Back To School

As I scan through Blog Land and see how many students are talking about going back to school or classes starting up again, I can't help but miss those days where summer and fall had a whole different meaning then they do now. That last day of school in June when you couldn't wait to empty your locker and run off with your friends to do God knows what over the summer. Spending half your time in a bathing suit, trips to the lake or the beach, meeting cute boys and having that summer crush, part-time jobs that drove you nuts except for the part where they put more money in your pocket then your measly allowance, the drama that always ensued during some BBQ where everyone drank too much and acted stupid, dreading the first day of school, sleeping in, going to camp, spending time with your family, and never once thinking about school. Then the leaves would start changing and that fall smell would waft through the air, and you knew "Back To School" was rapidly approaching. The "sales" showed up at the local stores for notebooks and paper and backpacks and the new fall fashions for the hip student. Pre-registration started, practice for fall sports started, fliers went out for the 1st pep rally of the year. School was approaching and as much as I dreaded that day, hearing that home room bell for the first time in months, I really miss it. Summer now simply means more pee in out carport from the kids next door who are on summer break and trying to find creative ways to keep the apartment cool. Fall simply means driving home after a long day at work in the dark and digging out my warmer clothes (well relatively warm since I live at the beach). It's not really anything to look forward to anymore and to miss. It is just time. I guess I have Season Premieres to look forward to for those shows that left me hanging at the beginning of summer, but even then, the season's are so messed up right now that nothing starts at the same time anymore. I mean hell, I still have to wait until January for "24."

Finally....

...a personalized license plate that I can decipher and one that actually makes sense for the town it drives in!

OH HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!

Imagine your heart stops... shock sets in... eyes begin to well up... mind races..."when...where...why????"... fear... absolute fear... heart breaking... it isn't just a precious and expensive stone, it is a symbol of love and commitment... holy crap... I can't believe this happened... tears are coming... no, I have to stop them... what do I do? Where do I look? Who do I tell? When did it happen? Oh my GOD, WHHYYYYYY? All of this going on in your mind in a matter of 30 seconds and all of it has to be covered up and done in secret and silence until the big guy in the bright orange shirt yells "Cut!... Moving on."

The happy ending to this story and hopefully a true testament to the love that Jess and I share is that I found the diamond about 30 minutes later (just as I hung up with a very upset Jesse) just sitting on the floor beaming in the sunlight. How no one stepped on it or kicked it out of the way I have no idea. There are about 50 people on set today and the floor is concrete. I truly am blessed, and I truly love my husband more than anything in the world!

Bargain shopping...

I was in the 99 Cent Store today and saw a man buying condoms. It made me wonder if the woman or women he was hoping to use them on knew where he had bought them. It made me think that maybe there are certain things in life that should not be "bargain" shopped for.

I can be vague sometimes...

...so here is my attempt to be a little... less.

10 things you may or may not know about me:

1. It took 6 years with the wrong man to meet the right one, and I don't regret one second of those years. I made the best mistakes of my life back then and it was through those mistakes that I found the man I married.

2. 85% of my wardrobe comes from thrift stores.

3. I was born without a middle name.

4. A doctor told me I needed a kidney transplant when I was 5. My parents got a second opinion.

5. I wish I was a better photographer.

6. I have had a "falling out" with every one of my closest girlfriends. To this day, I have no idea why, but we are closer now then we were before the "fall outs." Go figure.

7. I am terrified that I will never be able to get pregnant.

8. I learned how to skateboard when I was 25. Later that year I got my first tattoo.

9. I have lived in 8 different places since I moved to California in 1997.

10. My greatest fear is losing my husband and knowing I will never find anyone like him again.

Chicks will dig this! I swear!

Spent the evening with my husband watching what I thought would be a "man's movie" yet I found myself truly enjoying every minute of this film. Now, you might think that is was the half naked beautiful male bodies that litter the screen throughout the movie that enticed me, but no, this movie is about more than that. Trust me when I tell you that if they had shown this movie in my Art History class when we were learning about Greek Tragedy, I might have actually paid attention. It is pure and raw maleness. The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed and the cinematography is unbelievable. The idea that these men believed so strongly in honor and love for their families and their country that they would die fighting for both is enough to make any woman weep. But have no fear, the men are not the only strong willed characters in this movie. The woman kick ass and that is putting it lightly. But regardless of what I think, check it out for yourself. Oh, and if you've got surround sound, be sure to turn it up!

Health Insurance

The Health Care system in the US SUCKS! I am not even going to go into why... just trust me on this one!

This past weekend we went to Huntington Gardens in Pasadena for a little tour. Now, it was hot when we left the beach, so you can imagine what it was like up there. We arrived late after having swung by my mother in law's favorite cactus place in Pasadena and then grabbed a quick bite at Whole Foods. The Gardens close at 4:30 and we arrived at 3. No where near long enough to truly enjoy the place, but enough time to not die of heat and still get to see the Japanese Gardens and the massive Cactus Garden. On my journey sharing a camera with Jesse (not an easy thing to do when everything you see could be a great shot) we ran across a beautiful and shady bamboo forrest. There were signs posted all over the area asking people to please not de-face the bamboo with graffiti. Seems it does no good and I spent a good deal of the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out why anyone needed to leave their initials or profess their love on the side of a protected garden.