Back to the Bitching and Raving

YAY! I found my friend Steph today. Stumbled on her Friendster profile and contacted her. She called me this afternoon and it was so great to hear from her. Steph is a friend from grade school and high school -- almost like a sister and one of the sweetest people I know. I've kept in touch with most of my high school buddies, but Steph and I have lost track of each other over the years. She had been travelling and doing work all over.

YAY! Yay for Moana Sands girlie drinks. My friend Nafa introduced these to me at the Sheraton Moana in Waikiki last year. Blend up some ice, Peach Schnapps, OJ, Chambord (sp?) and coconut syrup and it looks just like sand. And tastes sweet adn yummy.

BOO! While enjoying the Moana Sands, wasted a few hours and killed a bunch of brain cells watching MTV's Video Music Awards. This was my first time ever to watch an MTV award show, so I'm not sure if I'm just too old or if they were always that lame. A bunch of the celebs in the audience had that same glazed "I'm too old for this" look. I guess this is standard for all award shows, but it just seems so unnecessary for the host to build up some celebs then introduce them, just so they can not perform, but only present some award by acting out a corny, teleprompted dialog. Diddy (note the name change, whatever...) was not a very good host. Fat Joe actually had more presence than he did. There were a few good performances by Mariah Carey and by Ludacris and Bobby Valentino, and a classy tribute to Notorious BIG. However, I could not help but smirk at R Kelly's lip-synched "Trapped in the Closet"...uhh I am not even sure what to call it...I'm at a loss for words. He lip-synched the song while acting out every character's part. And I guess added another chapter to that piece of TERRIBLE crap. Then there was another part where MC Hammer came out with a posse to perform some kind of Hammer rap-and-dance medley from the 90's. Okayyy....

I sat thru it cuz I was watching the Tivo recording at a friend's house.

Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas sucks.

Ok, now I'm angry. haha.

Dano's Poop

I met up with my parents and Barb for a gluttonous American comfort food meal at Marie Callendar's for my mom's 58th birffday. Was so full when we got back to their house that I decided to crash there. Ok, I always have a hard time leaving the dog. Nik and I tried to find Dano's roots by surfing Dogster. You can do an advanced search, choosing 2 dog breeds, and see photos of those mixed-breed dogs. Among the Dano lookalikes were a Chow-GSD (German Shepherd Dog), Chow-Golden Retriever, Chow-Alaskan Malamute, Chow-Bullmastiff, Chow-Sharpei, and Chow-Akita. We're not sure what he really is.

Nik and I saw something really funny on Animal Cops: San Francisco. Some girl in San Leandro applied to adopt a Chow and got rejected. She proceeded to steal the dog and brought him home. When confronted, the parents were unaware that the dog was obtained illegally and explained that the daughter was bipolar. The funny part -- the dog looked just like Dano! Nik and I stared at the TV, frozen, with nervous giggles...Hmm...

Got up this morning and took Dano for a walk/jog on the trail behind the house. He must have "marked" every single tree. Not sure why, since he did this last time also. But when we got to the end of the trail and met the busy street, he turned to face me and backed up into the tree. I was officially blessed with Dano poop. I had to clean it up with the baggie tied to the leash and I held my breath and kept thinking "it's like cookie dough...cookie dough...cookie dough...."

My Perfect Weekend

40-Year Old Virgin, same crude humor as Wedding Crashers and American Pie

Last minute free club-level tickets to Giants and Mets game.

Unsuccessful rollerblading with Dano. After zig-zagging in front of me, dragging me, tripping me and getting me tangled on the leash, Dano decided this wasn't fun. We settled for a 15-minute jog together. No pain in my knee or ankle. Good news.

Crab alfredo at the Market Broiler.

Freaks and Geeks on DVD.

OC Paddling inLexington Reservoir. This place is calm, quiet (you can whisper to someone 20 ft away) and clean. I don't think too many people know about it. Hope it stays that way. Outrigger Canoes are a bit different from kayaks. They're longer, thinner and more balance-sensitive. They are made of fiberglass and super lightweight, sporting a support (an outrigger) on one side. Rather than by paddling, direction is dictated by pressure on right and left pedals. Rather than a double-sided paddle, you have a lightweight angled wooden paddle and change sides every 14 strokes or so. Instead of resting on a back support (there is none) you thrust your hips forward right before you stroke back. We paddled on single canoes for probably a little less than 8 miles. Kayaks are much easier to maneuver and don't require as much set-up and assembly. OCs give you a better full-body workout. Both are pretty neat and I wouldn't mind learning to be a better paddler.

After we worked up an appetite, my cousin's friend Ben (the OC expert) took us to Mahalo Hawaii, where we grubbed on BBQ mix plates, mac salad and Hawaiian Sun drinks.

Slept really well last night.

Blogging About Blogging

I don't really have a reason to make Blog entries. I think Blogs tend to be more effective when centered around a specific theme, more specific than "what I'm doing today." Fine examples are to keep a chronological account of something (day to day observations of a plant growing through a maze?), wedding planning rants and details, backpacking through Europe and having one's friends at home log on to track the journey.

I cannnot promise anything interesting like this to tell you. I don't even have a clear audience to write for. I just know a few friends check in once in a while to see what I'm up to and read up on the quirky stuff going on in my mind. I'm fine with that. In this space, it is acceptable (and very tempting) to show self-importance or narcissism; I'll kindly waive that. Alternately, I'll tell you what's really going on inside of me.

There's a type of person I've spent some years scoffing at and looking down upon. (Did you cringe at my ending those phrases with prepositions? Good.) The young adult, successful in her career and good at what she does. This person seems to have it all, but can't help feeling that something is missing. This person leaves a steady job to join the peace corps. You all know da kine. She spends all this energy looking for something when she can't seem to realize that everything is so easily right there.

I've known a bunch of them. I dated one (but he was not a "she") for a few years. Drove me crazy.

Well guys, I think I'm getting to the point where it's hitting me and I feel like that something is missing. And it might soon be my turn to face that breakdown. I'm starting to feel like that are more important things to do/feel/see than what I experience every day in my shrinking world.

Why am I thinking about this now? Turning 29. End of summer blues. Dreamy vacation. Job rut. Almost time for employee evaluations and not phased. All my friends getting married. All of the above?

Recently a close friend told me that he "has no purpose" in his life right now. Disturbed me a little. Made me think that I NEVER, EVER want to feel that about myself. Life purpose can mean different things to each person. For me, I just think about every extreme adrenaline rush I've ever had. Every time I've said "F*CKIN' WOW." Every time I've won a close basketball game. Every time I've jumped into a lake or river. Every time I've laughed so hard I cried. Every time I've danced with someone and felt butterflies. Every time I've slept under the stars. Every time I've sprinted into a finish line. Every time I've sung at the top of my lungs in the car with friends.

One can argue that none of those are a true purpose. One's purpose should be find some important cure, raise a family or to help kids in the ghetto. That would be the admirable thing to say.

My "purpose" is felt through moments that make me feel alive and make me completely comfortable with who I am. It just might almost be time for me to create more of these moments for myself.

Is this me?

From Quizilla...I'll let you decide

August,
Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless.Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends

What does your birth month reveal about you? (read memo)
brought to you by Quizilla

More Raft-erthoughts and a DanoDog

The obligatory 10:30am beer drinking on rafting day. Corona does come in cans. My sister Barb and I have the same swimsuit. On the river, we saw the oddest thing. This raft full of about 10 black people (different ages, maybe a family) were towing a small, flat raft with one white dude lying down with a magazine or t-shirt covering his face. Half of us immediately thought, uhhhh why do the black people gotta tow the white guy...and the other half thought uhhh is he a hostage or a human sacrifice? Weird. I should have taken a pic.

I've got so much food and drinks leftover. Yay for chili-cheese Pringles. My friend Jul also sent a massive package of Godiva chocolates to me at work. And tonight my DL ex-co-worker buddies are taking me here. Yay for meat.


Bought Dano a stuffed squeaky hot dog. I love this guy....

happy birffday to mee!

i'm 29 now...yay. did my annual rafting trip. only 19 folks this time. very mellow. not too many water fights with other groups. many water fights within our own group. got back early and played with dano. he's so adorable - it's so hard to leave him and go home.

maybe kayaks next time. sans the mini rapids part.

***

back to the hawaii thing...another top reason i fit in there. they dress down all the time! i think it's been about a year since i've worn da professional kine clodes to work.

i heart hawaii

it's been a while since i last posted. yeah, i'm still obsessed with dogs. my sister finally adopted her new pooch, Dano (danno) . he's incredibly adorable, loves treats, doesn't fetch tennis balls and hates car rides.

then i went on a family vacation to kauai. overall great, as one can expect nothing less from being in hawaii. but i found myself flirting with that fine line between F**KIN WOW, I need to Live here...NOW! and grrrrrr, this island is too small for all 5 of us. the highlight was definitely kayaking excursion down the wailua river followed by a really rugged hike to a waterfall.

seriously tho, this was my 3rd time in hawaii and i can't think of a place where i fit in better -- where i can be myself and Love everything and everyone (except for american tourists) around me.

why i think i can live in hawaii:
1. i look like a local already. and over there, i'm not considered fat or too big! the clothes fit wonderfully (an ongoing problem i have here).

2. the local people are soo chill, carefree and...Real. no attitudes or superficial crap. on a normal day here, i hate small talk and awkward conversations, and honestly, so many people around me are just not interesting to me and not worth the superficial attention. but the people there are so easy to talk to. even the salesmen. and they're interesting.

3. massive plates of Meat and mac salad. with an egg on top. maui onion potato chips. portuguese sausage. good seafood. lilikoi everything! and POG.

4. they love nissan trucks too. i'd bring my crew cab over. and get some red dirt on the tires.

5. they love big dogs. i'd adopt a 100+ lb rottie and let him hang out in the back of my crew cab. and he can come fishing and swimming with me and roll around with me on the beach. and fetch tennis balls :)

6. watersports! i don't think i can ever get sick of swimming, snorkeling, boogie boarding, surfing (when i get better at it) or paddling. i Love being in the water and being in the warm pacific on beautiful beaches makes it that much more awesome.

7. the music rocks. at first it's cheesy. american pop 70's and 80's hits remade to a pseudo-reggae, casio keyboard-karaoke-sounding beat, performed by some nasal singer. it grows on you. just found out they call it Jawaiian. jamaican and hawaiian, i guess.

8. i love hearing people talk pidgin. for real. it sounds really...refreshing. we're so uptight over here about how to say everything correctly, when it really doesn't matter. it comes down to communicating clearly. a "table of contents" being "da stuff insai" is very clear to me.

9. i get a kick out of hawaiian names. they have half of the american letters to work with but can find 5+ syllable words made up of every combination of those letters and add "kahlua" or "ani" to the end.

10. it's beautiful as hell. duh.

so it sounds like i have a "plan B" if things don't work out here. don't get me wrong, i love being here and what i do and the people i'm around (not the small talk ones). so for now, i'm a wanna be hawaiian (and dog owner) but sometimes it's nice to fantasize about how my life can be completely different...and still wonderful.