More to follow

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What?

Future Blogs

In the coming days I will blog about the following:

The Mosaic
The old vacuum vs the new vacuum
Matt's big rock show
and the progress on 90210 The Movie - now that I'm over the holiday craft fair season and the mosaic is not only finished but in its new home we should have time to film, after the rock show.

Bits and Pieces

I saw 2 deer on my way home from work yesterday! They were eating what seemed to be garbage. I am always so shocked when I see real live wildlife in my general neighborhood. A couple of coyotes crossed my path a few months ago along "the LA river" if river = a cement drainage control running throughout the city.

We went to the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Extravaganza last night. It is always fun to see great music and a bonus when you are up close with backstage passes and it was free.

Today I will do various running around and creating. The share swap with ssslambo, continue working on the mosaic, make a Christmas card and make a photo calendar for my office swap oh and go to 2 holiday parties. Eeek that is a lot, good thing tomorrow is also dedicated to all but 2 parties!

Confession

I'm not decorating for Christmas. I'm just not in the mood. I have a deer shaped fake tree I took it out for the craft fair and that will serve as our "tree". It has lights so it'll be the same vibe. I just don't feel like shelling out money for a tree that is SUPER dry because it is super dry socal. So no tree, and no work to decorate, no problem.

Donna Martin

I drove by her yard sale on Friday. And again today, totally by accident. Friday there were nearly one dozen news crews and a whole slew of phothogs chomping at the bit. Although the line did not appear to be super long, I did not stop. Responsibility won out and I went to Target to get the things I needed for the Craftmas Bizarre, came home to do laundry and get my products in order. I'm sure in the end I made the right decision, but I do have some small amount of regret.

I did do great at the show! Hooray.

Days

I think that Sami got a boob job. Either that or she is wearing a fantastic bra, and if so I MUST know the brand. I'll doubt that she has her bra monogrammed like Kate.

And BREAKING NEWS!!!
As you know that they burned RealWorld Philip's face (aka RealWorld was fired). You know after he re-inlisted to go fight for his country? After he found out that Claire was really Sean's baby? Ok so Jennifer Aniston's dad Victor has Philip and is flying in a special doctor to give him a face transplant, and who has been cast to play the new Philip? WHO? The OLD Philip the guy who played him before for RealWorld landed the role. How on earth will they spin this one? And don't even get me started on Victor kidnapping Claire so Philip can be her "dad". Matt has serious issues with that story line, he just isn't buying it.

What are you doing Friday?

I'm going here! Do you think I can get her to do a cameo in 90210 The Movie?

Tori Spelling invites you to her

Dazzling Hollywood Estate Sale in her Valley Home

Tori invites you into her house to shop her dazzling valley home, jewelry & closets contents sale. This represents much of her last 15 years of buying & collecting. Included are antique & vintage items from the 19th, 20th, & 21st centuries! French, Italian, Continental, American white wicker, shabby chic, and traditional furniture, crystal chandeliers & sconces, pictures & paintings, lamps, vanity, Tori’s personal jewelry, bric-a-brac, memorabilia, garden & patio, designer & casual clothes, shoes, accessories, photos, etc.

Friday & Saturday, December 8th & 9th — 9AM to 5PM

Monday, December 11th — 9AM to 5PM

Monday is sales & pick-up day

11369 Dona Lisa Dr., Studio City 91604

Off of Laurel Canyon and Dona Pegita Dr.

Also off of Mulholland at Dona Pegita Dr

And off of Mulholland at Wrightwood Dr.

Thomas Guide: 562-J7

We expect crowds and a long line.

Parking is good but expect to walk.

Check website Wednesday night for pictures.

We have a bag & purse check-in for security

Project Pictures!

I'm working on the mosaic to hang behind the stove at Ilene and Bob's home. This is the tile for the backsplash. It will frame out my mosaic.



This tile is the countertop. It has bits of shell and sparkles.



The line drawing and the beginnings of the mosaic. The shards of clay pottery are from the dig they did in Israel.



Imagine it filled in with one more layer of my clay and some creamy tiles and bits of the above countertop tiles along the top and bottom edges, and one inch moulding to frame everything. And of course the grouting!

ABC it's easy as 123

A. Stay. She isn't allowed to speak to me and her only communication can be via email.

B. Move. Go to a different department.

C. Quit. Get a severance package.

scratch that

what a difference a day can make

Problem solved!

I've been having issues at work. I did not post about them here because you just never know who might stumble across your blog.

But anyway, the problem has been solved! I now sit in my very own cubicle in a different area and I report to a new person. Hooray. Today was a great day!

70 days

How much is 70 days worth to you?

Is $145 per day for 70 days worth it? $70 a day? $15 a day? $7?

Is not knowing how much each day is worth until after 70 days has passed worth waiting for?

Ready, Okay

Okay is a term of approval or assent, often written as OK, O.K., ok, okay, okee, or more informally as simply kay, k or kk. Sometimes used with other words, as in "okey, dokey". When used to describe the quality of a thing, it denotes acceptability. However, its usage can also be strongly approving; as with most slang, its usage is determined by context. It could be one of the most widely used words on Earth, since it has spread from English to many other languages.

The historical record shows that "O.K." appeared as an abbreviation for oll korrect (a conscious misspelling of "all correct") in Boston newspapers in 1839, and was reinterpreted as "Old Kinderhook" in the 1840 United States presidential election. Because it is a recent word borne of word play, and because it is so widely used, "O.K." has also invited many folk etymologies. These competing theories are not supported by the historical written record, except in that folk and joke etymologies influenced the true history of the word. Since the 19th century, the word has spread around the world, the "okay" spelling of it first appearing in British writing in the 1860s. Spelled out in full in the 20th century, 'okay' has come to be in everyday use among English speakers, and borrowed by non-English speakers. Occasionally a humorous form okee dokee (or okey dokey) is used, as well as A-ok.


RUDE.

busy

I have so many projects going on!

I am making a mosaic back splash. I brought the sketch over for approval today and got the go ahead! I am incorporating some pieces of clay pottery that are 2500+ years old.

I am doing an artswap project. That is a secret.

90210 The Movie is still in production.

Christmas presents.

I've upgraded to the new blogger so I hope to post more.

Post?

This is the 5th blog that I have attempted to post. Error everytime.

blogger?

This is my third attempt to post today. What the hell blogger?

Playing dress-up

We are having a Halloween costume contest at work. I can't decide if I want to play or not. If I do play, I don't want to spend a dime. Last year I went as an artist and wore all black with lots of eye makeup.

And here are some quotes to ponder:

"I find it very concerning that you would rather use Microsoft Office or Excel because you get frustrated using the typewriter. Sometimes you need to step up to the plate and face a challenge. Improving your typing skills ON THE TYPEWRITER will make you a better person."

Me: Oh your jewelry is very classic.
Her: I prefer Classy, yours is very urban.

Me: Have you tried doing the St. Joseph thing to sell your house?
Her: No if Jesus can't sell it nobody can.

90210

Now that the art show is complete and the guts of the soundtract are done we can start filiming!

After my second cup of coffee I will set up the stage and the actors will start running their scenes.

So exciting. My goal is to have the trailer up on YouTube in a couple of weeks just in time for the dvd box set release.

Go Fug Yourself had an image of Tori and her husband, they referred to Tori as Horsey McBoobjob. Of course Matt would like to find a horse and place her torso on the horse legs, I put my foot down. But only until I can locate where I put the extra Donna and Brenda.

Artwalk

Saturday morning


Matt helping set up


All done


brushes and stuff


middle of the table


eggs and boxes


For the first time ever I made PROFIT! Exciting.

840+ staples

Today at work I stapled. 840+ because I have not quite completed the row of staples and there are 210 per row.

Tomorrow I hope to find a way to read some articles I printed while staple.

There are still 7 or 8 cases of papers to be stapled. I did 1.5 cases today. I think it might be a long week.

New deadline for job satisfaction is February. For some reason stapling and sorting for 3 weeks straight isn't keeping me simulated in the head. Which really hasn't been that bothersome until this week since I was preoccupied with the art show.

Next post art show.

Artwalk

Today is day one of the Brewery Art Walk. I am nervous and excited.

Yesterday I went to Starbucks at 4:00 to get a coffee. I don't really like starbucks coffee, it usually upsets my stomach and causes gastric distress. All except their light roast. So I waited in a 10 person line and then ordered at tall light roast. The coffee jerk, I know they prefer barista, but the soda jerk has a long history that has morphed into a coffee jerk. So he tells me that they don't have the light roast brewed. Would I like a regular roast and he could water it down for me? Gee wiz. Why would pay $2.00 for a watered down coffee?

I asked rather than give me a watered down version of something that will make me sick, could he just brew a pot of the coffee I ordered. He informed me that they had reached light roast quota for the day and all he can offer me is watered down regular roast. I left and went to 7/11.

If you order a diet coke and they bring you a watered down regular coke, does it make it diet? Watered down dark roast coffee doesn't equal a light roast coffee.

Outsourcing

I pretty much hate calling the customer service people because A. the lie and say they are in Memphis or something. B. I can't understand more than half of what they are saying. C. they suck in general and I don't want to be routed to India to speak to the bank.

Today I called and they needed to speak to my husband, well he isn't available and I don't care if his name is listed first. So I hung up and called back and said my name is Matthew. She clearly didn't believe me and kept asking if she should call me Mr. or Ms. I said just call me Matthew. I got the result I wanted and now I don't have to call ever again.

Picture pages, picture pages now its time for picture pages

The Captain Kangaroo / Bill Cosby picture pages song is on regular rotation in my head. So here are my picture pages for today. No need to grab a pen or a pencil.

my desk


A street in Beverly Hills. I drive it everyday so I can see the sunrise over the palm trees.


Matt and I last weekend before going to Cirque Du Soleil.


Jewelry in the works


More


So far. I had a really difficult time picking beads to go with the main piece. I hope it turns out ok.

The vet

Chase-er-meow-meow went back to the vet today. She isn't really improving and I don't want her to go deaf or anything. The dr said for her to go on a different medication and a steroid for a couple weeks. He thought that he might need to put her under to do a deep cleaning of her ear. I said not yet, that I would like to try a different med and see how she reacts. He agreed and said that they'd use a waterpic to get down into her ear and clean it out if she would let them. Being the perfect cat that she is, she sat still and let them shoot high powered water down her ear.

Of course they told me that I MUST get her teeth cleaned. They always tell me that, but this time the Dr. Asked if I was concerned financially. Of course I am, but come on it is a cat after all. When I asked cousin Tom in Alaska if his vet requires the put them to sleep deep teeth cleaning, he said that the Alaska folks would laugh them out of the state.

I'm sure that it is probably better to have clean teeth, but is it really necessary? The doctor quoted all sorts of studies and talked about the vet worlds view on clean teeth and how pets are happier and live longer. For real?

I wonder if Deborah will take Lincoln to get his teeth cleaned once a year. I know Molly doesn't get her pretties teeth professionally cleaned. Slambo? Anyone? Do I have another guilt trip to add to my bad mothering?

I am a bad mom

Last weekend I took kitty-kitty-meow-meow to the vet. She had been favoring her ear and keeping it low to her head. It also seemed her inner ear was coated in black wax.

Bad mom part one, I love the way she cuddles up to me in the vet. So much that I could probably take her there weekly just so she will snuggle right up under my chin for protection. I guess her fear level isn't as high at home as she never is that much of a cuddle monkey. Fortunately she just has a yeast infection, an easy fix with drops for 2 weeks.

Bad mom part two, reading directions. The drops require refrigeration. After a week of using the drops, at room temp, the poor kitty would cry every time I'd give her the drops. And the black goo was back. So I looked closer at the bottle and saw the giant sticker requesting me to keep the medication in the refrigerator. I suppose the 100+ temps we've had for the last 2 weeks wasn't helpful.

I called the vet and they recommended that I come in for a new prescription. So 4 days into the new medicine, Chase just cries because I'm putting drops in her ears, not because putting rancid drops into her ears. Poor little meower.

Matt response was "at least it wasn't a baby".

not a good title

I got a flyer in the mail for a 21 day fitness study at the popular woman's only 30 minute workout place. They measure you at the beginning and end and work out with you 3x per week for 3 weeks. I decided to do it. They are 2 blocks away, it is free and I need to do something.

Today was my first session. Is it wrong that I prefer the people who are motivating me and training me at the "gym" to be fit? There were 3 people working today, 2 girls behind the counter and one "trainer". The trainer is a member of the gym and helping out in exchange for membership bucks. All of the woman were way fatter than I am. Probably in the eyes of charts and percentages clinically obese. It makes me wonder if this 30 minute workout deal works. I know I shouldn't judge, but still I can't help it.

I took today off work to work on some projects for the art show. I had big plans to go purchase fancy handmade paper and complete the journal books I am making. Yesterday when Matt and I went out for gelato, we checked the times at the paper store. Today there was a sign on the store that they are closed today. I wish that sign would have been there yesterday, as I would have planned my day differently.

Instead of making the books with the fancy paper, I am making a fancy chicken curry dish that has been simmering away for numerous hours. My home smells like India without the bad smells, which I imagine are plentiful. You know with all the cows and stray animals and all those people without regular baths, not those types of smells.

Tomorrow I will go to the bead store, or so I plan. Maybe instead I'll try the paper store once again. I'll also plan to take some pictures of my weekend craftiness.

Random thoughts

There isn't enough to keep me busy at work. The solution is to have me do filing for everyone that actually has work to do. This is my second full week of doing mind-numbing filing. I totally understand that this type of shit needs to get done, I'm not to "big" to file. For real. But damn, the day is sooooo long when you are trying to make filing last 8 hours so you can be busy.

Pros:
They pay me well.
They purchase my lunch daily.
They have an incredible benefit package, like 3 weeks of vacation.

Cons:
My supervisor and her silent treatment. I'm still trying to determine if silent treatment is better than being yelled at.
No stimulating work 2 out of 3 months of the quarter.

In other news the good things I posted about the family trouble will soon turn to very, very bad news.

I am excited for the art show next month. I took a couple of Mondays off to get ready.

good things

Matt talked to his sister last night. He said it was the best conversation he has had with her in a long time. Things with both her and her son are looking much better than they have in a while. We really couldn't be happier. I can not tell you what a relief it is to hear positive things about our nephew. Therapy, accountability, remorse, acceptance and gratitude. Things are still yet to be determined in regards to the future, but isn't that true for all of us?

I am going hiking and having a picnic with some of my co-workers weekend after next. My supervisor will not be in attendance. I was also invited to the annual end of summer BBQ at the home of one of the head honchos. I imagine they have have a pretty nice house on the beach in the fancy part of town.

I've pretty much decided to stick it out with the job. Mostly because I'm lazy and don't really feel like looking for a job and I like being home early in the afternoon. The supervisor just pretty much keeps to herself. No more chit chat in the morning. It will really suck when the other co-worker leaves to go to her home department. Whatever, they pay really well and feed me.

DOOL

So the Days gossip is....

Austin and Carrie have been fired. Jack and Jen leave at the end of summer, Jack fired Jen quit. Shawn quit, last shoot was on Monday he has been re-cast. Victor (Jennifer Aniston's dad) had a heartattack and is in the hospital. Both Patrick and Frankie have also been fired.

So that means that Bo will raise Patrick's baby with his wife Hope, leaving the door open for Patrick to come back at a later date. Sami will either end up with Lucas or EJ, I hope for EJ just because Lucas has weird facial hair, shave man.

Philip is also leaving, so I would think that Mimi would soon follow. Matt wishes that Bonnie and Bart would become a couple. He loves Bart.

What up with the hand? I hope that the new writers will move the story line along faster, really 2 weeks for one stinking day?

And yesterday when Hope said that they missed 2 years of Zach's life, I almost thought WHAT you are pretending that New Year's Eve, the night he was run over by his half sister in a hit and run, was 2 years ago? Then I remembered that he was switched at birth and that other couple raised him for those 2 years. A while Hope had found in Zach's backpack a valentine's day card for her that he made in school. I don't know any schools that start valentine cards at christmas, so they do like to screw with the timeline.

Next up Survivor and why I'm not a racist, or am I?

Tuesday

I don't know what it is about Tuesdays and blogging.

I was not accepted into the Lines into Shapes art show in Estes Park. I do, however, have an invite to the opening reception, so if you live in or around the Estes Park area let me know and it is yours. It is a pretty crappy invitation, it isn't even cut straight.

I didn't really expect to be accepted (self fulfilling...). I do believe that the judges of the juried art world don't consider polymer clay to be a valid artistic medium. Maybe it is the whimsy and the popularity with the kids they skews their mindset. I would have been sad to see the piece go, so maybe it was a self fulfilling prophesy. I should probably look for shows in LA then I can see my art in person!

I am super excited about my new website! I can't wait to see everything so pretty once it is done. I am taking semi ok pictures, and Katrina is working her mad photoshop skillz to make them look beautiful! K8 will use her own skillz to make it all flow on the internets.

I have been in a creative slump for a while and now I have so many projects I don't know what to do! 90210, make new things for ArtWalk, the website!

The 90210 progress is GREAT! We (Matt) have the "trailor" backing tracks almost done, it runs about 6 minutes. If that goes well we will do something longer. I'll have to ask if Matt can put in the "I choose you, its always been you" scene into the current mix. That is my most favorite scene in the whole 10 year series. If it doesn't make it into the trailor we'll just have to do more later. I can't wait to start filming. Labor Day weekend is looking damn good!

So until next time I will be enjoying looking at this until I am accepted or it is sold elsewhere.

TGIF

We are going to eat Indian food tonight. Sometimes I want to get curry because it gives me wild dreams, but Matt isn't a fan. I think I will get some for myself, I will sleep poorly and wake up in the middle of the night smelling of curry. The service is crappy, but the food is great and we walk there so that is always nice.

I am having a new website done for http://www.jjmhandcrafted.com , I'm excited about the new look. I am taking loads of pictures tomorrow in my homemade lightbox/90210 set.

Matt is going to start working on the 90210 movie! He will transfer all of the dialog we have and make them say dirty silly things! We have some great clips, lots of Donna talking about her prudish sexy ways. Andrea saying that she dates all types of men, black, white, even a republican! I hope this project is fun and not a fight. Sometimes I'm bad at directing Matt with what I want and that frustrates him. I hope I am better at communicating my desires.

I wish that someone had indexed all of 90210. That would make it super easy to script, currently we just pick and choose sentences and hope that they string together.

Sunday we are going to http://www.niseiweek.org/ Matt will eat sushi, I will eat edemame and rice. We will both eat mochi.

I hope for a good weekend. No drama, no death, no worries!

Hair

I got it cut!

Fun filled day

Yesterday Matt and I got up early to go meet some people from my work for a hike. We drove out to Topanga Canyon Blvd and got a bit lost. Why are there 2 streets with just one letter difference? One ended in A, one in O. We took the masculine O and didn't find our destination, making us a few minutes late when we finially found the feminine version of the street 5 or so miles down the road. Stupid.

The hike was pretty challenging. The pace was faster than I normally walk, and it was a straight incline, about 500 feet every half mile. After a short rest near the top we made it to Eagle Rock and sat and chatted about the world in general with my coworkers. The VP of my area planned the hike and one of the fund managers and another person who assits the main guy joined us.

After completing the four mile round trip hike we went out for lunch. Lunch ended up being just my boss, Matt and I; the others bailed for other committments. My bosses wife joined us shortly after we arrived. She is 6 months pregnant and wasn't up for the hike. The four of us had a lovely long lunch at one of the most romantic places in all of Los Angeles. It was really, really nice. For some reason, my boss even paid!

We came home and napped for a bit then got ready to go to dinner at Ian and Deb's place. That was also a great night. Matt was roommates with Ian many years ago and they have a great connection with music. I get along great with his wife; we sit outside while they work on music and chat. They have a great mission style 100+ year old home in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles. With a great back yard and a home studio. They also have 2 boys with loads of energy.

Today will be a bit more quiet. Errands, cleaning and laundry.

Gang bangers

My neighborhood has an ebb and flow of various people. Across the street is a retirement type place, filled with 99.9% Russian Armenian old people. There are old buildings with style and new ones that look like every other new apartment building. Some might call them project like, not me but I can see why they'd think that.

There was an urban development study completed and it was determined that my hood was ripe for development. That means more places to eat, more things to do, more traffic, more people. So good and bad. I like my neighborhood. I tend to really "live" in it; I shop, eat, play all within a few miles.

But.....

What the hell is up with the influx of gang bangers? Today after work Matt and I took Emma for a walk. We either go for a walk or go to the park everyday. Sometimes I think that Emma gets more exercise walking around a few blocks than peeing on every tree in the park. We walked about halfway around the block when we encountered a group of shaved, shirtless young men. They happened to be fighting with other shaved, shirtless young men. At first we just crossed the street, then I thought to myself, if they have guns we probably shouldn't walk right by them. Matt must have had the same thought because we just both turned around and walked back the direction we came. Then when we were crossing the street to go home, we came across a very intimidating new group of shaved, wife beater low rise long shorts wearing young men. They gave us the stare down as we opened our gate and walked up our stairs.

I no longer will go to the super shitty convenience store. I suppose that fact it is a super shitty convenience store is reason enough, like expired dairy products 3 months after the fact, to not go. But I can't go there anymore because of the "barber shop". They don't exactly cut hair so much as perform laundry services for snazzy Cadillac escalade driving black men. The laundry mat next door is strictly for washing clothing. They creep me out, probably cause I know they are looking at my booty and let me know as such. Sometimes we'll walk by that corner on the way to the nice convenience store one more block, they sell Ben and Jerry's for 3.99! Last week there was a whole crew of men drinking 40s at that corner, they'd give you the "what the fuck you looking at look" when you walk by.

The tagging has also increased. They cracked down about 5 years ago and most of the tagging disappeared. So what is up with all the new gang tags? Cops, come patrol. With all the construction there is lots of space for tagging. All of those jumbo garbage bins, all of the boards advertising the financing and construction, it is all covered in graffiti.

Aside from the gangs we do love living here. I like Los Angeles. We pay rent that is way, way low. Rent control + moving in when things were cheap = lucky me. I hope that once the "development" is complete the neighborhood will improve. How can the young, full head of hair, business casual wearing men not move to my hood? 25 minutes to downtown, free parking? A public transportation hub?

Thank goodness Emma is a 95 lbs rott mix. She sometimes make them cross to the other side of the street!

Again, it's Tuesday

The 90210 movie is on hold for a tiny bit. There are some other pressing items on Matt's agenda. I'm sure we'll have the backing dialog and music soon.

The pressing item is a gig for Ape Has Killed Ape. I'm really excited about Matt playing for 2 major reasons. 1. It makes him happy to play a gig with people who don't give him grief. 2. Katrina is coming to see the show and stay with us for 3-4 days!

I'm a little bit more excited to see Katrina. Mostly because Matt spends much of his free time getting the music down for his show, leaving me to entertain myself. Come next Wednesday or Thursday you will find Katrina and I on the couch watching tv, creating art, shopping for fabric and having loads and loads of girl talk. Can. Not. Wait.

It's Tuesday

I've scanned all of my purchases for this week! 3 items: a snickers ice cream sandwich, a giant triple chocolate cone, and a roll of wild berry life savers. The fact that I haven't been paid since leaving my last job in early July makes me purchase very little. Next week my spending habits will be back to normal.

The Flaming Lips concert was great. They played only the songs I love. Seriously. I listen to the same 2 tracks on one album and they played both songs for a really long time. One of Matt's co-workers attended the show, he said "that the song that went dunt da dunt da dunt where everyone threw their glow necklaces sucked, it was only good for a concert where everyone threw their glow necklaces, nothing else." We'll that is my most favorite song by the Flaming Lips. Good thing we pretended to not see them sitting one row behind us. The Thievery Corp. was also fantastic! Really, really fantastic. I have only one regret, not purchasing a tank top for Katrina on the way out. Sad.

I drive through Beverly Hills on my way to work. I usually notice the stupid bigness of the houses, but today it was lady liberty. Why are there not one but 2 different statues in people's yard of the statue of liberty? One is white and one is classic green. I will have to drive around a bit more and see if I can uncover a rich people garden gnome type trend of our lady liberty.

And really why are the houses so big? Do you really need that much space? Should your front door be bigger than my truck? Come on, really? Have you seen the poor people? How do you live with yourself?

ACNielsen Family

It is official. We are an ACNielsen Homescan Family. We are suppose to scan every single time purchased with a barcode and transmitt the info back to Nielsen once per week. In return I get points to exchange for gifts. The gifts are ok, not fabulous as I had expected. We also get entered into various sweepstakes, maybe we'll be winners of $20,000!










This seems like a lot of work. I'm suppose to enter the price of each item purchased?

Matt wonders how on earth we were selected.

lounge

Target does not carry lounge chairs? Why? It is still summer, in fact there are two full months left of summer. And living in Los Angeles it summer year round.

I want a lounge chair, the tri-fold or the like and I want it by tomorrow.

Not much to say

The new job is still going well.

I'm moving very slowly on the 90210 movie. Technical issues are hindering my process. They will be worked out by the end of the month.

We are camping at the beach this weekend, so maybe it will only be 90 rather than 105.

Flaming Lips at the Hollywood Bowl Sunday.

Emma is going to the vet for a rabies shot sometime this week.

Chase-er-meow-meow hates the heat.

That's it. Like I said not much to say or going on.

My new job

I started yesterday. So far so good. All the things I was worried about are non issues.

The commute is short. I love to drive over Laurel Canyon when there is no traffic. Santa Monica Blvd through West Hollywood is always a pleasure, except for the stop lights. I've been home less than 45 minutes after "clocking out".

Lunch was my other concern. I shopped for lots of good lunch stuff and purchased a cute lunch tote; I swore I would bring my lunch everyday. Well that plan is out! The purchase lunch for every employee every day. They order from 4 places and you just need to send your choice via the intranet by 10:00. A couple hours later your lunch is in the kitchen with your name on it and your choice of drinks in the fridge. Crazy.

It is still to early to know exactly what I'm doing day to day, but that will come with time.

Hooray!

Oh and I need to use up 10 days of vacation between now and Christmas. Next year 20 days of PTO!

Pictures more pictures

David Silver, so hottt


Dylan, he gleams just like a bodybuilder


Matt and I at Linda and Robert's annual 4th of July Party AKA The Meateasy


The bowl I plan to enter into the Lines into Shapes art show, I'm still working on taking the best picture.


Brandon doing his best model pose


The smoking hot boys from West Beverly


"Maybe I can write a story about it for the Blaze"


"I choose you, its always been you"

More 90210 pictures

The peach pit under construction




The cast hanging out at the Pit




The kids at West Beverly High

99%

After David arrives in the mail the cast of my movie will be complete. Whoot!

I built a light box to take better pictures of some of my artwork. It turns out to be a perfect set for the kids from West Beverly.

Hurry up David Silver, come to me....

Dylan and Brenda


From Left to Right
Steve, Brandon, Andrea, Donna, Brenda, Kelly, Dylan and in front Jim/Nat/Everyother man


The love triangle!


David has a place saved right next to Dylan

shopping

I went shopping again this morning. I'm still looking for that perfect first day outfit. I did not find it today. I did buy a cute cotton dress on clearance at the Gap and a black skirt on clearance at The Loft.

I went to one store where the LARGEST size in the entire store was a 3. A size 3. Fucking LA.

I am not giving up. I will find something perfect. And if I don't, I have a backup outfit planned.

7/3/06

I had a good productive morning at work. My boss thanked me time and time again for all the great work I've done. I left early to come home and go swimming and bask in the sunshine.

Rather than come home to a nice cool pool I came home to the police and the coroner. Sadly my neighbor Pete died. His bird, Joey, who always makes a ton of noise was silent. Silent until his owner's body was removed, then he squawked "goodbye" a few dozen times.

Bummer.

This is not unexpected. Pete had MS and self medicated with drinking, oxycotin and various other drugs. It still makes me sad. He had some friends but no family.

Poor Joey. He was such a nasty parrot with all the biting and whatnot, but he loved Pete. I can hear Joey squawking goodbye and it makes me all teary.

Weekend!

My mom is visiting. Yesterday Matt, Mom and I went to Venice Beach. It was 25 degrees cooler and 100% freakier. Too many beggers and too many shops with exactly the same items as the shop next door. But we had a good time.

Today my mom and I will go to the sometimes dreaded Glendale Galleria. Dreaded because it is massive and a mall. But I need to purchase a few new core items of professional clothing. I am hoping for 2 pants, one skirt and 2-3 tops. I will take the pants to the tailor on Monday and hopefully have them back before I start my new job.

I'm not sure what else we'll do today. But whatever it is it will be inside and air conditioned.

I wonder

Sometimes when I remember to check the stats on my blog I am surprised at the amount of people who read/view my blog.

Sometimes it freaks me out. But honestly it is the people I know that makes me choose to censor what I say. It is my mom and my sister and Matt's Aunt and others. Maybe I should be more like this (someone clicked from their blog to mine), and blog freely about my sex life and what will happen to the porn when we die. But really I'm not so worried about the porn, I've already given it to Rose.

Job

I got the job. I should be happy but for some reason I'm full of anxiety and dread. Have I made a mistake? Will the job fall through and I've already quit? What if.....

Why am I feeling like this?

The 90210 Girls

Kelly, Donna, Brenda and Andrea

Andrea will be difficult to dress, she is a bit more beefy than the other girls.



I'll have to make a trip to the $.99 to improve thier attire. I also hope to come across a corvette and paint it black for Steve.

They're Here!

The dolls have arrived! They are better than I could have imagined! So exciting. I think I will take them camping this weekend. Maybe they can do the grunion running beach scenes!

Should I make a post boob job Donna, since I have two? I also have 2 Brenda dolls. Oh the magic I can do with 2 Brenda dolls. Sadly, someone at Matel dropped the ball and there is no Andrea, Steve or David.

Lucky for me, Dr. Zaius, Gay Bob and Zira have signed up to play the missing actors. I wonder which one will be cast as Steve?

Stay tuned....

I think it is an obsession

I love Beverly Hills 90210. I DVR it daily; actually more than daily twice a day M-F and 3 episodes on Saturday. A few years ago they aired 3 episodes on Saturday and Sunday morning beginning at 7. You can bet your bottom dollar that I rarely missed a weekend and that includes weekends in hotel rooms. Matt was kind enough to really not put up too much of a fight. In turn I’ve watched quite a few obscure music docs and hours of Planet of the Apes.

Over all it really doesn’t matter what years they are showing, I will pretty much watch them all although I will sometimes skip an episode or two of the Matt/Kelly years. I do know that I’m not alone in this addiction, Tammie I’m looking at you.

I’m sort of proud of my fixation with the kids from West Bev. And I’m ready to take it to the next level. Seriously.

On their way to me in the US Mail are a set of 90210 dolls purchased on Ebay. I plan to make some awesome movies based upon various plot lines. My most favorite episode in all of 90210 history airs tomorrow on Soap Network “Back In the Highlife Again”. Believe you me I’ll be filming the part where Dylan raises Kelly out of the water and says “I choose you”.

We'll probably add Gay Bob to the mix just to stir things up. And you never know when Zira or Corneilus will hit the scene in Beverly Hills.

Gay Bob. He comes in a closet and this is what you can't really read:
Gay Bob
Here's how to enjoy me:
Play with me, I'm great fun.
Take me to parties, I know all the latest dance breaks.
Take me to the office, your boss will want to play with me.
Take me to meet your folks, your mom will love talking to me.
Invite all your friends to meet me, they'll love how I'm built.
Use me for therapy, I'm very understanding.
Give me to anyone who needs a friend.
Take me to a "coming out of the closet" party.

Also just so you know, Gay Bob is packing a whole lot more in the pants than my Ken doll.

It is Monday

The interview went ok. I'm feeling full of hormonal self-doubt so it probably went better than I think. I am going back Wednesday to meet with more people.

One down, one to go

I had the meeting with my boss today. She started by asking if I am interested in the position.

I told her that I had made some decisions over the last few weeks and I've decided that I need to look for another job. I explained how financially it would behoove me to look elsewhere. She thanked me for my honesty and asked me some questions about what I am looking for, and again agreeing with me that in order to live that "traditional" family life you need to leave LA. She understands my desires and was very supportive.

She then asked what would it take money wise to keep me. I told her I would want the top tier of my pay scale. That would mean an increase above the standard 6%; in order to get more, the job has to go before a review committee and since I do not have a clinical background they'd never approve me. She knows that they can't pay me what I'd like to be making.

I then said I wish that I could tell you that my only reason for wanting to leave is money based. I feel that I have been set up to fail in this position from the beginning. Not all of the information that I needed to do my job was given to me. It was held under lock and key by the woman before me, we'll call her B for short. Frequently, I would come into emails from her where she will have me do the admin steps of a project that I knew nothing about; like fax this mail this copy this. I felt like I was her assistant.

The other problem is that the hospital administrator is very fond of B and frequently choose to communicate with her rather than with me. Granted she did ask when I could come back after 5:30 to meet with her and B. I was also offered an additional 40 hours of training which would have to take place after 5:30 M-F or on the weekends. Um, its freaking summer f. that.

I also mentioned to my boss that it is incredibly insulting for another manager, my former boss, to come to me in the middle of the morning and ask me if I have B's phone number, she needed to ask her a question. I looked at her like she was crazy and said no. How on earth can I be successful at a job when I'm not even the person that people will come to for questions related to the job. Granted, I may not know the answer; but you have to give me the opportunity to figure it out, use my resources and get an answer. Don't call B and ask her. Not everyone was like that, many people preferred dealing with me because I treated them nicely. But those key people the administrative end of the hospital had no faith in me.

So now I have a stack of resumes on my desk and I get to rank them according to greatness.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not in any jeopardy of loosing my job. They can't fire me for a job that I was never hired for; I can just go back to my old job. And hopefully I'll have a job within 2 weeks!

Change

I think that Matt and I have a good goal set of saving as much as possible and choosing a city in which to live. After the choice is made, we move, find jobs, buy property and get on with life.

In order to save the most amount of money I need a different job. In the past I have made some poor choices of fit based upon money. I think today with clearly defined goals and the fact that I'm a bit more grown up I won't have the same issues.

I had an interview with a placement agency this afternoon. I scored in the 97% on Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I think that is pretty good, especially on PowerPoint since I have never ever used that program. Windows based knowledge carries you a long way.

They loved me and sent my resume off while I was in the office. They have me interviewing on Monday at an investment firm. I really enjoyed my last job at an investment firm and it would be cool to finish up LA at the same type of company as when I left Boston.

One of the biggest struggles I had with the potential of a new job is the hours. I AM A MORNING PERSON. What company wouldn't want to get the very best of me? So let me start at 6:00 am and then let me go home at 2 :30 and live my life. So I had come to grips with the fact that I'd loose a huge chunk of free time and just focused on the goal. Well what hours are the job? 6:00-2:30! It is a commute, but it is less than 20 miles away.

The job also pays way, way, way more than what I make now.

And even though it isn't creative like Joanne would like (and me too), I will still be able to spend my afternoons creating away and watching Oprah. Life is good.

So think good new job thoughts for me Monday afternoon.

I have a meeting with my current manager tomorrow to discuss my current situation. I don't know how that conversation will go. I am considering telling her that I am seeking other opportunities. We have discussed the housing market in LA a number of times, and Matt and my desire to have a home. She is the manager who often asks if I am pregnant; she wants me to have a baby I assume because that is what marrieds do. So maybe I'll tell her that I need to leave so we can move and start a family. And maybe that wouldn't be a big lie.

So also think good thoughts for my current job discussion tomorrow. Whatever it is we discuss I will not agree to the 30+ hours of training that I need to do after 5:00 and on the weekends in order to know how to do my job.

Cell Phones

Why does everyone just assume you have a cell phone? They are not manditory. You do not need one.

so disappointing

I had an job interview scheduled with a company I was really excited about. I did a bunch of research so that I could wow them in the interview and I was super confident about my ability to do the job well based upon my experience.

I received an email confirmation this morning confirming the time and the address. Not even 2 hours later I received an email stating that they had filled the job and please don't come in.

All I can say is F.U. for getting me all excited. F.U. internet movie delivery company.

Considering

Buying an RV and living half the year on Jeanne's property in MI and the other half on Tom's in AK.

Moving to one of the following:
Ann Arbor
Austin
Nashville
St. Louis

Changing jobs - I've been sending out a bunch of resumes

Matt going on the road to make a bunch of money in a short amount of time.

Going to see bands tonight.

Pictures I love

Tom, looking at the his slice of the world. I don't know which he loves more; the lovely view or sharing the experience with others. He is the perfect guide.


What up?


The remains of a moose. I don't remember exactly why he died, but the food chain is pretty amazing. Not one single edible item remained on the bones, wolves, bears, birds and probably bugs found nourishment. The legs were all that remained somewhat intact; the marrow was cleaned out as far down as you could see. Some people at my work found this disturbing. Have they forgotten about real nature? Do they think that a ranger comes and feeds the bears? I don't understand that. Circle of life; be happy your at the top and can ponder the wonder of it all.


I like the the light that peeks through the horn.


Low tide left awesome lines in the sand.