Back To School

Ah, back to school! Back in the day, back to school meant the end of summer and the start of the fall TV season. It meant time to see our friends and catch up on who did what and with who and where while we we apart during summer vacation. It meant new clothes, new supplies, new teachers. It was a time mixed with dread and excitement!

As I sat in my overcrowded classroom this week, I lamented over the good ole days. I wish back to school meant what it used to. Now it means fighting for classes, praying your teacher gives a damn and hoping against hope that the cost of textbooks won't bankrupt you! New clothes? You are lucky after paying for tuition and books if you can afford cup of noodles, much less clothes. Summer vacation, three months off? Unheard of!

The one thing that remains the same between then and now: I can't wait to be finished with school.

Island Paradise

About 20 miles off the coast of Southern California lies an island that almost belies description. It is an area almost as pristine as the day it was developed. Chain businesses are forbidden so Vons and Coldstone are the only names you would recognize. Mom and Pop places abound and many have been there for decades. Families come back year after year, often with children and grandchildren in tow.

Welcome to Catalina Island and the tiny town of Avalon. This is the place my friends and I come back to year after year for fun in the sun relaxation. Everything is scaled down here. Smart cars are the only vehicles on the island outside of golf carts. Even FedEx has to scale down. Check out this tiny truck:



Catalina is a quaint village that can be exactly what you make of it. You can have a margarita at the bar:



Or on a beach:



It isn't all drinking and shopping. One of the coolest things to do is to rent a golf cart and tour the outskirts of Avalon. On one such journey, we encountered some locals! They were very calm and photogenic:



We love Catalina! My roommate took me there for the first time 8 years ago and I fell in love with the place. It is romantic, tropical and a wonderful place to get away. I look forward to this trip all year!

A Magic Dress

There is a series of books/movies about these girls that share one pair of jeans because the pants possess a magic quality. I haven't read the books or seen the films so I just assume the pants are magic because they make your butt look great! Now I realized there might be something to magic clothes

Yesterday I discovered this power for myself. I found a dress in a glorious shade of red. It fits perfectly and hugs the curves in all the right places. Most importantly, it's cut to accentuate my two best features and no, I'm not talking about my eyes!

What is magical about this dress is how it makes me feel! I feel sexy, empowered! The me in this dress flirts with the barista at Coffee Bean and tells the bully at work to back off and sit down! It was like the dress tapped into my inner Angelina!
I love the strong, intelligent, frisky and fun woman I am in this dress!

The magic of this dress isn't in how it made me look but what it helped me to discover. This sexy, strong, smart, flirty, funny woman is me regardless of what I have on! The feelings I felt in the dress yesterday have carried over to today. I realized this while flirting with the cashier at Panera in my shorts and Bon Jovi t-shirt! The dress just brought out what I had in me all along.

With all that said, I'm guessing the true magic occurred at the register. The Angelina-channelling dress was purchased on sale for $9.99, Brad Pitt not included. At that price, I can afford more! I am going back to the store and try to find pants that make me tap into my inner Italian model. George Clooney, look out!
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I'm Back In The Writing Groove

Ok, confession time! I have a tendency to get totally immersed in my latest activity to the detrement of all other aspects of my life. Case in point: My three+ years at The Church At Rocky Peak. Most people can go to service, maybe join a bible study or a ministry and be fine. Me? I had to join choir, give a testomony in front of 3k people over 3 services in a weekend, participate in skits, join a life group in Santa Clarita, teach 2nd and 3rd grade sunday school, participate in 12 performances of the Easter production while being a member of the Tech Team! Over commit much? Oh yeah, I do.

So now you get the picture. Which is why when I went back to school, I kinda disappeared. I started out slow, one class, but when that was interrupted by emergency abdominal surgery, I felt I had to make it up in the spring. So I took that class over, added another one and there I was at school every Tues-Thurs at 7A, after working until midnight the night before! Weekends and mornings were study time.

I was successful in that I was able to pull down a 3.428 average doing things but at what cost? We can start with the 15 pound weight gain that I am firmly convinced was the result of only getting 4-5 hours of sleep a night! Then there were the friends that went unseen (Hi Selena! Remember me...your friend you haven't seen since Thanksgiving) and the little joys in my life that went by the wayside, like writing for my blog.

It was a lesson learned. I learned I need balance. I had it in my head that I wanted to finish school as quickly as possible however, I don't want to weight 500 pds and be friendless at the end of it. So I am taking one class this coming semester and it starts at 1:30pm. That gives me time to sleep and time to write.

A balanced life is a healthy life.

Best Use Of Texting-Do It For Haiti

I'm reposting this because it dovetails into my previous post...and because it's important!
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I love texting. I love that it is immediate and I love that I can use it to communicate with the world at large. You know, the one that works a regular schedule while I work 3p-12A. Texting gives me a way to communicate on the sly, outside regular channels that require speaking and letting a boss know I am on the phone other than the one that customers are calling on.

Texting has many wonderful and practical uses. Today I found the best use of all. Like many of us, I have been horrified at the stories and pictures coming out of Haiti the last few days. The impoverished nation has been all but leveled by a 7.0 earthquake! Collapsed buildings are just the beginning of the horror. There is no food, little clean water and even less medical supplies and personnel to attend to the wounded. The number of casualties grows exponentially by the minute. They have no infrastructure in place to help with such a massive disaster and they are overwhelmed!

While watching these images on CNN, my heart was breaking! I felt compelled to help! I was surprised to see that by texting “Haiti” to 90999, a $10 donation will be sent to the Red Cross and then charged to my cell phone bill! Amazing! I could donate, charge it and it is so easy!

Last I heard, over 7 million dollars was raised in text donations over the last couple of days! That’s a lot of tiny typing being done in the name of humanity! I know there will be a lot of efforts to get help and money sent to Haiti and I am sure it will all be welcome. Texting utilizes technology to get people to donate in a way that is quick and easy!

All of my California friends, both Northern and Southern have been in an earthquake! Those of us here who remember Northridge and my No Cal friends remember Loma Prieto! We know what it feels like to be rocked and we were lucky to survive. Many in Haiti did not! Imagine what life would be like now if we faced the kind of leveling in our cities as they experienced in Haiti! It is sad! No malls, theatres, restaurants, not to mention hospitals!

If you are reading this and remember, and even if you don’t, would you just take a couple of seconds and text the Red Cross! You won’t even notice the $10 on the bill and it will be the best text you will ever send! I am sure the Haitians will be grateful.

A Wake Up Call

Humans have a tendency to ignore the uncomfortable. If it isn't happening to us directly, we don't worry about it. Every now and then, a situation happens that is impossible to ignore. The situation is dire, the media jumps in, George Clooney organizes a telethon and we get involved. We get a collective wake up call!

In fairness, I must say I used to be one of those that had the "NIMBY" mentality. Poverty, homelessness...well, that didn't happen in my middle-class neighborhood. I am working, I have a comfortable home in a nice area in L.A. and a car. I don't have much to worry about. Then my brother got out of jail, was put in a half-way house with mental illness diagnosis and is currently living with no income. I was forced to deal with the fact that he needed help. I had to get rid of the notion that all homeless people are addicts and see that some of them really would like to become self efficent and just need the help to do so. I am not wealthy by any strech, but do what I can to help him. I discovered it feels good to help others.

Much like my brother's situation woke me up, high profile situations like the one in Haiti wake up others. With non stop news coverage and celebrities stepping in, the media is making it difficult if not nearly impossible to ignore the fact that we are being called on to help. It is human nature to want to get involved if everyone else is. It doesn't take much. You can donate by cel phone, credit card or even drop change in the jar at the market.

Helping others feels good! It takes us out of our immediate situation and makes us aware of the world around us. We just need to sometimes receive the call that points us in the right direction. Hopefully, the feeling won't just stop once Haiti fades from our TVs and magazines and we can help those around us. We need to think and act both globally and locally.

The Best Thing About The Truth

Selena and I both love to write. The thing is I need to be motivated because I just put off writing. I don't know why but I do. So Selena and I challenge each other to write a blog every day. I was able to do it for a month or so. Lately, not so much.

This weekend I was able to come to a hard truth about this endeavor. My road to this truth actually started with a lie. "Don't tell anyone and i'll just backdate it", I said to Shannon at 12:04 AM this morning. What we were keeping secret is that once again I put off writing my blog so long that something eventually came up and I forgot.

The frustrating truth is that I knew this would happen. It could have been avoided. I was the passenger in a car on an hour-long car ride. Shannon and I were coming back from Santa Barbara and I had nothing to do but write the blog on my Blackberry and send it. I told myself I should write it, that I would forget. This was at 9:30 PM. Did I do it? No because I told myself I would have time when I got home. Then Shannon and I ended up at Oh Grady's and the blog was forgotten. Until 12:04. Until it was too late.

This error led me to several truths about the blog a day challenge:

1) I am not disciplined enough to write every day
2) I write better when I write when inspired, not when I have to
3) I am more likely to stick with writing 2-3 times a week
4) Selena is an awesome blogger

So there it is. I am just not cut out to write a blog a day. I am not sure I even want to. I will commit to keeping my blog current by writing no less than twice a week, more if time permits. I like writing, I have been told I am good at it. The one thing I haven't been good at is discipline.

The best thing about the truth is that it sets you free. Freedom from pressure to write is what came with looking at myself and discovering that I like to write and write well when not pressured. Whew!

The Best Text I Ever Sent

I love texting. I love that it is immediate and I love that I can use it to communicate with the world at large. You know, the one that works a regular schedule while I work 3p-12A. Texting gives me a way to communicate on the sly, outside regular channels that require speaking and letting a boss know I am on the phone other than the one that customers are calling on.

 

Texting has many wonderful and practical uses. Today I found the best use of all. Like many of us, I have been horrified at the stories and pictures coming out of Haiti the last few days. The impoverished nation has been all but leveled by a 7.0 earthquake! Collapsed buildings are just the beginning of the horror. There is no food, little clean water and even less medical supplies and personnel to attend to the wounded. The number of casualties grows exponentially by the minute. They have no infrastructure in place to help with such a massive disaster and they are overwhelmed!

 

While watching these images on CNN, my heart was breaking! I felt compelled to help! I was surprised to see that by texting “Haiti” to 90999, a $10 donation will be sent to the Red Cross and then charged to my cell phone bill! Amazing! I could donate, charge it and it is so easy!

 

Last I heard, over 7 million dollars was raised in text donations over the last couple of days! That’s a lot of tiny typing being done in the name of humanity! I know there will be a lot of efforts to get help and money sent to Haiti and I am sure it will all be welcome. Texting utilizes technology to get people to donate in a way that is quick and easy!

 

All of my California friends, both Northern and Southern have been in an earthquake! Those of us here who remember Northridge and my No Cal friends remember Loma Prieto! We know what it feels like to be rocked and we were lucky to survive. Many in Haiti did not! Imagine what life would be like now if we faced the kind of leveling in our cities as they experienced in Haiti! It is sad! No malls, theatres, restaurants, not to mention hospitals!

 

If you are reading this and remember, and even if you don’t, would you just take a couple of seconds and text the Red Cross! You won’t even notice the $10 on the bill and it will be the best text you will ever send! I am sure the Haitians will be grateful.

 

 

The Best Second Chance

The crew from Orange County was on the tarmac getting ready to ship out to help the victims of the Haitian earthquake. Supplies we're being gathered for the mission: first aid items, clothes, food, a dog carrier...dog carrier?



The carrier belongs to Spuds, a lab on a mission. When I saw Spuds he was sitting calmly, ready to get on the plane. His vest was his uniform and it told everyone he is a trained rescue dog. Putting on that vest tells Spud its time to get to work. Today he had to wait while his human told his heartwarming story to the reporter.



Spuds started his life in a shelter, wondering if he would ever find a family to love, preferably one with a house and a big backyard. He didn't know life would have a more noble plan for him. Someone at the shelter recognized his potential to become a rescue dog. Spuds was sent to be trained and now he is off to Haiti!



Sometimes all it takes is someone to recognize potential we don't know we have, be it human potential or animal. Spuds was given a chance to use his to serve and help humans. He is a lucky dog.

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The Best Parent

Good parenting isn’t easy. It requires the parent to be selfless and strong with the discipline. It requires routine.  It requires the knowledge that it really does hurt you more than it does them.  Parenting is hard but it is so important. I truly feel some of us are cut out to do it and others aren’t. The skill to be able to parent effectively is a gift and it isn’t just bestowed upon those with human children. It is also given to the parents of the furry kids as well.

 

My friend Selena was given the gift and needed an outlet for all her parental tendencies and talents. Human children weren’t in the plan so two years ago she adopted Brunswick, a sweet poodle from “the hood”. A year later, Brunswick, who had apparently inherited his mom’s heart, met Theodore in doggie day camp. He heard Theodore had been thrown out of a car, was homeless and then the two became friends. Brunswick begged Selena to let him come home with them. Theo and Brun became brothers and Theo never went back. In addition to the boys, the Inouye household has three cats, one is a new addition recently acquired from the suburban jungle, aka the backyard.

 

Humans, cats and dogs all peacefully co-exist in Selena’s house because Selena is the best kind of pet parent. She acts responsibly by licensing her pets and she never walks them off leash. She also does what all parents should do and that is to raise her kids to be kind and responsible. With fur children, this is done by not only training your pets but taking an interactive role in the training process.  With guidance from her PetSmart trainer, Ashley, Selena works with the pooches to sit, heel and to not beg for food. Selena makes the boys work for treats which reinforces good behaviors.

 

I will admit, in contrast, that I am not the best pet parent. I love my two kids, Beanie and Thor like any parent. However, my two aren’t trained, and beg to the point where I run upstairs and eat behind closed doors to keep them from drooling on me while they beg! Yuck! I have spoiled them to death, good for my heart but bad for them! In my defense, our dogs have a huge backyard and house to roam around in so my ill parenting isn’t inflicted on society at large.

 

None the less, I am in awe of Selena. She works hard to make sure she is raising good kids and her hard work pays off when her dogs are good members of the world they live in. That is what parenting is all about.

 

The Best Burger

It was a debate that raged on for months. My friends and I from the West Coast on one side, our friends from the East Coast on the other. See, we were all planning to meet in New Jersey. The occasion? Bon Jovi’s first hometown shows in a decade! You would think we would be discussing song selection, where to stay, the weather? Nope! We had matters of much more importance on our minds. The debate was over which side of the nation has the best burger: West Coast fave In and Out or the East Coast staple White Castle.

 

I had a vague recollection of White Castle from when I was small. For some reason, I remember going to a White Castle in Cincinnati with my dad. I remember the burgers to be small and square but really had no memory of the taste. So on that trip to New Jersey, our first stop was at the White Castle in Sayerville NJ. We were sure the burgers taste better there because reportedly Jon Bon Jovi himself worked there while in high school. I ordered 3 “sliders” and a small fries and must say the eats were tasty. They are really nothing more than meat, onions and bun, which is how I like it!  I can see why people say the best way to order them is by the dozen and the best time to eat them is on a Saturday morning while you are coming home from the bar. You need to eat a dozen of the tiny things before it registers that you are eating a burger! They are perfect post-bar hopping food and like most things back east, White Castle is 24 hours.

 

That is one thing White Castle has over In And Out, 24 hour accessibility. However, as much I liked eating the east coast burger in such a landmark setting as Jon Bon Jovi’s hometown, I still hold true to my belief that for a true burger, you can’t beat In and Out. Maybe its my LA bias but give me a real sized burger any day.  Meat that tastes like beef, soft buns and fries that taste like potatoes, not grease! That is the In and Out experience! “Freshness you can taste” the commercials tell us and its true! The various ways you can order their burgers is legendary but I like mine with meat, cheese and mustard! That’s it!

 

“In And Out. That’s what a hamburgers all about”. Just make sure you  make it out of the bar or club by 1!

 

The Best Night Of Television

It seems like every now and then there is one night of television that stands out among the rest.

 

One of my earliest memories is of Friday night television. That’s right, Friday. Now a virtual TV wasteland, back in the early 70’s it was magic night. That was the night for “The Brady Bunch”, “Partridge Family” and “Nanny and the Professor”. My television addiction can be traced right back to my parent’s putting me on restriction from Friday night TV when I talked back. No David Cassidy? Oh, the horror! In the mid-late seventies, magic night was Tuesdays. I can remember playing in the backyard up until “Happy Days” and “Laverne and Shirley” came on. The 80’s? Of course, Must See Thursday with “Cosby Show”, “Cheers” and then, later on “Friends”.

 

Once “must see Thursdays” went by the way of the doo doo, I didn’t think there would be another magic TV night. That was until the last couple of years when Monday became not a day of dread, but a night I look forward to with glee. That is because of Jack Bauer, the Gossip Girls, and a loveable spy named Chuck.

 

Yes, my friends, Monday night is the best night of television out there. I do realize that statement is subjective. But for me, you can’t be a loveable spy, a bad ass counter-terrorism agent and spoiled, young, rich Manhattanites! “24”, “Chuck” and “Gossip Girl”. Three of my most favorite shows and they are all on Monday night. These shows have great writing, characters you want to know more about and great plot driven comedy/drama! Those things are a combination that makes for great TV! Hard to come by in an  industry driven by reality crap and those that star in it! Yuck! Give me Jack Bauer and Chuck kickin ass over some kid squawking over on American Idol!

 

These three shows make Monday night the best for TV. Tune in and you won’t be disappointed!

The Best Part of Being Broke

I know this sounds contrary but I eat better when I have little money. Its true!

When I have money, I am more likely to drive through or order out! Its the easy way out for this single girl. The problem is that easy isn't always cheap.

When I have little money, I can't afford to eat out! I am forced to actually shop and cook at home. My crock pot gets the work out and not my wallet. Today I made Beef Stew and my roommates and I had a lovely dinner! With veggies bought at the .99 store my stew fed 3 for about $10 and there are leftovers for lunch.

Not having money is a bummer but I love the challenge of putting meals together with what I have. Having to cook at home is the best part of being broke.
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The Best Part Of Staying Home Today

I was not happy about staying home today! I had planned to assist in the float tear down but due to the promise of a free Disney land ticket, they had plenty of volunteers. My plan to go out to Selena's fell through as I didn't feel well.

My disappointment quickly abated when I found two movie gems on Tito : Blue Hawaii and Viva Las Vegas! I had the afternoon and two of Elvis best movies to watch.

Watching Elvis movies is the perfect cure to what mills you. Boy meets girl, sings about it, boy loses girl, sings about it, wins her back, big finale! You know what you are getting and its good!

Light and fun, Elvis movies are great! I wasn't happy about my plans falling through but the Elvis movies were the best part of staying home today!
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The Best Part Of Working In A High Rise

Most people would say that when all else fails, the paycheck is the best part of their job. In this economy, beyond every thing else, a paycheck is of tantamount importance. I have one other thing that is an amazing part of my job. While it doesn’t beat out the paycheck for the #1 thing that gets me into the office, it is the best thing about working in a high rise. I am speaking about the view.

 

I work on the 11^th floor of a building situated in the West San Fernando Valley. There are windows going completely around the perimeter. If it weren’t for the cubicle farm, I would have a panoramic view of the Valley. I have to settle for the spectacular south to west view, looking towards the beautiful west hills and the northwest Valley.

 

On a clear day this view is spectacular. On most days, we witness some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world. The most gorgeous colors of pink, orange and blue color the western sky at dusk! Gods paint palette is amazing and reminds me what an artist he is!

 

I may not like my job and I don’t respect some of my coworkers. But when I come in to earn that paycheck, I love looking out the window. That view is the best!

 

 

The Best Way To Unwind

There are many things that can take the edge off a rough day: a hot shower, glass of wine, a favorite show saved on TiVo. For me, the best out of all of them is the smiling face of my other Rottie BFF, Beanie.

Beanie is our other Rottie, Thor's brother. They are two peas in a pod. Thor is mellow and Beanie is high energy. It is Beanie that recognizes the sound of my car as it parks along the curb. When he hears it, he runs half way down the stairs, sits on the landing, and looks out between the slats of the bannister.

It is his smiling face that I see when I come in the door. His tail wagging, he is so happy to see me I think he is going to burst. How can you be unhappy when you come home to a greeting like that. Sometimes I wonder if the enthusiastic reaction is hopeful manipulation in order to get a peanut butter dog biscuit but it doesn't matter. The loving greeting Beanie gives is the start of our nightly love fest and the best way to unwind after a long day.

The Best Part Of Waking Up

I used to be a morning person. I used to be able to wake up without my alarm, bounce out of bed and hit the ground running. That was before the 3p-12a grind, before working full-time and going to school, before I started staying up until 3A to watch “Radio Free Roscoe” on TeenNick.

 

I am no longer a morning person. I am slow to move and grumpy. However, I have developed a routine that is something I look forward to despite my newfound dislike of mornings. I stumble downstairs, wait the 3 minutes that it takes for the coffee to steep in the press. During the time I am downstairs, Thor, my trusty Rottie BFF, has taken over the corner of the bed by my chair.  I pour my coffee, grab the remote and Thor and I watch our favorite show, “The West Wing”.

 

Mornings are no fun, really they are not. But thanks to our routine, Thor and I make the best of them. We watch our favorite show, drink our favorite beverage and slowly ease into the day. Having time to hang out with my bud is the best part of waking up.  

The Best Phrase

I have discovered the best phrase. It is very simple but can speak volumes. It is 8 words that mean freedom when I use them to let my Mother know I don't want to play her game. The phrase? "I love you but I have to go"



My mom and I have a rocky relationship. Our phone calls used to inevitably end with one of us in tears, mainly me. Now, when she starts the blame game, I use the simple phrase that sets me free: "I love you but I have to go".



I called her tonight to see if she could send my unemployed brother the grocery gift card we seem to be taking turns sending. She said she would, I said I would try and send $20 in a week, she got on me about it not being enough, I said fine, she said that was hateful, I used the phrase and hung up. Done deal! I made the request on behalf of my brother, achieving what I set out to do. Using the phrase minimized the collateral damage that is usually a result of a call like that!



I love my Mom, I truly do and now I have found the best phrase to allow myself to keep loving her.

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Best Thing About My Job

 

Ah, Open Enrollment. It is the time of year that most employer groups renew their benefit plans. In health insurance, it is the craziest time of the year to be on the phone. People with new benefits either want to know what those benefits are or why they are having trouble accessing them. Providers want to know why claims haven’t paid or why they paid little as they did. People pissed, whining, all around unhappy.  The time of year I have dreaded since Christmas.

 

This year it will be different. I have a years experience under my belt. I know that claims are denied because the provider coded a routine baby checkup on a 24 year old. I know that orthotics are generally covered, Viagra is not. I know that I am very blessed to have a job.

 

The best thing about my job is that it is temporary. I don’t like it and can barely tolerate it. But I am grateful for what it provides. It provides me a means to an end. It provides the money I need to go to school, get my degree and go on to bigger and better things. Not soon enough, however, but it will happen eventually. That is the thought that gets me through open enrollment.

 

 

The Best Part Of Being A Financial Mess

A new year and I find myself in a not so new position. I always say once I am out of it I willl never go back but some times I do.

Being out of work for 3 weeks has led me right back to the ovedraft zone. I hate it as it is hard to get out of.

The best part of being in this mess is I have the means and ability to get out of it...for the last time....ok, for now!
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The Best L.A. King

He was the 9th round pick in the 1984 NHL draft, 171st pick over alll. It was told that he couldn't skate but the LA Kings saw something special in the kid from Montreal.

He went on to play 19 years in the NHL, most of them for the Kings. A 4 time all-star, he scored 597 goals to become the highest scoring left-wing in history. Last November, he was a 1st ballot inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

His stats are remarkable but they are only a part of what makes Luc Robitaille the best. Equally as important is his love of the game and its fans.

Luc loves the fans and we love him! He always makes time for a picture or autograph. He greets fans with the same smile that was on his face when he hit the ice. He quickly became a fan favorite and still is, two years into retirement!

Many hockey players put up great numbers. Luc combined talent and skill with a love for the game, the fans and the city of LA. He is the best LA King!
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The Best Thing About New Years

The best thing about New Years Day is that it gives us a reason to take stock of where we have been. This year is special because it is the end of a decade.

Ten years ago I was still in my apartment. I still weighed 347 pounds and had yet to visit Rocky Peak. I had just started working at HealthNet and school wasn't even on the radar. I was miserable and lonely. I didn't really know much about myself.

It is amazing how much things can change in 10 years. I am living with a wonderful roommate, I have been out of health insurance and back again and I am grounded in my faith. I am 100 pounds lighter and have restarted my education, going back to school so I can become an RN.

I have also learned a lot about myself in the years between 34 and 44. I have learned I a heart for volunteering, dogs and God. I learned only you can permit others to disrespect and take advantage of you. I have learned happiness comes from things that aren't material. I became a better person.

The best part of New Years day is taking a look at where we have been because this allows us to also think about where we are going. It allows us to see the best is yet to come.