The haps

really the main thing going on in my life is work, I worked 38 1/2 hours in 4 days last week and then took Friday off, thank god, to go to Santa Barbara with my friend Joyce. she lives in AZ now where it's like 115 degrees and I live in the hell that is Tujunga where it's been over 100 for weeks so I thought going to SB was a good idea for both of us. of course her plane was supposed to get into Burbank at around 9 pm Thursday night but was delayed by HOURS and got in at 11:30 pm and we had made plans to have lunch with Shannon in Simi Friday morning at 7:30 am on our way out of LA so we got almost no sleep. breakfast was nice though, we didnt' have to talk because Shannon talks so much you can't get a word in edgewise which worked great for us since we were sleep deprived and we got to laugh about it later. then we got pedicures before we left Simi but my pinkie toenails stuck to the inside of my shoes and I ended up with almost no polish on those toes, figures. so then we headed towards SB, took a minute to stop in Montecito and look in an antique shop and use the bathroom and then went into SB to have lunch. actually had lunch on the pier overlooking the water, we both had the fish and chips and shared a salad and then decided to do some wine tasting so we took the San Marcos pass to the 246 which goes into Buellton and Solvang, stopped in Santa Ynez at Kylara and did a tasting, I bought two bottles of wine and Joyce bought one of a dessert wine she really liked. couldn't decide whether to go into Los Olivos to find another winery or head into Solvang so we decide to just stay on the 246, went thru Solvang and Buellton and ended up at a winery between Buellton and Lompoc, did another tasting, I bought two more bottles of wine, one was a really nice Syrah for $30 to bring back and share with my boss and coworker, also bought some culinary sauces, didn't look at the bill of course, and then when I got home Saturday night noticed they charged me for THREE bottles of the white wine instead of two, $48 instead of $16, not good! at this point still have not gotten them to reverse the charges, have to call back again today. Anyway, we went to dinner at the Hitching Post after the wine tasting, both had fillet mignon, yummy and another glass of wine each, then checked into our hotel to get ready to go out. Joyce is putting on her makeup and looks over at me in the doorway of the bathroom and says "I don't feel very good" and I ask "like barfing not good?" and she says yeah so I get out of the way and she proceeds to throw up her whole dinner. no idea if it was the dinner or the wine, but I ate almost exactly the same thing she did so probably the wine. but then she felt totally fine so we went out anyway. SB is fun but it seemed like everyone was either a lot younger than us or a lot older, of course she's married anyway but it's always nice to flirt and we didn't even find anyone to flirt with. oh well, went to Denny's after and had a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich then went and crashed. Went back to Solvang the next day to do some shopping and at 11:30 am it was 104 degrees, freakin insane, so we went and had lunch in SB, did some shopping and headed back. actually got home around 8:30 Sat night, ate Japanese for dinner, watched Sideways (which totally makes sense given our weekend, if you've ever seen it), and then I took her to the airport Sunday morning at 7:30 am. went horseback riding Sunday again, actually got to ride, had a sort of argument with my friend Jen about the guy(?) she's seeing, I just think she's making really bad choices since she split up with her long time boyfriend and she asks for advice and then in completely dismissive of it, so why ask? so then I went to the grocery store, did some laundry, watched tv and basically vegged out the rest of Sunday. and this week is already hectic, it's like I'm on a wheel, one of those rodent ones in a cage, going round and round, that's how work feels... no wonder I drink so much.

Quick update

So I called the guy from the concert on Tuesday, fairly late because I went out after work and didn't have time till then. And I didn't hear back from him that night or all day yesterday so I'm thinking, hm, what's up with that? Then today at work my cell rings and yes, it's concert guy, he's been busy with work but wanted to call me really quickly, we talked for like 3 minutes and he said he'd call me back tonight. Yay. Am fairly excited since he's a good kisser and I wouldn't mind macking out with him again and seeing where that goes.
This sort of relates to a post by Blu about girlfriends and how lame they can be and why she prefers to hang out with male friends in general. I myself have several v. good female friends, some I've had for well over 20 years, and I love them to death, they know pretty much everything about me which almost no one else does or ever will. They are the family I have chosen for myself because they support me, love me, put up with my crap, put me in check when I need it. One thing that has always bugged me are women who flake out on their friends to go out with a guy or at the slightest interest from a guy or whathaveyou (not at all meaning you, Blu!). I have a good girlfriend who's only 26 who tried to do that to me last night and I had to put her in check because it's just not cool. I dont' understand women who think that dropping your friends for a man is a good idea. In my experience men come and go but good friends are forever, better to keep those around and if the man doesn't understand he's not a good match for me anyway. Guess I'll just have to train my friend not be a flake :)

Concerts and such

Went to a Pearl Jam concert Sunday night, they were really good live. The opening band was Sonic Youth, I'm sure I have heard them played on KROQ but they didn't play one song I recognized and what they did play I didn't like much. I was mainly going to see PJ anyway, so didn't really care, but my friend Jen went with me mostly to see SY and she didn't like their choices either. So we're drinking $12 margaritas at the concert, walking around trying to find a section with cute boys to flirt with, made a complete circuit and ended up right where we started. But then I ended up talking to a guy with a completely shaved head, cute, small goatee and glasses, sort of quirky/artistic looking, named Bill who was totally willing to share his corona with me/us and also other substances of the smoking variety and I ended up making out with him for most of the concert. Can't beat great live music and making out with someone who actually kisses well. Jen was a very good sport and didn't give me any crap about it, she was just happy one of us was getting something. His friend Raul seemed okay but who knows with guys. After we couldn't find our car and they walked around the parking lot twice with us looking for it, ended up being parked like 10 feet from their car, ironic, no? Then we all went to Denny's and ate breakfast which he paid for also (nice guy) and then I made out with him more in the parking lot while poor Jen waited in the car and finally got home around 2:30 am, had to be at work at 7:30 am Monday morning and was SO tired but it was worth it. We exchanged numbers but he lives in the OC which is a bit far so we'll see if anything comes of it. Going back to Santa Barbara for a weekend soon to with another friend, that s/b fun. And I'm starting a horseback riding class this Sunday, that's going to be a blast, can't wait! This summer is shaping up to be very interesting...

Not just Friday, payday Friday!

I think everyone would agree that Fridays are, in general, one of the best days of the week, as long as your normal workweek is M-F, but payday Fridays are just that much better- the start of the weekend and money to spend! Vonderbar. So of course I used the occasion to buy two bracelets, a pair of earrings and a necklace from my friend and coworker who makes jewelry, spent $90, poof, some of that (sort of) hard earned money gone. But she makes pretty stuff, silver mostly, with real stones and crystals and designer beads and I like it, so oh well. Tomorrow I am going to go see the new Pirates of the Carribean movie with my friend Karla and Sunday I am going to see Pearl Jam at the Forum in Inglewood, for those of you who do not know LA very well, Inglewood is not, let's just say, the best neighborhood, it's actually more like THE HOOD kind of neighborhood, but I'm a brown girl, I should blend in. Next Sunday I have a class starting up, my friend Jen and I (of the Santa Barbara pics) are taking a horse back riding class together, it s/b fun, used to go riding all the time when I was younger in Santa Maria, but down here I never have the time/opportunity, so this provides for both of those things.
I may move into Pasadena, my friend lives in a small complex and an older lady passed away so now her apt is available or will soon be. Of course the circumstances are sad but the availability of a nice apt in a nice area for only $800 a month is not to be ignored no matter how it became available. Keep fingers crossed that I get it, I really do need to move from my current residence so I can stop sleeping with my gun under my pillow. For those who thought that was/is completely insane, keep in mind I have a queen size bed for just me and it's under the pillow I don't sleep on, so it's not as bad as it sounds...
My 20 year reunion is this year and may actually happen, we've never had a reunion, not one, but I am pushing people into meeting at the end of the month so hopefully we'll get something planned. I still see many of my good friends from HS but it would be interesting to see some of the ones that I haven't seen since we graduated lo these many years ago.
Speaking of HS, when I was in HS and we'd have to run laps, remember that fun activity? I never could run a whole mile, four laps, no way, I'd run one, then have to walk half a lap or so, run another lap, etc, I honestly think I NEVER ran a whole mile in my entire life, and the other night at the gym I ran 1.5 miles straight thru on the treadmill and I wasn't even really out of breath, my hips and ankles hurt but it wasn't even that hard. I think I'm in the best physical shape I've ever been in, discounting the arthritis that's creeping up on me and the adult acne I've been so blessed with lately. Maybe getting older doesn't completely suck.