Road Trip

I LOVE road trips! Just hopping in the car and taking off is what I consider an ideal weekend. Tiana, Howard and I decided this past weekend to take a trip to Solvang, which is a small Dutch town an hour or two away from Santa Barbara. The landscape this time of year is beautiful and I was pretty stoked to spend my last official weekend exploring before the retail holiday monster rears it's ugly head. Yup, I have 4 days off, TOTAL, until January 1st. (not including Thanksgiving, which doesn't really count since I have to be in my store at 5 am the next day.) But I digress...

We intended to get an early start and make it to Solvang by early afternoon....didn't happen. We ended up in San Luis Obispo which is about 3 hours away from San Jose. Howard and I were supposed to meet Madalene and her Howard for dinner, so after a (too brief) Starbucks run, we started to head back to San Jose. We spotted a sign for the San Juan Bautista mission, and decided to stop there to take a look around. This church is located in a quaint little town surrounded by beautiful rolling hills and farmland. The mission itself was gorgeous and had a reverent stillness that I could not possibly catch on camera. I did make an attempt to capture the beauty and essence of this historic landmark. WARNING: The pictures are slightly grainy due to the lack of good lighting and distance between me and the object I was photographing. Enjoy!

front of church

Candles were lit by some fellow travelers

Courtyard across from church

Beautiful original wrought-iron light fixture

Original plaza and stables across from church

Fountain in church courtyard

statue of priest who built the mission

Church bells

Cemetery of Unmarked Graves

Me and Fluffie (Howard's dog)

Tiana and Fluffie

Absentee Blogger

Hello Blog! I've been so busy lately that I'm afraid that I have neglected you! Work has been insane...October, November, and December are hell for retailers! I have had so many deadlines to meet, one after the other, on top of the fact that my budget hours were cut. And there is no end in sight. Management meeting on Tuesday, stockroom tours on Friday, Thanksgiving week/Black Friday....*sigh*. I could go on, but it just depresses me.


On the brighter side of things, I have been seeing potential date #3 for about a month now. We get along pretty well, and things are looking good! His name is Howard (unfortunately the same name as my sister's fiancee). He is Filipino, which is weird because I was positive that I would not be happy with someone of Asian/Pacific Islander descent. We actually have a lot in common, so we'll see where this takes us. I am positive that I no longer need an online dating site to set me up and I have no interest in dating anyone else. The only problem is that I signed up for the three month trial period, so I can't cancel until the end of the month.




In other news, Tiana and I have been living on our own for 2 months now! We still don't have a bed yet, haven't had the chance to go get one. I have been cooking almost every night...I am actually getting better, I think...=) I haven't sent anyone to the emergency room yet!! The drawback is that I have pretty much gained the weight back from my salad binge...I will have to come up with another way to keep the pounds off!

My Date with #3

I had my first date with potential #3 on Thursday night. We met at a nice bar in a ritzy part of town. This guy was really sweet. He gave me a single rose and we sat on the balcony and talked over drinks. It was very comfortable and low-key. We talked about our backgrounds...family and career. He is a middle school teacher and is also in the Army Reserve.
He writes, nothing published, but it's still nice to talk to someone well-versed in an assortment of topics. We hung out for a few hours and made plans to get in touch for another date. So I am probably going to go out with him on Saturday. I want to go to the driving range and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't rain.
In other news, I got in touch with "he who shall not be named" to get my jewelry back. I had left it wit him for safe-keeping when Anthony moved back to Mad's house, but now I want it all back. His response was that he was packing up a box for me, (apparently I have A LOT more shit at his house than I thought), and that he would drop it off when he has time. Seems to me that he has nothing but time, seeing as he will most likely be alone for the long term since I cannot fathom someone putting up with his crap as long as I did. But I got what I asked for...I guess...since I'm getting my stuff back and can finish the whole "moving on" process if I no longer have ties to him.
I am hoping the weather holds up on Sunday as well, since we are going to the Renaissance Fair that day. Soooo excited! I love that everyone dresses up and gets into character. If not for hot water, blowdryers/straighteners, air-conditioners, microwaves, high heels, bras, toothpaste, and mascara, I swear I would think that I was born in the wrong era. I am definitely planning on dressing up this year. I bought a complete outfit a few years ago from one of the dress shops there. It cost me an arm and a leg, as each piece is hand-sewn. It is gorgeous though, and I feel like a princess in it. (Although it is a "commoner" outfit.) I will definitely take pictures and post it along with a blog about the whole day.

Recap of Date #2

OK, so I went on my first date with potential #2 last night. I almost canceled because I felt that he was giving off semi-stalker vibes. He called me last weekend to talk a little and set up a date. He then called on Tuesday to confirm that we were going on Friday (as planned per our first conversation). On Friday, he called AGAIN to see if we were still going out. Stage five clinger alert! After some consultation with my online dating expert (Madalene), she talked me into going anyway. Maybe he was nervous, or just very, very responsible. Hmmm....

So, I met him at a bowling alley near my place. He was cute...clean-cut, tall, neatly dressed. He seemed polite and SANE, so I didn't run out the door (Also, my three-inch heeled boots would not have allowed me to run, the lanes are supposed to be oiled, not the entranceways!!) We got set up in a lane and he sat there, talking to me. He didn't change into his bowling shoes because he said he didn't like how they looked..? We started talking about scary places to drive and I mentioned San Francisco. He then told me that he avoids SF because of all the Gays. uhhh...I just sat there, I'm pretty sure my mouth was hanging open, and I just stared at him. I thought he was joking, but he never said anything to indicate that he was kidding.

I choked down the response that I wanted to make and resisted the urge to kick the homo-phobe so hard that he would never be able to procreate. But my parents raised me to be polite, so I just pretended that the bowling pins were his teeth. We managed to bowl a few games and I started to relax a little. It might have been because I made Madalene and Howard meet us there and bowl a few lanes away from us. HAHA!!

We played a few games of pool after we bowled. He kept making comments about how he was playing pool by the "guy's rules" and that these rules didn't apply to me because I am a girl. So, I decided that I was going to play by the "guy's rules" as well, AND I would beat the sexist pig's ass to boot. Unfortunately, I had two margarita's during the evening (I would not have been able to get through this date otherwise), so my aim was a little off. I was SO close to winning, but alas, I lost. I did however point out to him that Women's equality has come a long way since the 19th Amendment was passed.

After that, we turned in our gear and the cashier and waitress cashed us out. They had a bit of an issue with the register and as they were discussing the problem in Spanish, the butthole turns to me and says, "do you understand what they are saying?" By then, my guard was up, so I looked at him and said, " I'm Filipino, not Hispanic." That's when I decided that he would be paying for this little date on his own.
I couldn't wait to leave, so I continued walking when he suggested that we could hang out a little longer. It was, after all, only 9pm. At my car, we said goodbye, and he drove off....I hadn't even found my keys in my purse yet. So, strike 2 on the online dating experience....but it's great material for a book!!

Online Dating....Part 2

I mentioned in my last post that I joined an online dating site. What I didn't mention is why. My reasons actually mirror a lot of the people on these sites. I'm so busy with work, I don't really go out that much,and I'm tired of the club/bar scene.

You don't meet anyone there but guys looking for a non-committal hook-up. I've always avoided guys like that, have always made sure that I brought a "cock-blocker" with me...just to keep them away. (Sorry Dad!)



I was in an on/off relationship for 10+ years with someone whom I was not really compatible with. Our values/beliefs may have been similar in the beginning, but I think somewhere along the way our views about life and each other changed. I felt disrespected and disregarded by him most of the time. I'm sure he may have felt the same way. I would secretly refer to him as being as "emotional as a robot."

I was miserable with him, and miserable without him. Communication became stilted, with him becoming more condescending and I becoming more withdrawn. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I decided to take the bull by the horns and do something about my single status. I am not looking for a husband, but if it works out that way..then yay me! I just want to meet people that I might not meet in my own little corner of the world on a regular day.

I have already been introduced to a sheriff's deputy, a teacher, and a lawyer! I have a date this coming Friday with a biostatistician...not quite sure what that is, but I'll let you know when I know!

Adventures in Online Dating

I've taken the plunge and joined an online dating site. I was very apprehensive about it initially, but after much thought, and several glasses of wine, I said "to hell with it" and signed up. I won't mention which site it was, but it is reputable and well-known. That should narrow down the choices!


As soon as I finished creating my profile (very long and tedious, I was stressed out the whole time!) I received six matches. I was actually pretty excited about it! I now have 46 matches (holy crap!) and am openly communicating with 3 of them now. Openly communicating means that I can email them and vice versa on the site without ever having to give up my email address. It's actually fun!



I went out on my first date on Sunday night. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, with him calling me up a couple of hours before we met.
I met him at a restaurant near my house, public place, nice and open, plenty of opportunity to kick him in the balls and run in case he turned out to be a psycho killer. (My daddy didn't raise no fool!) He didn't seem as tall as he looked in his picture, and he talked about himself and his job A LOT! I was reminded of all of those bad date scenarios in movies. He is a nice guy, just likes to toot his own horn a lot. He used to be in the Navy, now works in Customs. I don't want to divulge too much about him out of respect (plus he carries a gun as part of his job!) .


I'm on the fence about whether or not I should go out with him again. I guess I should really make a decision because he wants to meet again on Friday at his buddy's bar.
There is another guy who wants to meet, but I haven't officially made plans with him yet. He seems like a nice guy. He may even be interested in getting to know me more than he wants to talk about his job. Maybe he'll even let me get in a story or two. Haha!





This online dating thing is actually fun. I could go on first dates for the rest of my life and not have to commit to anyone! Think of the possibilities! :)

M.I.A. no longer

Hello blog! I'm back!! I've missed you! I have been living in my empty apartment for almost a month now and I LOVE IT!! I have my own space, my own little corner of the world to retreat to and just decompress. It's amazing how nice and quiet it is here. Everyone is friendly and says "hi" to each other. Unreal!

So, little blog, let me tell you about my transition from houseful of crazies to utopian bliss. On the day I moved, my nephew bailed. So Tiana and I, (she was...ahem...sick that day), moved all of our boxes in by ourselves.


Later that evening, Howard and Regina helped me move in the furniture in. Howard was kind enough to give me his couch, coffee table, and tv stand. Madalene gave me here old TV. I managed to hang my two large picture frames up on the wall by myself this past weekend (note to self: must go to Home Depot and get some stuff to patch holes).

I still have to purchase a bed and dining room table and chairs, but I'll wait for my bonus in November to get those. I have been cooking...dundunduuun! Not very well, but Tiana is usually starving and will eat anything by that point! We realized the second day that we were there, that the apartment doesn't come with a microwave. We had to boil water in my Wok (IKEA, $8.99) for cup-o-noodles. It was the best damn meal we ever had! (note to self: must buy kettle)




So far, I have been keeping up with the cleaning pretty well. I can't stand to leave dishes unwashed in the sink and I'm constantly picking up after Tiana. I need to buy a vacuum though...it's almost impossible to sweep this rug! Too plush! :)


All in all, I'd say moving was the best thing that I ever did. I don't know why I was so afraid to do it. Now I am fearless! I have so many things that I want to do!!! I have to make a list!! Stay tuned for my next blog: Adventures in on-line dating!!

Sausages and Margaritas

I hadn't been out walking in a while so I thought I would do my body good and take a nice long walk. I set off with an ice cold bottle of H2O, my I-Pod, and a bounce in my step. Fifteen minutes later, I realized that setting off on a brisk walk at 1230PM in 100 degree weather, walking a circuitous route that would last 45 minutes to an hour..was not one of my best ideas.

The blood had already rushed to my fingers and they looked like sausages!Also, I was starting to feel a little dizzy and my water was no longer ice cold. I turned around and headed home, which still took me 20 minutes because I had to stop in the shade and elevate my sausages. I took an ice cold shower and when I looked in the mirror, my face was bright red, but around my mouth and eyes were rings of white. Pretty darn scary! So, lesson painfully learned, but learned well!

After I had recovered, my friend Regina, Tiana, and I headed over to Home Depot to pick up some white paint. See, during one of my break-ups with "he who shall not be named", I painted my bathroom red. Not a bright pretty red...but a deep bloodred. It was supposed to look gothic, but came out morbid. Anyway, I liked it. But since I am moving, (5 days and counting ... WOOHOO!!), I have to paint it back to boring white.

Home Depot fascinates me. It is much more interesting than the mall, becausethere are all sorts of gadgets and gizmos that I never knew existed for things around the house. One area I forgot to stop in was the closet dept. I wanted to check out the different fixtures that could be added to them for maximum storage space. =( So now, Regina and I are taking a break from painting the bathroom. We are sipping on margaritas and eating chips and gourmet salsa. (Yes, I AM cheating on my diet...just for today). I had figured that I would only need one gallon of paint (primer is mixed in) for this room...but we are It is no better than a small closet! We keep laughing because every time one of us bends over, we bump into the other one. Of course, it could also be the paint fumes!!

Golfing for Dummies

In the spirit of maintaining a positive outlook on life and experiencing new things, I have decided to try my hand at golf. I know absolutely NOTHING about the sport except that you have to walk a lot! ;P I talked to a few co-workers about it and learned that the very first thing I need is my own set of clubs...because renting gets very expensive. Also, apparently you won't improve your game if you are constantly using a different set each time.


So I have been browsing through Craig's List and found a couple of sweet deals on full sets of women's used clubs, complete with bag. I didn't realize that you needed soooo many! Why do you need 7 irons, a putter, driver, wedgie, etc? They only give you one club at Golfland and I almost always manage to beat everyone!! Heh. I'm planning on checking out those sets while I'm on vacation, after I have moved all my stuff into my new pad and get my cable set up.


One of my co-workers offered to give me a free lesson once I get my clubs...he's apparently a golf fanatic. Hope he doesn't get too frustrated with me...I couldn't stop giggling when we were talking about the types of clubs and he told me "don't get wood...you can get wood after you are more experienced." Hey, I am my father's daughter!! HAHA

All in all, I'm pretty excited to start. I'm told I should practice at the driving range first, so that I don't feel pressured at the course, when experienced people are impatiently waiting for me to hit the ball and all I can do is make divots in the grass! My co-worker told me that the driving range is where most beginners practice, even little kids are out there! I'm a little nervous about having to learn near children. I can't be one-upped by a toddler! Besides, I am pretty reckless with my aim.


On my last trip to Vegas, I was the only female at the craps table and all the men decided I might be their lucky charm. So they had me throw the dice...which was fun, except when I aimed too high and hit a man in the face with the dice at the end of the table! Luckily, he was wearing glasses and everyone laughed it off....True story!