God bless the camera cord

i found it, it works, and now i have lots of new photos on our computer to share with you.
i'll start with the vacation photos, days 1 and 2 in los angeleez with friends.

the law graduate and his buddies christian & aaron

angel trolley. thank God the cable didn't snap.

kissey & the law graduate on los olvera street

oldest home in los angeles

ben, ryan, aaron--donna reed reunites

the boys. love aaron's face.

our barbecue-turned-pizza-ordering-ordeal. note john jordan and the candle.

i miss vacation.

wednesday wussy

it's a wednesday wussy post, just for my friend elizabeth.

my body is conspiring against me. not only am i just now recovered from previously mentioned hellacious sinus infection and living with a disagreeable gi tract, but i suspect that my body actually wants to get pregnant against my will. my fertile period seems to be extremely long this time. maybe my body is producing ambiguous symptoms on purpose. maybe it's just the antibiotics. it doesn't matter--i'm on to its games, and i will win.

i gained four pounds on vacation. four. and we really didn't eat all that much! i ate SALADS on vacation! we accidentally skipped dinner two nights. i only had ice cream once. geez.

i think my camera is dead. it started suffering grand mal seizures on graduation weekend. you know, the moment i pick it up to take a picture of my law student receiving his diploma. so, i've found the camera cord (fingers crossed for a successful upload!) for the computer, found my stash of photo cards and have actually taken pictures of an entire vacation, and now my camera is kaput. sigh.

i have a bit of a vacation hangover/depression. before los angeles, i was kind of ok living here in small town. it had its good points, its perks: the farmer's market, our church, the park and the trails for roxy, a cute little downtown, good public schools, and it seems to be perfectly situated as a sort of home base for all my travels. i'm really no more than 4 hours away from any given friend except jules, and we're only an hour from an international airport. not to mention we live rent-free (for now) and i am employed. but after los angeles, i'm in a bit of a funk. i don't really want to live in los angeles, per se. you know, traffic, smog, crime, etc. but it is just as intoxicating to me as it once was: very grand, very busy, very cool. and very not like small town. sigh.

i have been accosted with two emails this week about homeless dogs--my poor little heart can hardly stand it. one family is looking for a new home for their dachsund, and another family has been semi-adopted by a stray. i am particularly drawn to the scraggly stray. i think she and roxy could get along. anyone want a dog?

in happier news: i may have the best husband ever. last week, i woke up at 5 a.m. unable to breathe and proceeded to blow my little nose off in the bathroom. instead of 1) rolling over and 2) telling me to go to the hall bathroom (like i might have done), he got up and made me a glass of cold water and a hot towel to put on my sinuses. awwwwww. he's also brought me lunch twice this week. whatever it is that he wants, he's playing his cards very shrewdly.

post about posts

so, we're back from vacation. however, my body went into revolt. i developed a hellacious sinus infection that took me a week, a steriod shot, a round of antibiotics, a regimen of heavy-duty decongestant and a new found-love of the neti pot* to cure. pair that with a complete software and hardware update at work. let me just say i'm happy i can breathe again, literally and figuratively. the computer still has glitches, but now i can handle them instead of just saying "eff it" and falling asleep right there at my desk.

*neti pot--a fabulous little aladdin's lamp of warm water and saline solution that washes out your sinus cavities. i may be addicted. it could also double as a small house-plant watering can.

so, needless to say, i did not get a lot accomplished last week, especially here on the blog. i owe you several posts. here is a listing of posts to come*: graduation, los angeles (day-by-day in pictures), beautiful blog award, a wussy wednesday just for a friend, and general life musings.

*not that you'll necessarily see all of them. i'm notorious for making out to-do lists just to make myself feel better. i don't always have to finish the list. consequently, there are literally 5 half-marked to-do lists floating around the house.

so, first things first. i was nominated for a beautiful blog award from my friend elizabeth, who thinks i'm funnier than i really am. thank you! elizabeth, we really need to hang out soon. now, i have to nominate 7 people (7? maybe not 7) and contact them, and then tell you 7 things about me. but i'm changing the rules here. instead, i'll nominate some blogs that i think are worth checking out for you to visit. nominees are: kisses from katie, the redwoods on redbud, day and splashing with sara. katie, sara and day are all missionaries that inspire me. the redwoods are a family from church and i love reading about their daughter.

now, 7 things about me. hmmm....you already know i'm cute, i'm short, have a hard time finding jeans, love to cook, have a fear of being left behind in the rapture and an even greater fear of spiders, love the golden girls, save glass jars and plastic containers like my mom, and that i lint roll my dog. what else?

1) i did not know i had curly/wavy hair until after i graduated high school. i always just brushed and blew it dry. it never occurred to me that it was a sign of hidden texture. rainy days sure are easier. but now, no matter which way i style my hair, i wake up the next day with the opposite.

2) i love horses. i am absolutely obsessed with them. as a child, i drew them, read about them, pretended i was one, counted them incessantly on road trips. i knew all the breeds, colors, anatomy and equipment. i had more than 50 my little ponies and have breyer model horses at home. i was the kid who actually got a pony. 20 years later, we still have 3 at my grandmother's house. they still fascinate me. they terrify the law graduate.

3) my favorite snack is lays potato chips and a cold coke. i usually crave salt more than i crave sugar.

4) i hate having polish on my fingernails. it feels too heavy.

5) i really don't like to shop. it gives me a headache, can't make a decision and i have too much guilt. i'd rather spend my money on plane tickets, nice dinners and nights out with friends.

6) ice cream is my favorite dessert. i could eat it every night, which is probably why i cannot get rid of these pesky, persistent unwanted pounds. i think it comes from my dad. growing up, he had a bowl of ice cream every night after dinner. some time ago, when his cholesterol went up, the doctor advised him to lay off the ice cream. he did. the cholesterol went up higher. he resumed the ice cream.

7) i cannot comfortably sleep unless it is cold with a cool breeze on my face and there is a loud symphony of white noise machines. silence is too loud. tv or radio on? forget it. i can only do that on the couch. at home, i have the ceiling fan, a rather noisy air conditioner, the bathroom fan and a humidifier. it's really a lovely way to fall asleep, but it does become annoying when i'm not in my own bed. i wish i could sleep as soon as i laid down, but that is not me. and then i get on my own nerves.

ok, rain's gone, grill's on, and i have dinner to make. good night, and see you tomorrow!

celebrity sightings 2004 vs. 2010

celebrity sightings 2004-2005 (about 18 months):

jerry o'connell, jogging

vince vaughn, heard but not seen at a bar on sunset

celebrity sightings may 13-15, 2010:

gabrielle union

essence atkins

meredith from the office

kevin durand on L O S T

the one and only gary busey

the law graduate lived in los angeles for the first year and a half that we dated. during this time, i only saw 1.5 celebrities. now, we really didn't do a whole lot during that year and a half other than hang out with each other, and i'm not celebrity crazy or anything. i was just annoyed i never saw more than the one (jerry o'connell) during the entire year and a half i went out there. so on this trip, i really wanted to see a celebrity or two in their natural habitat out of principle. i saw more celebrities on thursday than i did during 2004-2005, and then a bonus personal encounter with a weird gary busey. i feel vindicated.

i get it from my mama!

kissey and her mama

this post is dedicated to one wonderful mother--mine--on mother's day. it's her 28th. to honor her, i've compiled a list of ways my mother has influenced my life/silly things she does that i love.

1. as i've said before, i'm pretty cute. i get it from my mama.
2. i also got her cooking gene. the law graduate (with honors!) never goes hungry.
3. i did not get the shopping gene or the decorating gene, but she has been generous with her talents. she has hung up all the pictures in my house, made the curtains, helped make the headboard that matches the bedroom decor that she picked out, and picked out our paint colors, just to name a few. the law graduate is particularly pleased about that shopping gene thing.
4. she's a fabulous host. this weekend, she helped make the food for our post-grad lunch and cleaned up afterwards. i've never moved that fast or efficiently in the kitchen. i have a lot to live up to.
5. a quote from my sister-in-law this weekend: "she's just so good with babies! she's one of those women i would feel immediately comfortable with holding olivia." high praise from a new mother.
6. she gave me two sweet sisters. they got the shopping and decorating genes.
7. she is a godly woman and great role model.
8. she never calls me by my name first. it's always preceded by at least one sister's name, and sometimes a dead cat.
9. she never let my birthday be combined with christmas, and is actually giving me a half-birthday this year. score!
10. she loves the law graduate like a son.
11. she is not on the baby bandwagon, like some sisters i know. but i know she'll be a great grandmother. later.
12. she cooked every meal we ate growing up, gardened and worked in the yard, and we always had a clean house. consequently, we also learned to clean at an early age. she also kept us in line. we had to shape up or ship out quick, or face a wooden spoon.
13. she was at every recital, school program, dance performance, class trip and basketball game.
14. we never got to watch mtv growing up. she was very careful about what tv, movies and music we were exposed to. it was so embarassing growing up, but now, i'm thankful. for the most part. i mean, i know we all needed saving from ace of base, but was u2 really that bad? and now, who wants to watch mtv? gross.
15. she is really close with her family, crazy as they are sometimes. that's been passed on to us--the closeness and the crazy.
16. she was a college cheerleader too! and pledged delta gamma too, but dropped before initiation.
17. she's been to italy. i'm jealous.
18. i got my artistic instincts from her.
19. we cannot ride in the car together if i'm driving without getting into a fight. so she drives exclusively.
20. i never (ok, rarely, but only a few times senior year) drank alcohol in high school because my mother put the fear of God in me. i'm thankful for that.
21. she always makes little things special. whether it's a special breakfast on our birthdays or a mini valentine's day present or even an easter basket years after we were too old for them, she always made it sweet.
22. she's quick with a heartfelt hand-written note. my grandmother was a good example. i should practice this more.

23. she completely planned my wedding and we only disagreed once or twice. she just handled everything.
24. i often find myself doing things or saying things that i know i do because she did/does them, like: tucking shirts into pantyhose for a smoother line, inexplicably saving glass jars, and using the word "tump" in normal conversation.
25. she enjoys good food, good wine, plays and traveling. my kind of lady!
26. she's been known to be a bit dramatic. so have i. so have my sisters.
27. she can sniff out a bargain like no one's business, whether it's an antique table or a t.j. maxx find. and she has great taste. i can walk blindfolded into a store and pick out the most expensive thing. i think it's genetic.
28. and certainly not last or least, she's a strong lady. she is confident and can't be easily swayed or steamrolled, and knows that a kind word can often get more accomplished than a mean one.

she's a darn good mama. i love you--you are the reason i am who i am today.

quick update of a post

i'm sneaking in a post during some downtime. at this moment, the boys are watching the orlando magic, olivia is eating peas, and my father-in-law is MIA. sister sara, olivia and i are about to go for a walk, then family dinner at a local restaurant.

this week has been a bit crazy. we'll be in california, so i had to make sure my work duties were in order for next week. i successfully survived a home hair dye job, courtesy of my friend stevie. and the law GRADUATE the entire house for me yesterday, because his parents, brother's family and my mother all came in town for graduation. now we just have to clean and pack tomorrow, which means doing laundry. i just put up the last of the clothes from the last laundry go-round.

the roxy just hopped on the couch and is laying on my shoulder. i guess i should get back to real life, instead of blogland. i'll post more about graduation weekend and our trip tomorrow!

9 and redemption, et cetera

ok, nine stalker comments. i'm satisfied with that--my ego is sufficiently stroked. thank you.

9, the theme. i bought the law student 9 graduation gifts--7 just-purchased t-shirts and 2 books. he's been asking for the t-shirts for quite a while. i had some purchased for him at a polo outlet, only i always know better than him and got mediums instead of larges. wife = fail. i've just tried to redeem myself with an overboard purchase at land's end, even though there is a polo outlet on melrose avenue. i'd go there next week, but i just don't think the law student can handle much more t-shirt drama.

in just a few days, he'll be a law graduate! i'm so pumped. i feel like i'm graduating too. i'm making myself a bit crazy with preparations, but it's ok. the law student's family (including sweet niece olivia!)is coming for the weekend, in addition to my mother and possibly middle sister. dad is graciously bowing out and may be planning a spectacular something later, which means no drama for my mama! all that's left is cleaning, sheet-washing, couch-vacuuming, roxy-bathing, some light cooking, and a hair-dye/mani-pedi date with my friend stevie.

i'm going to cardio class in addition to pilates. it is painful and not all that fun, but worth it (i hope). speaking of, i've found a new ice cream flavor--cake and ice cream. so yummy. we polished it off last night. i'm so glad it's out of the house now. ice cream doesn't last long around our house--3 days is about par.

any L O S T watchers out there? i know i cry at really anything (i cried in star trek. lame), and last night's episode was no exception. the true romance story, with a beautiful and tragic end. sniff. i got a sideways glance from the law student (mostly seeing if i had any ice cream left. i didn't. as if i'd leave ice cream.). my theory? 4 survivors, 4 remaining episodes...i like the chances. of my theory being right, not the fates of these fictional characters i've given 2.5 years of my life to.

time to get back to the grind. sigh.

stalkers--edited

only ONE unveiled reader? maybe i suffer from delusions of grandeur (i'm a bit vain, remember?), but i had sincerely hoped more readers would come out of the shadows. don't worry, i can wait.

i used to blog-stalk, then i got my own blog. i still blog-stalk though.

so, who out there stalks visits me? you know you want to fess up! i look forward to the big reveal, and finding new blogs to peruse. so just leave me a comment and let me know you're out there, or "follow" me on blogger. one of my old college friends from the dorm has already made my day!