My Sunday Party and the Racoons

Last night I was one of the hostesses for a fantabulous party at my house. Not only did it include a wonderful selection of cookies made with Valentine's M&Ms, brownies and sugar cookies, but the dessert at the center stage was a GIAGANTIC cup cake. My roommate bought a pan to make a cupcake that is at least 8 inches tall and it was beautiful and pink. Everyone seemed to have a really good time and the highlight of the evening were 3 very special guests.
They arrived just as the party was ending and so not many people got to meet them, but it was well worth the sleep lost to have them come over. These were no ordinary guests, but friends from the neighborhood.
The thing that really scared me about them was their black stripes and furry backs. I was really glad that they didn't really come into the house, even though they were tempted with some of the refreshments. I think they would have made a big mess. But they did come up to the window and play with us. I would put my hand up and tap, then the big one would come over and make sure the little guy was safe and paw at the screen.
We even took pictures of our little furry friends through the window and they were loving the camera. We had a little rave party on our porch trying to get them to leave, but they really loved the light show and wouldn't leave. Finally we got the unwanted guests to leave and our house back to normal. Some guests just don't know when to leave.

For the Pure Love of VHS

Recently my computer aka DVD player and machine that enables me to watch tv shows online, broke. About a month ago and since I had no DVD player or computer to watch online episodes, there was only one choice.
Located on my dresser stands a large black box that I've rarely used in the last 2 years. It's capabilities are restricted by technology but the joy I get from it is limitless. I'm talking high quality, cutting edge technologically-forward VHS. Yah, you remember those things!
I bought this thing in high school and have dragged it around with me to San Diego. When I went on the mish, I left it in the hands of some good friends, who kept great care of my VHS magical box.
Since I've moved into my latest move in September, I haven't used it...until now. Within the last month I have rekindled my love for VHS and have throughly enjoyed it. I didn't keep many movies to watch and was limited to what was left to me, by former roommates (aka Lindsey the Scot) and my list included:
4 Star Wars movies
Sneakers

As you can see, I had some really great titles, but not much variety. After watching Star Wars for the umpteen time and still not really knowing in which order to watch them, I decided that I needed to expand my horizons.

Then I found a pot of gold(aka my sister's eclectic collection of VHS masterpieces. Since finding out about this library of treasures I've been able to "borrow" several major motion picture classics like:

Hello Again, with Shelley Long as a returned from the dead stay-at-home mom
Legend, starring Tom Cruise and his unibrow of hotness
Muppets from Space

My life will never be the same again. How can I watch things in HiDef or just completely skip the ads for other movies before viewing the movie of choice? I don't know, I just don't know. There's something comforting and familiar about VHS, I can't really explain it, but its been really fun to reconnect with the technology of my childhood.
But now, I have a new computer and my big black box has been just sitting there for the last week or so, unused and unloved. I don't want to neglect it now that I have unlimited access of old episodes of Ugly Betty or 30 Rock. Or I might just give it to Stephy and Jerry because theirs is broke.

Valentine's Day is for Lovers

Valentine's Day, for many, is a day of "Single Status Awareness Day." This was the first year that I had heard that phrase and to be completely honest I had a great Valentine's Day. I might have been a couple lovers short for the normal festivities of a dinner and flowers, but the good times abounded during this day.
To start it all off, I made chocolate-covered pretzels with Stephy and Jerry on Tuesday. After 4 hours and 3 colors of chocolate later we had plenty to pass out to all of our "loves." On Wednesday I passed some of the chocolate and Valentine's out at work and people were actually shocked that I gave them something and that I made them the pretzels. I mean really shocked that I did that. Not that I'm trying to brag, but what is this world coming to where we get shocked when people do/give us nice things. The funny part is one of my co-workers got such a complex about receiving a gift that she went to the store and bought me something. How crazy is that? She couldn't take a gift without giving one back.
Thursday, the actual day of love, I rocked my classmates world by handing out Disney princess Valentines with their names written on them. They loved them and I loved handing them out in class. One girl commented on how she wanted to get some, but thought that no one else would bring them and she didn't want to look like a fool. Yeah, I'm that fool.
I also gave out some of the pretzels to my classmates and they ate them in class, which made me laugh because I didn't have enough for everyone, so I just gave them to people I was closer to. So I gave them the pretzels discretely and then they just ate them in front of the others anyways. I didnt give my teachers Valentines because I think that would be weird. They're boys and don't even know my name. One of them I don't even like, so he definitely wasn't going to get one.
Is that mean? I should have given him one.
That night I had a sleep over because my friend from school got snowed out of her house and couldn't go to Julian. It was my first sleepover of the new year and I think it went very well. We went to a lady's valentine party and had yummy food and great conversation. Decorated some delicious cookies and honestly it was one of my favorite Valentine's Day ever. Plus she helped me with my homework that was due the next day.
I had a great day hanging with school mates, roommates and friends. The way San Valentino would have wanted to be. Having been to la cappella di San Valentino in Terni Italy where he is buried, and getting to understand better San Valentino, I think he would have approved of my day and how I shared my love.

Why I love Jordan Catellano

The most wonderful even has occured. ABC online is now showing the series My So Called Life. I remember watching these years ago when when they were shown on MTV. Back in the day when flannel shirts and leggings were in and Seattle was the hottest spot in music. I love Claire Danes as Angela Chase with her red hair and incredibly intelligent thought process that all us viewers get to sample.

But the real high light of the show is Mr. Jared Leto as Jordan Catellano, the love interest of Angela. He has this mysteriousness that all truly wanted males have. He has friends, but we don't ever see them or learn of their names. He has the "I'm so chill" effect that adds to his appeal. Yes, he can't read very well and completely lacks normal communication skills, but those moments in which he does show his vulnerable side are well worth the flaws.


So when conversing with other ladies about Jordan, it was unanimous that we all loved him. But looking at all the flaws, why did we love him? He's decent looking, but not uber-hot. He's not motivated unless you consider him writing a song about his car for the band, never missing 5th period shop class or hanging out with the infamous Tino.

Then it dawns on us. We love him, because in the story, he's unobtainable. He doesn't show up when he's supposed to, never calls and just kisses Angela at the most random times. Never committing to more than that. Always keeping her interested, but never letting her in. He is a wanted man because she can't have him all to herself like she wants.

That's the appeal. Wanting something you can't have, makes you want it more and makes it more appealing. But take that factor away and what's really left? He's not that amazing and I don't think that I really love him. But I do enjoy the show and will keep watching, but after this little analysis of Jordan, he'll never have the same effect on me ever again.

The Baths of Truth

Instead of wasting all my time being a stay-at-home daughter, I earned my keep and Truth's Christmas present got done. I had been calling her for the last month hounding her about choosing a color for the rooms. When I arrived, there were 4 colors painted on the wall. Truth had me pick out my favorite and I said, "Of course not that one." Turns out that's the one she wanted to paint the rooms. But I have to say that she didn't do a good job painting it, so it looked really gray compared to how it looks now on the walls.
I taped the edges and got ready to go. First I primed the bathrooms to prevent the mold from returning from the black hole to which I sent it. Painting for me is soothing and very relaxing. You go up with the roller. You go down with the roller. It's not brain surgery. So the trickiest part is making sure that you get it in all the little crevices. And I did spend a lot of time reviewing all my work.
I also painted the edges with a small brush and the molding and ceiling a lovely color called Bone. I have lived in that house with all the walls of Bone and have vowed never to paint a single room in my own house that color. It's not bad, its just too much for me.
But the best part was getting to decorate the rooms. I have before and after pictures and although the rooms aren't complete yet, I totally fell in love with them. It's amazing what a little color can add to a home.
The best part of painting was that Truth let me pick out the color of the bathroom upstairs. I go to my local home improvement store and go right for a bold blue or red. Truth hates both, but hates the blue the least. I told her she wouldn't be up there anyways so she shouldn't care what color it was.
The blue was a little bold, so I only painted 2 walls and it looks AMAZING!!! With some red towels and sailboat picture my sister-in-law said it was very Tommy Hilfiger. Truth's big addition to the room was a picture of naked dancing women on the wall. "It is a bathroom after all," she says. True that Truth. I love the color so much that I would just walk in the room and just get all giddy with excitement and squeal like a little girl.
It was fun to do. For her bedroom we got new bed stuff and colors and redecorated that as well. She went for some very warm colors like gold and red for the bed and I helped. I think I might be considering a career change, well, maybe just a part time career change.

My Pretty Pretty Princess Party

So to end the Winter Festivities we had a last minute Pretty Pretty Princess Party at Truth's for Little Miss RB. So, every time I go home, I put on my opera dress and twirl around, do chores and serve Truth hot chocolate just for kicks. Because honestly, who doesn't love a dress you can twirl in? And that dress can twirl like you've never seen. I've got mad twirling skills I have to brag. But the real princess was little RB. She got to put on her Cinderella dress and light up shoes. Truth and I put out the good tea set and we had a nice little afternoon tea time, minus the tea.
To really help RB win the hearts of her prospects of Prince Eric, Prince Charming and Prince Edward, we practiced walking with books on our heads, sipping hot chocolate with the pinkies out and all the other fine qualities that make a princess.
Good thing we kept all those prom dresses. And to think, some girls would only wear them once. Honestly, it was a great afternoon and brought back great memories of growing up Princess-Style.
Please ignore the tags on Truth's dress. Its my fault.

The Joys of Being a Stay-At-Home Daughter

Christmas break went by too fast, but I had the time of my life being a stay-at-home daughter. Now, many of you may be thinking, "What exactly is a stay-at-home daughter?" and I would like to explain this to you now
A stay-at-home daughter is like its parent term stay-at-home mom with certain alterations.
Let's compare.

The mom has children to get up and get ready for school and make their breakfast.
The daughter sleeps in until her body naturally has had enough rest for the evening and can leisure around the house as needed.

The mom has lots of errands to run and things to do after she drops off the kids at school.
The daughter goes to the gym around 9 and works out for as long as desired.

The mom has lunch with girlfriends or while running errands.
The daughter has lunch with girlfriends or makes lunch for mother.

The mom has kids to pick up in the afternoon and needs to take them to after school activities.
The daughter needs to shower by this point in the day and should probably brush her hair, but its not Sunday, so she doesnt. Nor does she put on make up because once again, its not Sunday.

The mom has stuff to do.
The daughter takes a nap because she's really tired of all the day's activities.

The mom makes dinner of mac and cheese.
The daughter makes dinner of eggplant parmaggiano and roasted peppers over chicken.

The mom makes the kids to do homework and go to bed early.
The daughter makes the mom watch movies and stay up late.

The mom does house work.
The daughter does too.

The mom reads a bed time story to the kids that has a nice ending and usally ends with the phrase "Good Night."
The mom makes the daughter read a really sad story about kids being abused or illegal organ trafficking.

The mom goes to bed, which she shares, and gets woken up in the night by kids crying.
The daughter goes to bed in a California King with 2 down comforters, an electrical blanket and a nice little heat pack at her feet called Heidi the Wonder Weasel.

Both lives are bring equal amounts of joy, the daughter has less responsibility though. It was a nice life for 3 weeks and being back to work isn't really fun and I dont think I will like being back in school either, but I still have 1 more week.

The vacation was great and Truth was the best mother ever, except when she would want me to do actually do things.

I did paint the bathrooms and bedroom and I will be posting the before and after pictures. I'm especially proud of the upstairs bathroom. I got to pick the color myself and decorated it too. I think I might be giving the designingwoman a run for her money. Keep an eye out for my next creation.