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wednesday, july 2nd, 2008 :: 15:53
I go to Starbucks a lot. I know a lot of people are anti-chains when it comes to their coffee, but I don't mind. I know my drink will always be good and they'll (almost) always have soy milk. I do go to a local coffee shop to work sometimes, but their chai lattes aren't that good. Plus, they've had a management change that Danny is unhappy about and I've been weary to go back. Anyway, I go in to my office 3 days a week, and on the way, Benny and I stop at our favorite Starbucks for breakfast. I always bring my own cup (I have a bunch of hot mugs and one iced drink cup). The usual baristas know my drink (grande soy no-water chai) and make it hot or iced depending on the cup I bring. I buy a scone or a slice of lemon loaf cake and snag a table outside. Benny, who waits patiently in the car, gets to join me, and we sit together sharing a scone and saying hi to the people who stop to admire him. Today as I set my stuff down on a table outside, the girl who was in line behind me paused at my table and asked if I minded she join me. I was surprised, but didn't mind at all - so long as she didn't mind Benny. He gave her a sniff then settled right in to his usual spot blocking as much sidewalk as possible. I've had someone share a table before when all of the others were taken (my Starbucks has about 5 tables when the others in our area have 1 or 2). Usually we sit in silence doing our own thing. I asked to join a man I see there often once. He is a talker and knows all of the baristas by their first names. He was happy to share his table with Benny and I in exchange for some philosophizing. I am awkward in social situations, with work being an exception. At work, I can talk to any customer and if I am in the lobby, I make it a point to have some sort of friendly conversation with everyone who comes in. But, take away the customer aspect and I feel lost. It's a good thing my relationships (all three of them) all developed from friendships. I'd be useless at flirting and mingling! The girl was really pretty, probably younger than me, smoking (but asked if I minded first)... I was expecting the usual - silence while she smoked or perhaps talked on her phone, but she actually started up a conversation. Uh, oh! I have to talk! :P We chatted about Benny and her dog, and she also asked me questions like 'Are you from around here?' I realized at that point I wasn't doing a very good job of balancing the conversation and tried to think of something to ask her. "Are those green tea lattes good?" I'm hopeless. I'm not good at posing personal questions to strangers. She offered me a taste, which I declined (can't have milk). She had asked if there were any good places to take dogs in the area, so I brought up the charity dog was my work is hosting this month. Before she had to go, she told me her roommate and her were having a party on the 4th and that I'd be welcome. That she was branching out and finding new friends. I told her my name and work email address (easiest to remember). I have no idea if I'll hear from her again, nor do I know if I could be brave enough to go to a party of someone I'd just met at Starbucks. She was nice though. While Benny and I were out there, there was a steady stream of moms with kids and babies. We definitely live in the suburbs, that is for sure. One lady with a toddler who could walk, but not say much yet, approached Benny and asked to pet him. He was so, so good with her. He let her smack his face (her idea of patting his head) and even snuck in a quick kiss that made her laugh. I didn't have to stand on his leash - only remind him to stay laying down. He's a really good boy. Just yesterday on a walk, he sat calmly while three girls, aged 3 - 8 smothered him with hugs all at once. If I could just get him over his fear of loud noises and certain places, he might have a chance at being a therapy dog one day. The Starbucks card that I've been using for years (one of the first designs - very blah) is finally peeling apart. Since they now let you design your own card online, I ordered one today that should arrive when my current one runs out. Most of the designs you can do are meant to show what your favorite drink is, but I couldn't get their card generator to let me put exactly what I get. But, the design I chose is really cute because I was able to make a cartoon of me on it. Thanks to political-correctness, it is easier to make avatars that look like me, because they usually have either braids or dreads as a hair option now. Back to work. Who knew Starbucks could inspire me to write such a long post... |
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tuesday, july 1st, 2008 :: 22:39
I just made my birthday party coloring table cloth for the craft table. I ended up getting a roll of thick, white wrapping paper. I stuck coloring sheets I'd printed on sticker paper on the back side of the wrapping paper roll (the front of the paper was too slippery for markers). Once it's unrolled itself for a while, I'll trim it up. Then, I'll just need to get a plastic table cloth to go under it. It came out cute, and I ever traced a photo of Benny and I for one corner. One of my two craft projects has arrived, and it is really cute! And, tomorrow, my vegan cupcake recipe book will arrive from Amazon and I'll pick out my two cupcake and frosting recipes. I already know how I want to decorate one set. Time to go read in bed, I think. I'm exhausted. One day I'll catch up on sleep. Barely sleeping during our trip put me really behind in the rest department. |
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friday, june 27th, 2008 :: 16:00
I failed in my mission to find a coloring table cloth like the Blues Clues birthday one I had 8 years ago. The only one I found was religious and made for crayons (vinyl). So instead, I am going to print out a bunch of free coloring sheets and stick them on to a white paper background. Does anyone know where I need to go to get white paper in a roll that is wide enough for a table? I've ordered my two little craft projects, so the craft table should be ready to go for my birthday party once I figure out what I'm covering it with. I'll need some party supplies from the local party store right before the event, and I need to figure out what kinds of cupcakes I am going to make (yes, I am baking my own birthday (cup)cake. Sad?) So far, I have 5 yeses and 5 noes on my party invite. The 5 noes are all going to be out of town on vacation (except the one that lives out of town). Big surprise there. I guess I should have been born in September or something. But 5 yeses is more than double one of my parties when I was little, heh. I feel crappy today, but it will pass. |
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tuesday, june 24th, 2008 :: 12:18
It's my birthday in less than a month! (Click here for to sign my birthday card or see my wishlist.) I've never had good luck with birthday parties. It's the curse of being born in the middle of July. Just about everyone goes on vacation when I want to have a party. I think we only tried to have a party for me a couple times when I was little. Both times, I'm pretty sure only 2 kids showed up. The only party I've had As an adult was 8 years ago. That one actually had a good turnout. A miracle, I'm sure. I must be a glutton for punishment, because I decided to try again. I sent out my invitation yesterday (If I missed you, it's because I don't know your email address - send me a note!) I'm not expecting many yeses. But, if a few of the people I care about show up, then it will be worth it. Because I missed out on so many parties growing up (and because I'm a dork), the party theme is going to be puppies and balloons and girly colors. I plan to set up my Twister game and a craft table. I want to make a bunch of cupcakes in different flavors. I'm even turning my laptop into a "photo booth" because the wedding one was so much fun! Here are some questions for you...
That is all for now. I need to get back to work, and I should probably eat something today. |
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monday, june 23rd, 2008 :: 13:59
Hello! I've been so busy since getting home that a week has zoomed by. Where did I leave off..? So, last Thursday, we flew from Cabo back to Los Angeles. Mel and Johnathan picked us up. They were awesome, as always. I was super excited to have real food choices again. We stopped on the way from the airport and I got a gardenburger and fries, then the Starbucks soy chai I have been craving all week. I'm trying to remember what we did after that... I know that Mel and I went to bed before the boys. I was tired. On Friday, I was up at the crack of dawn, as usual. I never change from EST. J had to work, but we were able to meet him for breakfast. It was a chilly morning, but at least were weren't stuck in the 100° weather they were having back home. After breakfast, we went to Venice Beach with Mel. It is tradition for us to go and get new necklaces from Tony, who has a table out there. I got a little jade Buddha that he restrung on the beaded string I picked out. Mel and I both got stone necklaces that you wear for 30 days straight when you first put it on. It is supposed to change color (darkness?) if your energy is good. I had to hold off on putting mine on until after the wedding we were going to. Danny got a new Om necklace since his last one fell off. He had him put it on a more secure necklace.In the afternoon, it was time for Danny and I to drive to the valley and check in to the hotel where my brother-in-law's wedding was being held. The temperature was about 20 degrees higher there. The hotel was pretty, though we had little double beds. (I had to sleep in my own bed the second night because we sleep all elbows and knees.) After cleaning up, we went to the wedding rehearsal and dinner. It was great to see everyone. My little baby cousins-in-law are getting so big! Dan received an acoustic guitar as his groomsman gift! Saturday was wedding day. We kidnapped the groom (Dan's brother) so he wouldn't have to worry about running into the bride. We had breakfast and took him for a haircut. When we got back to the hotel in the afternoon, Danny went off with the groomsmen to get ready in the groom's room. I relaxed in our room then showered and dressed for the wedding. When I headed down to the lobby, everyone was already gathering outside. The ceremony was beautiful, but it was difficult for anyone see see because of how they positioned the bridal party like a wall in front of the bride and groom. There was a cocktail hour afterwards with a great a capella group. The reception was indoors with a DJ. Danny did so well with his best man toast - he made the ladies tear up at the end with his sweet mention of me. Everything was lovely and they really tried to make the guests feel welcome. There were baskets of slippers by the dance floor so you didn't have to dance in heels. I danced a few songs with the cousins when Danny was out smoking a cigar from the cigar bar. There was a lounge set up later in the night that had snack foods like pizza and hot dogs. There was this great photo booth with hats and boas. You'd take you pictures then make a scrapbook page for the bride and groom with all the stickers and markers they supplied. There was also a huge table of mini photo frames for your extra photos. It was a really pretty wedding. Sunday morning we visited with the family some more before driving back to J & M's place (we had stolen their car for the weekend.) They took me to Hollywood to their favorite piercer. I really wanted to get a forward helix piercing, and I figured I'd get it done out west since they already had a piercer they were happy with. It was so hot that combined with my travel anxiety and we feeling a little yucky when we first got there. A quick trip to a 7-11 for a water bottle and I was good to go. The piercer was great. I think I maybe over-tipped, but I am terrible at figuring out tips on services. I appreciate when I get good tips at work, though, so I gave her $10 on the $45 piercing. I had to pay first, so I told her to take good care of me. It was quick and painless (though I have no problems with needles at all) and I love how it looks. We flew home that night on the red-eye. We upgraded to first class when we got the the airport since they had 2 left and it was a good price. Thank goodness we did! Turns out nearly our whole flight was a class of 8th graders flying to Washington, D.C. Yikes. I didn't sleep, but the chair was comfy and I made good use of all the free upgrades by eating dinner, watching a ton of pay tv shows and a movie. There is a chat feature on Virgin America and at one point, seat 19A wanted to chat. Haha, probably an 8th grader tying the wrong row number. I've been busy getting back into my work routine this past week. On Wednesday we had a baby shower for a coworker. I stayed up the night before sewing her a baby blanket and embellished onesie. Laura stayed over backing super cute mini brownies. That night we went to the Iron Maiden concert. It was kick ass! I have more to say, but I'll do it in a separate post. Here are some photos:
1. On our private terrace, 2. On our private terrace, 3. Our Suite in Cabo, 4. Sun Bathing, 5. Terrace View, 6. Beach Walk, 7. Beach Walk, 8. Eating at Mi Casa, 9. Necklace, 10. Necklace, 11. Wedding Ceremony, 12. Wedding Ceremony, 13. Wedding Reception, 14. My Dress, 15. Wedding Photo Booth, 16. Healing |
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