Thankful for acceptance

Watching: Airplane! (RIP Leslie Nielson)

Grateful. That's what I think of when I recall the past weekend. Saturday night I was able to go out to the Brandin' Iron, and despite there only being two dances I did, I still had fun. Sunday I worked but I enjoyed a second Thanksgiving with my co-workers. Chantal made a Thanksgiving feast, Joy made an apple pie and I also enjoyed the company of Chantal's friend Chris (who I've met once before and wouldn't mind doing so again) and co-worker Kevin. I was filled with a sense of love. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like we're a lovely (bunch of coconuts?) group of friends (Chamie, Joy, Kevin, I). We enjoy weekly 'beer and wings' nights and I can't put in to words how amazing it feels to be part of something so seemingly minuscule yet immensely important to me. I am thankful for them. It's been a while since I've felt part of a tightly-knit group of friends.

Here is a photo of Chamie in the kitchen with the apron I got her for her birthday (Nov. 30!)

I also had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch with Stuart and his parents which has become my Thanksgiving tradition, and I feel so welcome. I feel as if I'm a part of the family. :D And I like it.

Closing note: FUCK YOU BLOG! You won't color code my fucking post!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Living in sin

Listening to: The sound of Stuart making breakfast (SHOCK!)

I went to my grandparents house yesterday for lunch which was different. At some point my grandpa asked when I was going to get married. I kind of laughed at him because I just discussed that my boyfriend delivers pizza for his new job, and his old job was working at a gas station. I asked him why I should get married and he said it's because I'm living in sin. Then my grandmother interjected and grandpa followed up with "I'm just joking around." But the way my grandmother reacted to it, I'm sure he wasn't joking around, he just didn't want a heated argument.
So since I didn't get to say what I wanted to say to him, I'll say it here (because my blog needs some updates anyway).

I'd rather live in sin than live in regret and disappointment. I've told a few people that Stuart, being the person he is, I can see us being together for a long time. However, I decided a while ago that if I'm going to dedicate the rest of my life to someone, that person needs to show that they can take care of me. I don't want to spend anymore of my life taking care of someone else (unless it's my kid). I'm not going to get married until my soon-to-be-spouse has a decent job and (here's the hard one) we don't live in a house full of roommates. I might accept one roommate, but I'd rather not. I'd like to have a house to ourselves, but that is honestly looking very bleak. I don't have the money and he sure as hell doesn't have the money, so I'm really stuck here. It'd be stupid of us to move out into an apartment that is almost double what we're paying now just for some privacy.

So I'll either remain living in sin or certain things will need to change. I've been with Stuart almost 3 years and am incredibly proud of myself. If money wasn't an issue, there would be very little upsets in our relationship. Some changes need to be made, so I'm on the lookout for those.

Listening to: The bubles in my soda pop

So my mother's birthday is Oct. 20 and I completely forgot to call and tell her. On Oct. 29 (my birthday) my grandmother called and she brought up that my mother had surgery on a malignant tumor in her neck. So I felt horrible on two counts now (even though it's been pointed out that it's not entirely my fault that I didn't know she was having surgery since she didn't tell me, but the other side is that I hardly call to talk to her). My mother has been going to school full time with a full time job since I moved out of her house. And recently she told me that she has a second job (part time) at the ER. Working in the ER is a high-stress job. My mother is always going going going. She really needs to slow down. :(

For my birthday:
Friday - a few friends met me at the Brandin' Iron (even though I couldn't get there until 10:45pm and we stayed for about 2hrs)
Saturday - saw the bands Janelle Monae and Of Montreal
Sunday - sat at home all day until Stuart got off work, went to Red Robin for my free birthday burger
Monday - Lunch with my dad at Red Lobster

So as noted above; Stuart has a job. He's delivering pizza for Dominoes. Lets see how this goes.

Playing catchup

Watching: Planet Earth

So... it's been a while, yes? It's still going to be a while, this is just to try and get myself back into blogging. My friend Chantal wanted to make a blog for her cooking and such and it's hard to push someone to that when I myself am not even doing it.

So a little catch up: New boss went away for a few months on medical leave and we've been having boss duties bounced around between Sun people (Sun = San Bernardino Sun newspaper, our big sister paper). Still doesn't feel like we have a real boss. I still want to be laid off so that I can find a better job. On the good side Stuart got a new job. Well, it was actually a really bad side at first; he was fired. He started a film editing job yesterday so we will see how this goes.

Still living with a house full of monkeys but there are some things that have been toned down, so it's become more tolerable.

Listening to: The sounds of my co-workers

I'm very behind in blogging. I've been pretty busy. The last few weekends were pretty jam packed.

I went to a cabin in the mountains with my family for a few days (Stuart too); a new tradition we started maybe 2 years ago. I'll post the few pictures I have but I'm still waiting for photos from family, even though I doubt I'll get them anytime soon.

This past weekend I attended the first show of Igor Spectre's Ten Years of Travesty Anniversary Tour, which was actually not really ON the tour, it was considered a secret show. It was at Shamrock's in Chino Hills and apparently, despite the fact that they brought in a lot of bodies, they were not paid because Rob (singer) threw the mic down and spilled water on the stage. I'm not sure if Brian (guitarist) kicking over a monitor was another reason because the stage guy didn't actually see him do it, and of course none of us ratted him out. "I don't know, it just fell" is what Ray said, haha. I'll edit this post to add the few photos I have.

Then on my next day off I spent it with Kristin running errands, eating lunch, watching her make my duck hat for the upcoming anime convention and watching Ponyo.




This coming weekend I will probably go to the Brandin' Iron because the last few Friday's I've been doing karaoke and kinda miss dancing. And then Sat/Sunday will be anime expo so I'm hoping I can sit my ass down Monday and get to fixing my blog.

Phew. :D

Moving on the upward

Listening to: Pandora (Silverchair Radio)

I was able to turn last night's shitty situation (being locked out of the house) into a productive one when I started work on a resume I said I'd do last week. High five me. I think I've come to the conclusion that even if the Facts (co. I work for) became less disorganized and screwy than it is now with all this power change, I should still go. I've constantly complained that I should be getting paid more than I currently do and it was always the love and pride in my job and the people I worked with that kept me from actually implementing any forward motion. Since that has deteriorated, I think it's my opportunity to wriggle my way out of here and upward. I still don't know what I want to do with my life but I think I have enough skill to do a clerical job and if I can get my hands on one that pays more than I'm currently being compensated, then I'm going to close my eyes and whisper to myself 'you deserve more' and click to send that resume.

I honestly do think I deserve more but I'm just scared to go get it because in reality I don't NEED more, but the higher reality on that is that things will be much better/easier for me if I do this now. More money isn't necessary, but it's best for me to get it now and save it up so whenever I do find an opportunity to get a house (why the hell is that my huge goal now? I'm sure it's irritating Stuart), I will have the means to do so instead of hanging my head and saying "If only..."

Igor Spectre is starting their 10-yr anniversary tour thingy. It's so nuts to know that I've been following them for about 8 of those years. I think I'm going to be bold and ask my boss for all of those days off. What could it hurt? Besides me getting less of a paycheck and eating up the teeny bit of vacation time I actually have. But I think I should do it. Follow 'my' band and enjoy it and not worry my eyeballs out that work won't get done without me. That's what always held me back from doing anything in the past. But now, the company is so eager to spread work across more people... sure, let the Sun or some other employee do my job so I can enjoy myself. I don't know how many employees out there think like I do. "If I go on vacation everyone else will have so much to do, I just can't leave." I gotta stop thinking that way. I don't want to be 40yrs old with 2 months of vacation time racked up because I was so busy worrying about things getting done. The thread and guild I run on Gaia has sort of showed me that I'm a control freak. Everything is organized just so and I get plenty of people who ask if they can help and I just can't see myself allowing that because things have to be done 'just so.'

So, back to Igor Spectre:
JUNE 26 - Shamrock's, Chino Hills (secret show)
JULY 10 - Bar Sinister, Hollywood
JULY 23 - The Double Down Saloon, Las Vegas
AUGUST 13 - Beauty Bar, Las Vegas
SEPTEMBER 15 - House of Blues, Anaheim

If you want more info feel free to contact me.

Weekend full of voices, victors and a violated throat

Watching: Family Guy

Friday I went to karaoke at Taylor's in Redlands. I read reviews that mentioned it was a hole in the wall and to those people I'd like to say 'have you been to the Dirty Bird? Because you do NOT know what a hole in the wall is' haha. I sang 'Hot Blooded,' 'Love is a Battlefield,' and 'You Were Meant for Me.' Ray sang 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone.' I'd like to go back soon. They have karaoke Thurs/Fri/Sat.

At work, we're going to work on me getting out of work on Friday's by 6pm. Time will tell how these thing work out. I still haven't written my resume but I will get to it soon. I honestly think I deserve more money. I'm 25 and thinking about a house of my own and the plain truth is that I can't get that with this job, especially since raises have been frozen the last 2 years.

Saturday morning I went to a Chili cook off with Chantal. It was a nice few hours and I found out Chantal is more of a pussy when it comes to hot food than I thought. Her eyes were watering over some of the chili and they were honestly not hot, just full of spices. However she did remind me that she ate ALL of it despite that her throat was on fire and I give her props on that. Here are some photos:




Went to Medieval Times Sunday for Stuart's bday. Happy birthday Stuart! His birthday was actually Monday, June 14 but he worked that day so there.


HIGHLIGHTS:
1. During the knight games they have to throw a joust at a target and one of the knights got the ... joust stick? stuck in the target and the guy pulling it out seriously was tugging on it for like a minute.
2. Our knight, the Blue knight, was a bad ass. He didn't win overall, but he won one fight and he fought dirty. I totally called the point when he kicked another knight in the nuts.
3. The middle of the show there are announcements. "Barbara is celebrating her divorce. Barbara, wherever you are, meet me at the bar after the show. *pause* Yeah, that's just how I roll." Also "Tom is celebrating his first time *looonnggg pause and a lot of laughter* Here. His first time here." We sat front row and got birthday cake. Also, the chicken dinner we had was called a baby dragon. :P


Notice Stuart's time period shoes :P He requested this pose.



Monday for lunch (today) we went to his parents house and ate some lobster tail, artichoke, shrimp, all sorts of yummy and topped off with a game of dominoes and strawberry shortcake type of desert. And now, Monday night, I shall be attempting to make creamy tomato-basil pasta with shrimp for dinner.