Crazy Mexican Girl

No Labor Day in Havasu

2009-09-29T10:46:00.001-07:00

Hey! I was in Havasu a few weeks ago for Labor Day. I've never been there before, but you bet I WILL be back. Holy crap, it was so fun!!!

Oh yeah, BTW, I finally graduated!!! Got my Associates in Construction Management. Has it helped for my job, you ask? HELL NO!! Think I'll have to leave this company to get anything out of my degree. Whatevs...I WENT TO HAVASU!!!!

Lil Sammy Brat Face!

2009-01-27T13:22:00.000-08:00

Here's the newest addition to my family...my parents only Grandchild...Sammy...

He's a M-O-N-S-T-E-R but he's sooooo cute and I love him!

Hello!

2009-01-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm alive!

Hi all!

2008-04-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Hi! I have a few minutes to breath so I thought I would let you all know how I'm doing. I've received several comments from you guys saying you missed me!!!!! I MISS YOU TOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

First a gripe... I took online college because I didn't/don't have time to go to actual classroom to learn. I thought online was "at your own pace". HOLY SHIT was I wrong! I seriously do not have time to do ANYTHING! And everything is soooo crammed. Each class is 5 weeks long so our reading assignment for the week (6 days) is like 6-10 chapters. WTF!

Well I completed my first two classes with a C and C-. Whatever! Sociology??? I am NOT a thinker like sociologists. I had a very very hard time with that class. I'm one to believe that things are the way they are because God made it that way, not some strange freakin theory. Call it narrow mindness, I don't care. I don't think there is a scientific reason or fact for everything. God simply wanted it that way and that's that! So needless to say, that's the class I got the C- in. Hey, I'm not too upset over it. I've always been your average C student since my first day of kindergarden and I'm ok with that.

So obviously I haven't had time to knit.

But I did have time to see my little bubbas.

This is Mateo. Diego didn't settle down enough to take a photo. Crazy kid!

I'll try to come back more often! Gotta run for now!

Hey! Hi! Remember me?

2008-02-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

you member...!

As if I didn't have any time to blog now, I went ahead and did the unthinkable. Got accepted to attend school for my construction management degree, ONLINE!

So now, I'll be working two jobs AND going to school. Me and friggin bright ideas. Somewhere inbetween all that, I will have to find time to breath. I have to "show up" to classes at least 4 times a week. Thank goodness that "classess" are actually me sigining into their server and doing my work, instead of going to an ACTUAL campus classroom. Saturday and Sundays count as "class" days too. Phew!

Anyway, in 14 months, I should be all smart and stuff. I can't hardly wait. I always wanted to be smart!

Mom news: She's doing good. She went back to work cuz she was bored off her ass at home. She goes this week and next week to get body scanned to see if she needs to go through chemo. She wasn't too happy about that, as we weren't either. But she really thought she was "done". She's a little trooper though. She knows she doesn't have a choice.

Going to Phoenix in two weeks to see the little bubba's, oh yeah, AND Conni AND Gil.

No time for knitting. Although I miss it much!

Life update

2008-01-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Sorry I haven't been around much and I literally have not checked any single one of your blogs. For that I apologize. I hope to get back into the regular groove of checking up on all of you daily.

Anyway, my mom is doing well. As of today, she is cancer free. She is starting radiation tomorrow so please still keep her in your thought and prayers. She's always been a fighter and I tell you what, she sure kicked the butt of this terrible disease.

As for an update with me, the new guy is completely out. I got a text message from him recently that said "Miss OCD Queen, you are high maintenance, we would butt heads. I sorry." Yes, I am absolutely positive. No joke. Whatever. I already knew there was nothing anymore but still that was mean and hurtful to say.

Been going to church still and haven't been doing any knitting. Other than that, I have nothing else to report.

Talk to you all soon! Miss you guys!

Say a prayer for my momma...

2007-12-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

My mom told me last night she has breast cancer. She is having a lumpectomy on Friday. I'll be off line for awhile.

Please keep her in your prayers and send good vibes our way!

And with a blink of an eye...he was gone

2007-12-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

Yup! He's gone. The new guy. And people wonder why I'm so bitter and jaded. Just another self-absorbed guy. Knew he was too good to be true. Story of my life! Movin on...

Seasons still changing...

2007-12-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

I used to post EVERYTHING about my life on my blog. No holds barred. I consider myself to be an open book. I will tell you anything about myself. I have no regrets or secrets. (or apparently no shame for that matter.)

I've been in involved with something I shouldn't be. I'm embarrassed and ashamed that I let myself into that situation. So ashamed that I got a very rude awakening. A verbal punch in the face from my pastor at church on Wednesday. And so embarrassed that I won't devulge it.

I have never cried so much at church besides a funeral. I was a sopping mess on Wednesday. That's when a big punch in the head snapped me out of my situation.

Pastor was talking about doing and knowing right and wrong. He asked the group if we knew the difference between right and wrong. Everyone including me shook our heads yes. Then feeling like he was looking at me in the eyes said "DO YOU REALLY?" "Do you really know the right from wrong? You SAY you are a Christian and you sit here in church every week claiming to be a Christian but you continue to do what you are doing knowing it's wrong. How can you call yourself a Christian?" I felt him scolding me. I felt that his whole sermon was written and directed to me. I was horrified. I cried so much and prayed for so much forgiveness for my present situation and what I have done in the past. He shamed me.

From that moment on, I knew what I had to do. And I did it. And I will continue to live my life like that. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. From that situation, grew little other situations too. I feel my conscience is free now. I have nothing to hide anymore and no more elaborate stories to cover it.

I can honestly say now that I am becoming a "better" Christian. God only knows.

Say a little prayer for you ME!

2007-11-23T15:39:00.000-08:00

So my "little" sore throat turned out to be bronchitis. We had a half day on Wednesday and I couldn't even make it to work that day. Wow, it's been one heck of a health rollercoaster for me the past 4 weeks.

Needless to day, I spent Thanksgiving all by myself. No one wanted a sickie at their party. My mom and dad had my aunts and uncle from Colorado up. But my aunts and uncle go back to Colorado to a crap load of kids. Then my cousin called me and asked me if I wanted to go to my aunts house locally but then I thought, the house is full of kids. So I couldn't go there either. So I just stayed home and watched movies and TV all day.

In the evening the guy I've been seeing came over and brought me some soup, cough drops, kleenex, 7-up and a juice from my "motherland" as he said. It's a Mexican strawberry-banana juice thingy. He's so freakin cute. He's obsessed that I'm "Latina". I think it's funny. Anyway, he stayed with me for about an hour before he had to go off to work.

I don't want to give up too much info about this guy because I don't want to get too hyped up to only be disappointed later. But for now, we're keeping it cool and collected.

Dane called me last night. Drunk, OF COURSE. I don't know what to do about him. He calls me all the time but he's ALWAYS drunk when he does. Then I get upset and I hurt his feelings cuz his spirits are low when he's drinking. I tell him to call me when he's sober and he says ok and he will the next time, but then he has nothing to say. And all he ever says when he calls drunk anyway is how much he loves me, misses me how stupid he is for not being with me. Says how beautiful I am, blah blah blah. But it's like a script. I can actually say what he's going to say before he says it. He'll be talking and in my head I already have the next phrase in my head.

So last night he asked me if I still wanted to be with him. I always humor him and say "yes babe" so I don't hurt his little feelers. But this time I said "no". He got hurt of course and asked why. I said I have moved on and he said "so now you don't ever want to talk to me again." It's pathetic. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? Besides ignoring his phone calls?

Gotta go and take some more drugs now. God bless antibiotics and cough syrup with codine. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for my friends, family and blog-friends.

Seasons change...

2007-11-18T19:33:00.000-08:00

I've been making a few little changes in my life recently. The most important being that I've been going back to church twice a week. I am a Christian but I want to be a BETTER Christian. My thoughts lately have been low and I needed help with changing my negative attitude into a positive one. I've always turned to Jesus when life gets too hard to handle on my own but I want to turn Jesus even when life is good.

The second thing I have changed recently is that I've cut out a small piece of the barbed wire that is wrapped around my heart and I've let someone look into the peep hole of my heart. I've been out with this guy about 5 times and I look forward to seeing him more. He is a very positive person who I enjoy spending time with. He's out of town right now but I can't wait until he returns. I've forgotten how this feeling feels. I've been so bitter and jaded for so long that it's actually a feeling that I could get used to.

The other changes have been little minor changes, like me starting to use sun screen on my face. I've always had good skin and a nice complexion from good genes, but realized I was taking it for granted. I saw my face at a spa under a black light and could see visible sun damage spots. From that day, I vowed to always wear sunscreen from now on. I'm blessed that I caught it early enough that I've been using a face cream to lighten my sun spots. It's worked tremendously and now I wear sun screen daily.

The steroid medication I was on lowered my immune system while I was on them. Naturally, I have caught a sore throat. I'll be fine. Just a little after bump in the road to good health.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy.

What the FRENCH TOAST????

2007-11-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Crimany! When did it get to be November? Fudge!

Ok, so I'm feeling waaaaaaaaay better. My hearing is back and I am off those HORRIBLE steroids and my mental health is back too.

For real, I have nothing else to say. I'll be back when I have something worthwhile to say.

Where I've been...

2007-11-08T15:20:00.000-08:00

Long story short and i will get back to blogging ASAP...

I have Sensorineural Hearing Loss in my right ear. I can hear but it's much lower than it should be. So i am on some serious steriods and i've been off work all week. The meds are making me super sick but my hearing is getting better.

They don't have a cause for it. Just that it's a viral infection of my cochlea in my inner ear. Not fun.

Miss you all. I'll be ok. No worries!

I scored some booty!

2007-10-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

And by booty, I mean like Pirates Booty. (hey, I'll take whatever kind of booty I can get)

Ok, I KNOW everyone says their Secret Pal is the best, but really, MINE IS!!!!!!!!

Here's my second package. I'm so friggin thrilled. I'm beside myself!!!!

First off, my CHICAGO WHITE SOX wood structure. It's amazing. I love love love it.

Then I got a knitting answer book cuz I have the most questions a knitter could possibly ask. And I'm sure Jen is getting tired of all my questions. I also got two balls of adorable pink eyelash yarn. I have the perfect thing to make with those. And 3 awesome doughnut shaped beads in the most amazing colors.

My pal sent me my favorite thing of all time, GNOMES!!!!!! When you grow plants like I do, you gotta have magic gnomes in your garden. No doubt about it!

And last but not least, a fantastic scrap book! And the BEST part, it's already decorated!!!! All I have to do is put the pictures in it. OMG, that's genius!!!!

This was the best gift! I'm so happy and grateful. Thank you soooooo much Secret Pal! You really are AWESOME!

SP11 Contest - Then and Now

2007-10-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

So our latest contest for Secret Pal 11 is to post a photo of the first thing you ever knit and then post something that you've knit recently so that you can see the progress you've made in your knitting.

So here's my VERY first FO (finished object)...

Then of course, my latest FO is Calorimetry...

I really am awfully proud of the progress I've made in two years. I know my progress would have been better had I kept at it. But honestly there were a few times that I almost wanted to quit knitting because I couldn't read difficult patterns. I could only knit patterns like scarves and hats because they were the simplest patterns.

Anyway, I'm glad I didn't give up and again I'm absolutley grateful that Jen took the time to teach me over IM how to read a pattern and taught me what "short rows" were and what "turning your work" meant.

I get a lot of comments left on my blog saying "I wish I could knit". My advice to you ladies that say that is DO IT! Learn! Go to your LYS (local yarn store) and take a class or two. You won't regret it and you will be so proud of yourself when you have a beautiful FO. Then when you go to the mall and see a scarf for $65, you can say, "huh, I can make that for $25"

Cheers to knitting!

SOCKS!

2007-10-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

The BEST kitter in the world, Jen made me these monkey socks! I am over the moon with these. They are fantastic! Beautiful! Thanks a trillion Jen. You are so awesome!

Because I gave up trying to knit socks, I was sad cuz I loved this yarn. So I asked Jen to knit me socks and she did. I sent her the yarn, plus some new yarn of her own and this was the end result.

How long do you think they'll last if I wear them EVERYDAY?!

FO Calorimetry

2007-10-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

She's done! She looks fantastic, if I can say so myself. I'll get a shot of me wearing it soon, k?!

Off to cast on for something new. Laters!

*UPDATE* Sorry, for you non knitters, this is what it is.

Jack 199?-2007

2007-10-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

Jack the Brat, my booboo kitty died yesterday. I'm so sad. She was the awesomest cat ever. She was an only outdoor cat because she didn't like to come inside, EVER! No sleet, snow, rain, wind or sun would get her to come inside. She knew her feeding times were 7:30am and 4:30pm and would always be home for dinner no matter where she was roaming. Her best friend is a skunk that she would share her food with, hence why we had to put her on a feeding schedule instead of keeping her food out. She would fight any other cat that would try for her food too. She would bite my toe during the summer if I stopped petting her. She would droooool big time when she got a full body rub. I loved her so much and I will miss her forever!

Love you Jack! RIP with brother Bobby. See you again someday!

Rocky Mountain High

2007-10-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

Apparently telling Dane off hasn't phased him at all. He still calls about every 4-7 days. Still missing me and loving me. He's always asking when I'm coming to see him and I still say the same thing "When I go to Denver, it will not be for you anymore. It will be only for my family." He says I'm mean. I've told him time and time again, if he wants to see me, he needs to come to ME! He hasn't moved a muscle of course.

Dane called me again last night said if the Rockies get to the World Series, he will buy us tickets to go and get me out there. Who am I to say NO to the WORLD SERIES! GO ROCKIES!

BIG things come in BIG packages

2007-10-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

AY!

How bout them Cowgirls

2007-10-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

~Boy, she don't need you and she don't need me
She can do just fine on her own two feet
But she wants a man who wants her to be herself
And she'll never change, don't know how to hide
Her stubborn will or her fightin' side
But you treat her right and she'll love you like no one else~

Workin 9-5 and 8-5

2007-10-07T15:21:00.001-07:00

Ok, that's me. YAY! I am Employee of the Month at my main job. I got my very own parking space for the whole month of October. I know it sounds retarded, but really, it's kinda good. Our parking lot is jamb packed in the mornings, so I'm pretty grateful for the spot. I'm also getting my review this week so we'll see how that goes. I assume it can't be that bad, I mean, getting EOM and all. Who knows. Wish me luck.

Now, about my second job. I blogged last year about my raise and how bad it sucked. Well guess what, I got a whole fucking $.40 raise AGAIN this year. On my review I got 10 out of 10 for each subject. I've worked for this company for 3 fucking miserable years of my life and all they have rewarded my dedication and commitment to them is by 80 fucking cents. The worst part about it all...I NEED this job. I've got a fucking mortgage to pay by my damn self.

As of today, I have worked 7 straight days. By this coming Saturday, I will have worked 13 days and FINALLY getting ONE day off of work. Then I go back and do another 13 days before another ONE day off.

When the HELL do I get my life back?

Empty Calori(metry)

2007-10-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to make this.

This is what I have so far...

Does it look right so far??? It seems to me that it's longer then it should be.

I love music!

2007-09-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

I TOTALLY stole this from Lacey. HI LACEY! This was sooo fun! (I'm easily amused)

If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
So, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, etc).
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
7. Don't skip songs.

(1) Opening credits: Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

(2) Waking up: Walkin on Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves

(3) First day at school: Sail On - Commodores

(4) Fight song: The One - Jennifer Lopez

(5) Breaking up: Everybody Knows - Dixie Chicks

(6) Happiness: Just the Way you Are - Billy Joel

(7) Life is okay: Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop

(8) Mental breakdown: Every time I Close My Eyes - Babyface

(9) Driving: Crazybitch - Buckcherry (LOL)

(10) Flashback: No Reason to Cry - Judy Torres

(11) Getting back together: Return of the Mac - Mark Morrison (LOL)

(12) Wedding: Senorita - Los Lonely Boys

(13) Birth of a child: I need to know - Marc Anthony (LOL)

(14) Final battle: La Cucuracha - Lighter Shade of Brown

(15) Death scene: Heartbreak Hotel - Jackson 5

(16) Funeral song: Along Comes a Woman - Chicago

(17) End credits: Bye Bye - Jo Dee Messina (TOTALLY NOT SHITTING YOU - LOL)

I've got mail...from my Secret Pal!

2007-09-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

Then...

Now...

Thank you Secret Pal. This is fantastic!!!! You hit me right on the nose. I love love love everything.

3 candles of my favorite scents, vanilla and lemon
Scrapbooking letters and templates for scrapbooking
5 AWESOME stitch markers
2 beautiful balls of pink fashion yarn, appropriately named "Surfer" cuz I'm a beach girl and all (LOVE YOU)
1 skein of cotton fleece yarn in a gorgeous burgandy color
1 adorable plastic tumbler FILLED with my FAVORITE candy EVER, gummy bears, pomegranate gum and mints!!! (How'd you know pomergranates are my FAV?) Also included are 4 plastic straws

I'm totally taking the tumbler to work and using it every single day for my water. I'm so extremely excited. Thanks a million Secret Pal, you ARE the best!

Beisball has NOT bean berry berry goood to me!

2007-09-12T19:24:00.001-07:00

So much for my White Sox or Giants to be in the World Series. I've packed it up this year and am just hoping next year they will BRING THEIR GAME!

What the hell happened to them? They are not even CLOSE. Whatever!

And so much for my annual baseball predictions. Instead of coming in 9th out of 189 like I was last season, I'm dead last. 185th place out of 185 people. NEWMAN! Stupid Giants and White Sox. Curse you!!

Well ain't that a shitter!

2007-09-11T19:04:00.001-07:00

Went for yearly girly doctor on Monday. I know you don't have to go every year now if you have normal check ups, but I'm not gonna fall for that. As long as I have medical insurance, I will still be going every year. The moment I start going every 3 years like they say you can now, is the moment I will have an abnormal check up.

Talked to my doctor about a lot of things. She's fantastic. I really like her. Well, I did until she asked me "So, I'm looking in your chart and seems to be that you have gained 9 lbs since the last time you were here in July 06. Any specific reason why?"

I said to her "Good question, I thought maybe I would ask you." Granted I was working out with a personal trainer last year for 4 months, but my weight has always been the same for 4-5 years, even with the trainer. I just got more toned. I didn't really lose weight with the trainer.

I haven't been partying any more than I was last year. I know beer is my main problem, but like I said, I haven't been doing any more or less. I'm consistent on my partying.

I don't REALLY eat that bad. I'm not a fast food hog and I cook a lot at home, IN THE WINTER.

So what did I come up with? My new job! I've been at my new job for 1 year, in August. I'm actually happy at my job and I have good friends at work. Friends who all want to EAT OUT EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH! Ah ha! So thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's the reason, eating out at restaurants every day for lunch. I knew it couldn't be my partying. Some people are SO mean when that's the first thing they blame it on! Corona never did anything to you! Sheeesh!

So here's to NOT EATING OUT EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH! Here's to making healthy lunches and bringing them to work. Here's to eating my Lean Cuisines for dinner and not my left overs from the restaurant at lunch time.

(Dane is NOT going to be happy with me)

Attention knitters & My SP11

2007-09-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

This is my next knitting project to tackle. It's the Cavendish Noro blanket, made from Noro Silk Garden in shade #87.

Here's the thing...I need TEN freaking skeins of this at approx. $11 a skein. That's over a hundred dollars to MAKE this shit. *big sigh*

If anyone sees any of this particular yarn on sale somewhere, please HOLLA, LOUDLY! If you have any or know someone who does, to pass my way, I will be forever grateful.

This is going to my BIGGEST project to date. It's still a "beginners" pattern which is totally me. I'm still a beginner, even though I've been knitting for 2 years. It doesn't go beyond my knitting rectangles, but this is the biggest rectangle I would be knitting.

I'm gonna go buy a skein or two tomorrow to hopefully get started ASAP. Wish me luck!

SON OF A...KNITTING NEEDLE

2007-09-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY get motivated to knit and this happens...

Mutha f'n needle BREAKS! The red stoppers are the tips of the circular needles (for you non knitters), and as you can see, the damn cord just darn broke off the needle. Stupid Bryspun needles. I hate you! It's a good thing I have #4's in addi's. (Addi's were in use when I cast on for this orange hat, otherwise I would have started with the addi's)

Has this ever happened to you?

I totally just lost my knitting flow now. UGH!

FINE, I'm off to get the hat off the bastard Bryspuns and on to the awesome Addi's.

Save a horse...ride a Cowboy!

2007-09-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

Michelle and I went to Tahoe this weekend and saw Toby Keith in concert last night. HOLY CRAAAAAAAAAAP that is one sexy mo-fo. I can't even explain the fun we had. I tell you what, whether you like country music or not, he puts on a fantastic show. I highly recommend it.

Our seats were 20 rows from the stage, so I was closer to the stage than this video screen. However, with crappy camera phones, the stage was too bright. Whacha gonna do?!

Well, It's been a loooooooong looooooooong beer and gambling fueled weekend. I must get my beauty sleep now. Lord knows I need it.

Have a great rest of the Holiday weekend!

I've been tagged...

2007-08-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

Trenting tagged me, so here it goes...

Accent – Spanish and Italian

I Don't Drink – Whiskey

Chore I Hate – Putting laundry away. I will do it and fold it all day long, just don't make me put it away too.

Pets – Nope

Essential Electronic – Cell phone

Perfume/Cologne – Pleasures

Gold or silver – White gold

Insomnia – I'm a very light sleeper. Used to have insomnia. I take meds for it.

Job Title – Project Administrator

Most Admired Trait – Hair

Kids – Nope

Religion – Christian

Siblings – Older brother died in 1988. I'm the only child now.

Time I wake up – 6:30

Unusual talent/skill – Drinking.

Vegetable I refuse to eat – Brussel sprouts

Worst habit – Judging a book (people) by their cover

X-rays – Yes, hand, foot and back

My favorite meal – Steak, baked potatoe and asparagas.

I’M TAGGING - Glitter, Tanya and Julia

SP11 stuff

2007-08-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? addy turbo needles.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project? Heck yes! something simple and easy. Usually hats. I knit until I need my dpns. So I take a couple hat projects

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? Well, Mexico hands down. Anywhere in Mexico. Also been to Australia, my second favorite place.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? I don't really have a favorite. I do own Stitch 'N Bitch, The Knitters Handbook. I do reference it alot. It's pretty helpful.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? No pod casts. I but listen to my ipod daily!

6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be? PINK!

7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do? Depending if it was a significant mistake, I prolly would just keep going. Nobodies perfect.

8. Where is the most unusual spot you've ever knit? My office at work, I would have to say. I don't really knit outside the house much. And if I do, it's at work.

Contests, prizes, oh what FUN!

2007-08-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

One day I will have one myself. Until then, stop by Golden Purl's blog and sign up for her knitting contest.

Be sure to mention that I sent you there.

Good luck! Happy contesting!

What's your Stripper name?

2007-08-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

I'm Dallas Leathertush...

Instructions:

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name:

a = Chesty
b = Fantasia
c = Starr
d = Diamond
e = Montana
f = Angel
g = Sugar
h = Mimi
I = Lola
j = Kitty
k = Roxie
l = Dallas
m = Princess
n = Heidi
o = Bambi
p = Bunny
q = Brandy
r = Sugar
s = Candy
t = Raquel
u = Sapphire
v = Cinnamon
w = Blaze
x = Trixie
y = Isis
z = Jade

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:

a = Leather
b = Dream
c = Sunny
d = Deep
e = Heaven
f = Tight
g = Shimmer
h = Velvet
i = Lusty
j = Harley
k = Passion
l = Dazzle
m = Dixon
n = Spank
o = Glitter
p = Razor
q = Meadow
r = Glitz
s = Sparkle
t = Sweet
u = Silver
v = Tickle
w = Cherry
x = Hard
y = Night
z = Amber

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:

a = hooter
b = horn
c = tower
d = fire
e = thighs
f = hips
g = side
h = jugs
i = shock
j = cocker
k = brook
l = tush
m = sizzle
n = ridge
o = kiss
p = bomb
q = cream
r = thong
s = heat
t = whip
u = cheeks
v = rock
w = hiney
x = button
y = lick
z = juice

Confessions of a fake knitter...

2007-08-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

I paid Jen in sock yarn to knit me a pair of socks. Yeah, that's right. I did. I'm not ashamed. What I am ashamed of is that I don't know how to knit socks myself. I tried. I honestly did. But I didn't get very far. I gave up. Too frustrating. So I send my sock yarn to Jen to make them for me and an extra set of sock yarn for her for her troubles.

How the heck on God's green earth, did I manage to make these? I'll never know.

I suppose cuz they were made with the easiest pattern EVER! There was no decreasing, increasing, yarn overs, turning heels, switching colors, you know all that CRAZY knitting stuff. I've got to be the most laziest knitter ever. If it's not easy, I don't want to do it. I can ALMOST promise you that I will NEVER make a sweater. Are you kidding me? Having to knit things separately then sew them all together to make something that looks like a sweater with two arms and a neck hole? I would rather not, thanks! What I WOULD rather do is go to the The Gap and buy a sweater already made. See, why do it yourself when you can pay someone to do it for you. If that's not the best attitude in life, I don't know what is.

Truth is. I'm a pretend knitter. I pretend I know what I'm doing. I trick people into thinking I can knit. When really, all I can do is knit and purl in a straight line. I can NOT for the life of me read a knitting pattern. With all those abbreviations. It's like reading Greek. And I don't have any close friends nearby that knit, so there really isn't anyone to school me on how to read them.

So what I've done is left it up to my Secret Pal to help me out and help me become a real knitter.

Perhaps one day I can even make my OWN socks.

OY!

2007-08-17T15:47:00.001-07:00

Nuff said...

What the bloody hell are you saying?

2007-08-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

So I'm watching this movie tonight. This kid Kuno Becker is freakin adorable. It's obviously a soccer movie. So with out ruining the movie for anyone who would watch it, this kid goes to England to try out for a professional English soccer team.

The whole bloody movie takes place in England with a bunch of British blokes. I could NOT understand a single bloody word these blokes were saying. God help me, if I ever get a chance to go to England, please make sure I have my English to English translation book with me.

Anyway, cute movie. Check it out. The best part about this movie, sorry to give it away, but David Beckham shows up. CHOOOOOOOOW!

How YOU doin?

2007-08-09T13:27:00.001-07:00

This is Jose and I at my cousin Kristina's (posted below) birthday party. Jose is a good friend of my cousin Kristina and her husband Pedro. Jose was my partner in their wedding, 6 years ago. I've longed for him since. We maintain a very healthy flirty friendship.

He will be my husband one day. One day when he decides to break up for good with his long term GF.

I'll wait Jose. No worries.

For my SP11 ~ You know who you are...

2007-08-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

HI! I love you already! And thank you in advance!~

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? My favs are wool and cotton. I HATE mohair and not a fan of fun fur. I use it but not alot.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a crappy plastic thingy. I don't like it cuz it doesn't fit many needles. But I have the interchangable needle set so I tend to use them more.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I'm a beginner. I learned 2 years ago when I found out my BFF was pregnant. I wanted to make the baby a hat and blanket. I did. But I consider myself beginner because I can't read difficult patterns.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes I do.

5. What's your favorite scent? Strawberrys, rain, lemon, pine-sol.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I'm not a huge chocolate person. I only like USA candy bars chocolate, which means milk Hershey's chocolate basically. I also like See's milk chocolate. My bestest candy is gummy bears though. YUMMY!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't spin. I used to do scrapbooking and have tons of stuff but I just don't like doing it anymore. I garden. I grow african violets and orchids. I love plants and flowers.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I love country music, 80's music and Latin music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Red and pink are my favorites. I don't like pea soup green.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? No kids, no hubby. Don't see any in the near future either. I also have no pets. I like to get up and go.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, hats, ponchos and sometimes mittens. I live in N. California so it's not TOO cold here.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Scarfs, baby blankets, hats.

13. What are you knitting right now? About 20 scarfs, 1 baby blanket and 1 hat.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Sure.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circs. Addy circs. I hate bamboo. And I don't like using dpns or really small needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No I don't own a winder and I don't know what a swift is. :)

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 2 years.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect? I'm a beach girl. I like beachy things. Lighthouse are my fav and I have a "heart" room. And because I garden and grow plants, I LOVE gnomes.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I don't know any by name. But I would LOVE a good book on how to read knitting patterns.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Yeah, basic increase and decrease. And I want to know what a "yarn over" is.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I tried knitting socks once. I failed miserably. I quit. But I bought a book on socks and I would like to try again. I need the simplest pattern EVER to learn though. I love sock yarn. Like I said, I hate dpns so I would like to know if there is a pattern where I don't have to use them too much, if at all. (I wish big) :) I wear size 5 1/2 - 6 shoe.

23. When is your birthday? June 26. Just missed it.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? I have no clue what Ravelry is.

My Frenchie and me...

2007-08-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

one week ago today...

Frenchie and I used to work together (he came straight from France 5 years ago to work at my place) and we used to date. We've had and still have tons and tons of fun together. Although we didn't make it as a loving couple, we made it as super loving wonderful friends. He takes me out to dinner and movie every couple of weeks. He's my reoccurring date, no fail. I don't know how my life would be if he'd never been in it.

I love and cherish him. He's my friend forever! Love ya Ben!

Happy 30th Birthday Cousin!

2007-08-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

My beautiful cousin Kristina and her precious baby girl, Evangelina.

I love you guys!

Book worm

2007-07-22T18:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, so, remember when I said I didn't read besides Harry Potter books?

Yeah...well...this is what I've been doing while waiting for the New Harry Potter book...

I know. And these are just the ones I've read recently, within the past 6 months. I've read about 3 more that arent' in the photo. And I have about 7 new ones still waiting for me to read. I'm hooked.

They call it "Chic Lit". It's like "Chic flick" However, most of the authors I've been reading lately are Latinas. The books from Latina authors have been affectionatley named "Chica Lit".

I could say that I prefer the Chica Lit books rather than regular Chic Lit books, only because I can relate to the characters more. They have the same beauty problems I have. They eat the same food that I'm used to. They use the same pets names in spanish that I grew up with. That doesn't mean I don't like reading non-Latina authors, I just relate to Chica Lit books more.

Guess I'll have to continue reading the book I'm reading for now because my Harry Potter book didn't arrive on Saturday like I was guaranteed. Bastards! Totally pisses me off.

Oh yeah, here's what I did on Friday night...

Sun of a beach!

2007-07-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

Within the last month, 3 of my best girlfriends have broken up with their boyfriends. One, after 11 years. They were never married legally but common law. The other for 5+ years. And the last 1.5 years. I've been the lone single girl friend of all my friends for the longest time. Now I have 3 single friends to get into trouble with me. I don't know what to do with myself.

So you know that recently I have been kinda down. Well, I think I got down to the (broken) heart of it. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE BEACH SINCE MY BIRTHDAY, JUNE 26. WTF! That explains a WHOLE hell of a lot. See, going to the beach is like a mini vacation from my life, even though I live 30 minutes away. (not that I have a bad life anyway. It's just nice to change things up a bit)

I go to a tiny beach town that the only way people know me is from "the bar". I'm like Norm in Cheers. I walk in and instead of saying "NORM!" they all say "OH NOOOOOOOO!" I can get wasted SILLY and not have to see these people again until we are wasted silly the next day. It's the best! No one knows you used to date "so and so". No one knows you work at "blah blah blah".

If it wasn't a two lane highway to get from the beach to my job I would move in a heart beat. I can't commute 2+ hours a day again. That's torture. And that would defeat my purpose of living at the beach. RELAXATION!

Subtitles

2007-07-18T17:38:00.001-07:00

It's hard to find people who enjoy watching subtitled movies.

I myself love them. I do prefer that they be in Spanish, Italian or French but I have watched a few in other languages.

I recently saw Apocalypto and Volver. Those were GREAT GREAT movies. Two of my ALL time favorite movies are foreign. Cinema Para Diso and Amelie. I can watch those movies over and over and over again.

Besides the four movies I just mentioned, I would recommend Maria Full of Grace and Motorcycle Diaries, if you are so inclined to check out some foreign films.

I just signed up for Blockbuster Total Access, like Netflicks. I have several foreign movies on my que already.

Do you have any foreign films to recommend?

OUCH!

2007-07-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

So my super crush, he hurt his back a while back and didn't see a Dr or anything for months so now he has and it's WAY worse he can barely walk. Turns out he has a bulging disk.

I get to work this morning and while I'm putting my purse in my bottom desk drawer, I kink MY back. I'm walking just like him now. Although I KNOW it's not as bad as his. Everyone is making fun of me. Saying I'm having sympathy pains. I'm thinking more like karma.

So last weekend was the Hollister Harley Rally in Hollister, CA. Was a lot of fun. Bikers boys EVERYWHERE. Me likey a lot!

On Saturday night we go to a bar and the cover is $20. I sweet talk the owner, an older lady, and get about 12 of us in for free. While there I got hammered. And of course ended up talking to anyone who would walk by.

Sunday night, I get a phone message...

Caller: Hey Valerie, this is Dennis. We met at the bar last night. What happened to you today. You were suppose to call me so we could hook up at the rally. Call me.

First thing that comes to my mind...WHO????? WHAAA??? HUH?????

I have NO recollection of anyone named Dennis or ANYONE for that matter. I recalled ONE boy and his name was James.

Dennis continued to call me a few times and I ignored the phone and let it go to voicemail. I finally asked a gf what I should do. She said to call him back cuz he MAY be HOT. I said "please, if he was hot, I WOULD have remembered him. I remembered James, remember?" Oh yeah, she said.

I called him anyway and told him first thing...

"This is Valerie. I'm so sorry Dennis but for the life of me, do NOT remember you what's so ever. If you were standing in front of me, I wouldn't know. I'm sorry"

He laughed and said it was ok. He understood. He asked to grab a beer one day. I said sure. I prolly won't...I'm just like that.

Valerie IS alive...and somewhat well

2007-07-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

Well hello! Long time no talk. I've been out and about, physically and in my heart and mind.

First off, I've been nursing a sore heart lately. I have/had a super crush on a boy lately, but it's not worth while. He's taken, the story of my life, and that depresses me.

Then, last Monday, 6/25, was the 19 year anniversary of my brothers death. Monday's suck anyway and to have THAT happen to fall on a Monday sucks even worse. Then the next day, 6/26, was my 31st birthday!

We had my birthday party on Saturday, June 23, where you ask??? The BEACH of course. Everyone showed up. It was fantastic. Here's the first arrivals...

After all day on the beach, we went up to the beach house and showered and changed to go to my FAV bar...

Had a blast. Was a super great birthday. Conni and Gil and the babies come out too...

What an awesome day to spend with my great friends.

D'oh! Yeah, that's me alright!

2007-06-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Apprentice. You've got the basics down pat and you might just be falling in love with this hobby. Big needles, funky yarns and simple shapes are the name of the game, but it doesn't mean you don't experiment a bit, here and there. As an apprentice, you probably fall back on other people to get you through those rough spots, and if you don't know anyone who knits, you probably have a few books or online sources to tap. http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!

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Yesterday was a pretty good day...

2007-06-12T10:49:00.001-07:00

After work I went and played with my boys, Diego and Mateo. They are so freaking adorable I love them to death! What did I ever do without them? It's hard to think about it.

Then I went to pool kick and screaming. I'm sooooo sick of the obligation that I have to be at pool every Monday. I HAD to play so I grabbed a house cue (I don't even bring my own cue anymore) and played like I didn't give a crap. And guess what? I WON! Of course I did. Soon as you let your guard down in life, something comes and makes a surprise visit. I can't recall the last time I won. Wasn't too long ago by "playing" means, but cuz I don't play very often, it's been several months. Anyway, that was nice.

However, there is always something that throws you for a loop when you are having a good day. Before I left C & G's house for pool, I I grabbed my toothbrush and paste from my purse and went to brush my teeth. La la la, I'm brushing and I'm done. Going, yuck, that toothpaste is nasty.

So I leave their house and go to put my toothbrush and toothpaste back in my make up bag and realized that I didn't grab the toothpaste from my purse. I grabbed my prescription itch cream for my hives. OMG, I just brushed my teeth with itch cream! I was PISSED! Soon as I got to the pool hall, I went to the restroom and brushed my teeth with REAL toothpaste for about an hour. SO GROSS!

I KNEW IT!

2007-06-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

I knew they were Latinos...

Deep breath...

2007-06-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Shining Star has learned his fate.

It's over! It's finally over!

I went to Carson on Sunday to stay with his mother so we could go to his sentencing hearing on Monday afternoon. Her and I got up early on Monday morning and went to Reno early to go visit him before his hearing.

Not good news at the hearing. He was sentenced to 100 months which is about 8 years plus 5 years probation after time served. He'll get time off for good behavior which is very rare in Federal prisons. He'll also get time off for completion of drug program at the prison and he'll get credit for time served. If all goes 100% right, he should be out in about 4.5 years. He'll be 36.

We still do not know where he will spend the next several years. But we should be finding that out soon enough.

Gosh, it was the most emotional day I have been involved with in a long long time. There was never a dry eye in the court room. And being with his mom for two days, she was mess every minute. I had to be strong for her so I had to keep my emotions in check until the hearing. In the court room, I let it flow. Just watching my Shining Star sit there and listen to the judge tell him what's going to happen broke my heart.

His bitch ass scumbag(estranged) wife was there with their adorable 8 year old son and her scumbag sister. She made SURE to call his mom "mom" every second she got when I was around. And called his grandmother "Grandma". Shit like that. I just rolled my eyes and thought how pathetic.

Anyway, I am very optimistic about his future. I'm just glad this part of his life is moving on. The days just tick away from here. I hope and pray I am available the day he gets to walk out a free man. *deep breath*

I'm content.

My baby girl is all growded up!

2007-06-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

She's Gabriel's niece and I've known her since the day she moved to the USA from Mexico at age 7.

Erika just graduated from UNR in Reno. She's 21 and she's a very smart cookie. She's a math major and she is going to be a math teacher. I'm so flippin proud of her it's not even funny. I was hoping for better from her older brother but unfortunately sometimes life throws a curve ball. He's in prison on drug charges.

So I was in Carson a couple weeks ago for Erika's graduation. Gabriel came to town for her party. I have not been around Gabriel and his family at the same time for about 8 years. I'm either with them or with him but not at the same time. I knew things would not go well. And I was right.

Here's the love of my life. WHY? Good question, I ask that myself!

All was fine till it got later in the night. We got in the biggest argument. He's such a freakin jerk sometimes. I can not believe that I even still care about this guy. The times I have seen him while he was alone, he was the sweest guy and I actually believed he had changed. But the second he got around his family, he was right back to being a jack ass I always knew him to be. They do say that a leopard doesn't change their spots. I'm starting to believe that now.

The paparazzi caught us arguing.

WHY God, WHY do I love him so????

Happy Belated Mother's Day

2007-05-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Here HE is!

Mateo Gilberto Irias

He was born on May 3 at approx 10:15pm. I was there with Conni and Gil at the hospital, taking care of big brother 1.5 year old Diego. Needless to say, Diego wasn't taking to Auntie Valerie too well. Sleepy kids are unhappy kids.

Anyway, BFF Conni is now a mother of two. So so so so so so so weird that the girl you played barbies with when you were 8 years old, is now a mother of two. EEKS!

So here's something that threw me off. One of the guys was in the office yesterday for a few minutes. As he leaves he says to me "Happy Mothers Day", knowing FULL WELL that I am NOT a mother. So I said back to him "Happy Mothers Day to you too". What else was I suppose to say???

Gabriel called me last night. I haven't talked to him in about 10 months. He's moved back to USA from Mexico and he plans on staying in USA this time. Since his mother died, he says there's really no need for him to be in Mexico anymore. He called and wished me a Happy Mothers Day cuz according to him "you're still my lil Mamacita!"

How can I NOT love him still?

Ok, here's the deal...

2007-05-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting much cuz my TV went out. I know I know, but it's true. So I had to take apart my tivo, cable box, dvd player and wireless modem so I can take my TV in for repair.

My TV is 2 years old and it's a 32". TWO YEARS OLD AND THE COLOR GOES OUT! WTF?! So I called the manufacturer and told them. Here's our convo:

Me: Hi my TV is broken, please fix it.

Him: When did you purchase it.

Me: Two years ago.

Him: Sorry, it's not under warranty anymore. It's only good for 1 year after purchase.

Me: Yes, I know that. But this TV sucks. I've read all about it online. You KNOW this TV sucks but continue to STILL sell it. I've had it TWO YEARS and it craps out on me. I've had my 20" Sony TV for 20 years and it's still PERFECT! This is a bunch of shit!

Him: Ok, we'll fix your TV, please hold for someone to set up a work order for you.

Me: Thank you!(inside my head: YEAH, that's what I THOUGHT!)

I took it into the shop and rolled out my lil TV into the living room while it was in the shop. I got it back yesterday and it was fixed under warranty. YAY!

When I got it back home, I had to hook back up my tivo, cable box, dvd player and wireless modem. First try! I rule! (Gil usually sets it up for me)

So I'm telling you all this so that you will know that I didn't have internet while this was happening and with that happening, I couldn't download pix that I have. And w/o the pix, the post I want to post won't be complete.

New post and pix coming soon!!!!! (hint: it involves a NEW baby! YAY!)

Socks!

2007-05-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, who wants to knit me a pair of socks??????? I'll send you the yarn! I give up! I can not and will not be able to knit socks, ever!

The yarn is so awesome too. Booooo! I stink!

My new man

2007-05-04T11:40:00.001-07:00

He's a bit Goofy!

hhuuuhuhuhuuhuhuhuuhhu

YAY Disney!

2007-05-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

More photos to come...

Life's a beach!

2007-04-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Was at the beach this weekend. I can't tell you how happy being there makes me. So I'll show you...

My girls and I on Saturday night at the best bar in Capitola...

I did some charity work on Saturday day. We (my company) revamped a house for an elderly lady and her disabled elderly husband. They have lived in that house for 40 some odd years. There was 40 years worth of SHIT. It's a damn good thing we are in the construction business. The guys who are skilled labors remodeled the bathrooms with new tubs, showers, toilets and insulation and drywall. They did a great job. I was outside on yard work duty.

Next Saturday they are finishing up the house. I however won't be able to be there. I'll be in DISNEYLAND! WOOT! 2 girls from work, my gf Michelle and I are heading to Disneyland on Friday morning. It's only for the weekend but it's better than nothing. It's gonna be fun.

Other than that, nothings new. Kinda taking a break from boys right now. I've lost all faith in men. They say one bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch, but I'm not believing that right now. It's very disheartening. But I'll be back. OH YES I WILL!

Sheriff shot the Sheriff...

2007-04-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

...in his own the foot.

So Sheriff had a pregnant ex girlfriend. He was honest to me about it. He apologized for not telling me the second I met him. So I was slowly dealing with that realization that this boy that I actually was growing to like, was going to be a father in a few months.

The other day, I get a phone call in the middle of my work day. "Hi, you don't know me but I'm actually Sheriff's pregnant fiancee, not his pregnant 'ex' girlfriend as he told you."

She went on to tell me that they are getting married soon and are in the process of buying a new house together.

She heard a voicemail message that I left him that morning and called him to confront him. He told her EVERYTHING about us. Even told her the that he lied to me.

She said she's not mad at me, that in fact she feels sorry for me for him bringing me into this mess. She was a nice girl. She was very sweet and very understanding of my point of view.

When she confronted him about me, she told him "either you will call her and tell her the truth or I will." She called. He gave her my number. He didn't even have the balls to call me and tell me himself. What a piece of shit!

I'm over it now. After a day and night of crying and being upset, I finally realized that I got the good end of the stick. At least I'm not the one who is suppose to marry this jack ass. I came out the winner!

I'm 2 for 2

2007-04-04T16:42:00.000-07:00

AGAIN! I'm totally not shitting you. I swear to Good God, why the EFF does this shit always happen to me?

I'm way too angry to post about it right now. Stay tuned.

Life's a Comedy

2007-04-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

I'll be going to Reno ON Cinco de Mayo this year, though not necessarily FOR Cinco de Mayo. I've spent 20 years of Cinco de Mayo's in Reno, I have no desire to go to Reno JUST for that. (Don't worry Gil, I'll still remember your birthday!)

Shining Star's trial is the following Monday so I will be in town for that. That IS if he would like me there. I'm waiting for a letter back for permission from him. I don't want to go if he doesn't want me to see him like that, so that's why I asked him if he would like me to be there for him. Either way, I'll be in Reno.

Another reason I'll be in Reno is to see Julia's new house. I even get my own bedroom!!! Woot woot!

While in Reno, I will also get to see my friend, the infamous JC. I hadn't talked to him in 6 months because I was very hurt and upset with him. But of course he called me to cry to me about how bad he fucked up by moving in with a chick after only knowing her for 3 months. They ALWAYS come crawling back to Valerie. Lucky me!

Of course also, I can't forget my "sisters" Nettie and Tonya. I miss them so much!!!!

My comedian friend Bob DiBuono happens to be performing in Reno the weekend I'm there too. I haven't seen him since November. We've been talking since then but I haven't seen him. It sucks when you have friends that live across the whole damn Country. You don't get to see them often.

So, I have a full weekend in Reno in a few weeks. There should be loads of stories to share when I return.

I'm also going to Disneyland the weekend before. 3 girls from work and I are taking a road trip to SoCal for a long weekend. Awwwweeeeee yeeeah! I can't wait. Disneyland is cool. I was last there in 2003 for Thanksgiving, but I'm most excited about the company that will be at Disneyland with me. I am however, the rowdiest and craziest of them all. We shall see how it pans out. Eeeks!

Shining Star

2007-03-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

My friend Shining Star is an addict. A drug addict. He's been since our teens. Back then it was only pot. As time went by, it got worse. Since we were kids, he was in and out of Juvenile Hall and boot camps. He was always punished for his drug use, never was he rehabilitated for it.

He used to run away. And when he did, he ran to and with fellow users who really didn't give a rats ass about him. And he knew that. And that's why he would call me. He would call from wherever he was and tell me how lonely he was and that he needed me. And I always went to him. He got the lecture every time from me but he always said the lecture was worth it for seeing me.

We'd been friends for years. Since we were kids. We went to High School together too. His time in school was sporadic because of his time in juvy and camps. But when he did go to school, he was very smart. We had some classes close to eachother and every day after class he was outside waiting for me to walk me to my next class.

Shining Star and I were strictly platonic friends. I was dating his best friend Junior. At times things were hard for all 3 of us because of Shining Star's and my friendship and Junior and I's relationship. After Junior and I broke up we all just became like 3 best friends. And we all still are to this day.

As I write, Shining Star is in jail. He's been in there for a year a half already awaiting trial, now he's awaiting sentencing. He is now 31 years old and is in serious trouble now. He's not getting his hand slapped anymore like when he was a kid. Unfortunately he didn't grow up and out of stupid stuff like that, like the rest of our friends did. One of the proudest things I can say is that he never brought me into that "world" of his. He never did drugs around me. And always said he'd kick my ass if I even smoked pot. I know it's because he cared about me.

He's not a monster. He's one of the sweetest most caring person that I know. He's NEVER physically hurt anybody and NEVER would. He's sick. He has an addiction and he needs serious help. And I'm the first person in line to help in any way I can. I was always there for him when we were kids and he needed me. And I am and will always be here for him now.

I was asked by him, his family and his attorney to write a character letter for him. And that's what I thought I needed help on. But after I thought about it and talked to Julia about it, I realized that only I could write a letter about him. No one knows him like I do. No one!

So I wrote the letter today. I want to share A BIT of the letter because I really want people to realize the affection I have for this person and how much I support him. Sure you could call him a loser and most people will and do. I, however, will never. I will though call him Shining Star for that's what he's always been to me.

...

As a friend, Shining Star is as best of a friend you could possibly be blessed with. He is a very loyal, honest, considerate and supportive individual who has always been there for me in times of need. He is a loving and caring son, husband, father and friend. I could never imagine my life without him in it at any capacity.

In all honesty, besides his addiction, I can't think of anything negative when it comes to Shining Star. I believe that he has a very bright future ahead of him. He is a very hard worker and a great provider for his family. This unfortunate event should not cause a detour in his progress of life. He needs rehabilitation, not incarceration for his addictions so that he may be a better role model for his son. He has his entire family and my support and we will do whatever we can to help ensure that he continues to positively develop his life.

I am very proud to call Shining Star my friend.

Sincerely,

Valerie

Alive and well

2007-03-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hi guys!

I am still here I just haven't had time or really anything new to add. I do have a story to tell but I need to fine tune it a bit.

It's my first time blogging about this person and it's taken a long long time for me to think about writing about him. I don't really even talk about him to my "newer" friends. Friends I grew up with know all about my relationship with him but my "newest" friends do not even know I have a friend like him. I like to keep him to myself. Not that I'm ashamed of him by ANY means, it's just I really really love him and we've been through so much together that I kinda hold our relationship sacred. But I think I need some help with a situation that we're in so I will ask you guys for your help.

No, he's not gay...NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT!

I love my Boobs!

2007-02-27T20:07:00.000-08:00

And when I say "Boobs" I mean my cousin Ruby. (well, I do like my boobs too, but I actually meant her) That's been her nickname since we were this old...

Ruby and Valerie, age 3

Now, we are this old...

Valerie and Ruby, age 30

Ruby's birthday is Saturday, but her awesome boyfriend is taking her out of town. She doesn't know where, it's a surprise. So we had her 30th birthday party this past Saturday.

What a freakin blast! There was jagger bombs had, cake fights, birthday girl puking. It was AWESOME! I totally know she had as much fun as I did on my 30th. Although, I actually didn't puke on my 30th.

I wouldn't have missed this celebration for the WORLD! She's my baby! I love you Boobs! Happy Birthday!

Add to the list

2007-02-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

The 3 most important questions I ask when I meet a new boy...

1. Are you married?
2. Where do you work?
3. Do you have any children?

I must add a 4th question now...

4. Will you be HAVING any children within the next 9 months?

Who knew it would come to this? OY!

Sheriff update:

2007-02-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

Oh he called alright. He called with some damn bad news for me. All was fine, funny and going good until he got serious and said he's been trying to think of way to tell me this.

But because he's a good stand up guy and all, I'm not gonna get into detail about his personal life.

We'll just say I'm not ready to be a "stepmom".

NEXT!

There's a new Sheriff in town...

2007-02-20T10:38:00.000-08:00

...we'll see if he calls.

Sad sad day...

2007-02-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

My OG Baseball Player retired today after 10 years in the MLB.

I am totally shocked and saddened. He was a great player and an awesome person. I have very very fond memories of him. I met him 10 years ago when he was a very young rookie. We kept in touch during his career all up until 2 years ago when he was going through a divorce. Not many days go by that I don't think about him.

I already miss his friendship, but damn, I'm gonna miss watching him play now.

Totally bummed!

Happy VD!

2007-02-14T15:57:00.000-08:00

Capitola, CA 2/10/07

Surf's up!

2007-02-12T19:37:00.000-08:00

Druken debauchery again at the beach. Again, nothing super crazy exciting, but as always, FUN as ever!

Two more girls came with us this time. The home owner and a gf of hers. Michelle and I wanted to go out in Santa Cruz but the girls wanted to stay in Capitola, closer to the house. So just Michelle, our friend Josh and I went to Santa Cruz. We got home about 3am and the other girls never even ended up going out. They stayed at the house all night. Booooooooooring!

The next day the two girls went to breakfast and we were suppose to meet them on the wharf. We decided not to join them, so Michelle, Josh and I just went to Margaritaville and had lunch then went to watch the surfers and play in the water.

This weekend is the Holiday Weekend. I think we're headed back to the beach! Stay tuned...

Who knew I had talent?

2007-02-08T19:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's not all that hard but it's amazing how many people can't do it.

It was our friends birthday party and John and I decided to put spoons on our noses.

John was having a very very hard time.

TADA!!!!!!!!!!!

Add that to the list of things you didn't know about me.

Ketchup

2007-02-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

Bullriding

Bullriding was FANTASTIC. Wow, he had such a great time. There are 4 PBR tours going on at the same time, this one was the 3rd tier. The 1st tier is your really famous bullriders, like Andriano Moraes or the likes of like Ty Murray. 1st tier is what I strive for but this one was great.

All night long there was a rider in the shoots just staring at Marcella and I all night. After the show, we went to him and he asked us what we were doing later so we told him we're going to the Saddle Rack (country bar). He got my number and said "cool, I'll call you in a bit".

Then we get to Saddle Rack and I see these 3 guys in particular. I told Marcella they were the some of the riders. She didn't believe me so I went to go talk to them and sure enough. One of them got my phone number before the night ended.

He called last night. I missed his call. Maybe I will call him back tonight.

Beach

Michelle and I are headed back to the beach this weekend. I don't think we are going to let any of our new friends in Capitola know we are going down. I would like to try to meet some NEW new friends.

Life

I've had several people ask me this week so far, if everything was ok. At pool on Monday the guys called me crabby. Yesterday a co-worker sent me an email asking if I was ok and if I needed to talk. Today, another co worker asked me if I was ok.

As far as I know, I AM ok. Work seems to be going good right now and my home life is good too. I think I'm just calm this week. I'm not the loud obnoxious girl I usually am, I guess.

I got an email from my dear dear friend (sister) Nettie. She said something in her email today that totally made me grateful for the wonderful friends that I have...

I am glad things are going well for you. I wish only happiness for you. And if only, we can find someone to share it with you!

Yeah, IF only.

Save a bull, ride a cowboy

2007-02-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

So, nothing totally off the wall exciting happened at the beach this past weekend. We basically hung out with the friends of my Baseball Player kid. I wasn't about to hook up with one of them. But it was still a night of drunk debauchery. I'll take it!

What I'm about to tell you may come as a shock to yous all. It's something that not many people at ALL know about me. My BFF doesn't even really KNOW the severity of it. Only my parents do cuz they indulge in it with me. It's our guilty pleasure.

PROFESSIONAL BULLRIDING aka: PBR Bullriding

I've been a fan since the 80's. My dad and I watch it any time it's on TV. I have a favorite rider, Gilbert Carrillo, who I've been obsessed for over 11 years. I have signed autographed riding shirts from him and everything. It's sick, I know. How weird. My Godfather actually even raises bulls. Crazy!

Now, the main reason it's never came up to my friends is because I know it's not something they are interested in so I just never really brought it up in conversation.

The reason I'm confessing here is because I am going to my very FIRST PBR Bullriding event tomorrow night. After all these years, I finally found someone who was willing to go with me, besides my parents. A girlfriend from work is going with me. We are the two token "Urban Cowgirls" at work. The other girls at work laugh at us. But her and I will get the last laugh one day. We are not worried!

So, the kinda bad news is that Gilbert and his twin brother Adam are now retired at the ripe ol' age of 35. I'm sad that I never got to see them ride live. But there's always someone else taking their place! I shall find them!

Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!

My new dog

2007-01-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

Back to the Beach!

2007-01-22T13:53:00.000-08:00

On Saturday morning, Michelle and I are heading back to Capitola for the weekend. I'm super excited. I can hardly wait.

Unfortunately, baseball player kid is leaving for Spring Training on Wednesday, so he won't be there. Ah well, guess I'll just have to find another boy to like that night.

I'm sure I'll have another story as well as pix to share. Stay tuned...

Oh yeah, Happy New Year, again

2007-01-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

For New Years Eve my friend Rick had a party at his house. It was super fun. Only a handful of friends, who I see all the time, but it was still a great time.

Michelle and I

Me eating my veggies like a good girl

My Palestinian Price and me

We played the new Nintendo Wii. Bowling, tennis, golf, baseball and boxing. I KO'd my friend John on boxing. Totally kicked his ass.

Ahhhh, good times good times.

What happens in Capitola...

2007-01-15T23:09:00.000-08:00

...goes on my blog.

I spent the weekend at the beach. My friend Michelle's friend has a 3 bedroom vacation beach house in Capitola. Michelle and I stayed there this weekend. It's only 30 minutes from my house, but it's a little over an hour from Michelle's house.

We got there Saturday at noon and went first thing to get manicures and pedicures. While we were getting beautified, her friend Lani, the home owner, came to hang out with us for while. So we went to a local bar at about 2pm and started drinking. They are friends with the bartender. About 5pm we left to go back to the beach and grab dinner. About this time, Lani decides to call it a night and heads back down the mountain to go home. After Michelle and I had dinner we went back the house to change and decided to go downtown and hit up some more bars.

We get to the doors of this particular bar the same time 3 good looking guys do. They hold the door open for us and follow us in. When we get in they go their way and her and I go ours. After getting our drinks, we find a spot to chill. 5 seconds later, those same boys decided to claim their spot next to ours. So being the super friendly person that I am, I started talking to them. Blah blah blah, hours and hours go by and the next thing we know, 1 of the guys is back at the beach house with me.

There were THREE boys. ALL good looking. I of COURSE had to hook up with the one who plays professional baseball. I swear, I am cursed. It's the curse of the Bambino, Valerie style. As much as I try to be out of the baseball scene nowadays, the more it still haunts me. I give off baseball pheromones or something. I dunno.

The good news is that he's single and a rookie. He's not super famous yet. Of course though, that's how I started my baseball days, 10 years ago. With a single good looking rookie, who eventually became married then famous.

This kid asked me to come see him at Spring Training. As much as I WANT to, I don't know if starting this lifestyle again is a good idea. Though, those were the BEST years of my life.

My Mommy and Me

2007-01-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

In Pebble Beach the day after Christmas. I love you momma!

Optimism at it's best

2007-01-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

My life is lonely now, but I have no doubt
Someday I'll meet that someone I've dreamed about
He may live around the globe or far across the sea
But somewhere my baby waits for me
The moment that I see him, my heart will know
Then I won't wait to tell him I love him so
He'll be mine to have and hold for whole eternity
Yeah, somewhere my baby waits for me
Oh, somewhere my baby waits for me

When I see lovers passing
I don't feel blue
I know the things they're feeling I'll be feeling too
I don't know where I'll meet him, I don't know when
I only know that someday my search will end
One fine day I'll turn around and there he will be
Yeah, somewhere my baby waits for me

He may live around the globe or far across the sea
But somewhere my baby waits for me

Wish I was THAT optimistic. Well, at least he's waiting for ME and I'm not waiting for HIM.

Little bit of this...little bit of that

2007-01-07T10:14:00.001-08:00

I've decided this New Year, not to blog about boys who I just met anymore, unless I've been talking to them for at least a month. It seems like every few weeks, I'm introducing you guys to yet ANOTHER boy, who all of the sudden vanishes from my life the second I blog about him. So you may see random picture of my hotties, but that's all you'll most likely get.

Speaking of boys. The last 3 boys in a row who I've met, are not drinkers. WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THAT????? Is someone trying to say something to me???????

I've also decided that I am going to try my darnd hardest not to shop. It's January 7 and so far I've done good. Of course I will still buy food and the essentials and of course beer at the bars, cuz that IS an essential. Oh yeah, and yarn. Cuz you know what? If I'm not shopping I'll need to be doing something else. It's 7 days into January and I don't even have anything in mind that I would WANT to buy. Yeah, well, like I said, it's only 7 days into January, I'll let you know how I weather this plan. Addiction is a beyotch!

So BFF and Gilly and pregnant again and my little Diego will be having a new brother at the end of May. I'm so excited. This time she wasn't scared to tell me she was pregnant. I had a VERY hard time the day they told me she was pregnant the first time. I cried and cried and cried for days. And I wasn't able to look at Gil for awhile. From then on, I knew my BFF would never be the same girl I knew since we were 8 years old. All the fun and memories we shared in our early 20's were for sure just that, memories. I knew I wouldn't be able to get her to another baseball game. And I was right. We haven't been to a baseball game together in a few years now. And that my friends, is a record for us. She has her own little baseball players to raise now. But you know what, I truly couldn't be happier for her. She's very content and seeing her being a mom makes my heart smile.

Eh, you know, life goes on I suppose. Some people move on, like her, then there's people like me who never want to grow up. Is that so wrong?

I think I found my calling...

2007-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

...scarf maker.

I made ONE for the girl I picked for Secret Santa at work. Of course now, all the other girls want one.

I don't think I should quit my job just YET.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

2006-12-31T17:07:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a fantastic fun and safe New Year! Love you all!

This is how Valerie got her groove back

My sweet sweet boy

2006-12-17T16:59:00.000-08:00

Auntie Valerie looks very tired. She is.

Most likely the only boy that will ever really mean anything me, at least unless the new bubba in the oven is a boy too. Conni's praying.

Diego turned 1 last Friday, December 8. He's such a sweet boy. I can't believe he's 1 already. Time flies when you're not having fun.

Yeah, I'm in a little Holiday funk. I thought I was going to be able to shake it off by now, but it's not he case.

Click here for more photos of Diego's big day.

In other news, Aaron never came over that night to put my Christmas tree up, which is all the better. Cuz now I don't have to take it down. I wasn't feeling very well so we cancelled.

We have secret Santa at work this week. The way ours works is that we have to give a small gift every day of the week. Then on Friday when we have a Christmas luncheon, we will revel ourselves and give a big gift. The best part is that I actually drew the name of a new friend of mine, so that makes it so much better and easier for me. Here's the list of her gifts this coming week:

See's Candy Peanut Brittle
Body Shop Body Cream
Bath and Body Works Manicure Set
New York & Co Fuzzy Socks

and for her main gift on Friday...

She's a scarf fanatic and she was begging me to make her something. So the stars were lined up for this. She's gonna love it. She's a good girl.

And now for the second Christmas gift I received this year...

My great friend Rick bought it for me. Last night was my old company's Christmas party and I went with Frenchie. Rick was there and gave me the camera there so I could take pictures. He's a good boy. Thank you Ricky!

My first Christmas gift of the year

2006-12-13T18:31:00.000-08:00

Glitter sent me a Christmas care package. Her and I usually sent eachother yarn and stuff every couple months or so, so we decided this month we'd do a Christmas care package. I got ALL this! I LOVE IT!!!! Thank you so much mama!!!

IIF's (imaginary internet friends) are the BEST. I have met so many awesome people through this blog and I am so happy and grateful that I can call them friends.

I personally met Tanya Kristine a couple months ago. I was in Sacramento for a date and Tanya and I decided that she should stop by the bar we were at to have a drink with us. She did. She RULES! Her and I plan on hanging out more often. We are gonna get in all kinds of trouble. I CAN'T WAIT! WOOT! We chat via text message and email often.

I chat on Instant Message with Vanessa and HotDrWife, talk on the phone and chat with Glitter on a daily basis and message occasionally with Annarella via email.

Thank you for being my IIF's. You make my world and the World Wide Web a better place.

I can't remember

2006-12-12T12:34:00.000-08:00

The trouble with some break ups is that you aren't able to ask your ex questions.

For instance:

Brett and used to travel so much together. I often have questions of a lot of the places we traveled to.

In particular, I'm thinking of this one time when I was totally craving bread and butter. We stopped at a little bakery. Where was that bakery? And before the bakery we went and saw a Light Beacon. Where was that Light Beacon? It could have been Australia or it could have been Rhode Island. I can't remember. If it's Australia, was it in Brisbane or Sydney?

And how many times did we go to Oregon? Did we go there twice? I remember going to Medford, OR but I also remember going to Crater Lake. Was that the same trip? And when we did go to Crater Lake, where did we stay?

I hate not being able to ask him. It's weird.

You're a mean one, Ms. Grinch

2006-12-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

I am so totally not into Christmas this year. Usually by now I have all my gifts bought and wrapped and sitting under the tree. It's December 10, and I still don't even have my tree up. Last weekend I unhappily went into the garage to pull out some Christmas decorations. I figured I put up the stocking and a few of my Santa's and put my lighted Snowman in the window then VOILA, I'm done.

Not so much. I mentioned to my friend Aaron that I wasn't putting up my tree this year. He didn't like that idea. He offered to come over and help me put it up, so tonight when I get off work, Aaron is coming over to help fluff and decorate my tree. What a guy!

Last year at this time, I was happily talking and seeing JC but unhappily not making any progress with him. I knitted him a hat and bought him some presents, it was nice. This year, not so nice. No boys to buy/make gifts for. Which reminds me, another year has gone by and I'm still single. It's getting a little boring now.

My office is closed the week of Christmas. I have a good mind to take off to Denver for the week. But I can't. It's not a good point I'd be trying to make with Dane. So I don't know what the hell I'm going to do.

I was talking to a new guy. A friend of a girl friend. He's super sweet and super cute, but he's also super...STILL MARRIED so I decided to nip that one in the bud. He's been separated for 3 months with his new bride. They didn't even get to their 1 year before they decided to split. He's not ready to date and I'm not ready to deal with him. Moving on!

In better news, I've been at my new job now for a little over 3 months. I got my 3 month review and things are going good. New boss lady decided to wait for my 1 year before they give me raise. Fine, whatever!

Anyway, my new motto:

"You can stay single and be miserable or you can get married and wish you were dead!"

Bah humbug yous all!

Dane Schmane

2006-11-29T18:57:00.000-08:00

Remember him? Yeah, I hardly do too.

Last I knew I told him I didn't want to be his friend anymore. But he still calls. I love him, so I still answer the phone.

It's the same sob sorry. He calls, he cries, say's how much he misses me, how stupid he is for letting me go, he can't stop thinking about me...

So I say "if you miss me so much do something about it." He says he will.

I asked him to come see me for New Years. He said "I can't."

I said "Ok. That was my last attempt."

He said "I can't blame you."

Mistakes can be forgiven but not forgotten

2006-11-14T10:38:00.000-08:00

I’m not a vengeful person. I never have been. When someone does me wrong, I don’t want to exact revenge against them. I’d rather take the high road and forgive them and make piece within myself or just pretend they don’t exist anymore.

With that being said, I got a phone call yesterday that could have had disastrous results for this guy whom they were calling about.

They needed a judge of character for this person. And being that I had SOME form of relationship with this guy for 2 years to come to find out he’s married, the character of this guy is not very shinny.

They wanted to know his temperament, his trustworthiness and integrity.

Frankly, he has NONE.

But just because he did me wrong and hurt me for 2 years of his life doesn’t mean that he should pay for it for the rest of his life at my expense. Overall he was a good person to others, in my opinion. He did help me a lot during our time together.

The person on the phone said that by not partaking in this “interview”, could hamper the chances of this guy for what it was he was doing.

But I figured that by not partaking in this “interview” would suit this guy better then by me partaking in the “interview” and telling them what a liar and cheater he is.

I declined to be “interviewed”.

Who am I to ruin this guys chance of a great and rewarding life. For a mistake he’s made for 2 years of his life, I don’t have that right. It won’t make me feel any better to help bring him down.

I’ve made my peace within myself for his wrongdoing.

And I hope he gets what the caller was calling for.

It's a Christmas MIRACLE!

2006-11-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

I have an old school Apple iBook laptop. G3 to be exact. It's about 3-4 years old. I love it. Works great. Although it smells a little. (something about the glue inside the computer that when it gets hot, it starts to smell) but whatever, I deal. I still love it.

So about 2 months ago, the mouse track pad on the iBook died. Now ever since I had this iBook the mouse has been temperamental. It would freeze on me mid use and I had to put the iBook to sleep to make the mouse work again. So when it finally died, I figured it was just a matter of time and surprised it lasted as long as it did.

I took it to Apple store and they said it could potentially cost $250 or more for them to repair it. My iBook is not worth much more than that, so I said "forget that shit" and started using a corded USB mouse.

Now, about 6 months ago, I had to upgrade my iPod to 30gig cuz I'm crazy music freak and have too much music for my other two 4gig iPods to hold all together. And now since my new iPod is a video pod, I can download shows too. WOOT!

Which brings me to running out of space on my iBook. 40gig hard drive and my cup over floweth. So I had to upgrade my hard drive to 100gig. YAY! So much more downloading to be had.

Last week I took it in to have the hard drive switched out. $40. Great deal! While there, I bought a cordless mouse which makes having a laptop so much more portable.

I get my new bigger hard drive laptop home and install the mouse. New cordless mouse works like a champ!

I'm playing on my iBook and instinctively reach for the mouse track pad instead of the new cordless mouse and VOILA!!! The mouse track pad is working again.

It's a Christmas MIRACLE I tell ya!!!

Comedy RULES!!!

2006-11-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

Friday night, I get to Reno, get my rental car, head to the El Dorado to gamble while I wait for Jules, her man Brian, my date and their friend Kevin and another couple friend of theirs.

We went to a comedy show at Catch a Rising Star in the Silver Legacy. The last time I was there was about 10 years ago and the headliner was Larry the Cable Guy before he was famous.

Anyway...

So the opening act comes out. Second the light hit his face I turned to Julia and said "aaaawwwwiiii yeeah". He was cute! So he comes on stage and first thing he says it something to me. I can't recall exactly what is was but something regarding my boobs. Then he proceeds to ask me while on stage, who the guy is that I'm with. I jokingly said "oh, some guy I picked up off the street".

He continues his act.

He was freakin hilarious.

Then the main act comes on and that's when things turned sleepy. I was yawning and Jules and I were wishing the first guy would come back.

So the show ends and as we're walking out of the doors, both comedians are outside saying bye to everyone. I see him, he grabs my arm and I give him a big hug. He asked for my email address to add to his mailing list so I give it to him. He asks me again who the guy is that I'm with and I told him that he's just a friend. "He's a good friend of my good friend Julia." So he asks what we are doing later and wants to meet up with us. So I give him my number and we leave. He calls an hour later and meets us at the bar at the casino next door.

After about an hour, we decide to head back to Carson to go to the Nugget. We all say goodbye and comedian says to me while hugging me "I'll call you tomorrow and maybe you can come back up after my late show". I said "sounds great!"

Blah blah blah, Saturday night comes and I am freakin POOOOOOOPED. Got home at 8am on Saturday from the Nugget and only slept 4 hours before I had to get up and get ready for a 1 year olds birthday party. So needless to say, by the end of the party, the last thing I wanted to do was drive to Reno.

So I called comedian and told him I wasn't going to make it. He said "ah that's disappointing" but he then asked to come see him on Sunday. I told him I would come early before my flight and hang out with him.

I did. We only got to spend a couple hours together but it was fun. I had a great time.

He lives in NYC so, there's no attempt to be anything more than friends. But he has vowed to keep in touch and to see me again, soon.

So far he's kept his "keeping in touch" vow. We'll see.

Workin for a livin

2006-11-01T21:03:00.000-08:00

First off, great news!

Ding dong the boss lady's gone! She quit. She couldn't handle all the personalities of us girls in "estrogen alley" as we are affectionately called by the guys. She is a good person but she sucks ass as a manger. But to give her credit, when she was interviewing at the company, she applied for a different job, not a manger position. While in her interview they asked her if she wanted the manger position. She reluctantly accepted, with not having any prior management experience. Anyway, was too much for her. She was a TOTAL micro-manager. Our babysitter, as us girls call her. Anyway, she's gone. My new job just got a WHOLE lot better.

Today I was on a "ride along" with the boss of the project managers. We went to several job sites. Some were my projects. I climbed ladders to roofs and climbed scaffolding, all while wearing a hard hat! YEEEEEEAH! Dude said "wow, I'm proud of you. I have a whole new respect for you." I said "I'm not as girly as you think I am. I know my way around dirt. But I do prefer my heels."

It was fun. I learned a lot and had a good time. I was super tired by the end of day. I'm used to pushing paper at my desk all day, not climbing ladders and scaffolding.

In the truck on our way to another job site he says to me "If I may make a suggestion for you. If you plan on making it around here and making your life easier, you should really....uhhhh...how do I put it...uhhhh...learn to be more bitchy, if you will. These guys need to be smacked around sometimes, especially when it comes to billing." I just said "uhhh, ok" and left it at that.

I'm so confused. I spend 5.5 years at my last job kissing ass and wiping the butts of my guys. We were instructed do ANYTHING to please them. I wouldn't THINK of being a bitch to them. In the eyes of management, they were our masters.

Now here, they want me to smack them around, be a bitch and not take any of their bullshit.

I'm having an identity crisis here.

Off to Reno for the weekend.

Have a good one!

I love Halloween!

2006-10-29T09:38:00.000-08:00

My most favorite costume of the night...

Can you hear me now?

Click here to see all the photos.

Not many photos were taken because the bouncers decided that Elvis needed to leave the building.

Damn Elvis!

Younger boy, part II

2006-10-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, this totally spooky scary that I would be posting this post, exactly ONE year to the date of when I posted the original post.

T called me on Thursday night. He was at his parents house for dinner and called to see if I was home so he could come by and visit me for a bit. He came over and we caught up with several beers. After a while we decided to head to the local bar and check it out.

We had such a great time. The whole time I kept thinking how much of a shit head I was to him the first time we dated. He was 21 then. He's 24 now and it's amazing how much he has matured. Not only in his looks, he was always a cute guy, now he's handsome, but also in his personality. He used to be so shy and quiet and now he's very open and very talkative. It's great to see that.

I had such a great time. It was so nice to be able to have the chance to redeem myself for the horrible way I treated him. I realized that the things he did that I found annoying were only done because he really liked me, not to purposely annoy me.

I look forwar to spending time with him again.

Holy macanolie

2006-10-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have gone this long w/o posting w/o being on vacation.

I think my sense of humor along with my capability to remember a story was left at my old job.

I haven't been knitting. I've been barely going to the gym and I'm barely crushing on any new guys. What the hell is wrong with me?

Alright, so there is this ONE guy. He's a trainer at my gym. He's friends with my girl trainer, Anna, who's married. When Anna and I train, he's training someone right next to us. Anna tells me soooo many stories about this guy. In which he knows she's talking about him and when I look over at him when she's telling me the stories, he shakes his head and hand at me like "don't listen to her".

Ok, he's only 22. BABY SITTING! But my gawd, he's freakin gorgeous. He's a boxer as well as personal trainer so you can IMAGINE what he looks like. Oh and the BEST part, he has a dimple in his chin. Oy! I am a SUCKER for the chin dimple.

So one night about a month ago, I came for my session and Anna was talking with him all whispery. While we were training, she says "you wanna know what that was about?" OF COURSE I DO! So she tells me that he's really sad right now. So he had this girlfriend. And I guess he started seeing a girl from the gym on the side. So him and this girl go out to a bar one night and guess who shows up? Yeah, his girlfriend. LOL Ok, so his girlfriend broke up with him and along with that, the other girl tells him that she is moving to Chicago in two weeks. LOL What a freakin dumbie! He lost them both.

Anna knows I have a infatuation with him. All in good fun. I tell her "I don't want a relationship with him. I just want to take him home for the night! That's all! Is that so wrong?" She says "absolutely nothing wrong with that. That's all he's good for anyway."

I'm not sure if he's really embarrassed by the stories that he knows Anna tells me or if he's really not into me. Either way, he gets very shy now when I go into the gym without Anna. He won't look me in the eye and he smirks. I think it's funny.

Tonight I go into the gym. He's at the front desk helping a client. He looks up, looks right into my eyes and mouths "hello" to me. Maybe Anna told him about my offer.

I can only hope.

bwwhwhahahahahahahhaaaa

Just got paid...it's Friday night...

2006-10-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

and I'm home crying cuz I just finished reading an AWESOME book.

Tropicana Nights is the name of the book. I HIGHLY recommend it.

I am so not a book reader. I have not finished reading a book since Junior High School besides Harry Potter books. I have a very short attention span and if they book doesn't catch me on the first 2 pages, I'm out!

I like true stories, Harry Potter aside. I don't want to hear about a fake love affair. I want to hear about a REAL one. I like knowing that things have ACTUALLY happened. Hence, this book. In short, it's about the famous Tropicana nightclub in Cuba in the 50's. It's written by an author who was told the story by the wife of the owner of the nightclub and some of the performers who performed there in the 50's. Needless to say, all was well and life was great until Fuck Head Castro showed up.

It's an amazing story. Please read it. I'll even mail it to someone if you want to borrow it.

Doctor Jekyll

2006-10-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

Friday night I got into Carson City and met up Julia at a bar. After the bar closed we decided to go to the Nugget Casino. (my fav place to go) We picked up an old friend, Bobby, on the way.

We were sitting at the bar ordering our drinks when I pulled out my atm card to pay. The bartender says they only accept cash so I go to the atm machine. On my way back I had to pass the blackjack tables. Anyone who knows me, knows I can't pass up a blackjack table. So I look around at which table to play and decided on a table where 3 Latin guys were playing. Only two of them were together, the other one was there alone. I sat next to him.

We started a huge conversation while gambling and he's so sweet and nice and complementing me like crazy. He's rubbing my back, kissing my shoulder, whatever. This guy is adorable. Good looking Latin boy with long hair that was loosely gelled back. Had beautiful hazel (more green) eyes. Perfect smile with perfect teeth. He's just really looking good.

I'm sitting there playing $10-$20 a hand and he's playing $300 a hand. I asked where he's from cuz most the Latin boys in CC don't look like him. He says he came from NYC 1.5 years ago for work and that he's originally from Miami. I asked what he does and he says he's a doctor at the hospital.

Of course my eyes light up.

I excuse myself for a minute to go back to Julia and Bobby and pay the tab. Told them, "I got myself a Doctor, I gotta go back." So I go back and we continue gambling. I end up losing all my money and he didn't want me to leave so he gives me some of his chips to gamble. We lose all his chips. $1000 down. So he gets up and pulls out another $1000. This time I say, I'm not playing anymore but he asked me to stay to keep talking with him. I agreed. We were having good conversation.

This whole time we're talking he keeps saying how beautiful I was, telling me about his job, his life, blah blah blah. Then he comes out with "I'm really horny right now." I'm like, WTF. I say "Okaaaay" and change the subject. He says "don't try to change the subject, I'm horny." Again I'm like "okaaaay. Well, I dunno what to tell you. I'm not going home with you." He said "I'm just being honest. And I never asked you to go home with me." So I say "then why the hell are you telling me your horny?" Again he says "I'm just being honest with you."

I can't imagine what the blackjack dealer is thinking.

So during this whole conversation he loses the other $1000. He asked me to walk him to his car. I say no. He says it's in valet, so I said, "oh ok" since it was just right out the door and security is right there. By this time it's 4:30am and the valet is closed but his car was parked right out the door. On the way out I asked which one is his car and he points to this brand new silver convertible Jag. I laugh like "yeah right". Sure enough, he pulls out his keys and hops into the car and starts it.

He's just staring at me and once AGAIN he says "I'm still horny" and pulls me closer to him and he starts kissing my tummy. I pull away and say again "All right, that's enough. I'm not going home with you and you're starting to piss me off."

He says "oh, so it's like that huh?"

I said "you got it!" and walked back into the casino.

He peels out and that's that.

I can NOT believe the things that men think they can just say to a woman. The first couple times he said it, I was like laughing and just playing it off. But when we got outside, that's when he just got more and more weird. He was so cool at first and I was digging him up to that point. I'm sure he's never been turned down before considering he's a good looking doctor with money. Well, it takes more than good looks and money for me. Sick fuck!

Needless to say, on Saturday night I met a really truly nice boy. He's a friend of Julia's so she vouched for him. Him and I have been talking since. He's not Latin, he's not a doctor, he doesn't drive a new jag and he's not rich. But he's cute, sweet and he's FUNNY. That's what I really care about.

Update

2006-10-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! I'm alive. Really I am. I just haven't had time to blog.

I do have a story to tell though.

Coming soon!

Birthday FO

2006-09-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

Finished the hat for my girlfriend Nette. She doesn't read my blog so this won't ruin it for her.

Her birthday was a month ago, but hey, better late than never, eh?

That's it. Nothing more to say. Dancing with the stars is on. Gotta give my Lover Mario my FULL undivided attention.

HASTA!

My own worst enemy

2006-09-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

Dane texted me yesterday. He said "hey girl". I broke down and wrote back "I MISS YOU!"

Maybe because his birthday is coming on Saturday or maybe just because I am a freaking loser, but I've been thinking about Dane for the past couple weeks. Ok, to be completely honest, I think about him all the time but a lot more the past couple weeks.

Pam says I didn't give myself time to heal from Dane. That I just came home from Denver and held it in and said "that's it, I fired Dane, I'm moving on", without any explanation. Then I got with Raul 2 weeks after I got back from Denver, so I haven't had time to get over what Dane did.

I think I was trying not to HAVE time to get over it. I wanted it to be OVER already, I didn't want to deal with it. Hence this weak post.

Holly says "You always shut down and you don't want to talk about it and heal. You just tell yourself that you are fine, when in reality you are not. I don't say anything because I don't want to push you, I just figured you would do things your own way, but Val, you do need to heal first. You have to stop fooling yourself. You know it's ok to be weak every once in a while and ask for help or admit that you just need to cry."

The person I try to be strong for is myself. I'm truly tired of seeing myself disappointed and sad and crying all the time, so I just put on a happy face and go about my days and make believe that everything is fine, when in reality, it's not.

I got the BUT!

2006-09-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

you know the one...

you're beautiful, you're funny, you're a great person, I like hanging out with you, I'm very attracted to you, I like you a lot...

...BUUUUUUUUUUUT...

yeah, that one. Freakin Raul. Saturday night at Roberto's house after the club, we were sitting at the bar and he just came out and said it...

I just broke up with my gf, I'm confused, I dunno what I want, blah blah blah...

Can't say I wasn't expecting it sooner or later. Whatever!

Next time someone starts that convo with me, I'm just gonna take off running before the BUT comes in.

Roughing it

2006-09-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when VALERIE goes camping...

she knits...with Tiffany...

Ok, so we weren't TOTALLY roughing it. Paco's mom DOES have a house on the property with running water and a full kitchen. HOWEVER we didn't shower for two days, we slept in tents and sleeping bags and we bathed in bug spray. That's pretty roughing it for me.

We had a blast. We ate, drank, danced, knitted and went 4-wheeling on the quads. I can't wait for the next time we go.