I told the woman who cut and colored my hair that I wanted to go a bit darker and I wanted my hair to be around shoulder length with long layers, to give it extra bounce and body. I think she did a really good job. I'm happy with it.

Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list ten things you love that begin with that letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own.

My letter is "P":

1. peanut butter
2. pens
3. peonies
4. puppies
5. pleasure
6. pants
7. pictures
8. poppies
9. Pearl Jam
10. popsicles

Happy Father's Day to allt he dads out there. I hope that your loved ones are treating you well (even if you don't deserve it).

This wish goes out to all the Mom's who, for whatever reason, have to be Dad's too.

I dunno how to do that thingy that makes a very long post into a link that you can click on if you wanna read it, so ya'll get to scroll like crazy for this.
Sorry, long meme.

My Autobiography
Fill this out IN YOUR OWN WORDS and repost as, "My Autobiography" ... And use your own answers, not anyone else's.

1.Where did you take your default pic?
Found it on the interweb somewhere.

2.What exactly are you wearing right now?
Black yoga pants and black thermal-type, long sleeve shirt (I call them my jammies)

3.What is your current problem?
I have to pick just one?

4.What makes you happy most?
Puppies. New Shoes. Dave. Hanging with mah peeps.

5.What's the name of the song that you're listening to?
I have the potato song stuck in my head. You know: "They're red, they're white, they're brown; they get that way under ground. There can't be much to do, so now they have blue ones too...."

6.Any celeb you would marry?
I can name a few I would sleep with. Would I marry any of them? I would not be a good celebrity wife. I don't like being followed around by reporters, having my picture taken at any given random time...yeah, no.

7.Name someone with the same birthday as you?
Gene Autry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bryant Gumbel, Rebecca De Mornay, my cousin Erica, and I'm guessing oodles of other people I don't know

8.Ever sang in front of a large audience?
Yes. I was in various choral and choir groups in elementary school, junior high and high school. Do I do it anymore? No.

9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
A couple of people have said Brook Shields. Someone once told me I looked like Jennifer Grey, after the nose job. I don't see either.

10.Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddie TV shows?
No.

11. Do you speak any languages?
Other than English, I can minorly bastardize Spanish, and I took Latin as my language class in junior high and high school. I want to learn to speak Spanish (you know, better than the bastardized version I try to speak now) and I want to learn Italian and/or German.

12. Has anyone you've been really close with passed away?
Yes.

13.Do you ever watch MTV?
Not for years.

14.What's something that really annoys you?
When clothing companies put tags in the side seam of shirts. You can never really get the damn thing cut out and it will itch you till the day you get rid of the shirt.

Chapter 1:
===============
1.Middle name:
Rose

2.Nickname(s):
El, Elly, Bear, Pooh Bear

3.Current location:
my living room

4.Eye color:
Hazel

Chapter 2:
===============

1.Do you live with your parent(s):
Nope. I enjoy visiting them for a few days at a time. But, I could never move back in and live with them, again.

2.Do you get along with your parent(s):
Yeah. They know that I'm an adult and they let me make my own choices. They also don't know about half the shit I've done.

3.Are your parents married/separated/divorced
Happily married; 36 years. They still go out on dates.

4.Do you have any Siblings?:
Two older sisters and one younger brother.

Chapter 3: Favorites
===============
1. Ice Cream:
Anything with chocolate and peanut butter; I do love a good tin roof sundae.

2. Season:
Autumn.

3.Shampoo/conditioner:
Pantene Brilliant Brunette.

Chapter 4: Do You..
===============
1.Dance in the shower?
Not on your life. THat would lead to me slipping and falling and hitting my head and bleeding all over the place and that's just bad things...

2.Write on your hand?
I generally try to keep scraps or small pads of paper with me, so that I don't have to. It's a last resort.

3.Call people back?
I try to. I suck at it.

4.Believe in love?
The raw emotional kind, yes. Not the over-hyped Hollywood version.

6. Have any bad habits?
Yeah. Don't we all.

7. Have any mental health issues?
You have to ask?

Chapter 5: Have You..
===============
1.Broken a bone:
My nose, coupla fingers, my right wrist and a toe.

2.Sprained stuff:
Ankles.

3.Had physical therapy:
Nope.

4. Gotten stiches:
Coupla times.

5.Taken painkillers:
Stronger than Motrin or Tylenol or Advil? Actually, nope.

6. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling:
Yup; both.

7.Been stung by a bee:
Yup. Twice the stings were bad enough that I hadda go to the hopsital.

8.Thrown up at the dentist:
Nope.

9.Sworn in front of your parents:
Yeah; often, actually. They're used to it. They even laughed the coupla times I actually went to church with them and swore at my brudder in church and I cringed cause I figured I'd get struck by lightening or something and everyone was laughing.

10. Had detention:
No. I was a good girl. I had no clue what I was missing.

11.Been called a hoe.
No. I've had people get pretty creative with the insults, but using gardening tools as insults never came up.

Chapter 6: Who/What was the last
===============
1.Movie(s):
Last movie I watched? In the theater? Chronicles of Narnia; Prince Caspian (though I didn't get to see all of it). Last DVD I watched? Atonement. I think.

2.Person to text you:
Lindsey. I had to check.

3.Person you called:
Dave.

4.Person you hugged:
Nathan and Adrian when they left the house last night.

5.Person you tackled?
I haven't had the opportunity to tackle someone in a long while. Suppose I'd have to jump into another pick-up touch football game for that...I generally play with people who use tackling as the "touch". Makes it interesting. These days, I kick-box. We don't tackle in kick-boxing.

6. Person you talked to on IM?
Um, I haven't been on my IM in over a week, I think. Can't remember who the last person was. Coulda been Charlie.

7.Thing you touched:
The "." key.

8. Thing you ate?
A strawberry.

9.Thing you drank:
Decent glass of Merlot.

10.Thing you said:
"Amala, please chew on the one that doesn't have a squeaker anymore."

11.Person you kissed:
Do my dogs count?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_FXyiHH-Zw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KicGvWg9kqk

so, just had to share...something about songs sung by a chipmunk that makes me giggle

Late last night, I turned in my final project for what is the equivalent of a thesis. I mean my FINAL PROJECT. For school. Meaning I am done. Classes are over. No more homework. No more quizzes. No more tests. Now, I wait and see what my grades look like. Should be really good, I hope. So, now I have time to do stuff like going to the zoo and the park and the movies and picnics and girls' nights, without having to say, "let me just finish this one assignment and I'm ready." Huge. Weight. Lifted. Whew!

Ok, so the no more homework, quizzes or tests thing lasts until I start a Master's program. I'm shooting for Law School or an International Affairs program. Crossing fingers. That means that I do have to study for both the LSAT and the GRE. WHEE! Cause I am a glutton for punishment.

Oh, and I can tkae the pups for more long walks. YAY! I really enjoy those.

Lets see, what else? Oh, I got pre-approved for an auto loan through my bank. This means that I can get the Honda Element I've been wanting for months now. Ok, really, I've wanted one for over a year. Now, I can get one. I'm thinking I will get it in green, with grey trim. So, the plan was to buy a one-way ticket to Seattle, have my man help me pick it out, get it registered and then drive back with him. He would then fly back to Seattle whenever he wanted to. We would have to do this before the end of April. Geez. It's April, already!

So, yeah, things are going well. Very well. I am happy. And, it's spring. Lots of lovelies are in bloom.

So, I've wanted and needed a new phone for a while. I went to the Sprint store, last weekend, and was basically told that I would get no discount unless I upgraded my phone (translation - new contract). But, I don't want a new contract, I want a new phone that will work better than the Razr that the ex gave me. The cheapest phone they had at the Sprint store was a durable flip-phone with limited text capability, no bluetooth capability and no camera. No thanks. That one cost over $250. Right. NO. The next step up was close to a Razr and cost over $300. Again. No. And no discount without an upgrade? No, thank you. Leave the store.

Went to Best Buy today. Found a pretty cool slide phone that ahs everything I want and cost me about $300. At the Sprint store I was told I was not eligible for a full upgrade, but could still get a discount, with a new contract. At Best Buy, I was suddenly eligible for everything...but, I still just wanted the new phone. No new contract. Told her that a few times. Did I mention I don't want a new contract? Yeah. So, then she tries to activate it and tells me that she can't do it unless I upgrade. Wait. What?! No. I don't want a new contract; i.e. NO UPGRADE! Girl number one walks away for a minute and returns with girl number two who tells me you CAN activate without the upgrade, btu there was a glitch in the Sprint system today and she didn't want to chance messing up my new phone. That I can deal with. Thank you. I'll pay now and activate at home. Ok, done.

Get it home. It has to be fully charged in order to activate it. Okay. Mark and Crow come over, we order pizza and watch Beowulf. I likes Beowulf. Phone is charging. Mark and Crow leave and I decide I want to activate my new phone. But the Sprint website (piece of crap) isn't recognizing the DEC number on my phone and I have to call customer service. The first time I call, the Sprint system hangs up on me. WTF?! I call back and end up talking to some guy who doesn't quite know what he's doing and doesn't quite speak very good English. I tell him about 6 times that I do not want an upgrade, I have already bought the new phone...I. JUST. WANT. TO. ACTIVATE. IT. He tries a few times to activate it, asks me if it's turned on. I say, "No, because I need the number that is on the back of the phone, under the battery. So, the phone is not on because I had to remove the battery to see the number." He says, "well, it would help if the phone was turned on." Right, and how do I turn it on with the battery out? So, I write donwthe number and pop the battery back in. He tries a few times and can't get it to activate. Then he decides to ask me what model it is. Right. Shouldn't that have been one of the first questions. Turns out he doesn't have the codes to activate my phone cause it's the spiffy new line. Right. He transfers my call. But not before he tries 3 times to sell me a wireless card or router for my laptop. NO!
I finally get transferred. I get a very helpful, nice young woman who speaks English AND knows what she's doing. She walks me through setting up my phone and we're actually pleasant towards one another. Go figure.

So, I have my spiffy new phone and it's activated. Oh, one more thing about Sprint - they don't use SIM cards anymore, so I have to MANUALLY transfer all my contacts. Yup. One. At. A. Time.

Right. Did I mention Sprint sucks? When my contract is up, I'm outta there.

Yesterday marked the first day of Mardi Gras. Carnival season is upon us and in full swing. A and I went to the Krewe de Vieuxe parade, last night. It was colder than balls out but the parade was fun. It was the naughty, kinky, altogether rude and raucous type of parade where children should certainly not attend and adults can be unabashedly entertained. There was merriment to be had and alcohol in my coffee. And, while all the bands that marched in last nights parade were decent, one was certainly kick-ass enough to have Krewe members and parade watchers alike dancing in the streets. It was entertaining.
Then we came home and got warm.

I was sitting at my computer, writing an email when A came into the room and said that she really wanted to go to the zoo. I like the zoo and most, if not all, of the creatures they have, so I said, "Ok." So, I finished my email, changed into thermals and jeans and a second thermal shirt and hiking boots over very comfy, warm socks. We put the poohs (code name for the dogs) into kennels (except Ru, she's well behaved and doesn't tear shit up, so she stays out) and headed out.
We started out by wandering throught the Asian exhibit. A was taking pictures, so I read all the little information placards they had. I like the Asian elephants, the white Bengal tigers are very regal looking (even when chomping the flesh off of the bone of some poor dead animal), the lionesses were dozing in the sunshine, and the Ampur Leopard even came out to play. That last one, the leopard, makes me sad. There are only 30 left in the wild and 150 in captivity. Poor things.
Then we headed through the Primates. Not many were out, but the ones that were made it interesting. The Golden Tamarins, for example, were runnng about, chasing each others and trying to push or wrestle each other out of the trees. Tiny little creatures with great coloring, long tails and cute faces. The Holwer Monkeys and Patas Monkeys were quiet (kind of redundant to say about the Patas Moonkeys - they are generally silent) and not very active. the Siamings though, were cute. One was sitting in a rather large blue bucket, and the other was harassing her. He would lie down beside the bucket and pose for cameras then he would roll in the straw they had and then he would sit up and turn toward the one in the bucket and try to get her to come out and play. Cute. Then there were the Orangutans. In the orangutan habitat, there are what are basically stripped telephone poles jutting up at different angels. One Orangutan was sitting atop one of these poles playing with bubble wrap. The other was sleeping in a hammock in the sunshine. We turned around and there were the Gorillas. Mr. Silverback stared at us and then at the water and then at us. Then he moved into the sunlight so A could photograph him. One female was curled up on her side, in teh grass, sunning herself while the other was wandering about and posing for the cameras.
We then decided to wander quickly through the African Savannah to the Louisiana Swamp to get something to eat in the Cypress whatever cafe in that part. We chose that cafe because they serve New Orleans favorites like seafood gumbo, jambalya, crawfish pies and red beans and rice. So, we went through Africa and into Louisiana to get food. It was warm and the food was spicy. I had seafood gumbo and french fries (not sure why it seemed like a good combo, but it was); A had a crawfish pie and red beans and rice. After we ate and got ourselves all warmed up, we headed back out into the cold and through the Louisiana swamp, stopping only to watch a raccoon who looked like he was about to fall over (he was that sleepy) and one of the black bears.
We wandered through the African Safarri, commenting that giraffes are gay (no, really, they are). The zebras were hiding, the rhino was in a smaller pen at the back of the exhibit he shared with the zebras and the antellope and the pelicans were hunting for something. After coming out of Africa, we went to see the Komodo Dragon. We only saw the babies. Then we went into the Aviary. There were some really cool birds in there, like the Sunbitten that puffed up and hissed when it saw us (A got pictures of it) and the African Pygmy Falcon (looks like a baby but it is full grown). The Red Macaws were gorgeous, as were the Spectacled Owls. I really liked the coloring on the Green Jays. It was also warm in the Aviary.
Then we headed back to the car and home. My poohs are happily chewing on an old t-shirt (Amala) and an old towel (Esha). I fully intend to read a book and take a nap.

And now we are back.

Ok, so our cruise departed New Orleans last Saturday at 4 p.m. A spent the evening resting while Russ and I explored the ship and enjoyed our first dinner with our table-mates. Dinner was the only meal onboard to which cruise enjoyers, like ourselves, had an assigned time, assigned dining room and assigned table. Our table-mates included Ron and John, a couple of gals whose names I can't remember, and a step-mother/step-daughter "couple", an empty chair (I assume this because no one joined us to sit in that chair) and the three of us. Well, just me and Russ (from our group), that first evening.

Sunday was our first "Fun Day at Sea". We decided to spend it lounging out on deck, with books to read and a bright, shining, warm sun to doze under. For lunch, we retired to our stateroom and ordered room service, where we played a game and watched a movie. Room service was complimentary. Matter of fact, I believe the coffee shop was the only place onboard where we had to pay for food. Alcohol and soda we also had to pay for; but we had bar coupons for our adult beverages. Sunday evening was the Dinner with the Captain. At 5 p.m. there was the Captin's Reception and cocktail hour, during which we enjoyed free drinks and the Captain and cruise director (Big Tex) attempted to keep us entertained as they introduced the ship's Senior Officers and welcomed us onboard. Dinner was enjoyable and the conversation was lively. Just about dessert time, the wait and beverage staff sang for us a tune in Italian. Now this group of staff members represented 40 countries, none of them being from Italy. That was rather interesting and amusing. Two of the wait staff held up a dinner menu, from which they pretended to read the words of the song. This made me giggle. After dinner, we changed in clothing appropriate for dance clubs and visited some of the bars onboard. We started with the Karaoke bar, then spent a few painful minutes in what was called the Cat Lounge (garishly decorated so that the booths looked like cat-food cans, low tables, etc, with a bad band), and then went into the Electrique Discotec (or some such spelling). The music was loud and I had trouble hearing very much. I was content to go back to our room, change into pj's and read my book.

Monday morning, we arrived in Cozumel, Mexico. A, Russ and I went on a jungle hike. We took a small bus out to the ranch and met up with our guide, James. James is of Mayan decent and is very knowledgable of Mayn culture, traditions and history. He pointed out how they spotted termite nests, edible fruits (papaya, guava, lime and sour orange) and how these fruits are used in the preparation of meals in Mexico, today. He took us to the ruins of a Mayan temple and Mayan burial grounds. He was very personable and entertaining. He did tell us that he and his wife have only two children and he has "closed the factory," since Cozumel is the fertility island. He told us of how the Mayans built their roadway to connect the various parts of the island, also. The tour lasted about an hour and 45 minutes. We returned to the "tourist" side of the island with time to do a little shopping before we returned onboard (with at least an hour to spare to beat the rush) and, once again, ordered room service. We set sail from Cozumel at about 5 p.m. After eating, we all took a nap...after waking we headed out to explore the ship some more and find one of the buffets that was still serving food. We went to bed a little early, so that we would be ready to wake up early-ish for our stop in Progreso, MX.

Tuesday morning, we moored in Progreso where the three of us joined a way-too-large group on a trip to some caves/caverns which led underground to these gorgeous, crystal blue pools; the water color was almost a light sapphire. The tour itself was rather a mess; our tour guide was a Mexican version of a Valley Girl, which was completely annoying and made me want to hurt her. I refrained. She seemed unprepared to lead a large group and failed to set time limits. This made sure that we were late getting to the first cavern so our time in the second, larger one was shortened, significantly. Aside from her being annoying as all hell and people dilly-dallying, the trip was great. We took a bus-ride into a quaint, small Mayan village where we boarded carts that were pulled by horses along shouler-width trolley tracks (these tracks were actually over the old Mayan roadway). It was a bumpy and interesting ride, with a beautiful view. A got some great photos. Once we arrived at the caverns, we climbed down very narrow, very steep wooden stairs onto a landing over the water. The water was cool and very clear. It really was a good trip.

Wednesday was another fun day at sea, albeit bad weather and a rough ride. There was more wandering about the ship, watching the rain and weather, some photo taking (of the ship in the wind and weather). Lunch was interesting because some goofball on the bridge decided to try making a 360 degree turn in our rough weather, causing things to slide around in the dining room; the best part was hearing people scream. A, Russ and I just laughed. We're used to that sort of thing. After another similar sharp turn, that caused the ship to heel over, Big Tex came across the PA system to inform us that the Captain was on the bridge and they were trying to find a good course for us. I personally think someone was just having fun. Still, we wonder why they had glass catsup bottles.... After lunch, we returned to our room. I got restless and decided to resume wandering. After a while, I returned to our room and read some more. Again, I got restless and decided to wander. This time, A joined me. We grabbed dinner at the buffet, called Russ in our room to ask him to join us (he declined) then we returned to the room, again. I got restless a third time and Russ joined me in wandering. We returned to the room where we all read for a while before going to sleep.

Did I mention that we seemed to be surrounded by the noisiest families on the cruise? One couple had a very young, red faced, crying infant that didn't like the rough weather....I imagine it played hell on her inner ear and equilibrium...poor thing. That was understandable. What was not understandable was the family next door to us who had god-knows-how-many children who turned the TV to full volume, yelled at teh top of their lungs and thought it was funny to lock one of their adults out of the room, causing her to yell. If we had been allowed to take weapons....target practice. But, we really didn't spend very much time in our rooms, as we spent a lot of time wandering or enjoying the sea-air...so, se la vie....que sera...eh, whatever.

We returned Thursday morning, made it through customs, grabbed a cab, got home to drop our bags off, delivered Russ to his home, went grocery shopping then came home for naps and cuddle time with the poohs (dogs).

All in all, it was a greatly relaxing, fun and enjoyable trip and a very much needed vacation.

Leaving for our cruise this coming Saturday! I have some assignments and finals to take for school, but those are actually mostly done....woot. So, compiling a list of everything I need to pack...I can pretty much pack almost everything already. Woohoo! A real vacation. Without a holiday involved. WHEE!

Coffee shop...administrative law text...chai latte...everything I need to get through a night of homework and studying.

I spent my New Year's Eve with Ocean and our four pups in a cabin in Northeastern LA, relaxing and resting and enjoying the quiet solitude. I was in bed and asleep by 10:30 p.m. *gasp* I SLEPT through the the great event of one year replacing the previous...and I'm more than okay with that. I got to relax. I had fun. I avoided drunken foolishness. It was pretty great.

Christmas Eve and Christmas day were spent at home (in LA). We had a few friends over for the enjoyment of junk food, alcohol (sweet honey mead and crown and coke), video games, card games and dirty, dirty minds. What better way is there to celebrate?

I'm working on a letter that I would send to me...the 17 year old me; if I could send a letter back in time. I want to encompass the important things I have learned over the years, about life, about people, about love and about me.

It is in the works. It should be posted soon.

I'm a little early, I know, but if I don't post when I get the reminder, I will forget.

So............HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

There are a bunch of things I know I should be doing; I have midterms in my two classes that I should be taking, but they are not due until Tuesday and I don't want to right now; I should go to the store and pick up a casserole dish so's I can make spinach lasagna, but I don't feel like going; I should do something constructive but I really only feel like taking a hot bath and reading a good book...maybe watching some mindless movie that won't make me think...my brain is tired, I'm tired.

I woke up thinking today was Saturday and couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why I had set my alarm for 6 a.m. on a Saturday. As the sleep slipped away like a silk sheet falling from your body as you get out of bed, I realized with exasperation and dread that today is Friday...I wanted to hunker under the covers and try to recover my last dream and peaceful sleep...but the dogs needed to go out and I needed to go to work. I have felt like doing fuck all, all day. That's the mood I am in.

Here are the rules:
(1) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
(2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
(3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
(4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


My eight random facts:

1. I prefer smeering peanut butter on a piece of dark chocolate to eating a Reeses peanut butter cup.
2. I enjoy having random conversations with "almost strangers" (like the lady at the coffee stand in the lobby at work).
3. I have three favorite colors.
4. I love to cook and bake.
5. I have the attention-span of a gerbil, today.
6. I love to read - sci-fi, fantasy, fiction, history, classics...I love them all.
7. I don't always like to follow the rules.
8. A great night involves a hot bath, a good book and a glass of wine.

I don't feel like tagging anyone in particular. If you feel you want to provide this info about yourself, please do...