Soap Opera Baby

A very bright full moon shone upon Cabal and me as we walked around at 4:40am. The moon was like a giant spotlight against the clear onyx sky. It was so mesmerizing as if it could take up anything it touched and no shadow could be dark enough to hide under...

My four mile with Kim this morning passed much quicker than any of our other walks. We were able to complete the walk in 90 minutes (22.5 minutes/mile). Still not sure that is fast enough even though we were able to get our cardio up and keep a steady pace. The only real stop was near a bridge when I admired a giant dark blue (almost purple) dragonfly . It danced around me and I cursed myself for not having my camera with me instead of in the car trunk.

Tonight I visited my cousin Dave and his wife Michelle's baby Colton (aka Soap Opera Baby - because of his name) for a few hours. He is the ripe old age of three days!

Michelle handed him to me right away when I walked in the door. I could have held him like a quarterback with a pigskin tucked under my arm he was so tiny. I told his parents as much. Colton was quiet for a long time and even stared at me while I cooed at him. He started to fuss a little and I figured correctly that he needed to burp some air. Can a newborn have a vibrato when he burps?

My view of Colton as I held him.


Another view of Colton with camera angled.

Soap Opera Baby

Jamie's iPhone Unboxing

iPhone Update

Cue 2001 Space Odyssey Theme....

Unboxing the iPhone. Privilege of the Truly Geeky.


Whoop - there it is! Planet Geekdom on the screen.


A very special Thank You to Kathy for taking the pics and to Jamie for upholding geekdom by standing in line to get another wave of the future. Besides, we all know that being geeky is sexy!

Jamie's iPhone Unboxing

Feeling Friday

A safer, more beautiful place is what I'd like to think the world is getting to now. The London bomb scares this morning nicked at that belief. Two dirty bombs encased in cars, not too far from each other, were found in Central London. Two scarier thoughts are that Yummy walks those places and we walked around there during my trip last month.

Texted Yummy to see if he was okay and he said with a smiley face that he was fine and dandy. Wasn't sure if his trains were delayed into London or how far the general population was cordoned from Central London. Things were caught in time thank God.

Lunch was quiet and for the first time in a long time moved slowly. I was able to relax and enjoy my meal without any demanding visitors at my table. Back at my desk, time was more annoying actually.

Received a text message from Kathy that her boyfriend Jamie was in line to get the much anticipated iPhone. I love that he is that geeky, but I think Kathy was the one more excited at seeing it. I received another text that he was on TV thanks to a reporter canvassing this particular store in New Tampa. Kathy has recorded it and may seam that and her video of him "unboxing" his iPhone for the rest of us to enjoy. Total geekville. Dig it.

A small dollop of thousand island dressing, several thin slices of pastrami, two heaping tablespoons of sauerkraut, and a couple of pinchfuls grated swiss cheese in between to pieces of rye bread is my version of Rueben sandwich which I grilled with sinful pats of butter on a fry pan. It was dinner heaven! That has got to be my favorite sandwich in the whole world. Trust me when I say the caloric content on my homemade sammy was reduced compare to the version I get at my favorite deli.

Rest of the evening spent in front of the television half-watching TV and half writing down more ideas for Project AGOL. Better set my alarm for an early day tomorrow.

Feeling Friday

Joy Quotient

Was feeling the joy vibe really well this morning until I was up to my elbows at work. Ugh. When your work is not that activity which makes your heart sing like Aretha at a kickin' concert, your joy quotient moves like a needle on a broken metronome.

I read several blogs to get some good vibes going again and commented on a few. Yes, the word demented was sitting right next to me helping me write. The one that almost had me completely on the floor was Badgerdaddy's blog with his entry on a rather delicate dilemma he was sitting on. There is a warning level of vile on this post. He writes like how my friend British Jeff talks which makes it even more brilliant.

Possum met us for lunch today. She starts her new job next week and we won't be able to have lunch during the week unless one of us has a day off because of the distance. Very happy for her. Her new company is getting a dynamite employee.

One of our lunch buddies was a bit draining today. I felt like flat soda. No fizz. The drain continued the rest of the day. Maybe the impending full moon and the inclement weather patterns were affecting me too. I kept waiting for rain on our side of Trampa, but there were no raindrops to be counted.

Tawny and her husband are leaving for vacation starting tomorrow. They are driving all over the midwest and a trip to New York for two weeks. T reminded me that she has a Blackberry that I can text or that I could call her. Does she think I won't be able to make it while she's gone? She's my tea break buddy, my lunch buddy and my meet-me-in-the-restroom-buddy-so-we-can-gossip. Okay, maybe a little...one tiny dot bit on a pinhead. Hee.

Left work at 4:50pm to make it through traffic and take care of Cabal before driving to Brandon. As I was opening the door with one hand and moving Cabal with his leash on the other, my boss called. There was a last minute process I had to accomplish but I had to wait for the first portion to be completed. Something involving our CEO and an SVP's approvals. Lovely.

I rushed Cabal on his walk and fed him before speeding to my aunt's to fire up my laptop and log into work. A normal 45 minute drive in traffic only took me 30 minutes, thanks to my aggressive driving. Walked into my aunt's house and barely talked to everybody because I was on a mission. Wouldn't you know it that around 6:30pm and after IM'g with my boss, I find out that the project will be done tomorrow instead. Was he kidding me?! It wasn't his fault; it was the vendor's for being slow on a quote.

Sat with Nan for a few hours while my aunt and uncle went to see their new grandson together across town. I told my cousin Dave that I would visit his new baby on Saturday instead. My joy quotient rose up a few notches knowing that volunteering my time tonight was the right thing to do. The smiles on their faces were well worth it.

Joy Quotient

Cheery Cherry Smiles

Wednesdays are cool. It's the half-way mark in the work week and I get to wish poor unsuspecting souls, "Happy Hump Day". I'm not saying anything, I'm just saying.

Traded my mid-morning snack of South Beach peanut butter bar for cherries this morning. On about my 11th pit, I began to wonder if the batch I bought was grown in Chernobyl. These suckers were huge! I stopped at 17 then realized I had red stains on my fingers. Checked my teeth in the mirror and there were telltale cherry stains, too. I smiled quickly before retrieving my pack of whitening gum. Yes, I know I am obsessed.

Baby pictures also brought a smile to me. My cousin Dave and his wife Michelle had a baby boy today named Colton. He's still a hefty baby for being three weeks early at 6lbs. 4oz. Baby Colton is 19.5 inches long of cutie freshness.

Cousin Dave called me to invite me to see the baby and I agreed to come tomorrow night after work. It wasn't until about 10 minutes later that I decided to forfeit my time and have my aunt and uncle go together while I watch Nan. It just seemed more appropriate for them to see their own grand baby together. I can wait until Saturday when he gets to come home. My aunt and uncle were very appreciative.

Met Myrna and Kristey for casual Cuban food. I haven't been to this restaurant in over two years and I forgot how really delicious the food tasted. Cuban style roast pork, black beans and yellow rice and yucca with garlic and lemon plus some fried plantains (platanos maduros) warranted the happy food dance. Of course, I didn't do it well..too stuffed. Maybe I saved too many of my daily calories for dinner? My girlies enjoyed their food too when we weren't howling with laughter. The rest of the evening passed with quiet smiles.

Cheery Cherry Smiles

Being Mindful

You CAN change your bad habits. Last night when I was at the grocery store, it would've been so easy to grab all kinds of sweets and snackies because I felt ravenous and had only consumed about 800 calories so far that day. My car accident had me out of sorts and not managing my energy well.

I was pleased that I had waited until I got home to eat a proper meal. It is a challenge to be mindful of your food when you have hunger pangs. I made a lower fat and calorie version of a Reuben Sandwich which was quite tasty with the sauerkraut.

In the next few days, I will be able to enjoy the avocados and cherries (the Yummy kind) as well as the veggies I can put together quickly for a hearty salad. Not sure what I will be doing with all the limes I bought. No, Tawny, it will not be Margarita Night at my apartment.

Weird news today...I found out that my old VP from my last company was walked out yesterday afternoon. The pet supply industry isn't doing that hot at the moment, I guess. Yummy also had some layoffs at his work which included one of his good friends. Ended up having an impromptu IM chat with him around 1am his time. Although it weighed heavily on him, he's going to be okay. Besides, he has too many projects to keep his mind on.

The rest of the evening was quiet and I watched more of America's Got Talent auditions. I am enjoying the mix of judges this time around with Sharon Osbourne. Also, preparing for another step in Project AGOL which should be visible to the world late next week if I plan correctly.

Being Mindful

Bumper Cars

Was rear-ended today on my way to work. Apparently, this crazy hookerella in her sportscar saw a green light and then proceeded to lean and retrieve her cell phone beside her and didn't pay attention to the cars in front of her that were not moving.

When the light signal turned green initially, I almost honked my horn at the vehicle in front of me for not getting a move on. The hazard lights came on indicating an issue with the vehicle. I decided to wait while the driver moved forward slowly. A very loud sound followed by a bump behind me signaled a collision.

It was a quick self-assessment of any serious injury I might have sustained. I got out and slowly inspected the scene. A gray car behind my white one containing a startled driver had opened her door. She looked like she was going to cry, but she didn't when I asked her if she was okay. Poor thing got out. I was beginning to feel a headache and a general ache on my left side and hoped it didn't portend more than that.

Hookerella in her white sportscar was able to get out of her vehicle and ask about the lady in the middle. Her car was definitely crumpled in the back and her front bumper was cracked from hitting mine. My car received a very graphic imprint on the rear bumper from her front plates, but nothing was obviously broken. Hookerella's car did what it was supposed to do which was crumple correctly in the front. None of it was pretty.

I excused myself from the girls to call my boss and let him know what had transpired. Meanwhile, a Florida Highway Patrolman stopped by and directed us to drive our vehicles to the side where he could gather each of our license, registration and car insurance information for his report.

Ever practical, I began to take pictures of everyone's vehicle with my cell phone. I asked the middle chick to do the same. Hookerella just ignored me and waited for her own entourage to arrive which consisted of two men from a car dealership, her boyfriend and I assume her mother. Oh, puhleeze! This girl was a drama twit.

My car was the oldest of the three and the least damaged. Nice imprint on the bottom.


Here's my bumper's stamp.


Crunch! Dig the lights dangling on the left side.


Hookerella's car after the accident.


I kept coaching the other lady to go ahead and contact her insurance company to get the ball rolling for a tow truck and to provide her with a rental car. I think she was too shocked to do anything. As prissy as I am, let me you something: I am the person you want in a crisis. I am able to dissect and make a gameplan of what needs to be done. The freakish thing is that I have a difficult time doing the same thing for myself. That's why I have my own go-to peeps. Yeah, I've got my own posse. Don't be so surprised. All proper AGOLs have their support system.

I think I may have embarrassed the cop who handed us our nicely printed reports that came from his vehicle...probably because I gushed about his nicely printed reports. Makes me think of what else they will be installing in copcars...a small fridge...dare i say it -- a doughnut fryer? (Gasp!)

Oh yeah...Hookerella received a ticket violation from the cop and was told that her insurance company would be responsible for any damages to our vehicles. Is it bad to gloat?

Got to work and tried to pull myself together. Tawny offered to take me to a walk-in clinic if I needed it. I was okay, but I felt sore. Downed some ibuprofen and worked. The rest of the day felt weird. Yummy left me a voicemail on my cell to make sure I was okay. That made me feel really good. I texted him back that I was indeed okay.

Near quitting time, it rained like a mofo, but then Florida Sunshine just showed again...I really despise Florida's menopausal weather. It held on my way home. I drove extra cautiously and made it to the grocery store for a big shopping trip. Almost had to move my good bottle of vodka from the freezer to the fridge from all the stuff I put in the freezer. Luckily, it all fit. I couldn't take two tragedies in one day.

Feeling achy now and will take some more ibuprofen before bed. I thank goddess I am alive and no one was seriously injured nor any fatalities resulted from the collision. That's enough bumper cars for the day.

Bumper Cars

Old School Sunday

Snoozed a better part of the morning after hanging up from an early skype call with Yummy. He is a very intelligent creature, but he's so darned goofy sometimes. He makes me giggle. Gotta dig a guy who does that. I just couldn't keep my eyes open after 8am especially without any caffeine intake. Meant to do some grocery shopping, but thought better of it after walking Cabal in the heat later in the afternoon. Even he couldn't wait to get in the shade!

What I did enjoy was listening to some CDs like new trashy chick Amy Winehouse, old standby Lisa Stansfield and some French compilations. I remember the hours I spent during my teenage years listening to albums on the turntable or the 45s and having to insert the plastic yellow spider thingy to make it fit the spindle.

In the Philippines, we would spend some weekend afternoons reading the "Song Hits" which contained lyrics and accompanying guitar notes. After practicing, we would then use my mother's Panasonic tape deck and record us singing a capella or with guitar to songs by Olivia Newton John, Anne Murray and Billy Joel just to name a few. I still regret not taking guitar lessons. I would have to give up my acrylic nails at first until I developed skills like Dolly Parton. Have you seen this woman's nails?! Not doing that anytime soon.

One of my most favorite things in the world is a jukebox. I'd love to have one. It doesn't have to be Wurlitzer. Do people under 35 know what one is? Okay, under 30? Let me know what the survey says...The rush I felt every time I inserted coins and heard each one fall and make a clink to the bottom of the change box is incomparable. Flipping through the music selections was great fun, too. Those were the days.

Still have some new movies to watch on my DVD player, but left those on the shelf for some old school entertainment. Something called reading. Ha! I need to find some time to brainstorm and write for Project AGOL. Need to kick that party into gear. Meanwhile, I am groovin' to some tunes.

Old School Sunday

Sleep, Thy Name is AGOL!

Two hours of sleep produced quite a lively AGOL today. When I finally laid my head down to bed in the wee hours, one of my alarm clocks (one for each side of the bed) projected blue digital numbers on the ceiling that worked out to be 2:31 am.

The cruel ringing of 4:30am barely woke me. I realized the day had to start NOW. Walked my Pretty Boy Dog, fed him and played with him some. Put on the kettle of water for my tea and prepared myself a bowl of cereal with milk which would sustain me until 9am. Managed not to spill anything on my way to the computer before skyping with Yummy at 5am.

His own personal projects just received a boost from work. Very happy for his opportunities for greatness. Yummy also received all the U.S. publications I sent him on Monday. Those should keep him out of trouble for a bit. Ha!

My hope for morning rain was dashed. Off I went to pick up a sleepy Tawny to meet Kim for a three-mile walk. The sun hadn't burned the mist off yet revealing spiderwebs glistening with dew on the plants. I rather enjoyed our walk this morning, more walking than talking.

Breakfast at Panera for croissants and coffee followed our walk. I couldn't shop for baby shower items without coffee today. Tawny was true to her word by accompanying me. It was not a pleasant shopping experience. After hearing me shoot down the other ideas and be surly in general, she hauled me off to my first choice which was a 3-cup KitchenAid chopper for Michelle to make her own baby food. Add nice tissue and cool bag with equally snazzy card...Voila! Fabulousness happens.

I put on my best game face for the family baby shower we were having for Michelle. Kids ran amok inside and outside the house. Talk about crazy daisies!

Kids running amok outside. The critters in the lake were afraid of them.



My goddaughter (front) and her twin relax with their mother.


My aunt cooked mostly Filipino food for the shower which we all gobbled up. Spent time with my adult cousins catching up. Showed them my UK pics that I hadn't been able to share with them. They enjoyed looking at all the streets and the flowers.

The gifts were opened where over a dozen people could ooh and aah. I ate cake. Don't get too excited. Half the cake's ingredients were sugar-free...Home later than I expected. Finished up some chores before succumbing to some much-needed sleep. Hmm...sleep.

Sleep, Thy Name is AGOL!

Montezuma 2012

Yummy shocked me this morning by posting my Self-Portrait youtube entry on his blog. Like I told him in an e-mail, there is a difference between quietly putting it out there and sending fireworks to see it. Good thing I love fireworks.

After working through my initial panic, I collected myself and realized that it is all good. I thanked Yummy properly. What will happen when I start populating the site with video clips with me talking live in it? That is the whole will point, to be seen and considered for proper things.

Had a rousing lunch with T&J and John from work and Jill (formerly of work) at Macaroni Grill. I thought the car ride was going to kill me with laughter. Wits were being sharpened to rapier points on each other. Once we arrived, our waiter took forever in serving us and getting us our bill. It's not like we are executives who can get away with having two-hour lunches. On the bright side, it gave John and I time to decide whether the waiter belonged to his family. It was difficult to discern whether he flew a rainbow flag or not.

When the bill finally came and we left, Jeff had to stop and get some fuel for the car. AND THEN...we got stuck in line off our highway exit. Yup, two-hour lunch. The car ride back was pure comedy. I laughed so hard I couldn't see.

Tawny bribed me by offering to accompany me to babyshower shopping after our walk tomorrow morning so I could go to the second to last showing of 2012 (Montezuma's Last Prophecy) tonight. It is another play by the artists at the Cigar Factory. It had the following elements: virgin sacrifices, aliens and a giant tequila worm eating everything at the end. Our other friends met us there and we all enjoyed that tequila worm. For a low-budget production, it was entertaining with its bizarre story line and the drumming music that accompanied the play.

Virgin sacrifices being carted in.


Montezuma killing and eventually disembowling one virgin sacrifice.


Mayan calendar lifts to reveal an alien.


One giant tequila worm devours all the inhabitants at the end.


Bummed a ride home with Kathy and Jaime. I couldn't wait to get home for a shower and a mug of warm milk to help me sleep. Have to get up at 4:30am which right now will be in three hours. Caffeine might have to be fed me intravenously. It's going to be busy Saturday.

Montezuma 2012

Cloudless Blue Skies

Been expecting rains, but it was quite the opposite. Cloudless blue skies and a cooler sunshine, if that is possible. I rather enjoyed it with the breeze when I went to work and went out to lunch with Tawny to meet Possum at the mall. Must be having a low humidity level making it bearable.

Having lunch with the girls is always fun. Possum having just finished another interview and Tawny and I wanting to escape the building. I've often wondered if our ages were much closer and we had gone to the same schools how much fun we would've had at slumber parties. Probably not too much different now judging from how zanily we conduct ourselves at lunch when the mood strikes us. We topped off our meals by sharing a chocolate cake layered with cheesecake. The happy dance at the table was in full effect.

I was telling the girls of the vendor who was trying to exercise some sort of vocabulary and him telling me he would wait until my company concretized our plans in the next few months. He could have used a better word even though that one does exist in the dictionary. It was a painful conversation with me wondering if he was making half his words up or could spell them. Yeah, he'll be on my vendor list. Not.

Had a long and fun IM chat with Yummy in the afternoon. He must be on crack to have been able to stay up tonight after a couple of late evenings out. Well, he's an Englishman. I guess they are made of sterner stuff over there. Must be some secret ingredient in the beer. Ha! I can't wait to see more picture posts on his dragonblog which he said is forthcoming.

Got home and rushed to check the tile job in my bathroom. It does look better even though some of the replacement tiles do not match (old vs. new). It is grouted a nice white and they re-caulked the perimeter of the tub and around the fixtures. I am happy to have my shower back. Just have to clean the bathroom from the extra dust blown everywhere the last couple of days. All in all not bad.

Cloudless Blue Skies

Out of Sorts

I rescued Tawny this morning from caffeine deprivation. Poor thing was held captive in her office by another day of conference calls. To avoid her going postal, I brought coffee. Crisis averted. You try to deal with her when she hasn't had any coffee. She gets a bit twitchy. Yes, that is spelled with a big fat capital B.

Having a day off in the middle of the week messes me up. Was it Monday again? Just felt out of sorts. I am a fairly sensitive being and I must be feeling everyone's freakishness and uncertainty in this company. Just loooooooovely. Too bad it is another typical day at work.

To make matters worse, my aunt reminded me of the family baby shower she is giving her daughter-in-law on Saturday. Ugh. It will be Michelle and Dave's third child, a second son, scheduled to be delivered next week via C-section.

Employing herculean effort not to be bitter, truth be told, and instead be a good niece by attending and showing my support for my aunt's efforts. When I think about other people having babies like the eight women at my work this spring and summer, I feel the heaviness in the empty space between my arms. Oh, hell. Better get off that subject before I write a horrible rant fueled by the cruel unfairness in the ways of the world...I told you was feeling out of sorts. Maybe Tawny needs to bring me coffee.

I called the apartment office to check up on the progress of my shower. The tiling work will not be completed until tomorrow when they grout. I am able to use the tub faucet but not the shower head as a water source.

A McGyverlike idea to rig something up with polyvinyl dropcloth and some painting tape high on the walls for a proper shower were dampened when I saw the delicate state of the tiles being dried by a fan. Oh, yeah. I can't wait until 6am tomorrow to use my ninja skills to bathe.

I'd like to feel joy continuously about the world for more than a few days. Is that possible without drugs and a serious touch of stupidity? I'm not sayin' anything...I'm just sayin'.

Out of Sorts

My Aunt's Nature Preserve

My aunt and uncle live around a lake that inhabit some fish, ducks and other Florida critters. I don't know about any alligators at this time.

I was watching television with Nan when I heard birds raise a ruckus through the sliding glass doors. Sandhill Cranes were squawking right on my aunt's lawn! They are such beautiful and graceful birds. I love the way they look when they walk.

The cranes let me take this picture of them, but as you can see they had each other's back in case this AGOL did anything untoward. That or they were asking Where's happy hour? I wanted to know, too, but I was on Nan-duty.


Here's a picture of a cluster of mangoes growing in my aunt's mango tree next to her house.


It is like having Little Philippines around the house with all the fruit trees (papaya, banana, mango, calamondin, pomelo). My uncle always complains that it is hard to cut the grass around these trees that she's placed willy-nilly in the yard. Well, can you really say no to the immense joy these trees bring your honeypie? Didn't think so.

My Aunt's Nature Preserve

Demolition Day

Stayed home today to get the issue of my bathroom tiles sorted out. I hate to wait and that is what I had to do. Being at the mercy of the apartment complex just grates my nerves. On a happier note, I didn't have to go to work today.

Around 1:30 pm I couldn't stand it anymore so I caved in and called to "confirm" my appointment. They were waiting for the mastic they had ordered to butter the tiles with and adhere on the walls. How long would that take?

One of the maintenance ladies came over and inspected the shower. She was surprised at the extent of the damage and was displeased with the existing grout job. I told her I have been trying to get sections of the shower sparkling white with bleach, but with no luck. She said she would redo as much as she could around the shower.

This is the section where the tiles were buckling. Two near the left fell.


My maintenance lady lifted some of the tiles until she reached some dry spots. Argh.


Now that she has given my bathroom a new look, she has even accessorized it with a blower to dry the wall for tomorrow's re-tiling. At least it goes with my decor.


My tiles were not being repaired today. Maintenance will come back tomorrow to finish the job. Cabal likes this lady so she can come in by herself. I don't have to be present and defend any intruders. She petted him for a bit and he brought his rope bone to her. Later, he shamefully laid down and rolled over for a belly rub. He is a such a ho!

Talked to my girls during the day via IM and received a call from Possum who has scheduled more interviews for this week. Meeting her for lunch on Thursday after one of them. Well, off to Nan-sit for the evening and a shower right before I go home since I cannot use mine. That is just galling, but better than no shower at all.

Demolition Day

Self-Portrait

A Self-Portrait by Sarah Sprinkles

Self-Portrait

Feng Shui Hint

That overdue grout job my apartment complex was supposed have completed could no longer be ignored thanks to a few of the tiles buckling and falling in the middle of my shower. This was hard to not to notice. An emergency call to fix it had to be made today.

When I did call, there was some twitty girl on the phone and the conversation went like this:

AGOL: Hello. This is Sarah Sprinkles from Apartment 666 (just kidding!) and I want to schedule for someone to come in tomorrow and fix the tile that has fallen from my shower walls.
Twitty Girl: We can't guarantee someone to come. It is on a first come, first served basis.
AGOL: I don't think you heard me. Tiles from my bathroom shower have fallen. There is now a moisture problem. I need to know if someone can come because I will have to take the day off to be there.
Twitty Girl: Is there a number that we may reach you?
AGOL: Yes, 1-800-UR-Dumb

I called around 4pm to confirm that the maintenance ticket had been entered. This time a nice man answered the phone and confirmed that he had entered the ticket himself. Hmpf!

In my freakishness, I decided to think about what the universe was telling me by way of this event. You will always have to deal with dumbasses? Nope. You shoulda had the smackdown with the complex for missing your grouting your appointment? Nah. Okay...something more useful then. Feng Shui.

My bathroom falls in the Fame section of my bagua. Believe me, I have enough feng shui cures to not let my reputation go to the toilet. The tiles falling seemed to coincide with my creating a new account with youtube for Project AGOL. Perhaps my fame is breaking through? I'd like to think so.

It's not that I want to be famous. I just have some ideas for shows that I think would be a lot of fun to do. Yes, the successful salary it would bring would be nice, too. With these shows, I would have the opportunity to meet really interesting people and share some of their stories. I would rather celebrate the common folk because their stories are real and not some distorted view of reality. I am not particularly impressed by the likes of Britney, Paris or Lindsay. Their stories are on an endless replay loop. Yawn.

Work was busy for me as the buyer for today. Bridget's son was sick at daycare and had to leave early to pick him up. Tawny was chained to more conference calls. (I wonder if she is starting to suffer from cauliflower ear. Don't ask.) Went to the airport to mail some stuff across the pond and I didn't have to wait in line! Back at work to find Tawny's call paused for lunch. I happily sat down and ate my lunch with her and some of the gals.

Spent the evening working on more ideas for Project AGOL. It is amazing what you can do yourself with a few simple tools. Technology rocks!

Feng Shui Hint

Sunday Scorcher

Started my day skyping with Yummy. He's still not feeling like himself thanks to a stomach bug he caught last week, but he was well enough today to run around later with some visitors by the sea. Yesterday he spent much of it at home on the sofa. He's not much of a couch potato; he'd rather be productive like concentrating on his writing.

On the other hand, I proved to be a couch potato this morning thanks to my sleep deprivation of the past few days. Snoozed most of the morning before I decided to get my carcass up off the sofa. Had some cold pizza for lunch before zooming to my nail tech.

It is so hot (mid 90s) outside that I almost scorched my fingers on my steering wheel. It was barely maneuverable. Yikes! I searched around to see if there was a more shady spot I could start parking on the weekends since my car is parked under garage cover during work hours. The air conditioning couldn't cool the car fast enough.

For the first time in a long time, I had to wait over 30 minutes at the salon. I usually just stroll in and get waited on right away. Boy, am I spoiled! My nail tech replaced the Vietnamese magazine I was reading with some American entertainment junk while I waited. Those people in between the glossy pages are so boring! Rehab, divorces and bad fashion choices have been made newsworthy. Puhleeze.

My favorite bookstore was crowded this afternoon. Not sure how much of it was a direct result of Father's Day. This one has self-service kiosks that allow you to search for your own books. Out of seven searches, I had one available in the store. I count myself somewhat victorious.

Spent the rest of the day catching up on reading. I forget how much I love reading until I force myself to sit and do it. Reading at work during lunch is just impossible unless I remove myself from the break room. Not reading anything others might find interesting, just informational pages relating to Project AGOL. Yummy always reads cool stuff and seems on the pulse of cool reading. He's writer and so he should. Now if I can get him to write a more detailed review about each one...

Called my dad in the evening to wish him a Happy Father's Day. He has not received my musical card yet even though I sent the friggin' thing on Tuesday. Argh. Dad said that they have a substitute mail carrier at the moment. Let's hope he gets it tomorrow if not next week.

Project AGOL Update: Created a new account on youtube.com in preparation for future video uploads. I am going to experiment first with uploads from my cellphone and my digital camera. This oughtta provide some laughs while I get my act together.

Sunday Scorcher

Four Miles at Flatwoods

No one told me there would be days like this! Four-thirty found me hustling as I walked and fed Cabal, put on my new walking gear, prepared my breakfast and hot tea before my skype conversation with Yummy at 5am AGOL time/10am Yummy time.

An hour and half later of giggling and general craziness with this cutie, I put my shoes on and gathered my new mini backpack for my girlie walk at Flatwoods. Picked up a sleepy Tawny who had crawled home around 3:30am and managed to haul herself in my car at 7:10am.

We got to our meeting point and there was no sign of Kim. Called her quickly to confirm and she was on her way. The parking lot of this part of the park was almost full of speedy cyclists, roller blading freaks and iPod-packing joggers. Then there was us, the lone walkers.

Heat in the 80s and heavy humidity were in full-effect at 7:30am. We were hoping for the best. I've never been here before and the picture below is the beginning of the path.


Next two pictures are examples of the the Florida woods from afar.




My ankles took turns aching on our walk before we turned around the two-mile marker below. The pain worked itself out and didn't hurt the rest of the walk.


This was taken by a bridge. Think Spanish moss hanging around everywhere, humidity and some pesky bugs.


Sections of this park do flood. Here is a water gauge on Turtle Creek.


Our walk this morning wasn't about setting world goals, but just doing it. We ended up walking four miles which was one mile more than we anticipated. They don't have 1/2-mile markers on this 11 mile trail. The cyclists and the joggers were amiable and said hello as they passed you or warned you that they were approaching so you could move to the side of the road.

Park rangers in trucks drove up and down the grassy part of the path. Kim teased they were picking up bodies that had expired from the heat and exercise. It wasn't that funny later when we saw an ambulance at the beginning of the trail. This place is serious business. Keeping hydrated and being realistic about your own fitness level in the heat are key. My gals and I were prepared and made it.

Poor Tawny was feeling exhaustion and sleep's siren call. I was so grateful that she came anyway. It would've been easier and understandable for her to duck out. I treated her to breakfast before dropping her back home.

After a shower and some puttering around, I made my way to Brandon to give my uncle his Father's Day present one day early. When I got there, he was already home from playing a round of golf and had read the e-mail containing a special link I sent before I left the apartment. This was part of his Father's Day gift: Uncle Dave. He said that he really liked it and made him feel good. He should because it is all true!

I ran errands the rest of the late afternoon before collapsing from running around since dark-thirty this morning. I snoozed after dinner and woke up to watch a bit Saturday Night Live and thought about catching some Z's.

Four Miles at Flatwoods

Mixed Reviews

I arrived at work to find its occupants outside the building. A fire drill is usually announced via e-mails days before it occurs. Not sure what happened this morning. Hundreds of people were scattered about like ants.

Those of us who survived yesterday's scythe talked amongst ourselves comparing notes on the events that had transpired. One of my friends gave me some news. I wasn't particularly reassured, but will cross my fingers that my area is secure based upon his information. Time will only tell. I've been made redundant twice in five years thanks to companies merging. You do what you have to do. Life doesn't stop because your world quakes.

New figureheads in IT made their presence known first thing in the day. They met with all the department managers one by one. Tawny was with one most of the day; I barely saw her. She never responded to my text or IM to see if she was still joining me for lunch at the mall.

Met Dianne for a tasty lunch at this restaurant we met in last time. The menu is so diverse that she wanted to try more dishes. I also congratulated her on her forthcoming offer letter. We all knew she wouldn't be unemployed for long. She is a great asset in her field and a very positive one, too!

My afternoon was spent researching more items, but my mind just wasn't in it. It wasn't a typical day. My boss said that it was probably stress. We spoke several times in his office and not all about work. Sometimes it is just nice to connect as people especially after yesterday. I had more news for him than he had for me.

Yummy surprised me by IM'ing me earlier than usual. It was great to talk with him, but I am most looking forward to speaking to him over Skype very early tomorrow morning before my walk with the girls. He had some fantastic news to share about work, but will keep it at that since I didn't ask if I could share with others. I am so pleased for him. He's been trying very hard to plan and make things happen. It is not going to be easy, but it is full of possibilities once he gets rolling.

I sent Yummy three embroidered t-shirts a few weeks ago. Each shirt references the same inside joke on the left breast with a small graphic and some text. He said he was 'rockin' one this morning which gave me an extra measure of joy. Yummy then told me he wore different one yesterday. I wasn't sure if he'd wear them, but I am very flattered he did. Thanks, honey.



Talked to Jill while I drove home. She seemed in good spirits after yesterday and was surprised by the outpouring of calls for her well-being and also leads and contacts for work. Her mother works on our fourth floor and she was inundated on her behalf. It gave Jill a great feeling to know how much she was appreciated and how many people cared about her. Made a lunch date with her for next week.

Stopped at Target on the way home to get a new Sony DVD player that was on sale to replace my now defunct unit. A special bag for my water tomorrow also made it to the cart. Kim had made fun of me earlier in the day after I told her I bought new shorts outfit for the walk and would pick up a small bag for water, camera, etc. that I could sling over my back kinda like a mini backpack. I just can't help myself.

It took ten minutes to sort out the old and new DVD player at home. What a relief to find everything was working properly and I was finally able to watch a movie I had bought a few weeks ago. Rain began to pour outside in the middle of it. Hope it holds for a while during my walk tomorrow. Wish us luck on the weather.

PS I found this site referenced in a magazine yesterday. If anyone of you catches me desecrating my 5-quart Kitchen Aid mixer like this, please let me have it: Pimp My Kitchen Aid or like these pros. It is a serious piece of machine, not a hot rod. (My 2+ horsepower blender is another story.)

Mixed Reviews

Pomegranate

Another gift greeted me at my desk when I arrived this morning. This time one of the gals at work, Tamara, brought me this special pomegranate tea. It's not the tea I like because I have never sampled even a bit of it, but I happen to get a kick out of the tall glass container it comes in. Tamara drinks this stuff all the time and I told her once how cool the glass was so she got me my very own! I laughed for several minutes.



My mirth was soon squelched by the news of RIFs (reduction in force or redundancies). The first department hit was IT. My friends Jill and British Jeff did not escape the scythe swinging around company wide. It made the day very stressful.

Even though I brought my lunch from home, I agreed to go out with Jeff and Tawnyia just to escape the bad juju vibes at work. It was a welcome respite. We felt better talking more freely offsite about what was going on and shared news of others we knew who suffered the cut. Unfortunately, I had a clear view of the people being escorted to the HR section. Sigh.

I received another pleasant surprise in my personal e-mail. It was a thank you note from Anna across the pond. They enjoyed the pictures I sent her family. She also shared some charming tidbits about her babies. It was very sweet indeed.

Dianne/Possum left me a voicemail an hour after I talked to her about meeting her for lunch tomorrow. She was RIF'ed four weeks ago and is about to receive a formal job offer in the mail tomorrow or Monday as a result of her second interview with the same company this week. I am so pleased for her.

The rest of the afternoon sped by with a relieved tone after we received a company wide note from our CEO "explaining" strategic changes and whatnot. It read well that's all I can comment on it because it doesn't deserve any further consideration.

I called British Jeff on my way home and conveyed my sympathy. Typically Jeff, he had been having pints and was giving his I don't give a f*** attitude. He is a hardy man and can weather anything. Did I ever tell you about the time he had back surgery without any anesthetic? I felt better after talking to him and we will get together soon.

Shopped for some comfortable new shorts and colorful shirts to wear on my new walking gig starting Saturday and picked up some treats for Cabal. Drove home and had a light dinner to offset the dinner I had last night with Myrna. I had been depressed yesterday. An hour of IM'g with Yummy uplifted my spirits enough to make me want to go out so I called Myrna...Turning in early tonight.

Pomegranate

Spirited Away

Twenty-five years ago today was my mother's Spirit Date. The picture below was taken six months before she became free of this earth. It was taken in Holy Family Catholic Church in Angeles City, Philippines after I received my First Communion. Little AGOL was 10 years old and my mother was 33 years old.



God, I miss her so much! Luckily, I can remember many things about her through child eyes. She was always teaching me how to present myself in the best light through grooming, manners and behavior. Just because you may not have the best things or afford much, didn't mean you couldn't be clean especially under your finger nails, have your hair brushed and clothes mended or ironed not to mention comporting yourself. Guess who lives that now?

My cousin Ida helps me understand her as an adult and not as my mother. Maria (yes, my aunt, her sister, was named the same) was very firm and determined, but with a tender loving heart. She always helped the ones who had a broken wing.

Ida learned a lot from her about taking care of a house and the practicalities of life. Also, how material things are not important, but people! It is the relationships you build with people that are important and being generous of yourself and with what you have are what counts. When you care about people, you need to show them, be there for them, encourage them, learn to forgive them and not to give up on them.

Maria I. Abuda (Abraham) was born the youngest of eight in a little province in the Visayas called Lawa-an located specifically in Eastern Samar. Her parents Leon and Angela were farmers. They nicknamed her Yeying.

She was the only one in her family who graduated with an English teaching degree, but she didn't formally teach through my life in the Philippines. She somehow got a little sidetracked raising little AGOL Sarah not to mention making sure that the other relatives who lived with us had a roof, clothing and food. Mela, as her friends called her, married twice. It's funny. People still talk about her and remember her well in old circles.

And the one thing my mother taught me was to always be thankful for what you have. Life on earth is not free, only the love you give others is free. Thanks, Mom.

Spirited Away

Sugar, Oh Honey Honey

Split my time today from being the designated buyer to impromptu trips around the building to rack up some steps on my pedometer...in heels. It takes a little effort to make wearing a pedometer look cute.

My serious moments at work were when my boss kept reminding us that research on a particular spreadsheet had to be completed before its owner goes on vacation next week. Enough to make this AGOL take more impromptu trips around the building.

I wanted the yellow lines in my portion of the reconciliation spreadsheet to turn into a fringed yellow magic carpet and rescue me from the mundaneness of it all. I could have sworn that the pixels were piercing my eyes. They ached from staring at the screen all day.

This is what happens when you are blessed (and cursed) with an outrageous imagination. Your mind goes into a fantastical reverie. You begin to wish a fast forward speed to life getting on in the way you've envisioned them. In my case, Project AGOL already finished with its first and second phases and well on its way to third phase. I need to be happy in the moment and that now is well on its way in the first phase. I was blessed with patience in others but not in myself.

Throughout the day the knowledge of my mother's spirit date 25 years ago tomorrow hung like a specter over me. At 36, the pain hasn't gone away, but I suspect it never really will. I can take comfort in the fact that she is no longer in pain and forever free of the earthly body that failed her. I can also take comfort that my Source didn't abandon me when he took her from me at 11 years of age and newly living six months in a new country with virtual strangers. Source didn't allow me to live a life in the streets nor allow me to succumb to the harsh temptations on the way. Tomorrow will sure be a challenge...

Stayed late at work to research lines on the spreadsheet and decided I needed to work another hour at home on it. After taking care of Cabal and changing into my pajamas at home, I tested myself by facing the S word before eating dinner...the scale. My clothes have been roomier lately. There was nothing else to do but calibrate it...get on it...off it...on it...off it...and on it again. I had lost 15 pounds in two months!

WOW.

The loss was mostly attributed to cutting down on one thing: sugar. I traded sugar and cream avalanched coffee for hot tea with Splenda and dashes of dry creamer. The full sugar soda at lunch was replaced by a diet one. I've been eating low sugar ice cream and low sugar/high fiber cereal with fat-free milk.

Been watching the sodium, too, but not as much as the sugar. No extra activities that could be construed as an exercise regimen either. I was so astounded I called my cousin Angie straight away. Let's see what next month brings with my new walking plan.

I skewed my pedometer count tonight by dancing to The Archies singing Sugar, Sugar to celebrate, but I don't mind. Don't mind at all.

Sugar, Oh Honey Honey

Resetting Monday

Thankfully remembered to attach my new pedometer before I walked Cabal this morning. The manual recommends getting a base reading for the next three days. Sometimes I do follow instructions on things when it is important to me...

I was bopping along this morning after dog walking by eating a fiber-filled breakfast cereal, switching laundry around, and noticing belatedly that I had leaned on the washing machine long enough to accidentally reset my pedometer. Rats! Not a setback. I can remember around how many steps I had already taken and add it later to my total for the day. You can become obsessive checking your progress every 15 minutes. It paid off in this instance.

A gold box greeted me at my desk at work. It contained a mahjong-inspired bracelet similar to the one Tawny has that I've been admiring. She found another one during her trip to St. Augustine this weekend and picked one up. Tawny also included the dragonfly pendant she made from Precious Metal Clay which when sculpted and fired leaves the silver behind. Pretty, huh? My precious.



Made a walking date for Flatwoods this weekend with my friend Kim. It'll be a good way for us to catch up and do a positive yet healthy activity. I can't wait!

Yummy IM'ed me in the afternoon. He was amazingly none worse for wear after walking 40 miles over three days. I thought he may be flat out in bed already after having to be in work today. Must be the English air sustaining him. I sent him a link that is related to a health book I've been reading and he was appropriately grossed out. He thanks me for sharing, I'm sure.

He and Anton came up with some rather charming thoughts during their dragonwalk which I will leave him to tell on their blog. It was something about magic which brings to my mind my own beliefs on magic.

When you're a kid growing up in a less fortunate situation, you tend to have more faith and hope in magical things. In the shadows of them you know there is a reality which keeps you grounded. Hopefully, the shadows don't out grow the faith and hope of finding real magic as an adult. A glimmer of magic is worth believing in and fighting for even when things seem insurmountable, but that is why it is called magic because anything is surmountable with it. Abracadabra! or Open Sesame. It is not the words but the faith in knowing magic happens.

Resetting Monday

10,000 Steps

My eyes were closed, but I wasn't quite asleep when I received a text from Yummy at 4:30am apologizing for not calling or texting me last night. There was zero phone reception where they stopped for the evening. I figured as much, but I was thankful to know he was okay, having fun and already on their next leg of the trip.

I ran errands around 11am by picking up a prescription first and stopping to get Father's Day cards for next weekend for my dad and uncle. A new camera bag made it into my cart for the "previously loved" higher-end digital camera Kathy gave me the other day.

She received a new one for her birthday and passed along the old one. It is the version before my cousin's I used on my UK trip. I didn't realize I needed a full digital camera until the last two months. The lighting on my cameraphone is not always optimum. I also bought a new card reader that reads different sizes. Geekdom strikes again.

My purchase of the day was my Walking FM Radio Pedometer. It is an incentive to count my steps for the recommended goal of 10,000 steps a day or 70,000 total for the week. My sedentary lifestyle is not coinciding with my (almost) sugar-free lifestyle. Now you know two of my sub-projects for Project AGOL: creating a walking habit and living (almost) sugar-free.

Yummy texted me again when I got out of the store. They had walked 28 miles between yesterday and today. (I'd like to see his pedometer if he had one.) He was still alive, but his legs were starting to feel it. I know he was happy and proud of doing it. They still have tomorrow to finish up the walk if they haven't killed each other by then or get turned into barbeque by a sneaky dragon...At least the dragon could say he was yummy. Ha!

Nan-sitting was a breeze tonight. I arrived at 5pm to be with her while my aunt and uncle went out with friends. She seemed about 20% stronger than last month. My favorite Q-tip was less anxious about things and was a total dear.

We watch a little gospel entertainment she loves on the telly before I served us our dinner and watched some more until she was ready to go to bed. Hundreds of channels and I couldn't find anything interesting enough to watch after she turned in. Cable is wasted on me and is not conducive as part of Project AGOL which makes me a proud non-subscriber.

Here is a picture of my Uncle Dave and Aunt Maria before their double-date tonight.


My aunt and uncle enjoyed their evening out, but got home later around 11:45pm. I called Angie in California to talk to me on my way home. It worried her that I was on autopilot. At that time in the evening, I don't pay attention to my driving because I am listening and responding to her in my tired state. I do better that way than driving by myself while concentrating. Focusing creates a situation akin to being hypnotized by a pendulum.

Got home okay to my parole dog who was waiting patiently to do his whizness outside and to order me around play-with-me ways. Yes, master.

10,000 Steps

Seeing Mr. Biv

How sad is it that I had convinced myself it was Friday by 10:30am? I didn't have my Casual Friday clothes on so it couldn't have been. Well, there is tomorrow...

Yummy and his best buddy began the other half of their dragonwalk around eight their time. I think it is to be about 15 miles today starting from Arundel, the town with a nice castle we visited. It was raining this morning by Yummy's account in their blog. Squish. Squish.

Somewhere out there breathes a dragon!


While he was hunting for dragons, I began making notes on what I now call Project AGOL which has a few sub-projects. Been thinking more about the TV idea and listing my possible sites to shoot practice shows in a couple of months. It all depends on the availability of my buddies to film, my potential guest cooks and mostly my self-motivation. The whole thing feels right to me and the time for it is better. The bigger picture has been a seed for almost 10 years now. Talk about slow cookin' ideas.

Instant messaged with my friend Kim this morning and we may start making play dates on the weekends by walking Flatwoods Park. It is free, in the midst of trees and it is close enough to drive. I'll have to bug her more about it next week. My only thing is its namesake that it is flat. What I will lack in terrain, I will make up in mileage.

A good portion of my afternoon was spent at our other building with the Accounts Payable group going over unsolved invoice mysteries. My boss drove Bridget and me over which was rather nice of him. The famous afternoon thundershowers could be heard from within the building an hour into the meeting.

One of the ladies who works in my building, Tina, made a stop at a local healthfood grocery store and bought some goodies to snack on during our meeting. She had heard me talking about cutting down my sugar intake earlier in the hallway and bought me sugar-free Pecan Meltaway cookies. Gosh - it was very thoughtful of her and they were made with organic whole grain! They were delicious and I didn't have to cave in and eat the Oatmeal Raisin ones she bought for the rest.

I stayed late at work even though my heart wasn't in it. Being the buyer today meant I had to hustle on orders I didn't do earlier. Maybe my mood was tied to the weather.

On the way back to my apartment from walking Cabal, I noticed a rare sight of a rainbow. It was bright and spanned the full arc in the sky.



The middle was a little hazy compared to the rest. I took it as a life message. We start out with our own colorful and brilliant light in the world. Somehow that dims when we live our life, but becomes colorful and brilliant again near the end when we understand why it dimmed. It's not that it dimmed, we allowed the things that do not matter cloud our light. That's what I got.

Seeing Mr. Biv

Coming Attractions

Clever moments at work today made my boss happy. Nothing like coming up with workarounds to avoid unpleasantness with other people. That or any delays. I am not a financial person, but it would seem my creativity flow is spurning my problem-solving skills into action within our little procurement world. Go figure.

Possum (aka Dianne) met Jeff and me for lunch today. Tawny had a half-day conference call so she had to bow out to make it Table for Three. The conversation soon became a meeting of the minds, if you will. I loved it and the conversation reminded me how much my friends are so incredibly talented and own complimentary skill sets.

I made my TV aspirations official by outlining one of my ideas to Possum and Jeff. They were receptive and offered so much of themselves. Possum has been a stand-up comedienne in the past as well as been a producer for advertisement. I can have her direct me and help me with facial expressions and avoid pitfalls in my presentations. She has also coached non-actors how to act in front of the camera and I am very much looking forward to her suggestions.

Possum reminded me of my one audition five years ago to be a host on HSN which was a coup for us when no one outside her former company was being allowed to come in and try out. I didn't get the job, but I had an audition moment in front of the camera.

Jeff, ever the crackbaby with many skills, is willing to film me and edit my program. Here are his ideas which I made him iterate in an IM to me when we got back:

Oh pretty basic - 2 cameras, one set up as a wideshot to edit back too - then what would be a close up or "Iso" camera that can shoot the hands - sometimes in the mirror - and facials ... You can use a switcher and try and mix on the fly - harder - more takes - or shoot 2 camera independent and edit after. The mirror is tilted above the work area at an angle so you get a crane effect and can see the cooking from above without having to be hanging over it ... this way you can zoom into a frying pan as ingredients go in etc. (He rocks.)

Jeff and Dianne talked about their own media aspirations which I won't outline in detail but involves movie scripts and magazines. Those are just a smidgen of what these two could do. They awe me as do my other friends. I feel uplifted in knowing that I can get some trustful help and advice while I am trying to practice and perfect my ideas...

IM'ed with Yummy briefly late in the afternoon. He was gathering his stuff for dragon hunting tomorrow. It is supposed to be hot, but I reminded him that hot was 90+ degrees Fahrenheit with humidity. Just love that Florida weather!

Called in my food order to my aunt on the way home. My request consisted of a specially cooked eggplant, Filipino-style and some lumpia. My aunt cooks Filipino food as a side business and I know she always has lumpia stashed in her freezer. This will be my dinner bribe for Nan-sitting on Saturday while my aunt and uncle go out for dinner and a show.

Had my curry leftover for dinner. I was able to relive the flavors -- simply delicious! I spent my evening daydreaming, talking to Angie on her way home, writing in my blog before indulging in more daydreaming before bed.

Coming Attractions

Invisible Pea Soup

Summer is definitely getting in gear in Florida. The humidity is so palpable which makes the heat oppressive. It's like walking through invisible pea soup. Forget about having good hair days. Air conditioning is my best buddy!

Thinking back on our staff meeting today makes me chuckle. Bridget and I were very quiet, the temp talked more than both of us and my boss said what he needed to say while wondering who deflated our balloons. At 2:30pm, his expectations were just set a little too high. Ha!

E-mailed with Yummy who seemed in better spirits. He is on the hunt...dragon hunt, that is! Here is his new blog chronicling his dragon hunting adventures with his best friend, Anton: True and Wonderfull and can be found under AGOL Fascinations on this page.

They are taking this Friday-Saturday-Sunday to finish "the walk". Something like 40 miles spread over three days. There better be protein bars, water, ibuprofen, neosporin and sunscreen in those backpacks! Anton is geeky about packing like some Asian Goddess we know so I feel comforted he will have everything he won't use, but thinks he will need on the trip.

Kathy picked me up for a curry dinner at our new favorite Indian restaurant (or "Ruby" as Yummy says) off Fowler called The Taj. It was two for two. Both meals we've had there have been delicious! I have some left overs for dinner tomorrow night. Yummy had this advise for us: Remember to drink lots of beer, and try to get into a fight if you can for the authentic experience. Sadly, no beers and no fights, but plenty of girl talk. Maybe next time.

I was sharing with Kathy about my aspirations to be a television personality. We discussed this "thing" I have with how people/strangers relate to me. Kathy has known me for over nine years and has seen how people approach me about my make-up or hair, how I get remembered in restaurants and places and how free people seem to feel in approaching me. I've had "mini me's" in other women wanting to emulate things about me. People often ask me my opinion on places and restaurants. I do project a "brand" about me that has become so ingrained, I don't think about it anymore. It sounds very self-bloating, but I have witnesses. There is only one place I can think of to really take advantage of that "thing" and that is television.

The past few days has me coming up and forming an idea of a cooking show I already have a name for and other shows I would enjoy doing. I've taught cooking classes before and my guests enjoyed the experience and have come back for the same class. Kathy hit me with an idea so obvious, I could smack myself silly. (Shaddap, Angie!)

She said I could make some "programs" and put them on youtube. Face it, I don't have any real professional experience (yet) and this would be a way for me to practice, perfect and showcase my goods. And it would be cost effective! If I asked nicely, Tawny's husband who has worked on productions for public television could film and edit it for me. Truth be told, he's offered it to me years ago, but the show would be aired on public access on cable which is free. Now to get into more TV friendly shape and script my show(s)...

Invisible Pea Soup

Holy Grail Found

Just when the office was getting to be a steady flow of boring and irritating, lady luck smiled upon me by helping me find the manual that I have been seeking. It was all I could do not to scream Eureka! at my desk, but instead I trembled with excitement and quickly downloaded it on our network.

For almost five months, I have been asking the IT guy designated for our application for a manual. He said we didn't have one. Better yet, he barely knows how to answer our questions on how we can run reports or why the workflow in the system is the way it is. His not-so-helpful answers were working my department's nerve. Now we have 1300+ pages of knowledge. Funny, I found it on one of our websites his department is responsible for right now.

The best part was showing my boss and seeing the utter relief on his face. He was going to have answers at his fingertips! Part of our bigger group will have it, too. I truly felt like a superhero...Amazing AGOL! That might be a stretch, but I feel great.

Yummy IM'ed me late in the afternoon. He had a stressful day pitching ideas to a client and to make matters worse, he had to get up at dark-thirty. He doesn't do well getting up really early. That's my job. Did I mention I am an insomniac? Most times I am, but I am more of a dozer around the house from the bed to the sofa and back again. Anyhoo, Yummy's got a short week and he's getting ready to go on his dragonwalk with his best buddy on Friday. Lucky duck!

I catch-up on phone calls on my drive home and today was a busy time. Tawny was first and chatted with her for several minutes. Myrna called me back a few minutes after I left her a humorous voicemail. She kept me company while I drove home. Her poor puppy Teddy is still suffering from wormies, but he's on the mend. Jill called me back while I was at the grocery store and kept me company while I browsed around. It was an impulse stop. I wanted to take advantage of the Buy One, Get One Free deals on items I actually use.

On the way home, I called Angie in Californ-I-A. I was proudly telling her of my ongoing success in living (almost) sugar-free for the past four weeks and feeling the results in my clothes. No more spikes in energy and I've made a commitment to myself to eat 5 smaller and smarter meals to keep me even throughout the day while I calorie count. So far so great!

Arrived home later which pushed my evening wind down later. Yes, that meant no sewing. Tomorrow is another day for superhero moves.

Holy Grail Found

Trolling for Art

My mind was awake at 4am. I tried to go back to sleep, but Cabal became insistent a half hour later. He was happier not to have to walk in rainwater this morning. Prissy dog.

Yummy was perkier this morning. Job stress is working not just a couple of nerves, but his whole body. Poor thing. I don't presume to know what exactly he is going through, but I am trying to understand and just be supportive. Good thing he was taking a train today to North London to see his mum and to enjoy a big dinner made by his stepdad. He hasn't seen them since we met them for dinner in London a month ago. Tempus fugit.

T&J picked me up a little after 9am to troll around an art show on Corey Avenue in St. Petersburg. We were to meet Jeff's parents there. Several of the artists pulled out of the show because of the wind and rain from the previous day. They probably didn't want to suffer a second day of it. The weather was quite the opposite. Humidity and heat seemed to reach its zenith around noon before we all ducked in for a brunch at The Frog Restaurant (frog theme and owned by French people).

We took a small drive to Gulfport and swung around some other shops. Was I glad to go into the air conditioning! Stopped at a place called Lulu's which had some eclectic mix of items, but mostly in a tropical retro theme.

I picked up a shirt for Father's Day for my uncle from a new tongue-in-cheek brand called Old Guys Rule. Check out the site and especially their Gallery page. I am adding a picture of my uncle and I have a perfect opportunity to take a picture of him. Seeing him on Saturday for my Nan-sitting. Yes!

I came home around 3pm to dim fluorescent lights in the kitchen. It was time to replace them and I needed a light source if I was to do any kind of cooking or feeding the Pretty Boy Dog. I left a voicemail with the office to replace them and the special dining room light that had gone almost two weeks ago.

It was Sunday and I knew they had limited staff and I needed to ensure I had new bulbs. I walked with Cabal inside the lobby and waited for some plan of action from the leasing agents on hand. They ended up getting the work order wrong and had the apartment above me checked instead. I found this out around 5:30pm when I called to check on the progress of my work order.

Someone was dispatched immediately. It was Cabal's favorite maintenance worker and soon had us well lit. He even replaced the bulb under the vent above the stove!

I wanted to sew today but I developed a nauseous headache which I think is related to my brunch selection hours earlier. My sewing progress impeded! Sigh. Off to bed early to sleep it off.

Trolling for Art

Sewing Inspiration

The rain from Tropical Storm Barry continued from the night. Cabal did not enjoy getting his paws wet during our walk at 4:45am, but he enjoyed the towel drying when we came in. He is so shameless. I just tried not to step into any puddles with my flipflops.

Drove to my morning hair appointment hoping the weather would be okay. Slate clouds hovered over my side of town, but slowly gave way to some blue sky and warm sun on my way. By the time I got out, it was raining again. That's liquid sunshine for you.

My hairdresser Michelle seemed in a better frame of mind and I was truly happy for her. I brought her a souvenir from my UK trip, mug and chocolate. She loved the creamy Galaxy bar. Who doesn't?

My new sewing machine that has been in the trunk of my car since Christmas finally made it into my apartment. I am bound and determined to conquer my fear of sewing. Today I bought some supplies to make a small handbag. The instructions are easy, but when you seem to have a block on sewing, easy may as well be rocket science.

I talked to Yummy tonight for a bit and explained my sewing enigma. He stopped me dead in my tracks and asked me what it reminded me of that kept me from doing it. I can change belts on vacuums and have planned $200,000 events for a company. This should be no problem for me...

I turned the machine on and threaded it after I talked to Yummy. The instructions I have did not exactly have a pattern so I had to create the main one and the corresponding shapes for trim, etc. on my sketchpad. Getting closer. I am determined to get this done.

My sketch pad had a Dr. Wayne Dyer quote I had written in sometime back: Contemplate the surroundings of the conditions you wish to produce. It was a reminder that my dreams have yet to come to fruition and I need to keep them in mind. Perhaps making that breakthrough in sewing will help me.

Found Dr. Dyer quotes I have enjoyed --

Dr. Dyer explains his definition of success:
Thoreau: "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." That always has defined my road to what you call phenomenal success. I have advanced confidently in the direction of my dreams. I have lived the life I imagined. And I have had a ball doing it.

And last but not least this one which resonates and haunts me everyday from Dr. Dyer:
“Don’t die with your music still in you.” Everybody has that music..what it is they feel most blissful doing, what it is that they’re doing where they lose all sense of time, of fatigue, of hunger. All that dissolves because they’re inspired...


More...
Allowing success discussion with Dr. Wayne Dyer
More discussion on his site.

Sewing Inspiration

Rice and Rain

Happy First Day of Hurricane Season! Mother Nature decided to help us welcome the season with some much needed rain. The grass I like so much around my complex has vast patches of brown.

Not much today. Bridget was back at work and my boss was quiet. Had lunch with T&J at the mall and saw someone we hadn't seen for a while, but that's their story.

Someone really worked my nerve, but I am trying to let it go. Poor T&J and Bridget got to hear about it since they know this person and see them most days. When I get on a rant, it is not good. Karma was dealt within hours for this person and I didn't even have to resort to voodoo dolls!

My girls know I love my rice cooker. What a pleasant surprise to find this on a search engine page today: Rice Cooker Bread. It sounds interesting, but I wouldn't actually do it. The fire hazard warnings alone are enough to NOT do it. Which reminds me...

I haven't posted the picture below, but that is what it took to get my travel-size hair dryer to work in the UK. Can you believe it? The curling iron was out of the question. The big box in the middle was not registering green, but blinking back and forth between red and green lights. The wattage was too high. Not good. I'm sure Yummy thanked me for not testing it further.



Gave Tawny a ride home in crazy traffic thanks to the rain. I opened a can of Wolfgang Puck's Butternut Squash Soup for dinner. Wow! It was delicious. Next time, I will add tons of freshly ground black pepper. Sometimes soup just hits the spot in rainy weather.

Rice and Rain