Every single day over the holiday weekend I meant to sit down at the computer and write an entry about the fun, wonderful, exciting things I experienced. Every single night I was too darn tired! So, just a quick recap today, I'm afraid.

Friday: This was a working day, despite the fact that I was on vacation from my job. Mom and I took care of some looming home improvement projects such as filling in the large crack in the garage floor, and putting sealant on the floor where the water has been leaking in. We also did some adjustments to the front screen door, and touched up the paint around the door. Later we made a quick trip to Home Depot for a new light cover for the kitchen (because I managed to break the old one when reinstalling it last week), then stopped by the Outlet Center for a couple Subway sandwiches for dinner. It felt really good to get all that stuff out of the way, so we can basically play all summer now!

Saturday: Our first official fun day of summer! Mom and I go up early to get groceries after having coffee and a muffin at Starbucks, then showered and got all gussied up for a day of shopping and fine dining in Paso Robles. We stopped at the Target center first, hoping to find graduation gifts for my two cousins who are graduating from High School next month. We know what we want to get for M., but we can't find it. And, A., well, what does one get a boy for graduation? We just can't seem to find anything we like. After our failed shopping trip, we headed to Paso, where we planned on doing some more shopping - but mostly just looking, since the downtown area is mostly antique shops - then having a late lunch or early dinner at F. McClintocks using the gift card my firm so graciously provided us staff last Christmas. Little did we know that there was a Kustom Car Show taking place in Paso, and the downtown area was packed to the gills! We lucked out in finding a nice parking space, however, and after a lovely late lunch, we wandered around checking out all the cool cars and trucks! I got some great shots, which I've played around with in PSP, and will share soon. Promise.

Sunday: Beach day! Mom and I headed out to Cambria for the first time in months! It was a beautiful day - sunshine, blue skies, the fog bank was visible, but still quite a ways off shore. The breeze was cool, but we both had sweatshirts on, so we were comfortable. We walked along the boardwalk which runs alongside Moonstone Beach, stopping periodically to sit on one of the many benches and just watch the waves. We were greeted several times by one or more of the dozens of ground squirrels who inhabit the area, and are quite tame, very likely because people tend to feed them, despite the numerous signs saying not to. They're cute little guys, though, and I got one really fabulous shot, which I promise I'll share soon! The tide was going out, so many large rocks were exposed, and I joined the three or four people out checking out the tide pools. I didn't see anything too terribly interesting, but I did get a couple interesting shots of the unique rock formations and textures, as well as a shot of the two seals who were snoozing on one of the other rocks. It was, quite simply, a fantastic day!

Monday: Today was almost a complete failure. I wanted to get a haircut and pedicure, but both Fantastic Sam's and Le's Nails were closed for the holiday. Grr. So, I tried shopping for graduation gifts again, but only managed to find a cute little graduation bear for M. Still nothing for A., and I'm starting to get nervose: A.'s graduation is next week! The rest of the day was spend laying around doing nothing, although I had plenty to do: homework, writing, reading (I did get about halfway through The Stepford Wives, though), and yardwork. I was just too tired, though, so I did nothing but nap.
Lisa-Marie wrote this at 21:38

and write some actual content in here. I know. I'm sorry. I'll try. In the meantime, enjoy this:


What Pattern Are You?


Lisa-Marie wrote this at 22:35

This past weekend was awesome, and here is why:

1. It was slightly overcast and cool for our walk Saturday morning. It's so much nicer to walk when it's cool and not sunny and hot.

2. We were able to get rid of a trunkload of stuff to Goodwill. The Goodwill truck was closed (even though it was after 11am, and it's supposed to open at 10am every day), but a couple other people were dropping their stuff off anyway, so we did, too.

3. We found everything we needed to get our home improvement projects done on Friday (which I'm taking as a vacation day), with one stop at Miner's Harware. We found the stove hood filter we've been looking everywhere for for over two years now, some webbing to fix up our aluminum chaise, a small can of concrete sealer for the corner of our garage where the water leaks in, and a door for the screen door. Three - three - different employees asked to help us in our search for the various items, and were each very cheerful about it! It was wonderful! Not at all like shopping at Home Depot, which is usually not as sucessful or pleasant. Miner's has our business forever!

3. I went through dozens of old stamping magazines, tore out the pictures and projects I wanted to keep, and tossed the ripped up, cut up carcasas in the recycling bin. Then, in a burst of inspiration, I stamped a greeting card for a friend of mine in Washington State, and stamped a graduation card for one of my cousins.

4. I only spent about three hours on the computer the whole weekend. I'm trying to spend less time online, and more time doing stuff in real life; it's been hard, but I'm gradually breaking myself of the online habit!

5 I generally just had a great weekend - I had fun, I felt good, and slept better than I have in a few weeks. It was nice and refreshing!
Lisa-Marie wrote this at 12:32

Blatantly stolen from Dreama.



FIRSTS
First job: Paper stuffer at the Colfax Gazette.
First self purchased CD:
First piercing/tattoo: Piercing: my ears when I was 13 or 14. Tattoo: above left ankle at age 27.
First enemy: Some kid in school, I'm sure, but I don't remember.

LASTS
Last big car ride: Down to SoCal in March.
Last kiss: Don't remember.
Last library book checked out: The New Thought Police by Tammy Bruce.
Last movie seen: The Passion.
Last beverage drank: Water.
Last food consumed: A Carmel Nut Blast Balance Bar.
Last phone call: Two days ago.
Last CD played: Clay Aiken, Solitaire CD single.
Last annoyance: The god-awful traffic yesterday morning.
Last pop drank: Diet Vanilla Coke (with a shot of Solis Vanil) last Sunday afternoon.
Last ice cream eaten: Skinny Cow ice cream bar, Sunday evening.
Last shirt worn: Black and white floral print.

I....
I AM: always so darn tired!
I HAVE: a fat ass.
I WISH: I didn't have a fat ass.
I HEAR: cars going by too fast.
I SEARCH: for the perfect pair of cute flippy shoes that won't kill my feet.
I REGRET: letting myself gain so much damn weight.
I LOVE: myself, regardless of how much I weight or what size jeans I wear.
I ALWAYS: strive to be a better person.

FAVORITES
NUMBER: 42.
COLOR: Blue.
DAY: Friday.
MONTH: June.
SONG(S): Blessed Be Your Name Tree63.
SEASON: Summer.
DRINK: Chardonnay.

Lisa-Marie wrote this at 22:28

So. What colour is my brain?

What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla
GOLD:

At work or in school: I like set routines and organized ways of doing things; rules and directions are a great help to me. I prefer to stay on one topic at a time. I need to know what is expected of me, and I always want to know if I am on the right track. I like subjects that are useful and traditional, such as business, accounting, history and government.

With friends: I prefer people who are careful with their money and who make plans ahead of time. I like my friends to be loyal, dependable and on time. I am serious about love and show it in many practical ways.

With family: I like stability and security and enjoy traditions and frequent celebrations. I like to spend holidays with family members, and I plan ahead for such gatherings.

Oh, man! That is so on the mark! Particularly that last sentence . . .

Lisa-Marie wrote this at 12:28

1. I had a wonderful weekend with my family!
2. I enjoyed spending some time outdoors in the sun!
3. I received a letter from a long-lost friend!
4. I played with a Pug!
5. I recieved a pretty pink carnation!
Lisa-Marie wrote this at 12:15

To all the moms out there, particularly mine and my grandmother - Happy Mother's Day! Cheers!

We had a great day today! Mom and I got up early to take my grandparents to church, and I gave my mom her Mother's Day gift. I got her one of those Garden Spinners, which she's been wanting for some time. We hung it up on the fence just across from the patio, so she can sit on the patio and see it.

After church, grandma wanted to have a picnic up at her house. She'd done all the cooking and preparing yesterday, so all we had to do was show up. My aunt, uncle and one of my cousins came, too, and it was nice to have a relaxing family picnic!

We stayed until about 2 p.m., then went home to rest up. For what I have no idea, but we just laid around reading the paper and napping the rest of the afternoon. It was lovely!

Lisa-Marie wrote this at 15:01

1.
Zipping down the slopes,
Ski instructor Kip goes so fast!
Overconfident.

2.
Nighttime on the slopes.
Skiers fly down lighted runs.
Kip watches sadly.

3.
Mitzy signed the cast,
"Too bad you missed the fun, Kip.
Hope your leg heals fast."

Lisa-Marie wrote this at 12:43

1.
Tailored trouser leg
says, "Pee on me!" to small dog.
Bowser said, "Okay!"

2.
Running late for work,
Joan missed the train; had to wait.
Her latte got cold.

3.
Early Monday morn,
bus splashes dirty water
on new leather shoes.

Lisa-Marie wrote this at 18:38

1. I got all my rubber stamps sorted and organized.

2. I stamped two lovely Mother's Day cards.

3. My mom and I enjoyed a delicious Chardonnay courtesey of The Firm.

4. The weather was beautiful both Saturday and Sunday, so we were able to do some yard work.

5. I sold another item on Ebay!

Lisa-Marie wrote this at 12:48

There are officially 112 days 'til JournalCom. (Oh, and by the way Rabbit, Rabbit. Yay! I remembered this month!)

Anyway, there are 112 days 'til the Con. That's about 15 weeks. There are 16 Sundays and 15 Fridays, wherein I absolutely will not be working out, and I will be imbibing in a couple glasses of a delightful fermented grape juice. Preferably local. Six Thursdays are out, too, due to my Memoir Writing class.

So.

That leaves me with 75 days to exercise - 47 of them at Curves, the other 28 at home, supplementing the Curves workout with tons of cardio and yoga and ab workouts.

I haven't been doing terribly good on SBD, and I'm seriously considering a switch to Atkins, just for a little while. Just to see if it really works. Actually, I know it really works - my uncle has been doing it, and has lost a ton of weight! He looks great, and feels much better. You can tell. He's happier. He smiles a lot more. He's not so achy. So. Maybe.

Then again, maybe I should just follow the darn SBD diet more closely! I must confess I've slipped in recent days and indulged in some couscous and pasta, although I shouldn't have. The cravings came from my impending visit from Aunt Flo (who safely arrived via the Cotton Pony Express Cab Co. Thursday evening; since I'm sure you all care so much), and I just . . . gave into them. I don't know why. I just did.

My goal is to lose 35 pounds by JournalCon, and be in a comfortable size 12. If I can just get my arse in gear, I know I can do it. Of course, it's not the first time I've said that, so I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

Lisa-Marie wrote this at 07:20