Granny Hates Phones

I've been out of touch with the world lately. I must admit I enjoyed the silence. It was quite soothing.

I'm sick of communication being so instant. Boy, I do sound sour! Honestly though, instant gratification is a bit sickening. People can't hold off and put things to the side anymore. We all need to have our cell phones with e-mail, voicemail, text, a million games, songs and applications right in our pocket. They say you can have your entire life in one small, technological miracle. I say, the more technological miracles you own the less life you actually live. It's pointless noise carried on by restless bodies who claim they are in constant need of rest they never truly seek. I'm amazed at how blind they are. Throw that phone in the river, take a breath and look at the beauty that surrounds you!

I miss the days where people actually had to wait to get in touch with me. Hell, I even miss those rotary phones! Now it seems I feel obligated to answer the phone when it rings because the phone resides wherever I go. It's annoying. To top that off, I'll get a phone call, 4 e-mails and 2 text messages at once.

I guess I just don't believe the that technology brings people together. If anything it creates more distance. Instead of calling, just e-mail. Instead of e-mail, text 2 words. Instead of texting, just Facebook "happy birthday." It's sad.

I feel like a granny. I wish I had a cane to swivel about.

I don't Diet, I Live!

I refuse to diet.  I've been on that diet train and it's never worked for me. Something always goes wrong. 

When I was a teenager I binged and purged for some of my middle school years and all of my high school years. They say once you're bulimic you're always bulimic. I disagree. I haven't relapsed in about 2 or 3 years. Unfortunately I've also been afraid to "diet" because of it. I thought if I started fussing about my weight I would get sucked in and eventually regress. 

I feel that I've overcome a lot of my demons. Mind you, I've done it mostly on my own. I think that's why it's taken so long. I never had any help from anyone with this issue. I don't recommend doing it my way. If you're going through a similar problem, please get help immediately. Don't lose years of your life or your life entirely.

Anyway, no dieting! I've finally managed to find a balance.

There is no trick or gimmick to losing weight. You can eat what you want in moderation as long as you exercise, drink loads of water and take vitamins. I'm living proof!

I started including exercise in my routine last year. It took me about 2 weeks to get used to it and I managed to lose 35lbs. Of course, I had help. I used a supplement called Alli. I only lost 2 to 3lbs a week. I know it sounds dreadfully slow but it was the healthy way to do it. Health was and is my number one priority. Weight loss should never be stimulated by desperation, vanity or obsession. Those roads all lead to a dark path. I'm not going back there and you shouldn't either.

I stopped losing weight this year because I stopped exercising. I gained one or two lbs back but I managed to lose them before starting up again. I lost 3lbs last week. Woohoo! I don't think I'll be using Alli this time around. I don't feel like dishing out $60. I rather work harder at the gym. I can't even believe I'm saying that!

I'm confident I can lose 3lbs every week for 19 weeks in order to reach my goal of 140. Once I reach 140 I'll be able to tell if I should lose more. I'm not trying to look like a stick figure. I want to look and feel healthy. After all, I'm planning on having a rugrat in one or two years. I want to provide the best possible home for my future child. That - is my motivation.

I don't count calories and I don't have a log of any sort but if any of you would like me to put one up just leave a comment requesting one. I'll gladly start one if it means it can make someone else's voyage easier.

Moldy Claims

Care to have mold on your food? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? 

Well that was my fancy experience yesterday after receiving food from Salvemini's Kitchen, an "A" rated restaurant. What a delight right? You can read what happened yesterday here.

Like I said before, ratings don't mean jack. But as I spoke to the head chef today at 1:05pm, he insisted that his restaurant has an "A" rating. Some "A" rating! I suppose I should expect moldy food at all of these so called "A" rated restaurants from now on. Oh but the pizza didn't have mold on it he said. Pizza? What Pizza? I threw away that pizza after ingesting their moldy chocolate mousse cake. Who in the world would eat anything else from that establishment after going through what I went through?

And before I forget here's the funniest tidbit of all this madness: Before I spoke to the head chef I asked to speak to the manager. The girl that answered the phone said he wasn't there and that he rarely is due to the fact that he also runs another business. Hmm, the negligence makes a little bit of sense to me now.

Ok, back to the head chef. He apologized and said that the staff should have looked over the chocolate mousse cake before they gave it to me. Sorry brother, an apology isn't going to cut it this time. He was a bit surprised by my reply. I could tell he was also frustrated by his tone of voice. I told him I wanted my money back for the entire order. Before he agreed he offered me credit. Credit? lol Why in the hell would I want to have credit there? I would never, ever buy anything from that restaurant/pizzeria/mold dispenser in my life again!

Eventually he agreed to return my money and said he would send someone over tomorrow. I'm not sure why this couldn't be done today but I'm guessing they have to talk this over with the manager that doesn't seem to exist.

The good news is I received a reply from the email I sent to Environmental Health regarding Salvemini's Italian Kitchen and they asked for the address. That's a good sign. Hopefully someone looks into it. Hopefully that "A" will become what it actually deserves to be. I wonder if justice actually does exist? Hmm...

Mold Health Update: My throat started to hurt yesterday. It feels sore and hurts whenever I swallow.

"A" Restaurant Ratings Don't Mean Jack

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Well, at least be wary. My experience today is proof that these so called health ratings don't mean jack. 

Today I ordered from Salvemini's Italian Kitchen also known as Lenzinis Pizza. I ordered one, large Maestro pizza on organic whole wheat crust and one slice of chocolate mousse cake. Mind you, I've never ordered from this place before but the whole wheat crust intruigued me. 

While I was nearing the end of the chocolate mousse cake I tasted what could easily be described as insecticide. At first, I thought it was just my imagination so I took another bite. I tasted it again. It can't me, right? Right. I turned it around only to find that the chocolate mousse cake had mold on it. Disgusting. 

I immediately called the Pizzeria. A girl answered the phone and I asked her what rating her restaurant had. At first, she had no idea what I was talking about. She asked a co-worker and then she replied, "A." A?? How could this restaurant have an A rating? I asked to speak to her manager and apparently he or she was not there today. I told the girl that their "A" rated food had mold on it and that her manager needs to call me right away.

I filed a complaint with the BBB and I also e-mailed Environmental Health. I hope someone looks into this and I hope I get my money back. I'm afraid I might get sick from this and I have no idea what to do.

Any suggestions?

Ouch! My Leg!

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I woke up yesterday with a horrible feeling in my right leg. It was almost as if it was asleep except my knee was throbbing and I I had a burning sensation in my feet. I knew the cause immediately. 

I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes a few years ago. I've been doing great until now because my sleeping schedule changed drastically. Unfortunately I wasn't aware that lack of sleep causes spikes in blood sugar levels. 

Of course, being me - I panicked. I ate everything I knew that regulates blood pressure - primarily cucumbers and spinach. Then, I hauled my but to the gym to get my circulation flowing. Working out never felt so good. As soon as I got out of the gym my leg was feeling back to its old self again.

Scary!

Scared Straight

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My vivid dreams have finally scared me straight! It's amazing how your subconscious can create vivid imagery in your dreams that reflect your deepest insecurities. As horrible as my dream was it opened my eyes and got me back on a track.

Fear is a very powerful thing. Fear can evoke atrocious responses in people but it can also influence ambition and motivation. This of course depends on the individual and how he or she perceives their life and the lives of others  in tandem. That perception changes frequently throughout our lives.

My fear has always merged with my insecurity. I suppose they could almost be placed in the same category. This fear or insecurity that has become a part of me was developed early in childhood and created by my perceptions and my experiences in relation to the people I loved and trusted. 

It's been very difficult for me to trust men. My love life was a constant roller coaster and I never had a stable relationship with any other man besides my brother, Omar. My fear is discovering that the love of my life has been unfaithful. My insecurity is my weight. Their correlation most likely comes from the need to always be beautiful in order to maintain the interest of my significant other. But even then, some men still stray from whom they claim to love. So the fear always remains even if I'm at my best in terms of health and vanity.

I love Troy. I trust him more than anyone in my entire life. I've been with him and lived with him for 6 years. I can say with full confidence that he has never cheated on me. And trust me, I'm a tough cookie to deal with at times and my weight has also fluctuated significantly since we met. But I know his values and I know how he was raised and his utter disgust of other men who cheat calms my predetermined nerves. 

Unfortunately, I don't believe insecurities and fears simply vanish even when certainty arrives. Those two best friends lay dormant in your subconscious and in times of stress or momentous change they reappear however they can. 

My dream was trying to shake me. It did a pretty good job. Although I woke up in tears, I woke up knowing that Troy loves me even more than I could possibly imagine. I also woke up knowing that I still need to work on loving myself.

So next time you have a dream that shakes you don't look for abnormalities in others. Look within yourself and peel the onion.

Chalk it up to Laziness

♥ Like the acrylic painting above? It's priced at $150.00. Check out www.KittieCupcakes.etsy.com

I've been feeling consistently indecisive this week. Maybe I should just chalk it up to pure laziness. "To do" lists don't help. I need a push and a shove to get me out of this funk. 

I did manage to wiggle out some enthusiasm and I finally created and printed out my wedding invitations. They're fairly simple. Troy is very happy with how they came out. Hopefully I'll have them mailed out by the end of next week. I'll post photos of them online after I stuff everything in the mail.

I have two interviews coming up next week. One is for a full time administrative position and the other is for a part time sales job. Both of them pay average, crappy rates. Troy really wants me to get the part time job because I would only have to work weekends. He wants me to keep helping him with his walkie rental business. I also kind of want the part time job simply because I want to keep working as a production assistant. I've never loved a job as much as I love that job. Unfortunately I need more money than a part time job or production assistant gig can give. So we may have to put what we want to the side until we are married. I don't know, can you sense my indecisiveness?

On a happy note: I'm really thankful that I lost 2lbs instead of gaining any weight this week. I'm not sure how I lost weight.  I haven't been following my diet plan at all. I keep hoping I can get married in jeans. lol I know, I know -  that's not going to happen. 

How as your week?

If You Can't Afford It, Don't Adopt

♥ Like the T-Shirt graphic above? The shirt is only $18.00! Go to www.myfavoritefrock.etsy.com

It drives me insane when people buy or adopt pets without thinking about what it takes to care for one. If you don't have money - don't do it. A pet is like a child. If your wallet can't take a beating, don't bring another mouth to feed into your home.

I was browsing Craigslist Pet Ads and found this little guy. I showed Troy the ad and he immediately said, "let's get him!" I looked at him like he was crazy. Although I do love animals, we already have two dogs and one cat. There is no way I'm keeping another one. The most recent pet we adopted, Bear is a handful. Our original plan was to foster Bear but Troy fell in love with him so our plans quickly changed. I'm trying to avoid a repeat of that situation.

I'm not planning on adopting the dog in the ad but I let the current owner know that he could use me as a last resort. If he's unable to find someone to take the pup, I will foster him and find him a new home. I rather do that then have him go to a shelter.

Are you in California? Are you looking for a pet? If so, contact the creator of this ad.

He sure is a cutie pie. Please adopt him if you can. 

You can contact the owner here:

(323) 861- 0309

This Really Burns My Balls

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Excuse the expression but, this really burns my balls. What burns my balls you ask? Well, for starters, women like Debrahlee Lorenzana who claim they were fired because of their good looks. Why bother putting this all over the news? I don't know if her lawsuit against Citigroup has merit but I do know there's a difference between properly fitted clothes and clothes so tight you can't even breathe. "Boohoo I'm too pretty." If she's qualified I bet you she'll find another job faster than the ugly girl finds one. Don't think so? Keep reading.

These days classified ads for jobs sometimes even include being "pretty" as a qualification. I've even seen ads that require a picture with a resume and please note, these are administrative positions - not modeling gigs. When is that going to be on the news? 

I was browsing through job ads today and the following ad made me want to smack my computer. You can also view it by clicking here.

It's hard enough finding a job with the economic state the country is currently in, now you have to be "pretty" to get hired? I thought intelligence and work ethic would suffice. Apparently those things aren't that important. 

Oh - and just to cover my booty: I am in no way advising anyone to contact or harass the creator of this Craigslist ad.

Writing for Dummies

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Writing and journaling is extremely therapeutic. I know this very well. I started writing poetry around 5th grade and I continued doing so until my brief stay in college. I used to love to write not because I wanted to be a writer but because it allowed me to express and divulge my emotions. In moments of extreme sadness writing became essential to me. But after college, after I met the love of my life I completely stopped. I no longer found it necessary. In fact, I threw out every single poem I ever wrote in my entire life. My high school creative writing teacher would kill me! 

I remember putting them in a black garbage bag hoping that my past would be thrown out with them. I wanted a new start. I didn't want all those memories wearing me down. I rather them take my place at a landfill.

6 years ago I allowed myself to accept the good in my life. I allowed myself to be happy by removing all of the negative people and things that surrounded me. Now that I've cleansed myself of all of that I think it's fair to say that maybe I should write again. I want to leave something behind for my future children. I want to leave something behind for myself. 

Unfortunately it's been so long since I've written something that it doesn't come as easily as it used to. Sadness is very powerful inspiration. I can't find any inspiration in my current state. 

I'm going to try to do this in baby steps. 

When I was in high school I used to read one book each week. I think that really helped and it probably sparked something. I haven't read anything in so long. I've bombarded my brain with images and sounds. So this weekend, I'll be heading to the library. I have no clue what to pick out. Any suggestions?

Stabler with a side of Benson

♥Like the T-shirt graphic above? It's only $16.99! Check it out: www.serineery.etsy.com

I really need to stop watching Law & Order SVU. It's rotting my brain. It's rotting my brain with images of Elliot Stabler that is. haha :) Shhh...don't tell my fiance'. I should seriously be considered as Detective Stabler's full time groupie. Then again, I guess I don't care enough because I'm just in love with the character. I have no clue what the actors name is and although I could look it up I've decided to remain lazy.

Truthfully I'm not that goo-goo-ga-ga over him. Every time I watch an episode I keep waiting for him to make out with Olivia. Just do it already! Unfortunately I don't think it's ever going to happen. Jeez. 

I recently discovered that Netflix has loads of seasons available to watch instantly. Guess what I've been doing? lol I just finished season 1. Now I'm on season 2. Of course, I skip all of the ones I've seen on television.

Let me just get out one last: oh Elliot.

Enough. Now, check out some cool listings I found on Etsy that surround the law and order theme.

♥Punk Handcuffs Necklace $6.50 - www.frenzyfinds.etsy.com

Policeman Cufflinks Saint Michael the Saint of Police $29.50 - www.JMGJewelDesign.etsy.com

I'm blind as a bat! Well...half blind.

♥Like the eye patches above? Check out www.emandsprout.etsy.com

I could really use an eye patch right about now. This morning I woke up to find that one of my contacts was missing. I don't have anymore disposables left and it just so happens that my prescription expired 5 days ago. 5 days! Isn't life funny? 

This means I will have to pay $90 for an eye exam and then about $30 for one case of disposable contact lenses which only has about 3 pairs of contacts. That's $120. Serenity now!

I really hate to have to spend so much money on contact lenses. A friend of mine suggested I look into getting Lasik surgery. But as you all know by know I'm a major weirdo and I freak out over little things that normal, every day people would just quickly brush off. Needless to say, I'm a bit hesitant about going through that type of surgery. My brother did it and he's fine but then there's Kathy Griffin's story. lol, That's the scenario that scares me.

Here's what she went through: http://www.kathygriffin.net/lasik.php

Do you know someone who's undergone a Lasik procedure? If so, do you think he or she would recommend it?

Furry Baby Update!

♥Like the print above? Check out www.wildwildthings.etsy.com

Woohoo! Lola, aka Lolita, Lollipop, Fluff Puff is feeling much better! She's no longer sneezing or sniffling. I'm very relieved. Now everyone in the house can finally relax.

In other news, I was browsing through Etsy listings and I found the cute, Maltese print above at www.wildwildthings.etsy.com. If you're an animal lover you will adore this shop. All of the listings in the shop are created by a mother daughter team: Dottie Dracos and Lara Aguilera-Mogensen. 

Wait, it get's better. Almost all of the prints in the shop have matching necklaces and they can also make a custom portrait of your pet! Head over to their site today. Click it, heart it, cart it, and buy it! 


Don't forget to check out their Facebook page! www.FaceBook.com/LarkStudios

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

♥Like the print above? Check out www.marcia724.etsy.com

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Me of course! I am such a scardey cat. I'm a huge wimp! And guess what? I adore horror movies.

The problem is, I have very vivd dreams. Vivid dreams + horror movie = me waking up and screaming like a little girl about every 20 minutes. Ok, I might be exaggerating a bit. I don't scream like a little girl. I wake up gasping for air as if I were holding on to dear life. 

I used to be able to travel in my dreams very easily. It's as if I wore my very own pair of ruby red slippers. I'd click my heels and go wherever I wanted to go. That came handy when zombies were about to eat me for lunch.

Lately however, I've been having issues with my slippers. They don't care for me anymore and I find myself lost in a sea of scary dreams. It's one after the other, non stop until it's time for me to wake up.

I watched a horror movie last night called, "The Fourth Kind." Honestly, it wasn't scary. It was just a bit disturbing. The lady who played the part of the "real" Dr. Abigail Tyler was the freakiest asset to the movie. She looked like an alien. I'm sure they did that on purpose. 

I'm confused as to why my nightmares were caused by something I didn't even find frightening. 

What scared me the most in my dream was the fact that my dreams mounted into layers. Each dream began with me thinking I was awake and then realizing I wasn't. So I had to maneuver or fight my way out of that particular dream in order to wake myself up. It never worked. I kept "waking up" in another dream. It was exhausting. I felt like I was in my very own Twilight Zone.

Does anyone have a pair of ruby red slippers I could borrow? No?! Well, give me some tips! How do you get out of your scary dreams?

Introducing the Furry Babies

♥Like the "Get Well Soon" card above? Check out www.vandaliastreetpress.etsy.com

I own the cutest little furry babies in the world. I know, I know...everyone says that about their pets but seriously, it's true. Unfortunately both my doggie fur balls are feeling under the weather.

 

First, I'll introduce you to the oh so healthy, tuxedo DLH, fur ball. This is Chance. I rescued him about 4 years ago. You see, I used to work at a shady animal hospital and one day someone brought an entire litter of kittens. They were boarded. Each day one kitten would die. I don't know what the hospital staff was doing, if they were doing anything. Eventually Chance was the only one left. I couldn't stand it. I went to investigate. I knew something was up the minute I saw they were feeding the cats hard food. They were too small to eat that type of food. Chance was clearly malnourished. I took him out of his cage and gave him a real home. I gave him my home. He's been with me ever since and as you can tell -- he's alive. I didn't feed him hard food for a long time. I fed him wet food mixed with water through a syringe.  He also drank water from a syringe. If these so called vets and technicians would have taken the time to notice, well...anything, they would have quickly figured out what the problem was. In the end, they were the problem.

He's been doing extremely well. He's a sweet cat and he loves attention. Well maybe not that much attention but he'll let you know just what he wants when he wants it. We hug it out every day.

This little ragamuffin is Lola. She's a maltese. She's also the middle child and the love of my life (sorry Troy - that's my fiance'.) I would do anything for all my furry ones but I think I'd really go the distance for this tiny thing. She doesn't have a big story. We purchased her from a local breeder because we wanted Chance to have a companion and we also wanted a dog. Correction, I wanted a dog. I pestered Troy into getting her for about a year and it worked! He loves her just as much as I do. He has no reason to complain. Who wouldn't love her? She's incredibly sweet, kind and affectionate. She's very social and she adores me! haha ;)

She's been sniffling and sneezing for about a week. She doesn't have a fever and she's the same old, Lola so I'm not that worried. Still, I don't like to see her feeling bad. We took her and her little brother, Bear to the vet today because Bear caught whatever Lola has this morning.

The vet gave us antibiotics and sent us on our way. Hopefully it helps.

The littlest monkey is Bear. He just finished his jail sentence. He's no longer wearing an E-collar. Don't worry, it was nothing serious. He was recently neutered. 


Troy and I adopted Bear from, believe it or not, Craigslist. Someone was unable to take care of him financially so we took him. He was teeny tiny when we first brought him home. I believe he was around 8 weeks. Don't ask me what breed he is. I haven't got a clue. I was told his mother was a maltese but I know a maltese when I see one and he does not resemble one at all.

This one is a serious trouble maker. He drives me bonkers every single day. I'm still getting to know him so I don't know all of his odd, lovable traits but I do know he's obsessed with chew sticks and he loves getting belly rubs.

As far as being sick goes, he's really not that sick. I heard him sneeze 3 or 4 times. 

Serenity Now!

I'm not a mother. I don't know anyone named Timmy but I do have to scream or laugh profusely for no apparent reason. I feel deliriously stressed. I can totally relate to our dear cartoon mother. And yes, I just typed totally. I'll be sure to include the word tubular at another point in time.


Anyway, they say planning a wedding is stressful --- eh, not really. What stresses me out is thinking about the actual day. What stresses me, an introvert out is realizing there are going to be about 122 people staring and chatting for 6 - 7 hours straight. I'm sure I will love each and every one of them. Unfortunately I freak out every time I have to be surrounded by large groups of people. Well, I'll be honest - I even hesitate when one person is approaching me.  But don't worry, I've never made a scene. I just go to the bathroom and have an anxiety attack or eat about 20 pieces of chocolate in one sitting.


I've always been this way but either I'm noticing it more or my "condition" has gotten worse with the passing of years. I never had anxiety attacks when I was a teenager but I used to drink alcohol back then to ease the tension. Bring on the beer!


The other thing that is adding to my usual nuttiness is the fact that I've been planning this wedding according to what might be desired by the guests instead of what I want it to be. I don't want to wear a dress. I can't stand wearing dresses and I loathe wearing light colors. I'm extremely frugal so I don't want to pay tons of money for well - anything. Let's just make this short and say that my lists of "I don't want" is very large. I feel like a child throwing a tantrum except I'm keeping it bottled up inside.


In theory, a wedding is great. But I find what actually takes place to be so exhausting. I just want to look into my guy's eyes and say I do. That's all. I just want to be surrounded by immediate family and then I want to go hang out with them in an intimate setting. I guess I'm just boring. Let the fake characters in the movies have grand weddings. I rather have something simple, quiet and short.


I've lived with my guy for 6 years now. Let's face it we are married. We've already gone through the pretend I'm clean, pretend I'm sane act now we're at the when are you going to put the toilet seat down situation. Actually, I gave up on that one. I just don't care about those things anymore. So why go all out now? I've already celebrated.


I'm at the point in my life where I want to be celebrating the birth of a child. I just laughed inside. In reality I'm very freaked out about that too. My guy wants to start having children, (so he says) by next year. I like the idea of it but I'm not up for the whole giving birth thing. I think he should do it.  I'll come in later on to embrace our child after he's finished doing all the work.


After reading this post over I realize I sound like a complete jerk. But...it's the truth and there's no point in acting like I'm the most serene person in the world because that's just a waste of time and energy.


I suppose in the end I can see that I'm doing all of this because it's his day too. He wants all the guests and he wants to dress nice. I shouldn't complain that he cares and that he wants to tell his family how he feels about me. I'm lucky. So I'll put a sock in it and maybe I'll sneak in a beer before the wedding to loosen me up.


♥The Etsy listing pictured above is from the following shop: www.PureVintageGold.etsy.com