Checking In

It's been a few days since I last posted- thought I better check in.
I recently (as in this past weekend) celebrated my 26th birthday. It was great... until the following morning. But I think that comes with the territory when you don't drink frequently or in high quantities then have everyone buying you shots.... It was fun though, and followed up the next night by seeing a local band rock out. Saturday night Hitchelfit played at Whaleback Mtn, and let me tell you... small spaces and lowsey bartenders don't make for a fun evening. Well that's not entirely true, I had a blast and loved my ginger ale. However the space was definitely too small, and a little hellish, there were only 2 (young) bartenders that somehow were unable to keep up. I think there was a decent crowd, but I don't think it should have been a good half hour in line for a friggen drink. I only had one drink (that's my ginger ale) because you had to stand in line forever. The people with us who were drinking, spent most of the time in line, and then left with piss warm beer. I think most people who enjoy their beer enjoy it cold thank you. So while the band rocked as usual, the venue wasn't a good set up. One of the girls who came with us worked up the courage by the end of the night to give the lead singer her number. Now that's funny. It's very reflective of our different personalities, as while I think he does a great job singing, he's not my type so much. J on the other hand, finds him very attractive. She's still in her bad boy appeal stage, but maybe he's really a good boy?? I hope so for her sake!
Oh, and on the baby front- I'm beginning to think I should buy a cheap little matchbox to drive since I'm driving to my brother's every week, and my Jeep isn't the most fuel efficient. I can't help it, there is some draw from baby Anna that's almost telepathic or something. On the same topic- Anna was born on the 15th and my brother was planning on going back to work on the following Monday.... um didn't happen. He decided to take another week off and stay home with mom and baby. I pick on him for this, but in reality I love him for this act. I was down there this weekend and asked him about work... he was returning this (past) Monday, but wasn't very excited. I think it's sweet to no end that he's so in love with the little one. I'm on the fence as to whether or not I want to have kids, but if I do I hope that the baby's dad has as much affection.

Oh Baby Baby, baby baby

Not to be shown up on Valentines day, my brother called me Thursday morning with news that his wife had just had a baby girl!! I'm an Auntie!! Mom and baby were released Saturday morning, and here are the pictures from my visit on Saturday evening. Emily & Kyle were both exhausted from a rather extended stay, but the adrenaline was still running high. I had all I could do to not camp out there with the baby girl all night. Adorable doesn't even begin to describe this beauty, and I'm only an Auntie!! I, of course am biased, but this could be one of the cutest little ones yet.

Valentine's Day surprise.

Ok... so now I'm eating my own words... I typically am not a huge over the top V-Day kind of girl. I like a sweet note or card, and maybe a nice quiet dinner followed by some cuddle time. That's it, easy, inexpensive and stress free. I heard rumor from my boyfriend (who normally shares this V-day sentiment) that he may have gone a little over the top. What? Oh no.... how over the top? I start to panic... marriage has come up in conversations, and while I'm not opposed.... an engagement on valentine's day.... um... tacky. I don''t want to share my day with millions of others, are you kidding? So immediately that was my worry. So immediately I start trying to guess and I want a hint... this is a typical Angela thing, I love surprises, but I'm not good about them. I'm the girl who will be caught shaking gifts, peeking in stockings, looking all over the house for the recent hiding spot, etc. So I know the gift is under $1K and the next hint is it's more than 1. Is it more than 1 dollar or is it more than 1 items? My first guess? Earrings. Mike's response... "huh?" Mike also has been trying to convince me that we need a nice new HD flat screen. I haven't been convinced yet- so I tell him if his gift to me was a new TV then it really wasn't for me... he laughs and tells me no.
Once home I search out the coveted gift... and it's wrapped in a nice little box. I shake it, it makes no identifying noise.... bummer. That was Monday. Tuesday we decide we should do our little V-day together given the weather forecast for Wednesday. If the storm is anywhere near what has been predicted, I may not see Mike at all because of his job. So I whip up a quick dinner, since I had planned on having more time (ah... a whole nother day) and we snuggle up for a bit. Finally the gift time comes.... I'm trying to patiently open the gift box but the people that wrapped it taped every little inch I swear! Finally I give up and just rip open the package to a smaller red velvety jewelery box. A box that would be a bit small for a necklace but the perfect size for a ring or earrings. I hesitate briefly, and open slowly.... Earrings!! Beautiful diamond earrings. I was stunned, but happy. I sat staring... he even bought them in white gold because I'm not big on yellow gold... that's thoughtful. Perhaps my silence was making Mike worry that i may have thought these were fake... as after a few moments he says "they're diamonds". That breaks all thoughts and we start laughing. Priceless.
I had bought him a nice Fossil watch, but it paled in comparison to my earrings. But neither of us worried about it and we enjoyed the rest of the evening together.
So Valentine's had a little more "hoopla" this year, and I actually didn't mind. Would I want every V-day to be like this?... ah...I don't know. It was a very nice surprise, but not something I'd require. My birthday is coming up shortly so I think I'm going to try and convince Mike that the earrings cover that too.
I hope you have enjoy your Valentine's day.

Lost ground?

Current mood: Depressed

I had lunch with one of my old girlfriends today, and while we chatted back and forth I realised just how far apart we've grown. It makes me a little bit sad to see such an old friendship sort of fade. We've been friends since Elementary school, and while I realise it's only normal for some friendships to fade I somehow didn't think this one would. Only a few years ago we talked constantly, and sent letters and whatnot. Now... not so much. I barely see her, and when we talk it's like talking to an entirely different person.
I like making new friends, but it's not the same. We grew up together, we were in car accidents together, we laughed so hard we couldn't breath and figured one of us would pee our pants, we cried together, we picked each other off the floor, we shared clothes & shoes, recipes and secrets, we could depend on the other person to answer the phone at all hours of the night, we took road trips, we have albums of pictures of our escapades...
This sucks, it makes me sad.

Hounddog

Has everyone heard the controversy over Dakota Fanning's role in "Hounddog"?

Check out the movie specs:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415856/

Perhaps I'm a little less sensitive because I'm not a parent, I don't know, and perhaps I will feel differently after seeing the movie, but I think some of the public outrage is dumb. Not dumb in these people are complete idiots, because I think few people are actually complete idiots. However, I don't think that Dakota is being taken advantage of, nor do I think her role can be constituted as child abuse. I understand the sensitivity of her role playing a child rape victim, I do, but if that role is never shown, on TV or a movie- does this mean it doesn't happen? My other annoyance is that I don't believe this is the first movie to portray rape. Why does this movie collect so much outrage? A couple other tidbits, Dakota Fanning (in an interview that unfortunately escapes my mind right now) states that she is playing a role, she is never victimised, she came into the movie with full knowledge of her role, and that she supports the role she played. I realise Dakota is young, but does her age mean she is unable to understand the role she played? Also, never in filming or on video is Dakota raped, completely naked or as terrified as her facial expression may lead you to believe. And if I remember correctly her mom was on the set for the entire rape scene.
Movies are all about cutting and pasting, many scenes are never filmed the way they are watched on film. The same look that Dakota reportedly has during the rape, may be the same face you'd see if she were filming a horror or drama...

Is the outrage and allegations of child pornography and child abuse correct?

He who shall remain nameless

My boyfriend occasionally reads my blog... and each time he does, he complains about being called my SO.
"Can't I be called something else" He says.
"Ok, what do you want to be referred to as?" I ask.
"I don't know, but not you're SO."

So I start saying my other half...
"Can't I be called something else?" He asks.
"OK what do you want to be referred to as instead?" I ask (again)
"I don't know , but not your other half."

Hmm... Ok. What do you call the other person who shares your life? Not your significant other, not your other half... aside from just using his name what can I call him? PITB...pain in the butt?
Somehow, while I find that a little bit humorous, I don't think he'd like that anymore than SO.

Hair today, gone tommorrow.

I've been growing my hair out for a while, no real reason, just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it. Someone threw out the idea of "Locks of Love" a while back, and after researching it a little bit (Just to make sure it wasn't a for profit group making hair weaves for the likes of Donald Trump..haha) I decided this was the route to go. A) I would be helping someone else, and b) I'd be forced to make a decision about my hair.
Then I got scared.... not to have my hair cut, but that it would be too short. I hate when my hair is too short. So I went to my wonderful and trusted stylist (Christine at Elements Salon) and check with her on the length ... and now my hair is gone. She cut 10.5" (required is 10") and then cut a little more to even it out, then cut a little more to add some layers. I also had deeper highlights added. It's a little shorter than I initially expected, but honestly I'm loving the change and I feel good about the donation.
If you're interested in hair or monetary donations for the "Locks of Love" group, check out their website at http://www.locksoflove.org/#item1

Food... diet....food...diet...

I've decided to go on a "diet", but not really a diet. I'm following this "Sacred heart diet", but have decided to do so loosely. Not because the diet doesn't work, as my coworkers have been having success, but because I hate diets. I'm all for eating healthy, and making more nutritious decisions. But "diet"... that's like telling me I can eat one piece of pineapple for breakfast, another piece for lunch and if I'm good, two pieces for dinner. That's never what I've done, but that's the image I get with the word diet. So today is my first full day of this "diet", and probably just because I've decided it's time for a diet, all I can think about is food. It doesn't help that there was a training thing going on today and they ordered 6 pizzas... that were set near my office so that smell waifed it... and they started the meeting off with donuts... that I swear came sauntering into my office just to poke fun at me. I was thinking about food, and what I normally eat during the course of the day (because I'm starving right now) and realised I normally don't think much about food.... today it's occupying what little space is left in my brain. I mean it. My fax machine starts making noise and I think of candy wrappers... it's sad.
I think the other part that bothers me is I don't really know where the weight came from. I eat a little heftier now, but not drastically. I think it's the job, oh and maybe the drinking binges. The job means I sit in front of my computer, or on the couch going over files, or... for 10 hours at a time. Obviously that means my activity level is nilche, and don't even think I'm going out in this f****ing cold- did I mention I'm Colombian? So I want to get back into the gym thing... but I just can't figure out when to go. I'm more inclined to work out in the morning, a) because it wakes me up, but also because b) at the end of a work day, I couldn't do anything if I wanted to. My problem here lies that because I am more of a morning person, I'm at work by 6 am... which if I go to the gym before I go to work means I would have to be at the gym at *ack* 4:30 am!!! Which translates that to get to the gym by 4:30, I would have to be in bed the previous night by 8:30-9 p.m. *Ouch* My other half is more a night person, so getting to bed before 10 is a challenge, never mind 9!! On top of which, when I get home, I usually get on the computer and lately that's been to do work... so actual time spent together is ah.... 2 hours? (I know that may be more than other people, but it's not enough for me). Now the drinking binges, they aren't what you think. Well maybe they are. I don't drink on a regular basis, I'm surprised if I have a drink in a normal week (excluding holidays) . But it seems when I do drink, it's a ton all at once, although again, not so much lately. I went on a "drinking binge" for about 3 months the last time and it was eating only a little food (I was highly distracted) and going out for drinks with some of the boys. These "boys" are professional drinkers, so it's not like we have a glass of wine (yuck) and that was it. No it was 10 drinks later we were arranging for peoples rides, and this was just about daily. We took weekends off, but then I was out with the other half of the "boys". Yeah, it was a bad thing, and I think I packed on a good 20 pounds in those 3 months just from alcohol. For real. I wasn't eating much.... just drinking. Then one of the boys I was closest too drove home when I knew he shouldn't and had offered to get him a cab, to drive him home, to let him crash at my place, even to let him back in to work to sleep there... and he flipped & totalled his Explorer. I didn't know this had happened and the next day at work our "crew" were all trying to get a hold of him to make sure he was ok. I left umpteen messages on his home & cell & roommate's cell... and finally he called. The first thing he said (b/c I'm a worrier) was "don't worry, I'm ok".... which led to him telling me about the accident and incidents that followed. A very very scary conversation to say the least. However it was not the only accident to occur. I ended up rolling my Jeep ass over tea kettle, and that was my final wake up call. My accident wasn't actually directly related to the alcohol, but it served as a wake up call to hey keep it up and next time it will be worst. So I've tempered my outings, drastically. I still go out occasionally with friends and throw back a few drinks, but now I'm always the responsible one. I was always the responsible one before my series of drinking binges too... I just lost my senses for a bit. Anyway, like I said... I gained about 20 pounds during that series... and somehow it hasn't come off. Although I live a much more sedentary life than I did about 3 years ago... so that I'm sure that is the root of evil. But, when do I go to the gym? And when will this diet that's not a diet stop magnifying my craving for bad foods? Man this sucks. I wish I had my metabolism from high school still. Sheesh.