 
• That health and money seems to come so easy to so many people
• That I don't spend any time with my family anymore
• That the company seems to believe that the reason for horrible sales is not the economic depression going on at the moment, but is, in fact, poor service management (what the frak?!)
• That I can't seem to stop being a procrastinator 

Anyways, I'm watching Pride & Prejudice (the newer one) and I just realized that all the characters seem so much younger in this one than in the A&E version. 

Some stupid douchebag wanted to return a book tonight and I refused the return. Then he spent 15  minutes basically trying to get me to return it. Then the fucker called after we had closed and David (argh!) answered the phone and had him yell at him for a good 10 minutes. Then Damon got on the phone and dealt with him for another 30 minutes. Finally, Damon just gave in and told him to bring it in tomorrow. I hate people. The guy even admitted to us that someone had told him the the return policy was changing Sunday so he grabbed a bunch of books off his shelf to return without a receipt. Lame. 

Last night's release party was fun....Jeremy loves Kaitlin!!!!hahahahahahahaha! Love you wifey!

I had to post this

I stole it from SBTB, but sharing is caring!

Isn't it ironic?

I was just reminded of a scene from my childhood. 

I was one of those little girls that needed all of my Barbies in the bathtub with me. I also had similar dolls that were different Disney princesses. So on one particular day I decided that I wanted to have Ariel included in the bathtime soiree and in she went into her much familiar environment. It was the usual fun and games of me washing each dolls hair as my mother washed mine all leading to the eventual inch of water on the bathroom floor. 

I usually was assigned to Barbie removal in the morning and nothing could have prepared me for what I encountered the next day. Imagine my surprise when I pick up Ariel only to discover that Ariel had become...seasick? Yes, my Ariel doll's head was green. I, to this day, have no idea how this happened. Just her head. Even at that tender age, I recognized the irony, even if I didn't know the word. 

I love the randomness of life and its little mysteries. 

I got nothing

I skipped two classes today (first time this semester!) cause I was pretty much burned out after work and homework from yesterday. I went to my first class to turn in said homework and then proceeded straight to my bed. Pretty much spent the rest of the day sleeping, eating, and reading for my night class (which I am currently in). It was a relaxing day thus far. I still am deciding if I want to go out tonight or not. We shall see if all the napping lasts until after 10. 

Brisingr release party is tomorrow. Its gonna be so lame...I can't wait!

And then...?

Yesterday was interesting.

I gave a self definition speech in my speech class and it was a little awkward. The eight people before me told the story of their lives or why the objects that they brought in are their favorite movie and shit. Neither of these really tell you how they define themselves. I talked about what defines me and then immediately felt like I should have just given my life story. I hate talking about my self to strangers. 

Then, an hour and a half later, I had to read one of my poems aloud and have it workshopped by my classmates. Also, very awkward to sit there and not say a word when people attack your word choice or hypothesize on the intention of the poem. It didn't turn out badly, though. Strangely, its appearing that I am rather adept at poetry, for all my hatred of analyzing the stuff. 

It was off to work after school and it started out well. I saw KTP for awhile, which is always fun, and rock/paper/scissored her into not going to class. I'm a bad influence. Pretty much as soon and she and Preston left, it got crazy. The walkie pirate paid us a visit and Patrick declared that we shouldn't use walkies for the rest of the night. That made it really difficult to communicate with each other and impossible for anyone to do recovery. 

Plus, everyone and their mother decided to either call or come in last minute to take advantage of the boxed set coupon (I bought P&P; the Colin Firth version, of course!). So, it was busy, we had minimal means of communication, we didn't really have a huge staff on hand, and we had a couple of problem customers. 

Every time I picked up my papers to start working on merch, someone needed something. So, as a result, all I did yesterday was the queue line. Lame.  Now I have tons of shit to get done today, and have to deal with stupid farmers market. 

So not looking forward to getting out of bed. 

Too tired to be clever

Midnight confessions! (despite the fact that it is past midnight)

As a result of subscribing to cable television, I now have a bit of a crush on this man. If I did the whole older man thing, it would be him, but (surprisingly) with his faux American accent.

And OMG! This is the most awkwardly hilarious video.




And yes, damn you, I did say OMG.

Hugs not drugs

I got hugs from Portugal! Boo-yow! Love the international hugs.

I, too, enjoyed the similarities of "how I bowl" and "how I roll".

Today was a good day.

I spent my time at work creating pretty displays and tons of recovery for other people.

Ken also came in to visit and make a purchase. I miss him. It made me laugh that he was too overwhelmed by the changes downstairs to venture upstairs. It was a nice visit.

Now I am off to plan my self-definition speech.

Good luck on your audition Wifey!

Beer, Bowling and Baby Got Back

So I got drunk last night.

After furiously cleaning my house between the hours of 4 and 8 yesterday afternoon, it was nice to kick back with a beer and bowling shoes and spend the rest of the night in good company. Although I did miss KTP, but not how she probably would've kicked our asses at bowling.

My lovely wife plied me with beers I didn't have to pay for (but I will repay in double doubles and shakes, promise!) and it was halfway through beer #1 that I realized I hadn't eaten anything for a long time, and this was why it was hitting me harder than usual. Plus I am a lightweight with beer and tequila. Those are my weaknesses.

It was an awesome game! KFP's boytoy, Andy (its Andy, right?), even had his own shoes! Thats how bad ass into bowling he was. Plus he did this spinning thing that was fun to watch, but didn't work out for him some of the time, because the lane wasn't waxed right...

Patrick also had this awesome silent bowling thing going on. His never made a sound when he sent it down the lane. I, on the other hand, slammed that sucker into the floor. That's how I bowl.

It was all around good times and I discovered that, like darts, I bowl better under the influence of alcohol. Go fig.

After bowling we did karaoke, which was so much fun! We sang "Wannabe", "Ironic" (where KFP came in too soon for the chorus and we couldn't stop laughing after that), "Zombie" (cause I had to, of course!), and "Baby Got Back" (where I shook my ass at the audience whilst Heather and Kaitlin sang their hearts out). I love karaoke! There is a tentative plan for hittin' up McG's to sing Muse tonight. *fingers crossed*

So it was a success of an evening and I woke up to a gloriously clean bathroom that has...*drum roll*...A NEW TOILET!!!! YAY!!!! My wonderful father bought and put in a new toilet for us yesterday. He rocks.

Today has started off well. And I am still a little drunk. Yay!

Qualification for the last post/link

It isn't about me.

Fine.

You can read it. But don't judge, it was written 7 years ago.

I remember...

when this picture was everywhere

I also remember standing in this room three months ago

One day I hope to remember sitting here

Can't sleep!

It is 3am. I am awake. I am also reminded of the movie Exorcism of Emily Rose every time I am awake at this hour. Creepy!

I was going to include a video involving the 3 am thing, but I got to freaked out just from the stills.

Now I am afraid to be awake or asleep!

Not done yet, apparently

Oh! I just realized that KTP had a comment as well that I would like to respond to. 

It looks interesting (Doctor Who, that is) and Liz said that she made the same mistake I did and started in the middle and was really confuzled. Patrick also mentioned something about different versions...? I think we should at least rent it since its expensive. 

That reminds me, I still need to pay that parking ticket.

Blogging question

Is it better to respond to comments on the comment page or within an actual entry? 

I feel weird essentially commenting on my own blog, even though technically I am commenting on a comment on my blog.

I think I prefer to answer (KFP's) questions/comments in an actual entry.

That being said:

I own the whatever edition and you can, like, totally come over and watch with me!

I'm outie...or is it outtie?...or perhaps outy?...I know its not audi. 

How do you spell that fraking word? 

What Ever bitches. 

Near miss

We can all relax. The world did not end. 

Although I did hear something about it taking weeks to charge up. 

Don't know what I am talking about? Too bad, cause today I am not in a linking mood. Google it. 

Wait. What am I saying? If you read my blog, then surely you read Kellie's, so you should know by now. 

Oh, and weekend homework: watch Clueless. 

Sometimes I love school. 

Make it work...

I must say I am very proud of myself for not being a huge bitch today at work. Its the little successes that keep you trying. 

I also dealt very well with problem customers. So, go me!

Other than that, not much going on.

To answer KFP's question: 

My sister was approached by the undercover cop (our neighbor) and asked to watch a certain car for 5 minutes. He clearly had to explain the reasons behind his request. We then googled the gang and found out they are involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, etc. Scary shit, my friends. 

Whatsagoinon?

Watching Doctor Who and am very confused. I think I should start from the beginning, and maybe find out what the premise is of this show. 

Made for TV

So my sister and I found out today that there is a Central American gang living down the street and an undercover cop living across the street trying to bust them. 

Update

Realized that I watched Flight 93 and not United 93. Have recorded United 93 for future viewing, but cannot handle watching it so soon after the other one. Yikes. 

No appropriate title for this post without sounding bitchy or insensitive

I just finished watching United 93. Oh dang. I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to start watching a film guaranteed to emotionally rape me this early in the morning. I think I did a good job of restraining most of the tears, but my eyes have had a continual gloss for the past 2 hours. Man, this was too soon for me. I totally would not have been able to watch this when it first came out. Although whilst viewing the film I realized that I still have my VHS tapes of the news broadcasts and the telethon thing. Why did I think this was something I wanted to tape for viewing later? I was seriously effed in the head as a teenager. 

It was a good film, though, and it totally got me all patriotic again. It was like a visit to D.C. minus the airfare and god awful humidity. I think I shall wear R,W&B on thursday to show my support. I can't believe its been 7 years. Time does fly. 

The one thing I didn't like was that there was no clear progression of time. I mean, clearly it was all the same day, but I think a nifty clock like they have in 24 would've helped to better represent how quickly all this shit went down (no pun intended, I'm not BTP). 

I got my review at work tonight. Overall, I was very happy with the assessment of my performance thus far. I also completely agree on the "needs to be improved" bit. I am excited about the possibilities for the future. Cannot wait to build my merch team. 

Next week looks good, schedule-wise. Saturday especially since I open with the one and only KTP. Good times shall be had. 

Also, I washed my car today and, as a result, cannot stop admiring how it shines in the sun. I literally just stood and admired it for a good 2 minutes before running errands. I am lame, but its the small pleasures that keep me going. For reals. 

I wish there really was a "happy pill" because this bitch has been a total, well, bitch recently and I am getting sick of myself. I keep starting the day thinking I will be happy and peppy today and it dies after the first customer I help, or the first horrible driver I am stuck behind. I think I need a vacation or a shot of happy sometime soon. 

Haha! *Die Hard is on TNT! I guess its terrorist movie night. Ooh. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. Well, doubtless I shall watch Bruce Willis barefoot nonetheless. I am so jealous, he was in the Sherman Oaks store the other day! They get all the movie stars. Lame. 

TTFN

*At least its not Die Hard 2.

Ya learn something new every day

I feel a little lame for just realizing that Brody, of "L.C. and Brody" fame, is in fact Bruce Jenner's son. I didn't realize this guy was such a reality tv whore. 

Similarities

okay this just needs to be said.

McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin

Looks like an older version of Karen from Will & Grace

Quick note

One more thing:

If you are going to get into a fight, and have a prosthetic eye, make sure you take it out first.....and, for safe keeping, shove it up your vagina.....then realize that you cannot get it out and go to the ED for removal

For other life lessons from the ER go here

Lame

Well boo-urns. I was looking at my post from last night/early this morning and discovered that one of my links is wrong. So third to the last one is supposed to be something like this

So I ended up going to bed at 3am, which pretty much blew. On top of that I had to wake up at 6:45 so I could get ready and go to the library to print up my homework before my 8am class. It all worked out in the end, but I think I am going to take a nap.

Two things I have learned today:

1. Don't ride a bike in newly washed jeans (especially at 7 in the morning). It does not make for good coordination.

2. The Cheetah Girls cannot lip sync to save their lives. I caught a glimpse of "One World" and its horrible. 

Oliver...

I got a parking ticket tonight for parking in a handicap spot. I'm not too concerned because I have just feasted on the awesomeness that is a double double and because I also just got my loan check like two weeks ago, so for now the state shall be paying itself. Just some advice to anyone contemplating parking where they don't belong: park in front of a fire hydrant, its way cheaper. Now I know.

In other news: Martin no call, no showed his way out of work so that's awesome. He was a creeper (as Kaitlin would say). Life at work is getting more and more stressful as I have to deal with the results of a skeleton staff, increasingly messy/needy patrons, and lack of sleep.

The result being whiny coworkers who think I really care. I don't. I may have cared the first two times you told me how all this change pisses you off, but I don't anymore. Its tiresome. Do you think I want to spend my day listening to you whine and complain about how you have to do everything yourself or it wouldn't get done; or how you don't get enough hours; or how the shifting around of shelving units is stupid; or how so-and-so doesn't do anything and gets away with it; or how now you have to deal with school on top of everything else? No, I don't. I'm not your therapist or your mom or your significant other. I. DON'T. GIVE. A. SHIT. I can't fix it for you. These aren't my decisions and they aren't all bad decisions. In fact, some of them I think totally improve the store. I apologize. I just needed to get that out.

As I was...

School started, so most of my free time is now devoted to reading the thousands of poems/novels that must be read. Things I have discovered in these readings thus far: modern poetry is not ALL bad; despite my love for Jane Austen, "Emma" is a really boring read (at least the first 150 pages); I might be able to conquer this public speaking thing despite my teacher's Pam Anderson voice; and I need to talk to more of my classmates. Right now I should be doing homework, but it has to be turned in typed and I just realized I have nothing to print it on since both of my printers are out of ink. Balls. I also have some poetry to read, but thats not all that hard.

I am so boring.

I found out the most horrible news ever!!! The Croc company (creators of the most hideous shoes in the universe and the worst thing to ever come out of Colorado!!!) has released new versions of the abomination they call footwear and now have Crocs with heels for the more fashion forward, and a Vans-type Croc for the skaters. AAAAHHHHH!!!!!! The end is very fucking nigh. Granted, the vans ones aren't that bad, but you can definitely see the crocodile influence.

LINK  LINK  LINK  LINK  LINK!!!! I am link happy because it makes me happy to have visuals.