What a deal

For those of you who don't know, I love to go to thrift stores. Maybe a little too much! I'm always looking for a great deal or something rare...and I have had some really good luck so far! I went the other day and found a COMPLETE set of rose pattern china (do you know how hard it is to find a complete set???). Not mention it was the same pattern as my Grandmothers, which I never thought I'd see again! Truely, what a great find at only $19.99 for the whole set. So I thought I would share these gems.

Take care!



- Posted using BlogPress on iPhone

Happy birthday to the lady who gave me life

Today is my Moms birthday. I'm sure for most people, this would be a day where they plan what they are going to do for Mom and how they can make sure that she does at little as possible because it is her day to rest. Well, not me. I haven't seen my Mom for 14 years now. So, it is just like any day, just like any other year. Not knowing how or where she is.
My mom disappeared on June 9, 1995 and she hasen't been heard from since. It's like she has fallen off of the face of the earth. She is listed as a national missing person, as if that in its self, has any significance...but did she actually leave on her own accord? Or did she meet with foul play? The longest I had been away from my Mom prior to her disappearance was 3 days. So obviously something is not adding up here...the details would be mind boggling, so I shall spare anyone reading this. Well, none the less, Happy 53rd Birthday, ma. I miss you. I hope you would be proud of us.

Got to get to Bend!

Well, it has been a while since I’ve stopped in to say ‘hello’…it’s a wonder that I have managed to remember to write here at all! Surely, I must have some variation of ADD. I can never seem to stay on task and I am always starting one project while another one is waiting to be completed!
So much has happened since the last time I blogged. It has been one year now since my sister moved away to Texas and took my niece and nephews.

I do miss them terribly but I can honestly say that I cannot for see myself traveling to Texas anytime soon. Too many things on my own plate can keep me burdened with all the things that I have to do before I can start something new. New to me is traveling to Texas. If she were out there by herself it would be one thing, but she has family. My brother, on the other hand, he left for New Jersey on 9/11/09. He drove all the way across the country and is now in college. I am so proud of him! I worry about him a lot. We’ve always been around to help him when he needed us…now he is alone. I hope he can handle it without losing his crazy sense of humor. Maybe a trip out to see him sometime next year is something we can plan. As for me… we have been traveling to Oregon every year for the last 10+ years to visit family. On our way home from there after 4th of July, we were greatly saddened by the fact that we had to leave and return to our ‘reality’ where things just haven’t been going the way we plan lately (i.e: #1 we hate our jobs!). Like an epiphany, this is where our first talks of moving to Oregon came to light! Why not? We seem to love it there, don’t we? It feels like home every time we are there, doesn’t it? Is it feasible? What will we do for work? What about our current home? So many questions, but none the less, it has become our goal we have set. We’ve got to get to Bend! Just how to get there and how quickly are still the questions of the day…we’ll see how this one turns out. ...and yes, it really is that beautiful there...wish us luck!

Just Got Back From Oregon...again...

I love that place! So much to do and see in Bend, Oregon. I know that we are there twice, but it still feels like home everytime and it is sad when we have to leave. We love our Fred Meyer, Dandy's Drive-In (hello yummy burgers and onion rings!), and the beautiful Old Mill District. I just can't get enough. I know I shouldn't complain. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and sure the weather here is always great...but I think I truly belong in Bend! When will I become an Oregonian?? That is yet to be determined...

Don't you hate it when you come to a crossroads in your life and everything feels like it is just up in the air??? Where will everything fall?? I wish I knew or could see into the future.

Lucky Boy

I just found out that my little brother just got accepted to his dream college!! After a tough application process, he finally got accepted to The Joe Kubert School or Cartooning and Graphic Arts! I am so proud of him!!!! He has been drawing since he was little. His dream is to work for either Marvel or DC. He will be moving across the country to attend school and will be gone for three years...but he is living his dream! Just remember to never give up on your dreams!

What I Have Been Looking Forward To

Well, if you don't know yet...I LOVE MUSIC! I love to go to concerts and meet the artists. I also love when they make videos to their songs, especially when I have already been listening to the song for OVER a YEAR!!!!!! Matt Nathanson, who is one of my all-time favorite artist, just released a new music video today: "Falling Apart". Check it out, he is a great artist. The only thing that is lacking is the fact that he is not playing his guitar much in the video because he is an awesome guitarist. (not to mention a FUNNY, FUNNY guy) If you ever see him live, you'll know what I mean. I am all about comedy. What is life, if you can't laugh? We should laugh every single day of our lives!!!!!!!! That is why I am also excited that Conan O'Brien takes over the Tonight's Show starting tonight!!! I love Conan! Hopefully he will be just as funny as he was on the Conan O'Brien show...not to mention his old sidekick Andy will be back, they were great together...the things that I get excited about, huh?

The Last Day of May 2009

Wow, is the year already half gone????
I don't know why, but I always get the 'Sunday Blues'. Maybe that is due to the fact that I must go back to work tomorrow. Or it could also be just knowing I will be awaken by my alarm clock rather than my cat (he likes to wake my up on the weekends to snuggle). It might also be my feelings of incompleted tasks that I planned on doing this weekend...whatever it is, I try not to get bummed, but I always do. So let's talk about something that always makes me smile: I managed to take some new pictures of my friends:

Ralo a.k.a The Spoiled Little Puppy

Buddy a.k.a. Ol' Blue Eyes
Fenny a.k.a. Mr. GrumblesI spent a great weekend with these guys, they are my best buddies. I always try to remember that their lives are alot shorter than mine, so every minute counts! Yes, they are all spoiled, but they deserve it!

Still at it

Okay, this is insane...am I the only one that stays up 2 hours after I said I was going to bed, for no reason at all but to browse through blogger?? Please let me know...Good to see a lot of people on here that like LIFEHOUSE! Woohoo! Me too friends, me too.

Early Sunday Morning

I have managed to stay up later than I usually do...at this time I am usually in bed watching a DVR recording of Paranormal State or just channel surfing; Waiting for the sweet release of sleep to come. Now I sit here 'googling' different topics to try and maximize my widgets for this blog. How silly is that? Everyone else in the house has already gone off to bed. My mind always seems so restless at the end of the night. So much stuff to think about from the day, so many things left undone. I truly believe that I may suffer from an acute case of ADD (Adult ADD, minus the hyper part). I am not complaining. I just truly believe I may have never been diagnosed and I have developed a coping mechanism. Promises made are not always kept. I will try better tomorrow. So much to do, but I am always glad to be here to give it one more try! Hopefully I would be considered 'normal' by most standards. Tomorrow is semi-planned, I like that. Even if it is just knowing what I will be making for dinner. My feeble attempts to steer the family towards Vegetarianism has been fought upabated. Well, Semi-Vegetarianism or maybe even pescetarianism maybe the way I will have to go for now (I apologize to all the true Vegans out there, I am trying!) These minds needs some kind of structure! ^_^ Yum, stuffed salmon. Watch, I will be the only one to end up eating it. That's what happens when you live in a house with only males. Males are a fickle bunch! But I love them just the same! Good night all, have pleasant dreams, I intend to do the same.

Gimme a Break (♫'Cause I sure need one ♪)

Summer is almost here. The only thing I like about summer is the fact that it is one of the few times that I get to take time off from work. I don't take many vacations throughout the year, so when I can extend a 3-day weekend into a 5-day weekend: I will do it in a heartbeat. I appreciate that I have had a steady job for about 10 years now, especially in these tough times...but everyone needs a break. So this Memorial Day weekend, I get two extra days on top of it. I am going to make the most of this time off. I have a lot I want to get accomplished:
Take a bike ride ( Dust them off first)

Take the dogs to the dog park (Before they become couch potatoes)Clean House
Donate some items to the local charity house
Sort and file all my mail
Work on a personal project: I am co-currently working on crochet, guitar, scrapbooks, mosaics, and cleaning up the back yard for plantings
And maybe I will go to the BEACH!!! YAY, one of my favorite things to do!

Let's see if I am able to accomplish any of these things...

Diets are for the birds...

The diet has not fully lived up to its potential...I kicked it in the butt on the way out the door. How about just trying to eat healthier? Make better choices, count calories for your own self-awareness. That's where I am at right now.

The New Diet Starts Today!

Alright...I have lost my way in recent months. I have pretty much eat my way through my days and I did not look back. Well, now that guilt has caught up with me, the new diet starts today. I honestly can say that the mental side of dieting is finally ready to cooperate. So let's see where it gets me this time. I am trying the Lean Shake diet from GNC. Should be fairly easy to follow, not to mention I already bought everything for the week at the store last night. Let's do this!

This is Day 1:

BREAKFAST CALORIES
Vanilla Lean Shake 180
8 dried apricots 140

SNACK
1 c fat free milk 101
1 small orange 69

LUNCH
1 choco Lean Shake 180
1 small banana 121

SNACK
5 melba toast 62.5
1 C veg. soup 118

DINNER
2 oz lean roast beef 60
1 t horseradish 15
steamed cauliflower 25
w/ lemon juice 0
w/ oregano 0
1 c roasted potatoes 302
1 t olive oil 40
chopped parsley 1
1/2 english muffin 60

DESSERT

1/2 grapefruit 57

I will let you know how this turns out!