Siriusly?! Seriously...

Apparently I missed the memo that this week we were celebrating "Suck Week" at work. The black hole of despair was trapping anything good and sublime in its high suckage setting, making all disappear. Today followed Tuesday and Wednesday in a Groundhog Day pattern...

Impromptu invites to meetings where you are required to actively participate is definitely a big turn on...Not! I have asked my boss for a moratorium on meetings, but this was not included. I even got a follow-up invite for more updates tomorrow! I need my happy pills.

Hey -- it's true -- music does soothe the savage biatch. I found a killer station listening online to Sirius satellite radio under Rock called First Wave which has the early alternative music (especially from England) permeating the US scene in the 80s. This is heaven letting me relive some of my favorite music from ages 11 to 18. Here are links to youtube.com vids as a sample slice of music a younger AGOL loved:

My man David Bowie in "Let's Dance"
Note: This is the song and video that started it all for AGOL after coming to the US of A...sigh.
King singing "Love and Pride"
Note: I still dig this guy's hair and the combat boot action. Very upbeat song.
Spandau Ballet's "I'll Fly for You"
Note: Yes, we all liked lead singer Tony when we first saw him in "True", but the saxophone player Steve was my personal favorite.
Blow Monkey's "Digging Your Scene"
Note: Dr. Robert, the singer, is way strange, but I love this song.
Echo and the Bunnymen's "Lips Like Sugar"
Note: Love the band name and love the band.

The best parts of this week are my conversations with Yummy... This is one of the best Yummy stories yet. Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Yummy letting me know that around 6pm his time, he had been talking to a coworker and while looking down at his sweater, he noticed a lone metallic red heart sprinkle. As part of his Valentine's gifts from me was a card filled with these heart sprinkles. He'd gone all day with no one telling him he had it on his sweater and no one asked why he even had it. Nice solid tall gorgeous gentleman with lone heart sprinkle...seriously cute!

Siriusly?! Seriously...

Merrie Melodies

This was the best part of a really hectic day. Need I singa more?

Owl Jolson -- who knew? I didn't watch this until I got home and owled with laughter. Now the song is stuck in my head. My Yummy devil sent this to me today. He was at home with a dissipating migraine and sometime decided to jazz up my day. I dig that he really gives a hoot. Okay...enough owl references; I have to watch this again before I turn in for the night.

Merrie Melodies

Sullen at Seven

How I feel about going to a family get-together this afternoon...sullen. This is one of Yummy's favorite pictures of me. Somethin' not quite right about that man. Gotta really dig a guy with a sick sense of humor.


(AGOL at seven years old. Picture taken while living in the Philippines. Sullen even then.)

Evening Update: The family get-together wasn't as bad as I thought. I arrived late on purpose and left early, too. I had to get home to talk to Yummy in time. Poor thing is feeling under the weather and he's off tomorrow to trek around for dragons with his best-friend. It is for a book in case you think a fever has taken over. Sending him groovylicious healing vibes...Now to log online to work and get some stuff done.

Sigh....Sullen again.

Sullen at Seven

Rice, Tea or Me

Laughter should fill everyone's day. This morning I started my day laughing with Yummy. Our differences in cultural upbringing and our individual personalities make for a wonderful time together...

My other plan today was to have lunch with Myrna before her trip to Virginia. She is helping a co-worker move back there so she can be near her family and new boyfriend. We ended up at one of our favorite Citrus Park haunts, Rice & Company - An Asian Bistro, where they serve pan-Asian food and have an impressive sushi bar. As always, we had very delicious meal accompanied by some hot jasmine tea for me and hot green tea for Myrna.

Nothing can horrify an Asian more than running out of rice. Luckily, I had more than enough jasmine rice to cook in the rice cooker this weekend. Myrna was kind enough to take us to Oceanic Supermarket after lunch so I could get another bag along with some other goodies like teas and coconut milk. I haven't been there in a long time when it was so busy that the parking overflow made its way to the business building nearby. It is Chinese New Year and the store was peppered everywhere with lanterns, banners, food and red envelopes.

Yummy and I talked again in the evening and I got to try my new packets of instant hot Thai tea which I sipped in between bouts of laughter. He really is very funny even when he's tired. Poor baby, I think he is catching a cold - his voice was a giveaway. He also reminded me tonight that it is the Year of the (Fire) Boar which is his Chinese sign. I have a distinct impression it will be his year and richly deserved, too!

Rice, Tea or Me

Steps and Symbols

The cold wind rushing between the parking garage and the corporate building where my company occupies two suites reflected the chill I am now starting to feel coming into work. The closer my steps get to the building, the more dread I feel of reliving what has come to be Groundhog Day at work. Even my laptop bag's bottom rollers getting caught slightly at the threshold of the automatic doors reflected the hiccups befalling my department. Do I really have to go in?

I am trying to stem the internal panic I am feeling that my partner's last day will be March 9th and my temporary employee's last day will be Monday until we get her back from her surgery which should be in a few weeks. Getting gridlocked by meetings and my boss' seeming need for my "we're in the same boat and we're in this together" support is fraying my usual cool composure. Luckily for me today Yummy was off and he was able to bring levity and warmth to my day via IM...

Tawnyia was still in Atlanta and had finished her class and taken the exam. I was finally able to call her on her cell in the afternoon to bounce some ideas and office news off of her. It made me feel better. Tawnyia has knack of being able to have an objective perspective on things and to see them for what they really are. I really value that in her. Her husband Jeff was just minutes away from meeting her there to spend a weekend alone together exploring the area.

I left the office an hour later than normal; the pressure to perform too ingrained to ignore. Of course, I ended up logging in later at home. A lovely lady named Leslie was able to get my mind off things when I passed by her cube on the way out. She is a Messianic Jew (very very loosely translated as Jews for Jesus).

Every Friday (except today) Leslie wears a kippah (or yarmulke in Yiddish for cloth skullcap) on her head to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath which begins at dusk and later she showed me a set of blue and white tzitzis (tassels or fringes) she wore as a belt around her waist. She also either wears the Star of David or more recently a necklace symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. Things relating to Judaica have always been fascinating to me. My respect for her is immense since she wears these outward symbols consciously not only as a custom but as a reminder of her faith. The little Jewess in me loves to hear her explain the symbolism...

By this evening, I had made a big investment as a symbol of my faith in the abundance I have accepted into my life. My faith for this abundance was there from the very beginning, it was only a matter of time in taking the actual step...The Universe has given all of us a buffet of choices that leads to living an abundant life. It is up to us to partake (claim) in what has been offered to us all along and to honor its immeasurable value.

Baruch attah adony eloheinu melech ha’olam, she’hakol nihiyeh b’dvaroh .

Steps and Symbols

Happy AGOL Day - Go Diva!

If there is one day that my friends know that belong to me, it is Valentine's Day. It has been my way of making up to them for being depressed and sulky all Christmas season starting in October. I've also loved this day ever since I passed out my first Valentine card in elementary school. Spreading love, joy and beauty into the world should be everyone's goal. A little of one or each makes the world a more beautiful place to live in. We owe it to each other to show a little kindness.

I live the essence of Valentine's every day. It is my trademark. Whether it is passing by someone's desk to give some candy as a pick-me-up or complimenting someone on how they look or just listening to them just takes a few moments out of my day and is well worth the effort. Everyone needs to feel validated at least once a day, to feel that they matter and someone noticed their existence at least for one moment. It is the priceless gift we can give each other and costs near to nothing.

Yummy and I have been talking about promoting yourself as a brand. The genesis for this idea was not mine but a genius article in a maverick magazine called "Fast Company" where I first located an article 10 years ago entitled The Brand Called You. If you like this article, I highly recommend searching the words "Brand You" and see what other articles come up or just checking out the website for fresh ideas.

When my friends think of me and acquaintances, too, they can rattle off the same things that they know me for and of course the idea of Love is central. Jeff and Tawnyia are the ones who gave me the moniker Asian Goddess of Love (AGOL). It has started to become interchangeable with my full name in some circles. Quite strange sometimes. More R&D needs to be done, but it is an evolving brand. I do have my own logo with my last name and a graphic accompanying it; I've had it for about six years now. It probably needs a reworking, but I will leave that to the R&D group.

In the midst of meetings today, I was the receiver of Love vibes from Yummy and it came in the manner of a beautiful giant box of Godiva chocolate. Nothing say lovin' like a box of Godiva truffles and chocolates! Here's a picture I took at my cube at work.

Red Suede Heart Shape Box of Godiva Chocolates...Texture and Taste!

When I got home and picked up my mail, I also received a really great card from Yummy with a beautiful dragonfly poem inside. You want to talk about Yummy trademarks? Romantic ranks No. 1 in my book. As the AGOL, he is perfect. This man just takes my breath away. He has a manner of catching me off guard which is rarely done. I am indeed very blessed and lucky to have him in my life. He is awesome. Thank you, Peter, for my wonderful Valentine's gifts -- I just love them!

My day ended with talking to Yummy. Did I mention that since he couldn't be with me in the same country this time round, he offered to babysit his godkids for his best friend? Talk about a Hot Move in the AGOL handbook! Love, joy and beauty. That is what it is all about.

Happy AGOL Day - Go Diva!

F.O.C.U.S.

Follow One Course Until Successful. Yes, that would've been really great today if it were not for all the interruptions. One task today should have taken only 20 minutes but instead took an hour and half! Annoying really.

I was in earlier today and had more clarity than yesterday which was Blur Day. My to-do list was at hand and I had a launched nuclear missile concentration of a mind. Missiles have never encountered bosses or co-workers either. Sigh.

Soldiered through the day from one task to another until a meeting that halted my marching to a dead stop. Found out today that my partner in the department had put her notice in. She would be taking a more managerial position up north and be close to her family as well. I am genuinely happy for her, but am trying not to reel from the workload coming on. It's not that I haven't done the work of four people before, but I do relish sleeping and having weekends off. The powers that be will have to sort it out for themselves. There is only one of me and there is only so much I can do without compromising my health and personal life. Neither one is negotiable at the moment.

Barely saw Tawnyia today before her training trip to Atlanta. She left the building shortly after 3PM. I called her cell and left her a voice mail. She ended up calling me back later after she landed. Her luggage didn't arrive at the same time she did so a courier had to bring her clothes to her later in the evening from the airline. I teased her that she would have to do laundry over the sink to make it to class the next day.

I had also lamented that she would be missing the Official AGOL Holiday tomorrow. How could she abandon me? She was also abandoning her husband and their 21st anniversary! Her husband is driving to Atlanta for the weekend to spend time with her which will be great fun exploring little towns around the area.

Yummy and I had a later chat. I always feel guilty for keeping him late in his timezone, but he knows his own self and usually begs off when he is really about to nod off. He was out tonight with an old college buddy and made some good networking connections. Yummy is trying to change the way he does things and I have a great feeling he will be immensely successful.

Valentine's Day is usually the day I get really carried away in my baking, but not this year. I did make my signature Rhumba Rum Cake and also packaged a humorous gift for Jill at work who I know will be having a rough day of it. I think she is baking a lot of chocolate flavored goodies tonight, too, so no one will feel neglected in our area.

I'd better make a bee-line for bed now so I can be fresh for my holiday tomorrow.

F.O.C.U.S.

Electronic Emissions

The sky was clear and beautiful this morning but there was still some serious radio signal interruptions. Did the sun send some extra radioactivity? My laptop was sporadically emitting a scratchy static sound that drove Cabal to try to leap in my lap while I talked with Yummy this morning. His paws first dug into my thighs while I sat and then my arms where he left a little bruising. Yummy and I had to switch to talking via IM instead of through our mics. Later the TV had static on almost every channel I tried to tune into.

I talked to Angie twice today which was a treat. Been missing her a bit. She and her pals got to go the Getty Museum in LA where she lives. I live in such a sucky city; it has no real culture I am interested in unless it visits the city. Sigh.

It was slow at the salon and I never have an appointment so I had my nails done right away during the afternoon. I must have brought the crowd in since about a half dozen more walk-ins came in within 10 minutes of me arriving. The male nail tech did my nails this time around which was different, but the lady finished up with polishing on the color I bought at Sephora last weekend. I didn't know it would be a lighter shade of pink than my phone. Might need to get the color changed next weekend after living with it for a week.

Glad it was a low profile weekend. I hope I am mentally well-rested for next week, I'd better be. Half watching the Grammy's now. James Blunt is singing his beautiful song which is making me think of beddy-byes; he is singing it with an acoustic guitar and he has put more a lullaby melody to it.

Electronic Emissions

Sweet, Salty Nuts of Life

Stresses of the week must have gotten to me since I ended up waking up later. Of course, Pretty Boy Dog had no problem reminding me. It wasn't the alarm I had silenced 30 minutes earlier that woke me, but his whining. I will do anything to stop the whining...any whining for that matter. Ugh.

The thing that kills me every time when we finally go out for his first morning walk is that he switches moods; he is immediately happy and ready to sniff and leave his mark at every possible point along the way. When we return inside the apartment, he goes back to whining but this time for his breakfast. He gets his breakfast and back to whining for play time. It is my fault for spoiling him, but geez can he be a pest with his long nose hitting you on your arm or on your leg. Guess who the boss is of this relationship?

I was still wiping the sleep from my eyes when I talked to Yummy. Of course, he's already visited a French bakery and eaten a nice breakfast. Too bad he couldn't have beamed some over for me...Later in the morning, Kristey returned my call from Thursday so we caught up on each other's stuff which was good. I miss her; we're still planning that outing at the Tiki Bar near her home...I am laying low this weekend since the following week will be hectic especially when my temp goes for her surgery. Not looking forward to the extra workload.

Talked with Yummy in the late afternoon before he nodded off for the evening in his timezone. This time he was eating some salty nut mix of cashews and peanuts. It sounded really good. Started talking about Filipino street food and how when I was a young girl in the Philippines, I would buy fried peanuts that still had the red skin on them. The vendors would usually add crushed whole garlic to the oil so it would be marvelously infused. They would also put your serving in a small brown paper bag and salt it -- you could add additional spicy hot oil if you wanted. The brown bag would begin to absorb the oil, but at that point you wouldn't care if your fingers were oily since the peanuts were so good.

I decided to go and run some errands at night like filling up my car with gasoline for the week. Wouldn't you know it -- I found myself in the endcap with the selection of nuts. Talk about the power of suggestion. A package of sweet, salty cashews made its way to my hand. I crunched on the way to the grocery store where I needed to get laundry detergent. Of course, a full cart of groceries later, I made it home around 10:35pm to put the stuff away and eat a late dinner. Now that's nuts!

Sweet, Salty Nuts of Life

Global Priority

Found out first thing that Yummy received his Valentine gift early. The postman pounded on his door really early before he was even up! He was supposed to receive it Monday, but it came today instead. I sent it Global Prioriy which is 4-6 days. I mailed it Tuesday and he received it Friday. Go figure.

He really loved the package and the mini-gifts inside as well as the card. Where most men are ambivalent about a near mushy gift, he was really ecstatic. What a great guy! It is sometimes difficult to be a receiver when you're used to being a giver. I am a giver, too, and have lots to learn about being a receiver. It's never too late to learn how as long as you have a buddy.

One of the things I love to do is wrap and give presents. I have dozens of fabric ribbon, some with French wire and not. I also have rolls of wrapping paper and cellophane for different occasions. Have I mentioned my obsession with confetti sprinkles in cards? Everything is better with sprinkles, I always say. Luckily, my friends are used to me and my confetti madness. It has become one of my many signatures.

If only some time-sensitive equipment had arrived on time at work let alone early. This caused some friction among different groups today, but I ignored them all. I was busy listening to BBC Radio 1 and some dance music on streaming Sirius on the internet. Of course, it is hard to ignore your boss when he is standing at your desk. He's a good guy so I indulge him. Ha!

The afternoon seemed to stretch interminably, but I made it through. I did leave a half hour earlier. I might log in during the weekend; we'll see... I just wanted to rush home to talk to Yummy. To my surprise, I received a fun and quirky card from him. It was like going halfway around the globe and back again in one day between the two of us receiving things from each other. It made for a happy Friday.

Global Priority

Mysterious Mist

The mist rolling in must have woken me up earlier than normal. I waited in bed and hit the snooze alarm about four times before finally decided to gear up and take Cabal for a walk around 4:30am.

We were at our halfway mark when I heard a dog barking in the distance. It didn't sound good and Cabal was probably thinking the same thing since he stopped and got quiet from his normal happy-go-lucky demeanor. I decided to head to splitsville while we could.

His second walk before I left for the day found us talking to a police woman in an unmarked car who informed me, after she handed a can of pepper spray to one of the groundskeepers, that a loose dog with no collar was going around chasing residents. Oh, great. Just great. Cabal was quickly ushered back in the apartment to avoid any mishaps...

On the drive to work, when I am not pitifully mooning over Yummy, I am planning the course of action to my day. My first priority was finishing up something for an emergency project which didn't start out so well. I read an e-mail that sent me into a tailspin and found me calling the offending party to open a can of whoopass. Aargh. I don't like starting my day out ugly, but certain people must be cut to the quick. Within 15 minutes of ending our conversation, her manager called to apologize.

Besides any conversation with Yummy, the best part of my day was lunch when I found myself being flirted at by a baby boy. I was sitting with Jeff and Tawnyia in the outer area of the food court. He watched me while I ate. I smiled at him and he beamed back. Ohmigosh - what a total dollbaby! I was in luuuuvvv. I got up to get something else and his eyes followed me and when I was no longer in his vision because I was coming around him, he followed me with his eyes and turned his torso towards me...

Walking back to the table, I realized I knew who the dad was. It was my friend Kristey's brother! The little boy was her nephew who just turned a year old. I hadn't seen him since the summer. I said hello and even touched the baby on his face. His expression grew as if he would just expire from the attention. He was all sweetness.

His dad wanted to send me more pictures of him at his recent first birthday. I found an extra napkin and jotted down my e-mail addy. While I leaned down, my hair formed a curtain shielding my face from the baby. He leaned forward and attempted to look around my hair. Talk about cute!!! Sadly, I had to interrupt my interlude and head back to work.

The ending of the day didn't go that well either. I had to open another can for the same issue. Good grief! I gave everyone an update including a detailed timeline which should make everyone happy...not.

Talked with Yummy in the evening who wanted to hear me pronounce "whoopass". Sometimes he is rather disturbing, but then again he is British. We all know what that means, don't we? He grew up talking funny.

Misty in my neighborhood.

On the drive to work:

Raymond James Stadium...looking bleak like the Buccaneers:

Mysterious Mist

Cool Mad Rush

Brrrr...It was chilly again this morning both inside and out of the office. I tried to warm up by working through things as fast as I could so I wouldn't have to think about the temperature. I slurped a big bowl of Italian Wedding Soup from downstairs and brought it to my desk to eat so I could work through lunch before two afternoon meetings. I didn't get to talk to my cohorts that's how busy it got...

Still a little peeved at getting a catalogue-sized envelope yesterday from my sister Suzanne in Killeen, TX. I haven't heard from this woman since we were at our niece's high school graduation in Merritt Island a couple of years ago. I've even sent her pictures of stuff, etc. and she hasn't responded. Not even a friggin' word through our dad. AND THEN the biotch has the hard audacity to send me some advertising about her daughter who is invited to go abroad for advanced students? Her daughter is trying to raise money to go which I dig, she deserves to go and I will send her something, but what gets me is there wasn't a handwritten note from my sister. What the heck? I just need to let it go. My cousin Angie and close girlfriends are better sisters to me and I am definitely keeping them...

The lawyer tap dancing number in the movie musical "Chicago" played in my head as I tried to get through two successive meetings in the afternoon. I really need to get an intravenous tube of coffee piped from the breakroom up through the ceiling tiles, along the plenum and down to my arm. Is that extreme? Not as extreme as the lady astronaut wearing diapers on her way to confront her perceived rival. What an idiot!

Speaking of idiots, why is it that other people's lack of proper planning causes an emergency on mine? Just asking.

I left work earlier than normal so I could escape midweek and be home early to talk to Yummy. Tawnyia needed a ride home so I happily took her. We did stop somewhere so I could get a green salad with chicken for dinner. Cabal was fed and played with by the agreed time with Yummy, but he didn't quite make it. He surprised me by texting me that he was going to be later which was nice. We did finally connect, but for a shorter time since he turned into a pumpkin soon after. Poor thing. I need to rush to bed early tonight since I have pumpkin-itis, too.

Cool Mad Rush

Be Very Quiet - It's Monday

Several people were out sick today including my department colleague and even Tawnyia. Both apparently suffered from migraines. Must be the weather which has turned into a chill. It never actually gets cold in Trampa, but sometimes you can say it is thanks to the humidity.

Very busy today, but I didn't have a lot of distractions so the day sped by quickly, thank God. I thought I would feel overwhelmed, but not having my colleague there eased my energy levels. She just has a way of affecting my mojo even with the feng shui cures I have in place. I can only imagine how it would feel without them! Let's not.

Very surprising thing today...One of the guys I run into in the lunchroom handed me a poem to read. He wrote it for his wife for Valentine's Day. He is a regional manager at work and in jest, we give each other a hard time. The poem was entitled, "Sand and Sea" which was really pretty. I even sent it to Yummy since he lives by the water. He came by my desk later and knew that I practiced feng shui by all the placement of objects. It just goes to show you just don't know your neighbors all the time. I liked being pleasantly surprised.

IM'ed with Yummy later who was in rare form. Trapezoid? Ha! His wit is so quick that I even have to put my game face on sometimes. Rare that that happens with men. That's one of the many reasons we get along so well and keeps me coming back for more of his brand of yummyness. I am supremely blessed to have such a caliber of man in my life and I take none of it for granted. He is a nice warm blanket when the world gets a little cold. I think I will enjoy that thought now while I quietly sip some hot tea.

Be Very Quiet - It's Monday

Swirl, Tap and Buff!

I was up early for a Sunday and pretty alert soon after. Grand plans were in my eyes...and stayed there. I decided to investigate my new make-up instead.

My Bare Escentuals DVD was actually good. I was following the mantra of "Swirl, Tap and Buff" on how to use the wonderful brushes with the mineral powders. A little definitely goes a long way. I am a new convert!

My only concern is that the Fairly Light powder is not light enough for me, but I remember Tawnyia always telling me I am obsessed with a slight kabuki look. She just knows that when "Memoirs of a Geisha" came out, I felt vindicated to have the very pale look. Whatever. Bare Escentuals does have a lighter powder called Fair (not albino either!). Guess who might be getting that soon?

Yummy got up late. He probably needed to catch up on some sleep. Poor thing. We talked for a while in the morning. I told him about my adventures in Girlie Land yesterday which he does find interesting since to him it is a new culture of sorts. Little does he know it is one of my obsessively favorite subjects and I am an expert. I even considered getting a part-time job at Sephora while I was there playing with everything, but that is just asking for trouble. My cabinets would soon be filled with all the girlie accoutrement one could ever wish for.

I ended up venturing out a little in my neighborhood, but didn't actually go inside the grocery store since there was no parking! Everyone was getting last minute snacks and beer for the Superbowl. I am so disgusted anymore with the Superbowl. Glad Dungy's team won though -- he deserved it especially after they let him go at the Bucs here. He built up the team and his successor reaped the rewards of his work by the Bucs winning the Superbowl the following year. I should've watched half-time since Prince performed -- been loving that man since 1982!

Talked with Yummy later after I watched "Wings of Desire" that Tawnyia ordered on NetFlix for me. German language with English subtitles, gotta love it! I didn't know that this where "City of Angels" ripped off it's basic storyline. Americans are running out of original ideas, I swear. The movie is long, but the black and white shots with splashes of color were really good to watch and the scenes in Berlin. Bruno Ganz was wonderful as the angel Damiel who falls in love with a trapeze artist Marion. The last 30 minutes make the whole thing really worthwhile. Thanks for telling me about this, honey!

Before bed I ended up watching more of the other DVD...can't help it.

Swirl, Tap and Buff!

Girlies Still Love Pop Rocks

Today was designated Girlie-Girl Day with Sarah and Tawnyia. Our mission: go to International Mall and visit my second home, a boutique after my own heart. Let's just say there was a 'plethora at Sephora'...

I started out the day IM'ing and talking to Yummy. He still gets a kick out of my girlie-girl stuff. I don't mind since it is quite funny. Ended up taking a nap after talking with him; I had gotten up at dark-thirty to take Cabal out.

My shirt was taking too long to dry in the dryer which made me a little late picking up Tawnyia. I bribed her with an iced latte and a donut from Dunkin' Donuts. She asked me if I was waiting for my hair or nails to dry when I told her that I was waiting for something to dry. Apparently, she knows me. She should -- today was our ninth friendship anniversary.

I don't enjoy the mall as much as I used to especially when I have to deal with soccer moms who have too much money to spend on stupidity. These women all shop at the same store so they all look alike. The conversations are so insipid that you want to give them a list of topics to change it up a bit. Tawnyia and I left an accessories store because of this.

Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite though. Especially today when I made a special trip to go and buy a new make-up line which in my own freakish way I find traumatizing. Talk about insipid conversation to change brand lines. I am brand loyal, but bareMinerals by Bare Escentuals has been calling my name. It is a make-up line that uses crushed minerals as a base and is 'free of preservatives, talc, oil, waxes, fragrances, and other chemicals' which can irritate skin. As I get older, I have to really think about what I am using on my skin.

I tormented Tawnyia with "come here! lookee!" at each counter and line I flitted to in the store. We also had fun in the perfume and cologne displays. Lots of yummy things for the inner girlie.

I took Tawnyia to lunch and we went to an arts and crafts store before I took her home. Along with some supplies, I ended up buying some old school candy called Pop Rocks, a candy processed with carbon dioxide. We had a surreal conversation in the car while we ate these.

We both had our mouths open to hear the popping sounds, but it must've looked like we were trying to catch flies or something. Tawnyia would stick her tongue out with this stuff at the end. We broke out in gales of laughter. I told her that as much as I think all men are the universal age of 12, women are five years old. She completely agreed.

I also sitted for Nan while my aunt and uncle went to Channelside to go to Hooter's and also see a movie after their dinner. They were in desperate need of a date night. When I wasn't talking with Nan, I hopped on the 'net and e-mailed some peeps... My aunt and uncle were very appreciative when they got home.

Almost to bed, but will try and watch the "how-to-use-this-crap" DVD for my new make-up. So specialized, it needs one! I can't decide whether to think that is pathetic or not. Aargh.

Girlies Still Love Pop Rocks

Atomic Dog

Talk about oblivious. I didn't know tornadoes were hitting our state. Without watching the news, the only hint I received was the windy conditions when I walked my dog last night. I found out about the aftermath at work this morning since our office in New Smyrna Beach was affected. The police have surrounded the building and no one can get through.

Cabal didn't like the his walk this morning at 4:30AM since he got wet. He hates to get his paws wet and doesn't like the rain, but he is good sport about the whole thing. I had an old towel to dry him off with when we came back. His new cologne Eau de Wet Pooch was apparent. Poor Pretty Boy Dog!

Even with the rain, the king of funk George Clinton can get your groove on with "Atomic Dog" on the way to work, followed by the oldie-but-goodie "Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc. To round out the a psychedelic music trip was "Perfect Way" by Scritti Politti just before I parked my car in the garage on the 4th floor. It was a jammin' morning for this AGOL.

Too bad it went downhill from there. Worked just sucked overall. Blame it on 'la bella luna'. The moon was in full force. Tried to 'snap out of it', but had a hard time. People were just insane lunatics...Could I just add anymore of references from the movie, "Moonstruck"? Uh, yes, actually I could.

Meanwhile, Yummy was experiencing technical difficulties at his office. Sometimes technology is its own worst enemy. I know, I am surrounded by mad IT folks....We talked after I got off work and it made everything better. 'The moon brings the woman to the man. Capice?' (Okay that was the last one, I promise.)

Atomic Dog

Poison Control

My phone was beeping a little after 11AM when I got back to my desk from getting more coffee. It was a voice mail from my San Francisco friend Trisha. I could barely make out what she said, but she didn't sound good at all. I could bits of 'can't get to computer', 'overdosing' and for me to call her back. I did and had to leave her a worried voice mail.

She finally got me on the line several minutes later and she explained to me that she had not been feeling well and miscalculated the dosage on some over-the-counter drug she had been taking (teaspoons vs. tablespoons). Her body had been rejecting the meds so she felt like a freight train had run her over. She asked me to look up the generic name of the drug and to see what measures could be taken to reverse or lessen her discomfort without calling 911. I did and ended up giving her the phone number to the national Poison Control Center.

Several minutes later, I get a text that said 'PCC says im gonna will live'. I waited for more but got nothing immediately. Trisha then turned it into a joke and texted, 'Why wasn't it w/a fun drug'...and then 'Kill my street cred...i O.D.'ed on 'tussin'. I was not that amused since I was very concerned and received the call instead of someone in her own city or immediate friendship band.

I should be used to this by now. Trisha has always been a little melodramatic since I met her in our Saks Fifth Avenue days in Chicago. She has been a great friend and its been recently that we've met up again via the Internet. I just take it and move on, but I am glad crisis was averted...until the next.

Yesterday my colleague was telling me what I should be doing. Keep your wannabe-supervisor actions to yourself! Tend to your own issues which are not so stellar, by the way! I decided to tune her out by putting on my noise-canceling headphones and playing a CD by Godsmack instead of my groovy John Mayer. She's so loud; I need to counterattack with the same volume and intensity.

This whole bit with my colleague galvanized me into action by me sending my resume to our boss this morning so he could see what I am capable of doing. We've all been trying to get our bearings in our new department and new responsibilities. I just don't need to be railroaded while we are trying to get on even footing. My boss did appreciate my e-mail note and the attached resume. He was going to ask for it soon anyway...

The evening found me learning about dragons in Sussex, England. Yummy and his best friend were investigating with maps, etc. the lore of dragons in the area for project they will be working on together. It reminded me of this bumper sticker, "Do Not Meddle In the Affairs of Dragons for You are Crunchy and Good with Ketchup". Hmm...Maybe I need more ketchup at work.

Poison Control

Maltesers & Modigliani

This could very well be the longest week of note. Wednesday is supposed to be "hump day" or the midweek celebration to the weekend. I was buried in contract renewals and invoice research thanks my company's split from the mother ship. A new company owns us now and we are still sifting through dozens of contracts. Could it be any more dullsville? I'd rather get a thorough physical from a doctor who has poor depth perception.

The highlights to my day were e-mails from Yummy, an IM conversation with Yummy and a night in at my friend British Jeff's home with friends and his two sons.

Every so often B. Jeff has movie night as his home where we watch a movie his sons would like. We order pizza and the adults drink beer and wine. Tonight we had the unholy crew of Jeff and Tawnyia, Anthony and Rebecca, B. Jeff, his sons and me. We watched a Pixar film called, "Cars" which we mostly enjoyed.

After pizza and halfway through the film, B. Jeff brought out the British chocolates he bought at a Brit store near his home. It was Galaxy and Malteser heaven for all of us. The last time we had these delicious treats was when his very nice mum Joyce brought them last month from Liverpool.

Here are some empty wrappers from what Tawnyia and I shared and no we didn't share the big bottle of Aussie wine in the background. She shared with her husband and I had Mexican beer.

B. Jeff is in the market to sell his home thanks to his recent and well-deserved divorce from his ex-wife. His real estate company helped him out by rearranging his home and bringing in some more homey touches since it was been somewhat of a bachelor pad until his sons recent move in. All this rigmarole to put the house in a better light for buyers.

The real estate ladies miscalculated one thing -- the painting below that hung over the fireplace. Could be this be the least friendly face to greet you when you walk in? Holy hell! Her slits for eyes must glow red when you're not looking not to mention they seem to follow you everywhere you go. Poor artist Modigliani must've been in need of some serious therapy!

We had a howling good time dissecting this choice of art. Medusa could be a rival to this face. The boys, also ghouls, had fun enacting different scenarios of what 'Modigliani' was doing while you slept. They teased me that my phone was now cursed because I took the picture to post on my blog.

B. Jeff and Anthony switched the picture for a friendlier one on the other side of the fireplace facing the swimming pool. The fireplace was installed on a freestanding wall and can be enjoyed from both sides either in the dining room or the living room. I'm thinking the feng shui level in this house is now balanced.

Now I must decide whether to smudge my house with smoke from burning white sage or sprinkle sea salt in the corners to ward of Modigliani's curse. F**k it, I am going to sleep. My powers of evil are way stronger. Ha!

Maltesers & Modigliani

Happy Moments and Butt Paste

Something must have shifted in the space-time continuum if a Monday becomes too enjoyable while you are at work. Maybe wormholes crossed and some kind of feelgood space dust started to get piped into the atmosphere or maybe it's just good to be happy.

It started with a sweet offline message from Yummy, followed by a funny conversation with my boss about the cooler weather and horrrrible traffic this morning and continued from there with the silliest conversations with Tawnyia and funny e-mails from Yummy.

Even with a busy workload, I still found time during coffee and tea breaks with Tawnyia to get into the most ridiculous conversations. We were even in the restroom howling with laughter and not being able to breathe properly...obviously we were the only village idiots in there.

One that got us going was recalling a conversation with Michelle in the office. She took a part-time job at Target and found herself a couple of weeks ago in the baby aisle and happened upon a baby product called Boudreaux’s Butt Paste which is a diaper rash ointment. The name struck her funny and then she decided to get a tube of it as part of her friend's birthday gift as a gag.

Two weeks later at lunch today, Michelle tells us that she let her zany girlfriend named Billie, who always seems to get herself innocently into compromising positions, actually apply some of this 'butt butter' on her face. Tawnyia and I reacted with horror (we say the R, honey) on why she would let such a thing happen. We all burst into endless giggles.

Michelle's butt butter episode was accompanied by her telling of a middle-aged man coming into Target obsessed with finding a product with retinol and other eye wrinkle items to which I asked, "Did you tell him to go and get some Preparation H?" Apparently, not everyone knows to use hemorrhoid cream around the eye because everyone stared at me like I was a crackbaby. If beauty queens have used this beauty secret for years during competitions, it would be good enough for him. Amazingly enough, the guy did get some in his basket without being prompted. My man knew his eye products...

Of course, it didn't end there. I gave Tawnyia a ride home and she left me with a hysterical visual of what British porn might sound like compared to American porn. I will not even get into it, but it would remind you of what the Queen might be like when she decides to get it on...now. I am surprised I was able to drive home.

Thank Goddess I got a reprieve with a catch-up conversation with Kristey which still had some laughing business, but not too painful. (Yesterday was crazy enough.) I just couldn't take anymore laughing for today. I actually got a headache. Now for some aspirin...and they say laughter is the best medicine!

Happy Moments and Butt Paste

Sundae with Cherry on Top

Within an hour of getting up from my bed, I found myself talking to Yummy who had already been up for hours in his timezone. I had hot tea with milk and sugar while we chatted for a long while. We broke for our own separate agendas, he with his writing and me with my nail appointment and Wal-Mart run to get dog food for Cabal and other sundries.

My nail tech always tries to upsell me with crazy nail designs and airbrush goodies. I try to gently explain to her that I work in a corporate setting and it would not be good to have 'tramp-o-lina' nails, but she perseveres by saying it would make me look younger. What...like 12? I hold my own and she agrees to a Bing Cherry red color instead of the French manicure from last time.

I didn't have breakfast or lunch so I can only blame me taking this photo due to 'low sugar'. I laughed when I saw this and thought it would be the kind of gift Yummy would get for Cabal. They have a bit of a rivalry going on...mano a doggo. Go figure.

When I got home, I quickly realized that the watch I picked out for the day hadn't been changed to Daylight Savings Time and ended up a little late for another call with Yummy. I thought I had changed all of them!

This poor man is just getting some serious feminine culture shock from me. I somehow ended up explaining how acrylic nails can be applied the first time. He chimed in by asking if I had nail extensions and I said yes. Where he got that from I don't know, but he was trying to follow when he wasn't laughing hysterically especially after I called my nail lady a nail technician.

I also told him about an incredible story with a large lizard who came into my apartment when I first moved in. It is too long and too embarrassing to tell but suffice it to say, Yummy is finding out more about me each minute. He must be a glutton for punishment because he still keeps coming back. Life with me is never a dull moment, but it is all in good fun.

We hung up since he apparently needs his 'beauty sleep'. I caught up on my blog and spent the rest of the evening by relaxing. It was a nice way to end the weekend. Now for sleep before a busy week at work.

Sundae with Cherry on Top

Secret Geek

The one thing most people don't know about me is that I am a secret geek. Science has always interested me and maybe a little math. I even did some basic computer programming in junior high school in the mid-80's. I've worked in two IT shops and most of my friends are in IT. With all that said, I am not an "IT" person, but I can sure program the clock on my own VCR.

The geeky things that interest me now are neurolinguistic programming (NLP), quantum physics, food science, parapsychology, science fiction, social psychology and cultural and linguistic anthropology. Not exactly light reading for a former make-up artist, but definitely a lot of fun.

It would seem that my secret geekiness was utilized at least twice recently by me adding a customized javascript on my blog to help me countdown the days for an important event and also by helping my cousin Florida install software and a photo printer this afternoon. How do I get into things that I am trying to avoid? I'd rather keep the whole thing cerebral so that there is no outward evidence...

A cute geeky thing today was e-mailing Yummy at a few intervals during the day. He kept replying and I know he had a really busy day out. I e-mailed him from my apartment in the morning, then at my cousin Florida's early afternoon and again at my friend Kathy's a few hours later when I went to pick her up so I could take her to the airport to rent a car for her vacation. I loved using her Sony Vaio -- what a killer video card! The colors were incredibly sharp and clear. Did I mention geek gadgets were hot?

The secret is out now. I am a geek who just happens get her hair and nails done, wear a make-up like a pro and practices being a domestic diva. There are still realms of geekdom I need to explore, but only one byte at a time for now.

Secret Geek

Special Delivery

Our office receptionist sends me several e-mails a week letting me know that I have special deliveries which are usually computer software and hardware I have ordered for someone. The preview of the e-mail blipped on the bottom right-hand part of my screen. I trekked up to her area and awaited the boxes that were surely to be handed to me. Today was different...no boxes.

What awaited me was the most breathtaking vase of blooms I've seen. It was an overwhelmingly huge arrangement of color. Stunned. Arrested. Speechless. I began to shake inside and feel the warm blush that sure covered my face. I read the card to confirm that it was from Yummy. No wonder he was quiet on the e-mail this morning!

The picture below does not do this beautiful gift justice:

Blooms of Snapdragons, Roses, Lilies, Carnations and other wild too precious flowers.

Clusters California Wax Flowers surrounded the arrangement.

After taking what seemed an interminable trek back to my desk, I set the vase down. I soon discovered it was rather voluminous. I was afraid to accidentally tip the vase so I had to put it up on the overhead cabinet of my cube. It became a giant beacon that a dozen or so co-workers had to come and investigate. The ladies were envious and the men were very impressed. They could see it from the other side of the floor. Yes, everyone was 'properly sickened' at the generous display.

Goddess knows that I am not one to expect or require tokens of adoration. To me, it is about the other person wanting to send or give the gift because they want to and not about you wanting and expecting as if by right then receiving the gift because the other person felt guilted into it. I've seen too many women display this crass trait.

This time I didn't mind 'receiving'. Of course it took me a thank you e-mail to Yummy and a picture of the arrangment as proof of receipt to get used to the idea. Twenty minutes later, I also gave into the instinctual urge to call him on his cell phone in London. I was ready to receive his voicemail when his sexy voice answered. The call was awkward since neither one of us expected the call, but I would've been very disappointed in myself for not calling and just leaving things up to e-mail.

We did discuss things further later when I got home and the commotion he caused. I teased him that even the International Space Station called to say how beautiful the arrangement was from their vantage point. I was deeply rewarded by hearing his laughter.

I must also properly thank the blooms for allowing me to enjoy their glory and beauty especially as they slowly open to smile at me in the next few days. They are going to be gorgeous!

Real Fortune Today: For light, go directly to the source of the light, not any reflections.
Learn Chinese: Telephone (Dian-hua)

Special Delivery

Before You Know It

Who stole Monday and Tuesday? It's Wednesday and I'm not quite sure how it got here. It must've been the rain that brought it in. It's been grey and rainy not to mention cooler in Trampa today. It would've been a perfect 'baking day'. Hmmm...making chocolate chip cookies, snuggles with my adorable Yummy or both?

Work is finally waking me up from the daze I've felt all month. I think I found my work mojo; it was behind the laser printer the whole time! How ever I found it, I am on it like white on rice. Goddess knows how much I love rice -- it runs through my veins!

I was glad I listened to my instincts this morning before I left work by grabbing a blank note card with a sweet cartoon scene by Mary Engelbreit on laughter printed on the front. I wrote a joke and greeting to one of the girls at work, Nikki. She is such a sweet lady but has been going through new meds for her recent ailment. She was delighted to get the card and she laughed at the silly joke inside. Nikki has been trying to manage her pain, but was miserable some days. Laughing was her best medicine this afteroon...

My boss pre-approved my vacation in the Spring. He is not set up correctly in the system and therefore has to get his SVP's approval, too. I have a laundry list of items I need to get done and have organized prior to taking the time off. I believe I have Cabal's care figured out that will satisfy both of us. He didn't do well the last time I left him for a long period of time at the pet resort and spa which sounds grander than it is, but well worth the money. I may have one of my girlfriends stay at my apartment. I still have time to iron that out.

The biggest thing right now is for me to just buckle down and practice good time management which can be a challenge. I get distracted so easily especially if I am being forced to focus. I may see something shiny in the corner of my eye that just begs to be seen. Oh, that was just gloss from the pictures at my desk. Sigh.

I need some creative outlet. It's been months since I've been to any art festival or art store. I may have to scour around for something interesting or really different. The art season is at hand so I must make plans with Jeff and Tawnyia to join them around town. We have fun at those and get ideas for lampwork beads, paper and textile arts, pottery, and beading jewelry. I still have to visit their studio space downtown. If only we had real time to devote to this kind of fun instead of 'working for The Man'. How anti-establishment we are, but bills still have to be paid with the day job... (I hate The Man.)

Dinner tonight was from the Chinese joint nearby. I had a serious jones for some soup, but I got a variety of stuff for lunch, too. Will have to add some ginger to the wonton soup before I bring it in to work. Hey, is it vacation time yet?

Real Fortune Today: Don't let your limitations overshadow your talents.
Learn Chinese: Egg (Ji-dan)

Before You Know It

Picture Perfect

Starting my day at the auto parts store to get new bulbs for my tail lights is not my idea of waking up. Good thing Dunkin' Donuts was next door where I went through the drive-thru to get an iced latte afterwards. I was not only zooming from the caffeine, I was zooming through the interstate at 75mph while blasting whatever groovy music was playing.

I arrived at my aunt's home about 45 minutes before she returned from church services with my uncle and Nan. It would give me time to scan about a dozen pictures or so and e-mail them before my visit. I used my key to get in and began my task. No sooner than I sat down on the chair that the phone rang. I checked Caller ID and it was my cousin Florida. Chatted with her and her husband for a few minutes and agreed for me to visit them the following weekend.

Wouldn't you know it, my cell phone rang soon after that call. Only this time it was my friend Trisha in San Francisco wishing me a belated birthday and relating a hilarious story about catching animals in her yard with a trap. She has to be the one to tell it...

Sometimes you just have to get over the embarrassment of scanning pictures of yourself in range from infant to 19 to send out. I have very few pictures of myself during this time so I do treasure what ones I have and prominently display them in my apartment. The pictures were meant for Yummy and later when I spoke to him, he said that he did enjoy them. He sent one of him at age 14 during our call. Of course, he was cute even then! Sickening...

Everyone came home while I was still scanning pictures. My aunt prepared three different Filipino dishes for me as part of my birthday present. (Yes, I am still celebrating.) I enjoyed it immensely and she did too when we shared them. My uncle doesn't like the more exotic Filipino food and neither does Nan so they ate entirely different items. For dessert I had steamed rice muffins flavored with coconut milk and a bit of anise. I took home some more muffins and some of the dishes my aunt made for later in the week.

Today is also my dad's birthday and I ended up e-mailing him a black and white picture of him at 19 and his "cowboy" picture when he was dating my mother, a portrait where he wore western cut clothing and a cowboy hat. He is quite handsome and he was very shocked to see them in his e-mail. We laughed about it when I called him. He's 65, but looks easily 10 years younger. Dad also mentioned that he had been sorting through photos and I had a stack he was sending to me. I hope it is the set of pictures from a particular album which would round out my own collection.

It was fun to look back at pictures today and share them. I'm glad the pictures I sent reminded me of better times. The past can have a way of catching up with us when we least expect it in little innocent messengers such as childhood pictures. I guess the key is to surround and create for ourselves pictures we would like to see...happy ones.

Picture Perfect

Salon Saturday

My hair appointments are usually in the morning and not at 2PM like it was today. You get what you get when you make your appointment at the last minute. Michelle, my hairdresser, didn't mind. She said she missed me over the holidays.

Kristey was the one who recommended her over a year ago and I've been happier ever since. Changing hairdressers is much like breaking off a serious relationship; it is an emotional ordeal. For ten years, I had a relationship with my male hairdresser that lasted through about six jobs for me and five salons for him.

It wasn't until our last year that he really started working on my nerve. I don't know if he was always insensitive or had developed an insensitivity with his last boytoy. Whatever it was I was fed up. His comments to me and about some of the people we both knew were reprehensible. I knew the one thing he hated was not having closure so I didn't give it to him. I never showed up for my last appointment with him, ignored his calls, ignored his queries through my other friends who went to him in the weeks that came and just stopped talking to him altogether.

Michelle was starting to fall into this break-up category the latter part of last year. She was consumed with her husband's infidelity, but still wanted him and was willing to take him back if he would just admit to the affair that he so stubbornly denied even with blatant evidence in their home. Kristey and another lady we knew were ready to jump ship, but like loyal girlfriends, we all stayed. Her divorce was final two months ago and she seems to have eased into a less intense obsession with her ex-husband. Thank goddess. I have to sit in her chair for three hours for a cut and color!

My secret about Michelle is that she reminds me of my late mother. I was so stunned the first time I saw her. The likeness was uncanny. My mother was Filpina and Michelle is Korean, go figure. (Contrary to popular belief, not all Asians look the same.) She enjoys making people look and feel beautiful. I, for one, am never disappointed at the results.

If Michelle really worked my nerve, I think I would stay simply because she makes me feel like a kid again. We joke endlessly and talk about the Asian part of our life. We have an understanding of things and how to appreciate the good the comes in our lives. We each have had our own bittersweet memories, but we know that laughing can make it better not to mention a good salon trip. Even if you feel like crap, at least you'll look like a million bucks.

As Fernando says from SNL, "It's better to look good than to feel good, dahling. You look mahvelous!"

Salon Saturday

Dancing with Dragonflies

This story was never meant to be published anywhere, but it is demanding it be told to the world since it keeps coming up...

Some of my best and worst memories come from living the first 11 years of my life in the Philippines. I was an only child to my mother until she remarried later when we moved the States. While I had a multitude of neighborhood kids and a cousin who were my playmates, I was still the only child in my house with too much time to spend satisfying rampant curiosities.

I am grateful that I did live in a tropical place where a myriad of plants and insects surrounded me. The bright colors of flowers and dark green glossy leaves from trees and bushes were painted for me most everywhere I turned. The diamondlike grains of sand played peek-a-boo in between the growing blades of grass on the ground. The tropical breezes would lift strands of my long dark brown hair near my face like little banners. The sun seemed like the pupil of God's eye while the cerulean blue sky his iris which revealed everything and shared his warmth on my skin while I made my way around the yard chasing and catching dragonflies. I must have been between the ages of 7 and 9. It was idyllic.

My dragonflies were everywhere it seemed. I used to catch them with small cello bags and sometimes small clear glass jars. I would hold them by their wings and stare for an eternity, imprinting them on my psyche. Some had avocado green bodies with black stripes and others had iridescent purplish blue bodies. Their wings were capillaries of black that actually breathed if you really looked at them - their long tails breathed, too. Watching them expand and contract held me mesmerized. Their eyes seemed too big for their bodies while their legs tickled my child size fingers when I brushed them. If I was lucky, I would catch one that had eggs on her belly. I was fascinated because she would hold onto them dearly when I tried to touch them.

Children are often times are blessed with ignorance and naivete. In this case I was grateful since I used to tear some of the dragonflies' wings and keep them in the jar while I made paper wings for them using lined school notebook paper. There would be a slit in the middle of the ribbon where I would insert what wings were left and I would gently spread them over the paper. I would then carry them in the open yard and throw them in the sky so they could fly away...but they didn't. They fell among the blades of grass. I found them only by the telltale white paper ribbons that were supposed to be their new wings.

I didn't give up. I would fling them again in the air where we would play the same game over and over. I would get disappointed and I couldn't fathom why they wouldn't fly. Somehow I did know why but I wouldn't let myself let the teasing mist of darkness invade my thoughts. I would end up slipping their new wings off and I would gently set them either on a flower or hide them in a blade of grass where they would magically have flown away when I tried to find them again the next time.

Since then my dragonflies have forgiven me and have become harbingers of good luck or a message of my beloved mother thinking of me as if to say, "Smile honey...only good things today".

On the evening of November 21st last year, a giant dragonfly was on the number plate on my door. It's wings spanning horizontally on the whole plate. I was in awe and knew that something really good was coming. I felt it in my soul. I will never forget the feeling as long as I live. My winged visitor stayed for a long time even when let myself inside my apartment and going back out later checking on it. I took a photo on my phone, but it is too dark to make out.

I did go out that evening, but when I returned it was gone only to be found on the wall across the way opposite my door before I closed it. It demanded to be recognized. I thanked it for visiting and went inside. Since then only good things keep coming around. I even found a new playmate to start chasing new species of dragonflies on his island. That will be fun!

Dancing with Dragonflies

It's Froggy Outside

Weather is just one of the hazards of living near water. Trampa is right next to the Gulf of Mexico and also has the Atlantic Ocean nearby in the east, two bodies of water enjoying a ballroom dance in weather patterns. Today was very froggy (foggy) in Trampa, visibility in driving was challenging. Thank goddess it did burn off later in the day and was replaced by sunshine.

Mother Nature must be having a bad case of premenstrual syndrome. Her mood swings around the world is just reminding us we are visitors on her Earth. Snow in Malibu where there was just some fire. I've been there several times and just cannot imagine a single snowflake kissing a the leaf on one of their majestic palm trees.

Received an e-mail from Yummy describing the windy conditions on his way to work. Tawnyia sent me a link to the news of European weather from cnn.com and forwarded to Yummy since it showed picture of the pier in his hometown with giant waves crashing upon it thanks to the strong winds. London and surrounding cities were having hurricane winds and Heathrow canceled many flights while several people had lost their lives because of the inclement conditions across Europe. Yummy was able to leave work early and make it home okay. The winds were really crazy; the lights were flickering on and off while he made dinner.

I have to brag: My brilliant Yummy was "big and clever" by fixing his own boiler that had been acting up. The plumber did talk him through it over the phone (at no charge) and he was successful! I've seen enough home improvement shows especially years of "This Old House" to know that this can be tricky. I am so proud of him. There is apparently no end to his talents.

When I left work, I felt a cold breeze. I wonder if Trampa will get winter this year. The last time we really had any cooler temps was in late October. I haven't had to switch from Air Conditioning to Heat in my apartment which I keep at 70 degrees. Thanks in advance to Mother Nature for continued good weather and a prayer that she is more gentle elsewhere. Although, I am starting to really enjoy the fog.

It's Froggy Outside

Too Damn Cute

Waking up grumpy is usually never a good sign. I was still ticked off the day before from finding out that when I renew my lease on my apartment in April, it will go up significantly. Living in Trampa is getting so expensive especially where I live. The place is nice and is central to everyone I know and places I go. What are ya gonna do? Sign on the dotted line I guess. Aargh. This grumpy action carried on through my drive to work and traffic was a bear on the non-highway route, but it was not really any worse than normal.

I arrived at work with a mental laundry list of things I needed to get done so I could take my mind of things, but I very quickly perked up from an offline message from Yummy. He took the day off to take care of things and he would be online during the day if I wanted to send him messages. If he could get anymore adorable, I would just burst with it!

After saying hellos and such, I told him that we could send peek-a-boo messages all day while I worked. Thank Goddess I can multi-task especially with dual monitors at my disposal. I did bebop to the upper floor suite and check in incoming software. I was busy mooning over him while I did that activity. Open box...smile...take out licensed software and invoice...smile... I could've given myself cavities!

Work is not holding much interest right now especially with the big transition we've been going through. Reading vendor agreements and contracts is just dullsville...My contractor just found out she will be renewed until February which falls short the permanent offer she was expecting. Poor thing has been overselling herself and is starting to work people's nerves. Hasn't she ever heard of subtlety? Things can change; I did try to cheer her up with that news. Not sure if she was convinced after the letdown. Nothing like starting a group meeting later in the day with this bit of news.

Lunch was thankfully hilarious. I couldn't do the crossword from the paper I bought from laughing at the silly comics and being bad with galpal Jill. She gets too cute when she is funny. We share the same kind of humor...earthy. Our human resource manager has a habit of walking in at a certain time to see if he can learn anything new from us, but mostly he hustles to get his coffee, smiles and heads back to the executive side with his head shaking. He's afraid to be alone with us...not that I blame him. My motto with Jill: Wild Women Do and They Don't Regret It. I know..classy. Have some BMA cookies then.

Meanwhile, back at Yummy Ranch...there was a lot of exchange going on. I wish I could explain in detail about this man, but I can't or is that won't? He is just wonderful and way too cute for his own good. I just want to gobble him up he's so adorable. It's not just looks, it is the stuff he says and does. We'll just leave it at that.

The drive home was okay and I was no longer grumpy. I walked the dog and got the mail and received another birthday gift, this time from Kristey. She sent me this card with a disco ball in the front and "Happy Birthday Dancing Queen" inside. Yep, she knows me. I also received a gift card at Barnes & Noble bookstore, a metal bookmark with flower design and Thoreau quote to go inside the book in my package. The book is entitled, DAILY AFFLICTIONS The Agony of Being Connected to Everything in the Universe. It is pure comedy with its crushing life insights. Kristey is too cute for sending me this stuff.

I am projecting something in the universe, but I am not sure if it is cuteness. It is what is being reflected back. Isn't that too damn cute?

Too Damn Cute

Hypnos, Morpheus and Me

Strange relationships have been a staple in this Asian Goddess' life but no stranger than her relationship with Hypnos, the god of sleep and Morpheus, the god of dreams.

Hypnos and I just can't get along. I live on about four hours of sleep a night and have been doing so since I was a teenager. My body does surrender on the weekends when I have nothing planned. I sleep seemingly endlessly where time doesn't exist and before I know it dusk has fallen.

I recall during summer vacations where I would end up sleeping long hours during the day and be awake all night. My own circadian rhythm wreaking havoc on my person thus creating a vampirelike existence. I enjoyed it because it was quiet at night. Humans were quiet and I couldn't hear their collective thoughts.

Hypnos steals my mind during the day at work. It's being awake, but watching the day go by and being aware that you are responding to the day properly but not quite being present because you are not where you want to be or doing what your heartsong is demanding you honor by not letting the music die within you.

Morpheus is the little devil who haunts me when I do sleep. He teases me with bizarre stories and precognitive scenes. Because of this, I experience more deja-vu than anyone I know. He needs to leave me alone more or I'll have to drink more wine to induce a longer sleep so he won't. I just can't do that either so Hypnos and Morpheus win again.

The only time Hypnos gets somewhat violent is when I refuse him and my body begins to sicken starting at my stomach and I know I must comply with his will. The more I refuse, the more my body pains and I just have to succumb...

Yummy is five hours ahead of me. I am selfish with his time, he needs to take the "outs" I give him otherwise he will not get the sleep his body and mind require to function. If he refuses like I do, Hypnos may start to play with him, too. I wouldn't want that since he is so yummy when he is awake. Maybe I am his substitute Hypnos? I just love to hear and really listen his voice; it soothes me something fiercer than any enticements Morpheus would tease me with before sleep.

Some say you can sleep when you're dead. Some need seven to eight hours of solid sleep to function. Some just need a "power nap" during the day to get by. I just need to sleep.

Hypnos, Morpheus and Me

I Say It's My Birthday...Gonna Have a Good Time!

Asian Goddess of Love turns 36 today! Officially making my way to being an old haggis.

I took my time getting up, but realized later that I had to hustle. Birthday wishes via phone calls, text messenging and e-mail began coming in at 9:16am which made my Sunday morning routine moot. I am so blessed with a loving group of friends and family. It makes me so proud to be me.

Breakfast was skipped since I was meeting Dianne for lunch. I just love Dianne -- she is one of my dearest friends. It is always by accident that we dress up in the same or complimenting colors when we meet. People must think we're a couple. She's cute so I don't really care; however, her husband would probably like to entertain the idea.

We met at Boston's in Trampa near the Veteran's Expressway. She had a Pomegranate Mojito and I had a Pomegranate Martini to start. They were delicious! We progressed to each ordering The Italian Trio which we both took some leftovers home, but we couldn't quite make our dessert of Apple Crisp a la Mode home. Dianne was sick of all the holiday chocolate so this was nice relief.

After we finished lunch, I decided to get my nails done before my date with Yummy. I was almost late, but he ended up late since his computer was acting up. We shared wine and talked a lot. Being with him was a perfect ending to my birthday weekend.

I get to do more birthday celebrating over the coming week and definitely next weekend with family where they can remind me of my impending trek up to 40. Loving it!


I want to share this quote on a mug given to me by Jeff & Tawnyia this weekend. They saw it and thought of me. These are now my birthday affirmations:

live with intention.
walk to the edge.
listen hard.
practice wellness.
play with abandon.
laugh.
choose with no regret.
continue to learn.
appreciate your friends.
do what you love.
live as if this is all there is.

-- mary anne radmacher

I Say It's My Birthday...Gonna Have a Good Time!

Mellow Mushroom -- Hold the Mellow!

It is finally my birthday weekend. It's all good especially if you have family and friends to celebrate with you...

I started the celebration with lunch at my favorite restaurant Maggiano's in Trampa with my good friend Myrna who has never been there. Her husband doesn't like Italian food so we went by ourselves where we ended up splitting everything we ordered from the killer calamari I've been craving for over a month now, salad, pasta with chicken in marsala sauce and the "mutha" of all desserts, Chocolate Zuccoto Cake. Oh...my...Goddess! We made an admirable dent in it and I took the rest home which is enough for another two sittings. After that we shopped and she drove me back home so I could take a nap before Jeff and Tawnyia picked me up for dinner.

The three of us met Kathy and Jaime at The Mellow Mushroom in Brandonia which is a really funky fun pizza joint to celebrate Tawnyia's actual birthday and mine (tomorrow!). I knew we were having pizza ahead of time so nothing of normal pizza freakishness was present. We had a great time joking around. It is always "open season" when we get together; you just have to have thick skin around us.

Jaime just found out that I have the "Benny Hill" theme as my ringtone. He said he could just imagine me in my apartment with the phone ringing and running around searching for the phone while Pretty Boy Dog chased me around. He is just really evil! I was exhausted from laughing.

Jeff and Tawnyia took me home and they opened their Christmas gift from me which was a proper rice cooker and a side bag of long grain rice. I still owe them a large body bag of jasmine rice. As part of the Asian community, I can no longer allow them to torture themselves with converted rice. My ancestors are turning in their graves because they are the last of my friends who do not have a proper rice cooker. Besides that -- they need to start supporting my people!

Mellow Mushroom -- Hold the Mellow!

Freaky Friday

Some days are just for the dogs. Today was one of them. I had to relay a part of my job to the contractor for the day which made her happy since she was bored while I had the dubious honor of writing up my performance appraisal.

Words are usually not elusive to me, but they were hiding when I tried to create a detailed summary of my professional accomplishments in the past year. I dawdled by reading the instructions on how to complete the online submission and I overanalyzed my previous manager's quarterly goals for me. I did finish...no choice since it was due with no exceptions. Now I get to wait for my company's response which should be soon.

To lessen the sting of these appraisals, we got an announcement today for the nominees for President's Club which is a trip to the Virgin Islands in April. I was one of them. The nominations are done by your peers with detailed justification on why you should be rewarded. I think I know who nominated me and I did help her by facilitating the purchase of large dollar software and maintenance needs. It required a lot of research and proper assignment to the R&D group. I am apathetic about being able to go, but it was nice to be nominated. I am very lucky that I do get my fair share of praises from peers to my manager. Even our president knows who I am and the good reviews attached to me. I can't decide if that is a bad thing or a good thing.

The cherry on top of my day was having an almost bizarre date with Yummy. He ate pizza and I just had two big glasses of Australian Cabernet Savignon on an empty tummy. Did I get giggly and silly! Poor thing. We told jokes and laughed a lot. I explained some of my OCD habits and how long it takes me from start to finish to get ready in the morning (1 - 1.5 hours!). He needs to be prepared for these things. I have explained how extremely feminine I am before, but you just never know. It was the best date I've had in a while -- I wasn't looking for an escape hatch! Our times for now are very unique, but I don't feel it any less real or significant...He knows why.

Now I get to prepare for a very busy birthday weekend. I have two lunchdates and two dinner dates. Exhaustion from laughing all weekend will be the antidote to a long work week.

Freaky Friday

Fantasy Island

Remember when Mr. Roarke would welcome everyone and say, "Smiles, everyone... smiles"? I took him at his word so I was a smiling fiend all day.

Now just waiting for Tattoo to say, "Da plane. Da plane."

Fantasy Island

Blue Goddess

No snow in Canada and Illinois...Twenty-eight inches of snow in Colorado...It was just 83 degrees a few days ago and now Trampa has a high today of 64 degrees. What is happening?

The changes have been the cause of my headaches the last two days I think. All I wanted was a blanket to keep me warm and cozy while the ibubrofen worked its magic. Of course, they had obstacles called reading contracts and making comments on them to go through while still doing their regular job. I am a creative person and having me deal with this kind of BS is just insufferable! (Hundreds of dollars worth of art supplies are atrophying in my second bedroom.) How the heck did I end up in the finance department? Maybe I should try sales? They did offer me a position there a few months ago.

I now have to start taking my online class for a certification exam. I received the 90-day notice of expiration. Has it been a year since I registered? For a mere $25, I can have the deadline extended beyond the 90 days. My boss is okay with it, but we are just so swamped with ramping up our area that even with the extension, I may have to get another extension for the friggin' extension...

For the first time in a few years, I am actually planning a vacation instead of just reacting to available time off by making plans. I almost had to womp somebody down who was stepping on my planned time. Transatlantic trip vs. a martial arts weekend? HELLO! No comparison especially if the latter is by a temp. Does not the permanent employee get first preference?

I called Tawnyia on the way home since she took today off; she needed to get away from work. Maybe I should've done that, but there is too much to do. I am too much of a responsible worker bee. Why do I even have a conscience?

She made omelettes for dinner for her family and I was craving Filipino comfort food...a soup made with tamarind mix, bok choy, tiny pork ribs for flavor, chopped Asian eggplant, and Chinese long beans. Ladle over jasmine rice and add a few dashes of soy sauce. Didn't happen. Changed my mind to get Chinese takeout, but that didn't happen either. Once Tawnyia mentioned omelettes, I wanted to make one with spinach. Didn't happen once more. She knows I am blaming her tomorrow for not getting some kind of Asian food.

I did have some comfort food in the soup I made with chicken broth, jasmine rice, frozen chopped spinach, big pinch of sea salt, fresh ground pepper and a bay leaf. It was very simple, but now making me sleepy from the warmth. I better go find my blanket.

Blue Goddess

Oh My Stars!

The only thing that saved me from having a really monotonous day at work was IM'ing with Yummy and having him read my astrological chart. That was definitely a novel experience. Just not used to having a man read for me. Slightly sexist, I know, but I survived it.

Not sure if he really knows, but I did study astrology for about a year and a half which is not enough time if you're at it for two hours a week. I've always looked to the heavens, waiting for some spacecraft to retrieve me from a universal travel mistake. I should've been on Neptune or in another distant solar system.

In 6th grade, I wanted to be both an astonomer and an Egyptologist. Always up for an adventure in understanding our place in the cosmos while reaching back in the past for further knowledge on our ancestors. The Egyptians built the pyramids with such precision for their time, not to mention aligning them with Orion's belt. The stuff of Seekers!

Seekers are what I've come to call individuals who look towards the heavens for the truth that is surely out there. They constantly question (what if?) and do hours of research for their own pleasure. I am a Seeker. My thirst for knowledge flits from one subject to the next. Some times I exhaust myself finding the answer, but if it is there to be known I will find it.

Yummy impressed me with his own findings and how he related them to me. He echoed what two astrologers had said about my chart. The whole thing was a little unnerving at times. I will not include details since even that is private for me. Only less than a handful have seen the snapshot of the sky at the time of my birth. With the correct information, the planets and sun/moon cannot hide your personality, your predispositions or even a possible outcome. They only play peek-a-boo around the astrological wheel.

I did ask him to do a comparison with his to mine. I hadn't run his and ours through an astrological program I purchased for my PC. He was probably a little spooked when he found out that I have such a thing. AGOL and her chrysanthemum layers keep revealing themselves. His findings were revealing, too! It's all good whatever they are. A chart only gives you the conditions, it is up to you to work with those conditions. Very intuitive that Yummy...He worked my nerve a little. He loves that.

Oh My Stars!

Cocoon

Weekend spent caught in an enchanted chrysalis dream. Time passed like the gentle snowfall in a water globe...unhurried.

The universe has given me a gift and I am slowly unwrapping the magic contained within. One snag, it requires special keys to open each lock and it requires being delivered personally to be fully received. I have to valiantly look within and around me to find each key. They are closer than I think and some hidden in plain sight. Frustrations will arise along with yearning relief after each lock is undone. My search continues since I've found at least two keys.

Knowledge and Willingness for the gift are already used. Three more keys, I think. Understanding, Patience and True Divinity of the gift are left to find. Their golden glint is lost among the brass. Wish me luck in finding the gold keys. I am not alone in the adventure; Yummy is with me along the way. He is afterall co-recipient of the treasured gift.

Just remember -- Miles with smiles, honey!

Cocoon

Day-O...Thursday Come and I Wanna Go Home

Harry Belafonte was being channeled in my mind the last two days and my cube farm has been working my nerve! There are only so many feng shui cures I can apply at work before the telltale signs of too many pieces of aluminum foil with reflective side facing the bad juju vibes (co-workers) start to peek from under hanging frames and through file cabinets in my area. My energy is all wonky because of the bad funk shui.

I thought yesterday was today. The day became a whole Maalox moment when I realized that it was only Wednesday. Not pretty at all. Anticipating my afternoon meeting with my new department and actually having it was stressful, too. That meeting was followed by a one-on-one meeting with my new boss to set expectations: His vs. Mine. We concur on everything so it was all good. When I finally got home I crashed to bed early...

The monitor clock taunted me again today. I swear it was doing it on purpose! Mean thing. I should try to change the time, but it will reset itself when it syncs with the network so that is pointless.

My birthday is coming up next week. I can tell by the crows feet that are slowly making their imprints. Laugh lines, my ass. Just kidding -- I barely have any lines. I'm just hoping not to suffer from the Asian Woman Aging Curse. The curse that seemingly endless youth is bestowed upon Asian women..and then one day POW! Short white hair, slower shuffle walking and an overall driftwood look overcomes the poor unsuspecting woman. I am half German so goddess knows what the hell I am going to get. Let's not go there!

I've also been trying to juggle multiple birthday dinner plans to satisfy everyone who wants to see me. Last year, I gave three surprise birthday parties. The first one was for Tawnyia whose birthday is one day before mine. That was wicked fun at my favorite restaurant, Maggiano's -- yes, I worked it in. Everyone loves my restaurant, too! They just may not like Sinatra being piped during the whole experience. (A few cocktails took care of that.) I kind of miss no longer having to deal with the Reservations Nazi who was a cross between Dame Edna and Joan Rivers. Maybe I can campaign to rehire her? (Shuddering)

Better go back and practice some calypso. I have a feeling Harry will be singing again tomorrow. He should just bring the banana boat and my cool group will hop in and sail into the sunset while enjoying some serious rum. Now we're talking!

Day-O...Thursday Come and I Wanna Go Home

Whining in the Rain

It was not a glorious feeling, but I am working again after a two-week vacation. I may be exaggerating when I say it seemed like one of the longest days ever! Of course, it didn't help that I came in an hour and twenty minutes earlier than I normally do to catch up on work and to avoid driving in the rain during heavy traffic. The bottom right hand side of my LCD monitor at work taunted me..8:05...9:15...10:23...11:15. I finally escaped to lunch at 11:30 and left for the day at 5:05.

Today was the first day under the Finance Department umbrella (instead of IT) and with my new boss. He's a very nice man and I'd already developed a rapport with him weeks before this change so we do talk about both shop and our lives outside of work. Our CEO made a quick executive decision to move my section after my new boss' Sr. VP made her case to him last month. Now we have to ramp up our department since we've severed our accounting ties with our old company. Corporate buy-outs are always fun -- long live Capitalism! At least there is the further illusion of job security - HA!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...It was nice to be missed by many, but I felt guilty for all my visitors stopping by multiple times to wish me a Happy New Year and to catch up on things. My new boss sits behind me right now until they can arrange an office for him. He understands but I know I have to severely curtail people's time with me in the future without hurting their feelings. Some of them use me as a gauge to see how they should feel about the world; needless to say, I am usually effervescent so everyone has a good time.

Back to my homemade hot chocolate that I wish I was sharing with Yummy. 'Night-night.

Whining in the Rain

New Chapters

My New Year’s Day pilgrimage to the nearest bookstore continued today. It has been at least seven years since I have made this a tradition of sorts. Where else can you go and imagine yourself receiving through osmosis the world’s wisdom contained in one place for the new year? I’ve had a very long love affair with bookstores. Luckily, I don’t feel remorse if I switch locations or favorites...luckily.

As a young girl in the Philippines, we would go to the bookstore for class materials. The books needed for grammar school were not supplied like they do in the United States. The school gives you a list of books, you buy the paperbacks and then enshroud them with thick clear industrial smelling plastic to protect them from the elements. That is probably the genesis of my peculiar obsession with keeping books pristine. My close friends know that my books with spines unbent are treasures. A perverse obsession branching from this is my need to pick a magazine from the middle of the stack because it is pristine and no other energy has stained it, but the people who published it, individuals who transported it and the person who shelved it. What is more perverse is that I have to be the one to read my purchase first. God help you if you help yourself to them first. My list of proclivities is long and varied...

A beat of excitement rose to a slow crescendo as I drove to the Borders Bookstore on N. Dale Mabry in Trampa. It flat lined into a steady seductive hum when I entered the double doors. What an intoxicating drug these books that lined the shelves, a feast for the eyes and the mind. It’s barely tolerable, but I persevere inside.

Fiction says hello first, a naughty wink from gay fiction, followed by nods in non-fiction and literature. I must remember to get Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. African-American studies follow which makes me ponder something. If the author is British or hail from the African continent, are they still shelved under ‘African-American’? Just a thought.

My journey continues to European (or as Yummy says “yurp”) and Chinese studies. I am drawn to things of Chinese origin; must be my own smidge of blood origin. Have you seen my Asiatic eyes? Moving on…We get to my controversial section. Religious Studies. If the words would write themselves, they would have a tinge of crimson…Nice Goddess now coming through Evil Kitty.

After I lovingly touch some of the Judaica section, I search for the Lamsa Bible which is a direct translation by Dr. George Lamsa from the Aramaic version of the Peshitta where all Christian bibles originate. No one corrupting the translation because they wanted to flavor it with their own view (King James anyone?) or that they didn’t know the Aramaic letters, customs or colloquialisms that made it hard to translate into Greek or Latin. Enough on that – I was happy they had one copy.

I turned the corner and secretly chuckled. It was the shelves containing Erotica. How apropos that religion would be supported by erotica or is that the reverse if you are traveling the opposite direction in the bookstore? I noted a book by Dr. Deepak Chopra entitled Kama Sutra, published by none other than Virgin Books. God, I love the universal humor! It just gets better by being surrounded in the same section with Self-Help and Metaphysics. I’m sure you will not be surprised when I tell you that this big chunk of section is my favorite…religion, erotica, self-help and metaphysics…AGOL salad!

I digress…I normally make a pass at the Reference and Foreign Language section, but that is like asking a recovering cocaine addict to pass the cocaine. Skip! Business section..yawn, maybe later. Travel section…see previous cocaine reference. Cooking section…double cocaine reference. Music...triple cocaine reference. DVDs…safe, mostly until we get to the bookstore’s legalized mental opium den…Magazine and Periodicals….oh God. A siren’s call beckoning you to just test the water...inch by inch until you voluntarily drown in the sea of glossy lollipop colors.

Inwardly sigh…Surface quickly and just breathe.

My sensitivity to the written word wasn’t always this heightened. It was thanks to Angie who gave an 11-year old a Harlequin romance to read. I had trouble with reading comprehension in American English when I came to the States. My teachers considered me a favorite to read out loud, but I couldn’t tell you later the contents of what I had read so Angie decided to help me out when my school book reports didn’t get high marks. There is more to tell here, but some things are just better left untold.

What did I come away with from my special pilgrimage other than a large cup of coffee and a cranberry-walnut muffin? No set resolutions per se, but determined intentions. I also bought glossy lollipops -- issues of “Science of Mind” and “The Atlantic”…and for mental bubblegum, “InStyle”. Wink.

New Chapters