Virtual Dinner Party

In a nutshell

2010-05-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, Mike and I are on our one year anniversary. Well it is already passed. I have been looking at the extra 10 lbs I gained and wondering how I can eat chocolate cake and lose weight. Part of the weight loss plan is to cook at home more. I wanted to cook my way through the Asian Grandma's Cookbook.

Day 1: Chicken Adobo
Meat falls of the bone, who knew you had to pan fry after it stews in all its glorious chicken fat.

2009-12-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

Where we are...

2009-12-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

So after layoffs, confusions, and some hustling. I am back at LAUSD. I am now the Response to Instruction and Intervention Expert. Well the title is mucho misleading because I am no expert. Its been a really interesting learning experience working at the Local District level. The biggest adjustment is working with adults. First job I ever had that actually requires me to depend on another person. Its not so fun. Who knows how long this is going to last. With another terrible budget year, I am on the chopping block again. I just need to make it to the first day of my third year.

Another exciting part of my job is that some of the neighborhoods the schools are in are pretty tough. My favorite is getting chased by small dogs.

Baby Lets Wait Program for Adults

2009-08-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

We really love our dogs, to the point that we have to control our urge to talk incessantly about them. mean look at them, how can you not? Because we feel we are so successful as dog owners (minus the pooh eating) we often feel we are ready for children. And then we went to one of these:

Our friend's daughter's 6th bday party. They were having so much fun, but my god, the noise and the chaos! There were just so many of them and so few of us! It really made us realize how unprepared we were for parenthood.

Compton

2009-07-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

No matter what people think or say about "ghettos" there are still human beings living there full of life and dreams.

Been working as a lead teacher at a literacy program out in Compton. When I drive through the neighborhood there are parts that fits every stereotype about Compton and then there are truths; teachers committed to teach struggling students to succeed. Teachers who care, reflect and love their jobs. Families who only want the best for their children. Its been really refreshing.

Hit and Run Nonsense

2009-06-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

To say my life flashed before my eyes would be an exaggeration especially since it would of been blurry because the air bag blew my glasses off my face into the backseat. Thursday morning I was was tboned by a green Saturn or Pontiac and lost control and hit a telephone poll. Not a small one, but the big brown ones that people post Lost Pet Flyers. And the fool who hit me left! There were lots of good Samaritans around leaving me their numbers telling me that I was not at fault. The car looked pretty wrecked, my 2007 Honda Accord. The fireman was pretty impressed that I walked away with bruises. BUT to top off my moment one of the witnesses asked me if I spoke english...sigh....

Got the news yesterday from the insurance company that my car is total loss and we only have three days of rental left. And to top if off, because they couldn't catch the person who hit me, my uninsured motorist insurance doesn't work because there is no proof that she didn't have insurance. Really..no....really....

Because of the above reality I have been stalking Piedmont and Ave 59 everyday. Walking by looking at every dark green car for visible bumper damage. Curse you hit and run driver! So if you live in the HP neighborhood...keep an eye out for a dark green Saturn or Pontiac or Gram Am (I didn't have my glasses on, see above explaination) right bumper light and paint completely gone. They left that behind on Thursday. Okay enough ranting..

Jordan a future grafitti artitst?

2009-04-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

It was a chilly morning at the LA Book Festival. But always worth the long drive (well especially because my sister drives and I snooze in the back) They had a wall where you could write the book you are currently reading. What a great way to share the love of books.

Post Wedding Thoughts

2009-04-25T22:26:00.001-07:00

This may be the last post I will ever write about weddings. Its funny though, I still troll some of the wedding blogs but inevitably the desire is fading fast. Three things I loved most about my wedding:
1. Small, reflection, photobooth.
Everyone wanted to know why I didn't tear up when I saw Mike choke up during our vows. Honestly I don't know why, except I was just really happy that day. My entire mentality was about what a great party and fun day I was going to have. I already know how much he loves me, one of the reason I wanted to have a wedding was that I wanted to share that love and happiness with everyone else. Cheesy I know...anyhow here are some pictures from our wedding. Who knew my laugh was so big!

Oh Kogi Truck...will it be better the second time?

2009-04-24T19:30:00.001-07:00

I drove home on Eagle Rock and saw the Kogi truck again...
Last time we waited 1 hr and 45 minutes for

It was rather disappointing, the sauce was sweet, a little spicy but you couldn't tell which was pork, chicken or beef. Call me picky eater but I like to taste the meat I am eating. BUT
should I treat it like dating...three is the charm? Was the first time just awkward because we really didn't get to know each other and we just didn't have enough time? There must be a reason why there are 50 people standing in line for an invisible truck? (When I drove by there were was a huge line and the truck didn't even arrive yet)

I did it

2009-04-14T20:06:00.001-07:00

So now what am I suppose to do with all the DIY crap?

Weepy

2009-04-05T21:44:00.000-07:00

The other day I was driving home and started to think about what I might say to my students on the last week of school. How do you say goodbye when you don't want to?

wedding in 10 days!

2009-04-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

Today I took a mental health day from work. I needed it to run the last minute errands for the wedding. I finally sat down and thought about my vows. I am not sure where to begin? I thought about what I might want to say:

How I knew he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with?
What I love most about him?
What are my promises?

Am I suppose to memorize this? Of course in the process of trying to write my vows I got totally distracted by this:

I'm 1 of the 8,800 Pinked Slipped

2009-03-13T21:47:00.000-07:00

Sigh..just when I thought things were turning around... I got pink slipped. Okay so it wasn't really news, since I have been working with my school site union on actions since January. I will be waiting anxiously to see if some one is going to bump me out of a job. To add insult to injury, if I get bumped by an administrator/bureaucrat they will still be making their $150000 salary. Jesus, that is enough for three newer teachers that are getting laid off. The madness!
Mike, was offered a job and it might be me looking for a job in a few months. So I can feel blessed by that, but everytime I head down to the district downtown office I can feel the rage boiling up inside me. They spent more money on security than the federal reserve. Why do they need that many police officers, clerks, and high tech badge shit! Okay now I am ranting.

On a lighter note...well more inspirational note...
I went to the protest to disrupt the Board vote to allow the RIF (lay off ) letters. And as we were chatting our No Budget Cut No More...we see a busload of students from CEJ arrive. It was awesome. It was great to see the support the students and community members. I am even in the LA Times.

If you look at the top right, next to the woman with the sunglasses, that is the back of my head. And directly across from me is my colleague who is also getting pinked, Jimenez. Its our 10 second of fame.

2009-02-20T15:08:00.000-08:00

For my valentine one week late..

The DIY mania

2009-02-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

Even though we are planning for the wedding, it feels like we are falling into a routine. Although there is only two months left to our big day! We invited our wedding party over for a breakfast brunch. It was nice to introduce them to each other instead of meeting for the first time at the rehearsal. We also needed nimble hands to put together our programs. After hours of cutting and cutting and cutting here is our final product:

Mike and I have been going to Michael's every week for their make your own sale 40% to get materials for the wedding. That is how we scored our invitations to about 50 cent each. We also decided to give our lovely flower girl this:

We figured she will be running around like a four year old should and this would be durable. And she can play with it. Fake flowers are tacky? It cost me $4 to put it together and wrap brown ribbon around it.

My final DIY test run is my mason jar idea: Wrapped some brown and pink ribbons around a $1.89 jar. I will fill it with flowers from the whole sale district (picture right next to it). So the total cost for the center piece should be about $15. Plus I have find some votive candles. Question:Should we add our monogram somewhere on the jar or leave it be?

My Birthday

2008-12-19T23:35:00.001-08:00

Umemployment and Vacation

2008-12-13T17:31:00.000-08:00

Mike and I have been spending 24-7 together for the last few weeks. He got laid-off and we are both getting a little freaked out by the news. It has been a real test for our relationship to have that much together time. It sometimes feels like we are marooned on an island. But its going pretty well, we have a routine and I am keeping myself busy. I am really freaked out about the possibility of going on strike in January. Sigh...who is going to bail us out?

What is wrong with people?

2008-11-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

If I was to ask anyone, " Is it okay to tell person A they can't do B but Person C can do B?" Everyone would agree its wrong and unfair. But yesterday Prop 8 was passed. So among the cheers for the new generation of hope through President Obama, gay couples will not be allowed to marry. It is with deep regret that the very people who claim the compassion of Jesus' love would spend their money and time to promote hate. Why didn't people focus on what God wrote about the most: love and compassion. I have no other words to express my sadness.

I'm so vain I think this song is about me

2008-10-23T17:30:00.000-07:00

So this Sunday I dragged Mike out to Riverside to do something called Trash the Dress. Theoretically its suppose to be after the wedding to do fun pictures and "trash" your dress. But thanks to Sally I have a random free dress I got from Craigslist. Lets say I have never worn so much make up in my life! To my chagrin, I was told more than a few times I looked like a china doll..sigh...

Here are some of them courtesy of Conrad Lim Photography:

Next one is my favorite, it really represents our relationship: hilarity, fun, and a little bit awkward.

So this one I just got from Erin T Photography. Is this my normal face? No wonder I get voted most
unapproachable.

Wedding Wardrobe

2008-10-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

I just realized I have to get wedges for my garden wedding. I hate wedges, I think of cheap massage parlors that have "nice oriental ladies" who can offer happy endings. But i did find one that looks pretty nice, but of course its Betsy Johnson and its about $150

Images found shoewawa

On the other hand, I am trying to convince myself that Forever21 has corrected their sweatshop issues and I can get these cute dresses for my bridesmaids. I think this would be cute with a light pink wrap or not.

You want to know what is the best part? Its $22.80...sigh...Fair Trade, Smare Trade...

Target (or Taar Geeet) 39.99 Lace match the lace on my dress?

Pictures do tell a thousand words

2008-10-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

How in the world?

He always tries his best to make me laugh.

This is where we had our first hellos, in 1994.

Second guessing the whole wedding thing

2008-09-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

This week was the most depressing morning commute to work. My morning drive has been inundated with news of bank failures. It just makes me want to run and hide all my cash in my mattress (it would all fit in a child's twin maybe even a baby mattress) . When I was listening to the interviews of suddenly unemployed Lehman Brother workers, I had a complete panic attack. I called Mike and told him we should cancel the wedding. In times like these should we be spending $20,000 plus on one day? I was having visions of growing vegetables in my garden, and preparing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for work. Then my wonderful friend Mark sent me a teaser of our engagement pictures. It made me calm down a little and get a little more excited about getting married. What are other people doing to keep from going crazy in these financial uncertainties? I think we are in the mode of denial, denial and more denial.

This is how we look at each all the time as we exchange love poems.
In reality this is what is happening: Mike, "What do you want to eat ? " Me, "I don't know, how about carne asade fries?"

We are Family

2008-09-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

What do these two min pin mix have in common?

You guess it? Welcome Mei Mei, the newest member of our family. Don't they look like long lost twins? Minus the floppy ears and uh about 7 extra lbs on Max.

It doesn't hurt to ask

2008-09-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

I have been reading wedding blogs like they were going to give me a definitive answer to some universal question of life and death. When in reality they are mostly about all these details and ideas that would overwhelm Martha Stewart. I came across this photographer who gave away free photography every year to couples on a budget. Sadly, I missed that deadline because we clearly qualify on the budget issue. So I sent him a quick email and asked a bold question about meeting our budget and he actually said yes. Now, I am not sure if this is true for most people, maybe its the Chinese bargaining powers and suspicion in both of us but we immediately thought, "What is wrong with this guy? It seems too good to be true! " So after some careful questions and great responses, we realized he is just giving us a great deal. It is totally serendipity (get it: ? wink wink... refer to our wedding website/theme) He donates a large part of his commission to homeless shelters in Chicago. If that doesn't just turn my social justice heart, I am not sure what will. And to top it off, he speaks mandarin. So drum roll please....
Chennergy Photography.
Here is a sneak peak of his work, hopefully I am not breaking any copyright stuff...

A Little Uncomfortable

2008-09-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

Not sure what it is about but I am feeling kind of shy talking about the wedding. I know, its a freakin miracle that Maria Chan is at lost for words. I haven't really figured out why or what I am feeling these days. I am thrilled to be marrying my better half but something feels strange talking about the wedding. Part of me feels a little embarrassed, hell maybe its something weird genetic Chinese thing where I feel like I am imposing my will on someone else. I will have to sit on the toilet and think about this dilemma.

I am pretty stoked to be taking engagement pictures this Sunday. I am not sure why people take them, but its one of those go with the flow moments. I know, I should probably be a little more reflective but hey when does a girl get to pretend she is a model. Well I wonder what type of model I could be: super, runway, catalog, import car? hahahaha I don't want to know the answer.

Ball Park and Food

2008-07-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

Just spent a week in NYC enjoying the city life and remembering how great it is not to drive.

Proof that I really love Mike

We spent 4 hours sweatin' bullets so we can watch the Yankees beat the Oakland As. I actually stayed awake...Then he repaid me by telling me that my shorts made me look short and wide.

This is our walk in the park shot:

Restaurant Week NYC Summer 2008 Tabla: American food with Indian Flair (hahaha what ever that means)

hmmm....not sure how this will help my attempt to lose weight for the rental dress. Oh well it was delicious!

New York Subway

2008-07-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying myself back in the Upper Westside in NYC. Today I was on the 1 train at 11pm, the guy next to me strikes up a conversation about my engagement. Hey I guess it comes with the territory, you wear an engagement ring everyone asks when you are getting married. Trying not to make too much eye contact, I have polite conversation. He precedes to tell me his best friend just got married and they were dating for five years. So its better if I script this right now:

the guy: They met in hs and got married after college.
Me: Oh that is kind of young to be married?
the guy's friend on my otherside: Not for Americans (with a slight attitude)
Me: (thinking "I hope asshole you are not thinking that I am not American." I smile because I think everything is racial) well for NYC that is really young.
the guy: Oh aren't you young for getting married.
Me: No I am 31
the guy: You Asians are so lucky...(awkward silence)
the guy:I've been to Asia and when I start talking to a woman I think she is my age 22, she turns out to be 35
Me:(I'm thinking "Because 35 is really old") oh where are you guys visiting from? ( I take a good look and no self respecting New Yorker would wear Tevas)
the guy's friend: Springfield, Missouri

This is dedicated to Tonya...I got the confirmation on a NYC train that all Missourians are married and have three kids by 30.

Short Lived Unemployment

2008-06-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

So what might you ask have I been doing with my time for the last month and a half? I have been sleeping in and going hiking almost everyday. I forget how great not working can be on your soul. After breakfast, a hike, lunch and a shower my day is pretty much filled. Granted things that take normal people 20 minutes become something I have to schedule about three days in advance. My friend happened to have a day off and wanted to have lunch. I told her I was too busy because I had to go to the bank. Despite this great lifestyle (minus the income) I am now officially a LAUSD teacher. I am starting a new school year on July 1st. I finally got my contract and its been like re-enactment of Dante's Hell. I mean really if I have to go between the 14th and 15th floor of Beaudry one more time, I will have to stab myself in the eye. I am not sure what is in that building besides paperwork but I think there is less security at the Federal Reserve. Prior to signing it my days have been flip flopping between complete relaxation and nail biting anxiety about having to live in my car because I can't pay my bills.

Just to add to my obsession with Max, here are some pictures of our hikes.

Dog Beach with mi familia

Blob of ivory coming down the aisle

2008-06-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

I went shopping in Pasadena with my sister and best friend. Okay well it wasn't shopping as much as browsing for ideas because I can't/won't pay the average price of 2gs on a dress. I am planning to rent. More on that later, just a preview...have to go on a diet because I am most rental shop's largest size and its tight!
It was completely overwhelming but a great consultant help me dig through the mass of ivory fabrics. I was able to narrow it to five dresses that "caught my eye" and I really loved the way two of them looked on me. The two favorite are (drum roll please...) $3980 and $6870 American Dollars! Trying to not show my facial twitch from the price, I tried on a veil. Until that moment I felt like I was pretending to be a future bride but bam! it was like the moment every bridal magazine talks about and it was completely cheesy. Then I happen to glance at the price tag on the veil that cost $800! I was in full sticker shock and that brought me back to reality on why we are getting married and it has nothing to do with overpriced wedding attire.

The Wedding Gods are looking on us

2008-06-07T17:22:00.000-07:00

Serendipity is the word of our relationship; from how we met, are re-encounter, and the amazing compatibility of two people who seem so different on the surface. So today was another great alignment of the stars; we booked our ceremony site and I got a kick ass wedding organizer from one of the many wedding blogs that I troll everyday. Its called Brooklyn Bride and if you look at today's posting about Russell + Hazel Winners you will find my entry. Okay it may seem that I am little enthusiastic but come on when is the last time you won something worth $75 dollars? May the planning seriously begin...

Oh Save The Date: We are becoming official on April 11, 2009. A better STD (not the contagious kind :P ) email and cards to come...

My First DIY

2008-06-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

I followed the instructions from Deep Fried Kudzu.
The only thing I changed was using a fishing line to tie it because that was all I had in the house. For $2.19 I can make three of these pom poms. I am sure if I start digging in 99 cents stores I should find better deals. Not bad for 10 minutes of my time.

Three Years and Counting...

2008-06-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

Mike and I have been together for three years! Its really been that long? We were going to skip on Save the Date Cards until we found this cool toy from Hockneyzier:

Are there shortages of marriages?

2008-05-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

I always wonder why people make such a big deal about everyone getting the chance to marry. First, that institution of marriage is not that successful for us, heteros. Second, did someone forget to tell me that there is a shortage of marriage licenses? Is that why all these straights have to horde it for the second coming?
I have friends who chose not to get married (male/female relationship) because they wanted to take a stand against the inequality. I really admire them for that. I have to admit that deep in my bones I still have the little girl desire to have a fairytale wedding.
Planning for this wedding has been a reminder of how much everything is about consumption. IF anything the wedding industry should be jumping for joy because now there are even more people to spend thousands of dollars for floral arrangements. Well on June 14, 2008 this can finally happen in California.

Officially Laid Off

2008-05-21T17:28:00.000-07:00

For the first time since I was 15 1/2 years old, I am unemployed. Yup, UCLA lost their contract with LAUSD and I got laid off. Here are some things I learned about unemployment:

1. Should of milked all of my sick and vacation days. Because I lost 148 hours of Sick and 135 hours of vacation time...more mental health days on my next job.
2. Should of used more of my "lunch hour" time because I only get paid a set salary without overtime even though I had to work weekends and holidays (couldn't celebrate Cesar Chavez, so much for si se puede...)
3. Should keep the layoff a secret because people look at you in two ways: "Milk her for all she is worth" or "Poor pathetic, non-union employee"
4. Should of saved more money and realized it before car payments, mortgage, student loans and, oh did I mention we are planning a wedding?!!!?

Carried to the wedding...who wants to volunteer?

2008-05-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

I am planning to do a Chinese/Western wedding. My fantasy is to be carried to the beginning of the aisle on a wedding sedan. Sounds crazy but I thought it would be so awesome and fun. The only problem is where in the world would I get this AND who can I convince to carry me! Ha...I am already stressing about loosing weight for the wedding, I am sure if this could possibly happen then my weight lost would be a group effort.

I want to add loads of Chinese traditions but incorporate our personal quirks. The funniest thing was when we were interviewing wedding planners (if they were not Asian) they often told us at the end we were having an Asian themed wedding. Well I guess if you include that we are both Asian I guess it is an Asian theme. It felt a little bit racist, but according to the puppets on Avenue Q, everyone is a little bit racist. Ha...

Canadian Rock

2008-04-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

The other day, Mike and I went to look at wedding bands and I still smile at the amazing job he did in picking out the engagement ring. I wasn't expecting a diamond and he respected my wishes and got me a conflict free diamond from Canada. I know that the people who dug this out has fair wages and health insurance. Which is probably more than the kind woman who hands me my coffee at the local donut shop...sheepish grin...

Free Dress

2008-04-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

Freakin Sally is addicted to Craigslist. She got me an appointment to pick up a free wedding dress from a dress maker. Yup, you read right, it is a free dress. I know I was totally skeptical too but they do fashion shows and didn't know what to do with all the dresses. I did some sleuth work via the internet to make sure I was not getting set up to be robbed and left for dead. ( I watched one too many CSI shows) Its a cute cocktail style, strapless dress with a simple lace cumberbund. It fits pretty good minus a few pounds but I am not sure what to do with it. I don't think I will wear it for my actual wedding but I thought it would be fun to change into it for pictures? Need some ideas. One idea was to dye the petticoat like a wedding I saw on Style Me Pretty. I will put up a picture soon for some help.

Max is Stressed Out

2008-04-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

I would say 60 percent of this blog is about my beloved; Max that is, not Mike...Our little pride and joy had a bout of really bad diarrhea. He woke up at 2am for three nights with severe diarrhea. It was really stressing me out. I even found small spots of what I guess was blood. I did a quick internet search and a frantic phone call to the vet. I gave him rice and hoped for the best. The strangest thing was that the vet guessed that Max was probably stressed and that was causing his diarrhea. What could this pampered dog be possibly stressed about? Well, Mike was gone for a business trip up North. The vet guessed that he might miss Mike so much that it was upsetting his stomach. What? And I was alone dealing with the 2am clean up and soothing. (This is making me question motherhood) Would you believe that this little dog had a regular bowel movement the minute Mike came come. It was basically instant, he had diarrhea for four freakin days and Max saw Mike for 30 minutes and his bowel movements are solid again. Geez...since I walk, bath, feed, play and fawn over this little sucker...he better be comatose when I go away.

My OCD wedding planning

2008-04-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

I have become a bridezilla of sorts these days. So after trolling the internet for about 40 hours... we narrowed it down to about four sites. And when we considered our budget and only needing a ceremony place we found two sites.; Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills(left) and the Arcadia Arboretum.(right) Granted it was 90 degrees and it was the last weekend of March when we were venue hunting. I hate to say it but global warming may ruin our wedding day.

I am hiding out in the "asian forest" because its so damn hot.

Spider girl princess

2008-03-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Max's facial express says it all; what the f*ck?...my niece has been talking less about Spiderman and more about her Princess dresses that she likes to twirl and twirl. We attended my cousin's wedding and she was excitedly talking about the "royal ball" I don't want to push my feminist ideals on a 25 lb 3 year old...oh who I am kidding. I totally want to push them on her...
Can you tell she loves dancing in public...even as the wedding is happening around her.

Here comes the bride and her muffin top

2008-02-10T17:21:00.000-08:00

Engaged! We gave into the pressures of hetero-normative (I learned that from Randyl). Mike is going to make a honest woman out of me. He proposed to me at our first meeting place 12 years ago at 1 Colorado Courtyard. He got on his knee and (he won't admit this) got choked up. It was really sweet. I think I said something like, "of course" and he told me he loved me and I said, "Thank you"

After all the drama of buying the ring, he bought me a conflict free Canadian diamond. My mother thought the hoopla was lame-ass but Mike wanted to make sure everyone was happy in the situation. The funny thing is the ring is a size too small and when I put it on, I started to lose feeling on my ring finger. Gosh, is that a metaphor for the ball and chain or what? Mike had the graciousness to tell me that my finger has a muffin top
.
This is from one of the 38 weddings we have attended in t he last ten years. Yippee its our turn to get gifts! Hahahahahahahahahaha

Immigration culture clash

2008-02-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

My mom and my sister totally ditched me and voted for Clinton. Yes, after my internal debate, I am begrudgingly Obama. My mother in her weird mom no filter and a combination of immigrant no filter always makes the most astounding remarks. I asked my sister why she voted for Hilary, she wanted to support the sisterhood and that she has experience. My mother wanted a Clinton so that she can bring back that fuzzy warm times called the late 90s. I was suspicious of my mother's intention so I asked her point blank, "Did you not want a black man in power?" and her response, "There is a black man running?" Try to understand that one...

SUPER DUPER TUESDAY CONFUSION

2008-02-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

To Obama or Not to Obama...that is the question of the night. For the first time in my voting life I don't know who to vote for come Tuesday. The only one I had a spiritual connection dropped out quick and the man with the populist ideals bailed before I could even let anyone know about why I was voting for a white man in this historic crossroad. Honestly I feel like I have to play to the media hype of identity politics where I must choose my gender or for people of color everywhere. I have to admit I am enamored with Obama's oratory skills to inspire for change. Makes me want to rip off my pjs and go campaigning. Except I have no idea what else to say after the audacity of hope runs short with no details. Change for what? Hope with what? Is this going to be one of those long run on sentences mission statements that is so global it ends up saying nothing at all. Then if I don't vote for my sister, Hilary, am I betraying my feminist ideals of one day of hearing the pronouns of she, her, woman hear me roar?Except would I be voting for a woman who is so capable of drawing out to vote every insecure man who doesn't want to be told by a woman and is in fighting stance when someone had the nerve to insult him by calling him a girl? My political junkie self has been trolling the internet for some advice, some directions and it leads me back to this place. How can something so historic and exciting be so utterly confusing? And why am I even stressing? We don't even have direct democracy and I might have my vote discounted anyhow when November rolls around and electoral votes blinds my popular vote. This is why Mike prefers to drown himself in reality tv shows.

49-51

2008-02-02T01:16:00.000-08:00

Over sweet potato fries and a cup of coffee we discussed our favorite topic: relationship and dating. Kevin once said that in his relationship he expects that power should be divided 51-49, he is the former. Though I have a stinking suspicion that it is really 80-20 but he was adjusting because of the audience. Regardless, it infuriates me that it has to be about one power over another. Can it be possible that there is polarity and that each can have their needs met without being the "loser" in the situation? I am often surprised that the strongest women I know are meek kittens in their relationships. They want their partner's to have the final word. Really? Why does it have to so complicated? I mean if monogamy is natural wouldn't it just work naturally? I included a picture of my friend, Kevin...ladies he is single...

Dinner for one

2008-01-31T17:49:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the last night I will be home alone and Mike will be back from his conference in New Orleans. I just finished my dinner for one consisting of steak salad, miso soup, and mango for dessert. While I am chewing my obligatory 10 chew per bites, I was being hyponitized by Max. He likes to sit at my foot and stare. He is probably thinking "drop drop drop drop" OMG I am one those nuts who spends all her time talking about her dog....hehe...
Back to my musing about being alone. I can't believe how much I miss it!I miss Mikey but its nice to come home and decide when and what I want to eat. I can walk around with no slippers, have the TV, Internet, and radio running while using none of it. I can sit in the dark or turn on every light in the house and I don't have to answer to anyone, NO ONE! I am screaming right now on the top of my lungs (its freakin Max out a bit, but its okay). IF you are alone right now and reading this, won't you please join me? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Hear Ye Hear Ye...MAX goes for an audition

2008-01-23T21:08:00.000-08:00

Watch out Hollywood here comes Max-a-rooni! Our lovely boy is going to be auditioning for a show called Groomer Has It! Its a reality show for groomers to compete to be the best groomer in the nation. Okay, let me go back a few weeks. After my annoying and injury free accident with the MTA bus, I came across a bit of luck. I was at the Silverlake Dog Park and was approached to take pictures for a reality show on Animal Planet. (Keep the image of me on Orangutan Island or Good Pets gone Wild on hold.) Now he will be auditioning to see if he is camera ready! Now I went online to check out the show and it said that it will "turn the scruffiest dogs into prancing pups". Uh...should I be offended that my dog is going to be on a make over show? Who cares! He is going to be on TV! Lets hope that I will get some TV time too, look for my silver chucks!

Jordan's Loves...

2008-01-22T21:52:00.001-08:00

Here is a snippet of a recent conversation.
"Jordan,What do you love? "
"I love hills, I love ice cream, I love Max"
"Do you love Mike?"
"Nope,I love hills"

Hole burning in my stomach

2008-01-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

WARNING GRAPHIC DETAILS

Right now I feel like there is a hole burning through my stomach and I predict explosive diarrhea in a few hours. I am not sure if other people are going through the same changes but my stomach is no longer made of steel. I just came back from Indian food and ate just two or three or five too many helping of spicy pickled vegetable chutney and now I have a hole in my stomach. Is there a solution to this? I mean I am officially addicted to Boiling Crab with the whole chabang seasoning and after a few pounds of shrimp, my exit is screaming for extinguisher. Suggestions on how to maintain my love of spicy food and be nice to the other end?

What we spend all our time talking about...

2007-11-01T14:47:00.001-07:00

We are totally obsessed with Max.

Its a BOY

2007-09-21T17:07:00.002-07:00

Meet Max...the latest addition to our family. He is a Welsh Corgi Mix but he just looks like a cute mutt. Adopting this dog was a real insight to the future of parenting between Mike and I. Let me give you a brief synopsis of our conversation:
"We can only get a dog if we keep it outside"
"We can only get a small dog that we cage train and block off in the kitchen. I don't want it to jump on our sofa and get it dirty."
"No promises if we go look at the pound"
We walk away with the adoption papers in hand.
"We need make sure its housebroken. Lets start cage training."
Whining from the dog...
"Maybe we shouldn't cage train?"
more Whining...
"Maybe we can let him out of the kitchen and let him roam around. We can block off the hallway to the bedroom."
I firmly want to cage train.
"Lets let him be in his cage but in our bedroom"
We get up at 5:20am to watch him poop and pee in our yard.

Apparently I am heartless and he is spineless. Can you just imagine the discipline with children? I refuse to be the bad cop...since I play one all day at work.

Weekend Warriors and possible draft dodgers

2007-07-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

Again not realizing that it actually takes work to maintain a blog I realized I have been MIA from this virtual world. Sometimes I feel like LIFE slips me roofies and I wake up groggy and not sure if I had unprotected sex. (Which I know didn't happen because living together actually lowers the mating rituals)
Well almost two months later we moved into our new place and managed to redo the electrical, paint the inside and out and buy new furniture. HGTV should really put up a disclaimer of how much actual time it takes to maintain a home. Its shocking to realize that you can't build a deck in 30 minutes much less hang a curtain...I mean they do it! Ah..the magic of television. I have been obsessive about applying for HGTV, InStyle, and DIY apparently I am not interesting enough to deserve a make over.
Moving in together and buying a house really ups the anti in the relationship navigation game. Praise to the gods that this time around it was much smoother. No more two hour debates about the type of shower curtains at Target on a Weds night. Now its cutting shelf boards at Home Depot on a Saturday night at 9:30. Romantic...
I think we found our yin and yang together. I am the starter and he is the closer. (Notice the baseball references) We are living relatively box free and even managed to host my mother's birthday party at our home. We also realized that most of our furniture is not child friendly. (Jordan's little footprints are still on our white leather couch. Much to Mike's chagrin) Of course we can't leave you hanging...the big announcement is that...oops ran out of space.

Ball and Chain: Mortgages and Bills

2007-05-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Imagine seeing over 50 houses and only seeing six that is actually livable. Well that is the real estate market in LA. So here is the ball and chain: my new home. Not wanting to jinx the possibility of falling out of escrow, much like the home we just purchased, we have kept it low key. Yup not only do we now live together in sin, we are going to co habitat with a mortgage in sin. While mentioning this new stage in our lives to family and friends, one reoccurring question came up like a pesky bad breath. " So when are you getting married?" What is with marriage and the ability to calm millions of mothers about the futures of their children? I am trying to figure out if this is the one magic elixir that is going to cure all the issues in my life? Work conflicts, weight, money, commitment, will all magically self destruct. Really married folks, if I am already living in sin, why does buying a house together signify that marriage is the logical next step. Sometimes I wonder if my married friends are trying to lure me into that cult. You know, something about the more the merrier or suffering together is more tolerable?

I give up

2007-04-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

So here is an example of where some of my time has been filled with...I actually went to a Science Museum show on Star Wars even though the lighting in the movie scares me because it reminds of me 1970s porn.
The fact that I know that baseball season has started, Barry Bonds might break the home run record of Hank Aarons and the Mike Mcquire didn't get into the hall of fame is an indicator I am committed in this relationship. By the way I may of spelled all the players' name wrong.

The lull

2007-04-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Being new to this blogging thing, I didn't foresee the problem of not having anything to blog about.I have no interesting thoughts.I know, I know shocking isn't it. I find myself flipping through cable to find drama. I mean come on I actually watched a show called the Ex-Factor...desperately looking for things to blog about...is this the life of coupledom? Fascinating that it rhymes with BOREDOM... Are your lives much more interesting?
When I was single I remember going out every weekend, drinking until I blacked out and then getting up the next day to go shopping for the next ghetto fabulous hoochie top for the next night on the town. Now its a struggle to go out to eat Pho two nights in a roll...the MSG frightens me.
My analytical partner in crime, Forrest has this theory about how the energy or the pheromones between couples change, that our brain activity actually slows down when you are in a steady relationship. I am completely messing this theory up but something to do with how when you are single there is more energy to go out on the town(the hunt) and when you are in a relationship this life force couch potato overtakes you. How do you guys spice up your life? (Please no explicit description of role playing or anything that involves spikes and whips.)

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-03-21T21:14:00.001-07:00

My Big Idea

2007-03-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

I had an epiphany of sort this past weekend about maintaining our favorite middle school yearbook signing of k.i.t. Now that we are grown up and spread all over the world or in the same town but hindered by the parking lot we refer to as the freeway, its pretty hard to stay in touch. What I miss most about being in the same geographic region is the rich dinner party conversations about politics, racism, poverty and most importantly sex/relationships. Why not use this blogging thing? Post something in response so we can get a "conversation" going! Here is our chance to stay in touch; read it, partake in it, shake your head in disbelief but let me start the conversation with this scenario.

I would like to share about my friend, Oliver (some of you may know him as the other twin of Clarence) Oliver in his wisdom about what battles we should fight for in a relationship has this theory. In trying to decide whether or not to buy his girlfriend a bigger ring he came up with a solution. He measured the necessity of that battle by asking himself this question: When she looks at this ring would she think "Oliver is such a cock sucker or I want to suck Oliver's cock" Okay...I know, complete misogyny but you get the point. So in a culture where being independent and true to ourselves is expected if not insisted upon, how do you decide what you are willing to give up in a relationship?