Good Times

I had a plan for today's blog. Until I got in the car to drive to work this morning. First, I'll get the workout out of the way. JM30S, Day 4, complete. I'm thinking that that situation wont get exciting until about Day 15.

Today was my first day back to work after a week off. I wasnt jazzed about going in by any means, but I think I was ready to go back, so I was in a good space. As I approached the freeway, I searched for a radio channel to listen to since everything in the CD changer had been in there for a while, and I didnt have my IPod. Everything, as is usual on a Saturday or Sunday morning, was on commercial. I found some ninety something point something and left it where it was to see what would come on. As I was getting on the freeway, the music began.

It was M.C. Hammer, Cant Touch This. I was instantly transported back to high school. The whole drive was filled with high school music. Well, popular high school music. The unfortunate truth is that if I want to hear The Cure, or the The Smiths, I have to bring those CDs with me. Which I did not. The next song on was Young M.C.'s, Funky Cold Medina. I know, at this moment, my friends I went to high school with are laughing, because they know me. I have loved R&B and Hip Hop since I was in Jr High. Pretty much at it's insemination. I know, it's funny to imagine a 15 year old red headed white girl rapping along with NWA, but that was me. I loved it. Still do. Our drill team trips were usually long and on buses filled with craziness. Part of that, was usually us being 'gangsta stupid', me busting out a rap, or beat boxing. That's slightly embarrassing to admit now, but it made my friends laughed, so I loved it.

To this day, I know the words to these songs and cranked every one of them up this morning. I was transported back to some of the most fun times I had with the great friends I had in high school, who are still great friends now. Since we're all adults now, I can tell one such time without much worry of retribution or restriction. I think. Lol. My three best friends in high school were Kori, Kathi and De. We were nut bags. Totally. Each one with a unique personality that brought something fun and different to the table. This may not sound crazy now, but back in the day, it was one of the best laid plans, I think, that actually worked out for us.

The four of us each told our parents that we were spending the night at one of the other's house, met up who knows where for the night with our sleeping bags and clothes etc, and split to party all night. I drove and brought my parents big old red Jeep Grand Cherokee. We beat the hell out of that thing. Drove it through the river, to approximately three different parties, or, potential parties. We stayed up all night, feeling pretty cool about ourselves. At about three or four in the morning, it started to get cold and things started to slow down. We still thought it had been a great idea, but maybe a little less so lol. We drove around looking for safe places to park, leave the truck running, crank up the heat and maybe sleep a little, until about 6am. At that point, we drove to AM/PM. Sitting in the truck, we scraped together whatever change we had from our pockets, the glove box, under the seats, anywhere, anything, to put some gas in it. Oh, and we all wanted a cup of coffee lol. We got our gas, our one cup of shared coffee, and proceeded to drop everyone off at their houses.

I, returned home, and in a rare moment in my house, was allowed to take a nap. I'm pretty sure that nap lasted about six hours. I wont disclose any more secrets. Some things are sacred. Thank you hip hop, air guitars and early rap, and thank you to those good friends for great memories.

Rough Day

So, it was a rough day with Ad today. She's a mess without routine. Today's lack of routine included her not taking her morning nap, and I'm pretty sure most of her afternoon nap at day care. She woke up mad. She wen to sleep mad. It broke my heart because she cried all the way home from daycare. I knew she was over tired, so we rocked for a while and she didnt even want that. As of now, she's sleeping. And snoring. Tomorrow will be a better day because her favorite mommy will be home with her. I'll be at work.

The rough day continued because there is still, no orange beer. The wine place who carries it was an actual distribution center, so, to walk out with it today, I would have had to buy ten cases. Each case, had eight six packs. Yeah. I'm not buying that much beer. So, I've been advised that it will be on the shelves locally soon. I will continue to wait. In it's stead, I purchased a Marin Blueberry beer and a great standby, Wyder's Pear Ale. Update on the orange beer when I obtain it.

Today will be day 3 of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. All is well in that department. Short blog tonight, but lots to come. I hope that everyone's doing well :)

Altered Day

Today is a day off from Jillian Michael's, so you don't have to hear the mantra ha ha. Tonight's blog was going to be on Love, but I'm not quite finished, so, let's talk beer! Lol. Maybe the two go hand in hand. I'll let you decide.

Thanks to a friend, Heidi, I discovered today that Buffalo Bills has a beer called 'Orange Blossom Cream Ale'. I don't like beer. I'm sorry, I know so many of my friends will be disappointed by this, but I don't. However, there are exceptions. I love the seasonal Buffalo Bills 'Pumpkin Ale' Delicious. There's a blueberry beer exclusively made in San Diego that's wonderful. Pear Ale is yummy on any occasion. So, I ask. WHAT doesn't sound delicious about Orange Blossom Cream Ale??? I decided that I had to have some. Now. At that moment. I was off...

I went to the website, found the distributors, and while doing that, called BevMo. While waiting for the right person on hold with BevMo, I mapquested the distributor I had found within six miles of our house. BevMo advises me that they don't have it at the store I called, but that they're sure another store does. If I'm willing to wait a bit, they'll call the store and have it brought there. Shit. I'm willing. They tell me they'll call me back. While I'm waiting, Jen wakes up and it's time to pick up Addison from daycare. As we're getting ready to go, I tell her about the beer. She was a little surprised because she knows I don't like beer. However, before leaving, I still hadn't gotten a call from BevMo, so, screw it, I was going to the other place.

Well. The other place is in Richmond. If you're not from the Bay Area, you wouldn't know that Richmond is the ghetto. A gun slinging, gang infested ghetto. I didn't care. I wanted that beer. Before going to get Addison, we went to find the beer. Here is where I say that Mapquest sucks. A very very intelligent and great friend of mine told me once, "Use Google Maps". I really should have. We get to where the 'Wine Warehouse' is supposed to be, and of course, we're in a residential area. In the ghetto. Next to the train tracks. I wasn't giving up. I called them. They said we were close, so we continued to drive. Went where they said. Still nothing. Nada. Disappointment all over my face, I accept that today is not the day. Tomorrow, however, is. I will GOOGLE MAP the damned place, and go then.

On our way out of the ghetto, I called BevMo again, because I still hadn't heard back. They tell me the call was referred to their inventory 'specialist'. Riiiggghhht. I'm told that they havent received the shipment yet with that particular beer, but that they'll call me back tomorrow after talking to them. Whatevs. By this point we're driving through a small mountainy pass on our way to get Addison. This is the point where Jen begins to make fun of me. There is a little haze on her window, so she begins to write "Help, need orange beer". Maybe someone passing by will have the orange beer.

Ha ha. After a minute, she looks at me and says, "We can pull over to the side of the road and do like the people do with the HELP in the window sunshades, but we can put HELP, NEED ORANGE BEER" until someone pulls over". This went on for quite a while. Needless to say, I have no orange beer tonight, but check back tomorrow night. Because you can bet your ass, that I'll have some of that delicious sounding beer in my hands :) I hope everyone's having as much fun today as I've had :)

Love and it's place in your life....

I think that this is going to be a blog about Love and Friendship, but I'm not sure what shape it's going to take.

Lately, I've found myself wanting to be a better friend. Not that I'm a bad friend, but there's definitely room for improvement. If you want friends to reach out to you, reach out to them. If you want friends to visit, visit them. If you want to be able to rely on your friends, let them rely on you. I could go on and on. You dont do these things because if you dont, they wont. You do it, I do it, because I want to be a better friend. I want my friends to know that they can rely on me. I want them to know I really am their friend, and, most importantly, that I love them, and that they're important in my life. Overall, in my life, Love is very important. Not everyone will understand what I mean when I say that. It's meant beyond just the saying of it, but more the showing and the feeling of it. The connection of it.

People use the word Love a lot. I have the tendency to be one of them. I've abused this word. This emotion. Feeling. I dont think there are many people who really embody or embrace what Love is. What it really is. My life is unusually and thankfully filled with people who do. There's something called conscious living and loving. Some people do it without thinking. I envy them. For others, like myself, it is hard, hard and constant work. Conscious living. Conscious loving. Ripping yourself wide open to expose your true self, because having that kind of love in your life, is worth the risk of giving it. Being authentic and true to who you really are; and surrounding yourself with people who will continue to love you, the real you, regardless of what that looks like.

Conscious love enhances the energy of those exchanging it. Enhances creativity and happiness in those who share it. When people get to this level of love and understanding with each other, they let go of power struggles and the need for control. When I, have reached this level with people, is when I've formed the strongest bonds and friendships. That kind of relationship deserves effort and kindness. It's worth is immeasurable. So. I will strive to be a better friend. And, if at the end of the day, even one person calls me 'friend', then I've done at least one thing right.


Faith makes all things possible.
Love makes them easy.

~ Unknown

Exciting Futures

Hello Blog Land. I missed out on the June 1st blog entry regarding Family Pride, so I'll do it in a space during this month. Tonight though, is about the future. I'll be working out here in about an hour. Day two of Jillian Michael's 30 Day shred. My regular days off will be Wednesdays and Sundays, but as my second day back, I'm going to motor through. That's my immediate future.

I made a huge decision recently. My family and I made a huge decision. I've been in law enforcement for about 18 years. I've seen a lot of great and awful things. It's been a passion of mine. I love it, but it does wear out your mind, your body and your family. And anyone who knows me, knows my other love in life, is cooking, baking etc etc. I love to be in the kitchen. If I can make something that puts a smile on someone's face, I feel excited. Satisfied. Fulfilled. There arent a lot of things in life you can say that about. Other then the obvious, spouses, children etc.

So, with the support and encouragement of my wife, my sister and a few really amazing friends, I have submitted my application for the August 2011 class at the CIA, Culinary Institute of America in St.Helena (Napa), California. I will be a part of the Baking and Patisserie' class. I will receive my Associates degree in in the program and then try to double major in an accelerated 30 week AA in Culinary Arts.

Jen and I went on a tour with my education counselor last week. It's the most beautiful place I've seen in a long time. I swear it makes you feel like your at Hogwart's in the summer time lol. They just happened to be graduating a Baking and Patisserie' class that day. Ironic. I think not. Amazing are the only words that come to mind. I was close to tears several times during our tour, from sheer excitement and yearning to be there.

We saw the chocolate room where they had just finished a competition. There were amazing chocolate scultpures and one sugar show piece. The room was cold, with it's marble slabs chilled for working with the delicacy that is chocolate. Upstairs we watched as a new class was learning the art of making eclairs and beniet's. Detail. Perfection. Beauty. I wanted to pull on a white coat right there.

There is an 18 week externship that can be anywhere in the world. I'm hoping to do mine in Portland believe it or not. There are some amazing people there who are top dogs in the industry. I would love to eventually be competing in sugar and/or chocolate on a large scale. I will have an acceptance letter in March of next year. It sounds far away, but I know it will come quickly. We decided to wait until the August 2011 class because we'll have no bills by that time, and it will make things much smoother.

I cant even say I'm nervous. I know it's going to be tough, but I also know I'm going to do very well. I'm so lucky to have the loving supportive people in my life that I do. So, here I go. Second career, check.

Dedication...

Recently (yesterday) a good friend of mine (you know who you are), rededicated herself to her blog, and another friend who reads asked, 'where are you?' (you know who you are too). My friend's blog is already awesome, but I figured if she could do it in the midst of her busy life, then I could at least dedicate myself to 30 days. At a time. There are a few things that coincide with this being a completely attainable goal. They are as follows.

Today was my first day back on the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It was GREAT! I have the kind of body that needs to be beaten into submission lol. Actually, it was much much easier then when I first started two months ago. I suppose I didnt lose as much stamina as I thought I did in the month I was sick. I only gained back three of the 20 lbs I'd lost, so I'm happy about that. I will be blogging on my workout every day. At the very least. You may get bored with that, so I'll try to add something more to each day then JUST that lol. But, if it's been a day, that's what you'll get.

Jen started swing shift today. No more midnights. No more working all night and then being up with Addison all day. She did better then I ever could have. She's a champ. Now, however, she'll be getting regular sleep and can return to the human world. Time to put the fangs back in the box ;)

I have an amazing friend who just made it through surgery for breast cancer and I'll be blogging about her. She's awesome and the fact that she gets up every day and just keeps on moving, proves that.

Music. Everyone loves music, but recently, I've gotten back into finding new, different and meaningful music. I'll share as I find things that I like.

The last reason is a secret that I will reveal tomorrow. Not a secret to all of you, but to most. No, nothing baby related just to alleviate that balloon. I hope that everyone's well and getting ready for summer. I'm curious, what is everyone doing for fun this summer? For now, here's a picture of Addison. The T-shirt was made for her by our friends Tiffany and Karli. Their son Lachlan is Addison's future husband lol