Sunday, January 17, 2010

Can't teach an old dog new tricks...says who?!?!


I promise I'll be short and brief this time! Whoever coined the phrase, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" needs to meet Katy! Katy has ALWAYS hated her crate! She's slept in my bed for 6 years, with the exception of being crated when I go to my parents house...and those times she has a tizzy! She cries and whines and whimpers and basically acts as if she is dying! Now, over the last 6 months or so she's been a little more interested in her crate and will occasionally hang out in there (I think mainly to get away from Hurley!). Mind you she'll hang out in there until it's bedtime that is! As soon as she sees me brushing my teeth etc she runs and hides-normally in my closet, on the other side of the bed, and occasionally in Hurley's crate (yeah...genius!) All of a sudden the last few nights, when she sees me getting ready for bed she runs and gets in her crate?!?! WHAT?!?! And last night I guess she felt it was bed time before I did, so she got off my bed...and into her crate. She didn't even stir when I shut the crate door. Uhm...okay! I guess she's been faking it all these years and has officially decided that her crate (which is VERY cushy with 2 beds crate beds on the ground and a down blanket to cuddle in) isn't so bad after all!

I call this, "teaching an old dog new tricks!"

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

What was I thinking?!?!

Remember when I said I was planning on blogging more often...well I was thinking like once a week. But good grief, I can't believe it's already been a week since my last post! I wish I had something interesting to say. One of these days I'll be interesting I promise!

The last week has been a bit crazy though. It may not make a true list but here are some random facts about my week!

1. Those of you that are my good friends know that a few years ago my friend moved to Spain. He and I were good friends for a mere 2 months but the friendship seemed like it had been longer. We hung out all the time and had the best times. I ended up going up north for a wedding (John and Dani's--which I didn't make to b/c I had the stinkin' flu!!!) and when I got back to Carlsbad he told me he was moving back (he'd already lived there a few years and was only back in the states a few months when we met)to Spain. Needless to say I was devastated. I 100% respected and understood his reasoning but it was still hard for me to see him go. When he first moved we stayed in touch a lot...emailed a ton. My friend Sara and I even went to visit him a year later (awesome trip!!!). Over the 3 years (ish) that he's been gone we've gradually kept in less and less contact, which is totally typical I think! I would occasionally think, "I should email him", but then realized I really didn't have anything to say. So...the other day I'm going into my Facebook 'messages' to delete the gazillion 'post your bra color' messages and all of a sudden see a message from Spain. Now, somehow that one email didn't make into my real email telling me I had a message...unlike all the dang bra ones! So I think to myself...why is he sending me a bra message? But...luckily rather than just delete it I opened it (at the same time realizing it's been about 8 months since we had sent eachother a message!). And...find out that he's moving back! Part of me is super excited! We really do have an amazingly fun time together...being goofy, taking random road trips for picnics etc...but part of me (to be totally honest...sorry T if you are reading this) is terrified! He and I both know that I fell for him hard in those 2 months...I was a total mess when he left! And now he's coming back?!?!?! UGH! I can not let myself go there again! But...I guess that's all I need to know...I can't allow myself...No no no no no!!! Do not fall for him again! I'm not sure why he's coming back, and I know I'll find out when he gets here...in like 2 weeks! Man that boy makes quick decisions to move to different countries! Luckily I think I'm a good place and knowing what I know and learning over the years, I'm ready. And now....I can't flippin wait to see my friend! I see some happy hour postings coming soon! I said on my birthday that this was going to be a good year...and 2 days later I find out one of my favorite people is coming back! A good year is a coming! YAY!!!

2. On a drunk Christmas night (seriously we quit counting glasses of wine after 6 each) my sisters, Danielle and I decided to sign up for the OC 1/2 marathon. Now, most of you are probably thinking that of course when we sobered up we axed that idea...but somehow it stuck. And I mean it really stuck! Kim, Michelle and I all did the OC half for my 30th birthday, the last in a series of half (and for Kim full) marathons. The OC sucked! It was an awful course, they ran out of water etc at all the stops, and didn't have a thing for us at the end of the race! Seriously...what genius organized that?!!? I've been assured that it has been changed...it's during a different time of the year, new course...and hopefully is just better all over! The only problem left is that the new date is the same as the Wild Flower Tri which Brandon (my bro-in-law) does...so Michelle and Danielle would like to cheer him on. I would love to go cheer him on too but that's just to far for clapping! As a group we figured we'd just find another one then. Another week went by and Kim sends me a message saying, "We could still do it"...so stupid stupid me says, "okay, I'm in!" YIKES! I'm now officially registered for the OC 1/2 Marathon...again! I DO plan on training this time. I only really 'trained' for my 1st one I ever did (Big Sur 1/2) and then just did them...oh...important fact...I do not run them! I do a walk/run sort of program! But I really want to run more of it than I have in the past so training time it is! I have about 15.5 weeks! Plenty of time...now just need to do it! I'm hoping to check out some tracks this weekend, which I think I'll like. In the past I trained just by mapping out the distance...but walk last year I think I may like the track better. We shall see!

3. In case anyone beside Amy reads this...I'm also fund-raising for Caleb's Crew! Caleb is my friend Amy's son. He has a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. If you go back to last March of my blog you'll see the post (John and I walked but didn't do fund-raising). Caleb is the sweetest, smartest little guy ever. You can read more about him by going to his blog (I highly recommend you go check the cutie out!!) please consider donating to Caleb's Crew this year. The money helps research for Caleb's type of MD. Our team (Caleb's Crew) goal is to raise $20,000 (last year they raised $17,000). I made my personal goal $1000. Please please help Caleb and others with MD...they need you! :-) And...I will be eternally grateful! Shoot...I'll even throw in, "I'll be your bestest friend!!"...did that help?!?!?

https://www.joinmda.org/sdwalk2010/aliciagranberg

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

My Amazing Birthday!

I know, I know...just 3 days ago I said I was planning on doing 'lists' and here I am not doing a list. But seriously, I have to write about the amazing day I had yesterday. To start with I really wasn't looking forward to 33...or it being my 2nd day back to work after 2 weeks off...what a crappy birthday! And to top it off I had an IEP in the morning...ugh!

Or so I thought!

The day actually went more like this:

I woke up at my normal time, hitting snooze a gadzillion times! The dogs didn't even whimper to go outside and let me continue a few more snooze hits. At this point I'm already in a super good mood (not that I tend to be in a bad mood, but one of those mornings you just kinda want to dance around while getting dressed!!) I had tons of extra time in the morning b/c I knew I was later getting a facial and they just oil ya up so really there just wasn't a point in getting ready. So, off to work I went, a little early (VERY unusual for me!!) .

It's become a tradition at work that we bring in Starbucks, doughnuts etc for our birthdays (just the special ed staff!!) so I anxiously looked forward to a well balanced and nutritious breakfast (HA), and my friend/sub also brought me a special Non-fat Chai Tea Latte (my fave!!!). Oh yeah!! And I got flowers!! Super pretty orange-red tulips...and just in case you were wondering...tulips are my favorite!!! Once everyone arrived at work we sat around for a few to fatten up and get caffeinated. My IEP started at 8:30...and seriously, no joke, was done by like 8:50!! Now some of you may not understand the significance of that...but it's like a total OMG sort of thing! Mind you, I do tend to get through my IEP's pretty quickly but that one beat them all I think! And we didn't even really rush!

The rest of my work day was pretty mellow without much going on. I planned on leaving at 11:30 and totally was able to! Again kinda a rare occurrence. Judi and I met up and went to Croutons for lunch...new to both of us...and we were both very very pleasantly surprised by the major yumminess of it!!! So good! Veggie panini for me please!

After totally stuffing ourselves on lunch we cruised down 3 doors and checked in to our appointments. We ended up both getting not only a facial but also massages! They were running a special, we didn't have the coupon, but they allowed us anyway! Two hours of full pampering!

Now, we left there feeling nice and mushy...what better time to go shopping!! Nordy's Rack was next on the list! We didn't have too much time to shop but it was a fun little excursion anyway.

Next stop...'Meet the Morgans'...I'm not a huge SJP fan but do love me some Hugh Grant (although Hugh Jackman is a bit better!). The movie was hilarious and I loved it. Great romantic comedy...but....the real comedy came at dinner!

Judi and I went to see the movie in San Marcos...and although I've lived down here for 3.5 years...I'm such a newbie when it comes to places I'm not familiar with. So, the movie theater is literally next door to 'Restaurant Row', so we assumed that pretty much anywhere would be decent. We hadn't heard of most of the places, with the exception of a random IHOP , and decided Mexican is always a good bet. So, Acapulco's it was!
First of all...remember it was a TUESDAY night! We walked into the restaurant to hear the lovely, crooning sounds of really really bad karaoke. What really got us about it was that it was a Karaoke competition for $500...and trust me when I say they were all BAD...like really really BAD!!! Like the bad jokes on American Idol bad! Yes...we got to hear it live. We were then seated...not far enough away for our liking from the mood music. But, moving on, we place our order...me with my typical, "I'd like a bean and cheese burrito with a side of cilantro", our waitress, "you mean the dressing right?", me, "???Uhm, no, cilantro"; waitress, "okay, do you want the rice and beans on the side?". (Now here I am assuming that she is really asking if I want it 'combo' style...with rice and beans on the side of the plate next to the burrito). Me, "sure, doesn't really matter but yeah, that sounds fine."

Judi and I continue our conversation with chips, salsa and guac. We were shocked to see our food come out mere minutes later. The busser hands me a plate with a bean and cheese burrito and then tries to hand me a whole plate of Spanish rice. Me, "Oh, no I ordered a side of cilantro, not a side of rice" (meanwhile my plate does not have the rice and beans on it but I just figured they didn't do it). The busser takes it away and the waitress comes back with the plate again and a side of cilantro (thank goodness b/c I hadn't taken a bite without my beloved cilantro!!) and says, "no, this is your side of rice remember? you said you wanted it.", I look at her slightly confused and explain, "oh, I'm sorry I thought you meant did I want rice and beans on the side to make it a meal" (said while pointing to Judi's plate as an example). Her response was classic, "NO, the beans are in the burrito!" WHAT?!?! Seriously?!?! I did order a bean and cheese burrito...the beans should be in the burrito. Whatever...so I tell her, "oh, okay, well thank you but I don't really want just a plate of rice." Okay...so that weirdness was over. But no...it's not done yet! A few minutes later a very odd couple, and by odd I mean I think one may have been an 'escort'...very very Hispanic, with big heart earrings on and seriously looking pretty trashy. The other being some kinda odd looking white guy but overall would think he was normal walking down the street. They are very much on a date. But...he starts reading her the menu with this great logic and explaining, "so they have a mahi mahi taco, that's fish. Do you like fish? They have a chicken breast {something or other}, that means it's a chicken breast...", gee...really genius!?!?! That is your explanation?!?! Didn't any teacher ever tell him you can't use the vocabulary word in the definition?!?! Next her phone rings, and does she answer it quietly? NO...she answers it on the 'walkie talkie' style and proceeds to chat for a while. Seriously a 6 year old from the table behind them even looked over like...you crazy person! (Mind you the 6 year old's table had put there miniature salt shaker on the ground...guess they just didn't have room for it...weird!!!) At this point Judi and I are texting each other across the table and trying our hardest not to laugh. Our goal was to get the heck out of the very odd restaurant...and as we were standing up to leave, this is where the escort/guy conversation was: Guy, "so, you met your husband on a cruise?" lady, "yeah we met on a cruise and have been here since"...uhm....okay....date...husband...twilight zone?!?!

So...Judi and I hightailed it outta there while laughing...oh yeah...and we got the louder version of the Karaoke on the way to the door.

Overall...best birthday ever!

Oh...and I've decided 33 isn't so bad after all. I just finished reading Dan Brown's new book, 'The Lost Symbol', and at length he describes how 33 is a mystical magical number! So...mystics and magics are on my side! It's going to be a GREAT year!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

New Years Resolution

If you read my last post you then know that one of my New Years resolutions is to blog more. I want to do a 'once a week' thing...a challenge of sorts. I found a few websites that offer prompts but I think for now I'm going to do 'lists'. I like lists...they can be short and brief or I can expand on things when I want. If any of you that read this (which is pretty much you Amy!!) and want to suggest a list for me to do I would be happy to add it in.

Week 1 list!
This list will be a list of lists that I think I may do at some point! I technically need 52 lists!

*Reasons I love living living in SD
*Reasons I would move back to Salinas/Monterey
*Best things about dating
*Worst things about dating
*Best things about being single
*Worst things about being single
*Random facts about me
*My favorite places
*My favorite shows/why

I obviously need ideas ideas and more ideas! My ideas here are pretty lame lists! So...I guess that's a start!

My other New Years Resolutions include: working out more consistently, enjoy SD more, see the places and do the things around SD/So.Cal that I haven't yet....