Stuff

I keep forgetting to take a picture for y'all every Wednesday evening. Because school is back in and that means that Wednesday evenings are spent tutoring. Math and English in case you're wondering. So instead, I give you this photo I found through Google.



The nice thing is that recently it has actually been sunny in Pacifica -- a rarity. So I get to go to a place that I find lovely and I get paid. Sometimes I get dinner as well. Can't get any better than that.

I am seriously trying to plan some vacations for myself but right now I feel as if my head is going to explode from attempting to make plans. So I took this quiz instead.

Your result for Zombie, Zombie Food, or Zombie Survivor Test...

The Survivor

You are well prepared and knowledgable and will no doubt live a long and happy zombie-free life. You might want to think about setting up a zombie survival group in your area, an anti-undead militia. But please, for everyone's sake keep it low-key. We don't want the government to think we are on to their scheme so take your band and keep moving.

Take Zombie, Zombie Food, or Zombie Survivor Test at HelloQuizzy

I wonder if these skills can get rid of irritating relatives. Hmmm...

Wanderlust

By Thursday afternoon I was dreaming of getting away from it all. But then reality set in.

I realized that starting Thursday night, I was responsible for two fish,

two dogs,


and three cats for the holiday weekend.



No, the first cat is not Natasha. He's my neighbor's cat. He's even more camera shy than she is.

So much for getting away. I contented myself with making a list of places. Then I realized that everywhere on the list consisted of day trips. So I made a new list of weekend trips. Maybe once I start doing some of these, I can start making a list of places that will take more than a weekend. I figure for now, I should start small though.

And so since I could not get away, I did the next best thing and headed to the roof. (Please ignore the singing. I'm just trying to drown out the voices of the guys from work telling me that it is not good for the roof to walk upon it constantly. La-la-la. Whatever.)

My neighbor started an herb garden last year but it appears that she gave up on that idea. Now we're left with a few pots of this.

And since y'all enjoyed the 'hood photos, I leave you with these. I had not been on the roof since they finished the new building. Unfortunately this building blocks most of our western views. Grrrr.


I hope to start on the lists the coming weekend. The best I'll be able to do is a day trip though. Actually, it may be this way for a bit more time. I have a family obligation Saturday evening. It's my aunt's birthday and so we're having the party that she would have wanted.

Things I do while at work

I promise a much longer post in a day or two but in the meantime, let me throw this out there.

Yesterday while browsing, I came across this article. I seriously started to rethink this whole job thing. Obviously I have made a bad choice. (Not really. Just couldn't afford the likes of these trips.) Or maybe I need to rethink this marriage thing. Of course, I will need to come up with funds for Boris's rehab soon so I guess a vacation isn't likely in the near future.

*sigh* Back to work...

On its way

Yesterday I broke down and made my first purchase for myself in some time. I'm starting to think that since the sale is an annual event right before my birthday that I should just get in the habit of making an annual purchase. An early birthday present for myself each year.



This is the bag I got this year. But mine is navy. Although I did seriously consider this color as well. And yes, I know that I already own a messenger bag. But it has profanity on it -- even if it is written kind of small and lightly. So that doesn't make it all that work friendly. Also it's bright yellow. I know this was probably not your choice, Laurie, as it is the only color messenger bag available from Cafe Press. But when I was traveling in December, I frequently got comments like, "So you've brought your own life boat?" while waiting around in airports.

And I like to think that the purchase was a part of positive thinking. When I return to my old job (No, they haven't called yet.), the new bag will be perfect for work. Oh, and another thought. After I've returned it will mean that next year I should be able to buy two bags during the sale. Squeeeee!

OK. That's just too much excitement for me. I must return to the drudgery of laundry, cleaning, and packing. Because I'm off for SoCal tomorrow after work.

The end of the inner monologue

La Princesa's rejoicing on Saturday was quickly put to an end on Sunday evening. The pair had been invited for Christmas Eve dinner at the home of a friend of La Reina. It was a pity that the only person present that La Reina liked was the hostess. La Princesa spent the rest of the evening making sure that the wine in her glass did not drop below a certain level. This was because she knew if the glass ever emptied and then she tried to refill it, she would have to hear, "You're having another drink?" La Princesa made this decision after La Reina pulled her aside to inform her that she was rattling. Now La Princesa can be quite garrulous in party situations. Even more so if she is surrounded by strangers. But this time she was not suffering from the diarrhea of the mouth. It probably did not help La Princesa's case when all the dinner guests proclaimed her beauty and youthful look. (She had conceded to some of La Reina's rants by choosing to wear earrings and lipstick for the evening.) Over the years, La Princesa decided that this really irritates La Reina -- hearing how beautiful and/or charming others find La Princesa. It's all kind of like the stepmother in Snow White. When others are complimetary, it is more likely that La Reina will be critical.

So La Princesa contented herself with the beauty of the home. As she looked around, she thought, "This is a home worthy of the Empress of the Universe." Oh, and the views!







Finally the wretched evening came to an end. The next thing to deal with would be Christmas day.

They were visited by La Reina's nietos. Then three friends of La Reina showed up. They were all younger than La Princesa. La Reina knew them from salsa dancing in the main square on Sunday evenings. It was agreed that all were starving. So it was off to Fajita Republic. (I told you that we might hear about this place again.) This time La Princesa remembered that she was armed with a camera.








After the meal, it was back into town to walk the malecon. There was also another brief stop at La Bodeguita, but no one could stay awake long enough to stay for the band.



Tuesday La Princesa quickly packed her bags. She was going home. But she had learned a couple of things along the way. She now understood why La Reina loved the place so much. She also knew that it would probably be another ten years before she returned there. At least as long as La Reina was present.

More of the inner monologue

La Princesa finally was feeling somewhat normal by Saturday. This was after being awakened numerous times over the previous days to hear La Reina saying, "You've slept enough already. It's your vacation. You should be doing things." La Princesa was doing things. To be exact, she was getting some much needed sleep.

So Saturday La Princesa arose from her slumber. Unfortunately there was not a handsome prince involved in this process. She then consented to go into town.

They strolled the malecon, including the new one. It was the same as La Princesa remembered but different. The malecon had had to be rebuilt after the city was hit by a hurricane a few years ago. There were new sculptures along the way as well.













Oh, and there were the industrious men creating sand sculptures on the beach for the holiday season.







What saddened La Princesa the most was the destruction of the old for the modern. Old squares are being torn down to make room for parking garages. One hopes that this will never happen to the main plaza.







And then there was this stately building. It will be replaced with a highrise.



Along their walk, the two agreed to go out to dinner later in the evening. They made reservations at Daquiri Dick's. La Reina chided La Princesa for taking photos of the food during their meal. La Princesa simply stated that she had friends who would like to see the food. Thankfully the manager -- who knows La Reina -- agreed with La Princesa. The daquiris consumed with the meal also helped matters.







Now we all know that La Reina likes to call the shots. This meant that after dinner, the two had to head to La Bodeguita del Medio, a Cuban restaurant that features a Cuban band. And of course, the band knew La Reina as well.



La Princesa sat sipping on her mojito and thinking, "This is the kind of place that I could grow to love. Well, in other company perhaps." Because mojitos can make all things look good.



By the end of the evening, La Princesa started to believe that there would be hope for this trip. Would she be right?

To be continued...

Inner monologue

This is a fave phrase of my cousin in the DC area. You'll say something to him because you could have sworn that he just said something to you. He'll nod his head and say, "Ummm. No. That was your inner monologue."

So I thought of this all because this is how I maintained my sanity in Mexico. Well, I mostly maintained it. I spent days telling myself stories about La Princesa -- who knew that one day she would be Empress of the Universe -- and the evil Reina -- who many years ago was known as La Puta.

In the tale the La Princesa traveled to Mexico to visit La Reina because La Reina had commanded it. One thing La Princesa knew about La Reina is that she is one of the most self-centered women on this planet. In fact, in La Reina's mind she was like the Sun; the rest of us orbit around her as she wills. But La Princesa had been to see these great magicians over the years, known as therapists, and while La Reina demanded that all dance to her song, La Princesa did not let it bother her -- as much -- anymore.

Before going to the resort, they had to stop at the prison. This place is otherwise known as La Reina's home. Not only did one need keys to enter but to exit as well. La Princesa thought, "What have I gotten myself into? I will be trapped in this place at this woman's beck and call. And what about when I need a nicotine fix? Because La Reina does not allow nicotine in her home."





Luckily La Princesa quickly learned where the spare keys were hidden that would allow her to escape to her smoking lounge.



Then it was off to the resort so that they could get ready for dinner with La Reina's friend. You know. The one who owns a winery in Sonoma. There were cocktails with dinner and wonderful conversation. At least, this is what La Princesa would like to think but things were kind of hazy for her. She had been up since 3:30 a.m. and was fighting a sinus infection as well as hemorrhaging. This never makes for a pleasant combination. This would also be why La Princesa did not think of taking pictures at dinner with her snazzy new camera in this most wondrous of places -- The Fajita Republic. (You ask why this name is mentioned? Perhaps because we will return to this lovely place latter in our tale.)

The next day, La Reina proclaimed that they should go to the beach. Never mind that it was overcast. But before heading to the beach, they saw the magnificent creatures contained at the resort. And during this time, La Princesa thought of Daniel.









La Princesa left La Reina on the beach while she retired to the balcony to continue reading her books -- Echo Park and The Kite Runner. Because this was what La Princesa thought was a perfect vacation -- reading and napping. When La Reina returned, La Princesa refused to go out. This may have had something to do with the pain behind her eyes caused by the sinuses that contained way too much fluid.





The next day they had to leave the resort. La Princesa's stay there had been cheated by the evil airline. It is hard to say which is more evil -- the airline or La Reina.

Upon returning to the prison, La Princesa once more refused to go out. There was still that throbbing pain behind her eyes. La Princesa bemoaned her fate. What could be worse than to have a sinus infection than to have one in a dust-filled city? She prayed for the mercy of the powers that be.

In the prison, she discovered the joy of cable TV. There was TNT and even better -- there was E!. La Princesa learned about the feud between Rosie and the Donald. She learned of the improprieties of Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss Nevada. She saw the blurred photo of Brit Brit, once more, that had helped to name "junk" as the number one thing on the 2006 edition of "Best Week Ever" on VH1 the previous week. While watching the various shows, she found herself muttering things like, "Besa mi culo," and "Te chinga," everytime La Reina bellowed her name.

And then La Princesa discovered something else -- her knitting project that she had set aside when the school year started. La Princesa was thrilled that TSA now did not think of knitting needles as a threat. She spent endless hours knitting so that she could get the back of the cardigan off of the #2 needles she desperately needed to start the dress for her cousin's little girl. Her hands continue to fly even though she was wracked with pain. She would make progress. Despite La Reina's attempts to interfere with her efforts and to ruin La Princesa's first "vacation" in two years.

Another consolation for poor little La Princesa was that it would all be hers one day. There is this funny thing in property transactions in Mexico. When one acquires new property, one must name a beneficiary for said property. And La Princesa knew that she was the beneficiary of the prison.

To be continued...

Thank goodness I've already done therapy

"Didn't I tell you to take that thing out of your nose before you got here?"

"Why aren't you wearing any makeup?"

"Don't you think you should put some earrings on?"

"You know. You are quite pretty. It just seems like you could put a little more effort into your appearance."

"Your hair is frizzing. Did you know that? It really doesn't look good."

"Oh my. Why would you put that hideous color on your toes?"

I think I may have used up all of my good karma in trying my best to not kill my mother during the past week. Then again maybe I have some left still. I just called the jury hotline and apparently I have fulfilled my duty for the year.

Well, I'm off to get some rest, get reacquainted with the cats, and sort through the gazillion photos I took.