Life in the Fast Lane

Ugh. Those out-of-staters call CA "Cali".

2009-06-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

No one who is actually from California refers to the state as "Cali". It is possibly the most annoying nickname ever invented. I hate it.

Mobiles

2009-06-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

I can't decide which I like better... the sheep mobile or the whales. I am leaning toward the sheep because they are associated with sleep. They are both pretty darn cute.

The unstoppable pull of baby crap!

2009-06-07T13:01:00.001-07:00

Now that my poppy seed is a rip old plum I am becoming seduced by baby gear. It isn't as exciting as wedding planning, as most baby stuff is ugly. I am compiling a list of the things I need(want) so I don't forget what they are when the time comes to buy.

I am really liking the Duo Deluxe diaper bag by Skip Hop. The shape and size seem very reasonable and it comes in a lot of patterns like the Uptown Stripe shown. The plain red or black look great too, but I still like a little childlike pattern, especially if it is a refined color palate like the bag I want!

Week 9

2009-05-16T18:29:00.001-07:00

I'm pregnant!

2009-05-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

This is for Lawren. I am being ultra original and will begin blogging about my experience being pregnant!

This is my ultrasound from Tuesday. Today I am exactly 9 weeks along. I can't wait for the next three weeks to go by so I will be out of this annoying first trimester. The fatigue is brutal.

live blogging: the inauguration

2009-01-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

Rick Warren did his thing for the invocation. I am out of the loop on megachurch ministers, but apparently he heads up Saddleback Chruch in Orange County. I always feel weird about these things at government functions. I don't like the notion that these religious invocations are appropriate because most of the the country may be religious, let alone Christian. This is better left for people at home or in church. The speech was very nice, but I couldn't get past all the heaven and god refrences. I know, the guy is a professional minister, it is what he does.

Aretha Franklin's rendition of "My country tis of thee" (is that right) war HORRIBLE. First of all, I don't like when awesome songs are butchered in the name of personal styling. Second, he voice was all dry and crackly.

Biden's swearing went without a hitch.

The John William's piece played by all the awesome classical musicians was out of sight! Williams in a genius. Star Wars, Jurrasic Park, Indiana Jones, Home Alone, Harry Potter.... the list goes on. Genius.

I don't know if it was John Roberts' fault, or Obama's, but someone mixed the other up during the President's swearing in. Obama tried to start too early, but Robert's had too long of a pause. Yea!!!! NEW PRESIDENT! PRESIDENT OBAMA!!!

Oh geez, he mentions terrorism - but at least he didn't mention the "t" word. Man he sounds powerful. I like that he is addressing the real issues at hand and that we will overcome. Whoever wrote this speech should get an award!

I like the refrence to the people who busted their butts to build this country. I do not like that CNN cuts away from the speech to show crowds of people watching the speech in remote locations. All right!!!

Science will be restored to its rightful place!!

I wonder how long these speeches go. I just checked, Obama's is to be 17 minutes long.

9:18 He is starting to get "whistley" with his s sounds

9:19 He sure sounds stron on terrorism, and no having to apologize for our way of life - awesome
finally, someone mentions that the country is made up of nonbelievers as well as Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus

9:20 "your people will judge you on what you can build, not on what you destroy" great line.

9:21 lots of mention of the US using lots of world resources

I think the know of his tie is too narrow. I think that with the long points of his collar, he needs bulkier knot. Especially since he is already so thin and narrow, the die emphasizes it.

CNN just showed people sitting on a bronze statue of horses and a carriage. How crude. Why are people climbing on monuments like it is a children's playground. That is embarissing.

9:25 Ok, my concentration is waining. When will this be over?
Oh, ok it is now done at 9:26.

9:26 I think the people behind Obama, military guys included, who are taking snapshots are rude and crude. There will be plenty of professional shots available.

9:28 Elizabeth Alexander's caidence is so odd. I know it is specific to her poem, but it is a very odd preformance. The actual words are amazing, but the choppy preformance is very distracting. Maybe that is how it is supposed to be. This is why Americans are so ambivialent to poetry. I am too synical to enjoy this type of poetry.

9:30 Why is everyone leaving? Are they going to get a spot on the parade route.
Bush I looks so cute in that fur hat. He is a bundle up old grandpa.

9:33 Dr. Joseph Lawrie? Lawry? This guy is smart. I can tell. I wonder how old he is. He sounds really old. He cirtizes favoritism to the elite and rich. If that were to end, how would congressmen afford their lavish homes? Their salary isn't nearly enough to afford the luxuries they have become accustomed too..

9:35 there is a guy in the fancy seats who is wearing a red fedora type hat. That guy is awesome. I think Michelle Obama is lucky for being so tall, but like so many tall women she hunches too much. She needs to take a lesson from Carla Bruni on poise. Obama tends to stomp around and hunch to be on the same level as shorter people.

9:37 Rev. Dr. Joseph is kind of awesome. "...so the red man can get ahead, man. And the guy who's white will embrace what is right." I love old people from the 60's. They are still hippies.

9:38 National anthem "Star Spangled Banner" preformed by Navy Sea Chanters. What a lame name. I do, however, love their traditional rendition of the anthem.

9:39 presidental party exits, John Phillip Sousa "The Stars and Stripes Forever" plays. I love that song.
Next up, PARADE!! I don't even particularly like parades.

Inspirational Poster

2009-01-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

I was having fun with Adobe Illustrator this morning and decided to produce an inspirational poster like the cool one for the Obama campaign. Except, mine is not very inspirational. I love Joan Holloway from Mad Men but I hate smoking. I liked the image and wanted to play around with recreating the Obama poster. The colors are exact, but the font is wrong. Mine is too fat. I could buy the exact one, but I am not spending $140 to replicate a poster.

2008-12-18T13:22:00.001-08:00

I am really feeling this right now.....

Ski Trip!!!

2008-12-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

Next Tuesday we will go to Mammoth!!! I am so excited because I got my first pair of snow pants!! every other time I have gone to the snow, I have made due with nylon warm up pants, not good when in a wet snow. The best part is my new pants were only $15 on EBay, with $10 shipping!!! I was about to spend $100 on some cute Big 5 pants, but was dissuaded. I just hope they fit. I am an 8 in the $100 ski pants, so I hope I am in this Obermeyer pair. No more wet butt, no more wet knees!!!! The best part is that they are cute too. These pants are nice and streamlined. They even have ankle gaiters in the legs. Can you beat $25??? No way! Now I am ready to hit the slopes!! Gabe just bought a snow onesie suit on EBay and I hope to copy his success. I should get my new pants at the end of the week, just in time for the trip. I will model them for you when they arrive. (I think I love Ebay, I will know for sure when my pants arrive)

Week One

2008-11-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

I cleared out my bookshelf the other day. I found an old German textbook and decided to list it on Amazon instead of just donating it. I sold it for $30within the hour!! That is $30 toward the new entryway! I will try to sell other stuff to offset the costs of my changes. This will be great because I plan to get rid of a lot of stuff, and only buy a few key items!
______________________
Sold items: textbook
Income Total: $30

Purchased: 0
Purchased total: 0
______________________
Net: +$30

the Cure: week one

2008-11-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

This little guy is gonna go!

There are quite a few tasks to complete for week one of the cure

Read through to page 69
Take the AT Quiz on pages 42-44 of the book.
Take pictures of your home and upload them to our Flickr page
Determine your budget: The Cure is not about money, it's about spending time getting to know your home. We'll be showing you to do it economically.
Will you be doing the Deep Treatment or the One Room Remedy?: We recommend the Deep Treatment for first timers
Start a style tray Use a tray, a scrapbook or a box to gather your clippings. If you've never done one before, we suggest taking your style tray off line for hands-on experience.
Figure out where you'll be buying fresh flowers every week: We like Trader Joe's because we're there anyway buying food.
Pick a day next week to visit your favorite home store: Even if it's out of your budget, it's a great place to pick up ideas.
Start a list of things that bother you in your apartment that need to get fixed: On our list? We're replacing all our lightbulbs with CFL's as they burn out.
Determine where you'll put your outbox: we keep ours by the front door.
Figure out one item to put out on the street

-from Apartment Therapy LA Fall Cure

I have so far completed everything except starting my style tray and gone to a home store.
I have taken photos of my place and have posted them onto my Picasa photo page. My budget is $300, but I cannot buy anything big because I plan to move to San Diego in a year and I don't want to move a lot of stuff (and I have no money and my apartment is full so the point is to get rid of stuff). Since I am a first-timer, I will be dong the Deep-Treatment (although, I am not totally sure what this is yet). I will buy flowers at Trader Joe's or make my own arrangements from found plant material. The apartment is in great shape, except for the darned kitchen cabinet under the sink. The hinge is broken and needs to be replaced. I have designated an outbox (an old laundry basket that is also on its way out) it even has some trash that is ready to dump. I haven't put an item on the street but I have jumped the gun and done some "therapy".

I have already gone through my little bookshelf and removed 10" of magizines (to toss) and old books (to donate) and de-cluttered my nightstand. Now I have room for the new, unread books that were scattered about and when they are done, they too will go. I need to get the DH on reading his last couple of Michael Chriton novels so they can keep the others company in the bin. I have also listed my little art table on Craig's List. I am not that sad to see it go. It is lovely, but underused and therefore just taking up 10 sq ft in my little apartment. I can already visualize how nice the extra breathing room will be.

My answers to the quiz are as follows
Style
Favorite Actress: Scarlett Johannson, Claire Danes, Audrey Hepburn
Actor: Paul Newman, Liev Schreiber, Clive Owen, Collin Firth
Artist: Andy Warhol, Frank Loyd Wright, Monet, Picasso
Music: the best of everything, classic pops, pop, classic rock
Automobile: BMW Wagon, 1960's Mercedes
TV show: The Office, The Biggest Loser, Friends
Restaurants: Market, San Diego
Designer/Store: Michael Kors, Gap. classic, sporty, tailored, preppy
Personal History
Born: Toppennish
Grew Up: San Diego County, lived Bakersfield, Ventura, Berlin, San Luis Obispo
Role Model: Martha Stewart: business mogul, strong personality
Problem with my apt: too cluttered, difficult to keep tidy, not enough breathing room, no where to work
What I'd like to do more of in my apt: want to have more guests over
How I'd like my friends to describe my house: Cool (sophisticated), cozy, like a place they don't want to leave, warm and inviting

2008-11-16T17:53:00.001-08:00

Hi all!
I have embarked on a new adventure. In an effort to make my home as lovely as possible, I am commiting to the 8 week Apartment Therapy home "cure". If you are unfamiliar with Apartment Therapy you should check out the awesome blog. It has a bunch of great ideas for people living in smaller homes.

Crocs bake Birkenstocks look cool

2008-10-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, I love shoes and all, and at the end of the summer I indulged in a pair of BIRKENSTOCKS!! I can hardly believe it. I know, I know, but they are comfy (worst reason ever to get something). But, at least they aren't Crocs! They remind me of my childhood when my brother and I had the funkiest colored Birenstocks. My grandma has had the samepair of white ones forever. Ahhh, my German family would understand. I do not think they are acceptable to wear to a job interview or a date, for that matter. They are the best sandals for puddling about the house, or walking to the mailbox. I am glad I got the shimmery lavender and not the brown suede that American seem to love in the Birkenstock Arizona. So there. I love my Birkinstocks and I will justify them by claiming how bad Crocs are.

single car householdom?

2008-06-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

The husband and I are pretty set on becoming a single car household in the very near future. Ack!! This is sort of scary. How will I be able to take a spur of the moment cross country road trip without my own 5 seater sedan? We are planning on living in the great city of San Luis Obispo for at least another year so it shouldn't be too much of a logistical nightmare. SLO is great because it is only 3.5 miles from end to end and everything is centrally located (near out apartment). This will work out so well because I will save $300 and the at least $130 in gas it takes to make the 5 mile round trip to school each day, not to mention the wear and tear and maintenance for the vehicle.

We both have great bicycles, but the real reason we are both so excited to cut back on an entire car is the prospect of getting a 125cc gas powered scooter (or motorized cycle by California DMV standards). OOOH! (just popped in my head) our one car will be able to use the designated covered parking spot exclusively! Wow! between bus (free for me as a Cal Poly student), biking, and 90+mpg scooter and the one car, we should have no problem getting all of our business done.

This idea has been bubbling for quite some time, but now that one car is in the shop and gas prices are only at the beginning of their summer climb it has really cemented itself in our minds. Gabe already rides his bike to work 2 miles away a few times a week and we may make one or two trips a week each "out of town" (to the neighboring cities 10-15 miles away). So, less gas, insurance, maintenance, tires, washing, liability - how could we loose?
The best part it Gabe might end up selling his car to a coworker who wants something reasonable for his soon to be licensed daughter, so we would have the cash to get the scooter!

On the verge of canceling cable

2008-05-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

Because of our acute addiction to all things television, Gabe and I are just one step away from canceling cable. That one step consists of calling up the company and getting the switch thrown.
I will further explain the reasons for this dramatic lifestyle change in upcoming installments, and I will chronicle our experiences in future posts.

2008-03-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone should be freaking out about tax season right about now, April is fast upon us.

That is, unless you are a college student hoping to get some financial aid. Yeah, you should have already done your taxes prior to March 1st so that you could be considered for the most free or loan money possible. So I must thank FAFSA for pressuring me to file my income taxes early every year so that I don't have panic attacks in April. I had a panic attack in February because we had to pay an additional $1,000 in federal and state income taxes this year.

By the way, I must comment on the stupid FAFSA logo. It is a mortarboard with a USA flag image on it capping the "S", so your (the student's) studies are patriotic, get it? Ok, no more on the subject

SATC Movie!!

2008-03-25T18:30:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it is finally almost here! All I can say is, It had better be damn good!

What to do with myself?

2008-03-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

The university winter quarter is not ofically over, however it is for us landscape archirtorture students. (I just have to digitally submit 2 assignments by Monday!!) This is wonderful, right? I finally have time to do all of the things I had put off because I was too busy, like; getting the cars smoged, tuned up, washed and waxed (most of the deferred chores are auto related), getting a haircut, giving the apartment a thorough cleaning, washing the laundry, put away the last load of clean laundry, give myself a manicure, exercise, water the plants, and the list goes on. Oh well, I am off to finish those last school assignments so I wil be totally free for the next two weeks!

Have a cat? You need cat wigs!

2008-03-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, I pilfered this idea from my new favorite blog The Unclutterer. It is the very end of the university quarter and I have no brainpower for my own unique posts.

Cat wigs are awesome! Now what fine feline wouldn't want such a great accessory? Kitty Wigs are my hot invention of the week. I need to come up with daily topics. Anyways, this would make a great birthday present for you cat, if you are crazy and do that sort of thing. Enjoy!

If I die before I wake....

2008-02-14T22:05:00.000-08:00

The carbon monoxide detector went off this evening!!! Hurrah, all I need on this lovely St. Valentine's Day is th potential for a life threatening emergency!! Gabe and I opened the windows and hung out on the porch to not be in harm's way. Gabe called the fire department because if SLO city is anything like every single county engine, they will have a gas detector that will tell how much co is hanging around and possibly find the source. Well, the FD came and when good old Gabe asked about the detector the captain said that their detector only did fuels. He was also very awkard about explaining why theirs can't detect co. We got a weird vibe. Later we surmised the FD would assume too much liability if they detected co levels that were safe and the people ended up dying so they just keep their mouth's shut. However, the captain was pretty sure that ours was malfunctioning (and I doubt he is qualified to make such an assertion) and we should keep the windows cracked just in case, and not to stay here "if we don't feel comfortable,"which I am sure is their get of the hook statment. I am sure that baking, boiling, and roasting was the culprit - lots of gas burning with no ventilation and no open windows becasue it is a cold evening. I will be really pissed if I die of co poising tonight. If that is the case Alex can have my MacBook Pro and my mom can have my clothes- since she fits into them anyway. Oh well, I am sure I will see everyone safe and sound tomorrow or Monday.
Till then

Chain Email

2008-01-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

Most chain emails I come across are a complete waste of time, but some are real gems! I was forwarded this one today from my mom.

"We all know that Moms love to dress up their kids. But when Dad is a graphic designer, anything is possible. It all started out with the innocent baby picture below...

I love Christmas decorations

2007-12-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

I think Christmas decorations are the most beautiful thing all year. I am glad that it only comes once a year so that the sparkle and music doesn't get old. All right, I am going to hunt down something shiny to hang around the house!

Christmas Party

2007-12-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

Last night was the Pismo Beach Firefighters Association Christmas party!! It was very fun. Lots of dancing and merriment. I did have to request Sandstorm by Darude, one of the bestest techno mix songs of all time. It was a hit. Anyways, I was totally adventurous with my makeup and wore green eyeshadow! It was a far stretch from my usual beige on taupe colors. It coordinated with my gold accessories. I was in heaven! Dressing up and techno - It doesn't get better than that!!

School is out!

2007-12-02T13:35:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah, that's right! The quarter is finally over. Too bad The Office is in reruns because of the writer's strike. Oh well. Now I have lots of time to do the things I have neglected in the last weeks, like eating and sleeping and of course blogging. I did however score a totally adorable pair of boots as a belated birthday present from my mom, so now I can take the time to create outfits to wear them with. They have the perfect heel thickness and the toe is not to round or square like duck feet and not to pointy like witch toes. I love that now the biggest things I have to think about are food, clothes, and tv. Man, this sounds superficial. I'm not, really, but I do enjoy these things so. I know how to read, too. Ah, good times. Anyways, enjoy the pic of the boots!

what to do....

2007-10-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Tonight the cinematic experience known as Ghostbusters plays at the Fremont theatre downton. This is great! It is only $5 per person and, becauu it starts at 7:30, will be a great way to kill an otherwise lame Thursday night. See you there!

Back from the ASLA conference

2007-10-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Wow, the American Society of Landscape Architects put on quite a show this weekend at their annual conference, this year held in good ole' San Francisco. We saw some good stuff, some boring stuff and everything in between. The early bird special for students of $140, which went up to $285 in August was a tough pill to swallow, but it was a great experience and worthwhile especially it was only a three and a half hour drive.

Bikes are transportation, right?

2007-10-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

In an August 15th PBS interview, the head of the Department of Transportation, Secretary Mary Peters answered a question about inappropriate uses of DOT funds and included bike paths in with the "current spending that is going to projects that really are not transportation." Last time I checked, everyone agreed that safer, dedicated bike routes would encourage people to use bikes for daily transportation needs. I think this is part of a "big business" conspiracy to phase out transportation options that threated the auto industry. I personally think DOT funds should be used to encourage "transit oriented development" where dwellings and workplaces are closer together so mass transit, bikes, and walking are feasible options, even in smaller communities. think garden cities or pre-auto suburbs.

School Spirit?

2007-09-28T16:22:00.000-07:00

Is this just a plain old lanyard, or is it a more dubious item? I think it is a school spirited device with which frustrated undergrads may use as a hanging device with which to commit suicide. This is why I have always steered away from ever purchasing one. Given the frustrating situation I am (and 17 others are) in, I may have already put it too good use. So, by not buying a key chain thingy, I actually may have prevented my own untimely death. It really makes you think, doesn't it?

It doesn't, but I've just always wanted to use that phrase completely inappropriately when it would sound the most idiotic. Mission accomplished!

State of the department address.... sort of

2007-09-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

We (2 third year studio classes) just had a talk with the department head. As one of my peers said afterward, "She should be a politician." I'm chuckling on the outside but I am crying on the inside. There were three questions/issues brought up by students and it was like pulling teeth. I was scolded for the way we(me) spoke to the department head. We were harsh and in the realm of rude. We ar very frustrated and none of the major questions brought up were being answered, so we were semi justified.

I brought up the issue that the transfer students who entered in my year aren't getting the advising we need. Specifically we are not getting answers to three essential questions 1)What class do we still need to take 2)When are they offered 3)When is our expected graduation date? As an answer to this question she went on and on about how we are still getting to graduate sooner that previous transfer classes because of the new curriculum and things are hairy for our year because we are the first group to go through since the change.
I redirected the DH to my issue, stating that regardless of when we get to graduate, we still need to know when that will happen and I restated the three important questions that advisors aren't answering. Then she said something about its hard because of the new curriculum and none of the issues we are having were anticipated. I got in the last word by restating my three most important questions that department advisors should be able to answer for each student, regardless of when they entered.

After a long discussion about the professional accreditation process that will occur later in the school year, Ms. X asked what would occur if the worst case scenario - the department fails its reaccreditation - occurs. DH said something like, oh, that probably won't happen. I've been through a lot of these at the other institutions I was at and I'm not nervous about that. Then she went into an example of what might occur if we got a few "barely adequate" marks.... Then I had to open my big mouth and ask "But what is the answer to her question?" and she started giving another unsatisfactory answer. It was so because she wasn't addressing the simple question of what will happen in the department if we don't meet the standards of re-accreditation. Then Mr. X broke into the conservation explaining what he understood to be the course of events in the department if, and I quote, "God forbid the department doesn't get re-accredited. He finished with flair too, by stating, "Thank you Mr. X for answering the question."

Third, a question about increased printing and scanning option was brought up and DH started taking the conversation on a tangent about free prints, when the original question was about having a more diverse offering of printing opportunities "in house."

Needless to say, we are all a bit tired of all this. We just want to get out of here ASAP!!

Beets, Bears, Battlestargalactica

2007-09-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

For those of you who need some form of entertainment to distract yourself from the doldrums of Cal Poly why not turn to The Office? It is full of humor that is almost painful to watch, which makes it oh so funny. It is even more funny if you understand that any one of the predicaments seen on the show probably have been observed in some form in real offices across the United States. So, if you have have a free hour Thursdays at 9, check out NBC and be glad that at the very least, being stuck at Cal Poly might be better than being stuck in an office.

FYI: Dwight, shown left, is the best character

You are now entering...the Twilight Zone! (of higher education)

2007-09-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call "Cal Poly".

Another year here at CP....

2007-09-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

Is it really only week two of the new school year? My class compadres have again come to the conclusion that the landscape architecture department hates its students. Although most of us transfers entered with loads of credit it is still ambiguous as to when we might ever graduate. There is no light at the end of the tunnel? We've calculated that we will have spent 4.5 years at Cal Poly since transferring before we are able to graduate. This is very bad. Why, with at least two years of community college behind us, are we graduating only six months before those who started as freshmen the same year? Tears, I'm crying.

I will attempt to contact an adviser today in order to determine what extra classes I need to take. Reliable information is difficult to come by, because the advisors do are not quite sure on how to handle our situation. We are often referred to the University Records office at the top of the hill, and the ladies there whine that they are understaffed and cannot take the time to answer the questions because they should be directed to our department advisors.

Anyone you know interested in going to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo? Warn them against it if they actually want to graduate in a timely manner. The university wines and dines the potential and incoming freshmen, giving them first pick at registering for classes and throwing meet and greets and WOW* for them, but once the parents are gone the turn their backs on you. They give you a paper bag full of shit and expect you to be grateful that they provided lunch.

end of rant.

*WOW=Week of Welcome, not World of Warcraft. The last week of summer vacation where freshmen do lots of fun teambuilding and school spirit oriented activities. I hear it is super fun.