I shaved my head!

No, I didn't, but what a way to get someone's attention, right? For some reason, it seemed like a good title after coming across a picture of Kanye and his lady "Amber Rose" or whatever. And, it just got me thinking (again ... random tangents, as always) about how hair can be so much of a woman's identity.



Even the Jack in the Box commercial where they all get bowl cuts -- it clearly horrifies the women at the end when they find out it was supposed to be bowl-cut wigs. And, even though the men in the commercial seem irritated, they really can just shave their heads and feel fine about it. Not as socially acceptable for the ladies.

Good lord, even looking on Facebook -- at my own pictures, other people's pictures -- hair can be this ever-changing identity maker or breaker. I am probably most known for my curls, which I both love and despise, depending on their cooperation and the look I am going for at the time. But it's been blonde, red, kind of a brownish now ... straight, curly, longish, shortish. And I can't help but feeling a bit offended when I straighten my hair and people tell me that it looks better that way.

It is sort of funny how women go through great lenghts (no pun intended -- ha ...) to achieve what they don't naturally have. I can't tell you how many times I've processed my hair with horribly unhealthy bleach and blonde dyes and flat-ironing. But then again, they say going back to the hair you had as a child can be one of the best looks for you. And not all of us have naturally pretty hair colors (thanks for pointing that one out to me, Boo ...)

This has probably been the most pointless entry ever, but I guess I'm just tired (for now) of trying to look a certain way, which is very different from not caring and letting myself go. Of course, this will likely be a short phase which will soon be replaced by another phase as a result of becoming bored of myself. Who knows, maybe it's my women's studies classes creeping back into my thoughts.

Regardless, whatever is or isn't on your head, feel pretty no matter what. There is a lot more to attraction than perfect hair. Whatever "perfect" may be.

Is it weird that I take pictures of food?

Yum yum, plain yogurt with apricots and orange-flavored dried cranberries (yes the ones from work). I am trying to kick up the health notch to balance out all the chocolate that's been cropping up around the office. Compared to how I can be, I've been pretty good about avoiding sweets-overload.

So, back to the title of this post, if it is weird, then some apologies are in order, and I can stop wondering whether certain things I do (like taking pictures of food) are weird. Maybe I just have a passion for all things edible ... that, or an unhealthy (or, in the above picture's case, healthy) obsession.

Regardless, my love for food faced an unprecedented challenge the other night: a kitchen nightmare.

It all began with a lovely pasta dish. The noodles had just been submerged in boiling water, the veggies for the sauce (which I, for some reason, refer to as "pizza sauce," even though it isn't in the slightest like pizza) were in the choppin' works, and the garlic was simmering in a pan. What's this? The sink is draining extra slowly? No worries, let's just turn on the garbage disposal ... except that causes a water-spewing display that would make the fountain at Balboa Park jealous.

Long story short, the next morning, my kitchen was FLOODED. Like, opening-a-drawer-that's-full-of-water flooded. Aaand, water got under the carpet, so currently, carpet crews are replacing the padding underneath the carpet. This means that even though I have a few more weeks of living there, everything is boxed up and moved around, and it pretty much looks like I'm about to hit the road.

Now, enjoy some more pictures I've taken and saved (how sad, right?) of FOOD:


Seriously, Ireland, this is your idea of a "breakfast sandwich"?


This is more like it. Guess it's 'cause it's not from a train station ...


A much fancier version of what I just made myself for lunch.


Mmm, Griffin's Bakery in Galway.

Yeah, those were all from Ireland, and that's not even all of the pictures I took of food while I was there ...

So, to end, finally, here is one just for fun:

If you're sick, stay home

Dear Phlegmy-cough girl at the gym,

I understand your need to work out, but seriously, when you're part of a class at the gym that is crowded, hot, and sauna-like, it is an obvious breeding ground for germs. Germs that you are so inconsiderately blasting out of your mouth each time you cough. And, thanks for trying to help the situation (if that's honestly what you think you're doing), but covering your mouth with your hands does NOT help. Evenutally, someone is going to have to use the weights after you! And how convenient for me that my step is right in front of yours, so every time you cough while you're hopping around during our strenuous routine, your little germies are flying toward me, and I am breathing hard and inevitably inhaling it all in.

Maybe the first time you had to stop in the middle of the set, keel over, and cough up a good one wasn't enough to make you realize that you probably shouldn't be exposing everyone in this class to whatever it is that's making you like this.

Now, here it is the next day and I am still paranoid about what I may or may not have caught from you, feeling a slight tickle and scratch in my throat, downing immune-boosting tea and Airbornes (thanks, Vanessa!), chugging water, and washing my hands constantly. I do not want to get sick 'cause there is too much of the holiday-treats sharing going on in my office right now, and it's gonna be a stressful week for me, so I need all the working out I can get.

Hope you feel better, and please stay out of the gym until you do.

Love,

Rene

The Weekend

Last night I went to the Wrex the Halls concert. I have seen all the bands I stayed for last night before (Thrice, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Rise Against), and ended up leaving before seeing (what would have been my third time), the amazing AFI. Sorry, Davey.

I did meet Jared Leto before. What a cool guy. He's a pretty fun performer when you see him live -- I mean, he freakin' ran all over the floor (lucky people down there!), climbed up stairs, was jumping, playing, and belting out some pretty sweet notes the whole time. Plus, you know, he's hot. It's just funy to see the same dude from "My So-Called Life" and "Requiem for a Dream" (both of which I love) looking hot and coherent and amazing on stage. Not that "Jordan Catalano" wasn't amazing. Ha! Anyway, there he is a couple of years ago (below in the front, wearing the black fedora). You might be able to see me somewhere in the back. I did shake his hand, though!!



Anyway, me and Boo rode the trolley just for the hell of it. It's almost worth it not dealing with parking and traffic, plus I hadn't been to the SDSU trolley station (bad alumna, right?) ...



I guess that is my attempt at artsiness with a cell-phone camera.

Backtracking to Friday, V, J and D and I all went to the secret, not-so-secret Prohibition downtown. It was pretty fun, and we sure as heck ended up staying there forevvver and got some funny pics (on Facebook) out of it! Funny that it's got this whole hyped-up theme/vibe, and then my online bank statement says I went to Sloppy Joey's (which is right nextdoor). Same owners, I guess! It was pretty cool that they had a jazz band/jazz singer, all of whom were very nice!

To end the night/start the morning, Vanessa and I watched some "Felicity" at around 3 a.m. Not really sure why, but it was funny!

Here's to starting the week getting back in GYM mode, eating healthy again (please make all the chocolates in the office go away!) and staying busy 'til another packed weekend is here!

Trying not to seem self-absorbed. 'Cause I'm not.

I am on the workout kick of a lifetime right now. I'm actually kinda bummed about my company's happy hour tonight 'cause I wanna go workout! It is the end-of-the-year / holiday party, though, so I am going. I am getting some fierce abs and glutes, though (finally!), and being as motivated as I've been the past couple of weeks makes me wonder how I ever manage to fall into those lazy, anti-gym slumps! (Although, when those slumps hit, I wonder how I ever get into the gym kicks!)

Anyway, a monster Super Sport 24-hour is set to open next week, and it will be on the way home (once I move back there) from work, so I'm really looking forward to that. However, I believe my membership currently covers Sport and below. So that means I'll need an upgrade. Just wondering if anyone out there has been to a Super Sport and whether they're really head-and-shoulders above Sport. Might be worth it just to have a new gym that's closer than the others.

In other vain news, my lovely friend and hairdresser Michelle totally fixed my long-overdue-for-a-dye hair the other night! Lots of bright brunette colors, still blonde highlights, too. I like it. Now that my hair is growing. It seems it's been really improving growth- and thickness-wise lately. That could be due to a number of things, some of which I think are:

Sulfate-free shampoos and Conditioners;

Eating meat for the past couple of years after having been vegetarian for four;

Less stress (very likely NOT though); and/or

Pattern of hair growth (I've read somewhere that hair grows in patterns and can take a couple of years off of growing regularly, etc.)

Anyway, there's a very tempting invite to go to a 1920s-themed, secret/password-protected bar whose location you can only know by inquiring with a Web site. I'm being selfish, so I really don't want to post it for everyone, haha. If I go, though, I will definitely review it, provide the link and everything! We need more cool places like that around here -- or maybe, I just need to know of more places like that around here! :-)

One last thing -- this cat from icanhascheezburger looks JUST like my cat, Missy, except short-haired. Lip-snarl and all! Crazy!

ANNOYING STRANGERS

Random man in the Parking Lot: "Excuse me, Miss; you dropped something."
Me: (stopping, looking down) ::confused look::
Random man in the Parking Lot: "Your smile. Have a great day!"

WTF. Seriously? Sorry, I'm in a hurry and I don't have a dopey grin on my face. I can't tell you how many people have told me I look pissed off when I'm walking. I walk fast, I am nonexpressive when not engaged with other people, and I have terrible vision without glasses (note to self: make eye-doctor appointment to get contacts). Ugh. And then "Have a great day!" -- yeah, A-hole, that's really going to turn my day around. Actually, it did turn my day around ... from good to really irritated. Do I have a sign over my head that says "Please talk to me, even if I don't know you"? Because it happens to me a hell of a lot. Just a couple of weeks ago, I went to order Mexican food at the taco shop by work, and this guy was in there with his female coworker (both wearing scrubs) and just started talking to me, sat down next to me while I'm waiting for my food (umm, hello?!) and would NOT accept the fact that I did NOT want one of his onion rings. Then he starts telling me to smile, and how he just loves to talk to people and make people happy ... really, guy? Because it certainly is having the opposite effect on me. Geesh!

Ughh. At least now I am eating Rubio's in the comfort of my own, secluded office-space in the corner :) I'm not anti-social ... just irritated with people who think it's OK to make comments like that to strangers.

Pumpkin and stuff

I have officially, painfully decided to move back home for the sake of paying all my crap off and saving money for either travel or homeownership.

Not only will I save in rent, but also gas and electric, cable, groceries ...

But I will miss living by myself, and I'm sure I'll want out again pronto. Hoping time flies by in that respect.

In happier (for me) news, I made some delicious oatmeal this morning: pumpkin, oatmeal, honey and cinnamon. It honestly tasted like I was eating some fancy little seasonal-Starbucks thing for breakfast! Yummm.



Nutrition value of pumpkin is pretty good too, which is great for me 'cause I love it. Granted, it was from a can, but still. It boasts Vitamins E, B6, A and C, and also fiber, Pottasium and low fat, to name a few.

Please be advised that this picture does not do it justice, and truthfully, might make it look a little less appealing than my description. But it was delicious and nutritious ("... and I made it for the family that I -- looove.") Trivia Question: In which lovable '80s/'90s series can that lyric be heard? Answer: Full House. Author? Danny Tanner a.k.a. Bob Saget a.k.a. raunchy old guy. It's when a bunch of 'em are sick and he makes them lunch ... "tunafish and salad" came before the "delicious and nutritious." How I know all this? Tooooo much TV as a kid, and apparently nothing better to do. Wow! That was a tangent!

Clouds, Ocean ...

Seriously going to be so busy at work today, but right now I'm caught up to everyone and pretty much waiting for more work to come to me.

Anyway, I was thinking about how clouds are pretty cool. Like, last night, the thick cloud-covering was reflecting all the Downtown/North Park lights and made it appear as though it were dusk or dawn or something. It was a light-gray color outside; pretty cool. And then this morning when I went out for my run at around 5:45, it seemed like it was still dark out, but I could tell it was the clouds again, because through the very small openings between them, you could see a lighter sky. I miss learning about weather and all that stuff in elementary school, ha!



Space, weather and oceans have always really interested me subject-wise. I was watching 60 Minutes the other night, and I think Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the sunken Titanic, among other things, has one of the coolest jobs I've ever heard of:

Afternoon contemplations and reminiscing ...

I miss my animals. Well, just having pets in general, I guess. I wish I had a place of my own where I could actually own pets (my apartment now won't even allow me to take my kitty Marvin with me ... he currently lives with my parents, where he loves it, so I guess it's not a problem). I also think about just moving home to save money (to use to pay off stuff, travel, save for aforementioned house-of-my-own, etc.) but I just don't know. Home's not exactly close to things. But I do miss my little sister and THIS guy (Cody, a.k.a "Cody Bear"): My sister would kill me if she knew I posted that. Then again, it's on her Facebook, so she might not.



Back to the travel thing. Here's a picture of when I went to Ireland this past summer. It was my first time ever out of the country, so I had to get a passport for the first time, update my Tetnis shot, all that good stuff. Damn do those shots hurt, though! Anyway, this is at the Cliffs of Moher. I went with my friend Devon (below), and we just went on a whim, backpacks, no plans ... it was the best ever. I want to do more trips like that, but that requires money, which I can only save if I move home (really, it's true, I already figured it out).








So, I guess in the mean time, I'll just stick it out through the holidays, think it out, wait 'til one of the few people I'd actually want to live with needs a roommate (ha!) ... and until then, just try to save the measley 100 bucks a month! Oh, bills.

Controversial Class

Hmm, I can't say I disagree with this, necessarily, but to make a fitness class mandatory for overweight college students? Apparently that's what's happening at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the university's Web site isn't the most user- or search-friendly one on the planet (maybe 'cause I am just super used to my alma mater's), and I don't really have time to research the issue, nor do I care that much, so I don't really know all the specifics. Just thought it was an interesting issue, to say the least.

Butt-toning shoes, nose bleeds ...

Am I a complete victim of targeted, sexist advertising? "Make 80-some percent of men speechless and 70-some perecent of women jealous" (or whatever it says). I don't care, I want Reebok's new "Easy Tone" shoe. I particularly liked the "Inspire" model in pink and white (also the color scheme on my current New Balance running shoes). It made me relieved to know that these are actually running shoes, at the very least (a legitimate reason to want a pair -- I could use some new kicks for running!).

Anyway, I've got 24 S.E.T. tonight with a couple friends/co-workers, so I'm excited for that. Even though I can't really breathe that easily without blowing my nose every 10 or so minutes (allergies, not viral) -- plus I just discovered I've got an eency weency nose bleed. That'll be gone soon, though.

I met one of my best friends, Morgan, last night at Starbucks to exchange gifts (my presents from Ireland for her, and her birthday present to me ... both of which were due several months ago; we're so bad!). Anyway, she got me "Diana: The Portrait," and I love love love it 'cause I love love love the late Princess Di. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Thanks, Morgy! :)

Alright, morning break over -- on with work and the rest of this Friday Eve!

Hiking, cookies, sitting on my arse

I didn't do a whole lot this weekend, which is kinda what I intended. I baked pumpkin-chocolate-chip cookies Friday night while watching my all-time favorite movie, "Bend it Like Beckham," for about the bazillionth time. I don't know why I love that movie so much! The cookies turned out delicious, but next time I think I might try cutting down on the butter -- they definitely didn't need all of that, and it would definitely be healthier with less. The next morning, I worked off all that dough with a new hike up Cowles Mountain ... the back/service-road way, which was really refreshing compared to the way my friend and I always took -- up the front, along with everyone and their mothers. So crowded. Anyway, this "new" way (for us) was pretty freakin' steep, and the next day, I was feeling the soreness -- in ONE buttcheek only. How does that happen? Haha. This way was one of my new favorites because it was quicker, way less-crowded, and it was maybe a better, if not an equal to, workout.

I went to Costco after some hiking and Jamba with Rachel to meet up with my family -- Costco trips with your parents are a blessing when you're out of nearly all the daily essentials. Plus, samples are always exciting.

Anyway, not much else to say since my weekend was so low-key, but I'm excited for next week being a three-day workweek (with the last two paid and off!) ... not to mention food, shopping, and sleeping in. Thank goodness.

I really feel like I need a hobby again, or at least something more worth-while than watching TV and going out to occupy my time. I always say I want to do a marathon, but I really haven't seemed to harness the motivation to train as other people have -- running four miles in the morning won't get me anywhere. I used to spend a lot of time on drawings and artsy-type projects, but things like that have seemed kinda boring lately. Why am I so unmotivated these days?

I've been toying with the idea of moving back home again -- an idea my mom seemed super happy and encouraging about -- and I'd only do it to save up a ton of money to either A) pay off all my crap and/or B) put a down payment on a house before April 30, when the tax credit was extended to.

I don't know. I just don't know.

Here is what I had to go through this morning. Thirty-three 5-gallon buckets of white paint spilled all over a freeway connector that I happened to get to right in time for this morning/day-ruining mess. Car wash helped SLIGHTLY, but luckily I know someone who used to work on cars in situations like this ... and the guy at AutoZone was super helpful. But still. Ugh.

Blue Monday

No matter how hard you try, you can never please everyone. And right now, it feels like I'm pleasing no one -- maybe not even myself because I never know what I want. Times like these are when I just want to throw myself into something extraordinarily time-consuming or just pick up and move. Looks like I'll at least just be hitting the gym hard tonight. Hopefully.

I love 24-hour Fitness. Granted, I probably don't appreciate it as much as some people because my parents are paying for my membership (their choice, not mine -- poor me, right?), but it is so darn convenient 'cause they're all over the place, and the classes are actually really good. My favorite, in particular, that I have been going to for the past month (need to up the amount of days I go each week, though) is the 24 S.E.T. class, a cardio-strength combo class that really seems to kick my butt every time. I like that it keeps me moving and working out for an hour straight. At least for me, sometimes it's super hard -- unless I'm oddly super-motivated -- to make yourself work out hard for an hour straight without getting bored or giving up.

Anyway. That's that.

In other news, I have been really wanting to try scuba diving lately ... not sure why I have a sudden fascination with the ocean (maybe it's all the Discovery Channel?) but I need to ask my friend Vanessa, who I am also so fortunate to work with, when she gets back 'cause she used to work at a dive shop. I'm worried this could be an expensive hobby though ...

Also --

I totally miss html and tinkering with all that stuff, so be assured that the look of this WILL change. Just can't do it at work :)

Ex-journalist Still Needs Place to Write

So here it is, plain and simple. I read everyone else's blogs, often think of blog-worthy material, yet have no outlet (anymore) until now.