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: