too busy having fun

March was a crazy month. I feel like I did way too much and now all I want to do is take a nap. But April is going to be exciting too. This weekend Eric was doing his racing @ OC/RC in Huntington Beach. On Friday night I got to go watch, it was a lot of fun. I almost want to start racing myself. On Saturday, Eric's friends Randy and Rodney were racing, although Eric decided he didn't want to race in such a large race yet (it had super mad skilled peeps and he is still getting used to this track and racing in general) But Eric did take some amazing pictures of the boys races. Meanwhile I went to the Disney Character Warehouse in Anaheim and bought two Pook-a-looz. I LOVE them. I got Kermit and the Mad Hatter. They are so cute it is stupid. After I went shopping I brought Eric Lunch, then we went on a lunch run for the boys. AFter that we went to the Cabrillo Marine Museum, but forgot to bring cash for parking so we looked at the whole thing within an hour, because I was pretty sure I had a dollar in change in my car. LOL! AFter that we got a snack at the Torrance Bakery, then we headed back to the race track because Eric forgot a camera battery. Then we ate at SuperMex and drove home.

Tomorrow we are going to the melting pot for dinner because I got sent a 20 dollar off coupon. I <3 Coupons!

Next weekend, we plan on going to the Butterfly Jungle exhibit at the SD Zoo Safari PArk (formerly known as the Wild Animal Park) I am hoping it isn't crazy hot that day.

The weekend after should see us in Los Angeles as I am baking for the FOL Booksale Bakesale, and I want to go to the LA Spring Fair too.

The weekend after is Easter, and then the month is almost over. May looks to be busy too, but I have a week off work for when Eric's Nephews (and Sister in law) are coming to visit. And now we see why I never blog, I am just too busy!

March Madness

A handful of people I know are trying to blog once a day for a month. I guess I will jump on the bandwagon, although I will admit I don't have much to say. Today we can make a start and see where we go from there.

I built a bookcase this morning, I have chili in the crock pot, and have a mountain of laundry to fold.

I have eaten horribly today, I admit it, and yet I am probably going to come in under points.So far today I have eaten like a lazy bachelor (sorry for the stereotype) having bacon, beef jerky, coke zero, oreos and milk, and having vegetarian chili for dinner. I will still be under points though :/

Tomorrow i head to LA to work. My biggest desire right now is to get a job down here. I HATE going to work. I like my job, but hate my commute.

Epic Weekend...

Last Weekend....

Eric and I went to the San Diego Zoo, where we had our picture taken while we were sitting on a Hippo Statue....



Saw Giraffes up close and personal...



And envied the snoozing Pandas...



We also went to the Hillcrest Farmer's Market, where Eric got a snack....



What is that?

It is a Scotch Egg, which is basically a hardboiled egg, surrounded by sausage, breaded and fried.... Then, he put HP sauce on it....



And we also walked to the end of the longest pier on the West Coast, after eating at a yummy barbeque place in Ocean Beach...

Maine

Last Weekend I went to Maine with Eric, we had a good time, I got to see the Eastermost point in the contiguous United States, I went to Canada for the first time. They sadly did not stamp my passport at the border.


On friday night we flew from San Diego to Boston on a red eye. God totally hooked us up, because we were originally on a flight that landed first in JFK and I HATE HATE HATE that airport. But when we went to check in and see if we could get our seats changed, they offered to bump us to the non-stop to Boston for free. The change in flights also bought us enough time to grab some dinner before our flight. (yummy CPK Olive and Mushroom Pizza!)

We flew, and were in an emergency exit row so we had extra legroom. There was, however the crankiest flight attendant I have ever encountered. She was a source of entertainment for me. Because it was an overnight flight, we both tried to sleep on the plane, but weren't that succesful.

The nest day we landed at Logan airport, picked up the rental car and started driving towards Maine. Our plans were to see where we ended up and grab some lodgings for the night before figuring out what we were doing the next day. We got as far as Machias before Eric decided it would be safer if he had a nap before continuing on for the day (it was about 3 in the afternoon) So we stopped at a fun and safe looking gas station. While he took a nap, I explored the things found in gas stations that you can't find in Southern California. I ate a pack of devil dogs and some lime water and called some friends at home. After he rested a bit we drove a few more hours and ended up in Lubec, ME. A little town just this side of the US/Canadian border. We found lodgings and then went in search for dinner. While we were driving around we noticed this little beachy area where if you looked east it was nightime and the moon was up but if you looked west, it was still in a phase of a really beutiful sunset. I took pictures, Eric explored the plantlife, but eventually we ddecided we were really hungry. There were two places to eat in this town, and one of them looked absolutely dead. The other one was a fairly busy looking seafood place. We were trying to avoid it, because I am not a seafood eater. After driving around this little town we decided to eat there. I knew that I could get a salad and fries if nothing else. They actually had non-seafood items on the menu, but I decided that since I was being adventurous with my weekend, I would go ahead and order the fish and chips. They weren't bad. I still don't love seafood, but I ate all of my dinner.

The next day we had to get batteries for the GPS so we stopped at a gas station. There we procured Whoopie Pies for breakfast (I also grabbed a starbucks coffee because my body thought it was still 5 am or something) visited the Easternmost point in the contiguous US (a hobby of his and the reason for the trip)and that is located at West Quoddy Head, ME. We took pictures, visited the lighthouse, (one of only two red and white striped ones in the U.S.) and then departed for Canada. We visited an island of New Brunswick and saw FDR's summer home. Located wild blackberries, and raspberries. I got ate up by some mosquitos. We went to this little inn thing for lunch and I had a really good grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. After lunch we found a Canadian grocery store, because Eric was convinced I needed a Canadian Mt. Dew. They are caffeine free and I think they taste better. After that we returned to the U.S. and drove down to Augusta, where we had Olive Garden and went to bed, knowing we had to drive the rest of the way to Boston the next day and be there in time to make our flight home.

The next day we drove and drove and drove, stopped at a Tim Horton's for a lunch/breakfast break and then drove and drove and drove and finally made it to Boston and were in the terminal exactly 1 hour before flight time.

Many changes in life are the result of this trip, and it is going to take some time to get used to. But I do feel that even with all of the negatives, this trip was well worth it. I am however, dealing with a lot of stuff right now, so if you feel compelled to comment about what a whorish slut I am for going on a vacation where absolutely nothing innappropriate happened, please keep it to yourself.

Trip to San Diego

So, I went on a not-quite blind internet date on Sunday. I met up with a really great guy who I've been writing back and forth with for a few months. We had a lot of fun. Enough fun that we plan on seeing each other again. I don't know where this is going to go, but I'm totally looking forward to findong out.

Got Blog?

So, I feel like I've abandoned my blog but I really haven't. There has just been so much going on. Some things I can share freely, some I can't, but I can share that I have been growing and changing in so many ways. I definitely believe that this is the summer of my independence.

I've been learning more about being on my own and being happy with who I am.

I've dealt with some hardcore struggles, and learned that no matter what the issue is, the answer is at the foot of the cross.

I am really looking forward to the trip to the Grand Canyon at the end of the month, and an upcoming trip to Georgia to see the world's largest aquarium.

I just wanted to put in an update, I should have another one soon...

90%

I have been crazy hectic in my life lately. 90 % of that is my fault. I embrace that it is my fault and that I have to deal with the consequences of my actions.

I've made decisions that have ended up with me getting hurt... again... I knew it was going to happen, but was willing to go through the pain, so here I am wincing at the slightest jab to my bruised self...

I am fighting off this "bug" that wants to be a cold or an ear infection or something, but doesn't actually make me feel bad. I am just tired and fuzzy, and coughing, but not horribly.

I am very excited for my upcoming vacation to San Francisco. Fourth of July by the Bay! I am going with some good friends from work and I am looking forward to being able to relax.

My next post will be a report on that unless I feel some pressing need to post something before then. However, my computer is being lame, so I don't know if I'll be able to post pics right away.

I have been blogging, but what I have been pouring from my heart has not been anything I have felt like sharing.

okay

I haven't dissapeared.

I've just been busy.

But thanks to my imminent schedule change that will hopefully change.

I finally have Wednesdays off! I have been trying to get Wednesdays off for over a year and I finally got them! Hooray!

I also work less on Saturdays! This excites me! I do work on Thursdays now, but that is okay with me.

I have been dealing with a lot spiritually but, as it says in the song Indescribable:
"You know the depths of my heart and you love me the same, You are Amazing God" and I just gotta hold on to that.

Physically I HAVE been feeling better. I have slept in my bed for a week now, and I am so thankful. I was beginning to think I would never get to sleep again...

I got to touch the ceiling of the church gym... I never would have thought that would excite me as much as it did. Now I just need to recuperate a little bit more and then I can go on the swing!

I am needing to make decisions about my future, and I am highly humored that I am having such a difficult time with this. I wanted to be a teacher for the longest time as a child. Then I decided that this was the last thing I wanted to do, but now I'm not so sure.... I just don't know...

I have some other stuff I've been delaing with, but that stuff isn't for publication on the internet. It just doesn't belong on the web...

But, yes, for those people concerned about me, especially those that witnessed my behavior as of late, I am okay... I am getting better, but as always prayer is appreciated.

All the Birds Sing Words and the Flowers Croon...

In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room!



Today I am going to Disneyland! I love the Tiki Room! It is my favorite thing at Disneyland!




I love the art of SHAG!



This one is cute!



This is part of the new Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary line by SHAG... I want them all! They are Amazing!!!

In Case You are wondering...

So. It has been an interesting week. I am however, looking very much forward to Spring Break which I guess is officially started.

Friday night I came home from work and fell asleep. I didn't eat dinner, I didn't go online for hours. I went to sleep. At 7pm! I did wake up in the middle of the night but was apparently still ready to sleep because when it was time for me to wake up on Saturday for work. I really didn't want to.

Saturday I had a staff meeting at work. We had this most amazing banana choc. chip nut bread. I want to know how to make it. Or go buy like fifty loaves to keep in the freezer. Yes, it is that good.
I created a gator headband craft to match one of the stories from storytime.
I went to El Pollo Inka with Denise and Jessica, where I ate my amazing #8 no egg and put about a third of a bottle of the amazing green sauce on my food. I would put it on almost everything I eat! I love it! One day I will get the Chaufa and eat a whole bottle of it. It is a dietary goal. I will need many Inka Colas that day.
Went back to work and then from 3-5 cleaned out the craft supplies and toy giveaways section of the workroom. I laughed when I discovered that we have a whole basket worth of Harry Potter party supplies. I have corrupted the library. I am looking forward to the party we may or may not be having in July. I <3 Harry Potter.

I came home intending to stay in bed and read. Then one of my coworkers texted me to let me know that her check was already in and so mine probably was too. It was. I am so excited. So, I went out to dinner and the movies with Denise. I tried the new Buffalo Chicken pizza at CPK. It is not bad, but I would like it better if they put the celery on after it came out of the oven. It is probably my number 3 pizza on the menu after the BBQ Chicken Pizza and the Chicken Club Pizza. They are yummys. As always I enjoyed more than one glass of the glorious sugar free peach Iced Tea. It is amazing stuff!

Today I have Sunday School and Church, then I need to get some stuff done at home so that I can go to Disneyland tomorrow! I am going with some coworkers and it should be a lot of fun. I really want my back to co-operate with me though, because one of my co workers hasn't been in a really long time and I want her to have fun.

Then tonight is twenty-somethings bowling! I am bringing at least one and possibly two friends. It should be a blast.

Tuesday I am planning on spending the day around here getting some stuff (taxes!) done and then working in the evening.

Wednesday I am on a normal Wednesday schedule.

Thursday I am supposed to go see the German Cold War art Exhibition at LACMA with a friend from school.

Friday and Saturday I work all day.

I would like to squeeze a trip to the Aquarium in at some point this week, but it depends on how things go.

More details as events warrant! LOL!


Also, tomorrow is the LAST day to get in entries for the plastic egg challenge of the month. Try to wow me folks!

trying day

Today was a trying day.

Not just a long day but a "try"ing day. As in let's try these aspects of your character to see what you will do.

I had to learn some new things today that I hope to never have to put to use, but at the same time, know that it is a distinct possibility.

I had to learn that sometimes you shouldn't listen to someone when they say they are okay.

I went from feeling slightly concerned, to worried sick, to feeling immense relief all within the period of an hour.

Tomorrow I will be at work and then school and I have a lot of work to do for school, so I hope I get it all completed. But then I will be at the last film of the International Women's Film Festival. Thursday I have a paper due and a midterm. Friday is a working day and so is Saturday. Sunday is church and then the 20 somethings bowling evening. It should be fun.

Just a reminder that you have until Monday to submit your plastic Easter egg entries for this months challenge... And images are acceptable!

This post makes no sense... But it is my blog!

Okay, here it is in all of its gory glory.

I took this weekend to pray and make some decisions. I am not going to share them here in my blog. In fact, if you don't know me in real life this post will make no sense to you at all, so you might as well stop reading now. Even if you do, it might not make sense but you know I rarely make sense anyhow.

I know that some of those decisions are going to make some of you, my dear friends, think I am insane.

I assure you I am not.

I know that there are some things I am sacrificing by having made the decisions I have made, and that is okay with me. It really is.

Please, if you are going to judge me, keep it to yourselves. I am not interested in condemnation from anyone. If you want to get all high and mighty and throw scripture at me, be forewarned, I have scriptures of my own to throw back.

If, on the other hand you truly care about me, just pray. This has been a long a difficult process, and my heart is still tender and bruised and would like not to be poked at for awhile.

Will you see any big changes in my life? Probably not. At least not for awhile.

I am coming home from what has been a cherished and God appointed opportunity to rest and totally just get it all out with my Abba.

My aunt is a saint for basically letting me come up and eat her food and sleep for long periods of time during the day, and not having any responsibilities shoved in my face, so that in the wee quiet hours, I could wrestle with my thoughts. I am blessed to have her in my life. And now she is trying to feed me again. I am going to come home weighing 300 pounds, I swear.

I really want to be deep and insightful today, but I really don't have anything deep or insightful in my head.

Lets see...

Lately I have written a couple blogs that I haven't posted. Mostly because I think they are stupid, but some because I can't handle being that vulnerable, and at least one where I was writing out of anger and it would be wrong of me to post it.

I am excited for the Women's Retreat. I feel more than ever before that I NEED this weekend.

I have two entries so far in my decorate Stacey's door contest, when it is all over I will post pictures.

Yesterday in my Terror and Totalitarianism class we started watching a film called One Day in September. It is about the terrorist attacks at the Munich Olympics. It is very interesting and exceedingly sad. At one point it hit me really hard and I actually contemplated stepping out of the room.

I have an entertaining/befuddling situation with a friend that could escalate into a nightmare. I hope it doesn't. In fact that is something y'all could pray for if you felt so inclined.

there is just a few snippets of my life lately...

A New Idea!

I am so excited! Phil built my bookcase today!
I can fill it up tomorrow!

Hooray!

--------------------------------
I am going to present a challenge to you (all 5 of you) My faithful readers!
I want to do some thing new every month.

This month in honor of my almost clean room I present:

Door Decoration Challenge!

I want to present a challenge to all of my bloggy readers. I have a new bulletin/cork board on my door (if you live with me you've seen it) If not, think college dorm door boards. Anywhoo, I need stuff to put on it, so I am asking for pictures, drawings, arts excetera to be submitted to me :) I would like to see my door and think of my friends when I see it. you draw? I'll take a sketch, photography your thing? I'd like picture! Are you a poet? Write me a Haiku. Have a scripture that reminds you of me? Write it on a Card!

Flat stuff is prefered, but I will take small 3D things that can be hung on a string or something similar too!

Anything is welcome!

This month is all about creativity!

And there is a prize!

The winner based on my opinion will recieve a ticket to the Aquarium of the Pacific! (in Long Beach, CA)
it is like a 23 dollar value!

And if you like me enough to want me too, I'll go with you! LOL :)

Really I just need some stuff to hang guys! But anything impressive is up for judging!

AND!!!

On the first of every month I will try to post a new challenge. I don't know if the prize will be as spiffy every month, but I can promise a prize!

If you want to participate but !gasp! don't know me IRL contact me at
otterpop73 at hotmail . com

frightened

I have been feeling a need to do some things in my life lately.

One thing is that I need to tell someone my life story, ALL of it, not just the parts it doesn't hurt to tell. I am kind of afraid to scare people away, or bore them to tears, but I feel a need to do this. I am not talking about a whole "On Sunday, September 20th 1981 at 9:53 am I was born" type telling, I am talking about the bits of me that no one knows about. The bits that make me afraid that anyone who knows will be so appalled they'll never talk to me again.

The idea is both really frightening, and extremely appealing at the same time...

Intelectually I know that nothing I could say would send my real friends running, but there is that super insecure part of me that keeps saying "you don't have any real friends" and it makes me deeply afraid...

I just don't know what to do.

pop

So, obviously I am trying to do the whole blog a day thing.

Tonight I am very tired and really just want to sleep. I should because tomorrow is another long day.

Today I had a History Club Meeting and it went well. Then I went to work at the library, that went well too. Then At youth tonight we played a balloon building game that my team totally failed at but I had a lot of fun playing.

I hate to be boring but that is about it for today.

Day 2

So, once again I find myself having a feeling of impending change.

I don't know if this change is going to be good or bad, but I can just feel that things are going to be different.

I know that I am so much different from who I was last year. On this day last year I was getting ready to move for the second time in a month. (thankfully I am still where I moved to) I was being shown the most amazing love by God, but still was having a difficult time realizing it. I didn't know then what I know now.

I had never really left the continent, and most certainly never been anywhere far away by myself.

I am so different because of everything thast has happened in the last year, and so I am excited to see what changes are going to occur.

Yes, I am rambling, and yes, I realize I don't make much sense, but this is all a part of the journey...

And speaking of journeys, I am toying with the idea of going to Scotland this summer for a week. I don't know if it is going to work out, but I think it would be fun.

It isn't Budapest or Istanbul, but it is still somewhere I would like to go.

To Do:

Find Library books
Return Library Books
Pay Fees
Get Hold Removed
Pick Classes
Register for Classes
Meet with Prof #1 to receive letters of recommendation
Meet with Prof #2 to discuss work schedule
Go to Dollar Tree
Purchase Yellow and Green Streamers for Library Craft if possible (must go elsewhere if they don't)
See if they have gold glitter for same craft
Look at 1 dollar storage ideas
Work on Paper
Dinner with a friend
Clean for a bit
Sleep


This is what my day is probably going to look like. I should also do laundry at some point. Hopefully tonight.

My boss doesn't think that me having Saturday off for women's retreat will be that big of a deal, but I will have to work on Fri. Especially since I do believe I have an international art activity that day... But it is a quick one and I'll have someone take over for me if it is still going at 4 which is when I plan on leaving.
We will be making Australian Platypusses.

This Friday we are making Chinese dragon puppets, because Monday is Chinese New Year.... I LOVE Chinese food!

Fear Factor

I find it random that all around me fear is being discussed. It is in my daily Bible readings, it is the topic of our last Bible Study, I heard God speak to me about fear at Sunday night prayer... I know God is trying to get my attention about fear, but I am still finding myself paralyzed by it.

I NEED to go to prayer tonight, but am afraid to.

There are more than a few reasons why I would rather not go and all of them have to do with fear.

So I am here, asking for prayer. I need to courage to go tonight, because at this moment staying home is the better looking of the plans, but I know that I NEED to be there.

...

On other notes, my aunt has a "short circuit" in her brain that has been making her have seizures and pass out, she is also slowly suffering from kidney failure. The plans are for one of my cousins to give her kidney to her mom, but my aunt is 75 and so I don't know what exactly is the plan.

So if y'all could pray for her too, I would appreciate it.

And the riddikulus list of resolutions begins....

So, Here it is...

My list of New Years Resolutions. There are quite a few, but If I can get even one of these to stick I'll be better off for it.

Grouped by Category.

@ the Throne
I am joining up with anyone else who wants to do the 2 verses a Month Memorization challenge Cassi posted on her blog. I know the basics, but need to plant God's word more firmly into my heart. I like the fact that you get to pick which verse you are going to memorize.

I am also committing to spending more time just BEING in the Lord's presence. I have confessed that the just sitting there part of this is difficult for me, but I have learned over the last few months how important this is. And I need to get to the point where I can not be so antsy when I try to just be.

@ Home
I need to keep my spaces more clean and organized. I have found that disorganization leads to me being cranky and doesn't ease my stress levels at all. This includes my car. I don't think I am going to make it to the By New Year's Day deadline I set for getting it clean, but I am making major progress.

@ School
I need to finish my grad school apps.

I also need to finish my paper in a timely manner.

I need to complete my hours for Dr. Talamante.

I need to get my paperwork straightened out so I can register for classes.

@ Work
I think work is pretty good. I need to be able to come up with some cool crafts this year.

@ Church
I need to continue to build relationships with my teenagers. I love them, but sometimes I feel out of my league when it comes to relating to them.

@ Myself
I am going to work on losing at least 20 pounds this year. More would be amazing, but I could be happy with 20.

I need to be more social. I may not like it, but I guess it needs to be done.

I was recently told by a good friend that in order to love others as I love myself, I should love myself more. I don't not love myself, but am always more comfortable putting everyone first, sometimes this leads me to do things that bring me harm. I am going to try to assert my needs more. I do not want to end up as a spoiled brat, but there are times, when I just need to put myself first. (I sound so freaking spoiled just writing this)

I have jokingly mentioned training for a 5k walk. I would have to work on being able to do this without killing myself, but it is a concrete way to add one of the few excercises I am allowed to do into my daily routine.