ilikecitylights

5.21.2006

Pictures speak quicker than words...

I spent the weekend in Charlotte with my bum-buddy Theran...am too pooped to write about it, but here are a few pictures since I haven't put any up recently. (Marshall gets cuter and cuter every time!)

Bye Scotty and Marshall!!

Jennifer and me as siamese twins at the QA picnic friday afternoon.

Charlotte

Theran's purple toes and my pink ones after my FIRST pedicure....

Our toes are drying, our toes are drying!

4.23.2006

The Marshall District

There's a new lamp in the Marshall District, and she's checking it out; standing guard to keep the flame throughout the menacing night.

4.18.2006

W

You can't see the moon, boy
for watching the tide wash over your feet.

Kick that neck box back
and hear the waves
boil in.
If you're as brave as you brag,
watch them
buckle
like drowsy eyes with foamy
lashes
closing for good.

And you can't throw hope high enough
for the atmosphere to grab it
'cause it's a heavy thing to carry
and you don't want it scratching up
your hands
for the salt
to burn.

I won't believe
what you say
about being done
with California.

4.17.2006

Marshall

4.16.2006

Toilet Bowl 2006: TB 7, Sam 28

The Scoop: The flusher in the upstairs bathroom has been fairly fickle recently. Its chain has been loose, slipping off the handle arm and rendering it useless. As many potty jokes as I make, and even though I know that the water in the tank is "clean", sticking my hand in the tank to grab the chain is like my own personal Fear Factor episode. The discoloration from years of city water, and bubbly growths of calcium clinging here and there, to use one of Amy's terms, skeeves me out.

The handle lay limp and flushless the day before Scott was to leave for Ohio. He takes care of spiders, I take care of bugs, he takes care of toilet malfunctions, I take care of the dishes (well I claim to.) It's a nice balance of power we have established; one does things that the other considers loathsome, and no one has to do anything that makes them squirm. In his excitement about his upcoming trip, the toilet didn't get that special Scotty attention. I understand, no problem.

Who knows when the lever arm broke. And it did just that, broke right off; it died of old age I believe, peacefully in the night. We needed a new handle and lever for normal flushing to continue...what's a toilet tank phobic girl to do? Head to Lowe's!

Someone helped me find what I needed and for less than two dollars, I was in business. As a bonus, I really had to pee when I got home; even more motivation to get over my qualms and get the job done. With a few deep breaths and a phone call to one of my tough guy friends, I was ready.

Here are some photos of my porcelain adventure:

Location: Upstairs bathroom.
(Yes-Installing the towel holders I got at Ikea is next on my list)

The culprit
(Yes, that is one of the aforementioned Ikea Towel holders resting on the tank lid.)

It's cute how strong I think I am.
(note the ucky calcium buildups--gag!)

But I needed a little help from Mr. Red Handles here.....

Thanks for your help Marshall. I appreciate your interest, but this is a woman's job.

It works!

The creepy aftermath.

Although I have gained confidence in matters of plumbing, and look forward to future projects, I don't think I'll be changing my mind about spiders anytime soon.

3.07.2006

Wedding Chapel of Love

The day after the night that I dreamt I was engaged to Jack Black, I found out that a wedding chapel is under construction at the intersection where I live. It's an odd place for a wedding chapel; the train runs right across the road nearby, and it's fairly residential elsewhere. I can only imagine the train roaring by in the final moments of some happy couple's ceremony.

I wondered if they took that into consideration, a train track 50 feet away? Then I thought, maybe they did, and that they hired someone to sit in a car by the track for a few days and record the times that the train passes by. They could get 10 dollars an hour for sitting in their car listening to the radio, eating Cheeto's. Then, the wedding chapel could schedule ceremonies around non-train-passing-by time slots. Or, they could offer discounted weddings during times that a train would be joining them.

Just seems like a bad omen to have a train rumble by during wedding vows, like a thunderstorm on the big day or losing the rings or the bride leaking her period on her white dress.

It's all too much to think about really.

Music right now: Finley Quaye-"Dice" (Thanks Amy Dear!)

2.20.2006

Family Lines

This is my great-nephew, Lewis. He kept asking when I would have a baby, I told him not anytime soon. He said to go buy one. I think he wants someone else to play with.

Lewis likes the "rock on" hand symbol. I tried it, but I think I threw up gang signs instead.

We shared a donut in the style of Lady and the Tramp...

My niece Linda is in there somewhere!!

I wish I could make this face and still be so cute...

2.14.2006

IQ Test

Which of these things do not belong?

2.13.2006

Part One

At the scoop where one side of Ganey Hill and the other side of Sappor Hill meet, sits a house. It is not bombastic and doesn't flirt like the other houses that saunter their way up the Hills. Living in the house is a woman in her early fifties. Her name is Mrs. Oliver. She dotes on her windowbox gardens and fine collection of sugar bowls, and these things keep her busy. Her tiny dog named Hanover sleeps in the crook of her knees at night and every morning sits on her toes that peek out of blue satin bedroom slippers while she eats toast and a banana. He makes sure she is never alone, and that there are never any crumbs on the floor.

Once a week or so the front door shakes with a steady, sharp knock. Invariably it occurs while she takes her afternoon tea in the sunroom facing Sappor Hill. She answers it faithfully though she knows only an empty stoop will greet her. She is never surprised or angered, only curious. But on one Tuesday afternoon as she approaches a freshly rapped door, the usual troupe of footsteps tapping down three weather beaten steps and onto the sidewalk, are absent. Hanover stays quiet but close, sniffing and grunting at the sliver of light winking through the mail slot as someone on the other side of it sways back and forth.

Mrs. Oliver is a brave woman, but one who takes comfort in familiarity. The rapping on the door keeps the same rhythm from week to week, just as the tempo of the footsteps. This week is no different, only the footsteps have gone silent. Her curiosity rises to bewilderment. She wraps her knotty fingers around the door handle, squeezing it like she would the hand of an old friend she hadn't seen in years, before giving it a hard turn and pull.

She and Hanover stare at a young boy. His hair points in all different directions, sticking up and out with no care for the authority of a comb. He rolls his lips inward into a nervous smile and looks down at Hanover. Hanover promptly sits by Mrs. Oliver's right foot, curling his tail around the back of her heel .

The boy looks up at Mrs. Oliver. Showing off teeth that also point in all different directions, he tells her, "I'm Jack."

2.01.2006

Dream Junkie

So I dreamt that I was on the Coronado Bridge, and all exits headed towards New York City. I was far left when I realized that the last exit was for New Jersey. I was able to swerve over and catch a NYC exit because there were no other cars. There were no obstructions, by the ways of machines or people or weather. I was queen of the road, and I knew exactly where I wanted to go. When I woke up my first thought was, what a geographically impossible idea! But, then I realized how metaphorically, it was a lesson in history and prediction for the future. Here's the breakdown:

I had nothing or no one behind me on the Coronado Bridge. That signified San Diego. Although I know I could never really leave San Diego on the Coronado Bridge, in my mind I knew I was.
I almost went to New Jersey, but didn't. This is the history. I almost went to New Jersey, but didn't.
When I did decide to go to New York, it was a smooth easy ride, and no one or nothing was stopping me. I'd like to think that this is a prediction for the future.

So, what fun really is it to explain dreams to other people? None, except for the dreamer. It's the one thing I can think of that only the self sees. The place I saw in my dream doesn't exist, no one else has been there or seen it. I can't explain how that is exciting to me, but it is; especially since it seemed like a personal journey. It's one I've already taken, am currently on, and have yet to finish.

____________________________________________

I think the desk Feng Shui works. I have teals, reds, and yellows tactically placed for positive change. The day I placed them, a couple of weeks ago, I got good news. I know it's been hard for my Amy dear because the teal jelly beans are on the far corner of the desk. But, when the Feng has done it's Shui-ing I'm sure they'll be highly accessible to her.

1.25.2006

Tell me if I'm wrong...

But doesn't Marshall look like Lindsay Lohan?
Here's a link, for reference.

This is a cat that hangs around the neighborhood. I call him Tumor Joe because he's got a few growths on one of his sides, but they don't seem to hurt him thank goodness. He has a deep scratchy meow and is always so friendly; I'm sure the fact that I give him treats helps--but I think he's naturally a very good boy. I couldn't manage to get any pictures of him being still but this one. His fur reminds me of a baby penguin. So, say hello to Tumor Joe, my favorite stray!

1.10.2006

Sammy Dimple

So we all have people tell us from time to time that we remind them of someone, right? As unique as I'd like to think I am, I've been told that I resemble a variety of famous faces. The list is quite laughable in it's varied range:

Melissa McCarthy (Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls)
A man at a yard sale, and my boss made this claim.
Two people who shall remain nameless have agreed.

Drew Barrymore
A friend's mom said she reminded her of me.
She's a sweet lady, really.

Nicole Kidman
A girl working the counter at a Krispy Kreme said this. I know, I wouldn't believe it either, but I have a witness. I kept looking around for a hidden camera thinking I had been Spunked, or Next'd, or Goosed, or SOMETHING.

Jodie Foster
I don't remember who said this, I just remember they said it.

Melissa Joan Hart
(Sabrina the Teenage Witch)
Jennifer swears by this one...I can see it more than any of the others I guess. At least I know what'd I'd be walking around looking like if I were skinny. (Yes certainly with that outfit on!)

But, I have all of them beat. I KNOW NOW who my celebrity twin is. Sadly, I don't look like this person as they matured, grew into a lovely adult; I look like her in her silver screen glory days. Any year before 1936 or so, take a look at SHIRLEY TEMPLE and see SAMMY DIMPLE!!! (Minus the curls of course--my hair is as straight as a board!) I think at the least, we have similar facial expressions.

Sometimes I smile. When I do, I have that dorky little 5 year old dimple that I will never grow out of.

I think I make this face most of the time.

And the stoic glare...my favorite.

I had to get all of this out in the open, and put in my own vote for my twin. Jennifer (Mandy Moore), Scott (Ben Stiller/Rivers Cuomo), Theran (Fergie from BEP), Terry (Vince Vaughn), Amy (Amy is lovely Amy-there's no one else like her!--although her boyfriend looks like Giovanni Ribisi) thank you for your support in the Sammy Dimple Black campaign.

1.02.2006

I heart animals.

Curiosity....

Mr. Diego, Amy's canine of choice.

Mr. Diego taking a nap in my crotch.

Miss Marshall = A classic beauty.

12.28.2005

Busy time of year....

for entering sweepstakes!!!

That's right, as of right now there are 1,178 contests listed on my friendly sweepstakes site that are to expire on December 31st, 2005. Of course I won't enter ALL of these; I'm not a greedy sweeper. I won't enter for the Maxis Pull-It 1000 cable puller-ARV $385 because I just can't see myself putting it to good use, and some man in his late fifties who lives in Minnesota might really want it.

Now, prizes like iPods, Sephora giftcards, anything dealing with NYC, books, music, movies, or toilet paper, (yes Virginia, you can win ANYTHING--click it) I'm all over like policemen in New Orleans on non-threatening drunk men who couldn't pop an overblown balloon if they tried. Or, white on rice, if that makes more sense.

So, don't expect to hear much out of me until the new year, when I've come down off my contest entering high (don't worry I won't supply a picture.) I won't even write an entry about how this year has grown plump with stories of travel, romance, and intrigue. I'll leave all that in the past, as it should be. I will only look to the future, and how many prizes there are out there for me to grab.

Vote for Clementines. They're deeee-licious!

12.12.2005

The land of no Seasons

Me and Scott at the Cardinal Holiday Party.
One of us is wine drunk.
Hint: it's not me.

Another picture of La Jolla that I had but didn't share before.
I think.

Bonfire Saturday night. A little too big to roast marshmallows.

A boat parade that swam by. They were decorated with Christmas lights and some even blared out music.

Post holiday party hotel room hi-jinks.
Sober pregnant Amy and drunk pregnant Victor.
Victor is not Amy's baby daddy, her husband is. We don't know who Victor's baby daddy is....