Well everyone! Long time no blog!
I wanted to let you know that tomorrow, Saturday, September 20th, I will be off to the LA County Fair for my fourth trip this year. I have to say that I am a bit of a fair addict and when it comes around, I simply cannot get enough.
Trip one was on opening day where I ran over solo after work. It was only $1 if you got in before 5pm, however La Verne police department ensured that I did not arrive before the cut off time by placing a sobriety and license check point about half a mile from the fair entrance. This meant that a usual 20 minute trip from Monrovia to the Fairplex turned into a 90 minute ordeal. Nevertheless, I arrived at the fair safely and met up with Mike and Chris after I saw my scrapbook pages on display. No ribbons this year, but you better believe that I'm out for something come 2009!
Trip two was last friday when I took a mental health day from work and Ms. Amanda Bailey and I headed over for 7 hours of sheer enjoyment. I have to say, because it was Amanda's first time I tried to cram way too much into the day. There was beer, then fried food, then barbeque, followed by shopping around the CalSpa area, a visit to the infamous Budweiser horses, a trip to the flower display, and of course the first race of the day at the famous race track. After that we headed over for some highly enjoyable beer tasting and we even bet on some horses! I've never bet on horse before, and I can probably say it'll be my last time also. I'm no good. I tried picking by odds, names, colors of their numbers...it doesn't matter. Then we topped off the day to a trip to see the Winter Wonderland and the classic Vespa booth, a quick trip to see the farm animals and we were off to rest our weary little heads!
Last night was my third trip, and although it was brief it was still a lot of fun. Don't forget, it's only $5 after 5pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mike and I headed over for some food, a couple of beers and I finally got to taste some wines that I've been dying to try! Well unfortunately my "5 hour energy" drink wore off and Mike had to drive me home before I fell asleep on a bench by the Avalon!
Well I'm headed back tomorrow for some more fun and to see the great twenty-something year old, Ms. Jessica Simpson, perform. I even went out and bought her album so I would know some of the songs. It's too bad I don't think Dolly Parton will be there tomorrow to perform with her. I've never seen Dolly live and I think I would scream like a 13 year old at a Jonas Brothers concert.
So if you haven't yet gone, go. If you've only been once, go again. If you've been more than me, then tell me what your favorite part is.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Race for the Cure, Team Ta-Ta's
So you guys may or may not know this, but my best friends and I have been doing the Temecula Race for the Cure for three years now becuase we all have someone in our family that is a breast cancer survivor. I personally race every year in celebration of my amazing grandmother and breast cancer, Mrs. Luella Mae.
This year, we made a team! If you would like to walk with us, please click on the link below and follow the instructions once you've selected the "Join Our Team" button.
The cost is only $27 to run or walk the 5K, and we've set our team goal of $1000. It would really mean a lot to me if you would all be there, and if you can't join us, donations can be made by following the link below also!
Thanks so much and I hope I see you on October 19th for the Race for the Cure at the Temecula Promenade!
Team Ta-Ta's
This year, we made a team! If you would like to walk with us, please click on the link below and follow the instructions once you've selected the "Join Our Team" button.
The cost is only $27 to run or walk the 5K, and we've set our team goal of $1000. It would really mean a lot to me if you would all be there, and if you can't join us, donations can be made by following the link below also!
Thanks so much and I hope I see you on October 19th for the Race for the Cure at the Temecula Promenade!
Team Ta-Ta's
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Have you smelled your city lately?
Now honestly, I don't think I've ever heard this question asked before, but I'm posing it to everyone out there: Have you smelled your city lately?
It's summer, and in Los Angeles county that usually means school is out and people are out and about during the day in their cars. I know I certainly used to be. I would get in, flip the dial to "MAX A/C" and drive begrudgingly to wherever I was headed thinking about how much this trip was costing me in gas money. I would get there as soon as possible and re-circulate my cold air through my Mustang to keep the hot air out and the cool air in.
Well I've got a new trick, and it keeps me much happier. Since purchasing a 2008 Vespa and rididng it to work and around town, I've discovered something amazing: Monrovia, Duarte, and Bradbury have the most amazing scents!
I'm not even making this up people. The truth is that on a simple ride to work where I used to go straight from point A (home) to point B (work), I now meander through the streets of Duarte, Monrovia, and Bradbury looking for new things to smell as I putter past them. Now there are things I am not fond of like garbage trucks or street sweepers (ick!), but most of the time I can pick out a few key scents on my little journey that make it enjoyable.
Here's some things to look for:
1. The smell of a person watering their lawn. I know this may seem boring, but it has such a distinct and fragrant smell that I have to slow as I pass any sprinklers. It reminds me of the first day of cheer camp.
2. Horse stables. Now some smell better than others (believe me!) but there is a farm in Bradbury called the Irish Rose Farm and it has an amazing smell of cut hay and freshly brushed ponies that is absolutely delightful.
3. Blooming gardens. Sometimes I can pick out stuff like roses, fresia, magnolia, etc., but most days it is just the simple beauty of driving past a wonderfully stocked garden and inhaling the delightful aroma of the inhabitant's hard work.
4. BBQ's. I smell people BBQ'ing on my way home a lot lately. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that we live in Southern California, where BBQ's are second nature and just becuase Labor Day is around the corner does NOT mean that we have to stop BBQ'ing because our weather doesn't get bad!
5. Bakeries. I love passing by a couple of the small bakeries on Myrtle avenue in the morning. I can honestly smell the goodness that everyone gets to enjoy all day long. If I really want a treat I can drive by Bloomfield Bakery on Foothill Blvd. on the days that they make cinnamon buns. That smells sinful!
6. The weather. I know this sounds odd, but the cities smell completely different in the morning hours than they do at noon and again at dusk. In the morning on my way to coffee or work, I find the smell dew-like and sweet. Cooling and soothing. Around lunch time when I step out, I find that the heat has a created a crisp smell of fresh air in Monrovia and I love putting up Myrtle with all of it's trees to clean my air and keep my lungs in working order. The evening is honestly my least favorite time of day, drivers are anxious to get home and the streets smell more like car exhaust and oil. I find this part of the day to be grueling and less enjoyable than any other. I'm still looking for a good smell in the afternoon and evening time other than the BBQ's and cookouts in the housing areas.
So to all of you air conditioning addicts out there, turn off your A/C today and roll down your windows on your ride home or to work. Take side streets. Drive through housing tracks. Take the long road. It may seem kind of inane at first, but it's really therapeutic if you give a chance and just breathe.
It's summer, and in Los Angeles county that usually means school is out and people are out and about during the day in their cars. I know I certainly used to be. I would get in, flip the dial to "MAX A/C" and drive begrudgingly to wherever I was headed thinking about how much this trip was costing me in gas money. I would get there as soon as possible and re-circulate my cold air through my Mustang to keep the hot air out and the cool air in.
Well I've got a new trick, and it keeps me much happier. Since purchasing a 2008 Vespa and rididng it to work and around town, I've discovered something amazing: Monrovia, Duarte, and Bradbury have the most amazing scents!
I'm not even making this up people. The truth is that on a simple ride to work where I used to go straight from point A (home) to point B (work), I now meander through the streets of Duarte, Monrovia, and Bradbury looking for new things to smell as I putter past them. Now there are things I am not fond of like garbage trucks or street sweepers (ick!), but most of the time I can pick out a few key scents on my little journey that make it enjoyable.
Here's some things to look for:
1. The smell of a person watering their lawn. I know this may seem boring, but it has such a distinct and fragrant smell that I have to slow as I pass any sprinklers. It reminds me of the first day of cheer camp.
2. Horse stables. Now some smell better than others (believe me!) but there is a farm in Bradbury called the Irish Rose Farm and it has an amazing smell of cut hay and freshly brushed ponies that is absolutely delightful.
3. Blooming gardens. Sometimes I can pick out stuff like roses, fresia, magnolia, etc., but most days it is just the simple beauty of driving past a wonderfully stocked garden and inhaling the delightful aroma of the inhabitant's hard work.
4. BBQ's. I smell people BBQ'ing on my way home a lot lately. It keeps me grounded and reminds me that we live in Southern California, where BBQ's are second nature and just becuase Labor Day is around the corner does NOT mean that we have to stop BBQ'ing because our weather doesn't get bad!
5. Bakeries. I love passing by a couple of the small bakeries on Myrtle avenue in the morning. I can honestly smell the goodness that everyone gets to enjoy all day long. If I really want a treat I can drive by Bloomfield Bakery on Foothill Blvd. on the days that they make cinnamon buns. That smells sinful!
6. The weather. I know this sounds odd, but the cities smell completely different in the morning hours than they do at noon and again at dusk. In the morning on my way to coffee or work, I find the smell dew-like and sweet. Cooling and soothing. Around lunch time when I step out, I find that the heat has a created a crisp smell of fresh air in Monrovia and I love putting up Myrtle with all of it's trees to clean my air and keep my lungs in working order. The evening is honestly my least favorite time of day, drivers are anxious to get home and the streets smell more like car exhaust and oil. I find this part of the day to be grueling and less enjoyable than any other. I'm still looking for a good smell in the afternoon and evening time other than the BBQ's and cookouts in the housing areas.
So to all of you air conditioning addicts out there, turn off your A/C today and roll down your windows on your ride home or to work. Take side streets. Drive through housing tracks. Take the long road. It may seem kind of inane at first, but it's really therapeutic if you give a chance and just breathe.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Prima's Maiden Voyage
So, Prima made her first solo maiden voyage today. At 8am we left the
house and my smile was ear to ear as I made my first stop at the bottom
of the hill. Then it was off to the west past a couple of duarte
parks. My city has never smelled so good, or maybe it has but I've
never been so exposed to smell it.
From there we took a northern detour through the city of Bradbury. Over a couple of very large speedbumps (Prima handled them gracefully and with style, I however did not) before we approached our first stop light together. We don't weigh
enough to trip the sensor, but thankfully there were some pedestrians
there who tapped the crossing button and away we went! (Author's note: Never in my life have I not weighed enough to do anything, and it's kind of a good feeling, even though it seems rather frustrating.)
Then it was through the housing tracks of old Monrovia where Prima
would give a gleeful little glug when we passed a historic home that
had a beautiful driveway and garage. she has her own way of asking for
a nice house someday... Hey! A bike can dream!
And now we rest at a lovely little coffee shop in old town Monrovia.
She'll be so sad when I put her kickstand up and go into the lab
today..but you and I both know that there's always lunch! ;-)
Update: Prima is sitting very lonely outside next to a Prius hybrid, however I think I saw her stick her tongue out at it twice when she was muttering something about "75 miles per gallong bi-atch!" She is soaking up the California sun and enjoying all of the attention of the MWH, Sun Microsystems, and CalTrans employees as they walk by and stare.
house and my smile was ear to ear as I made my first stop at the bottom
of the hill. Then it was off to the west past a couple of duarte
parks. My city has never smelled so good, or maybe it has but I've
never been so exposed to smell it.
From there we took a northern detour through the city of Bradbury. Over a couple of very large speedbumps (Prima handled them gracefully and with style, I however did not) before we approached our first stop light together. We don't weigh
enough to trip the sensor, but thankfully there were some pedestrians
there who tapped the crossing button and away we went! (Author's note: Never in my life have I not weighed enough to do anything, and it's kind of a good feeling, even though it seems rather frustrating.)
Then it was through the housing tracks of old Monrovia where Prima
would give a gleeful little glug when we passed a historic home that
had a beautiful driveway and garage. she has her own way of asking for
a nice house someday... Hey! A bike can dream!
And now we rest at a lovely little coffee shop in old town Monrovia.
She'll be so sad when I put her kickstand up and go into the lab
today..but you and I both know that there's always lunch! ;-)
Update: Prima is sitting very lonely outside next to a Prius hybrid, however I think I saw her stick her tongue out at it twice when she was muttering something about "75 miles per gallong bi-atch!" She is soaking up the California sun and enjoying all of the attention of the MWH, Sun Microsystems, and CalTrans employees as they walk by and stare.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I got PHISHED
This happened to me recently, and I'd like everyone I know to be protected!
Fraud, Phishing and Financial Misdeeds: ATM Machines That Clone Your Card
Fraud, Phishing and Financial Misdeeds: ATM Machines That Clone Your Card
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Stacy's Wedding Flower Photos
So I've been playing around in Photoshop Elements 6.0 and I really like what I've been doing!
Stacy's wedding flowers were absolutely gorgeous and I couldn't help but take some shots of them. I started with the original below and then after each on is the modifications:
View from above:
View from the side:
Stacy's wedding flowers were absolutely gorgeous and I couldn't help but take some shots of them. I started with the original below and then after each on is the modifications:
View from above:
View from the side:
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