Monthly Archives: February 2008

Power Pill is Back

Power Pill is Back

I haven’t felt this energetic and happy in a long, long time. In fact, I feel so much exuberance and zest that John now calls me “Power Pill.” Why the refreshed outlook? Well besides the obvious of having lucked out with Bubbey (from what my unattached friends tell me, the dating world is treacherous out there!) and two great pups, I just feel like things are finally starting to gel over here. I’m making friends (and reconnecting with old ones), I’m doing activities that had always been on my list (skating, riding, cycling), the job is totally kickass (more on that later), and this is super vain but my skin is finally clear. The last point is not one that I bring up too often (it’s a bit personal), but I just want to say, all those super sappy testimonials you see on the Proactive-type commercials? I cry every time I watch those (whether they are real customers or not), because I totally identify with their old feelings of ugliness, insecurity, worthlessness, and embarrassment. Honestly, thinking back to college, some days I felt so sickened by the way I looked, I simply stayed in my room all damn day. And you know how anal I am about school… me skip class? I dunno. It’s hard to describe, and I hope none of you ever feel that sense of paralysis: it’s just crazy. All those things people say about being hindered by body image and self-esteem issues… I really do feel a certain liberation now. Sounds silly but it’s true. John says I need to reconsider my position on elective plastic surgery now… after all, whatever makes you happy, right?

So I have to update on the job (surprise, surprise). I just passed my five-month milestone. You see, at my former job, everything started out hunky dory. Loved the job, loved the people, clean tech was saving the world, blah, blah. But by month five, the shit was hitting the fan every goddamn day. The signs were there… I just refused to look at them.

In contrast, my current place is still rockin’. Sure, there are some deep-rooted internal team issues, but thankfully, I’m not pulled into that. I like everyone and everyone likes me. La dee da. The other stuff, they are working on.

A couple weeks ago, a few of us attended a workshop on environmental diversity– expanding environmentalism and outreach to diverse communities, and it was a really informative session. They had all these panelists from really cool nonprofits and independent media… These people are amazing– they’re out there inciting action, engaging people in their community. We all felt really inspired, and for the next fiscal year, our team is really going to focus on outreach to new communities.

I had my first presentation to the Board this past Wednesday. My god. I was obsessing. Had the slides ready like a week before, and then I saw the GIS person’s slides and she totally created her own template. Mapping people, I tell you. All into pantones and RGBs and shit. Her template was awesome, which in turn, threw me into a tizzy because mine was just a plain gradient background.

So then, I had no choice but to spend an inordinate amount of time creating my new template: late nights at home, a mini breakdown because Bubbey (Mr. Visio himself) kept dismissing the importance of an impressive template… but in the end, I sliced/cropped an image from Keynote (Yes Apple, thank you!) and came up with a nice, clean template. Whew! Thank goodness.

John kept saying I was too competitive, but it wasn’t even about that. I didn’t much care to surpass Casey. I just didn’t want her slides to be a 10 and mine to be a 2. I had to at least be an 8 or 9, right?

Anyway, in signature style, I overprepared my ass. I was practically rehearsing my lines in my sleep. I ran through the slides in the bathroom, in the car, at the store… it was insane. But it paid off! I seriously rocked it. Afterwards, all the big dogs were blown away, and the next day, I got so many compliments, including people asking if I had done power speaking or a lot of public speaking events!!! Boy did I fool them! Ha. I mean, to be blunt, their standards obviously aren’t that high, but still, I was so pleased especially since I used to have major social anxiety! So their comments really made my day. And, now I have a nice template I can reuse for next time. Hee, hee. I’m such a nerd.

My Bobo

My Bobo

The weather has just started to warm. Yes, we had a good month or so of rain and cold, and I was actually beginning to forget this California sunshine that everyone always brags about…

John took a couple pictures of Bemby enjoying the return of good weather. Pictures of Marty to follow.

The Dumpling Master

The Dumpling Master

Hello, hello. Can’t believe another two weeks have passed since my last post. How lame am I? Well, first I must say Happy Chinese New Year. It’s the year of the rat, which means my mother is turning 60. Wow. My perception of age is all screwed up. I still think of myself as a young adult and my parents as 50 y/o. Geez, I really need to get with it.

So anyway, CNY was cool. Since I lamed out on my coworkers for Christmas (meaning everyone else handed out gifts…), I brought in a big box of pineapple cakes which my coworker Paul described as a pineapple Fig Newton. The next day, John and I also made jiaozi. Following this super easy recipe, John made the filling and I sat for 90 minutes to wrap 100 dumplings. They turned out super tasty. We’d gotten a nonstick skillet just for the dumplings (guotie style is the only way to go) and man, the brown crispy bottom was perfect, just like how Wu ayi used to make them. I made John take pictures for proof, which is always needed in my case.

Just to make sure it wasn’t all a fluke, I also cooked some up the other day for my friend Tina. She was crazy impressed. Ha, that’s how low the expectations are for me. 🙂

In other news, we had some peeps over for dinner a week ago. Got the place all spic and span. Made our usual go-to dinner party meal: Costco beef tritip pot roast. The evening’s guest of honor was my friend Joe’s girlfriend. All of us had been hearing so many great things about her (doctor, rock climber, hiker, conference speaker, hottie, etc.), and this was the night to finally meet her. Ever the skeptical, John insists there’s no way she’s all those things. “She’s a phantom girlfriend. She sounds too perfect.” I disagree. Perfection is possible. Already, I can name at least two people who I would consider perfect. Sure, they aren’t everywhere, but they are there. And I notice (envy) them. Anyway, the point is, she got sick and had to bail last minute. John says that only furthers his point, “I knew it! She’s not real.” But I think it’s really sweet that Joe is completely enthralled with his new lady. The Salad Years are good times.

I do hope to meet her some day soon. She sounds quite inspiring actually.

The Pool Guy

The Pool Guy

Oh, I forgot to mention this weirdo freaky event that happened last Saturday night. So you know how I go to my private (er… community) hot tub like every single day it’s open? Well last weekend, I went into the gated pool area around 10 p.m. Took the pups with. They like to sniff around and shit in the flower beds. Bubbey didn’t feel like going so he just stayed home.

Well some dude (whom we’ve actually seen before) unlocked the gate, walked in, ignored my greeting, and proceeded into the changing/resting room. And he stayed in there forever. My stupid dogs didn’t do a damn thing. No barking, no snorting, nuthin’. Yeah, real protectors they are. So John and I had seen this guy maybe several months before. Back then, he’d come out of the room, and I thought he was a maintenance guy, so I was like, “Excuse me, excuse me…” I wanted to ask him about resetting the temperatures. He totally ignored me and walked out. This time, same deal except he was coming in. And he still totally ignored me, walked into the room, and then never came out. Sitting in the tub with my oblivious lame-o dogs, I started freaking myself out with the possible scenarios. I mean, Bubbey was off in la-la land in front of the tube… what if? At first, I planned to wait for him to come out, and then I’d go home. But it was like another 15 minutes, so I just left. Heart pounding and all. And then I got thinking…. what the hell is this guy doing in there? I mean, he has a key to the gate, so either he lives here or works here (maintenance?) or used to live here or maybe he opens the gate with a credit card? I don’t know. But it’s just a room with a bench. Nothing else. Is he a perv? Is he doing drugs? Is he seeking shelter? It was dark and I couldn’t even see what he looked like but I just wonder. And now I don’t go alone at night. Fucking pain in my ass. So annoying to change my schedule because of fear; yet seems pretty dumb to ignore my instincts… John thinks we should tell the home owners association but I always feel like those groups try to over-regulate everything. I mean, if he’s not hurting anyone, who really cares right? I just want to know why he goes there. Discovering new mysteries all the time. 🙂

Where’s my A Game?

Where’s my A Game?

John and I are supposed to be playing our game, well my game actually. Yes, the “how low can you go” cheapie game. I think I mentioned before that part of the program entailed cutting our energy consumption. So this winter, we turned off all the heat (we have ultra-inefficient heating panels in the celings, of all places) except at bedtime when we set the knob somewhere between 55 and 60. Yes, still pretty chilly but I also pile on three comforters so by morning, we are practically both waking with headaches due to the toasty bed. Anyway, I was disappointed that our last electricity bill nearly reached $100. Normally it’s less than $40. Then again, with all the rain, I haven’t been able to line-dry our clothes. I don’t know. Still doesn’t seem right but whatever… God, am I OCD or what?

Anyway, John and I did really well in January with cutting down on eating out. And I have to say, eating in is growing on me. Sure, the transition has increased our dependency on frozen foods (still healthier than restaurant foods right?) but at the same time, I think our portions are smaller and we are feeling better.

Looking at the numbers, grocery expenditures are up, restaurant costs are down… not a huge difference overall but I think the gains will become more substantial as time passes. And once I rid myself of my latest weakness (somehow I’ve picked up a clothes shopping bug), I’ll be all over this shit with my A game.

Yeah, I’m not sure what is up with my shopping itch. Too much WNTW perhaps. Nothing really major (I wear cheap crap anyway) but with all the clearance sales and stuff, I just couldn’t resist. And the odd thing is, I’m buying all these dresses. Like three of them. I’m like in some weird earthy-wanna-be-dressy phase. I know, how fancy can $10 buy, right?
Yeah, so I got this navy strapless pencil dress from Target. Thought it was cool and then when I put in on at home, John complained that the fabric was like umbrella material. Admittedly, the fabric is not so great but it was $10! I know, Stacy and Clinton would be pissed. Quality, quality, quality! I’m retarded. And the other problem is the length. I really need to get a full-length mirror at home. What the hell am I doing, right? See? I need help. Who’s gonna nominate me for WNTW? Seriously. And when the hell will I wear a dress like this? I really need to put more thought into my purchases.

That said, the second dress is actually pretty cool, except that, being on clearance, it’s one size off and John says it looks tenty (but who said he was an expert on this?). But my question is… all the flowy dresses out there, aren’t some supposed to be tenty? Who the hell can figure this shit out? Sigh. Whatever. This dress is cool. And it’s not Target: it’s Ann Taylor LOFT (I told you I’m earthy wanna be prissy). And since it only cost $18, I’m going to splurge on a tailor to get it right. Nice piece for the theater maybe? No picture, sorry. Ok, so I’ve gone on a tangent. I know none of you really give a rat’s ass about my stupid bargain buys. My apologies. The main idea? No more distractions: I’m bringing out my A game. 😉

Little Shop of Disappointment

Little Shop of Disappointment

John and I went to see Little Shop of Horrors at the American Musical Theater of San Jose this afternoon. First time at the venue, and the theater was really nice. Unfortunately, I used Goldstar Events to hook us up with half-price tickets and I have to say, row 15 didn’t sound very far away but holy crap did the acoustics suck. The culprit? That damn balcony overhang. I have to say, I love Goldstar for many reasons: we try new things, get out and about, see what’s happening in the city, on the peninsula, etc. But really, the quality of seats totally depends on the venue. For little cozy community theaters like Hillbarn in Foster City, Goldstar is perfect. I’d even say Goldstar would be alright for Cirque. But for larger stages like Broadway by the Bay’s San Mateo Performing Arts Center or AMTSJ, forget it: buy direct and fork over the dough for closer seats. Frankly, there is nothing worse than crap seats where the acoustics are fucked and you can’t see squat. Can you sense my annoyance? I mean, even at half off the tickets were not cheap. And then…. well whatever. Live and learn.

Fortunately, I already nailed down tickets for Cabaret at AMTSJ in March. Snatched those puppies up as soon as they became available. No games. I bagged us front row seats baby. Aww yeah. Can not wait. I just hope the production is stellar, because I wasn’t very impressed with today’s event, poor acoustics or otherwise… Maybe the story lacked gravity? I don’t know.

In other news, I put horseback riding on hold. The weather’s been nutty lately… random incidents of rain, flash flooding, thunder, lots of cold. Surely the ranch is muddy every damn weekend. This will be a nice break to reopen-up my Saturdays. Then when the weather warms, I’ll resume. Just hope I don’t lose my riding memory. Would be a pain to start from scratch.