Oh Dear, babies.

Today: Celebrating end of the work week! (click to enlarge)

Last night something horrible happened. I had another baby dream. I know! It's been months! I haven't had one of these stupid dreams for a really long time and then pow! last night one hit. The premise of said dream was that I was pregnant and had really horrible morning sickness. The whole dream I did nothing but throw up. We'd walk outside, I'd throw up, we'd go to dinner, I'd throw up, we'd watch tv, I'd throw up. It was seriously the stupidest dream I've ever had. And my mom just kept laughing at me the whole time. She found it highly amusing that I couldn't eat anything, or do anything without being sick. Really random. I'm hoping this was an isolated incident.

Tuesday: Slacker outfit (click to enlarge)

In other news I feel as though I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to ye olde bloge. Maybe not, but to me it feels like I have run out of ideas for the time being. I really think this is just because I've been focusing on other things, but still, I'd like to get back on point. I think I'll take advantage of the long weekend by photographing things I keep meaning to, plus I have several sewing projects I'm working on, and Friday I am going to be working on some of the Christmas presents I'm making for people, so maybe I'll show you a few.



I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. If you're travelling be safe and enjoy! And if you do not celebrate Thanksgiving then have a wonderful weekend!

Dear City of Riverside, It's on.

I am ranting. Then I am going to do something about this because I have had enough. I may not be a feminist, but no "man" treats me like that. No one gives me lip for expressing a very valid opinion in a very non-violent and adult like manner. You want a War Riverside? Well Guess what? You got one, and I am not giving up on this.

It should be noted that when I get mad I cry. It's not because I'm sad, or even hurt, or even PMS-ing, I just cry. My first reaction to anger is crying. This will be far more enjoyable for you try to imagine me crying while reading this. Also I had no intention of posting a rant today, in fact it was going to be a pleasant and lovely post, but now I am on the war path. It should be noted that pissing me off is probably a very dangerous thing as well.

In our ugly little be-stuccoed neighbourhood a street sweeper comes and sweeps the streets on Tuesdays. They claim it's every week but in reality it's about every two to three weeks. By street sweeper I mean a fat guy in a giant truck who drive along the curb with big brushes twirling on the truck. In California everyone drives. We have to, it's all the urban sprawl. So logic would give way to the fact that everyone has a car. I remember reading a statistic that there are something like 2.5 cars for every person in Los Angeles. It's ridiculous, but a fact of life out here.

So about two years ago they started ticketing people who were parked on the street for being in the street sweeper's way. This has really cheesed me off. I am parked in front of my own home. I should not have to get a ticket for being parked in front of my own house so the stupid suburbanites can feel like their lovely little housing developments are clean and pristine. the truth of the matter is that no one in my neighbour hood is happy. Some people, us included, have to either park on our lawns or move our cars before 7 am (even though the street sweeper never come until around 10 or 11am). It's ridiculous.

So this morning I was running really, really, late. Totally my fault, no one but I am to blame for that. Remembering that it was Tuesday I figured I'd go out to my car to find a ticket on my windshield and I'd be mad and make some sort of fake curse and then drive on my merry way. I walked out side carrying my computer, computer cord, bag and coffee. I was rushing. Coffee was spilling, bag was flying, cord was dropping. It wasn't a good time. But then I see the street sweeper driving towards me followed by the dude who gives the tickets. I began to frantically search for my keys, which were in the pocket of my coat upstairs. So the truck goes around me and the guy stops his stupid city hybrid behind my car. I run over to him and explain:

"Look I'm really sorry, but I am leaving for work right now and my keys are in the house, I'm so sorry, but I have to go run and get them."

To which he replied in a rather haughty voice: "Fine, but you shouldn't park there next time."

Now I could have just smiled and cow-towed to his wannabe authority. I could have just said oh thank you my lord, can I now rub your feet? But I have had enough of this and I decided to say something.

"You know, It's kind of ridiculous that you ticket us for parking on our street. I really don't care if the leaves are off the street. I have every right to park in front of my own house." After all I am a citizen of this horrid little place and it's my constitutional right to voice my opinion. Go me.

Do you know what he said? This: "Well now you're getting a ticket."

Yep. I was not happy. I ran into the house and found my keys ran back down hoping to be able to drive off while he was in the middle of issuing the ticket. unfortunately I didn't beat him and so I grabbed my ticket, slammed my door shut and as he drove away informed him in no uncertain terms that he was "the world's most giant asshole." I think we can all agree that this was an appropriate name.

So now I am going to go to City Hall. I am going to issue a complaint. I am going to inform them that a. he had no right to be an asshole, b. this ticketing is retarded, c. this city sucks and it's mostly because it is full of assholes like the one this morning, and d. I am not paying this ticket. Which I am not. They are going to erase it from the record, they are going to fire his ass, and then we'll see what he says when it is Christmas and he is out of a job.

Try and be a male chauvinist pig, just try. You ticket people's cars. Oooo I'm so scared.

Mess with the bull, get the horns. It's on.

So how was your morning?

Tonight, Tonight, I'll see me love Tonight*

Long Live Twerds.

Sweater and boots- Target
Shirt- Hot Topic
Jeans- Old Navy
Weirdly Excited face- NEW MOON!!!







I have listened to the soundtrack. I have watched the first movie. I am dressed. I am so bloody excited.



I am so sorry for the title of this post. It has brought me to a whole new level of nerdy-excuse me- twerdy ness. If you don't like Twilight, but roll your eyes and ignore me. But I freaking love it! Midnight showing. Tonight. My excitement cannot be contained. Yes I wore Edward Cullen on my chest at work.

Best. Day. Ever.




NEW MOON!!!!!




* Tonight from West Side Story.

Cranky-Pants

Well it seems I have caught some sort of nasty cold-like thing so posting may be a bit on the slow side this week. It started yesterday morning, and by noon I felt horrible. I rode out the day but as I went in to say bye to my dad my voice cracked as my throat is quite sore and he said "oh well you don't sound to well" to which I replied "well funny, cuz I don't feel too well." Then I came home and made a stink about not feeling well and went to bed at 10:30 only to wake up at noon today. I am feeling a bit better, but still not "good." I'm actually not all that sad about being sick as I never really am sick. It's a joke among people that I never get sick, so if I am it's because I am pretending, which I have been known to convincingly do. However this is honest to goodness sickness. Trust me. I could give Ferris Bueller a run for his "faking illness" money. And even though I'm not a fan of feeling so icky and blah-like, it is nice to have a break from doing anything. My entire day consisted of me staying in bed, taking a shower, nibbling on some cookie dough, and watching the last twenty minutes of How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Grace. Now I am tidying my room a bit and then we are going to see The Wizard of Oz on the big screen! I am actually really excited about that despite my current state of wanting to curl up in a ball and sleep for the rest of my life. And that is why I don't get sick, I turn into a highly more dramatic beast.

Also I am pretty sure this is horribly incoherent and for that I apologize. My brain is a bit fuddled in my current state.

Monday Inspiration #26: Mad for

I love me some plaid. I don't think anything says "Fall" quite so well as a cozy plaid shirt, or skirt, or dress. I just love plaid.

Sorry for short post. Today is a busy one, and I am still trying to recover from this weekend. More tomorrow! I hope your weekends were really lovely!

I fell in love at Goodwill Pt. 2

Here is part two (mostly for my mom). For part one go here I won't be posting tomorrow as I am going to Pilgrim's Place! I am super excited! Hopefully I'll have a "goods" post this weekend! Have a lovely Thursday!

Three weeks. I spent every night for three weeks at that stupid thrift store. I got there at the same time and stayed until they closed. I was always the last person in the store, hoping for another glimpse of her. But she never came.

The first week had been fine. I assumed she had just had a busy week and hadn’t had time to come in. She had said she came after work, so maybe she was so busy with work that she just couldn’t come in. She would come the next week.

But she didn’t. By that Sunday night I was beginning to wonder if maybe I’d made her up. Maybe I was actually crazy and she didn’t even exist. I was convinced of it. She had been a figment of my imagination. No one could be that beautiful and be in Goodwill. She was fake. And yet I kept going back.

The third week I determined that she had been real. I’d felt her hand. Imaginary hands could not be that warm and real. Unfortuately my deciding she was real did not bring her back. So I began to panic. What if she had died? What if she had been hit by a bus and had to be hospitalized for months, and when she did finally come to, her memory would be wonky and she wouldn’t even remember me, or that she had ever been to a thrift store in her life? I needed to stop watching British Teen Dramas.

I knew I had to give up. I knew it was incredibly dumb to wait around for some girl I’d met only once. But I couldn’t. Many times I’d almost not gone, but a voice in my head pushed me in the direction of the thrift store. It told me that maybe tonight was the night, maybe she’d show up again. And with every passing night that she didn’t show up the voice would pat me on the back and tell me it was okay, maybe tomorrow.

I had found an old beaten up guitar. The neck was badly damaged and warped, and the strings were nearly untune-able, but there was something about it that made me want to buy and fix the poor thing. I strummed a chord and tweaked a string, fixated on making it sound right.

“Don’t you have some place to be?”

I jumped clashing the notes. An older African-American lady stood with her hands on her blue aproned hips. Her head was cocked to the side as she chewed blue bubble gum rather loudly. Her right foot tapped the linoleum in annoyance.

“Excuse me?” I asked annoyed with her.

“You come in here every night. Don’t you got somewhere else to be? Like with a girlfriend or somebody. You can’t keep comin’ ‘round here boy.” Her head cock had turned into a full blown head bob, which despite my annoyance with her, made me want to laugh.

“I’m sorry. I’m looking for someone who was supposed to be here.” I offered her my most charming smile which didn’t seem to do anything.

“Well I don’t know who waits for someone in a Goodwill, but you gotta stop coming here. You’re starting to creep us all out boy.” She walked away pushing her rack of clothes and shaking her head. I looked down that the guitar. She was right. I had to stop this, it was getting ridiculous. I sighed and shook my head looking down at the instrument in my hand. I walked to the register handing the frizzy haired teenager the guitar. She muttered something about my finally making a purchase. I paid the girl took my new aquisition and walked out the door.

The winter frost bit my face and I breathed it in deep. It would be okay. Maybe we weren’t meant to know one another. Maybe she was actually a nutcase and I was lucky to be rid of her. I knew these were all lies, but I let the voice in my head say them anyway. The sharp scent of cigarette smoke wafted my way as I prepared to go to my car. I heard a sudden sob coming in the direction of the cigarette. And there she was leaning against the building, legs crossed. Clothed in the same hat, coat, mittens and boots. Yellow gingham peeked from beneath the coat and her legs were now turned grey. A half burned cigarette was propped between her two fingers and she looked down at the ground, her perpetual smile softly faded. Her brow was knit and a lone tear slid down her cheek.

“Nan?” I asked in half disbelife. She looked up at me and her smile was instantly back.

“Ned! It’s good to see you.” She wiped away the tear only to let another fall. It was my turn to knit my brow. She looked at her cigarette and then to me.

“I only smoke when I’m stressed. And even then I don’t actually smoke much. I just let it burn. The smell clears my head I guess.” She said as if nothing was wrong. I looked at the open pack of cigarettes she had in her hand. There was one left in the box.

“How many have you let burn this week?” I asked.

“Four packs.”

“It’s Tuesday.” I pointed out and she grinned an embarrased grin. I couldn’t help but smile. She dropped the fag and stepped on the remaining embers.

“Let’s go.” She said walking towards me. I was shocked and stunned as she linked her arm in mine looking around the parking lot.

“Where?” I asked too dumbfounded by her proposal to appreciate it.

“I don’t care. Somewhere. Somewhere that’s not here. Somewhere with food preferably.” she continued to scan the parking lot as she spoke. A soft misting of snow began to fall on us as I stood next to the girl of my dreams. A flake fell on her nose and she crossed her eyes to see it. I laughed. And then it hit me that I had to actually take this girl somewhere. In the three weeks I’d spent planning what to say to her next I’d never planned past the confines of the thrift store. I never thought I’d get that far. But here I was with her, the girl, and she wanted me to take her somewhere. And I had no idea where to take her. I looked up at her soft features wondering where a girl like her would want to go. Her gaze was still fixed on the parking lot and she gave me no indication of where she wanted to go.

“Well what are you in the mood for?” I asked hoping she’d do my job for me. But she shrugged.

“Food in general sounds good. I’m open. Somewhere not too loud either. I can’t take much sound right now.” She began to head in the direction of my car and I followed only because we were linked. I was still too shocked to really think straight. The wind kicked up blowing the light snow around us. Her soft curls blew in my face. They smelled like raspberries. Could she really be real? Yes she could, and she was.

We arrived at my car and I opened the door for her. She smiled, seeming genuinly shocked by my act.

“Why thank you!” She said gliding into my torn up leather seat. I smiled shutting the door behind her. I put my purchase in the trunk of my car slowly, trying to buy some time and think of a place to take her. Still thinking I flopped into the seat of my car when suddenly something occured to me.

“Hey how did you know this was my car?” I asked her. She grinned and chuckled to herself.

“Only certain people driver certain types of cars. I simply looked for your type and headed towards it and you followed so I assumed I was right. It’s very simple science.” She smiled as I started the engine. I smiled back.

“You’re kind of weird, y’know. In a good way.” I said not realizing the words that were coming out of my mouth. But she just laughed, and again a million stars burst.

“I know! But I’m glad you like that. Hey let’s go to the dive-y-est place we can find!” She said quickly and emphatically. I smiled.

“You want a dive? I can give you a dive.” My heart pounded in my ears as I sat there admiring her whole demeanor, and thankful for the suggestion. She smiled back at me, and I had a feeling she was watching much closer than I knew.

“I like you Ned. You have a spark of life. Not very many people have that anymore.” She looked a little sad as she finished speaking, but continued to smile. And then suddenly she leaned up and kissed my cheek.

“Thanks for finding me.” She said softly. I temporarily lost my mind. And I knew I was in love with her.

Findings

I did a massive overhaul in my bedroom this past weekend. I moved my headboard up, moved my sister's old bed out, cleaned, organized, lemon oiled all my furniture, it was a huge undertaking! There are still little things to be done, but over all I'm very happy with the way things are turning out.

While cleaning and organizing I finally took pictures of some of the things I have found whilst thrifting lately. I also photographed my favourite part of my room now.

Top left: Little coffee mugs from the late 60's/early 70's, I couldn't help but snatch them up, the art was just too charming. Middle: Another mug. I have a serious addiction to buying coffee mugs, and this one was so cute. Top Right: A little sugar bowl that matches other mugs I have. Bottom: My headboard and wall. I really love the way it looks.

Top left: Commemorative cups from the 3oth Anniversary of the docking of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, so sometime in the fifties I believe. Top Middle: The coolest trash can I have ever seen. Bri actually found it when we went to a Goodwill in Costa Mesa. It was 99 cents. Top Right: Little yellow jars. The bottom of them say that are not to be used for food storage. Middle Left: These are paper plate holders! I love them! Middle Right: A little 70's plaque. I fell in love with this thing. Bottom Left: a 60's tissue box! Bottom Middle: real Milk glass from Goodwill. I found three others, but one of them was not real. They were all a dollar each. Bottom Left: I found these glittery signs in the dollar bin at Target! Glitter, Peace, and Joy, three of my favourite things!

Top Left: I collect a series of cookbooks TimeLife put out in the 50's and 60's. I found three of them in thrift stores recently. Top Right: The strangest little storybook I have ever seen. I had to buy it! It's about a king and queen who change a rat into their daughter. So weird. Bottom Left: When I was a kid I always wanted one of those machines and I found a whole thing of never opened bags! Now all I have to do is find the machine! Bottom Right: 60's pantyhose! Never opened! I was ecstatic!

I've been looking for a vintage globe all year and I finally found one at Goodwill for five bucks! yay!!!


Not much to say today. Weird week. I was accused of being a Witch when I shared a Bible verse with someone who claims they are also a Christian. It spurred a whole huge discussion. I am 9 parts amused by this and one part aggravated. No annoyed. But it is what it is. I've got to make alot of witch jokes.


And someone stood up for me and it made me smile, and...


oh crap...