Day Off

Well, faithful readers, today I find myself with a lovely day off of work, thanks to that blessed holiday called El Cuatro de Julio. Or, as the Americans call it, the Fourth of July. Plans for tomorrow are still fuzzy, but I have high hopes for Coronado, fireworks, possibly some bike riding, and hopefully more friends who are up for actually doing something on this holiday.

You may have noticed, faithful readers, that it's really freaking early right now. Well, maybe not early for you right now, but early for me at this moment. It is in fact before 7am. And you don't know this, but I'm not even in San Diego right now. Nope. I'm blogging from the road today, up in San Bernardino. I tagged along with the OSF today for a visit to his Redlands home. We left at 4:45am. Why so early? Because tee time is at 7:34, of course.

Rather than pay to follow the OSF and his friends around on the golf course (though the OSF would have been pleased as punch for me to be his caddy), I requested to be dropped off at the nearest Starbucks to get some real work done. So while they're out there sweating it out on the green, I'm enjoying the pleasantly air conditioned coffee shop down the road. I've got internet, DVD's, books, my external hard drive, and plenty of projects to work on.

So I'll be here, dear readers. Think of me as you sit at home reading this later on this afternoon, or perhaps this evening, and remember that at whatever point in the day it is, I'm probably struggling not to fall asleep.

Updated Blog Entry (UBE)

Ryan's Lost Birthday!

A Note for Ryan

I was hiding under your porch because I love you.

At 2:04pm yesterday, my cell phone beeped its "You have a text" beep. Excellent, I thought. I love text messages. (For those of you going pphhhhssshhhhhh, yeah right right now, it's the replying to texts part that I hate.)

My text read: 

Hey cute! I'm taking you out tonight!

Woo-hoo! I love spontaneous going-out type things!

The OSF came to get me at 8:30, and didn't even complain one bit when I made him wait ten minutes for the pictures from the baby barbeque to upload. When that was finished, he put me in the car and drove me to Coronado, where we walked the secluded and beautifully clean beach right outside the Hotel del. We talked, we laughed, and he reminded me that this particular day, the 29th of June, marked exactly one month of being together. Eeeeep! The date didn't cross my mind once the entire day, but I love that he remembered it. (Although he does have it easy to remember; the 29th is his birthday number.)

We wandered around the sidewalks and the little courtyard outside the hotel, checking out the new Dr. Suess statues that were just put up in April. The Cat in the Hat, the Lorax, the Grinch, and a few more of the well-known characters adorn a section of the circular walkway that faces the beach, each with a plaque explaining the books' significance in literature and Dr. Suess' own life. I really enjoy seeing monuments like that, for people who deserve to be honored for their creativity and out-of-the-box thought processes.

After that we were off to see Up! I had no idea what this movie was about beforehand, but Chris had heard great things about it. We got there just in time for previews, with only two other people in the biggest of the Mission Valley theaters, so we had the pick of the place. Of course we picked the dark upper corner. ;) It is our new favorite movie spot, and we briefly considered etching our names into the wall to rightfully claim it. Instead we've just decided to go to movies at 10:25 on Monday nights from now on, so we won't have to fight anyone for our corner.

Up! was pretty good. The talking dogs were the best part in my opinion, with perfect lines to accompany the different looks that dogs actually have in reality. We absolutely cracked up when the main dog said, "I was hiding under your porch because I love you." Best line of the movie right there. It's not as good out of context, but soooo funny at that point in the movie.

Thanks, OSF, for a great date night!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!!!

Happy birthday to the best TGO ever!

And now a word from Lea Michele:

Updated Blog Entry (UBE)

Baby Barbeque

Sunday

Sheesh. It's been quite a weekend. Parties, parties, and more parties. We're just party animals here in San Diego. I'll be updating all those events in the next few days, but for now I'm sneaking a teeny bit of time between Sea World with Ryan and Chris and heading off to my indoor soccer game.

Ryan, Chris, and I went to Flood this morning to hear about laughter. That was the topic of discussion this Sunday. I've got to say, I'm really digging the Flood's lessons and worship... although it's more the worship band itself than the people actually worshipping, who are pretty stiff. We need to bring that band to Foothills and watch everyone rock out!

After that the boys were hungry, and Ryan voted for pho (pronounced fu, with a short vowel sound, like... well, you know). It's this Vietnamese-ish broth soup-ish thing that you add a whole bunch of stuff to, like cilantro, basil, bean sprouts... it's very good for you, according to Chris. I was anticipating a new delicious dish, as many people have now told me that they love pho (fu), and it's so good, and I'll never go back to regular soup, and yadda-yadda. But sadly, I found pho (fu) to be merely 'dubna," a word coined by Ry and Chris which means 'Decent, but not amazing."

After pho (fu), Ryan and Chris wanted to hit up a fro-yo a couple stores down, and they had the most amazing pistachio yogurt and tiny reese's cups. Double win!

Then it was back to Ry's to check on Sea World pass prices, since he had a hankering to be outside in the beautiful summer sunshine that has finally hit San Diego. (About time.) So Chris got a new pass and I renewed mine, and we were off to Sea World for the afternoon. Nothing too exciting happening over there; they did change the dolphin show to be less traumatizing for future viewers. If you've ever been there, you know what I'm talking about.

And that brings me to here and now, ten minutes before I need to leave for my game. The boys are coming to see me play tonight, so I've got to step it up to my A-game tonight if I want to impress that cute OSF boy. ;)

Check back once in awhile for updates on the last few days. They'll be in date order, so you may have to scroll. Sorry, Justin!

Baby Barbecue

At which we barbecue babies... or at least that's what Justin was telling us. Justin, the guy who's going to be a father in a month.

Details to come!

Details are here!

So on Saturday, Jen and Justin had a family/friends barbeque baby shower, mostly because I think Justin wanted to get presents too. Anyway, it was a great afternoon filled with friends, pink streamers, and babies galore (none of which were harmed in the making of this barbeque).

There were lots of pictures taken between me and Justin's mom. I think every single minute is captured somehow on one of our cameras or another. We've got the pictures of the kids (us kids, I mean), pictures with the parents, pictures of present opening, pictures with the cigars (check out Luke Lumsden with his cigar below!). I chose just a few of my favorites to show off here.

I love this group of pictures- it's Jen opening my present. I ironed on a bunch of cute designs, sayings, birds, and little letter Z's onto newborn onesies and hats. I'm so glad they loved them, because I had a blast making them specific for little Zoey and her bird-loving, camo-crazy parents!

The baby barbeque was also the first time a lot of people got to meet Chris. I'm pleased to say everyone has decided he is just splendid, and he even has an open invitation to go the Deyling's for a cigar anytime he wants. And for the record, I did not tell him he couldn't have a cigar at the party!

Lost

Ryan's Lost surprise extravaganza turned out to be a big hit. Chris and Andy really worked to pull off the perfect Lost party, complete with posters of Ryan as a cast member of Lost, Quarantine signs, Dharma labels on the sodas and beers, and a great photo booth backdrop. That OSF is so talented, I tell you.

Jenna doesn't know what to do on the island!

Ryan's just happy he's got Sarah to keep him company on the island.

Sorry, Ben, no cell phone reception on the island.

Two TGO's stuck on the island! Track 15 for sure!

We even managed to keep it a surprise, so Ryan was a little dumbfounded when he opened the door to find his friends and family waiting for him in what looked like the Lost wilderness island. Of course, it helped that he was just a wee bit tipsy from the fake out bar trip that Beth took him on. 

Read Ryan's thoughts on his surprise party here!

Why am I such a sucker for these things?

Is it sad that I kind of want this set just because it's lime green?

Oh, have I not shared my infatuation with lime green yet? Hmmm... sounds like it's time for a confession soon....

Today I...

Went to Coronado with Jenna for an impromptu beach day,

Went to work for the rest of the day and rocked out to my Spring Awakening album,

Got picked up by that cute OSF to meet the others at Ryan's house,

Was told I was feisty (and that he liked it),

Went to El Torito's for Johannah's not-so-surprise dinner party,

Forgot my camera,

Found out Rachel Bunch, from the old camp days, has a cute five month old who loves to flirt,

Was "sneaky" with Chris in the backseat on the way home, to Ryan's chagrin,

Hit up 3 McDonalds' for coca cola glasses,

Finally backed up the 2009 photos from my new computer,

Watched 3 episodes of season one NCIS.

And now I am going to sleep. See you all tomorrow.

The Great McDonald's Coca-Cola Glass Hunt of 2009

Sometimes I'm a sucker for collectibles.

Pogs.

Beanie babies.

Chronicles of Narnia books.

And now Coca-cola glasses.

It started off innocently enough last Friday. I went through the McDonald's by work, noticed the banner about the free glasses with every value meal, and decided I might as well see what these glasses were about. BTW- they're freaking awesome. I already love glass cups and coca-cola, and together they freaking rock!

There, on that Friday afternoon, it became my mission to collect all four. And let's just say that mission has changed day to day in the last week and a half. Here's the play by play.

Original mission: Collect all four colors: Blue, turquoise, purple, and brown.

Friday afternoon: Got a blue glass at Fletcher Parkway.

Saturday afternoon: Convinced the OSF to take me to the Massachusetts MickyD's, since it's next to the In N' Out for him. They tell us they had "aquamarine," which I think, and Crayloa agrees, is more turquoise than blue. And yet, when we opened it up, it was a blue glass. Jerks. And then they tell us all the stores were only selling browns for the last week, and we were out of luck with the other colors. Which just fueled my need to collect the other colors!

Monday afternoon: Got a brown glass at Fletcher Parkway. The guy there told me to try back in the next few days for purple. I think the Massachusetts Mcd's people are liars.

Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon: No dice on the purple glass at Fletcher. But they had only brown, and then only blue on these two days. I'm beginning to think none of the McD's chains were prepped on the structure of this promo.

Wednesday evening: Brittany and I head to Ryan's to watch Wall-E with Ry and Chris. We stopped at the College Ave. store, and they didn't even have any glasses at all. But Brittany later went to the one near Ikea, and found all the colors but turquoise. She picked up purple for me in exchange for one of my blue.

Thursday afternoon: Somehow I get stuck with another blue.

Friday night: Get a call from that cute OSF boy. Turns out he totally took one for the team, and he and his sister stopped at a McD's near Magic Mountain to see what they could find. Two more purple glasses!

Total tally: 2 blue, 3 purple, 1 brown.

Confession: This sort of situation is prime to bring out the OCD in me. I need to have these things in nice numbers. Either one of each, or two of each, or, as it was looking, three of each.

So since the turquoise glasses were nowhere to be found, Mission #2 became to collect three each of the blue, purple, and brown.

But then.

On Saturday night.

Ryan and I decided to initiate the Great McDonald's Coca-Cola Glass Hunt of 2009.

We would not rest until we found the turquoise glasses! We would drive for hours, cranking the Spring Awakening soundtrack as we stopped at each and every restaurant in our search for the holy grail of coke glasses.

Oddly enough, the closest McD's to Ryan's apartment, the one inside the Walmart on Aero Drive, had both turquoise and brown. Go figure. So we took our food and our glasses and went back to the apartment to watch Ella Enchanted and then take a last minute trolley ride downtown to take pictures (but that's a story for another blog).

Oh, at this point, Brittany finds out that you can buy the glasses for $1.99, instead of buying a value meal every time. Errrrr.... My stomach would have been happier finding that out sometime on Tuesday.

Sunday morning: Ryan texts me that the power of suggestion is too powerful for him, and he was already the owner of a brown glass too.

Sunday afternoon: Brittany and I run errands and stop at the Navajo store for a brown glass, 79 cent coke, and no value meal. Take that, McD's!

Tally: 2 blue, 3 purple, 2 brown, 1 turquoise.

Sunday evening: As I explain my OCD plight to Chris and Ryan, Chris suggests I give Ryan one of the purples and collect 1 more turquoise, putting my final tally at 2 each, which is a nice even number that will make it easy for me to sleep at night. Excellent.

Which brings us to today. Monday. No final turquoise glass yet, but I have high hopes for the week. And remember: if you stumble across a MickeyD's giving out turquoise glasses, give me a call!

"Stop putting your cells on me."

Hmmmm. I guess that's more of a you-had-to-be-there-having-a-discussion-about-the-various-ways-besides-fingerprints-the-government-keeps-track-of-us kind of thing.

Too bad. Because it was good.

So here's the weekly update:

{06}{07}

What an interesting day this turned out to be. I was still sick from my joint colds, had to miss my soccer game, my dad tried to fix my car up the best he could, and Jen's first baby shower was that afternoon. While I absolutely love that girl, I couldn't wait to go pick up a 79 cent coke and go home!

Jen got soooo much cute stuff for Zoey. That kid is going to be the trendiest Deyling/Aubrey ever. And Cindy and Heather as hosts made for a fabulous tea party that was the perfect blend of girly and normal- just the kind I like!

{06}{08}

Jenna finished her last week of school over the weekend. Hurray for her! Over the past few days I've found her reading for pure pleasure; she stole The Atonement Child from my bookcase a few nights ago. So good to see her reading good ol' regular fiction instead of her various psychological theory textbooks.

{06}{09}

So technically this picture of the day should be of Josh Damigo and the house party he had at Colleen's house. However, Josh decided to sit right in front of the lamp, which made for worst photography op ever. So instead, I had Ryan model in his Spring Awakening shirt, which the OSF pointed out was like a walking advertisement for my blog. Heck yeah!

{06}{10}

Really grasping for a POTD on this day. Resorted to the baby blue golf ball that randomly appeared in our kitchen. Anyone who's been by recently lose a baby blue golf ball they'd like back?

{06}{12}

Britt, my baby sister, graduated from high school on Friday. My parents no longer have any children below college age. Apparently, she's already set up with classes at Cuyamaca in the fall, but has no ideas yet what she wants to be when she grows up. In other news, Friday night is the night the OSF met my family for the first time, and he seemed to walk from the ordeal unscathed. He's a tough one, that OSF. And even Britt was nice to him! Awww... they grow up so fast....

{06}{13}

On Saturday night, Brittany hosted the ice cream social, in which she invited guests over for her now-famous homemade ice cream. Though the crowd was small, there was much fun over Mario Party, Veronica Mars episodes, and photography-for-Liz's-wedding discussions. Strawberry was the clear winner of the night, although I had the chocolate chip the following day, and that was pretty amazing too. Go roommate, in your new kitchen endeavors!

{06}{14}

Sunday was Gwen's family/older friends birthday party, and while she seemed a bit overwhelmed being the center of attention by so many people, by the time most of the group had left she was gung ho about going outside to take special ninth birthday pictures. Of course, she wanted to grab her latest favorite toys, Webkinz, which are basically nano pets for the next generation. They come as real stuffed animals, but you virtually interact with them online. With the addition of Jack, the turtle Justin G. brought with him, she now has three of these things, and she just loved setting up pictures with them too. Once I go through some more, I'll be able to post a special Gwen grid of the ninth birthday photo shoot.

Nine.

In case anyone had forgotten, this is what being nine looks like:

Apparently nine is the age where you start liking to go on photo shoots, too. Thanks, Gwen, my favorite nine-year-old. I had fun, too. ;)

Balance

I've spent the majority of today trying to catch up with the mundane things in life. It seems lately I've been taking my goal-part-one-word-for-the-year, FUN, a little too seriously, and have been slacking in other areas. Like laundry. And vacuuming my room. And finishing making the transfer of files between my old beloved laptop and this new to-be-named-later guy.

So today was a day to get caught up, and as I sit here now, 8:30pm, with the living room full of various friends playing Mario Party (before the ice cream social starts), I'm happy to say I was able to clean my room, wash my bedsheets, towels, and miscellaneous clothes, and even reorganize the kitchen cabinets to make more room for the glasses and less room for those twenty coffee mugs, of which only four get regularly used.

That's the kind of balance I like.

And in spite of working on all these little tasks, I was still able to throw in my fun factor: The OSF came over for a couple hours and we got lunch (In'N'Out and McDonald's - for the rad coca cola classes they're giving out with their meals!) and watched an episode of Veronica Mars. (I've got that boy hooked!) We also came up with a great plan to organize the pots and pans in the kitchen; the way they're thrown in the cabinets now makes me want to cry. Well, not really, but it makes me super irritated sometimes, so I'm stoked to see how this projects plays out. That OSF boy sure has some good ideas. I think I'll keep him around.

And now for bonus fun: Brittany's planned an ice cream social at our house for tonight. She's been going crazy lately with homemade ice cream, and tonight is her chance to share it with the world... er, our friends. Details and pictures sure to come.

The Vista Strikes Back

Cue Darth Vader music.

Because when I think of my new HP with Vista, Vader comes to mind.

Here's why:

Vista, much like young Anakin Skywalker, starts out all cute and adorable. You just want to pinch his/its cheeks and hang out with him/it all day long. He's/It's freaking smart and seems to be a real asset to the team, right? And somewhere Yoda's going, "I dont know, guys... I don't think the force/operating system is so good with this one...." And you say, "What are you talking about, Yoda? He's/It's amazing! We can kick some Dark Side/Photoshop behind with him/it on on our side!" And we ignore Yoda's warning. And we invite Anakin/Vista into our homes.

And we spend a week sharing All. Our. Most. Important. Information. With. Him/It.

Pictures. Music. Documents. All placed in my own perfection-minded folder organization system.

And then Anakin/Vsita goes, "Sucker! I'm Vader! I can't believe you trusted me! They warned you and everything!"

And then he/it reverts back to Vista standard and erases all my shortcuts, preferences, and set up choices every time I turn my computer off or restart. And hides all my files.

You jerk, Vader/Vista.