"If the party's over - if the fun has to end, can you do this for me my friend? Can you please bury me with it!"

A little Modest Mouse quote to get ya goin' in the morning! (It is from the song "Bury Me with It", which was just playing on my Launch Cast).

I am in such an amazing mood this morning!! I got to work a half an hour early. I had intended to come in at 7am, but when my boss heard me talking about it, she got mad and told me not to be silly and come in at my normal time...I figured I would compromise and get here at 7:30, since I am leaving at 2pm and have no real intentions of coming back in. :) The best thing is it is casual friday here at the office - which is a rare luxury that I am relishing!!

Last night Luis and I carved pumpkins - and I must say, they are most excellent (said ala Bill & Ted). We bought this carving kit and Luis did a pirate and I did a witch with a cauldron...They look so phenominal - I am so proud of our artistic efforts. If I can get my blog to work right, I will post the pictures...but it may take a week or so...

Knott's Scary Farm is tonight and I can't wait!! I love going - even if it is a hassle to get there. Julie, Kika, Luis and maybe Don & Vanessa and I are all going, and it should be rad. They said on the news this morning that it is going to be SUPER cold tonight though...only drawback...

Tomorrow night is the Halloween party, which I am also looking forward to. I hope I can pull my costume together in time...I am going to go as Rambo's chick...(and you guessed it...Luis is going as Rambo) Yeah, I know "Rambo's chick" isn't a real character in the movies, but we are going to roll with it...

I have been really bad about studying this week, which is really stupid of me...I need to hustle my ass into shape for this damn test...especially since I am losing another weekend next week when I hit up Ohio...

I got a bonus today on my pay check!! Lovely surprise when I checked my online banking and lo and behold there is extra money from Beacon Pointe!!

Wish me luck - I have to go to the dermatologist today....not fun dude...

Ho hum...

Storm watch 2004! hahha...

The rain was loud last night - but no where NEAR how loud my upstairs neighbors were...They woke me up maybe 3 times in the night with loud banging and crashing sounds...Not cool...I seriously wanted to pound on their front door at 3am when they were out on their patio dragging their chairs around and doing laundry!! Such a buzz kill...

Tonight I am looking for a Halloween costume and carving pumpkins and baking cookies and stuff! I love stuff like that. Being festive and all...

Work is dragging ass...only 4 hours and 45 minutes left...(not including my hour for lunch...)

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - strawberries in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming - WOO HOO! What a Ride!"

"Can't stop the voices in my mind, the're getting louder all the time so I guess I'll just sing louder..."

So yesterday was a monumentally shitty day, but everything has mellowed...

My boyfriend is the coolest guy in the whole world! Yesterday when my world was crashing down, I went to heat up some left-overs in the microwave for dinner and discovered that my appliance refused to function...He came over at lunch today (with food in hand) and fixed my micorwave so I could use it. :) Talk about someone rocking my world! Now I can cook again!!

Looking forward to Knott's on friday and all the Halloween festivities to follow...Now I just have to think of a costume idea...I have been a catholic school girl a couple times, so that is not an option...I don't know...

The rain is supposed to be back today, which is nice. They say it is going to be a huge storm.

I am supposed to go to a Pepperdine meeting tonight and not looking forward to it...

I need to study hardcore so I can play this weekend :)

"What I need seems so far away..."

That, in effect, was the theme for the weekend...

Friday I went to LA with Luis to hang out with Don, Vanessa and a couple of their friends. They BBQ'd and we chatted and drank beer. It was really chill and the perfect end to a busy week.

On Saturday, I went and wrote a fat check for my car insurance in Laguna Hills. After, I bought some music, which always puts me in a splendid mood. I then headed to UCI for 5 hours of hell...I was studying for the GMAT and had a "beating-my-head-against-the-wall" kind of study session that left me to debate my own mental capactities and academic abilities...I drove around for a while after wrapping up for the day and realized that what I need is to do really well on this exam and it seems like I am aiming for a mirage...I got a little frustrated...but, such is life. In the evening I went up to Diamond Bar to hang out with Luis and his family, which was super relaxing...

Sunday I met Jules at Cappy's in Newport for Sunday breakfast, which was super GRUB. Then, I met up with Meera, made a stop, went to study, met up with Luis and hit up the grad reading room. After, went to dinner at Pei Wei with my fella and attempted to locate a costume shop for Halloween inspiration, but were denied, as all was closed. Went home to do laundry, watch tv, and drink Hot Chocolate...

Today I nearly snapped...I hate redundancies...and I hate being blamed all the time...AND, the damn phone ringer on my office phone was making my skin crawl every 5 seconds with its gobble-like blaring...But, I relaxed a little, vented to my mom on the phone, and changed the ring tone...slowly getting better...

"Our time is borrowed and spent too freely..."

I really liked that quote - heard it in a song this morning...

The office drama continues to get thicker and thicker with each passing day - and my curiosity has been surging more and more with the tid-bits I overhear...dammit!! I wish I wasn't out of the loop!!

Went to go see "Team America World Police" last night and laughed myself to tears at a couple of moments. I loved the song "America, #%$! Yeah!" so much - and it has been stuck in my head all freaking day...

I have been busier than I have been in months at work and today FLEW by - which is nice because I have plans and that means the weekend starts sooner. :)

This weekend I need to hit the books hard. No excuses...time is getting shorter and shorter and even though it may look as though I have plenty of time, the test date will be here before I know it. I have to get into B-School...I have a 50/50 shot right now and if I rock the GMAT then my odds will be more in my favor. I have a study date with Meera on sunday - complete with dinner at Le Dip. mmmmm....And hopefully, if I am nice enough, maybe my "tutor" can give me some math help this weekend. :)

I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow...Oooh! And get my car washed...maybe Charlie Brown could hook me up with a body shop...or at least an estimate...without an appointment...hmmm...it's all about who you know.

I'm out, yo...

Ohio, here I come...

I have been relegated to going to my cousin's wedding in Ohio in 2 weeks. I am a little apprehensive to go, as I have not seen (with the exception of one uncle, whom came to my high school graduation,Meme, who was at Christmas of '
98, and the groom and his little sister, whom came to visit 10 years ago...which is a small fraction of my huge family) my dad's family since I was 10 years old...BUT, the icing on this bizzare cake is my travelling situation...I am travelling alone, which is always grounds for odd happenings. I have to take a red eye out of LA on the friday and fly to Cincinatti. I get in at like 5am and then have to take a commuter flight to Columbus and get in a shade before 10am. That gives me just enough time to get to the hotel and shower, get dressed and go to Justin's wedding. Where is the icing I mentioned, you ask? Well, because my family and I fly so much, I was able to not only get a free ticket, but I am flying first class the whole way!! The round-trip with connections first class ticket came to a whopping $18!! (I still had to pay for a ground/airport tax and a 9/11 tax...but whatever!) So, I am not going to mind the fact that I am spending more time in the air than with my family as much because I will be chillin' in the front of the plane!

Now, if I were to juxtapose this trip with my Thanksgiving travel arrangements, I would illustrate that the two itinierarys (i can't spell - just go with it) are the antithesis of each other...I neglected to properly book my arrangements, which resulted in the loss of my reservation. This morning when I went to check on my flight times, I made this shocking discovery and realized that I had to re-book...Now that the holiday is a month away, the ticket prices jumped dramatically and my ticket has doubled in price to a fantastic $450! I guess that is Karma - $18 for one ticket, $450 for another...Oh well...it will be worth it to see my family...

I bought the new Jimmy Eat World CD yesterday (or JEW, if you will - that is for you Meera) :)
Awesome CD!! Kinda dark in lyrics, but awesome nonetheless. I really want to find the newest Dexter Freebish CD...Such a good band(?). He reminds me of a cross between Pete Yorn and Dashboard. I love it and it is hard to find...I have gone to 2 tower records and they have been out because they don't carry many copies...oh well...will get my hands on it eventually.

The rain was awesome - I love storms...

Tonight: am most likely going to see "Team America" and cannot wait!!

"Kiss my scurvy!"

So, whenever I watch mindless television (as all television is classified as such), I come across a quote that sticks with me...A couple of weeks ago it was the "assiest ass" comment...last night, it was "kiss my scurvy"...thought I would start things out on a random note...

So, life has been hectic...I have gone up and down with money issues this month: car insurance, car repairs, potential movings costs, etc...BUT, the cool thing is this: we are definately not moving now, which is a HUGE sigh of relief...I was desparately trying to figure out how I could afford the actual move itself...but, all is well and we are staying in our Newport Coast digs.

Work has been absolutely all over the place. There is some massive drama going around and I cannot confirm or deny any of the office gossip that comes my way, and it is driving me nuts! I really want to know what is going down...But I have been swamped with shit and everyone wants it done immediately and I am starting to really get frustrated with the little demands here and there...Nothing too major - just an assload of busy work that keeps me running and has been occasionally keeping me up at night (which is really sad).

I am sorta proud of myself: I have actually been studying like I said I would. Now, okay, so I haven't been studying for long durations at a time, but I was told to do an hour or 2 every night and I should be on target. I really need to study in a controlled environment - i.e. I need to go to a library or something - because I find it really hard to focus at home. My mind wanders with all the things I need to or could/should be doing...

This weekend was really cool:

Friday: 40's, drank, hang out with Eric, Julie, Meera, Luis, Dustin, Travis, Jessica, Yagi, Mike & Karen at the pub, went to Midnight Madness, played paparazzi photog, went home and passed out.

Saturday: Went to Home Depot with my fella and then looked at places on the beach for the potential move with Julie. Came home and the three of us ate macaroni & cheese and watched a severely overdue copy of "Saved!". It was nice to just chill.

Sunday: Went to look at more places, negotiated with an RE broker, met up with Molly for dinner, watched TV, passed out...

Monday: checked out yet another place in HB, realized I can't afford to move, went to dinner @ Los Sanchez with my fella, Julie, Richard, Andy, Dustin, Yagi & Mike. Went home and started the studying madness!!

That is all...and now I must go seal and stamp about 100 envelopes...what fun...

It is official!!

That's right kids - I am officially commissioned as a notary public! The only thing that is left is for me to file my $15,000 surety bond (yikes!) and my oath of office with the county clerk. But, my commission is dated effective tomorrow! If anyone needs proof of identity, I'm your gal.

Tonight is going to be rad: Pub, 40's for the 40 :), midnight madness, and God knows what else! Meera and Dustin are coming down to the O-C for the event...Should be...well...madness!!

Last night was the Apprentice drinking extravaganza - always enjoyable. Complete with pizza from across the street and good company. Spent like 2 hours in the car yesterday trying to get to an info session at Chapman that never happened...So irritated...but whatever...

Wednesday night went to Red Robin with Sil-Dogg and had an odd encounter with a waitress...she was EXTRA chatty and kept interrupting us...by her own admission, she was just thinking of reasons to come over and talk to us. And she even at one point sat down next to me and leered at my fries...I was about to ask her is she wanted one, but I think she sensed our general concern for her behaviour and left. She was super nice, it was just annoying to be interrupted every 5 seconds for a trivial question like "how are your napkins - can I bring you a couple more??", when it isn't even relevant to the situation...It is one thing to be attentive - it is another thing entirely to be all up in my grill...

Count down until I am blowin' this popsicle stand: 3.5 hours...(well, really 2.5 hours because one full hour will be dedicated to my lunch break!)

After work: must get my car washed, do a load of laundy, tidy up the room, GO TO THE PUB!!

I am having a really weird morning...

Came in like 10 minutes late - due to unforeseeable events...and since I graced through the threshold of our office - the damn phones have not stopped ringing...I am so over it...I have no energy coupled with the fact that I can't concentrate for some weird reason...

Watched "Saved!" last night - fairly entertaining movie. Bought Luis something really cool and I can't wait to give it to him. My mom gets home today. It will be good to catch up with her. Molly might be coming down this week - she left me a message last night and was bummed I couldn't get a hold of her to call her back. I am going to be pretty busy for the rest of it though, so I really need to know when she plans on coming...

Starting monday my life is changing: I am going to get into a study, work out, eat better routine. Friday I am getting an ARC membership, which should help with this plan. I even bought vitamins last night so I can be healthier...We'll see if it takes... :)

Star Struck...

Lots of things happened to make this a very entertaining weekend...

Friday night I went to the movies in Puente Hills with my fella to see "Shark Tale". Dined at El Pollo Loco and had a late night.

Saturday: went shopping, hung out, ran errands, cleaned my kitchen...At night, met up with Luis and Adam and drove to Hollywood. Surprised Don for his birthday. Took shots of vodka chased with beer...got destroyed in a shockingly short amount of time...spent some quality time outside "getting fresh air"...humiliated myself...passed out...was driven home by Adam...made a stop at his studio to check out his place...went to bed at 4:30 am...

Sunday: hung out with my fella most of the day...At 4pm decided to go to the Dodger game with Daniel and his mom...bought 20 tacos at the drive thru of Taco Bell...Went to the game...Got a kick ass parking spot by the entrance...

And...

the best part about the game...

on the way out...

we

spotted

Anthony Kedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers!!!!

so freaking awesome!!

We were star struck...(hence the title)

Went back to my place...watched some TV...passed out early...

Happy Friday!

So, this week is ending well - thus far...

I had my employee review this morning, which went much more smoothly than I could have anticipated. My boss actually rated me higher than I rated myself in some categories, which is always cool. There weren't really too many criticisms, which was nice...just the standard "...if we had to pick something you could improve upon, it would be...", but nothing major...No discussion of higher pay, but I think it will come...AND, they were all about me going back for my MBA telling me how they are eager and excited to help me in any way they can...sweet...wanna pay for it? :)

I am ready to start the weekend though...Even though my house will be lonely with the absence of my roomie. :) Not sure what is going down...Saturday night Luis and I are going to LA for Don's birthday. Hopefully something will go down tonight...I have really been wanting to go to the movies - so many flicks I want to see...maybe I will do that tonight.

Last night Julie and I played an ultimate round of the Aprentice Drinking Extravaganza. We bought this really good apricot beer made by pyramid (i know, sounds suspect, but it was actually really good!) and drank it throughout the show...needless to say half-way into it we were half-way drunk.

Talked to Dustin on the phone and discussed the possibility of an upcoming Vegas trip. SWEET - something to look forward to!! I love having trips to save up for because it gives me motivation when I am bored at work...

40 ounces to freedom...

Listening to Sublime while driving to work put me in such a great mood...sounds strange, but it's true. :)

Last night I felt like the biggest lop on the face of the earth - and it was completely fixable and I opted to not...I really was in the mood to go somewhere or do something...but instead I opted to stay home and save money...that's all good and well, but instead of being productive, what did I do? I sat on my ass...Could have done laundry...could have studied...could have gone to work out...but no...I was a lazy brat who merely furthered the softening of my brain by watching mindless television...i should have read or done some sort of mind exercise, but yeah...i watched tv....oops...

I am ecstatic that I am not moving!! I can afford to do a few things here and there instead of worrying about how I am going to be able to pay for stuff...AND, I think my parents are going to have to be in the San Diego area for Christmas, so I am going to see if I can cook Christmas dinner at my house!! I am even going to try to cook the dinner. I think that will be so fun! (providing everyone likes each other at that point...) Anyone want to come?? :)

Today I am too trendy for my own good ...

I am wearing a variation of all black and red shoes... :) I look as though I should be working at a cosmetics counter at the mall...

All in all I am in much better spirits today - essentially because there have been several accomplishments: 1) saw my dad, which helped with the wave of homesickness that came out of no where; 2) I was assured by my dad, his friends, and my boyfriend that the damaged on my vehicle is not bad at all and I shouldn't worry about it - and although I still have to shell out the $$$ to fix it, it isn't as bad as originally anticipated; 3) and there is a good chance I won't have to move, which is making my bank account happy due to all my impending expenses.

Last night's dinner was really fun. Dad, Luis, Chris, Jeff & I had drinks in the lobby of the Westin before Chris suggested going to the Clubhouse for dinner at South Coast. We grubbed on some really swanky food and drinks (I had a flirtini - which is essentially a martini with champagne and some other fun alcohol mixed) and even dessert! The conversation was lively and entertaining and it was just all-around needed. I was so happy Luis got to share in the fun with my dad and his friends too - he got to put some faces to names, which was good.

Oh, and while I am on the subject of venting...

Why is it that everyone who walks by my desk in the lobby of our floor feels the need to stare at me...not cool...

AND, when did people forget how to read numbers? The sign outside my door, which everyone reads before they walk in (I watch them walk over to it), says very clearly that my office is suite 750, but they are compelled to ask for someone from the law offices that compile suite 700??? When I ask them what suite they are looking for, they say 700 and are confused that there can be more than one office on the same floor...then they retort with "oh, this isn't the law firm [insert firm name here]?" and I have to reiterate the information on the sign and confirm that this is in fact a blatantly different firm...

blah...

contrary to how it may appear, I am not in a bad mood by any means....just simply aggrivated...

Well, my boss has left the office for a board meeting and I am compelled to blog. ..

In a little more than half an hour, I am going to lunch with a money manager from Santa Barbara Asset Management...but to tell you the truth, all I really want to go is go home for an hour and do nothing...I am stressed out and I have had a lingering stomach ache for the last couple of days...

I am supposed to have dinner with my Dad & Luis and some others tonight, but seeing as my dad's schedule is so strange - and given my luck - I won't believe it until we are all sitting at the table. It will be good to see family...

I had coffee and pie with Meera last night , which was really refreshing. I really needed to just get it all off my chest - all the shit that has been bugging me.

..I am sick of people being annoyed at me or mad at me for something I can't control. I am tired of everything always being my fault or my responsibility...and I am tired of thinking about being alone...it is a common theme that keeps being discussed in my household - about us being such a small family and me being so far from home and how if I don't try to get in touch with my cousins (who don't so much as think to contact me) then one day I will be alone...I know it sounds stupid to think about - or to even be worried about...but it just sucks...and it has been on my mind with all the stuff that has been going on with my family...work has been frustrating...life has been complicated - but that is the nature of the beast...and this I know...and I am not complaining, but merely venting...everyone reaches points in their lives when they just need to spill some of their concerns...and it feels good to do it in writing...i am thankful for the support i have around me - and for those who listen to me vent - even when it is the same shit over and over again...And I have to say - not to boast or anything - but I am proud of myself for keeping it all together and staying strong...it sounds lame, but about 10 months ago I swore to myself that I wasn't going to become that ugly person I used to be when I was stressed - all sad and moping and angry...that makes me someone no one wants to be around...I have worked very hard at keeping myself strong and relatively lax on stress...and it is working. I am a happier person because of it...

I have had the weekend of extremes...

Quick recap...

Friday: Went to see "Ladder 49" with Julie, Eric & Luis. After which we went to the Yard House for some drinks.

Saturday: Julie, Eric, Lizzie, Luis and I went to the Dodger vs. Giants game at Dodger Stadium. Tailgated in the parking lot...Snuck in vanilla vodka to make vanilla cokes...drank boones...watched one of the best baseball games ever - Dodges won by 3 in the bottom of the 9th...thanks to a grand slam...drove back to Newport (after chilling in the parking lot for 2 hours in traffic)...showered and got ready and went with Eric to one of his friends' apartments. Hung out for around and hour and came home...played "would you rather" for a while, which sparked some interesting conversations about life and Donald Trump. :)

Sunday: Woke up to go get some bagels at Bruegger's and discovered someone HIT MY CAR...I am assuming it was someone with a toe hitch, as it is a rectangular dent that cracked through the bumper just above the tail pipe...not cool...the car definately needs body work...if it was just a dent i would be more inclined to let it go...but it is fucking cracked...the white insides of the bumper are partially exposed...the situation sucks monkey balls...the cost and time involved to get it fixed are going to be heinous...on my psyche and my wallet...and my insurance... :( I translated my anger into cleaning, which was a good thing...watched a movie with Julie in the evening and grubbed on Ben & Jerry's...All in all, there are worse things in life - and I shouldn't worry about it too much - it is just a car...but still...it pisses me off...

Tonight I am going to have dinner with my fella and go see Meera for coffee and dessert at the lovely Denny's in Brea...

Tomorrow Luis and I are having dinner with my dad, Chris, John, & Jeff down by the Shipyard...maybe we can go onboard...but not sure yet...

muahahahahaa!!! i am wanting to seek out a bit of drunken mischief!! being the end of a long week and all, i think it is only right to end it well, if you know what i mean! any takers???

The cat is away...

And the 4 of us mice that are left are unable to play... :(

As you can guess, virtually the entire office is out for one reason or another...my side of the office is completely empty and the analysts (+ Wanda) are the only other ones here...I have been unmovitated to work at a productive pace...fighting the urges to simply surf the internet all day and play zuma...but that would be against my work ethic entirely...so i must get my shit together and do something with myself...

The Presidential debates were last night and were not as dry as I was anticipating...I have to admit, I think both major party candidates are tools...I really don't like either...as much as I hate to give approval to him, I think Johh Kerry was concise, cogent, and confident...He did an overall acceptable job with his rebuttals...I honestly do not know who I am going to vote for...Usually I have some semblance as to who I want in office, but this is the first year I am not "sold" by one candidate...I see all sides...I am not drawn by party affiliation this election whatsoever (contrary to jibes from my previous voting record...) I think when I exercise my right to vote, I am going to envoke an abstention vote...hmmm...we shall see...I still have a couple weeks of research to do to figure it out...

I need a place to live...and soon...

I need a job that pays better...after talking to Julie last night I realized that I am getting shafted on my salary...

Tomorrow is the Dodger game, which I am really looking forward to! Tailgating is sure to come!! Sweeeeet!

Here is a side tangent for all y'all to think about: when a person develops a plan for something (i.e. life goals), does it ever come to fruition?? I mean, the more I plan for things and try to accomodate all my hopes, dreams, and realism, I find that I am always led astray from the path of whichI was hoping to map...So, is it even useful to make a plan? Or are plans just a scapegoat for being frustrated or upset when things don't go your way? I don't know what I think...I mean, I have a career plan...and it is kinda sticking to what I want...but at the same time, I keep ammending it to fit my life when things don't go the way I had anticipated...I am rambling and making no sense...mostly because I just looked at the clock and I could have SWORN it was at least lunch time...but alas, I still have about 2 more hours before I can leave for my break...shit...

This work-week has been a waste of my precious time...

I will probably blog again today, since I am doing little to nothing...