Romance isn't dead

I stole this from CreoleinDC... this one's for the ladies!

And David is...

THE SNOW SWORD
Your Superhero Name is The Snow Sword
Your Superpower is Seduction
Your Weakness is Glitter
Your Weapon is Your Flame Bombs
Your Mode of Transportation is Snowboard

All of this is spot on for David, and here's a bit of TMI that he's probably very proud of... he has some serious weapons of mass destruction with his Flame Bombs. Yes, it's what you think it is.

Seduction :) check. And now I know his weakness. Either this means I need some glitter body lotion, or his weakness is a stripper named Glitter. Hmmmm, I'm going to get my body lotion either way.

If you only knew ;)

You Are a Champagne Woman

A true mystery, no one can quite figure you out... That is, until you start drinking. Then you tend to let loose. You're fun to drink with, but it definitely takes you a few drinks to loosen up. You prefer to date a man who likes the finer things in life... like a five star dinner with that champagne.

What Kind of Drinking Woman Are You?

Happy Holidays!!

I can't believe it's almost Christmas! I have been so busy getting my stuff ready to move, I'm finally settling in to David's house and gave my notice at my apartment, so now I'm on a deadline. And I'm going to get my first Christmas tree! I'm not one to decorate for any holiday, but this year, we're getting a tree even though I'll only have it up for about a week before I leave to go to the 'Cleave. We haven't even gotten the tree yet, but the process has been fun, since I've never shopped for a tree before. Don't expect Christmas cards from me either :) By the time I remember to send them, Christmas has come and gone. So forgive the lack of updates on the blog, things should settle down after my holiday travel and I'll be writing a lot more.

In the meantime, enjoy our HOLIDAY DANCE! :)

The Secrets of Thin People

I found this article a while back on Real Simple online but I couldn't find it again when I wanted to post it the first time... The Secrets of Thin People, how they get there, how they stay there. A good read, as is most things on the Real Simple site. Love this site!

Giving Thanks

"The seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart."

This is from Joel's message last week which I'm sitting here listening to again since I record them all now. This sentence is playing over and over in my head for some reason. I'm home sick today, it's raining outside, but I'm grateful I have a job that allows me sick days and the ability to work from home so I can be comfy and rest. I'm grateful we're getting the rain since we need it so badly. I'm grateful that David calls and emails to check up on me and rubs my feet when I'm not feeling well. Life is still good and every day should be Thanksgiving Day.

"The seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart."

Happy Birthday Heidi!!

Last weekend we celebrated Heidi's 30th birthday by taking a girls trip to go wine tasting in Temecula. We visited five different wineries and took the Grapeline Shuttle so we didn't have to worry about driving. I got some really nice wines & champagne and we even signed up for the wine club at Mt. Palomar winery. Guess we'll be going back ;) We stayed at the Temecula Creek Inn and I got to take my daily walk on the back nine holes of the golf course before anyone was playing on it that morning, it was nice and peaceful and the area is beautiful! David has actually played here before, but I think we'll have to visit for a weekend sometime soon. Here's some info on the local wineries of Temecula.

Who are YOU?

YOU are not what you do... YOU are not your job, your resume or your net worth... YOU are not your weight, your body, your clothes, your car... You are not your mistakes or your past, your accomplishments or your hobbies... these things you have and these things you do are all temporary and imperfect and part of your story while you go through this life.

YOU are the unbelievably glorious brilliance of God's perfection... the REAL YOU is eternal and perfect and cannot be changed by what you have or what you do or diminished by what happens in this life. God loves YOU... and you should love YOU too! Why? Because YOU are fabulous!

I was just thinking about that on my walk today and thought you might want to know :)

iAmplify

I just found iAmplify ~ "A world of content to amplify your life!" ~ as they say. They have free downloads as well as audio and video you can buy in all sorts of areas. You can also download as a podcast, or simply download it to your computer. I'm really getting into this podcast thing, I'm really behind the curve!

Check out Marianne Williamson's free download on Intimacy.

Focusing on the "To Do's"

In my job as a health educator at IHM, our focus is on teaching people what we call the "to do" behaviors of health management. There is a lot of information and focus everywhere on what NOT to do when it comes to losing or maintaining weight: "Don't eat processed foods", "Don't eat saturated fat", "Don't eat eggs, chocolate, meat... etc, etc..." But the idea is that if you focus enough on the "to-do" foods, in particular fruits & vegetables, you will fill yourself up to the point that you don't need the "not-to-do's" or you at least minimize them. That's a simplified explanation of what we do, but I said that to explain that I'm personally going to start doing this with my thoughts, and what I put into my mind. I've been trying to stop wasting time on these celebrity gossip sites that I can't seem to get enough of... I guess it's my soap opera :) and I've been focusing on the "not-to-do"... "Don't view these sites"... but my new tactic is similar to our focus at work... Focus on the "to-do's".

Much in the same way that I focus on my fruit & veggie intake, I'm focusing on the "to-do's" of listening to Joel Osteen as much as possible and listening to Wayne Dyer in my car. I'm trying to make sure my input is as positive as possible as much as possible. I still find myself drawn to garbage celebrity sites, but not as much as usual, plus I'm happier listening to the positive input of Joel & Wayne. I'll next be moving on to Debbie Ford & Marianne Willliamson :)

I finally found a way to download Joel's podcasts to my Napster mp3 player (I'm a dinosaur, and don't have an iPod). Juice is a cross-platform podcast receiver and I finally got it to work. So now if I go for a walk, I can listen to Joel's message. I also started recording his messages on the DVR, so I listen to that in the morning having my coffee, instead of getting sucked into R.egis & K.elly :) Yes, I know you love them, but I'm aiming for pure positivity and Kelly is a little like processed positivity.

Thoughts turn into feelings which turn into actions. My goal is to improve my daily actions, more love, more joy, more peace... I want those things to direct my thoughts and direct my life.

What are your "to do's" to improve your thinking?

Update: Miracles can happen

update: it's creole seasoning y'all :)

OK, y'all, it was a miracle waiting to happen..... I'm learning to cook!! I always get really inspired whenever I visit either my mom or my sister-in-law. They are great cooks and love to take care of people when they are with them. My mom will always make sure to cook our favorite meals when we are home and Monica always likes to make you feel right at home in her house and in her kitchen. I've gotten quite old-fashioned in my old age, and now that I've met someone that I really want to take care of, I thought it was time to learn to cook for him. My problem is finding tasty AND healthy, low fat recipes that are good for beginners. I've started with the basics, well actually I started with just tasty and high fat :) As soon as I got back from DC, inspired by being around my mom and my sister at the same time, I made David a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich! Hehe not exactly heart healthy :) but it was yummy... and it was a milestone that I actually made bacon! I must love that man. It wasn't just any grilled cheese though, it was my brother's special concoction, made with 6-grain bread from the Amish market in DC and gruyere cheese. My brother puts mustard on it and Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning, I made one for myself and just left the bacon off, of course. So yesterday, I baked chicken for the first time in my life (yes, don't make fun of me!) and made mashed potatoes. The chicken turned out a little lemony with the flavors that I put on it, so I'm going to make a pasta & broccoli dish and add it to that and see how it turns out with that. David is very loving and helpful through my learning process. I had to make peace with the fact that nothing is probably going to turn out right on the first try, so I'm just looking at everything like an experiment and he is helping me by tasting and giving me some tips to improve the dishes. I'll keep you posted with new recipes, because if I can make it and it turns out good, then anybody can make it!

Weight Loss Success

From ediets.com, are you making any of the 25 Biggest Weight-Loss Mistakes? Let me know which ones, I can post some solutions to some of the biggest challenges you face.

If you are interested in losing weight during or after the holidays, check out our HMR at Home® program at IHMonline. This is the company that I work for, I do not make commission on any sales of products or programs, I just really believe in what we do. If you have questions, email me at rmoss@ihmonline.com.

The Power of Disengagement

This is from a daily email I get from Daily Om, which is a website aligned more with Eastern spiritual practices. I thought this particular Daily Om was a good reminder on dealing with negative influences in our lives.

The Power Of Disengagement

Playing Mind Games

For better or worse, many people have been raised to believe that communicating in an honest and open way will not get them what they want. They have learned, instead, to play mind games or go on power trips in the service of their ego’s agenda. People stuck in this outmoded and inefficient style of communication can be trying at best and downright destructive at worst. We may get caught up in thinking we have to play the same games in order to defend ourselves, but that will only lead us deeper into confusion and conflict. The best way to handle people like this is to be clear and honest with them. As with all relationships and situations in our lives, we must look within for both the source of our difficulties and the solution. Reacting to the situation by getting upset will only entrench us more deeply in the undesirable relationship.

Only by disengaging, becoming still, and going within can we begin to see what has hooked us into the mess in the first place. We will most likely find unprocessed emotions that we can finally fully feel and release into the stillness we find in meditation. The more we are able to do this, the less we will be bothered by the other person’s dramas and the more we will be free to respond in a new way. In the light of our new awareness, the situation will untangle itself and we will slowly break free.Whenever people come into our lives, they have come for a reason, to show us something about ourselves that we have not been able to see. When unhealthy people try to hook us into their patterns with mind games and power trips, we can remind ourselves that we have something to learn here and that a part of us is calling out for healing. This takes the focus off the troubling individual and puts it back on us, giving us the opportunity to change the situation from the inside out.

Look on the left hand side...

and check out my new polling section! My first question references a conversation taking place today at lunch after I made mashed potatoes for David :) We're trying to find out which of us is normal... well, I guess as normal as the rest of you :)

This made me smile...

I was still in bed when David left for work this morning. I told him last night to please take all the Halloween candy that was left to work with him, since if it was in the house, I was going to eat it! He loves me, so he knows not to enable my chocolate addiction :) I hear him in the kitchen pouring the candy into something to take to work (now that I think about it, why didn't he just take the bag?) Anyway, I was thinking how much I really would have loved to have one more little chocolate and then how glad I was that he was taking it all to work like I'd asked because I would be too tempted. Then I walk into the kitchen to this... One perfect Reese's Peanut Butter Cup to get me through the day :) My man knows me. Thank you baby!!

In Memory ~ Erik Thomas Garoutte

Oct. 9, 1985 - Oct. 19, 2007

Erik was David's nephew and yesterday we attended his funeral. I had never met Erik, he was already in the Marines when David and I started dating, but I knew his name. You could tell his family was proud of him, proud that he was serving his country. To me, he was just a name, someone I had never met, but yesterday I wished I had gotten that chance. I have been so affected by seeing his family and friends grieve for him, he had only just turned 22 and I thought these kids shouldn't have to be burying their friend at this age. It didn't make me feel old to call them kids, it made me feel heartbroken for them. There were five of his friends that spoke at his funeral, sharing memories that made everyone laugh. Apparently Erik had been quite the prankster, so there was actually lots of laughter at his funeral, remembering the good times. Isn't that a testament to the person he was, that people were laughing at their memories, sharing that common denominator that he was the funniest person they knew... he could always make you laugh. They went on to talk about his music, he played guitar and wrote and played contemporary christian music. He was a good listener and you could talk to him about anything.

I never met Erik, but I know that seeing David and his brothers, his dad and stepmom, all of his family, grieving their loss, I was grieving with them. It made me grateful that I have not had to grieve this type of loss in my life, but now acutely aware that it will happen in one way or another. We are not promised another day, it is a reminder to love every day and live each moment with passion, whether it's laughter or tears.

I spent the weekend in DC with Robby, Monica and my mom... I was more grateful for the weekend after yesterday, grateful that we make the time to do things like this. I'll share pictures and stories of the weekend in another post, but this is heavy on my heart today. I wish for Erik's friends and family comfort and peace while they grieve, keeping his laughter and wonderful memories close to their heart.

Obituaries

Zion Christian Fellowship

Los Angeles Times

The Little Things

From my inbox, a reminder to be grateful for all things :) even the little annoyances:

As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone .

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone... all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment. Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; it may just be that God is at work watching over you. May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.

Arrrggh! Just call me Ethel

My pirate name is:

Dirty Ethel Vane

You're the pirate everyone else wants to throw in the ocean -- not to get rid of you, you understand; just to get rid of the smell. You tend to blend into the background occaisionally, but that's okay, because it's much easier to sneak up on people and disembowel them that way. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Lilies & Tulips

I definitely need my grandmother's green thumb... My tulips were very beautiful, but I'm not sure I took care of them like they needed plus I kept rearranging them... They make me smile just thinking about David though, so I love them :)

The Breast Cancer Site

Click to give FREE Mammograms at the Breast Cancer Site.

A little courtesy please

Please people, for my sanity, since I am a peeved driver as it is... unless you have a bluetooth headset with voice activated calling, that you KNOW HOW TO WORK, just stay off your cell phone while you're driving. Keep both hands available so you can USE YOUR BLINKER WHEN YOU MAKE A TURN. If you have to make a call that is so important it can't wait... stop and give your full attention to your phone, because you're doing that anyway and are oblivious to the people behind you!

I'm asking nicely :) Now, I'm going to meditate on my lilies and tulips and put a smile back on my face.

"Because you make me smile..."

"- Love David". That's what the card said for the beautiful lilies & tulips that I found waiting for me at work yesterday. Do I have love in my life and my heart?? Yes, indeed. Overflowing on a daily basis. I didn't know love could feel this warm and fuzzy and smiley and giddy... wheeeee!!! And all it took was lilies?! Nah, it's the fact that David appreciates that I like the unexpected, something different. He'll never send me roses on Valentine's Day, because that would be too common, but tulips because I make him smile? I LOVE IT!

I love you baby!

I'll post a picture tomorrow once they fully bloom, they're beautiful.

No mood to write

I've been more introspective than usual in the last two weeks and in no mood to write or blog. I'm sure I'll have lots to write about as I digest all the things I've been thinking about. Good news is that the Chargers won on Sunday! :) Here are some pics from the KC game that we went to.

Charger Blues

David and I are very competitive people. It helps our competitive spirit to watch sports and to put heart and soul into our teams. This creates a healthy outlet so that we're not necessarily competitive with each other :) Sometimes we are, but it's nice to keep it in a healthy balance and ultimately my only job as I see it, is to be his biggest fan. He's a stud and I make sure he knows it! :)

Having said that, we were in a funk on Sunday. The Chargers lost to the Packers.... and then the Padres lost to the Rockies. These are important games for our teams and they LOST!! With lots of drama to boot. Women who are not into sports, by the way, should follow it simply for the drama on and off the field... It's really a soap opera every week.

The good news is that I get to go with David to the KC game next Sunday. He has season tickets with his brother and nephew and since they are out of town, he is taking me and my friend Angela... see, I told you he's a stud :) We will have lots of fun no matter what, but it will be so exciting if the Chargers win this one at home. I've got my LT jersey all ready to go, but even LT's got to step up his game if we want to have a GREAT season, not just good, but GREAT. So be cheering with me on Sunday for our football boys... and hopefully the Padres will still be playing after that to!

Two-ply

What I'm grateful for today:

2-ply toilet paper

Can someone please explain to me why 1-ply toilet paper even exists?! Don't you end up just using twice as much, but it takes forever to unroll? I really don't want to spend any more time in a public restroom than I have to, especially trying to unroll the toilet paper. That being said, if this is my biggest annoyance today, then I am truly blessed :)

What's Wrong with Philip Rivers?!

K, the Chargers are going to give me high blood pressure if they keep playing like they did last night... They got steamrolled by the Patriots, who I hated even before the whole "cam scam" scandal started last week. I hated them last season when they beat us in the playoffs and if there was ever anyone I really wanted to punch in the face, it's Tom Brady. Well, now it's Bill Belichick, but we'll make him #2 in line. You might be thinking, "Hey, I thought Rachel was a peaceful, granola eatin' hippie chick" and you would be right... as long as we're not talking about competitive sports, and especially my Chargers!! I love my Chargers, but my boys have to step up the game if they think they're going all the way. Ok, my blood pressure is going up again... I'll have to go find something peaceful and healthy to write about.

Go Chargers!!!

The Chargers pulled through and won last Sunday against the Chicago Bears in their season opener. I was nervous to watch it because even though we have all the starters back this season, we have a whole new coaching staff and you just never know. They have to get better this week if they're going to beat the Patriots (and also if they're not going to give me a heart attack) but maybe now that the Patriots are being watched closely after their cheating scandal, we can at least get a fair game. It should at least be very exciting!

David surprised me about a month ago by buying me an LT jersey... it's perfect and I'll be wearing it to watch every game, especially the one against the Chiefs which I'll get to go to, whoo hoo!! I told you he's the best, and he knows how to pick out the perfect gift for me :) I'm spoiled... and so is he :)

Exercise makes you smarter

Have you exercised for at least 10 minutes today? From the article Bigger Brains, Better Genes: "You probably already know that regular, moderate exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being. What you may not know is that new research is showing that exercise beneficially affects your genes, helps reverse the aging process at a cellular level, gives you more energy, makes you smarter, and may even help you grow so many new brain cells (a process called neurogenesis) that your brain actually gets bigger."

That's regular, moderate exercise folks. Developing a lifelong habit of exercise starts with 10 minutes a day for a week and increasing from there. Doing multiple bouts throughout the day can help you if you're like the rest of us with a million other things to do. What problem-solving do you need to do to get in at least 10 minutes of exercise before you go to bed tonight? What about tomorrow? Don't wait until Monday, start a new positive behavior today!

Check out this list of articles on WebMD.... lots of useful information for losing weight and keeping it off.

Fondue

I finally had my first fondue experience when I went up to see Heidi a couple of weeks ago. We went to The Melting Pot and it was all yummy and fun. Probably better as a couples date night, but we decided to go anyway :) But of course, now I'll be taking David next time as a fun date night. Heidi had the seasoned chicken and I had the vegetarian dinner, but of course it was the cheese course and the dessert course that was the absolute best. Cheese, bread and veggies, how can you go wrong with that?! and then we had milk chocolate melted with caramel and pecans to dip our bananas, cheesecake, biscotti & strawberries, totally decadent!!

Heidi had driven to the restaurant, but when we got there we decided to have some wine and by the time dinner was over we decided it was best not to drive anywhere. About that time, Heidi's mom called her to check in, because she knew we might be out having some drinks and wanted to see if we needed a ride home! So we took her up on that offer, who needs a cab when mom's on the way. And Heidi's dad came with her to drive her car home so we wouldn't have to drive out and pick it up the next day. Are we spoiled or what?! The funniest part about this was when we were leaving the restaurant, her mom turned in the wrong direction to get on the freeway. As she pulled up to a light to make a U-turn, we noticed what looked like a DUI checkpoint ahead at the next intersection, so Heidi and I were very happy about our designated driver. However, after her mom made the U-turn, we immediately noticed lights start flashing on the cop car that had been waiting at the corner of the intersection. Of course, he was waiting for people making that U-turn who were trying to avoid the checkpoint. So I think he was a little surprised to see two tipsy women in their 30's being driven home by Mom! So after assessing the situation and chatting it up with Heidi's mom (Heidi and I were just keeping our mouth shut!), the officer decided no ticket was necessary.

Heidi's mom: Officer, I always told them that if they or their friends ever needed a ride to call me no questions asked... I never wanted them drinking and driving. So anyone could call at any time and we'd make sure they got home safe.

Officer: Will you give me your number so I can call you next time I need a ride home?

Heidi's mom: Of course, young man!

So the universe definitely was on the lookout for us that night, we could have probably talked ourselves into driving home, we hadn't had that much to drink... but we knew better. We had planned to call a cab until Heidi's mom called us up. So we've got a funny story to tell instead of a DUI... life es bueno :)

Hot by nature

I was going to call this post "I love my man" :) because he is absolutely the best... It was so hot this weekend is SD, records highs in East County and unbelievably hot even on the coast. Most people on the coast don't have A/C because it is rare to even need it here... but last weekend was brutally hot. I am very hot-natured even on a cool day, so I grew very grumpy and cranky by Sunday afternoon after we got home from the Padres game. David just kind of smiled at me when I was grumpy because he thought it was funny! and not "haha" funny, but cute kinda funny... that must be love. So he just smiles at me and says, let's just go for a drive and cool you down in the car, see where we end up. Off we go and we end up parked in front of Ace Hardware... let's go cruise Ace Hardware, honey, it's cool in there. wha??? But I'm ok with it, there's A/C in there :) But then he turns me around and starts leading me to Cold Stone Creamery.... whoo hoo!!!! I am in love with this man!! So we sit in Cold Stone Creamery, him laughing at me cuz I'm grumpy, and I can't help but start smiling because everything feels good in spite of the heat. It took a little while longer for the grumpy to wear off, but I love my man for helping me through it and making me laugh and loving even the grumpy part of me. Life is bueno :)

Amy Winehouse at the Mercury Awards

I really hope this girl can kick her drug habits... I love this live version.

So much fun, so little time :)

Here I am with some time on my hands, so I thought I'd best post some new happenings since David called me out earlier for not posting lately on the blog :) He likes to read the recaps of our latest adventures I guess, since they're always fun. I've got some time on my hands because I'm here supervising the window installation at David's house. Can you believe he left me in charge?! I'm drunk with power. Wheeeee!! The windows look soooo good, his vision for the house is becoming reality, a little at a time.

Anyway, what fun have we been up to lately? Padres games of course, and now that football season is about to start, you know where we'll be on Sundays. David at the home games and me posted on the couch watching them all. I love football, and I love it that we have a team with potential to do even better this year. Gotta love LT!!! David's been golfing a little and we even went miniature golfing! I don't think I've ever been mini-golfing! It was so much fun, but we are both very competitive, so even though it was only mini-golf, we both wanted to kick a$$... of course, I lost though, so I had to suck it up :( David tried to give me a couple of do-overs so I could get a better score, but that just goes against my nature!

We've been going to the racetrack in Del Mar too, it runs the end of July through early September every year. Besides seeing all the beautiful horses, it's fun to place little bets, even more fun to win :) and they have concerts and festivals every weekend too. There are people dressed casually and then there are people decked out in cute sundresses and heels, and huge hats. I did the sundress thing one weekend when we had a table, but otherwise, there's too much standing and walking around for my poor feet... it's flip-flops all the way.

We've been having very hot weather for San Diego, and yes I know that this is relative because everywhere else it is unbearable for much of the summer. But it is relevant to my story from last weekend. I ran the America's Finest City Half Marathon on Sunday morning and it was brutal because it was so hot. It starts out at Point Loma, directly on the ocean so normally at 7 a.m. it is quite cool there. Last year when I ran it, I had wished I had brought a sweatshirt to wait at the start line. But not on Sunday, I started sweating heavily as soon as we started the race. I knew it was going to be a tough 13.1 miles! At about mile 7 I had my usual thoughts of "Why am I doing this again?" But I actually had thoughts of quitting, which are not normal. I was not just drinking water at the water stations, but I was pouring it over me, which blurred my sunglasses so I couldn't wear them. Next time I'm wearing a hat and taking a little towel on the run with me! Anyway, it turned out to be a pretty good run considering the heat. David was at the finish line to see me cross!! He is such a stud, he got up at 4 a.m. with me to drop me off at the shuttles to take me to the starting line, is he cool or what?!

After finishing up the race, we had already planned to go the racetrack for the Pacific classic. Believe it or not, 13.1 miles is not a killer for me. I'm not a fast runner, but I can go some distance before it affects me too much. Well it was the heat that did me in on Sunday. As soon as we got to the track, we stood in the sun in the Paddock area for about 10 minutes, then went inside to make some bets. It was stuffy and hot inside and I realized I was about to pass out if I didn't get water fast and get outside in the breeze. I would have just been mortified! So out I ran leaving David to find me some water. As soon as he handed it to me I downed a 16 oz. bottle in about 5 seconds! So thanks to my baby for taking care of me :)

So David has his 20 year class reunion this weekend (where does the time go?!) He'll be catching up with old friends and I'll be catching up with Ms. Heidi, we're going to be hanging at the pool all weekend I'm sure. Now if I can just get back to posting every day! I won't have to bombard you with long posts at once!

Mattel Toy Recall

Many of you have probably heard about this, but since I've been so slow with blogging this week, I'm adding it anyway just in case!

Here's an article on MSNBC with lists of the toys recalled. And check out the EPA website information on lead exposure, with information on the recall also.

GO PADRES!

Slowly but surely I'm becoming a certified Padres fan :) David's been taking me to a lot of the games (definitely spoiling me, I'm realizing). We were there on Friday and Sunday last weekend, waiting on Friday to see if Barry Bonds would tie Hank Aaron's record. It was very exciting with all the flashbulbs going off as he came up to bat, the crowd cheering AND booing... Sunday we went with Paul and Jill and checked out the new addition of the Tony Gwynn statue that just went up. The weather was perfect and we had a great day, a great weekend actually :) Next weekend is the start of the football pre-season, whoo hoo!! I'm already a Chargers fanatic, so I'm looking forward to this season... GO CHARGERS!!

the DIY Diet

What a great article on MSNBC.com.... Going it alone: the Do-It-Yourself Diet. Finding weight management strategies that fit your lifestyle is so critical because then you can incorporate them for life, not just during the time you are losing weight. Just because something works for person A does not mean that it will work for person B. Find out what works for you based on the common sense of burning more calories than you take in. And find an exercise that you enjoy or can at least tolerate doing on a daily basis! Most people cannot maintain their weight without exercise, and even if you can, it is good for your bones, your hormones and your body. Exercise anyway!

Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing

I just tried Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing and it is very good. It is his line's lowest calorie dressing at 35 calories per 2 tbsp, which is half as much as most of his other "Lighten Up" dressings. Many "light" dressings can still add lots of calories if you're using more than one serving, but if you find one low enough, you don't really have to watch portions. I'm all about flavor too, so just because something is within the calorie range doesn't necessarily mean it gets my stamp of approval :) I try to stay below 35-40 calories per 2 tablespoons (which is a typical serving size of salad dressing), but my favorite is still Galeo's Miso dressing, which is at 44 calories per serving. This dressing is so flavorful though, I don't need to even use that much and you would never guess that it's part of a healthy diet plan. It is yummy!

Transition Anxiety

I learned a lot about myself in this article by Martha Beck in the latest Oprah magazine. I'm a major polychrone in a world of monochrones :) I have to incorporate some of these strategies to help me cope.

I also just switched to Verizon and got the Motorola Q PDA, I'm hoping that keeping my tasks lists, notes, email, etc with me on the go, will help me be better organized too. We'll see :) I've got to learn how to program the reminders and alarms on it so I can get stuff done on time. What a concept :)

Do you think you're a monochrone or a polychrone?

Flight of the Conchords ~ Business Time

Bubbles ~ wheeeeee!!

David surprised me by packing the bubbles for MS :) I had looked at them as we were walking out the door for the airport and thought that I should have packed them... yes, I'm weird, but thankfully David appreciates my eccentricities :)

David meets the Clampetts

OK, that's an inside joke... we're rednecks, not hillbillies :) We had sooooo much fun on our trip to Mississippi, the weather cooperated miraculously, so our expectations were exceeded. Of course, we had expected the worst as far as the weather :) Here are some highlights from the trip:

• My mom's Fried Shrimp Po'boy = YUUMMMMMY!! I talk about these po'boys all the time, so David was really looking forward to trying it, and my mom did not disappoint :) They rocked and I wish I could have them every single day.... Yum Yum!
• The new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino = the coast is on the mend.... this hotel was set to open the weekend after Hurricane Katrina hit. It's taken them two years to reopen, so it was great to stay there. We hung out by the pool on Sunday with Johnnie & Morgan and had a blast. I think these casinos do something sublimal with the lighting to keep you awake and gambling... David and I stayed up until 2:45 a.m. one night and 5 a.m. (!) another night just hanging out, gambling a little but staying wide awake!
• Video poker = so much fun!! who knew?! Deuces wild :)
• Miss Morgan's new hair style = Maybe I can get a pic to post so y'all can see the new sophisticated first grader.
• Golf = David got to golf with the "Pig Pen" on Saturday and Sunday. This is the weekend version of the "Bull Pen" I guess, a group of guys that meet at the same time on the weekends to golf together. David had a great time and was very impressed with my dad's skills, he's "Automatic" Moss.

Here's some pics from David's camera, I'll post the ones from my mom when I get them.

How to Picnic

We finally used our new picnic backpack that we got at the fair. It was a good plan, but we learned a few things about how to picnic... We had planned to go to the beach in Del Mar after another brief visit to the fair. We took cheese and crackers, sushi, grapes and a nice bottle of red wine. Since it was a very hot, sunny day in Del Mar (maybe high 80's?? I know, you hate me), the red wine and sushi might have been better suited for a picnic in the shade at Balboa Park. Next time I'm thinking we should take Mimosas for a day at the beach.... We also forgot our swimsuits and beach towls, so we decided next time we would bring little beach chairs with us so we could post up in the ankle deep water and chill... with our Mimosas :) The sushi was pretty good, but sandwiches or tortilla wraps would be good too with more fruit and maybe some homemade potato salad. OK, now I'm getting in the mood for a picnic again :) maybe Sunday will be a good day to chill at the beach and work on the tan a bit. It's time to get rid of my running tan lines!

Got To Be Real ~ Cheryl Lynn

Love this old school song!!

Mellow weekend

This weekend was nice & relaxing, but there was only one thing missing.... David was in Vegas for a bachelor party. He had a great time, but I think it still surprises both of us how much we can miss each other over two days. I got lots of exercise in though, boxing on Friday, then I went for an 8 1/2 mile run around Mission Bay on Saturday to prepare for the America's Finest City (AFC) Half Marathon coming up in August and then went for a 4 mile walk on Sunday morning. Next weekend, I'll run 12 miles around the bay just to make sure I'm ready :)

On Saturday afternoon, Heidi came down and we vegged at my apartment for a while before deciding we must have Cheesecake Factory. We always end up ordering the same exact thing, Grilled Portabella on a Bun for me and The Club sandwich, extra crispy bacon no tomatoes for her. YUMMY!! I also got a side of steamed broccoli for some extra veggies, and then I had to get fresh strawberries for dessert because she got a slice of Snickers Bars Chunks cheesecake.... I still stole a little taste, of course it was delish!! But I learned my lesson after the yummy dessert at the hotel in Coronado and made sure I had something else sweet to snack on instead. The strawberries were a perfect remedy :)

We were supposed to go surfing on Sunday, but decided it would be a lazy day instead and went and had a pedicure before she headed home. I was so happy to go pick up David from the airport, but it was a lazy, recovery afternoon for him.... Vegas can do that to you. He had a great time though and I'm glad to have him back home even after only 2 days away. I missed him!!

I love....

• David ~ he is thoughtful, funny, smart, cute and supportive... and that's just my top 5 list today!
• Bubbles! The old school kind in the little jar with the wand :) they make me smile!!
• Watermelon ~ YUMMY!! It is so good right now, David figures I eat 2 - 3 watermelons a week.
• Therapy ~ I'm in the middle of tough stuff right now which I could never heal on my own. It's good to know when to get help.
• San Diego ~ we're in the middle of a heat wave, it's 70 degrees downtown! Seriously, it's over 100 degrees in east county, but hey, I don't live there hehe :)

Humph.

I'm being boycotted by CreoleInDC. Humph. What does that mean? No, I know what boycott means, what does humph mean?? I imagine her with her arms crossed, stomping her foot, with a little snort. Does a humph include a snort? The kind of snort that a dog might give you when they're shaking their head. Or is it a snort maybe like a horse right before they neigh, or whinny? Neigh or whinny ~ I'm not sure which word I like better. I assume it's not like the snort when David makes me laugh so hard.

So I guess this is why I'm not blogging so much right now, I can get so easily distracted and unfocused by the most random things. Like the weather, which is about 75 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. Like work stuff, therapy stuff, fun stuff.... we're going to the fair again this weekend wheeeee!!

I need feedback, what should I focus on and write about on the blog? There's too much percolating in my head to write it all down.

Humph.

Time for a picnic!

One of the things I love about David is his sense of humor and his ability to just be himself no matter where we are or what we're doing :) This is how he spent much of the time cruising around the fair, which makes me laugh just thinking about it. He took very good care of all the animals that we both won. The other cool thing about this picture is that the backpack is actually a picnic backpack, we found it in one of the booths in the exhibition halls. The compartment on the left is an insulated holder for a bottle of wine and the blanket has a plastic tarp-like backing so it won't get ruined on the ground. It has two insulated compartments for food, with a wine cork and opener, and 2 sets of cutlery, plates & wine glasses. Oh, and it also has a cutting board and knife for cheese! How cool is that?! So we'll be picnicing in the near future and giving it a roadtest. More good times :)

OMG, Morgan Freeman is 70?

Take Another Swing - a nice short article by Morgan Freeman in Newsweek.

Watermelon is my favorite fruit!

Watermelon is great to enjoy year round. At only about 45 calories per cup, it can be a great way to increase your fruit intake and keep your calories low. Enjoy it for dessert or as a snack, it is very filling and can satisfy your sweet tooth.

Quick Watermelon Cubes

• Take a quarter watermelon and lay it on the rind with the interior facing up.
• Place knife about 3/4 of an inch down from the peak of the wedge. Holding the knife parallel to the far side of the fruit and starting at edge of rind, cut a horizontal line through the fruit all the way down to the rind.
• Next, place the knife blade 3/4 of an inch lower and make the same cut. Repeat.
• Next, turn the fruit to the other side and make the same horizontal cuts.
• And last, starting at edge of the rind, make vertical cuts 3/4 inch apart all the way across. Cubes will tumble out ready to eat!

How to Choose a Watermelon

• Look the watermelon over. You are looking for a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.
• Lift it up. The watermelon should be heavy for its size. Watermelon is 92% water, most of the weight is water.
• Turn it over. The underside of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

Watermelon Facts

• A Watermelon is completely edible. While most of us relish the flesh part, the watermelon seeds can be roasted and eaten. Watermelon rind is used for making preserves, pickles and relish.
• Though watermelon is commonly considered as a fruit it is actually a vegetable! It is a member of the cucumber family and is kin to the gourd.
• Watermelon is the Lycopene Leader in fresh produce, having higher concentrations of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. In fact, fresh watermelon contains higher levels of lycopene than fresh tomatoes - a 2-cup serving of watermelon contains and average of 18.16 mg and one medium-sized tomato contains 4 mg.

I love the fair!!

I haven't been to a fair in forever! I've lived in San Diego for 6 years and never been to the Del Mar Fair here (now called the SD Co. Fair, but I'm sure David won't let me call it that... to him it will always be the Del Mar Fair). We went on Saturday and had SO MUCH FUN! We thought we would probably only be there a few hours at most, I mean how can one spend much time at the fair right? Well, we got there about noon, and did not leave until midnight. We looked at all the home improvement exhibits, ate a little bit of crappy fair food, visited the beer garden of course, rode some rides, played lots of games and I even got a tattoo! Calm down, it's a henna tattoo, so it will be gone in about 2 -3 weeks, but I love it! You'll see all of our new "kids" below that we won :) Notice that four of them are Chargers and Padres bears, that was on purpose :) we couldn't resist.

David meets the Mosses :)

So David met part of my family while they were in San Diego, and now a lot makes sense him :) He thinks I have a fabulous family and I agree with him! The first night everyone was here we went to a yummy dinner at a place called Osetra downtown. I'm still eating strict vegetarian, so I didn't try the fish, but the salad was delicious and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their selections. David will meet the rest of the crazy clan when we go to Mississippi at the end of July (tell me again why we're going to MS in July?!), but I think he'll be ok, they're fabulous too!

Where Have I Been?!

Busy, busy, busy it seems! I hope everyone is having as much fun as I've been having starting out their summer :) My mom, brother and sister-in-law were here a couple of weeks ago and that completely threw me out of my routine, so I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. Here's some of what my SIL had to say about their trip out here and why she loves San Diego. You'll notice the picture on her site of the huge and yummy piece of chocolate cake... one reason I haven't been blogging is because I've been working out extra just to burn that off :) Some people I call "portion controllers".... they can be around food like this and just have a bite. Not me! I would have enjoyed eating the entire thing... but I would have had to fight off Robby and David, so at least I got about a third of it :)

Pokez

David and I went to a new restaurant before the game last night. Well, the restaurant's not new, it's quite old, but I've never been there before, so it's new to me. It's called Pokez and it's a mexican vegetarian restaurant, which is quite an unusual theme considering that just about everything on the menu can be made with meat or tofu (or other veggie selections). It's very nice for me to be able to sit down at a restaurant and have so much to choose from and such a wide variety of options that include tofu. I really liked the food, it was very healthy and wouldn't have been too "heavy" except that I ate the whole humongus tofu burrito! It was huge, and very tasty. Not sure if David thought much of the shrimp burrito, but then he had already had the best lasagne EVER elsewhere for lunch, so maybe he'll try something different the next time we go :) The building looks like a beat up dive bar downtown, but it had a great artsy eclectic vibe to it, which was very groovy. We're going back for breakfast next time, I'll keep you posted on how it turns out.

Grilled Fruit with Strawberry Dip

If you're grilling this weekend for Memorial Day, here is another great option to help increase your fruits and veggies.

Ingredients
4 peaches, halved or quarted
8 chunks of pineapple
4 plums, nectarines or papayas, halved
1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. granulated sugar

Dip
8 oz. part-skim ricotta cheese
2 tbsp. plain non-fat yogurt
1/4 tsp. dried, ground ginger
8 strawberries, halved

Preparation
In a blender, puree cheese, yogurt, ginger and strawberries until smooth. Pour into a bowl and refrigerate for two hours. Thread fruit onto eight skewers and mix vinegar and sugar in a small bowl. Grill fruit until lightly browned, turning frequently and brushing with vinegar mixture every few minutes. Serve with strawberry dip on the side.

Makes 8 servings.

Nutrition Facts per serving
Calories: 106
Carbs: 18 grams
Protein: 4 grams
Fat: 2 grams
Fiber: 2 grams

Recipe courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research, www.aicr.org.

Delirium

David and I went to see Cirque du Soleil's Delirium last night. It's rough going out on a school night, we were already tired before we left, but the show was really good. They don't even have a picture of my favorite part of the show though. There was a dancer who used hula hoops, it was soooo cool! She was very good at her art. Now I have to get a hula hoop for practice :) I've been to a Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas and David took me to see Cavalia for my birthday and it is always quite a show. You can find it on TV sometimes as well. The music is amazing. But I am always amazed at the strength of the performers, their bodies are like machines. One guy had an 18 pack, he was well beyond 6 pack :) We had a good laugh about that, laughing with appreciation at the work they put into the performance. Tonight we're going to the Padres game and then I have to clean up my apartment in preparation for the family getting here next week. Looking forward to my boxing classes this weekend too!

Grilled Bananas

Ingredients
4 bananas, cut in half
Cinnamon sugar
Melted butter, optional (or olive oil spray)

Preparation
Cut bananas in half so that both halves have all the skin on. Cut the halves lengthwise (so the bananas are shaped like boats) and LEAVE THE SKIN ON. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. (If using butter, brush bananas lightly before sprinkling with cinnamon sugar. I WOULD RECOMMEND USING OLIVE OIL OR CANOLA SPRAY TO MAKE IT LOW-CAL).

Place bananas cut side down for 1 to 3 minutes or until bananas have grill marks. Turn over and continue cooking until warmed through. When the banana skin starts to pull away from the fruit, they're done.

Eat right out of the skin while still warm or serve on top of fat free or no sugar added vanilla ice cream.
Recipe SummaryPrep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes

Episode#: CL9359Copyright © 2006 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved

Good times :)

This is David having a good laugh... I love this picture!! I love it when he finds something so funny he grins like this :) this means good times. We've been having lots of good times recently, which is one reason I haven't been posting so much. I'll have to take a minute soon and write about all the stuff we've got going on. We recently went to Sea World, which I call the Sea Zoo :) It was my first time going there even though I've lived in San Diego for 6 years. We've been going to many Padres games, I've got to get a picture up of the cute little jersey that I bought to wear to games and the hat that David bought me, because it is the perfect hat!! We went to a game on Mother's Day with his family and that was really fun... but we didn't take pictures, shame on us. Tomorrow we're off to Six Flags Magic Mountain, more Padres games coming up and my mom, brother and sister-in-law are all coming out to visit at the end of the month... lots to do! Oh, and I forgot we're going to see Cirque du Soleil "Delirium" on the 24th, that will be so cool. Then we have to work in the midst of all this! I promise to catch up on my postings because Sea World was really cool. And we have to start taking the camera with us everywhere we go now :) Good times!

The Boxing Club

I just signed up for a short term membership to try out classes at The Boxing Club. My friend Angela and I tried a class there last month and it kicked our butts!! It is a great workout and feels very empowering to put on a pair of boxing gloves and get out some aggression on the bag :) I think it's going to be the best way for me to get in strength training and toning since I get bored with traditional weightlifting routines. This seems like something that will keep me interested.

Go Meatless - One Day a Week

Meatless Mondays, what a great idea! Read more on how reducing your consumption of saturated fats can have a positive impact on your health.

Vegging Out

Lose Weight by Vegging Out on MSNBC.com. Are you part of the 11 percent meeting the government's minimum Dietary Guidelines for Americans (see also MyPyramid.gov) for both fruits and vegetables? I've already had 4 servings of fruits & veggies and I'm eating stir-fried veggies over a baked potato as I write this for 2 more. We're having a challenge at work right now to ensure that we get in at least 6 servings of fruits & veggies per day. We have the chance to win a weeklong trip for 2 to Europe or Hawaii, so that makes it worth it! Besides the fact that it helps me maintain my weight :)

Our program measures servings differently than the government's minimum. All servings must be consumed in a low-fat/non-fat context to be counted as a serving.

One serving of fruit =

• 1 medium piece of fruit (approx. 6 oz. of the edible portion)
• 1 cup of mixed fruit
• Dried fruit & fruit juices do NOT count as a serving

One serving of vegetables =

• 1 medium sized potato or about 6 oz. (including sweet potato or yam)
• 1 cup of cut vegetables
• 3 cups of leafy vegetables
• 1/2 cup of beans or legumes (including tofu)
• All vegetables are included

As part of our challenge, we also have a minimum number of HMR meal replacements and a minimum amount of exercise that we must do each week. I went for a 4 mile run this morning and am going to walk for a couple of miles after work. Have you exercised today? Make a commitment to include at least 10 minutes of exercise before the end of the day. Be fabulous!!

Dinner in the Elation Room

David and me with our favorite person on the ship ~ Ni, our beverage server at dinner :) She even let me have one of the single wine carafes that she brought to serve our wine, I don't think she was supposed to do that, but I think she was charmed by David :)

I had a ball in Ensenada

OK, so we're cruising around Ensenada, sipping on cervezas, doing a little shopping and yes, there is a statue of a donkey with a little chihuahua on his back pointing out his huge... well you know. Look at that grin on his face! He's just waiting for some stoopit American tourist to get talked into taking a picture like this by her boyfriend. Hehe, who knew it would be me?! Yes, I know, everyone knew it would be me. I think the picture is hysterical, but more hysterical is after our dinner that night, we were telling our tablemates about the statue and one girl asked me how they tasted! She thought we were talking about having real donkey's... well you know. She was very confused... or just had too many cervezas :)

I know Monica is having a *big sigh* right now :) but she really shouldn't be surprised, hehe!!

David's Life Path Number

Your Life Path Number is 1

Your purpose in life is to lead others. You have great drive and determination. Nothing is going to stand in your way. You seek out challenges and the spotlight. You'll take all the work - and all the glory. Status and success are important to you. You demand the best from everyone and everything. In love, you tend to take a protective role. You enjoy being the provider in relationships. You expect others to be like you, and as a result, you are often disappointed. A little selfish and vain, you always put yourself first. Remember, everyone already knows you're great - you don't need to remind them!

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Jello and Fruit ~ YUM!!

Mine and David's new favorite food of the moment is sugar-free jello with fruit in it... I know, very old school :) but after being sick and living on jello for a couple of days, I made orange jello with canned mandarin oranges in it... YUMMY!! Up next is strawberry-banana jello with bananas in it. I'll keep you posted.

Rachel's Life Path Number ~ I like peace :)

Your Life Path Number is 2

Your purpose in life is to promote peace. You are very sensitive and insightful. You often know what others are thinking. Patient and tactful, you bring ease to any tense situation. You have an incredible amount of inner strength. Use it, and you can achieve almost anything. In love, you know your partner's needs and desires - and do your best to fulfill them. While your sensitivity is your greatest strength, it can also be your greatest weakness. At times, you tend to take what others think and say a little too seriously. Sometimes you tend to run from confrontation when your best option is to stay and fight.

What Is Your Life Path Number?

I will rejoice

"This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." I got up yesterday with that thought in my head, and then turned on Joyce Meyer to watch her show. Besides being sick last week, I have been dealing with some issues from my past which have kept me from blogging, but I am feeling so happy even in the midst of "issues" that I'll likely start sharing some aspects of what I'm dealing with. What am I grateful for today?

• David of course, more than ever... I need him :)
• My therapist ~ it's necessary to have an objective and therapeutic ear to listen and help me sort through my "stuff"
• My support network of friends and family who listen to me and call on me when they need someone to listen to them
• Food! I wasn't able to eat for a couple of days, I like food even when it's healthy tofu & veggies or not so healthy french fries and nachos. Glad to be eating again!

Cruisin'

David and I took a cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico weekend before last and had soooo much fun! We relaxed in Ensenada, chilled in the jacuzzi by the pool on Sunday, played in the casino and kept each other laughing all weekend. However, on the last night of the cruise, David got violently ill with what we thought was food poisoning.... but nope, it was stomach flu, as I found out on Thursday when I became a little less violently ill! So I have finally recuperated and am back to blogging and getting some pics up here from the trip. I tried to take care of David while he was sick as best as I could, but I had no idea how much he was suffering until I got sick! By then, he knew exactly how to take care of me while I recovered, moving me from bed to couch and making sure I had crackers and Gatorade and jello by the couch (in a cooler, no less!!) when he came home from work to check on me. He's the best :) I'll keep adding pics from the cruise, but here are a couple of the sunset from our stateroom and us in Ensenada.

Joss Stone ~ Tell Me 'Bout It

Pink ~ U+UR Hand

Forerunner 101

Garmin Forerunner 101 Personal Training Device / GPS
The Forerunner 101 offers recreational walkers and runners an entry-level personal training device with GPS. The device features an easy-to-read display, ergonomic wristband, and integrated GPS sensor that provides precise speed, distance, and pace data.

This allows you to walk or run anywhere and always be able to calculate your mileage and your calories burned. Only available at Home Depot online and not in their stores.

Golfing??

Last weekend started out all about exercise. On Friday, I did two sessions of walking (per my assignment from work) and got in about 7 miles, then Saturday I took a boxing class with my friend Angela in the morning, and then ran for 3 miles later that afternoon. I was tired, but feeling good about working out.

Angela and I are trying to find some boxing classes that we can take on a per-class fee basis. There are quite a few boxing gyms in San Diego, which have great boxing & kickboxing classes, but you have to join the gym and we are both members of other gyms already, sooooo... the search continues. In the meantime, we are getting great workouts trying out the classes. They are very high intensity.

Anyway, by Sunday it was lounge and relax day. It was overcast, a perfect day for staying inside on the couch. David went to work for awhile early that morning and I took the time to finish some laundry, but by noon we were firmly planted on the sofa at his house in front of his big screen TV. And guess what was on... Golf! The Master's tournament. Now I know a little about golf because my dad and my brother are both fanatics. I've even tried it before and of course found it incredibly frustrating. I've been to the Buick Invitational and was so impressed by the players. But I've never watched golf on TV and I never understood why you would want to :) But, it was lounging day, and I wasn't getting my butt off the couch and David was interested in flipping between the golf tournament and the Padres game. I figured I would be able to get in a good nap. So I started watching both figuring to doze off at any moment, when suddenly I started following the competition of the tournament. Realizing the mental and physical skill of the players. And getting involved in the stories & the drama of the winners and competitors. I think I must be a competition junkie :) If I can understand the strategy and skill behind a sport, I'm hooked. So I had to stay awake to see if Tiger could pull it off at the 18th hole... had to see what Zach Johnson had to say for himself after he won... had to see Phil Mickelson sit through the interview after the tournament wondering how he had blown it. Now I just have to figure out how to stay focused during a baseball game :) After our day of lounging on Sunday, David took me to the Padres game on Monday night. Nachos & beer, this is not a good food environment :) but it was fun. And now I think I'm about to get talked into going golfing!!!! I'll keep you posted, because if it's not fun, at least it will be funny as hell.

Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month

National Sexual Assault Hotline • 1.800.656.HOPE

April is Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual assault or domestic violence, it is never too late to get help. RAINN is an organization for survivors and their friends and families. Check out important information on their web site about prevention, statistics of sexual assault, types of sexual assault and the effects of sexual assault.

The Other Zen

Sorry, I had to steal this from Monica's blog... too funny, I think my fave is #8 :) ha! Hopefully they have nice shoes.

Zen Sarcasm

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.
2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.
4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.
6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.
17. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.
18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.
19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.
22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Toot Tone

Alanis Morissette ~ My Humps

OMG, this is hysterical... I guess she's not a big Fergie fan :)

I can still act like a brat

I can still be an evil little brat... and I really have to keep forgiving myself for it instead of hating it. Although the weekend was really fun and overall David and I had a great time, it was definitely hampered by my inner brat throwing a little tantrum. So unnecessary and unproductive. I know that I wish I was perfect, and in the past that was my excuse for acting in any manner I felt like acting ~ if I can't be perfect, why not just do what feels good? and not in a healthy, pleasant way either. That didn't work out so well. :) So now I practice accepting my imperfections and learning to forgive myself when that ugly part of me shows itself. I am grateful that it happens less and less and that I am truly learning to forgive myself. But man, it's tough. It's tough to hurt someone that you love with a bit of evil little brat when they didn't sign up for that.

So what went right this weekend? I'm grateful for:

• David ~ he deserves a special medal for the weekend :)
• New friends ~ good people who share their lives and good times with you. We celebrated David's friend Paul's birthday on Saturday and David's dad's birthday on Sunday.
• Beautiful, gorgeous SD weather ~ it's back!
• My faith that I am in the midst of learning things about myself that will not only help me, but maybe inspire others to help themselves.
• Veggie burgers :) I am a vegetarian and proud of it.

Christina Aguilera-Candyman

Loving this song right now!! It gets me in such a good mood :) Ready for a fun weekend!

Mellow weekend

In case you were wondering how much fun David and I had this weekend, it was very mellow because I had class all day on Saturday. And yet we still managed to have fun! :) We saw a movie, Shooter, on Friday night, went for a long walk on Saturday night and after David played golf on Sunday morning, went for sushi down by the beach... we are on a quest to find the best pizza roll in SD, so we checked out Zen 5 in Pacific Beach. Very cool place and really good sushi, but not the best pizza roll, it was more like a dynamite roll. The best is still Seau's, yummy!!