Giddy Girlie

Posted by giddygirlie at 2:48 PM | Permalink

from left to right : Mom's, Daniel's, Shaina's, and mine* [Sasha and Ryan's pictures are coming soon]

Also, here's a picture of the pumpkins that we carved at work for the Holiday Inn contest. None of us won. But ours were rad.

*I will take a better picture of my punkin tonight. It is carved out entirely where the moon is, but then it is a complete circle with a sun face on the round part. I used this for inspiration.

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:19 AM | Permalink

I did.

Olga is too sweet... she brought us delicious cookies and insisted that I try a macaroon. It was better than I thought. I might have even liked it if it weren't for the coconut.

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:22 AM | Permalink

Please add this book to my wish list.

Thank you,

Mia

Posted by giddygirlie at 5:25 PM | Permalink

signed,

Your Pal

Mia "Stretch" Armstrong

Posted by giddygirlie at 2:29 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 11:39 AM | Permalink

Huh?

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:36 AM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 2:22 PM | Permalink

I mean, I have pictures of my mom in front of her little blue beetle and my dad in front of the VW wagon... grandpa and grandma in front of the Firebird, etc... but what about us? I have no pictures of me in front of my Civic. What if it becomes a collector's item someday and my kids wish that they could have had a picture of mom in front of that *cherry* '01 Civic?

I had a cool car once... a 1971 Karmann Ghia. Toothpaste blue. It was cool. I have one photo. Ghia on the flatbed towtruck. Being hauled away. After it caught on fire. While I was driving.

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:55 AM | Permalink

Everything is covered in ash and the smell of smoke burns your nose. Where we live, we at least get some of the on-shore breeze from the ocean, and the smoke is still making me crazy. I can't imagine living closer, like my colleagues do. Two of them evacuated their homes on Friday. Fortunately, both will have homes to go to tonight, as the fire has moved away from their area.

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:10 AM | Permalink

Instead we got married in July, so at least we get freakin' 4th of July fireworks - but that's not the same as jack-o-lanterns and bats! :(

Posted by giddygirlie at 7:40 AM | Permalink

More specifically, Ricky's wedding!!! How cool is that? Ricky Menace [bottom in the image below] is settling down... aaawwww!

Posted by giddygirlie at 7:38 AM | Permalink

Two of my colleagues live right *smack* dab in the middle of this stupid fire and had to rush out of the office to make their 2 hour commute (yes, they are legally insane) to evacuate their houses. One of them is IM'ing me the updates and she gave me a link to this site that shows the firefighters' progress.

Part of it is an incident report, as follows :

3 minor injuries to firefighters. 1 poison oak encounter, 1 bee sting, 1 eye injury.

They have to post it that some guy stepped in poison oak? Isn't he embarrassed enough?

Posted by giddygirlie at 5:11 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:47 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 4:35 PM | Permalink

The Girl Scouts are selling magazine subscriptions, in addition to candies and nuts, as a fundraiser right now and some of them are really good deals. I just ordered Martha's magazine for $20 a year!!

You might want to find a local troop and order yours today! They also make excellent holiday gifts!

p.s. I am no way affliated or endorsed by the Girl Scouts of America. I just like cheap magazines. Thank you.

Posted by giddygirlie at 12:35 PM | Permalink

Sara over at Going Jesus was musing today about her roomie moving out and taking the only corkscrew in the house. Sounds like a good reason to have a "move out shower" to me!

This is how it works : the host/hostess makes a list of the most needed items which is not the same as your wedding registry wish list. No china, no silver, nothing from Tiffany. This would include items like spatulas, wooden spoons, a pizza cutter, cutting board, etc. Make a rule that no single gift can cost more than $10. All invited guests should bring a little gift and a 6 pack of their favorite beverage (or bottle of liquor) and wear jeans to help unpack. Of course, you could host this party once you're all settled in and have things put away - but why pass up on free labor? I can't guarantee that much will get done (especially if alcohol is involved) but what the heck?

This idea works really well for people who are just starting out... people who are starting over... or people who lose a bunch of junk in the move (ahem) and end up with lighbulbs that were dead to begin with but no sauce pan.

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:20 AM | Permalink

You can read their story here and donate money toward their healthcare. These poor babies were born with very severe afflictions, which may cause Stevie (the grey one) to lose his eye.

Any little bit helps... even if all you can send is your love and happy thoughts.

**if you would like to send funds through PayPal, please use this link**

Posted by giddygirlie at 4:25 PM | Permalink

and

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:36 AM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:21 AM | Permalink

I just learned this yesterday (maybe you already knew and that's why you are WAY cooler than me) : if you get hair dye that stains your skin (like on your ears or forehead) you should :

• wash your skin with shampoo BEFORE the water hits it. This is supposed to do the trick 99% of the time
• if it persists, use a washcloth or towel to try and exfoliate a little
• if that doesn't work, try toothpaste to scrub it off
• if THAT doesn't work, apparently Comet will work also

**Remember kids, I am NOT legally liable if none of these things work for you or if you get Comet in your eye. I'm just sayin'**

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:15 AM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:36 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:37 AM | Permalink

I think that particular movie speaks to me more than any of the other 80's high-school-love-flicks. Or any other love flick, really.

I am absolutely smitten with John Cusak as Lloyd. He's funny, he's bumbling, he's nervous, he's sincere. I just can't stand it. Just thinking about it, my stomach is full of butterflies. I think Lloyd reminds me a little bit of myself and is EXACTLY the kind of guy that I wanted to be with. I can also identify with his friends. The ones who secretly harbor feelings for him, but are still OK with letting him go. The obssessive, bitter friend played by Lili Taylor.

I read online where someone said "the world would be a better place with more Lloyd Doblers." I couldn't agree more... which is why I married one.

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:05 AM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 2:01 PM | Permalink

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I have decided to be Alice in Wonderland. I am using this pattern but will be giving it short sleeves (long sleeves bug me). I kind of wanted to give it a 'twist' but I am not sure what. I decided to go with a basic light blue fabric, similiar to the Disney version of Alice, and I'll have a white apron, etc. but I need to give it some pazzazz...

I'll also be wearing two versions of this outfit. For work, I'll wear white tights and my doc marten Mary Janes... at night I was thinking about white thigh-high nylons (wouldn't these shoes be great?!) and my black patent leather freak out shoes (4" stillettos with silver star rivets).

Any ideas?

This is what we have to work with, thus far :

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:36 AM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 4:54 PM | Permalink

This is my new schedule, starting now :

8am - 12pm PST, 1pm - 5pm EST

*For those of you who missed it, that would save me 3 hours a day at work. 5pm EST=2pm PST. Heh. Heh.

Posted by giddygirlie at 2:06 PM | Permalink

I am browsing through his 'old' drawings and I am actually LOL'ing right in my stupid little cubicle. I like this one.

Posted by giddygirlie at 11:59 AM | Permalink

It was a phone call to a sex line and the operator informed the phone sex lady that she would be connecting a person-to-person call from a "Handicapable" person who spoke with computerized assistance. The phone sex lady was agreeable, so she started talking to the guy. He sounded like Stephen Hawking. He said a couple of things and she would say something back.... at one point she said something sexy, and he "mmmmm'ed" back to her, but since his computer doesn't read "mmmmm" as a sound it came out "m" "m" "m" "m" "m"

Just picture that sound in your head. Computer generated voice. "M" "M"

That's what I am laughing at this morning. Yeah, I am an idiot.

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:52 AM | Permalink

If you are an excel master mind (like moi) and need help with complex formulas and database management : these are your peeps. Seriously. Even if you just don't know how to format something simple, like fonts, you can get help free through the message boards. It's my new best friend. I have *never* had a question that these people couldn't answer- fast & friendly too!

No, they aren't paying me to tell you this... I was just there looking up something and thought that some of you fellow office geeks could use it as a reference!

They also have services that you can pay for - like data recovery, extensive macros, etc. - but if you kinda sorta know your way around Excel, then the message boards should get you where you're going.

...but if you need some database help - I'm your girl! I work for peanuts (or burritos) and am actually very knowledgable. Just keep me in mind. Maybe we can scheme up a databse for you, while I tailor your pants!

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:54 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:47 PM | Permalink

If you have any of the following - I'm your gal!

• pants that need to be hemmed!


• a p-nut butter sandwich that needs to be made!


• embroidery projects that need to be finished! or started!


• a weird itch in between your shoulders that you just can't reach!


• an achy, tired foot!


• a word that you need looked up in the dictionary!


• a judge to determine if that sweater is navy or black!

...the sooner you hire me, the sooner I can take New York by storm!!

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:41 PM | Permalink

He also is an excellent artist and has worked on character design, development, backgrounds, story boards, costuming, painting, airbrush, graphic design, woodworking, set building, prop design, and he makes a kick ass quesadilla!

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:37 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 4:44 PM | Permalink

It'll be very different for me, because one of my biggest problems is that I don't eat enough. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but I really don't eat very much, and most days I only eat one meal. You'd think I would be this little svelte thing, but instead my body hangs on to every last calorie and stores it in my ass. Literally. [For the record : I ate breakfast and lunch already today. Hooray!]

It's also kind of weird that I feel kind of petty about the whole thing. My best friend went through a weight loss surgery 8 months ago, to try and get a handle on her eating habits, and has lost a lot of weight. 100 lbs and counting. I am really happy for her, honestly, but at the same time I do feel the ever so slight twinge of jealousy. The pounds are just melting off with no effort. Literally none. She doesn't go the gym. She rarely exercises in any capacity. And yet her pants are hanging off her hips.

It finally struck me last week when she came to borrow a dress from me. I was happy to open my closet, but it felt really weird. This totally changes our friendship dynamic. This sounds totally base and vain, but she was always my taller friend, and she is also heavier than I am. By comparison, I (4'10") am the "cute" little petite one. That will no longer be, since she will now wear the same size clothes that I do, but have the height advantage to make it look even better. And it's purely a weird thing and not a competition thing (I am married and so I am not necessarily TRYING to attract men) but it just hit me last week and I'm not really sure how to deal yet. It doesn't affect our core friendship... we're still out in the jacuzzi until all hours of the night and shopping and the like... I don't really know what to make of it.

In any case, it's a good motivator to get my ass into the gym. My mom and I will be starting Weight Watchers this week, and joining Curves. So today was my "fresh start" and I have eaten twice and eaten healthy so far.... since this isn't really a weight loss journal, I won't bore all of you with the details. Just don't make fun of me if I skip the alfredo sauce, ok?

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:43 AM | Permalink

I mean, I know they're chock full of good stuff for you... vitamins and junk... but I don't want to taste the gross ass vitamin tablet flavor! Anyone who has sniffed inside a vitamin bottle knows that stench don't leave easy.... and that taste is now jammed in between my teeth.

Blech.

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:19 AM | Permalink

You're back? Good writing, huh? (deep breath) Ok...

Somehow all these words are so familiar. So intimate. I can feel my body tense and my skin tingle with every word. But that story is not my own. Instead, my story is quite the opposite. I have lived a very charmed life and have always been treated very well. But I can remember once when I was small - I had to have been 3 or 4 years old - coming into a room where my parents were watching a movie. It was Excalibur, I believe. I walked into the room during a time when there was a rape scene in the movie. I stopped dead in my tracks, my legs unwilling to step forward. My stomach tied up in knots and the bottoms of my feet tingled. I ran back to my room and did my best to 'lose' myself in the game that I was playing... that part I can't remember, but I disctinctly remember that feeling in my stomach.

When I was in second grade, my family moved and I went to a new school. It only took a few days for me to strike up a friendship with a girl with long brown braids. She and I were instantly buddies and ate lunch together, played dodge ball, all the typical second grade stuff. Then one day after lunch she told me that she had a terrible secret that she had to tell me. She started crying and said that she had to say it before the pain made her heart explode. She told me how her daddy touched her. I was confused and scared, I didn't know what to do. I asked my mom for help, and she got the school counselors involved. My dear little friend was so scared that she asked for me to come to her counseling sessions with her, and I did. I held her tiny little hand, even after she used it the back of her little hand to wipe the tears and snot from her nose. She needed me to be strong enough to carry her through.

My friend was saved from a bad situation and was put into foster care. She was so excited about going home from school! This was the first time in her life that she was able to go home without hiding in a closet. She finally was able to sleep at night, although her dreams tormented her. She told me all about her room and how cozy it was. Her foster mother even let her put a lock inside her door that would make sure that no one - boogey men or drunken fathers - could come in. She was content.

After months of terrifying court appearances and custody tug of war, my friend moved in with her mother who had now left her father. Her mother was struggling to get by with two children on a single income and was forced to take a small one bedroom apartment. She let the two children share the bedroom and the mother slept in the living room. Safe and sound. Away from Daddy. My friend began to look ragged and worn again and one day tearily confessed that her older brother, only 13 years old himself, had begun right where daddy had left off and despite her best efforts, she could no longer protect herself from him. Her seven year old brain was wrought with worry and ten lifetimes worth of pain and misery.

Again, she was taken into foster care. Unfortunately, the new family was a group of between 5 and 8 kids that moved in and out of the foster care "system" and it was much like a boarding house. She was very unhappy. The last that I heard from my little friend was a hug full of sobs and tears that dampened the shoulders of my shirt. Her foster parents were under investigation by the police and so all of the children had to be transferred around... she would no longer be attending my school and she didn't know where she would be. She promised to call or write. I've never heard from her again.

She was my first friend that really needed me. She was the first of a long line of people that I have met over the years. People who have endured unfathomable pain. People who are braver than I could ever be. People who needed me more than I needed them. People with terrible secrets and forbidden pasts.

Over the years, I have met all of you. Your uncle touched you that one time. He patted your head and told you that you were a good girl and you didn't need to tell anyone what happened. Your father touched you every night. Your brother punched you, a little too hard and a little too often. Your mother pulled your hair and smacked your face. Your father yelled a lot. They used hangers to beat you. They used alcohol as fuel. They sold drugs from your playroom and let dangerous people in your private space. They made you believe that it was your fault. They ignored what the other was doing. They pushed you out of the house, they forced you onto the street. They gave you your first taste of cocaine, they beat out your last breath. You cry at night. You're silent. You're excitable. You cut yourself. I see your burn marks. I see the scars that don't show. I know each and every one of you. I know you too well. I know you when you walk by me. I know you when you sit next to me. I can see it in your pictures, I can feel it in the air. You've never said and a word, and yet I know it anyway. I see who you date, and I know your history. I can relate to every part of it, but somehow it isn't me. I can feel your pain in the pit of my stomach. My intestines cramp at the thought of your past. My feet tingle and want to run away and carry you someplace safe. And you don't even know I am there. You tell me about your weekend and the TV show you watched. You tell me who you voted for and what's on your grocery list. You say nothing but happy things and I know all of your scary thoughts.

I have met several people with "psychic" abilities and each one has told me the same thing : I have an ancient soul. My star signs make me a nurturer and an earth mother. Maybe it's something cosmic? Maybe it's a load of crap. Either way, I know you. You may not recognize me... I may not be what you expect... I may not be the kind of person that you would tell your secrets to... but I draw you to me. Like a moth to a flame. I offer a beacon of warmth and home. Something comforting that is supposed to be there. Something soft to touch, somewhere safe to be, even if only for a moment. I give you my smile when you pass. I touch your shoulder when you're next to me. I hold your hand, even when its awkward. I hold you close, if you let me. I look you straight in the eye, even when you shy away. I take you into my life as much as I can. Sometimes it's just a warm word or a kind thought. It may be $5 when you need it. I extend myself to you as much as you'll let me be close to you. And I know you're scared. You're afraid of them. You're afraid of what was there. What is in the dark. What is in the future and even more of what is in your past.

I know these things about you and I am not afraid. I'm here for you if you need me.

Posted by giddygirlie at 4:27 PM | Permalink

It seems that every time I am within earshot of the Mexican girls, they slip into Spanish. They could be talking about something mundane or something exciting. Anytime this white girl slips into their radar : no hablo ingles.

And this isn't just casual passers-by... these are people who are working in stores, retail places, places where they are expected to help you.

Recently : at Macy's, my friend and I approached the counter to pay for our stuff. The two girls at the counter ignored us totally and slipped into spanish. After standing there for a minute or so I asked "are you open?" and the girl replied "oh no, joo needs to go to da udder one." Ok. As soon as we turned to walk away, the two girls giggled and started their conversation again...

"Yeah, right! Like I am going to help those bitches. Fuck them, stupid cows! And where the fuck did they get enough money to buy that stuff anyway? Probably their daddy's money. Stupid rich girls."

See, what they don't know is that I also speak Spanish. I may look like a dumb white girl, but I understand every word. If you go to Macy's, you won't find those girls working there any more. Yeah, I may kick ass quietly, but I do take names. Heh.

*I am not generalizing all Hispanic people. Mexcian girls are very different from, say, girls from El Salvador or Panama. Much bigger attitude, and often much bigger bangs to match.

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:07 AM | Permalink

Ruckus is hiding from you!

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:04 PM | Permalink

Me & Ryan outside of Club 33 at Disneyland. Of course, he was too shy to ask someone else to take the picture, so it's another one for our arm-length photo gallery... I look better without a chin, anyway.

And just me in front of the Club 33 sign. This is another arm-length pic, but he managed to cut half his face out of this one.... dumb butt....

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:59 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:53 PM | Permalink

This one is for Choppa.

Any other bloggers wanna trade for scarves or pirate patches?!

Posted by giddygirlie at 8:31 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 10:24 AM | Permalink

I will be traveling to your fair city in December and I need help planning my trip! I don't know what to see/do and I need advice!

This is my plan so far : get on a plane in LA. Land in NY (either JFK or LGA)

I am researching hotels for under $150 a night... it looks like everything has shared bathrooms. I'll pass. Does anyone know of any hotels that aren't too out of the way and/or disgusting? Some of the ones that I have found that have decent rates (Pennsylvania Hotel, etc.) seem OK and are in the Garment District in Midtown. Is that easily accessible by train/bus/taxi to the rest of Manhattan?

Basically, we want to see the holiday decorations... maybe visit Rockafeller Center, do some shopping, etc. I'm not crazy about the Statue of Liberty Tour or the Empire State Bldg. Maybe the MOMA... something like that.

Help!

(I am happy to send you presents for your help!)

Posted by giddygirlie at 9:01 PM | Permalink

I work in the Travel Industry and you always spend a good portion of your day on hold. Waiting for hotels, car companies, limo services, airlines... it sucks.

The only exception is waiting for JetBlue. Their hold message is something like this :

"Thank you for holding. We know you have better things to do and you'd rather not wait for us, so we really appreciate your hanging in there. Why don't people like being put on hold? They like to be held, right? Who doesn't like that cozy feeling of being held in someone's arms? So don't think of it as being on hold, but rather as being held. There, isn't that better? Thanks for waiting and we're glad that you stuck around. We're enjoying holding you"

They are always so much fun. They gave us a bunch of these to give to our travelers... a big hit.

Posted by giddygirlie at 3:11 PM | Permalink

I know, I know... that's what everyone says... but it's true this time!

He got a ticket for doing 45 in a 35 going uphill, behind a gravel truck while in 2nd gear. Honestly. This one time he REALLY wasn't speeding.

Now just to convince the judge....

Posted by giddygirlie at 12:29 PM | Permalink

Posted by giddygirlie at 12:27 PM | Permalink

First, I want to "shout out to all my peeps" an ENORMOUS 'thank you' for your donations. Alone, I was able to raise nearly $200, which my company will match for their donation to CHOC. $400 doesn't sound like a lot, but this is CHOC's largest fundraiser of the year and your generosity helped us to donate an estimated $750,000!!

Yesterday's walk was so overwhelming. Granted, we started our day before 6am, so we were a bit bleary eyed and emotional anyway, but the energy there was just amazing. 14,000 people all walking in honor of or in memory of their children. It's amazing to see how many lives were touched. I teared up more than once when I saw families that had the homemade shirts that said "Allison's Angels" or "In Loving Memory of Kevin" and showed a picture of these tiny children, stricken with cancer. It's amazing how many sick children there are, and how many are still out there, fighting the good fight. It makes me want to cry right now.

But it was also a very hopeful day. There were kids and families that were there as beacons of hope. The children who overcame cancer. The children who had been treated in CHOC's expert facility for ailments ranging from premature birth to broken arms and legs. Children that came to CHOC hospital from another city, state, or country to seek treatment. Children who couldn't afford treatment and were given treatment for no charge by CHOC. They came. They walked. They cheered. I cried.

Posted by giddygirlie at 1:34 PM | Permalink