Just a few from Picture-a-day

I had a pretty awesome 4th of July weekend; although, it would have been even more awesome had it been sunny all weekend, but at least it was sunny on the 4th. I have a friend in Oklahoma who didn't get to see any fireworks due to their cancellation because of the rain. (It's been raining almost everyday here since the 4th).

My mom and I went to see the fireworks at Ventura College, which was funded by the Rotary Club. They had food, games and music going on during the day so that was pretty cool. The fireworks show was pretty awesome. The finale could've been a bit more spectacular, but it was really cool to sit so close to the actual fireworks. We were so close (probably no more than 150 ft. from where they were being set off) that my camera on my phone actually took pretty good pictures.

That was preceded by the Farmer's Market, Target and CVS to get little beach chairs. We were surprised to find the stores almost completely deserted and congratulated ourselves on our genius procrastination skills. Then we (meaning my mom) grilled some steaks, which were really good.

I've been pretty busy these last few days (at least it feels busy to me lol). Yesterday I went over to Encino to get my hair done, which I haven't done in a few months and my hair really needed it, and then over to Santa Monica to meet up with my old co-worker. It was so nice to see her again. We just chatted up at the starbucks on the promenade (and the mall over there is due to be finished in exactly a month; see the picture below) and thoroughly abused by ex-boss and what an immature child he is. It just felt great to be out of the apartment and out on my own for a whole day. It does make me nestalgic to be back in Santa Monica whenever I do get over there, though. It makes me miss my old apartment. :(

Then I saw this ad in this week's VC Reporter (which, for those of you who don't know, is just a free little weekly paper for what's going on in Ventura County) for a short-short story writing contest and I jumped at the change of pace and entered three of my little stories from my college writing class. They have a 101 word maximum. It was a nice little challenge. Hopefully, that'll help me get a little recognition for my writing in my own county, but who knows. I'll let you know what comes of that.

And here are some highlights from the last few weeks (starting from most recent):

July 6

July 2

July 1

I took my finished rough draft of my dragon novel to the beach the other day and started editing it. That's gonna take a while. As you can see, it's pretty thick. Emma has a new tower that she loves to lounge on. I've got way too many photos of her on it lol.

June 27

June 18

June 14

We went to the Greek Festival in Camarillo a few Sundays ago, I rode my bike over to the Channel Islands harbor, which was my bike's first cruise over there, and I take walks past this house on Hollywood Beach all the time and I absolutely love it. Especailly, the little water feature and the bench swing in front. :)

Picture-a-Day

June 7 Emma playing in the bag from the Red for Women event. (For the American Heart Association)

June 8 This would be much cooler if my arm weren't in the photo.

June 9 My mom won this in a raffle on Monday from the Red for Women event.

June 12 Yep, this is my life: writing and chocolate milk (soy milk, that is).

June 12 A wedding at the Embassy Suites.

June 12 Emma likes to lay like this a lot. She's a bizarre cat.

June 13 Emma with her toys

Slacked off majorly this week. Just not feeling it with the picture-taking, but I suppose the first picture for June 12th should do most of the explaining: I've been writing. I hardly ever leave the apartment and it's not getting much warmer over here. It's the middle of June and it's still in the mid-70's, if that. Blah. That's all I have to say.

Picture-a-Day

May 31 Mom on her rental bike

June 2 My bro, the plumber guy lol

June 3 Emma

June 4 Parakeets at Petco

June 5 Emma again

June 6 Breakfast at Mrs. Olsen's

June 6 Our old apartment! (see story below)

My life feels so weird right now. It seems that I'll I feel like blogging about are these picture a day things and most of the time, I don't feel like posting those either. They're becoming an asignment; like something I'm forcing myself to do and it was supposed to be something fun and creative (and my internet is so slow right now it's not helping my mood).

I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm feeling friendless and the weather over here by the beach is not helping. It's grey, cold and depressing. I don't know where summer is, but it better hurry it's sunny little butt up damnit!

Anyway, this last week my mom and I went bike riding on Memorial Day, we helped my brother get his stuff stored in our friend's garage on Wednesday so it's safe while he's in Texas for two months (he's gone over there with our step-brother to make some money), we bought Emma some kitty toys on Thursday (one of which is a laser pointer and I have no idea why we didn't get one sooner), then Sunday we went to have breakfast at Mrs. Olsen's and then, instead of going right back home, we went walking around the condos where we used to live on Hollywood Beach.

My mom's been wanting to buy one and regrets not buying one of the two that we've lived in: one when I was like 12 or so and one when I was in college. So we're walking around and we get to where the first condo is and low and behold, it's for sale! And there's an open house! So we go in and talk about nostalgia! It was crazy! It looks just like I remember it (that's a picture above from the viewpoint of the loft).

Long story short: my mom is trying to buy it with a friend that invests in properties all the time. We'll see what happens! I'm keeping my fingers crossed! How cool would it be to have lived in a place, move out and over ten years later you're living in it again! Crazy-making!

Has anything like that ever happened to any of you?

Picture-a-Day

May 24 Jack Johnson concert at the Santa Monica Pier

May 25 Emma

May 26 I liked these red Adirondack chairs (their difficult to see in this photo). Never seen them in red before.

May 27 Emma sleeping

May 28 I attempted to make frosting from scratch and it's not as easy as it looks lol

May 28 My mom on her birthday!

May 30 The beach near where I live

This last weekend was a blast with my mom's birthday, SATC 2, and Memorial Day! I hope you all had a great long weekend!

The only thing that's kind of bursted my bubble is that Emma, our cat has been sick. We think she may have licked the tub faucet (as is a fettish of hers it seems) after my mom cleaned it with bleach and she got an allergic reaction and/or was poisoned from the bleach. Either way she has been miserable: sneezing, runny eyes and congestion in her nose and sinuses. She seemed to be doing better last night and this morning, but we're praying for her. I hate to see helpless animals not feeling well, especially when they can't tell you what's wrong or what they need :( My mom and I just have to sit and watch as she takes care of herself.

Anyway, hopefully she'll be back to her obnoxious self soon! Other than that I'm looking forward to a week (and month really) of writing my story. I'm way behind!

Picture-a-Day

May 17

May 18 Muggy day

 May 19 Painted my nails with this Sally Hansen polish very cool pointed brush!

May 21 Pizza in Temecula

May 21

May 23 I just love this ceramic tea pot of my Aunt's

May 23 Myself, mom, and Aunt Sally

I'm soooo behind this week, but I just haven't been in a blogging mood lately. What is it about going on a vacation and then needing a vacation from your vacation?! I went to my Aunt Sally's this last weekend Friday through Sunday and it was so relaxing that I guess I still felt that way coming home lol.

Friday we went and had pizza at this really great place (pictures above) near where my Aunt lives in Temecula and then saw Robin Hood! So, so good! I highly recommend that movie! Russell Crowe rocks!

Then Saturday we went to the Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa in Corona, just a half hour drive from my Aunt's house. It was so busy there that we had to wait about 20-30 minutes just to pay to get in! Not to mention it wasn't a very warm day. All-in-all it was a very nice relaxing day though. We sat in the mineral and sulfur pools, had lunch, and, of course, did the whole mud pit thing (I do wish I had pictures of that lol), followed lastly by sitting in the steam sauna.

We went back to my Aunt's feeling like wet noodles and spent the rest of the evening eating In N Out and watching two movies: The Lovely Bones (amazing!) and Extraordinary Measures (pretty good; I'm glad it wasn't as sad as I thought it would be. It was actually more of a feel-good movie).

Sunday we lounged in the morning, had a steak lunch and then we drove home. I always wish we could stay longer whenever we visit my Aunt; although, this time my alllergies were so bad it was probably a good thing to leave.

Sunday night I almost forgot the series finale of Lost was on until my friend Sam, who is two hours ahead of me, reminded me. I had no idea it was going to be a 2- 1/2 hour finale, but I was not disappointed. I don't know if any of you are Lost fans, but I've been watching since the show started and I loved it! I just love that the writers don't assume their viewers are stupid and can't figure things out for themselves. Of course, there are fans who are that stupid (my generation is soooo lazy!) and say that TV is about getting answers, not more questions. Those kind of people who can't think for themselves are going to be the downfall of our society, I'm telling you. Actually, perhaps they already are the downfall of our society.

Anyway, I don't usually like to discuss topics that are quite so...controversial or opinionated on my blog. But, just so you're aware, I'm VERY opinionated lol. I do believe everyone has a right to their own opinion, but don't think I won't argue over a point if I think it's not quite justified. Debating can be good. It teaches us how to really put into words what we mean and think. (I think all this talk is coming from spending a weekend with my Aunt, who is highly opinionated and we spend a lot of time discussing culture, society, politics, etc.)

Well, that was my weekend; better late than never I suppose. Next I have to tell you about Monday because something really fun went down that day!

Picture-a-Day

May 10 Emma in her little fort

May 11 my bro's birthday present

May 12 This display of driftwood reminded me of a dragon

May 13 My mom's friend's apartment. There were accents of turquoise everywhere! I loved it!

May 14 Starting to tear up some magazines for a inspiration board

May 15 My bro's birthday cake, which I made

May 16 Myself, mom, and Mitch at the Strawberry Festival

There was quite a bit going on this weekend. It was my brother's birthday on Thursday so he came over to visit yesterday and today. He opened presents yesterday, one of which was the drawing of a wolf I did for him, which I had framed and I also made him a german chocolate cake (his favorite, pictured above). Here are some more pictures:

After some dinner and cake we went to see Iron Man 2 in Ventura. Awesome movie!! I highly recommend it, especially if you liked the first one :) Not to mention Robert Downey Jr. is as hot as ever!

Then today we went over to the Strawberry Festival, which has been going on the whole weekend. The weather was terrible, it took 40 minutes to park and none of us had very much money (we're all going through broke phases at the moment) so we could only afford to get in and have a few snacks inside, but none of us had been in years so it was fun just to say we went and be a part of things. I hate missing out. I haven't been since I was in high school went I went to perform with the marching band so it wasn't like I got to enjoy myself and eat strawberries.

Anyway, I took lots of pictures on my phone, especially when we found the kiosk with the blown glass sculptures:

Very pretty sculptures, no?! I loved the dragon, of course :) They are given a purplish tint by the technique this guy uses of adding 24-carot gold to the glass after it's sculpted, but still above 1,000 degrees. Very cool!

Well, I hope you all had a lovely weekend!