Phoenix has been singing Meat Sandwich to the neighbor girls.
Of course none of them have even heard of GWAR so...it's funny.
Next time they come to town both of my kids want to go. :)

Biked 6 miles to the Everett Transit Station yesterday, for the first time, in the heat nonetheless.
Kudos to digigasm for riding with me and helping me figure out the bus bike rack without stress.
It's a beautiful ride. Just a couple harsh hills going up. One gnarly one going down. I was squeezing my brakes as hard as I could and I was still clipping at an uncomfortable speed. I was too engrossed with not dying to check my speedometer thingy. doh!
I know I'll crave that OMG I might die feeling though soon enough and climb back on the bike. Today I'm busing it, legs are wobbly as Hell. hahaha

Looking forward to the 4th! It's the first time in YEARS we're not having our party. Been invited elsewhere and gladly accepting.
Change it up a bit will be nice.

What is it about Summertime and craving new ink! It doesn't help that the artist comes in from Enemy Tattoo everyday and bullshits with us either. I already have the design and the placement figured out...now it's justifying spending the money that's stopping me. It's not going to be an animal but if it were it would be a...

Today's random ass poll...

Poll #1213670
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

If you got a tattoo of an animal, what would it be?

Been riding the bus all week to work. I'm actually enjoying it. It's nice being chauffered. Haven't ridden regularly since highschool. Time moves slower now but I needed that anyway. There's no shortage of entertainment either.
(one guy was drunk off his ass the other day telling everyone that'd listen about the time his grandma put a 45 in his mouth, then the very next sentence was how his girlfriend has a really nice ass)
I'm enjoying the down time to just be Dude. I can read or write or people watch. I try to figure out what sort of lives people have once they get off the bus. Where they work based on how they're dressed, etc. Will I ever even see the same person twice. Would I know it if I did. Right now everyone is Stranger status. *shrug*
That's alright though. I get enough social time as a Barista. Today on my break I actually headed outside and sat at the only table against a brick wall (otherwise it's all windows) just to hide for 10 minutes from greeting or thanking people.
Michael made thee best dinner tonight! Bonzai Burgers from scratch like Red Robin serves and Homemade Fried Potatoes!

Poll #1209698
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Are you suffering from allergies right now too?

It's a big ol' sneeze fest around here. Wish I knew which plant was the culprit!

Poll #1209181
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Is there a cure?

Shaving my legs in the backyard with a bucket of warm water in the sunshine is one of my favorite things!

Now if the burning would just stop.
I bought some new Organic Peppermint Shave Cream and settled for cheap Bic razors(that still totted being for "sensitive skin")
Fuckers. I should know better though that I get rashes from cheap metal. :(

The veins are more of a meh afterthought. Both of my grandmas sported the spidery creatures on their legs. I used to be fascinated by then, until they started popping up on mine!

cue the Alice Cooper.

Michael helped Jade exchange her flute for a clarinet yesterday. She's excited. Played it for hours.

I finally get a spell off from work (though they were trying to call me as I was going to bed last night)
I need this break! Still living out of boxes around here. Need time to unpack proper, sheesh!

Raided Ace yesterday afterwork for herbs. Basil, 2 Peppermint, 2 Starry Night Violas, and a Spearamint.
Figure I'll need all that for the 1.75 L bottle of Bacardi my Mother gave me. heh

Our bus passes arrived in the mail. So begins our "parking the car".
I don't mind(so far). I know we've(Americans) have been spoiled with our cars hauling our meat around EVERYWHERE, even little trips from one store to the other so...a new mind set is in order.
Yesterday at work I used "for here" cups all day at work and you know what's cool, so did everyone else AND they're excited to order some new ones that'll be JUST for the partners to use while we're working. I'm sure when I'm not there to set the example it'll probably go back to the way it was, but...it's nice to make a positive difference. :)

Looked up a news story from the flooding in LaValle. It broke my heart that Ramona was mentioned she's a cool lady but guess who lives alone just next door, MY GRANDPA! *gasp* My sister has been checking on him, of course he answers the phone in the first ring(at 87 years old) like nothing is wrong. He's so awesome.

Been listening to The Adam Corolla Show most mornings.
One of his rants is that only bums hang out in the library.
People with jobs have no time for the library.
I love the library, but I don't hang out there. I browse and go.
It does amaze me how many people do have ample free time in the middle of the day though.
The library or even Starbucks, people are taking the time to just sit.


I can't wait!



Poll #1206267
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

When was the last time you stepped foot inside a library?

you pay $6.61 for 6 nectarines! That's over a dollar a piece, they weren't even organic.

you get accused of removing paint from your Landlords garage. *shakes head*
why would I do this. (1)I just painted my own freaking house the exact opposite color scheme as that shit AND (2) I never even liked the colors in their house anyway. I feel sorry for our friends D and Z, they're renting Dodd's House right after us. I hope they don't pull stupid shit to blame them for.

you get sinus issues AS SOON AS THE SUN COMES OUT. Seriously, that's been stupid.
I love the sun yet I feel like I'm being punished for doing so.
Watery eyes, fucked up ears, sinus headaches, runny nose...

our New Boss started last week. He seems alright. Laid back. I went to write down my new schedule. Somehow I managed to go from working 2-3 days a week to 5.
Ah well. We need the money. ;) I'm just waiting for some of the other partners to complain though, they're used to more hours/making more money.

I was sort of a naughty Monkey Saturday night. I told my girls I wasn't going out, then Ben called.
He wanted us to come out to watch his girlfriends band. She plays the cello. I'm glad we did! All three bands were AH MAZ ING! And free.
I got pulled over on the way home. The first thing out of my mouth was, "is he pulling ME over"? hahaha
even though I knew I had a headlight out. We were let go with just a verbal "you should get that fixed as soon as possible."

previous weekend I was at Tulalip Casino with mah ladies eating buffet food and dancing to old Prince videos with a live band.
last weekend I was at a dirty pub in the U-District playing pool and watching free form Jazz.
This weekend I've been invited to my brother's girlfriend's graduation party. Complete with Jello Wrestling.
I love my friends!!!

Whoo! This just in...
Michael found a videotape of a walkthrough he did back in June (before we moved in) the paint cans weren't even there! Fuckers.
They've been cool to us the entire time we rented from them but now they're going to pull all kinds of chicken S moves just to keep our deposit money (that I joked was already spent on tanning) but I'm probably not wrong here.

Still alive and well (fabulous) actually
Tripping over boxes that need unpacking
but...
par for the course when you're still driving your kids to school (in Bothell) everyday, maintaining a job, cleaning Dodd's House and staying on top of dishes and laundry here AND still managing somewhat of a social life.
Tina's birthday and our 14 year anniversary parties were AWESOME.
Michael got me(us) Mario Kart for the Wii as a gift.
We smashed turtles at eachother with the original for 5 years strong so it was thee most perfect gift ever!
Have lots of pictures I've fallen behind with...someday!
We fancied the idea of going back to Wisconsin for a week at the end of June but with 3,000 dollars for tickets (just to transport our meat there) that doesn't include renting a car or food,etc. AND the recent flooding to the area our family lives! It added up to a no-go.

My newest dilemma...in poll form of course!


Poll #1203874
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Which would you do?

Getting used to 6am wakeups
Old friends/neighbors showing up at our door again
I'll hear just a *tap tap* at the door and suddenly their standing inside my living room
I forgot people used to do that all the time. It's cool.
I'm physically fatigued as Hell but happy to be 70% moved
The day I can stop saying "Oh, it's at the OTHER HOUSE" there will be dancing in the streets, by me at least.
Today we're heading to see Ironman. Need a break.
Saturday I'll be partying with mah bitches for a TeeheeFest-ers birthday party. Can't wait!

changed format to checkboxes. clicka all that apply this way.

Poll #1195197
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

which do you consume nowadays?

Been fascinated by the subject of milk lately. It must be a Barista thing but seriously...
Some people will ONLY drink Breve (half and half), some people will ONLY drink Whole, some people will ONLY touch Soy nowadays.
Some people don't care what milk and let us pick. hahaha
I LOVE French Vanilla Silk Soy Creamer but it's becoming a pain in the ass to find in stores lately. Which baffles me since we go through a fuckton of Soy at work so I know people are drinking it, yet why is it getting discontinued on grocery shelves?
I drink lots of cow milk since starting this Barista thing too. Even at home. I have hot milk and honey at bedtime. I only make my Hot Chocolate with milk now instead of water.
Rice Milk is good in Grapenuts.
Almond Milk is good with Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

*happy dance* at my mailbox today.

THANKS, twilightsm for the Nightmare on Elm Street Box Set.
You certainly made my millennium!

Expect a Karma Mailbox Surprise soon. :)

First off. I move fast. I must. In just the few hours I spent running errands, I gave myself shin splints and burning arches.
My last stop was to Fred Meyer for School Boy Red Delicious Apples, I ended up springing $34 for insoles too. hahaha
I hope they work photosexual. The cashier lady was like, "dang girl, $34 you could buy new shoes for that!"
"I know, so I hope they work."
Found Monty Python's The Meaning of Life on DVD too for a mere $9.99, which is really cool because I was just saying the other day how you never see that but you see The Holy Grail all the time.

Got Phoenix's costume for Peter Pan.
Indian in a bag.
I don't use that word normally, I prefer Native American but since it's an old movie they still have him cast as "Indian Boy".
*sigh*

Hit up KFC Drive-thru for lunch. I haven't even eaten at one for years so I was baffled by their new menu but it was pretty good.
I got my food and then parked in the lot to eat it and immediately a man approaches the car for money. Yeah right. Like I'm going to open the window for him and just hand out free money. I don't understand this concept at all. I bust my ass for my just above minimum wage monies why would I give him any for doing NOTHING for me.
I've become slightly more empathetic to the people that have mental disabilities and are unable to work.
But this guy seemed perfectly fine and as soon as I turned him down, he simply asked another.
arcitennoir has a policy about bums in that he'd give them money if they were actually doing something for it.
Playing guitar, singing or whatever but just flat out give me something for nothing has got to be the sickest form of sloth I've ever seen.

Had a great run at the library. Lots and lots of gardening books! My LS House backyard is already looking like something you'd see in one of those artsy gardening books but...it's my passion. All that's missing is a weathered bench and a piping cup of coffee and SERENITY SHALL BE MINE.

On a quest for a nice plant rack (for indoors) I stopped into the Ace in Snohomish. That place was a buzz with gardening fanatics it was awesome to be among friendlies in this respect. I found a Bay leaf shrub. YAY! for never having to buy it again! I use that a lot for cooking. Bought a Local Wildflower Honey Bear. Excited to try that in my hot milk tonight. Chatted up the staff about what to do about my mossy front yard. Controlling my raspberries, etc. Learned a lot today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, cajunsblues!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, charmed_art!

Today is my 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY with Starbucks. I still love the job. More so actually, since I feel more comfortable with what to do now. hahaha
Worked with a new girl yesterday. We were slammed and she was lost amongst the chaos. Poor dear. It's hard to watch but I've been there myself. A lot of people quit early on because of it. It's a harder job than most people think.
I need to find some Happy Medium with shoes. I keep buying cheap ones because most days they get frappucino dumped on them anyway.
I don't feel bad throwing away a $14 pair of shoes but a cheap pair of shoes has little to no support that I need to run around like a Chicken. Some of the partners say I'll ruin my back and legs with cheap shoes. Good Insoles?

Today is also my 1 year Anniversary with Mirenda. I was reading some older entries and a few days of crazy hormones aside...
I'm so thankful for it. No more bathtub stays. No more Fatties and Booze and Prescription Naproxen for pain. No more Black Moods. I can get away with Pantyliners my entire period now. It's awesome.

Two weeks left at Dodd's House and we'll start the REAL MOVE back. I'm at that awkward place of packing too early and just leaving it until THE DAY you know. It's a surreal place to be in. Very excited to move back on one hand on the other my mind keeps racing, did I do everything I meant to while here?
I guess I'm used to this thinking since I've moved out of State before, only this time it's only 20 miles away. hahaha
My brain is still doing the same thing.

Looking forward to Girl Night Out Saturday! Oh my God. Missed my friends and the dance floor to an embarrassing level of girly squee goodness.

Poll #1190120
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Warm Milk and Honey at Bedtime

~today will be a Frappucino Nightmare. But I am ready. I've prepared my mind for it. That's half the battle. hahaha

~I got to lay in the sun at a park yesterday with my Fuckbeast(tm) and look at Spectrum 11.

~today will be another fantastic day weather wise but I'll pay my dues. Let some of those that had to work yesterday enjoy it today.

~got the back yard at Dodd's House mowed last night. It's a monster so went halv-sies on it. It looks amazing now.

~it's a good thing we invite company over once in awhile, it's the only thing that motivates me to DEEP CLEAN the house!

~my dog keeps gruffing at me but it's no where near 9 o'clock (puppy breakfast)I'm baffled. Not interpreting dog very well this morning I guess.

~Can't seem to shake this ant story out of my head. I knew insects will rule us all some day. heh

~This myspace suicide bullying casemakes me angry. I'm pretty open with my journal, but maybe I shouldn't be. It also makes me worry about Jade being a target by weirdos.

~need more caffeine!!! been up since 4.

~did you realize there's only 5 hours of darkness right now. I didn't either until all these clouds finally decided to piss off.

~we're still watching Buffy into about season 4 of Jade's box set now and it's funny to me that the vampires live in sunny California. They could walk around in the daytime most of the year in foggy overcast Washington.

Poll #1188308
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Which do you prefer?

My little baby Phoenix turns 9 today!
I can't believe it!

My dog turns 6 today!
He's growing a frosty beard.

Tonight. Red Robin and presents.
Saturday a Friends party here at the house. Pizza & Cake.
Since my Mother has moved down to AZ I'm very blessed that our friends are stepping up to the plate to share in Family Events.
I'd invite my Fishies Grandparents but...grandpa still can't do stairs since he broke his hip, and there's lots of those here.
I have an Aunt and Uncle and a couple cousins (with families) close by but...that will turn into a HUGE party. My brain isn't ready for that. We have one kid that's a yes for a sleepover and another that's a maybe. Another parent won't return my calls. Which unsettles me some because we were friends and I didn't choose sides during her divorce, which now is what I'm thinking she wanted me to do but whatever. I'm not playing that.

Today is a celebration day!!!!

Phoenix fell down the stairs last night.
He's experiencing his first sprained ankle/foot.
Tiger Balm, Frozen Veggie Ice Pack, Ace Bandage, Tylenol.
Am I forgetting anything?

So thankful I have off today. Getting a shift covered can be a whole different kind of pain. heh.

Ahhhh tomorrow I get a day off. From Starbucks at least. I used to be such a social creature. Clubbing, Dinners, Parties, Artwalks. Now I get home from work, don my violet fluffy bathrobe and hibernate. Even going out for groceries seems like torture. Which is funny to me now, because I used to enjoy that. Being a Barista is such a saturation of social time that I've been neglecting social time with my friends. I've come to realize. I apologize and once you ladies get back from CA I'd like to do something fun with you!

They say "Laughter is the Best Medicine." I couldn't ask for a better crew to work with.
My face hurt today we were laughing so much. Boss Lady is a racket when she's over tired.

I was stocking the condiment bar in a hurry and slammed my finger in the door. Instant pain. I wasn't sure if I was going to pee alittle or pass out. ALL of us that work there have done that at some point so I guess I feel more like part of the crew now. AND my nail is already completely bruised. Reminds me of the days when people would lose a nail doing something like that. But I don't think I damaged it THAT bad. I've also managed to scrape off a good portion of knuckle on my right hand this week on the shelf above the grinder. Nothing is more embarrassing than jumping on register to help customers with blood dripping down your hand, in a food establishment. I promptly had to excuse myself, obviously. Having a day off will be good to heal thyself before returning.

I get to set up Promo next week for Summer Phase 1. There's some neat new shit coming. Iced Doubleshot Espresso drinks (like in the can but we're making fresh) or you can order an Iced Doubleshot Espresso with Energy Powder. It'll contain ginseng and some other shit. A Venti will have 5 shots. Michael said soon we should just pass out lines of coke on a mirror. Heh. Good point. I'm such a Drug Dealer.
There's a Mint Mocha Frappucino coming with Chocolate Whipping Cream. New Lemonade Drinks. Reduced-Fat Strawberry Creme Coffee Cake, Raspberry and Apricot Thumbprint Scones. There's probably more but that's all I can remember for now. It's already been a lot to digest and we haven't even started learning those recipes yet.

Started packing boxes yesterday! Tomorrow I'll bring over those. Empty, put away and re-use for more stuff.
Seems like a good policy until we get stressed for time.

Alright. Off to embrace The Dude some more with some sewing of the Phoenix Rising and a glass of wine.

Poll #1183482
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Patchouli Oil

I wear mine with coconut oil (or sometimes sweet orange). Not mixed together or anything just on my person somewhere I dab patchouli and another place I'll dab the coconut or sweet orange. Makes me earthy yet sweet. Seems to be a great combo for my persona, I tend to naturally smell like a "spice cabinet" anyway. I KNOW I don't smell good in flowery scents. What about you?