Halloweenie Pictures

Here's some pics of our pumpkins, house and our kickin' costumes. Sherrif Keith, and crazy mouse Karin.

ÜBER happy HALLOWEENIE!

I really love Halloween. I miss being able to go all out, you know? But, I did put on my cool Halloween toe socks on today. I love toe socks. Some people think that they are bothersome because it’s weird to have something in between your toes. I think that it’s like a little hug for each one of my tootsies. I love my feet :)!

You can catch a glimpes in that pic of the other socks I was torn between wearing today. They are also Halloween toe socks, but multi colored with green bats with googly pompom eyes and candy corn. Each toe is a different color. It was a tough choice :)

I also wore a little “costume” to work today. It was a grey mouse mask with glittery pink ears, grey mittens and a little grey tail with a cute pink bow on it. Everyone seemed to get a kick out of it, so my mission was accomplished. I had to take it off though – it’s hard to type with mittens on!

Keith and I carved pumpkins on Sunday afternoon. It was kinda nice but weird. I’m used to the pumpkin guts and everything being freezing cold from being outside. We had our gourds outside on the porch, and they were all, well, warm and gushy. It was very strange. Something I would have never even thought of had we not lived here – I guess that would be normal for a pumpkin out in the warm sunshine.

Keith said he hadn’t carved a pumpkin in years :) My pumpkin is way cute – but I guess so is Keith’s. I’ll post pics later…..I think we’re the only people in our neighborhood with real carved pumpkins! There are a couple of houses with plastic or metal ones though. And there are also lots of homes decorated. Tonight our privada is having a trick-or-treat thing around 6 or so – I’m going to leave work early so I can give out candy. Then after will be a little party, but I’m not sure if I’m going to that yet. I don’t really want to blow my healthy eating streak and I will be all by my lonesome….we’ll see how brave I am when the time comes.

If I don’t go, I’m going to start packing tonight for my trip. I’ll be gone two whole weeks! YIKES! Nov 2 – 9 will be in Denver for the Fall ACI Convention, then Chicago for *HOPEFULLY* a couple interviews, then maybe to St. Louis to help Pat setup some concrete tests. I come home on the 14th. Hard to believe it has been a year already, isn’t it? Anyway, if I’m out of the country when my work visa expires I get a 30 day grace period to renew it…..our legal department in Mexico City said that’s the best way to go. So I happily obliged!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::ACI Chicas:::::::::::::::::::::::::
Here are a couple of photos that the ACI people took of us last Thursday at our meeting. I’ve never seen Orange and Black look so good! In the first pic, I’m in the middle, Veronica on my right with the black neck thingy on, and the intern, Angelica, is on my left – we bought matching shirts from Suburbia on accident! The second one features me and Angelica rockin' the registration table.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::: WEIGHT LOSS UPDATE:::::::::::::::::::::::::
I weighed in for the 1st weigh in 1 pound up from my starting weight, at 168. Dammit all anyway. But, I’ve adjusted a few things and I think it will make a big difference. Working out is going well – I had about 5 hours last week, and hope to exceed that this week also. It will be a challenge while I’m traveling, but I have a new, improved mentality so I will rise up and be victorious!!!

I probably won’t be blogging much while I’m away :o) See you on the 14th!!!

So it’s true….

Pat O’Brien mentioned something to me a while back about maybe possibly making an effort to make more entries when I’m in a good mood. I guess he has a point. I don’t want to make anybody more depressed! I was thinking about it again this week, because I haven’t had an entry since, what, Tuesday? And I’ve had a really good week! Been in a great mood – had lots of fabulous exercise and good experiences at work – but I guess I’m not moved much to write about that kind of stuff. Yes, this blog is supposed to be an account of all my experiences, good and bad, but I suppose that it’s turned into more of a therapeutic exercise for me – so I write more when I’m having a bad day or crabby or pissy just because I feel like getting it out. Understand? Eh – if not, ni modo, I get myself…..most days.

Wednesday I made my way to Planta Apaxco to learn some techniques for testing Total Alkali’s and water soluble alkalis of aggregates. I felt like I was in my element – learning new things, meeting new people – I really enjoy that. It makes me feel like, well, me. Happy and cheery and chirpy and making people laugh and all that. I did get lost on the way home. Twice. But I didn’t fret much because I had a map, a compass, a full tank of gas and lots of day light. I was pretty proud of myself for not freaking out!

After I got home from the plant I went to my favorite clothing store, Suburbia (part of the Wal-Mart chain here) and went looking for black pants and an orange shirt – our unofficial uniform for our ACI Magna meeting. I found that – well, a black suit actually, not just pants – plus about four more shirts, a pair of black leather boots (my Payless pleather boots had survived two years, and have just about had it), a pair of fabulous sunglasses (have I mentioned I’m addicted to sunglasses? A girl can never have enough) and a little present for Karli girl for Christmas. I have to stop spending money on that girl – but every where I go I find something that I think she’ll like!!! All in all, I spent about $2300 pesos, but it all serves dual purpose because I’ll be able to wear almost everything I bought at the ACI meeting in Denver next week. Oh, and I came into almost $6000 pesos in medical reimbursements, so I had a little money burning a hole in my pocket anyway.

I was surprised I liked the black suit – I usually have an aversion to them. I tried on grey, pink, purple, brown, and pinstripes - everything possible before the black suit. But its classic and it looks really nice. I think the aversion stems from my days as a Victoria’s Secret girl – that was our uniform – black pants, any color shirt, and black jacket. My experience there terminated abruptly when I quit without two weeks notice because my manager kept scheduling me on weekends I had rugby tournaments. After the third time I just couldn’t take it any more. I mean, she HAD a copy of the schedule with my name written at the top. Did she think I was just making it up?!?! I remember the day I quit she told me “OK, well, if you quit without two weeks notice you’ll never be able to work for Victoria’s Secret or any other Limited, Inc. Company EVER again!!!” Ohhhh – please lady – threaten me some more. Did I mention I was going to be a Chemical Engineer? I don’t need you and I don’t need your stinkin store!!!

**sigh** of course, I still frequent the store because their products are oh so heavenly. Not even crazy Nazi manager lady could make me stop going there…..

Speaking of retail…..for some reason, around this time of year (holiday-ish season) I always get the urge to pick up a second job. Obviously I won’t be doing so here, but I definitely have the itch. I guess I just like the business and rush of the holiday season, decorations of the malls, helping crazed shoppers, and the fun of working in retail. Not sure if I’ll ever get it out of my system :) Aside from the Body Shop direct sales gig I had for a while, the last Holiday Retail gig I did was in 2000 at Old Navy. It was awesome because it was right across the street from my apartment complex......and I looooooove me some Old Navy!

Anyway, back to the rest of my fun week…..

Thursday I took my black suit with orange shirt wearin' ass to Mexico City for Holcim’s ACI Magna meeting. Veronica and I have been planning it for over two months, so it was nice to finally have it arrive! We had a lower than expected turnout – we were hoping for 100, got 60, but it was pretty good considering we were competing against a very popular industry meeting in Acapulco. Everything went well though, and aside from the balls of my feet feeling like they are going to explode (damn those 4 inch heels) I’m no worse for the wear. I also made a date to eat dinner with the Mexico City Chapter ACI president in Denver – so that’s kind of exciting too!

That brings me to today. I’ve been setting up some tests, but I’m going to be running them tomorrow – yup – that’s me, super hard core – working on a Saturday! I have to get these tests done before I leave on Thursday though, so have little other choice. ACK! That means only a three day work week next week! WOOO HOOO!!!! That’s an exciting surprise! Almost as exciting as when I heard on the radio today to make sure to remember to turn our clocks back an hour. I LOOOOOOOOVE falling back! It’s the only day where you get an extra hour, and that is just too cool!

Oh, and a big shout out to the 1977-ish SVSU (wait, wasn’t it SVSC wayyyyyy back then???) Cardinal Football team, a few of whom will be gathering at my parent’s place this weekend to imbibe in some friendly revelry – which I’m sure will entail drinking a lot of beer and pretending to be 20 again  Its not Homecoming – maybe more like an Alumni weekend, but there will be tailgating involved before the football game and SVSU will also be honoring our friend Tony Ceccacci (NASA Flight Director) as a distinguished graduate. I wish I could be there to watch the fun – they are a great group of guys, and their wives and families ain’t too shabby either : ) I have a lot of good memories of them together – I think maybe because it was always really great to see my parents so happy and having fun, acting like kids themselves.

Have A GREAT Weekend!

Get yer Tiger Pumpkin Stencils Here! **REPOST**

I've gotten a few hits (OK, more than a few....more like 15 in the past day alone!!!!) over the past view days of people doing google searches for the Detroit Tiger's Pumpkin Stencils......so I thought I would be nice and repost my original post so people could find the link it more easily! I'm sure the demand for these will die down after next week.......so, here it is!

:::::::::::ORIGINAL POST:::::::::::::::::

Its just what you always dreamed of - carving your own halloween pumpkin in a gentle, candle lit homage to our hometown heros. I think its kind of hilarious - I found them as I was browsing the Tiger's Fan Forum on their website.

PUMPKIN STENCILS

Personally, I'm torn between these two.....but I'm pretty sure the old English D's gonna win out - just its just so darn classic.

Ohhhh – Nice and toasty warm!!!!

I finally am wearing the serape type thing I bought at La Quimera a few moons ago. Its relatively lightweight fabric, but its wool and it is soooooo toasty warm! It’s like wearing a blanket around me wherever I go! I officially *heart* it, and I shall keep it with me for the rest of my days. It will be perfect for those crisp fall days when you have to go to a high school football game, but it’s a little too warm to bust out the winter goods. I had to make sure to wear long sleeve shirt today though, because I didn’t want to have über itchy arms. Yeah, that’s right. I said über.

My alarm was apparently playing a good song when I woke up this morning, because I was dancing when I woke up. No, I didn’t start dancing in my bed after I woke up – I actually came to consciousness and realized I was dancing. Shaking my shoulders and hips and stuff – I don’t even know the name of the song, but I know I really like it a lot. You know, it’s hard to be in a bad mood when you wake up like that, because you can’t help but laugh at yourself, and laughing smiling first thing in the morning is pretty much an instant mood picker upper.

Ooohhh - a coworker just came in and gave me some yummy treats for my throat (I’ve been having slight allergy/throat/drainage issues over the past few days). It’s like an Über Halls Lozenge, but disguised as a honey lollipop. That’s right, über and lollipop in the same sentence. I’m on a roll. Anyway, it tastes pretty good, and its all natural, and it’s got some kind of menthol yumminess in it so I can actually breathe right now. Awesome! No, ÜBER awesome.

Hmmmm….I wonder if one can overuse an umlaut? Those are the dots above the Ü in ÜBER incase you were wondering.

I was supposed to stay the night at the plant in Apaxco tonight so I could do some super cool chemical testing stuffs tomorrow morning…..but I really would rather stay here tonight and go early tomorrow morning. I have good reasons…..

• I have this phobia about staying in strange places by myself (I’m sure I’ve told you all before)
• I have no idea if they even have TV’s that would get the Tiger’s game tonight, and I’m not about to miss one
• I have a test to run here today that won’t be done until 5
• I really should go shopping tonight for an outfit for a big meeting I have on Thursday.

Then again, I really should go just to experience staying in a cement village. They had them in the US back in the day – it’s a town just for cement workers and their families, which is a really good concept seeing as how cement plants are often in the middle of no wheres. Although I don't know how I would feel about living and working with the same people every single day. It would just be too twighlight zoney.

I need to make up my mind soon – because if I’m going today I need to leave at like 3:00PM……

AHHHHH – I’m a bottomless PIT!!!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::weightloss activities:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




First I would like to say, I am very happy to announce a two pound loss this week, and an official recommitment to eating healthier and exercising. Yes, I realize that I recommit a lot, but at least I’m not giving up for good! I’m proud of myself that I keep on coming back instead of saying “Sheesh, what’s the use!?!?!”. I know what I have to do, I just need to motivation to stick to it.

Another proud moment - this marks week 3 of getting my arse out of bed at 6AM to go work out. It’s working out well – even though this morning I did NOT want to go – I was back to being grumpy cursing Karin – but I did NOT give myself the option to go back to bed….although I did catch a 15 minute nap while I was waiting for Keith to get out of the shower – we don’t have quite enough water pressure to run both of our showers at the same time.

I’m trying something a little different in addition to my eDiets and Ultimate Challenges this time.

I’m a member of The Biggest Digi Loser! It was started by a group of girls who posted at DigiShopTalk.com, and now is an all out contents – 4 teams – 60 participants! The reason I’m doing this is because A) I really am ready to get back on track, get back on the wagon and gitty up! And B) There are some FABULOUS prizes to be had – including a cash prize for the top two % losers over the 9 week challenge and also weekly digi-prizes donated by some fabulous designers! I think some of the weekly challenges will incorporate digiscrapping too – so it seemed like a great fit!

I’m a proud member of the Green team – although I must admit it may take a while to get used to saying “GO GREEN!”.

So where does this bottomless pit theme come in? Right now. I’ve been off birth control for three cycles now, and the one major thing I have noticed is not the crazy cravings of chocolate or crazy nuts bitchiness – but rather an INSATIABLE appetite the few days leading up to my period. I mean SERIOUS bottomless pit-ness. Last month, I was with Pat O’Brien those few days leading up and I gained, like, 6 pounds in a weekend!?!?! It just seems like no matter what I eat, I cannot get satisfied! So, I’m combating this in a couple ways:

1. I’m aware. So I’m not mindlessly shoving things in my mouth. Knowing is half the battle, right? (GI Joe….the real American Hero)
2. Although it will amount to more calories than I normally eat in a day, I’ve brought some healthier type snacks to shovel in today – I’ve got grapes, ham & swiss roll ups, almonds, microwave popcorn, Green Tea & oodles of water. Also 3 Almond Hershey kisses thrown in for good measure – hey, I can’t deprive myself here!
3. I’m not going to eat any of those items unless my belly is rumbling. Which as been pretty much all day – but it’s a good rule to follow anyway. No sense in eating if I’m already full…..

Tonight I have to make a pit stop at the SuperRama to pick up some more celery and some feta cheese. Mmmmm….feta! I’m going to make a Mediterranean CousCous dish tonight that just sounds DELISH!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::weekend activities:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Friday night was a pretty chill night – although I did become engrossed in a WONDERFUL documentary on the History Channel called “THE HISTORY OF 1”. Not one person – but the number one. It was very interesting, and quite enjoyable. It trekked the journeys of the development of #1 from the times of the Romans, through India all the way to present times. They also included one’s partner, zero – and celebrated their importance. There was a whole segment on Binary code and how it came to be and how it changed the face of mathematics and computation. Binary code rocks!

Saturday was exciting – after my workout and cleaning fest (I mean SERIOUS Move Furniture Around Cleaning!) I picked up Keith from work and we hit Caliente to place a bet and then to WalMart to pick a few things up for Game 1 of the World Series! Beer and snackies and the like. We also found some real live pumpkins! Not sure when we’re going to carve them, but I’m kinda excited to do so! I’ve missed out on the whole feeling of fall with the 75°F weather and all.

It was a fun night having everyone over – we even ordered from a new local Pizza Joint that was WAY yummy! But I realized that I really don’t get to watch the game much when there are people to be talking to! Just as well the Tiger’s lost anyway – now I can’t have any more parties (Party = Loss, no party = WIN!). Glad they came back playing better in Game 2 – although Todd Jones had me worried there a bit in the 9th. I couldn’t even talk to Pat O’Brien during the game because every time I did something bad happened……

Sunday was a laundry / football / pajama all day day! I love those days sometimes!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::scrappy activities:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I didn’t get much scrapping done per se, but I did organize and label all 3000 different scrapbook elements that I have on my computer. HOORAY! It felt sooooo good to have that all done – it took me FOREVER!!! But now, it will save me oodles of time when I’m trying to find “the perfect” thing to match a picture! I used it when I was looking for stuff for this LO – It was the only one I did manage to get done this weekend – it was for a photo swap at ACOT - this little boy is just tooooo adorable!


Credits: Paper & Elements - Autumn Glory by Shannon Lee at ShannonLeeDesigns.com; BeadyTrim - Shannon Lee at ShannonLeeDesigns.com; Fonts - Rage, Batik Regular; Hand Stamped Alpha - Michelle Coleman

Journaling Reads:
I rode on the paths of
crisp dry leaves
that flamed with color and
crackled with laughter.

That sounds like a good enough recap for me – hope all is well with all you out there in cyberlandia!

P.S. I have 80's Party Tunes playing on the iPod now - a list created by Keith. Question for you all - can anyone hear "I Think We're Alone Now" without thinking of Tiffany's spread in Playboy???

OK - done being heartbroken

So I guess I use this blog more as a bitching grounds more than anything. I guess I don't feel like writing unless I need to vent.....So if I've depressed you by reading this - I apologize - I promise my life isn't all gloom and doom! I'm going to try to make it a point to at least pop in and say hi even if I don't have to bitch and complain. Deal? Deal.

OK, first - plans for this weekend - tomorrow Keith has to work, so I'll probably spend the first part of the day going to the gym and cleaning the house. Then, I really want to go do downtown Toluca because apparently they are having a Festival of Sugar Skulls (did I mention that before? I feel like I have......). Then I plan on coming back to the house for a rousing Game 1 of the World Series! GOOOO TIGERS! I think we're asking a few peeps to come over, but who knows - it will probably be some last minute thing.....Sunday will be a football day, and maybe I'll try to finish scrapping the Prom section of my high school scrapbook......and maybe get some holiday stuff done too.....I really want to make Christmas cards by the time I got to Denver in two weeks. That way I can address them during the Month of November and have Pat send them from Chicago after he visits late Nov/Early Dec. He's only got one more visit scheduled - how crazy is that?!??!

*note to self* I must stop at SuperRama on the way home from work to buy lettuce, tomatoes and some fruit. I went to Wal-Mart last night, but was running late to pick up Keith from work and completely forgot all things produce. DOH!

Here's a partial list I found on another scrappy blog.....I thought I would highlight those things I have done, and those things I never plan to do. Enjoy!

Here are things I have done
Climbed a mountain.Ridden in an airplane.Been inside the Great Pyramid (well, A great pyramid – they weren’t specific in this list).Taken a candlelit bath with someone. Said “I love you’ and meant it. Hugged a tree. Bungee jumped.Watched a lightning storm at sea. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise.Seen the Northern Lights.Grown and eaten your own vegetables. (Well, technically it was Keith who did it, but since I paid for everything I’m taking credit)Changed a baby’s diaper.Watched a meteor shower. Gotten drunk on champagne. Given more than you can afford to charity. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment. (Keith’s confirmation, I think)Had a food fight.Bet on a winning horse.Asked out a stranger.Had a snowball fight. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can. Seen a total eclipse.Ridden a roller coaster. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment. Taken care of someone who was drunk. (Many times, but one in particular a boyfriend I had barfed by trying to put his head outside the window of my car while I was driving us home……well, he made it like, half way. Ew.)Had amazing friends.Danced with a stranger in a foreign country.Stolen a sign.Taken a roadtrip.Midnight walk on the beach.Had a stranger ask you to dance.Visited JapanAlphabetized your CDs.Sung karaoke. Lounged around in bed all day. Gone scuba diving. Kissed in the rain. Kissed on a first date.Played in the mud. Played in the rain.Gone to a drive-in theater. Started a business. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken. (Living that right now baby!)Toured ancient sites.Gotten married.Been in a movie. Crashed a party.Gotten divorced.Made cookies from scratch.Won first prize in a costume contest.Gotten a tattoo.Rafted the Snake River. (Snake River Falls at Cedar Point counts, right??!)Got flowers for no reason. Performed on stage.Been to Las Vegas.Recorded music.Eaten alligator.Bought a house.Looked out onto the Atlantic Ocean.Looked out onto the Pacific Ocean.Spoken more than one language fluently. (OK, so maybe fluently is stretching it, but I’m almost there!!!!!)Picked up and moved to another city to just start over. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking. Had plastic surgery.Thanked God that He got you home safely.Wrote articles for a large publication. (Does a blog with 22 visitors a day count as a large publication? If not, I’ve got lots of other websites, oh – and the Carrollton High School newspaper and yearbook J )Petted a stingray. Broken someone’s heart. Broken a bone.Bailed a friend out of jail. (This would be Keith related as well……what better friend than your brother)Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol.Ridden a horse.Had major surgery.Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours.Ridden a mechanical bull.Had a specific prayer answered.Eaten sushi. (One word – ew.)Had your picture in the newspaper. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about. Gone back to school.Parasailed.Eaten fried green tomatoes.Skipped all your school reunions. (There’s only been one, and I wasn’t there, so I would assume YES!)Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language. (That was like the first month of my life here!!!)Had a true spiritual experience.Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream. (Estoy viviendo mi sueño ahorita!!!)Changed a tire.Skinny dipped.Dyed your hair.Been a DJ. (iPod. I’m my own DJ everyday.)Traveled to a tropical island.Caused a car accident. (Actually, I rear ended someone today……)Faced a fear. (Yup – that’s why I’m here!!!)

Here are some things I haven’t gotten around to yet
Swam with wild dolphins,Taken a Ferrari for a test drive,Held a tarantula.Visited ParisGone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards). Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa Touched an iceberg.Slept under the stars. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon. (does just going up and then down in one count?)Held a lamb.Hit a home run. Had two hard drives for your computer.Visited all 50 states. Watched wild whales.Gone rock climbing. Gone sky diving.Visited Ireland.Milked a cow.Pretended to be a superhero. Visited the Great Wall of China. Taken a martial arts class.Ridden a gondola in Venice.Been on television news programs as an “expert”.Buried one/both of your parents.Been on a cruise ship.Raised children. (Doing it now...)Walked the Golden Gate Bridge.Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived.Held someone while they were having a flashback.Piloted an airplane.Helped an animal give birth.Won money on a T.V. game show.Gone on an African photo safari.Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild.Visited more foreign countries than U.S.states.Visited all 7 continents.Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days. Eaten kangaroo meat. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. Been elected to public office.Had to put someone you love into hospice care.Saved someone’s life

And things I don’t think I’ll be trying to achieve – ever!
Bought everyone in the bar a drink.Adopted an accent for an entire day. (Who Actually does that??)Backpacked in Europe.Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love.In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them.Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight.Gone without food for 5 days. Won first prize in a limbo contest.Had a one night stand.Been in a combat zone. Performed in Rocky Horror. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour.Lost over 100 poundsHad a snake as a pet.Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey. Written your own computer language.Built your own PC from parts. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you. Shaved your head. (Does shaving someone elses head count?)
Whew. Have fun reading through that! I guess the point is my "Done" list is much greater than either of the other two. Nothing to complain about there, right?

Heartbreak

It is nearly impossible for me to not involve myself emotionally with things. Sometimes people say “well, don’t get your hopes up” or, “don’t get too excited” – and those are two phrases that I am unable to process. Sometimes people say that you should not let your emotions govern you, that you should rule your emotions. Again, another thing that I am incapable of doing.

It’s a double edged sword. I don’t do anything half assed – it’s usually all or nothing with me. When I decide there is something I want to do – I go all out until I get it or I have proved satisfactorily that it cannot be done. Proof of that is me being here in Mexico. There were many people who didn’t necessarily want to spend the dough to send me here – I kept on pushing until they thought otherwise.

The other edge of that sword is that I become all consumed in whatever task I decided to make my mission, and I don’t often stop until its completed – regardless of cost – because really, it *can* be done even if it *shouldn’t*. some might call that obsession – and they probably are correct in doing so – but that part of me has taken my life to various successes, and the ability to really enjoy the high of those risks, even at the cost of being heartbroken from time to time.

So that brings me to this point. Could we have Tigers tickets at Comerica? Yes, we could. But at what cost? I’ve mentioned that issue before – and Pat O’Brien and I made the decision that it wasn’t worth it because of the other expenses we have coming up with the wedding and essentially non-available income. Heartbreak #1

I got an email last night from the St. Louis Cardinals saying that if they won last nights game, I would have the opportunity to buy tickets in St. Louis. The email made it sound like it was a sure thing – I looked into flights, hotels, tentatively rearranged my schedule with work…..I was excited! I had my hopes up…..despite the warning from Pat O’Brien. Alas, the email was probably sent to everyone that didn’t get tickets from the lottery the first time around and while sitting in the virtual waiting room this morning at 9:30 AM, the tickets were sold out. Heartbreak #2

Could I have come home this weekend to watch the first two games in the good ol’ US of A in the company of ferocious Tiger fans, who coincidentally happen to be my future family-in-law, while having a fun family weekend at a Holidome in Kalamazoo? Yes, I could have. But that opportunity expired about 10 minutes ago – which was the last bus I could have caught to Mexico City in order to make the flight….and that my friends, was my third, and hopefully final, heartbreak of the week.

Yes, I suppose its all for the better. It’s always a good decision to not spend money that you don’t really have – not to borrow what you cannot afford to pay up front – but something in me really this week just wanted to throw caution to the wind – to forget about being responsible, level headed and practical, and to be able to be spontaneous, reckless, and carefree. I wanted to just live for the moment – to buy a really, really, last minute flight; to rush home, throw my things in a carry on, and run with everything I had to try to catch a flight and arrive safely to Pat O’Brien and company. You know, I actually contemplated doing it – I had my credit card number filled in – but right before I hit “complete order” – I thought twice. Because I knew if I showed up unexpected that Pat O’Brien just might be a little more angry at me for spending the money, than happy to see me…….that might have a been a little too much heartbreak for me to handle.

La Quimera and Dia de los Muertos buys....

Here’s some interesting tid bits of information I finally figured out about this upcoming holiday that has been baffling me for the past few weeks. To see a lots of information on the subject, peruse through http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/.

In so many words, Dia de los Muertos is an adapted tradition from a month long celebration began by the Aztecs. Skulls were used to honor the dead because they symbolized not only death, but rebirth as well. And, well, they had a plentiful collection laying around because they kept them as trophies after killing people :o)

From what I’ve garnered so far, there are two common ways to celebrate this holiday in Mexico. One (which is more common in the pueblitas outside of the city limits) is to go to the cemetery to party all day and to decorate the grave site in marigolds, candles, and place offerings of items that person liked, such as toys, tequila, favorite foods, cigarettes, etc. The purpose behind that is that it was believed (in Aztec times, not sure about now-a-days) that the loved ones came back to visit during this time.

More in the metropolitan areas, people go to the gravesites less to celebrate and more frequently set up an altar in their home, sometimes dedicating entire rooms to the altar – which are frequently adorned with sugar or chocolate chalacas (skulls), pictures of the venerated deceased, candles, flowers, favorite foods, and the like.

Oh, I should mention Dia de los Muertos is a national holiday, and yes, we do have the day off.

From what I understand (based on many things, including that book I read a month or so ago about the Four Agreements) is that the natives believed that dying doesn’t signify the end of life, just the ending of a dream in which (in death) they become truly awake. It’s not so far from our concept of heaven, I suppose, but the big difference is they didn’t fear death, they embraced it. Or so we assume….

In my opinion, I’ve always seen skeletons as kind of creepy and scary. And the amount of adoration of these objects here did seem a little sacrilegious – I mean, putting a skeleton on an altar?? You might as well throw a creepy scary clown up there & a murderous doll that comes to life after dark, too. And, the whole coming back to visit thing is kinda creepy to me, but the base of the tradition is rooted in a culture that viewed death completely different than I do. I believe we die, our souls are ascended into some concept of heaven and we spend an eternity there…..but still despite that comforting fate my mind has been molded by society to fear death, the unknown, and scary things like ghosts and skeletons.

The Spaniards when they came to Mexico thought the same thing….Although I must admit, I would have thought it to be much creepier if they were using actual human skulls too! So they tried to extinguish the celebration – and instead of the original month long celebration it is now one or two days, and its been moved from the 9th Aztec month (August, ish?) to now coincide with the Catholic celebration of All Saint’s and All Soul’s day.

::::::::::::::END OF HISTORY LESSON:::::::::::::::::

So, along with living in a new culture comes appreciation and adaptation of my views to incorporate new things I’ve learned. I must admit, even thought shock of seeing zillions of skeletons initially shocked me, I’ve grown to like them – the wild colors and creative decoration certainly can be appreciated as art – and some of the skeletons just are down right cute! Its hard to be afraid of a dancing skeleton wearing a mariachi hat and holding a guitar, you know?

I’ve even purchased a couple items for the celebration, including a fabulous Pop Up altar ready for use in our home – all we have to do is write the name of our dead we would like to honor and that’s it! It even comes complete with lit candles, skeletons, food and tequila! Best of all – I found it at Wal-Mart! Nothing like getting a good dose of the local cultural from Wally World!

As Keith and I were walking around La Quimera last night (the art festival in Metepec’s Centro) we saw rows upon rows of potential offerings. I picked up a couple sugar cube skulls – no chocolate ones since I ordered some from a guy at work that makes them with his family every year. Also saw other incredibly ornate skulls, but we passed on buying those.

Sugar cube type skull-itos - only about 1 1/2" high

Crazy decorated ones - more about 4" high - not sure what the heck they were made out of....

There were also little sculptures of fruit and veggies created out of paste from the pumpkin seed, and also figurines you could buy that represented careers the dead had while living or hobbies. They had a skeleton teacher and student, one drinking a beer with his dog close by, doctors operating and taking X-Rays, oh yeah, AND (get ready for this) strippers. HA! So if the dearly beloved had a career as a pole dancer, you could get a figurine to represent her as well! See if you can find her in the picture below.

If you click on the pic, you can see better the detail of the intricately placed pole, and the mat that reads "Table Dance!". ¡AWESOME!

I also purchased some local art particular to Metepec. Its an Arbol de Vida – which typically depicts scenes from the bible – but in this case is adorned with things to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Too cute! And also a clay skull to hold a candle, for our home altar, of course! I just love the detail and colors!

Last but not least, and completely unrelated to Dia de los Muertos, I purchased a nice wool serape. I’ve been trying to find one that isn’t hella big on me, but that looks nice and has a pretty natural color – and I lucked out and found one for $110 pesos! What a steal! Now I can be fashionable and warm in my office! I probably should have picked up some wool socks to keep my ankles warm, too, now that I think about it……

La Familia Medel

This is picture I came across when going through all my old CD's of digital pics. Its of my grandma, my mom, and most of her brothers & sisters (one brother and one sister are missing). I love it because it shows everyone smiling and having a good time! No fake smiles in this pic!

Credits: Jen Wilson - Genuine Swing; Fonts - Batik Regular, Susie's Hand; Staples - Lauren Bird; Ball Chain - Scrapsy Daisy

Scrapitty Do Dah

I really haven't scrapped in a while, since I've been trying to organize most of my stuff with my new organizational software ACDSee.....I've also come across a plethora of awesome photos that are, like, four years old....such as these ones of Kyle & Austin. Too precious! Its given me some motivation to start scrapping again!

Here are a couple of my most recent gigs...

Austin

Credits - Kit by Shannon Carlson at ShannonLeeDesigns.com, tears by Steph Krush, Fonts - Rage, Batik Regular.

Viva Mexico
Template - Marcie Reckinger Got Layers 2 (modified for 8.5x11)l; Paper- Lauren Bird, Jen Wilson, Julie Howard; Alpha - Jen Wilson Seasonal Scraps Glass Fused Alpha; Font - Gigi

Journaling reads: 15 de septiembre - one night before the actual dia de independencia, but a night of fun and jubilation nonetheless. We had a few drinks in el Centro, then headed to Kate & Marco’s home to have a nice dinner & more libations. We had a few too many, and never did make it back to hear the grito....its a shame, the atmosphere in the zocalo was amazing! The flags, food, and of course, sombrero’s with VIVA MEXICO CABRONES written proudly on the rim - it was all so cool for the short time we were there! Moni, Sergio & Fiero were on hand to celebrate as well!

Also finally scanned some cool pics of my Grandma Mayer (or should I say, Gladys "Whitey" Williams), back in the day! Here she is with her Illinois State Championship Team - the Caterpillar Dieselettes! I got most of these from scrapbooks she put together - mostly newspaper clippings and such - but very cool just the same! Who knew it ran in the family! One of my goals was to come back to the US with all these scrapbooks and photos scanned and put on DVD's - so I got four months to get on my horse! I scanned these in Saturday night while I was crying pondering the importance of baseball in my life......Grandma is the top most chick in right field....... Thats about it for today - got another busy day tomorrow! Ciao!

Bummed bummed bummed

On Saturday night I had a good cry whilst laying in the shower……I realized shortly after the Tigers clinched their World series birth that the chances of myself or Pat getting tickets was a long shot unless we wanted to pay that $600 each.

And we all know that’s not very practical. Especially with a $600 plane ticket on top of that.

Despite knowing that it was unreasonable to spend that much money, I was so so sad. So so upset, knowing that I wasn’t going to be there to be a part of history. Because to me, its not just a game – its part of me, part of my family, part of my history. Baseball represents so much more than just 9 innings and a few beers. My first games were with my dad and my grandpa – and my grandmother played ball for quite a while too (she actually wore Joe Tinker’s pants once – of Tinkers to Evers to Chance. One of my best friends in the world was discovered because of our mutual love for baseball. The world is always somehow a better place when you’re at the ballpark. So not being there – I feel like I’m missing out, you know? I’m missing out on making a great new memory with Pat O’Brien, I’m missing out on history.

You wanna know what really pisses me off??? Ass wipes who buy the tix, then turn around and sell the damn things for an absurd profit. It so not fair – its just preventing those fans (like myself) who really truly want to be there will all their heart, but can’t because its too damn expensive. Because I’m not a damn company with deep pockets than can spend that kind of cash for the benefit of their customers. If we could get tix for face value, we’d be there. It’s a big difference paying $75 for standing room only tickets than $450 to the stupid head scalpers (not wanting to support the team in their quest for the promised land – just trying to make a buck). Not to mention how expensive the non standing room only tickets are. Sheesh. Its just disgusting.

I suppose its all part of life though, no?

Someday I’ll get over it. But for now, I shall sit and mope, lamenting and mourning my loss. Although is it really a loss if you never actually had it??? I’ll still be supporting the Tigers even if it is from 2000 miles away….and maybe I’ll even buy myself a chick’s jersey……

GOOOOO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!

THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT! We're going to the World Series! WHOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!

And here's the man of the hour - the one who sealed the deal and sent us on our way! (photo by getty images - yahoo sports)
Flights will run me about $500 or so - but we have to wait until Monday to see if we can get tickets online ($250 max, each) - otherwise, we would have to pay about $600 each per ticket for nosebleed seats, and I just don't think we can swing that, know what I mean? I probably will be bawling if we can't get tickets, but I just have to tell myself if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be........I mean, we still have to have SOME money to pay for our wedding in March, you know?

**sigh** it just sucks my ass to be so practical about this. Who knows if it will happen again? I've had going to the World Series on my life's "to do" list forever......and I don't know if it will happen again with the Tigers. Who knows.......

Border info.......

Feeling much more normal today - not so angry, a bit more rested. I still look like I have luggage under my eyes, but I suppose thats OK. Also, I'm not all that sore. Yeah, a little bit, but it hurts in a good way :) Its mostly my pecs because of the chest presses I was doing hard core, but my legs feel pretty good. I might even hit spinning again tomorrow :)

Other very important news - GOOOOOO TIGERS! I broke out my Big League Chew again. Twice - once after the first inning when things weren't looking to hot, and again in the bottom of the 9th, with two outs, bases loaded, and the Big Hurt up to bat. Yes, Frank Thomas hadn't had a hit the entire series, but he's definitely capable to do some damage, so I thought I would throw some in just to give Todd Jones a little more, well, boost to get him out. Frank popped out, and the game was over - and los Tigres de Detroit go home with two wins under thier belts.

OK, now for some serious business :) Another expatriate blogger (if you'd like to check more out - see the ExPat suitcase link to the right) posted the following article on his blog earlier this week....I found it to be intriguing, so I contacted the author and with his permission I have reposted it in its entirety here. I get rather emotional about this subject, but I'm not always that well informed and can never provide good reasons as to why I feel the way I do - but this article brings up some good points and maybe will help people understand a bit why Mexicans feel the need to go to the US to try to make a living for thier family. FYI - most of them don't want to leave Mexico (or at least the one's I know) but sometimes, its thier best shot at keeping food on the table. When forced with those kind of conditions, wouldn't you resort to extreme measures??

Borders are not about political lines

By Patrick Osio, Jr

International borders are not about political lines dividing countries. Borders are about people living across each other separated by a political line. When people divided by borders are of different cultures, speak different languages and there is significant economic disparity between them the differences often become political problems.

In the Western Hemisphere most border political problems do not start, or are sustained, due to language or cultural differences. These differences may exacerbate the problems. The roots of most political problems exist where there is an economic disparity between the two divided nations. The greater the disparity, the greater the political problem.

Thus when the problems are not cultural or language, rather economic disparity, it makes little difference what the names or world locations of neighboring countries. So North Korea is to China what Mexico is to the US; Lesotho is to South Africa what Mexico is to the US; Guatemala is to Mexico what Mexico is to the US, and on it goes.

When there is no economic disparity, the political problems between countries are mostly based on historical issues, commercial rivalries and in modern times, environmental issues.

The US has two countries separated by the political line we call border, Canada and Mexico. The economic disparity between the peoples of Canada and the US is of little consequence thus the political problems based on the border as a dividing line were, prior to the 9/11 terrorist attack, for the most part non existent, though there are Canadians living and working illegally in the US. And since 9/11 the political border problems the US has with Canada are perceptions that Canada is not doing enough to stop terrorists from crossing into the US.

Along the US-Mexico border the situations is dramatically different. The economic disparity between the two countries is so great that simply stating it in general terms cannot describe its enormity.

To better understand. Unskilled or semi-skilled factory workers in the US earn $11.30 an hour; in Mexico $1.13. A US skilled factory worker earns $16.90 an hour; in Mexico $2.79. An office building janitor in the US earns $9.37 an hour; in Mexico $0.87. A US store clerk earns $8.91 an hour; in Mexico $1.67. A US plumber earns $26.97 an hour; in Mexico $2.50.*

How long do workers in the above job examples have to work for some basic staples like: half-gallon milk; 10-tortilla pack; 1-lb butter; 1-lb Cheddar cheese; 1.42-liter corn oil; 1-lb potatoes; 1-whole chicken; 1-dozen eggs?*

• The US factory worker: 1-hour 45-minutes – Mexican worker: 9-hours 16-minutes
• US skilled factory worker: 1-hour 5-minutes – Mexican worker: 3-hours 34-minutes
• US office building-janitor: 1-hour 57-minutes – Mexican janitor: 11-hours 29-minutes
• US store clerk: 2-hours 3-minutes – Mexican store clerk: 5-hours 58-minutes
• US plumber: 45-minutes – Mexican plumber: 3-hours 59-minutes.*

The above costs of basic staples take into consideration the difference in costs between the US and Mexico: chicken at 99-cents per lb in the US versus 81-cents in Mexico; potatoes in the US at 99-cents per lb versus 47-cents in Mexico; the US corn oil at $3.49 versus $1.78 in Mexico; US Cheddar cheese at $4.99-lb versus $2.24 in Mexico and so on.*

Mexican farmworkers earn less than 80-cents an hour, but a great number of farms have and continue to shut down unable to compete with US citizen-tax founded farm subsidized products exported to Mexico, creating high rates of unemployment.

For millions of Mexicans their earnings, if they have jobs, do not provide sufficient income to provide the basic necessities to support a family, so they cross the political line without official permission in search of economic opportunity, and most find it rather easily. Due to the massive numbers crossing a political problem has been created in the US.

The economic disparity in wages coupled with job availability in the US are the root problems of the political problem between the US and Mexico.

So what does America, the country made great by immigrants, propose doing to solve the root problems?

Builds fences and militarizes the border, declare those desperate souls felons, criminalize aiding them in any way, deny their children education, prohibit renting them shelter and classify them as terrorists to ease the American conscience.

If such laws are enacted, may our Lord have mercy on our beloved America. __________________________________________________________

*(Wage and price comparisons from: International UE at: http://www.ueinternational.org/shop/index.php)________________________________________________

Patrick Osio, Jr is the Editor of HispanicVista.com (http://www.hispanicvista.com/) Contact at: posiojr@aol.com

(The opinions expressed by Patrick Osio, Jr. are solely his and do not necessarily reflect those of HispanicVista.com, editorial board of advisors or it’s contributing writers.)

Still Angry....

But getting better. It was a great night last night because of the Tiger game and all. SOOOO fun to watch and cheer and chew some Big League Chew to support the boys….not sure if they can feel the love from way down here in Mexico, but trust me, its HERE!

I was pretty much mean all day yesterday to Pat O’Brien….which wasn’t very nice since I was doing it for no good reason. Apparently I just feel the need to be a bitch sometimes. I’m sure he doesn’t appreciate it – I know if he was being a big dick to me I probably wouldn’t be nearly as forgiving. Maybe he puts up with it because he knows its part of me and we’ve pretty much accepted all of each other - the good, bad, and ugly. I guess that’s part of my ugly side. Makes me love him more though, for being so good to me even when he tells me “I love you – and miss you tons” and I reply, “Yeah? That’s cool.”

Ouch.

I promised I would be nicer after I picked up Keith from work, (basically during the 5th inning….I was back in time for the top of the 6th). I was true to my word, but it wasn’t easy. It’s hard to force myself to be nice when I don’t really want to.

Anyway, yet another reason I’ve come up with as to why I’m so crabby as of late is the whole exercise/weight loss thing. I get SOOOOO freakin’ frustrated – because I’m not one of those people who LOVES to exercise, who HAS to do it or I don’t feel good – or one of those people that LOVES veggies and healthy stuff…….really, I loathe it. Sometimes raw carrots and lettuce make me gag when I taste them. I’m not even one of those people who knows they have to exercise in order to eat whatever they want (I mean I do, but it doesn’t mean enough to actually DO it). It just sucks. I hate it. Especially today. Just because its one of those days.

In high school – it was so easy! Being involved in a sport you’re practicing two hours a day, or if not practicing, then playing in a game – so you’re automatically exercising 10 hours a week without really even thinking about it. Of course, you’re also only in class until 3:00…..so its not like working out for 2 hours is that big of a deal, because you still have time to live your life. Right now – it’s like torture for me to get in three hours a week! God – no WONDER I weighed 120 pounds then and am super overweight now! I wonder what would happen if I just decided that it would be cool to exercise ten hours a week…..I wonder if I wouldn’t have to worry about every frickin calorie that went into my mouth…..hmmmmm……maybe I should just make that my hobby instead of scrapbooking…..

But really, I need to develop a better attitude about it because cursing at myself first thing in the morning because I **HAVE** to get up and work out really isn’t healthy self dialogue. I need to lose weight because I’m officially obese, and I want to be healthier and provide the best environment possible for my future babies…….not to mention just the overall boost in self esteem would improve by looking better and feeling better.

I guess despite all this negative pissy pants talk I should say I’m rather proud of myself for actually going to the gym today despite my anger, and after lifting weights trying my second hand at spinning. It seemed to go better than the first time. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow – and see how sore I am. I need to not be too sore so I can still go back to the gym on Friday.

I really really hope that I get over the “I hate getting up” phase, and move into the “This really does feel good and I want to do it more” phase…….soon! I got up today (cursing and yelling) even though I didn’t go to bed until 1AM and didn’t fall asleep until well after 2:30AM. And then I got up at 6:00.

It sucks. Really, I feel like ass. I tried to trick myself. I thought that if I go to bed at 10:30 and can’t fall asleep until 12, maybe I should just stay up and make productive use of that time, and then just go to sleep when I’m TIRED. Yeah, well, I stayed up until 1AM, because that’s when I was finally tired, laid down, and then STILL didn’t fall asleep until an hour and a half later.

Half of that was me not being able to turn off my mind – the other half was not wanting to turn off my mind due to the HUGE GIANT FUZZY 1.5” diameter tarantula I found on my pillow when I pulled back the covers to get into bed. Makes it kinda hard to sleep when you feel like you’re going to be eaten alive by all its brothers and sisters while you are in dreamland. I managed to kill it myself without screaming and making Keith come in and get it – but I didn’t want to risk the spider not being there if I left to go get him…..then I really wouldn’t have been able to sleep knowing that it was still there – somewhere – lurking……

We’ll file that into “Things I didn’t have to worry about in the US”…..I mean, we’ve got some mean spiders – they are everywhere. But I’ll take fighting a daddy long legs over the creepy weird Eat You Alive types they have down here. If a spider’s body is bigger than its legs – it’s totally going to creep me out, because big bodies, to me, mean big giant fangs and poisonous sacs of venom. And I don’t want to mess with that.

COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC – but I just sent an email to my Spanish teacher, and I didn’t know that Gmail could spell check in English or Spanish without having to do anything special. That is super cool!

OK – enough ranting and rambling. I have lots of work to get done today, so I need to get to gettin’. Ciao.

Get yer Tiger Pumpkin Stencils Here!

Its just what you always dreamed of - carving your own halloween pumpkin in a gentle, candle lit homage to our hometown heros. I think its kind of hilarious - I found them as I was browsing the Tiger's Fan Forum on their website.


PUMPKIN STENCILS

Personally, I'm torn between these two.....but I'm pretty sure the old English D's gonna win out - just its just so darn classic.

FRUSTRATIONS

Oh I am a crabby girl again today. Crabby I suppose is better than being depressed. I haven’t had that “I don’t want to get out of bed lets think of 20 excuses why I can stay home” feeling in a while. When I’m crabby I’m usually angry about one thing or another. Today, I’m pissed off because I can’t read or write or speak Spanish fluently. I’m especially pissed off because I know it’s my own damn fault. I speaking English to Pat O’Brien, to my brother, watch English TV – so it’s no big surprise I can’t fluently speak. I’ve made “mandates” to Keith and I that we can only watch Spanish TV when I’m home, but it’s just too easy to want to watch the shows you like. I have half a mind to cancel the Dish so we can really focus on just Spanish TV. I’m pretty sure Keith would shoot me though.

So, yes, I can communicate, and yes, its OK communication, but I wouldn’t say it’s fluent by any stretch of the imagination. I still say “huh?” and “please, slower” a lot. And it takes SOOOO much concentration to read my flippin email. I HATE having to concentrate that hard. I wish this language thing would just come to me already. I never thought in a million years it would be this frickin hard.

It just pisses me off.

*ugh* OK – here’s my attempt at trying to focus on the good things:

• My ring is über sparkly today. I cleaned my jewelry this morning, so my earrings and necklace no longer look like they have morphed into dark grey sooty flowers, and now they are shiny. So I figured I would do the same for my ring (using different cleaner than my silver polish, of course). Its hella sparkly, and really pretty. That makes me happy.
• I had some conversations yesterday with the US Human Resources person, and she had some promising potential positions for me to go back to Chicago to. That’s always good to know your future job might not suck. That makes me happy to.
• Tigers play tonight. I’m hoping we’ll rock some Nate Robertson Gum Time and keep him rolling like the rest of the pitching staff is. I purchased some Big League Chew in Chicago specifically for this purpose. Instead of waiting for them to get behind and in need of a rally, however, I think I'll just put some in right at the beginning and keep 'em ahead. Sounds like a plan, doesn't it??
• I’ve done some research on flights and stuff if the Tigs go all the way. I have lots of options that all cost approximately the same – regardless if I fly into Detroit or Chicago from Mexico or Toluca. It will take some planning, and probably take me a month or two to pay it off, but some things in life (as my Spanish teacher reminded me last night of our US genius credit card marketing) are priceless. This would be one of those times. If I can't score tix in the US, then I'll be keeping my eye peeled for offers here - strangely enough, apparently they usually have some tickets and travel packages available for the big sporting events in the US. Not sure how they do it, but I won't care as long as I can get tix for the big game......
  
  I hope everyone has a great day, and I hope I improve my mood soon. Despite what people might say, I really dislike being a grouch.

They're GRRRRRRRRRRREAT!

GO TIGERS!

Wow! What a weekend! Friday I wasn’t able to get home in time to see the first pitch, but I did see from the 2nd Inning onward – it was so exciting. Pat O’Brien and I watched it together – via SKYPE and our webcams. It was pretty cheesy to be giving virtual High Five’s and cheers – but it was nice to share it with him, especially since Keith was working until the 9th inning. I'm also über jealous because my cousin Janelle went to the game on Friday - she said it was awesome - and I totally believe her. Saturday we watched the game at the sports book, so we could catch the MSU/UofM game at the same time. Keith also placed a bet while we were there on the suckfest 49ers vs. Raiders, and won about $200 on Sunday.

I've seen some pretty cool headlines and stories about the Tigs - one is the title I used for this post - another one was "Tiger Grit beats NY Glitz"...amongst many many others. Also saw some great pics of the post game Saturday - it was electric watching the crowd get so into the celebration with the players - this truly is a treat for us to be able to experience this team.

I've already told Pat O'Brien, if they go to the World Series - I'm coming home. A girl can dream, right?

Sunday we just chilled at home and watched football all day. I got through a few more subjects of my high school scrapbook project that I’m doing – I’ve done sports, band, homecoming, but I have to do prom, portraits and candids next. It’s been quite a chore – I’ve completed about 16 pages so far, 10 of them were this weekend. That’s some serious paper scrapping! I thought I had all the pics in one place, but I just found a rogue album with a whole bunch of pics in it – I kinda just want to keep them in an album, because they’re already nice and neat and semi-organized, but they are just calling to be put in the scrapbook, so they’re all in one place…..I guess it just depends on how adventurous I get.

FLOWERS
HA! I finally remembered to blog about something I thought about in the car! It’s a miracle! When you live in the city in the US, you don’t really get a chance to see many wildflowers (unless your 5 years old and consider dandelions flowers. I don’t.) unless you’re traveling up north in late summer. One of the coolio things I have been noticing lately is the abundance of wildflowers that are growing around us. Yes, they are in apparently abandoned lots surrounded by graffiti clad walls, but they sure look a lot nicer when framed with a soft bouquet of pink petals. In mid summer, it was white poppy-looking type flowers, and then came the WHORDES of pink posies that completely took over various fields....... The pinkies gave way to low, yellow ground cover type flowers, and now, we’re in the era of these beautiful purple buds – they are about three feet high, and sway just so when the gentle breeze hits them…..

Really, I have no idea if they are actually flowers or just an abundance of weeds (like our little dandelions) but I really don’t care too much. It makes me want to frolic, and its just so stinking pretty to look at.

POOPY crabby poopy-pants

I have been in THE shittiest mood today. Not sure why – not sure I care why – I just wish it would go away. I even tried to force myself happy with cuteness, but although it cracked some smiles it didn’t force me out of the funk.

OK – let’s try to dissect it together – maybe I’ll feel better for it if I get it down on “paper”.

1. One thing that’s bugging me is that I miss Pat O’Brien – terribly. I was all proud of myself with how well I handled our departure, and I haven’t really been down about it much. But it’s been a tough day in that regard – I keep on thinking about him and being sad that I’m so far away from him. And as much as my ring sparkles, it can’t wrap its arms around me, give me smootchies, make me laugh and help me feel better.

2. I can’t sleep worth beans. This may be related to the missing Pat issue – since my mind wanders to a million different places – all with him in it…..I try to take deep breaths, meditate, and clear my mind, but to be honest, I’d rather have a mind filled with him and be awake than filled with nothing. The cure for this is staying up ridiculously late, which makes me more tired in the mornings. And not wanting to get out of bed SUCKS my ass.

3. Weight issues – I’m trying so desperately to stay on the weight loss / exercise bandwagon, but I am failing miserably. I will publicly applaud my water intake efforts – I’ve gotten at least 64 oz a day this week – and I did buy a whole bunch of yummy healthy stuff yesterday at Superama (more on that later) so today I have had a relatively good eating day – but the exercise (or lack thereof) is KILLING me! I need to do it in the mornings, because I just don’t have the energy in the afternoons, but I CANNOT get out of bed in the AM. I managed to do so today so I could take a shower (yesterday I didn’t because I couldn’t get out of bed until 8:05AM and I’m supposed to leave at 8). I start a new Ultimate Challenge on Monday – so I hope by then I am well rested and on a new schedule so I can kick some ass!

4. People drive like maniacs. I’ve gotten much better at just rolling with it all and not letting it bother me, but it bothered me today. People trying to cut in front of me when they KNOW eons before hand that the lane they are in is a turn only lane. Come on man – I KNOW Taxis and Buses who run the same roads every day now this – it would be impossible NOT to. I politely looked directly at them and shook my head “no way José”. I think for the first time I seriously considered ramming someone in the back of their car. If I didn’t love my little Vibe so much, I probably would have.

5. I HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO – but I cannot for the life of me muster enough motivation to STOP surfing the web and START doing what’s important. This is probably irking me the most. I’m not lazy. I’m not stupid – but for some reason I just CAN’T work. Does anyone have a cure??? Being Unproductive is driving me CRAZY!!!

Ugh. Sorry for the venting ness. Not sure if I feel better, but the first step is admitting your problems, right? Er, right.

RANDOM HAPPY THINGS
I did go to Superama last night – AWESOME! I found almost everything I needed in one stop – and to top it off – they had COUSCOUS! This makes me SOOOO incredibly happy! I bought 6 boxes for fear they wouldn’t carry it after the opening. They also had PICKLES! DILL KOSHER PICKLES! This folks is a hella rarity. Also, saw my favorite shampoo & conditioner that smells so yummy and leaves my hair shiny and smooth – but I didn’t buy it because I just bought some other stuff that is way crappier, but a full bottle nonetheless and I can’t bear the thought of wasting it all.

Tigers won yesterday. Nuff said.

Did another layout with Julie Howard’s Flip Flop kit. There are various rugby peeps – but the chick is Geoff’s girlfriend Roxie. She’s just so flippin adorable and nice and fabulous. I want to have a daughter so I can name her Rosalinda and call her Roxie. It’s just so cute!



I have a happy Halloween candle in my office from the Bullfrog Candle Company. Troy’s mom got me hooked on these – they are so much prettier than regular candles when they burn. Also burning – The Body Shop Home Fragrance Oil Clementine & Clover – oh so yummy.

Check ya’ll later dude.

Kill me with Cuteness

Because I recently made a "get well soon!" layout (I'll post it later, after I know she's received it) it got me thinking how adorable fuzzy animals are...and how the world would be a better place if people just took a few seconds to look at them and smile......here are a few sites I have been enjoying as of late.......

BUNNY YAWNS
Could these guys BE any cuter???

And the ultimate in cuteness....CUTE OVERLOAD. Here are a few samples in their cuteness repertoire:

And last but not least - BABY ANIMALZ - just toooo stinkin cute!!

Make sure to get your cuteness quota at least once daily. I promise you'll get at least one smile a day out of it!!!

Random thoughts......

You know, I always get all these great ideas of things to write about while I’m driving, and I always tell myself “you’re totally going to remember it this time” and I never do. I probably should carry a little notebook with me. That would also help with my general overall forgetfulness that constantly plagues me. Sigh.

I created a new scrapbook page for my October guest CT spot for Julie Howard. It a bit lighter and, for lack of a more descriptive word, floofier, than my normal style - if I even have one....but I like how it turned out. I shall call it “Cat Nap”.

Julie Howard Flip Flop Kit; Font – my own handwriting by September Myles

I miss that couch in that pic (its from January 2002) it was hella comfy - even if it was a cat hair magnet. We sold it to a very happy college kid at our mega garage sale during the great wipe out of 2005.

My ring is still sparkley :o)

Tigs play the Yanks at 1:00PM today due to the rain out from last night. Pretty much bites because I’ll be working and won’t be able to watch. Thank the sweet Lord from MLB.com. Pat O’Brien got me addicted to that – as if I needed more things to distract me from work. Anywho - I have a good feeling about Verlander – I think he’ll be ON today….fingers crossed – here’s to hoping for some triple digits.

I decorated my house for Halloween last night. I was wrong about Mexicans, you know? I thought they wouldn’t be into it because El Dia de los Muertos is a bigger deal. But when I came home from work yesterday, I noticed quite a bit of neighborhood decorations with orange and black, pumpkiny, ghosty and scarecrowy outside. Made me kind of bummed out that I left most of my Halloween décor (especially outside décor) with my parents. So outside all I have is a measly little ghost (although he’s really cute – no arms, kinda like a pac-man ghost) holding a itty bitty bat and two glittery bats on sticks. I suppose it’s better than nothing though, right? I also have some interior décor, like spooky trees and houses and lots of orange glass stuff.

I have to pick up some candles today for my Halloween stuffs - OH OH OH! That reminds me - today is the opening for my favorite grocery store – SUPERAMA! I think stores with “RAMA” in the name are awesome. If I ever opened a saltwater fish store, I think I would have called it FISH-O-RAMA or something like that. It just automatically means cool. But, I digress.

So the reason why this is a big deal is because I love this store, but the closest one is kinda far, and in going to that store we pass a SuperKompras, Wal-Mart and Comercial Mega. So although I like their goods and selection, sometimes it’s just not worth it. So this new SuperRama is RIGHT down the flippin street! It will be our closest grocery store! Its kinda high rent, but the veggies and fruit almost always look fabulous, and they have the largest selection of organic stuff ‘round these parts, so it’s worth it to me. You wanna know the other thing that makes the opening a big deal? The main drag, Tecnológico, which has been under mega construction for the past few months, is also open. So I get to take a brand new street to a brand new store. How cool is that??!!?!

I'm back!

I should be back to my regularly scheduled surfing today at work :) I just got back from Chicago - my minds a whirlwind - I'm so proud of myself because I didn't cry one stinkin bit yesterday! Not when we said goodbye, not in the terminal, not the night before (OK, maybe a few tears the night before). WOOOoOOoO HoHOOOO! It’s a big achievement for me! I think its because I know we're on the downward slope, only four more months and we'll be together for real!

OK, so good things that happened this weekend.....this post might be a bit long, because there’s a lot to cover. On my flight in – it was just a long long day. About 13 hours of travel. But, I did meet the ArchBishop for Mexico and Latin America for the Greek Orthodox Church. We had some nice conversation. And its always a good sign if you have a super Holy guy on the plane, right? The flight was nice – I had a whole row to myself so I did get some sleeping in. I also read the book “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. It’s a book about Ancient Toltec Wisdom on how to achieve inner peace and stuff like that. I purchased it a long long time ago when I was trying to get more into Mexican Cultural stuffs – I remember reading it then, but not really getting it. Its tough to read, but there are a lot of life lessons to be learned, and I think if I can follow some of those teachings I will be in a much better place for it.

Anyway, my flight got in late Thursday night, and we got home about 1:30AM...once we got up to the condo Pat O’Brien told me to "give him a couple minutes" - I figured he had to take a big poop or something - it didn't really matter because I had a lot of packages to open that I had sent there, so I busied myself. When he said it was OK to come in, I walked in to this:



I was so impressed! I thought - WOW! All this for me? Just because I came home to visit? I am a SUPER lucky girl! 50 candles - 5 dozen roses - rosepetals everywhere - it smelled so wonderful, and it was soooo romantic.

I gave him a big giant smooch and hug, but realized he was only hugging me with one arm. So I pulled away, and then, I saw this in his had:



My heart leaped into my throat, and I thought - ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhmygod. He dropped to one knee - and proposed!



I tried to get a good pic of it on my hand, but they came out all blurry and poopy, so these images will have to do until later :) I had my head in my hands and when he actually said “Will You Marry Me?” I shook my head “no” – not because I didn’t want to marry him, but because I couldn’t believe it. This is SOOO not my life, know what I mean? Who actually does something that incredibly romantic NOT on TV or in the movies? It just didn’t seem real…..and just to clarify, I did say YES!

He completely caught me off guard! I mean, we already bought a condo, we know we're moving in together in February, and we have pretty much 90% of the plans ready for the wedding in March - we initially decided that we weren't going to have a ring to make it "official"…..and at one point over the past few months I dragged it out of him that yes, I probably was going to get one, but I never expected it like this, and definitely did not expect it with THAT ring. HOLY COWPOKES! Its incredibly distracting, I keep on staring at all the flippin sparklies in it. Its just BEAUTIFUL!

Anyway, It was a great start to a wonderful weekend *although we didn't go to sleep Thursday night until like, 3:30AM - too much adrenaline running!* We went to the Chicago Art Institute, walked about town, ate at a couple choice restaurants, and we went to my FAVORITE joint, BW3 (buffalo wild wings) and ate some fabulous wings, watched some terrible Lions football and lamented over the Tigers loss of the AL Central Title......it was great to watch the other games with him after we got home - all cuddled on the couch!

*sigh* He's so dreamy.

I also was supposed to fly back on Monday, but a huge mix up at UPS (started by my inability to correctly write my own address) delayed a package that I was waiting for to bring back to work, so I changed my flight and went home on Tuesday instead. I know, how terrible, an extra day with my honeybuns…..Woe is me ;) I had so much crap crammed into my luggage – bottles of NyQuil, Airborne to ward off illness, Old El Paso taco seasoning (hey, I can’t find it here!), other vitamins and fiber, facial care from Origins, and scrapbook stuff. My luggage was seriously overweight, but they didn’t charge me an extra dime so I didn’t say anything!

The flight back was uneventful, abliet a litte delayed. So now, I’m sad to be back, and glad to be back at the same time.....the kitties were happy to see me and sleep with me. They are so fuzzy and warm! And, I realize how short my time is here, I really need to get my butt moving so I can finish all my reports for work.....and I can't wait to start scrapping again!