Out of Ordinary Saturday

Day 7

I just love days like these. I wake up sandwiched between our dog Daisy and our puppy Vive. Already a good start. Around 11am I roll outta bed and face an ordinary Saturday. I start off with making crepes for breakfast. I like to mix hearty with unhealthy for my breakfast. So I start off with egg, ham, and cheese crepe then finish with caramelized bananas, chopped walnuts and nutella crepes. Nom nom. At 4pm I was still full and satisfied. Also, my lovely boy washed all the dishes so even more relaxing for me. I forgive him for not liking my caramelized bananas... obviously he doesn't have a refined pallet.

I ate the sweet crepe so fast I forgot to take a pic.

At 2pm my mom calls and says she can get me and mr tasteless into the Turtle Bay Exploratory for the last live bat exhibit. I'm sure some people don't have any interest in these cute cuddling night flyers, but I'm like a kid who loves everything especially if it's free.

They are so cute and so awesome. I want one. Did you know that 25% of the worlds mammals are bats and that less than .5% actually have rabies. Also, they help pollinate much like bees do. Without bats the tequila company would lose millions of dollars from unpollinated agave plants. Think about that next time you're sipping a margarita. Yet while I'm observing and learning I have the same thoughts as probably all the little kids that were crowded me (sorry I got here first) which was I want to pet it. I don't care if it bites me and sucks my blood (don't be ridiculous these were brown bats, vampire bats only live in Latin America. Duh). There aren't many things that we don't want to experience tangibly. Or is that just me?

Back off catwoman me and batman are engaged... and yes I know my hands look old.

Once they bat lady closed up shop we moved on to the next exhibit. Parrots. It cost an extra dollar and luckily after a treasure hunt in the car we scrounged up $3. Phew. When we entered the cage the employees handed us nectar to feed the parrots. The moment one lands on you the thought of moving to the jungle immediately comes to mind. No? After 10 minutes I was out of nectar, but had one parrot on my head and another one gnawing on my watch. Good thing I didn't wear the Rolex today.

I could have stayed in there all day. Unfortunately they were closing up and oh crap I'm late to work. Jumped the fence, don't tell, and fortunately work is just across the street. Oh ya I had to work today so not a perfect day, but it's only for 4 hours 4-6 and 10-12.

After the inconvenient work I scarfed the homemade pizza leftovers from yesterday. Still delicious. Finished off the day with seeing "In Time" at the dollar theater. Good thing it was cheap.

I know this doesn't sound like much, but it's important to appreciate the little things like seeing a bat and feeding parrots on what was meant to be an ordinary Saturday.

Pizza D'oh!

Day 6

So one of my resolutions this year is to cook something I haven't made before every week. Ambitious I know, but I like a challenge. Anyone who knows me and my eating habits know that I have an addiction to pizza. If I was stranded on an island and could only eat one kind of meal it would be pizza. There are just so many different varieties, from toppings, to crust, to how it's cooked. The possibilities are endless. I figure there is no better way to start of this challenge than by making my favorite meal. Now granted I've made pizzas before so it wasn't too far outside my element like making beef wellington would be. I even had a certain pizza in mind. I went to the library last night to check out this book I've used before call Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas by Craig Priebe. It's all about cooking your pizza on a BBQ. It's delicious and loads of work... I mean fun. However, when I went to the library last night the book was checked out. Who is doing some pizza barbequing in January? That should have been my first signal to change tactics and move on, but I haven't had pizza in 2 weeks and I was going through withdrawal. I will not give up.

I should have given up. At 12pm I decided to try a recipe I saw in a Cooking Light magazine. Wait the dough has to be refrigerated overnight?! Who plans that far in advance? I'm starting to think I wouldn't make it as a housewife. Back to plan A... I go online and luckily someone has posted the pizza dough from Craig's book online and Craig himself has the rest of the recipe on his website. The day has been saved. Or so I thought. His dough only takes 2 hours to rise and 1 hour in the fridge and since it's my day off it's doable. First I'll get the dough made so it can rise while I'm at the store getting the ingredients. I'm gonna double the recipe and freeze the other half so I can be lazy next week. Look at me planning ahead.

Dough ingredients: yeast (check), flour (check), cornmeal (check), olive oil (check), where is my kosher salt? I just bought a whole box not too long ago. I couldn't find the kosher salt anywhere... anywhere! Called mom: "I didn't even know we had that". Called dad: "No I don't use kosher salt". Ok so it has to be around here somewhere. After 30 minutes I look up kosher salt substitutes. Regular salt. I thought to myself, "no I'm gonna do this right"... actually I thought "hmm sea salt sounds fancy enough." But noooo the sous chef (aka bf... soon to be ex sous chef) demanded we have the right stuff. Damn choleric. Change of plans. Go to the store and get ingredients... oh ya and propane because the one time I want to barbeque we are out. Get back and it's what?! 4:30! Hurry and finish dough. Rise! Rise Lazarus Rise! As I check the rest of my pizza tasks I spill water all over my keyboard.... Why didn't I just print out the recipe?! Next time I won't care so much about stupid trees. After I restart the computer due to keyboard malfunction and glitching I move on to the toppings. First herb olive oil. No problem. Second chunky tomato basil sauce... ummm I thought I had tomato paste?

All in all we ate around 9pm. So after 8 hours of preparation, $16 for propane, $20 for groceries, 2 trips to the store, 3 fights, and 1 less boyfriend you might wonder was it worth it?

Absolutely. 

 

And if some of you are thinking, "um I thought her resolution was to make something new", well slow down critical pants below is a pizza I've never done before, bbq chicken. Not as good as the Margheritan, but completed my task.

If you want to try these out here are the links to the dough and pizza grilling recipes.
http://galindo.me/2011/04/grilled-pizza-dough/
http://www.grilledpizzasandpiadinas.com/Margheritan.htm

Wet the Bed

First off I'm not referring to myself. I haven't done that in years. I'm referring to the Chris Brown song "Wet the Bed". While I was working out and listening to my Today's RnB & HipHop radio station on Pandora this song came on. I'm more of an NPR snob, but when I workout I need more than monotone voices and pledge drives to keep me pumped up. I've never heard this song before probably because I don't support women abusers therefore avoid supporting the likes of Chris Brown... even though we are related. First off I couldn't believe that Pandora would play such a sexual song. Can parents filter Pandora stations? I don't consider myself to be a prude. I love hip hop and rap and dancing to a good beat. I do feel conflicted as a feminist by singing along to some of the degrading lyrics, but how can you not shake it to "I like big butts"? So call me a hypocrite.

I also have had many arguments with my dad explaining the art in rap music, "Dad its not all just filled with swearing and sex." At least he agrees that Eminem is very talented. Yet how will I ever convince him that hip hop can be artistic and creative when I hear a song like this. If you are my grandma don't read the following lyrics.

CHRIS BROWN - WET THE BED
Hear the sound of your body drip, drip, drip

As I kiss both sets of lips, lips, lips
Hear the sound of your body drip, drip, drip
As I kiss both sets of lips, lips, lips

I ain't afraid to drown, if that means I’m deep up in your ocean, yeah
Girl I’ll drink you down, sipping on your body all night
I just wanna take your legs an’ wrap them round
Girl you cummin’ right now
My head to your chest feeling your heartbeat, girl
Swimming all in your sea
And you sweatin’ all over me
Girl, lean forward, don’t you run, girl
I don’t want to be a minute man
Baby you're just like a storm
Rainin’ on me girl, you're soakin’ wet

I’mma kiss you right, yeah, yeah
I’m gon' lick all night, yeah, yeah
Girl, when I’m inside yeah, yeah
Yeah girl, you heard what I said
I’m gonna make you wet the bed
Yeah yeah
Girl I’m gonna make you wet the bed
Yeah yeah
I’m gonna make you wet the bed
I’mma put your legs behind your head
I’m gonna make you wet the bed

And repeat. And multimillions. I know I've heard and could find songs extremely more sexual, violent, and or offensive. I'm not upset by this song just disappointed. Maybe I should be glad that at least there is more sexual equality in the sense that it's not all about women pleasing men. I guess I should thank Brown for a song about a more selfless act of pleasuring his partner. Oh please don't make me laugh... I might wet the bed.

My wittle bed wetter.

 

My positive blurb: Another great coffee date. That's three in a row. Popular week.  

If you think I'm not giving this song enough credit you can listen to it yourself below.

So what's your plan?

Day 4

So what's your plan? That dreaded phrase from concerned loved ones. No one ever says this when you are at the top of your game, good career, husband, kids, big new house. That phrase wouldn't make sense for them. People ask you what your future plans are when it's obvious that your current situation isn't a good one and there is a lack of progress. Um my plan? You mean working for minimum wage while living at home and no promotion coming my way doesn't look like I have it all figured out? This might be fine if I was 18, but with a college degree and some crows feet it looks somewhat... well worthy of that question. I used to have a plan. Around 10 years old I decided I wanted to be a tennis pro. I practices 4-6 hours a day. I asked my parents to home school me in 4th grade which gave me more training time. My life was planned. Go pro. Play till I'm 34ish. Settle down and spend my fortune traveling the world doing photography and supporting any new hobbies. Well around 22 I realized that plan had a flaw. I'm not good enough and didn't have the money to invest into getting better. Soooo... I quit planning. I was a free spirit. No plans. Wherever life takes me. That worked till I was 24 when life dropped me in a sinkhole.


I miss the days when no one asked about my "plan", like when I was getting my film degree, or the assistant college coach, or a documentarian in Switzerland. You know how you compare yourself to friends or old classmates or exes to see who is more successful. Don't lie.

Me: "Oh hey so and so. It's been so long. What are you doing?"

Frienemy: "Oh married with kids, stable job."

Me: "I'm traveling the world free of attachments."

Frienemy: "Sounds lonely."

Me: "Oh no it's amazing."

Secretly you both asses who is better off.

Compare, compete, conquer. Don't act like you don't do this. Well unless you're like me now and you've been disqualified from the game. Now when I say what my life consists of I go from competition to condolences. In the past week I've met with 3 friends all who seemed legitimately concerned about my future. So my life isn't going how I thought. I'm not a tennis pro, I'm not putting that degree to work, and I'm not married with children. I just don't know what I want to do. I'm trying to figure out my next step so I'm open to opinions, but still I hate that stupid question. Don't get me wrong I totally appreciate the questioners interest in my life. Also, I'm am extremely happy for my successful friends. Soooo happy. Sigh. Anywho.

So what's my plan? Avoid meeting with friends... Or find friends who also don't have a plan... but who'd wanna hang out with those losers.



On a positive note. Had fun walking Vive with my old friend Albert (soon to be Dr. Bui). This blog is in no way connected with our meeting.

Driven to the brink

Day 3

I had my day all planned. At 12:30 workout, 2:00 meet friend for coffee, 2:30 go to bank and transfer funds to another bank before work at 4:00. Nothing special. Typical day. Everything was going so smoothly. Then at 3:40 something I hadn't planned for... people. When did everyone get here? Why am I still so surprised by the masses that congregate around the areas that should only be occupied by me; like the bank. I have unusual working hours 4pm-12am and the few perks of this job is that everyone else should still be at work when I want to run my errands. So is everyone also working late shifts? Or just not working? And if you're not working then why do you have anything to do at the bank? So as I sit three cars behind the person who I assume is having a hard time depositing monopoly money my heart rate goes up. I'm running out of time and I have to cover my charges to avoid an overdraft fee. The length this person is taking is starting to concern me that maybe his hand got stuck in the machine. Out of pure care and concern I get out of my car to see if I can assist the ATM victim. Luckily he drove away right afterwards... unharmed... by the machine of course. Now I'm third in line. Let's go. Hurry. 3:47. Ok my turn 50 seconds and done. Now to the next bank. Where is all this traffic coming from? Did we build a stadium where Coldplay is performing the grand opening? Where is everyone going? Oh ya in my direction. At next bank. Only 1 person! Phew. I should switch banks. 3:52. Eek. Ok done. 3:56. Work is 6 min away... but if I hurry. Red light. Damn. Ok fast fast. I might make it. Going fast. Stupid rap song with police siren. Heart rate up. Ok looking good green lights. So close. 3:58. Whoa Honda civic. I'll just go around you. Oh no. The gap has closed. Red light! Ahhh. Stupid Honda ^@&?!$. Ok go go go. Ahhh Honda we can make it you don't slow down. Gooo... Yellow yellow RED! Why?! Why don't I account for drivers like you? Why do I plan my time as if I own a private island? Population me. I'd probably still be late. Stupid sea turtles. However, I was told if you want a dream to come true you need to act like its a reality. Like when you spend money like you're a millionaire. That works right? 4:05 walks into work. No one notices I'm late. Ulcer.

Morbid Driver

Oh positive stuff. Gosh when will this positive over take the negative? Wonderful coffee date with an old friend that's in town. Makes me feel good knowing there are still a select few that enjoy my company... even though she made me late.

Bachelor Backfire

Day 2

I quit. No not my resolution, but trying to understand society. I'm sitting at work totally upset. Today it's not because I work for minimum wage nor that it's a National holiday and I don't get holiday pay, I'm upset that it's a holiday, I'm making poop wages and I have to suffer through watching 2 hours of the Bachelor along with Celebrity Wife Swap. Why do people watch these shows? What is so fascinating about seeing women attack each other and an overwhelming amount of crying. Who thought it was acceptable to have a 30 sec promo with only sobbing women? Am I the only one that finds it to be misogynistic and sadistic? Is no one else disturbed by this? I just don't understand. If anyone has any insight into why these shows are so popular please let me know. So much crying!!! Luckily I had something to preoccupy myself. I shaved down my callouses and painted my toes. For once I'm thankful for my thick callouses. Next week I might wax my legs. I have to go through a whole season so I'm open to distraction recommendations.

My distraction setup

 

 Oh wait I forgot my positive thoughts... I'm so thankful for nail polish. Done.

Happy Poo Year!

Resolution... make this year better than last. This shouldn't be too hard since last year was shit.

I'd like to sum up the past 12 months in a best and worst of list:

January: Injured hip (can't play sports)
February: Dealt with sexual harassment and overall awfulness at job
March: Unemployed
April: Turn 26
May: Start hating new minimum wage job
June: Car air conditioner breaks
July: Applied for food stamps
August: Still hate job
September: Adopted brother passes away
October: Hip is still broken, replacing muscle with fat, and 50% of paycheck is going trying to fix it
November: Broke and holidays are here and no car heater
December: 2 year anniversary since I've moved home with parents

Now there are people that have it worse than I do so this is not a competition... well unless I thought I was gonna win, but I'm not... right?

I know I shouldn't start the year being a downer so that's why I'm starting this blog. I need to start being inspired. Take my life into my own hands. If I can complain it's because I know the solution. Not true but it sounded good the first time I heard it. I don't know the answer and I will still continue to complain. Even though I don't fully comprehend how I'll make this year better I am going to start taking steps to better myself. First thing, blog. Blog every day... well as much as I can. NO every day! Ok #2 I'm a photographer with a degree for goodness sakes so next thing is to start taking pictures... every day? So far this is doable right? I keep looking at the clock cause I have 48 minutes to finish this blog or I already fail my resolution. With the time in mind I'll stop there. Damn I forgot the 2011 best of list. This shouldn't take long.

1.... umm... got a puppy (more broke)
2. and a boyfriend (this can go on both lists... I kid... only cause he'll prob read this... kisses?)
3. oh ya that dumb ass broke as shit hate my life f*&#ing year is over!

Breathe. Only positive thoughts. Ok 2012 let's do this!


January 1, 2012 and I have successfully gone through one day of the new year without breaking my resolutions. Blog done with 32 minutes to spare... 31.

Picture of the day: Roarrior the Catzilla reminding me that holidays are over.

I only said a picture every day... never that it was going to be a great one... 29 min.