Weekend

This weekend was very fun & very busy. My Dad got here late on Fri night. On Saturday, we went over to Berkeley for Evie's last training class and we went over to 4th St. Then, we went to out to lunch at our fave lunch spot. We were hoping to do something outside but it was rainy & cold so we went to the bar instead for a few beers!

Then, we went down the Wharf to get a Raiders hat & see the tree.




We also stopped at the famous, Buena Vista, for irish coffee


We finished Saturday with an italian dinner at Firenze in North Beach!

Poodge

For those of you who knew him, I saw Poodge this weekend. I swear it was him - reincarnated. He comes to me in different ways. I put my hand up to the glass & he was moving around like I was petting him!!

All the single ladies...

Here is an easy way to meet a guy.

1. Hang out in a park that has dogs
2. When you see a cute guy, ask if you can pet his dog (He will obvi say yes)
3. Pet the dog and ask him doggie questions and segway into what he/you do
4. Maybe a number exchange will come out of it!

The Gym

Well all know I have a love/hate relationship with working out & the gym. And, I froze my gym membership in October. Now, I want to go back. You can't just not work out. It's not an option. I feel like I am weak and I don't want to be. I don't work out at home. I'm lazy. That is the bottom line.

Anyway, I am thinking of un-freezing the gym. But, then I have to go. I figure if I just put the gym on autopilot like I do for other things, it will work. As I mentioned before, I work better if there is an automatic system & routine in place.

Oh yeah, and I want to go back NOW not in January when all of those Johnny Come Lately's show up at the gym. PLUS, my gym has a deal right now - $99 for 5 30 min personal training sessions. That is a great deal.

Ok, I'll keep you posed.

P.S. I did run 3 miles today in preparation for our 5K we are doing on 12/21.

It's Friday!!

Yesterday, we worked 1/2 day and then had our little party at Lauren's. We stuffed ourselves with spinach balls, lettuce wraps, taco dip, brie, chicken dip....It was sooo good though!

This weekend is going to be very fun. My Dad is arriving late tonight. We are going to hang out tomorrow and on Sunday, go to the Raiders game. He is a huge Raiders fan. It will be a short/busy weekend but very fun.

It has been confirmed

by my coworkers, that I look like this little girl in the pink, when I dance to 'Single Ladies'.

Last night

Last night was the Client/all the agencies holiday party. It is held at a restaurant but is just cocktails/ hors d'oeuvres and a DJ. Everyone normally just stands around, drinks, eats. You know the drill. Last year, apparently it got sloppy towards the end of the party. We were NOT present for that though.

So, this year we went. We stalked the waiters for hors d'oeuvres - they had good food! Tuna tartare, crab cakes, bruschetta....The DJ was good too. He was playing Britney, and old school music. So, you know - I danced. No one else would so I did. I was not drunk. I dance when I am sober, all the time. He even played Bel Biv Devoe and Vanilla Ice. Who can keep their feet still during THOSE songs?? Not me. Anyway, I actually did my rendition of 'Single Ladies' for the girls at work yesterday. Anyway - I digress. The night was fun.

Today, we are working 1/2 day and then going to our co-workers house to eat lots of food that is bad for you and get the wine flowing. It's the holiday season!!

words i like

i like when people say these two words

Santa Claus
Italian

Like this

Santey Claus
EYE -talian

Suit Buying & Jelly Cookies

Last night, we braved Macy's in order to get Erik a suit for his Holiday work party which is pretty formal. So, we go to Macy's and head to the suit department and are just like, 'Uhhhh what do we do now'. The sales associate told us what size Erik would be & we picked out a few colors. He tried them on but really, I didn't know how it should fit. So, we brought the other sales associate in and he said that the suit looked good. Ok so then the tailor came in to take measurements. About 1.5 hours later, we were done. He found a great suit and get this, it was 50% off. Plus another 10% for some other reason. We pick it up next week.

Next up, I saw these great jelly roll type cookies in Rachel Ray. All you had to do was roll out pie crust dough, cut into triangles, fill with jam and roll up. Well, I guess I put too much jelly in because it was spilling out the sides. Plus, I rolled the first batch the wrong way. Even the second batch was spilling out. When jelly spills out onto a cookie pan, it sort of glues them to the pan. I was hoping to use these as treats to pass out to my co-workers tomorrow. So, 2nd round of cookies that didn't come out.

I found the good cookie recipe & will do that tonight.

Drama

I get to work today and my computer wont start up. A screen comes up with an apple on it and little circle thing going round and round and round. I call IT and like 3 hours later I get this crappy loaner. 

Now, let me say, I don't really take care of my work computers that well. I should. They are nice MacBooks. I get food on them. They are thrown in my work bag. My work bag with the computer in it falls off the counter in the kitchen once or twice. Anywayyyyy - convo with me & the IT guy who is a little weird

Me: So, what's wrong with it

Him: Oh I'll tell you whats wrong with it. THIS for starters. (Points to the dent on the computer) and THIS(smear of something on the protective plastic case - note i said PROTECTIVE PLASTIC CASE) and THIS (smudge of something else)

Quiet while he sits there and tries to set up the loaner. 

Him: OK so I will TRY to get your stuff off of your old computer but I think the harddrive is fried. 

Me: Oh come on, you can work your magic. I know you can get everything transferred (clearly sweet talking him so I get my files)

Him: He He. We'll see. 

So, we'll see....right now Im on this crappy loaner. AND, I haven't done any work this AM and cant be blogging and Google Readering and Facebooking for awhile. I mean - WTF!!

So I will have to tell you about the suit buying and the jelly cookies later today. 

Lou Monte

I think I love Lou Monte. Besides Dominic the Donkey, Lazy Mary, he also has this great number:

Veggie Chili

I made veggie chili and it came out really well. Here is the recipe. I also used fake meat from Morningstar.

Helena Who?

Last week, I showed Erik a picture of Helena Bonham Carter in Us Weekly.


He said, "Who is that? Helena OBAMA Carter?"
Uh yeah Erik, that's her name exactly.

Holiday Inn

Last night, I watched 'Holiday Inn' with Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire. It was cute. I would visit the Holiday Inn. Basically, Bing opens an Inn that is only open on the holidays including 4th of July, President's day, and the big ones like Christmas.

The only thing was that this movie was made in 1942 and it is SO politically incorrect. Here's why:

1. Bing has a black maid named 'Mamie'
2. They are open for President's Day and sing songs about Lincoln freeing the slaves
3. During the Lincoln performance, the WHITE members of the show paint their faces black!!
4. They have Mamie singing to her children about how Lincoln was basically the savior for slavery(not entirely true)

Cookies

Last night, I made cookies. I love to make butterscotch oatmeal cookies. I have a recipe that I've made a ton of times. I couldn't find it so I went online and got one. I thought the dough was weird because it was sticky because the recipe called for a TON of butter. So, I made them. I checked on them in the oven & they were 1)all melted together 2)flat 3)like bubbly and stuck to the cookie sheet.

Here they are:


I am proud to say I never mess up cookies, so this was annoying! I will find the other recipe.

Don't drink this

Barefoot Wine
Cabernet

If you want to drink something that tastes like grape juice, buy it. Actually, Erik said it tasted like vinegar.

Separated at Birth

This one is funny. Courtesy of Perez

This Week

This week will be another busy week. December is always busy. I am making cookies tonight, and different cookie treats tomorrow. Both are for a little holiday party we are having on Thursday at my co-worker's house. One is to eat there, one is to give them in little treat bags. I also made little reindeer bell ornaments for everyone.

On Wednesday, there is a client holiday party. It's here and is very nice. We were there last year, too. Thursday, is our little office party and Friday, my Dad gets here!!

Weekend

This weekend was pretty busy. On Friday, I stayed in. Cristin & I watched 'Fred Claus' which I do NOT recommend. On Saturday, I did the volunteering and then napped for like 2 hours in the afternoon. On Saturday night, Erik and I stayed in. We had pasta & watched The Godfather. I had never seen that movie. It was really good. Everyone is so young - James Caan & Al Pacino. Now, I want to see the 2nd and 3rd.

On Sunday, I did 2 gymnastics parties and then Cristin & I went to see the boys choir at Grace Cathedral. It was really good!

Girls on The Run

On Saturday morning, my alarm with off at 5:45am but it was for a great cause. I volunteered with Girls On The Run. I really love this group because of the support it gives to young girls. We set up the race & the tables & the food. We had over 1,000 runners. The girls are so excited when they finish and love their running buddies & coaches. It's great to see. I think I want to be a running buddy in the May race.

This year we had a 'High Five Line' at the end of the race. Sadly, some of these girls need people to cheer them on when the come back because their parents aren't there to see them. This program is for all income levels but some of these programs happen at schools where these girls do not have a family. This program is something these girls look forward to after school each week.

Here are some pictures!












2 volunteers.

Juniper, a volunteer with a group of boys volunteering with us

Dear Muni Riders

Dear Muni Bus Riders,

In the morning, please brush your teeth. Use mouthwash, too. If you know the bus is going to be PACKED and you are going to be JAMMED up against someone else, do them & yourself a favor and just brush. It will help us all. We don't want to be on the bus. We don't want to be jammed up against anyone, but that is life. Now, help us all out & brush your teeth.

Thank you!
On behalf of all bus riders

Dominick

My friend who is California born & raised never heard, Dominick The Donkey! Is this a tri-state area only thing??



She did sing me some song about a mexican reindeer which I guess makes sense for Californians to sing.

21st amendment

On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. On December 5, 2008, San Franciscans celebrated this with a parade. We see lots of parades and protests downtown but this one was a happy parade! People were dressed in colonial outfits and carried signs that said 21st Amendement and 'Give me Beer'. Then, they proceeded to stop at this dive bar and chant 'Give us beer'. It was pretty funny but I had to get on the bus and didn't stick around to see where they went next. Only here....

You know

There are some peeps that read this blog & I have no idea who you are. You never comment, just read. I would love if you would comment now & then so I know who you are.....Do I know you in Wallingford, CT, Northampton, MA, Tallahasse FL, or Kalamazoo, MI??

Tomorrow

The weekend is almost here. Tomorrow, I am volunteering with this awesome group called 'Girls On The Run'. It is a really great program where girls learn about self esteem, eating right, bullying, etc for 10 weeks in an after school program. They also learn about fitness and run with their groups. Then, at the end of the program, they have a "Lollipop Run' where they can run 1 mile or a 5K with a mentor. It's really cute. I volunteered last year and this year I was on the volunteer committee so I have to be down at the race at 630am. Ugh! I will be napping after that one. Anyway, they have a lot of chapters all over the country so if you are ever interested, look them up & you can volunteer!

Wrapping Paper

Walgreens, the store that has absolutely everything, has really cute wrapping paper on sale right now. 50ft of paper for $1.99 and its Buy One Roll, Get One Free!

Friday

Last night, I did not make it to the vendor party. By the time I drove down there and took the train over, it would've been too late. So, we just went to the Aquarium party which....sucked. I'm glad we went to turn in those 10+ coats. There was a long line to get in and then there were drinks/food and you could go around the aquarium. But, it was packed and it seemed like they didn't have enough food for all of these people there. So, we left. We went & had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. Yes, the tourist trap in Fisherman's Wharf. It was empty and the food was fine - nothing special.

Tonight I am probably going food shopping since this weekend will be so busy & watching a movie. I have 'Holiday Inn' with Bing Crosby waiting for me from Blockbuster!

The Tanners are Back!!

WOWeeee Wow. Check this out. What ever happened to predictablility?

Free Self Subscription

Want a FREE year subscription of SELF magazine? Click the mag:

Oh Holy Night

This is the best version of Oh Holy Night

Linens & Things sale

Linens & Things is going out of business and they are putting everything on sale. They have been having markdowns for weeks now and now they are up to like 40-50% off. I heard that after Christmas, they are going to practically give things away.

Anyway, I got a set of KING sheets for $35. That is unheard of.

Proud Evie Moment

Yesterday, I was out in the park with Evie and we saw another pit bull coming at us. The owner asked if Evie was friendly & I said yes, she is just going to jump because she wants to play. He said that was OK. So she starts hopping around like a little mario bros. character but I wanted to pet the other dog.

In training with Erik, they learned how to approach another dog owner and allow the owners to meet while dogs sat & did nothing.

So, I told Evie to sit and she sat there and did nothing while I pet the dog. Much to my surprise, the other owner said - "Wow, she is good!" I felt so happy for her & Erik because she learned a lesson at training!

One of my alltime favorite quotes

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

— Mohandas Gandhi

Thursday

I am working from home today & glad because I feel sick. I hate it. I am very tired and just want to sleep. Whenever I am sick, I sleep for one day and then I'm fine. I wanted to go to a TNT fundraiser last night but fell asleep on the couch (shocker) at like 930. Tonight, there is a Christmas party for one of our vendors and also the Aquarium Christmas party. I am going to go to both because Cristin brought back like 10 coats for us to bring to the Aquarium thing.



Tomorrow, I am doing nothing but watching a Christmas movie because this weekend is going to busy & I can't be sick for December!

Sicknesses

Well Miss Evie has had some great diarrhea since the weekend. I think she has giardia again. I called to make her an appt at the vet today but instead said, can I just refill her perscription? And...they did. So it only cost about $20 for the pills instead of $100 for a visit + pills. What I love about our vet is they are open 24 hours & you can EMAIL them your perscription refill request.

Kimmy got a cold while she was here and now I think I am getting one. I can feel it in my throat and in my nose. I am going to get a nettie pot. My boss raves about this thing. Kimmy got one & it sort of worked.

Holiday Tipping Guide

Here is your Holiday Tipping Guide from Real Simple!

Hockey

Last night, I went to Erik's hockey game. I hardly go because they never have 8pm games. But, last night they did & it was 'Fan Appreciation Night' and they won! It was a really good game, lots of penalties were called, and almost a few fights. My friend Betsy went and also our Mentor from our TNT team, Catherine was there. All of our significant others play on the team together. It was good to see everyone!


"The Bulldogs"

There's Greg on the right

Oh Look who is in the penalty box - Erik!!
Just minutes before, Betsy said to me 'Does Erik get a lot of penalties?'
Me, "Hmmm I don't know but I can't imagine him getting crazy out there & getting penalties'
2 mins later - #9 is in the box!



Here's Ian in the box for like the 5th time that night. oops!!

Then, we went out for a beer at the team bar and didn't get home til 1130 and now I am exhausted!

Random Photos

Here are some final random photos from last week....


Motley Crew...clearly dancing to Womanizer!

Evie, the baby

Evie attacking me


Evie and Auntie

Me & Kimmy before her departure when I cried my eyes out

Alamo Sq

Yes, I have a vest on but it was like 58 out!

2 peas

Napa

On Sunday, we went up to Napa. We went to three wineries. We went to Alpha Omega(our favorite), Markham(didn't like the wine), and Andretti (as in Mario Andretti & they had bad service). It was so nice - sunny & 70!

Here are some pics:


Kimmy, Me, Amy

Kimmy & Me

Erik & Me

Alpha Omega

Erik, Me, & Kimmy








All the vines are picked for the year and everything is in fermentation.

Saturday Night

We went out. It was fun. I dance to Womanizer, alone, in the bar and was not even drunk. I love that song.

Saturday

On Saturday, we took Evie to Training and went to downtown Berkeley. Then, we went down the Wharf and saw the Ghiradelli Sq tree.