Short Lived Unemployment

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

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

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

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...

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?

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

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?!!!?