Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween, though I will admit that Jersey and I plan to be bums tonight and avoid the craziness. We don't get any trick-or-treaters where we live, so I think we're just going to go out to dinner and a movie. However, last weekend was my company Halloween party and my mom, Jersey, and I attended it together.

When I went to buy the costumes, I knew I wanted to find some theme for the three of us. Given that my mom wanted something age-appropriate, and I am not in the best shape of my life, these zombie costumes were perfect. I was a zombie cheerleader, Jersey was a zombie prom queen, and my mom was a zombie headmistress (or something equally supervisor-like). Jersey never dreamed that she'd be dating a pom-pom girl! Ha!

The party was held at a coworker's home and the floorplan is really different (actually, Jersey and I had toured a model of a similar home a few months ago). From the entrance, the master bedroom and bathroom are half a floor below, the two other bedrooms and a bathroom are on the next floor, the kitchen and living room are on the third floor, and there is a rooftop deck on top of it all. Interesting, though I don't think I would like to live there full-time.


Ok, back to the party...this was specifically an "adult" party (though someone brought their 13-year-old anyway) with an open bar for anyone who paid for a ticket (all money went to our company charity). The cocktails were fine, but the funny stuff began when someone brought out a table, plastic cups, and ping pong balls. That's right...we played beer pong! I hadn't played beer pong since my college days, so it was actually a lot of fun to play at the party. Jersey and I played the first game against another couple and we managed to keep our competiveness in check (!?!) throughout. In all fairness, the couple was very nice and we joked around while playing. It was a relatively close game, but we beat them by a couple of cups.

Game two was interesting; I'm not sure how else to describe it. Jersey and I played against two of my coworkers and I really, really don't like them. The fact that people might consider them to be successful businesswomen makes me gag. Of course, this made the game more important than it might otherwise be, because neither one of us wanted to lose to these giggling morons. After scoring against them almost immediately, they looked at us in surprise when we told them that they had to drink the beer in the cup. Um, hello? Did you not pay attention at all during game one? Jersey wasn't in the mood to deal with them, so she offered to drink it for them. And so the game went. We'd score, we'd drink. Totally defeats the general point of the game, but it did make them look like idiots, so we were ok with it. We blew them away in the game and moved on to our last opponents of the night.

We played the final game against a coworker and the brother of another coworker. I knew they'd be tough, so it was time to get serious again. Of course, by this time, Jersey and I were seeing double, but we managed to maintain surprisingly good aim. This was the closest game, but I was able to land my ball in their final cup while we had one of our own left. Yay! I'm not sure what it says about us that we were the company beer pong champions (I would argue it had more to do with the winning part than the drinking part), but it's a title we will try damn hard to defend next year.

Other quick notes: Jersey is dressed as a pirate today. Her prom dress would've been tough to handle all day at work. I am off today (odd state holiday), so I am just wearing a Halloween shirt while I run errands. Oh, and we had a pumpkin carving contest at work yesterday. I decided to participate at the last minute, but ended up winning the $75 grand prize. My mom won the booby prize for the entry below. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Ten Things Tuesday

Ugh, my internet was down all weekend, so all of my best intentions to blog went kaput! And I was incredibly angry that I waited weeks for the podcast discussion of The Stand with The Dark and Stormy Book Club, and then had to miss it. Yes, I've listened to it since and yes, I will be contributing my thoughts in the comments of that blog, but it still made me cranky. Anyway, I am back now (well, I'm at work...don't know if my home internet is fixed yet), and I figured a TTT post is an easy way to jump back in.

Ten Things I Love to Eat

1. Avocado - I've loved avocado my entire life and will add it to sandwiches, burgers, salads, and much more whenever possible. Many places add very little avocado (and it's not cheap!), but there is a sandwich place around the corner that just heaps it on. Yum! I also make a pretty nice guacamole (if I do say so myself), and I don't add a ton of stuff to it because I still want that avocado taste. And you probably don't want to hear about the time that I ordered three (yes, three) plates of the Avocado Club Egg Roll appetizer from CPK on my birthday. No, I didn't share.

2. Cheese - One of my two biggest vices. I admit that I don't have as much knowledge about different cheeses as I would like, but it's something on which I am working. I love adding extra cheese to entrees, but I also try to behave on occasion. Cheese and crackers with a bottle of wine makes quite the romantic snack.

3. Sushi - See #2 regarding my knowledge of it. I'm still very new to all things sushi, but I'm interested in learning how to roll my own. If I do learn, look for a blog post all about that adventure!

4. Kiwi - It's such a cute, yet powerful fruit. For some reason, I haven't enjoyed kiwi-flavored things as much as I would have thought, but I'll eat the real thing in a heartbeat. The thing is, I don't like biting into it when it's too cold, so I have to pull it out of the fridge and then actually remember it when it's closer to room temp. I'm bad at that whole remembering thing.

5. Peanut butter - When I was little, I used to eat peanut butter on a spoon as a treat. Seriously. I'd ask my mom for permission, dip my spoon in the jar, and then savor it for about 30 minutes. Oh, and I think that peanut butter and chocolate might be the best combination of flavors in the whole universe.

6. Ice cream - The other of my two biggest vices. Oh, and see the combination in #5 for one of my favorite flavors. I say one of my favorite flavors because I probably have 372 favorites. It's wonderful (and awful) that there is a Baskin Robbins, a Cold Stone Creamery, and a Dairy Queen in the same intersection, right down the street from my house (there was a fourth place there up until about six months ago...my withdrawals are getting better). I have so many ice cream stories that I just might be able to do an entire TTT about them!

7. Spinach - Odd, huh? I've been a spinach fan since my childhood and I'm thrilled about it because I don't like very many veggies. I love a good spinach salad, preferably one that I have created at Sweet Tomatoes or Whole Foods, and will substitute spinach for iceberg lettuce at any restaurant that will allow it.

8. Tomato soup & a grilled cheese sandwich - Ok, so this is two things, but we all know I can't do a TTT that has only ten items. Besides, I don't think they'd make the list on individual merit; this is probably the universe's second best combination after peanut butter & chocolate. I don't even care that eating it makes me look like an eight-year-old. Dipping that sandwich in the hot soup and trying not to drip it down my chin as I eat it...ok, you get the picture. Heaven.

9. Clam chowder - New England clam chowder, and not some watered-down blah version of it. Outside of New England (duh), I'm a big fan of San Francisco's N.E. clam chowder. Every now and then I come across a winner in a random restaurant, but I hesitate to order it because the quality can vary so much.

10. French or sourdough bread - Dipped in #9 would be great, but I will just as quickly eat it alone. I don't even butter my bread, I just eat it (ok, I do like to dip it in olive oil, if it's there). I've thought about being healthy and switching to whole grain something, but I'd rather be happy. At least when it comes to my bread.

Aside from the fact that I probably just disgusted Mrs. Chili with #3 and #9, does anyone want to have dinner with me?

Wordless Wednesday

Ah, that's my girl! :)

Ten Things Tuesday

Here is a list of ten songs that I can't turn off (subject to change once I drive myself crazy by replaying them over and over and over...):

1. "Baba O'Riley" (The Who) - I had to put this first on the list because I have played it more times in the past three or four months than the rest of this list combined. I even made it my ringtone. I've stopped short of watching the opening credits of CSI: NY just to hear a bit of it, but if it just happens to be on...

2. "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (Bon Jovi featuring Jennifer Nettles) - Yes, there is a regular Bon Jovi version of this song, but I like the duet with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. I especially like trying to sing her part of it, but I severely lack that talent.

3. "Alone" (Heart) - I've always loved this song and was fortunate enough to see Heart in concert this past summer, along with Cheap Trick and Journey. They did impressive covers of "Love Reign O'er Me" (by The Who) and "Going to California" (by Led Zeppelin), but hearing "Alone" performed live was the highlight for me.

4. "Songbird" (Eva Cassidy) - This was originally done by Fleetwood Mac (with Christine McVie), but I like the cover slightly more. I don't know if I'm a sappy romantic in general, but this song will make me gooey. I dream of walking down the aisle to it one day.

5. "Africa" (Toto) - I couldn't even begin to describe what I love about this song, but I've loved it for years. Random trivia: this was the first song I downloaded to my Ipod.

6. "That I Would Be Good" (Alanis Morissette) - This song became a mantra of mine when I was going through tough times a while back. I'd sing it in the car with hopeful tears running down my face. I printed out the lyrics and decorated the paper with pictures of goals and positive ideas, and then I framed it and hung it on my wall (along with Martina McBride's "Anyway"). It's nice to sing along with it now, looking back from beyond the black hole.

7. "Somebody to Love" (Queen) - I am a big Queen fan, so it's difficult to pick one favorite, but this is probably it. Of all of the Queen songs I have on my Ipod ("Fat Bottomed Girls", "Under Pressure"), this is the one I am most likely to repeat and least likely to skip.

8. "More Than a Feeling" (Boston) - Totally cheesy, I know, but I can't help but rock out to this song when I hear it. Ooh, and I also got to see Boston live this summer (with Styx). Anyway, I can't hit the high notes in this song, but I have fun trying!

9. "Viva La Vida" (Coldplay) - I really don't listen to much current music (cue the "kids these days" rant...ok, not really), but I caught part of this song one day and was hooked. I'll have to look into Coldplay some more. Jersey says they aren't too bad.

10. "Layla" (Derek and the Dominos) - More specifically, the piano piece at the end of the song. For the longest time, I didn't even realize that the piano part was a continuation of "Layla"; I recognized it from Goodfellas more than anything. I actually have the end downloaded, but not all of "Layla".

Honorable Mentions (because I can't stick to ten): "Patience" by Guns n Roses; a few Eagles songs including "Take It to the Limit", "The Best of My Love", and "Peaceful, Easy Feeling"; "Collide" by Howie Day, "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen, and "Crimson and Clover" covered by Joan Jett.

Fall TV

I wouldn't say that I watch a LOT of television (ok, well, football Sundays, yes), but I do have a handful of shows that I watch as regularly as possible. I'm actually thinking about asking for some of these on DVD for Christmas gifts. Here's a little rundown of what I'm watching right now:

The Mentalist (CBS, Tuesday) - This is the only new show that I'm watching. I had considered trying to watch Fringe, but I opted for this instead and I absolutely love it so far. The main character is a bit of an ass, which I often adore in my characters (and in real life, too). He used to be a fake psychic who fooled people simply by using his keen observation skills. Now, he assists the California Bureau of Investigation by talking to suspects, walking crime scenes, etc. Interesting.

Without a Trace (CBS, Tuesday) - I love Anthony LaPaglia. And it cracks me up that he's Australian, because he acts like an East Coast Italian. One thing I've always liked about this show is that the episodes don't always end with finding a dead body or even a real crime. Sometimes there is simply a disappearance that they must investigate and I like a good happy ending every now and then.

Law & Order: SVU (NBC, Tuesday) - While I wouldn't consider myself to be a celebrity freak, I would really like to meet and spend time talking to Mariska Hargitay. I think her Joyful Heart Foundation does tremendous good and she seems like a strong, intelligent woman. And I love Chris Meloni. Actually, I think this show has one of the best all-around casts, so I enjoy watching all of the reruns as much as I await the new episodes. I admit that I am also one of those fans who would love to see Elliot and Olivia hook up, though I understand the potential "jumping the shark" issues that would arise. How about a dream sequence of wild, passionate sex?

Criminal Minds (CBS, Wednesday) - Originally, this cast was led by Mandy "hello, my name is Inigo Montoya" Patinkin, but he left the series and was replaced. I was really worried that it would ruin the show, but it has stayed strong and I'm incredibly relieved. This show centers around my dream career of working in the Behavioral Sciences Unit of the FBI as a profiler, so I love getting lost in my own fantasy about that. Oh, and Jersey and I would like Shemar Moore to be our baby daddy.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS, Thursday) - As much as I love Anthony LaPaglia, Jersey loves William Peterson. His leaving the show this season will be tough on her, but I'm interested to see how everything else changes after he's gone. While I've watched this show sporadically over the years, I've come back to it solidly and I still love trying to figure things out before the CSIs do.

Cold Case (CBS, Sunday) - Ok, obviously I love detective/crime shows, so it's not surprising that I would like this one as well. I do enjoy the flashbacks to different eras each week, plus the music used in each episode is well-chosen. I don't have a solid favorite in this cast, so I really appreciate the ensemble. Of my list of shows, it's the one I'm least upset to miss, but I do try to catch it regularly.

***The one show that is not on this list is one of my all-time favorites, but it won't be back until after the new year. Yep, Lost. Love this shows and all of its twists and turns. My mom hasn't seen a single episode and I've suggested that she avoid as much of the talk about it as possible so that she can wait another couple of years and watch the entire thing on DVD. I am eagerly awaiting the new episodes and will be sad (albeit fulfilled) when the series finally ends.

Any favorite shows of yours that I'm missing?

Wordless Wednesday

Ten Things Tuesday

Ok, I'm on the bandwagon! Now, if I could just keep to this cool blogging schedule...

This theme was, as previously mentioned, stolen from Mrs. Chili. Thank you for the great idea.

"Ten trips Jersey and I plan to take (in no particular order)"

1. Western Canada - Specifically Vancouver, though I would not object to spending enough time to see more of the area. Actually, I'd love to take a road trip through California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Montana, and Idaho.

2. Eastern Canada - Specifically Montreal. I have been to Montreal twice and loved it very much. Though I haven't been to France, Montreal seems very much like what a mini-France might be. The cobblestone streets, french cafes, street vendors...ah, it's just pretty.

3. Boston/Cape Cod - Jersey and I have both been to these places with our families and friends, but we'd love to experience them together. Plus, I've never been to P-town and would like to check it out. I know we'd both love to be able to see the beautiful autumn leaves, so maybe a trip next October...

4. Knott's Berry Farm (CA), Magic Mountain (CA), DisneyWorld (FL) - Ok, so this would be more than one trip, but it's all the same idea. I love amusement parks! I used to have a season pass to Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm is where my parents met, and DisneyWorld is the super version of Disneyland (where Jersey and I went in May and will return to in February). I've been to all three...Jersey has only been to DisneyWorld.

5. Europe, Part 1 - Italy, France, Spain. I've always heard that the people in Spain are super friendly. And I can deal with all the Italian men who will grab my ass.

6. Texas - It's probably not a place in which Jersey and I should flaunt our relationship, but I have always had a good feeling in Texas. I've kinda hopped around the state, but I'd love to do the San Antonio Riverwalk with Jersey. And I've never, ever heard a bad thing about Austin, so I'd love to spend some time there. Plus, I have family outside of Ft. Worth.

7. Europe, Part 2 - Germany, the Netherlands. I think Jersey just really wants some beer. The Netherlands has plenty of vices as well. Hmmmm.

8. Notre Dame, Cleveland, Chicago - Ok, they're not right near each other, but I think they're close enough for a reasonable road trip. Jersey's got a thing for Notre Dame and the Cleveland Browns. I'd love to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Once we're in the general neighborhood, we might as well head up to Chicago. I haven't been there in years.

9. Fairfield University (CT) - I graduated from Fairfield several years ago and have only been back twice since. I went through a lot while I was there, moreso than the generic college student, but I really did love it there. I'd love to walk around campus with Jersey and remember the little things that I've forgotten.

10. Europe, Part 3 - England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland. Arguably the most important of our Europe trips. Jersey is fiercely Irish. I've got a bit of that, along with the English and Icelandic background. Of all the European jaunts, this is the personal one.

I didn't include our upcoming trip to Jamaica because, well, that's already booked and paid for! I also didn't mention the many trips we will take to Southern CA (where I'm from) or New Jersey (where she's from), since those are regular trips we take each year. But this is a fun list and I look forward to crossing each one off!

My Own Secret

Ok, so I haven't actually read The Secret, but from what I know about it...well...I just think it's dangerous to believe that wishing really hard for something will magically make it happen. Nothing is quite that simple. What I do think, however, is that positive (and negative) thinking can have a powerful impact on life and that once you're on the right track, the good stuff really does seem to snowball. I try to focus on my good energy because I truly believe that it can bring good energy back to me. When I relax about forcing my happiness, and instead watch my words, my attitude, and my actions, I allow the good things to enter my life.

When I broke up with The Liar, about 18 months ago, I was in a bad place. My breaking up with him was actually the best thing I had going for me at the time. But I had to deal with the fact that I had wasted three years of my life with someone I didn't trust or respect and, in the course of those three years, I had driven myself into a financial shitstorm. I was angry at myself (and beyond broke), so something had to change. It was time to refocus on the positive. All of the techniques I had neglected during that relationship (affirmations, visualizations, etc.), were part of my routine again.

Fast forward to today. It's taken time, but I really feel like everything is going great in my life. I am doing better than expected at work, and while it's not my dream job, it's a whole lot more than a lot of people have. Plus, I get to work across the hall from my mom! I still have equity in my home, despite having a first and second mortgage on it. Due to a recent windfall, I will be paying off my car eight months early. I am setting aside money every month for all of our future plans...a new car for Jersey, a wedding, babies, and a new house. Obviously, those aren't all going to be happening immediately, but it feels so great to have a plan and the ability to be financially ready when the plan unfolds.

Then, there's Jersey. I am unbelievably happy with her by my side. I know all relationships take a certain amount of effort, but it's wonderful when it doesn't feel like hard work. Being with her is the most natural thing in the world and I love her very much. She has been somewhat stressed lately because her job search has dragged out for over a year and she's had to work bartending jobs in the meantime. I know she's as eager to move forward with our goals as I am, so imagine my happiness this week when she started a new job about which she's very excited! It's a part time position for now, but it's in juvenile probation, which is ultimately what she wants to do. The way I see it, it can't hurt to have your foot in the door while you're still stuck in the middle of all the loooooong physical/written/psychological exams, background checks, interviews, etc. I hope she'll learn a lot and meet the right people, so that her career will grow from here. Yay!

So, while I sit here with all sorts of goodness around me, I will scatter some out to all of you. Take it as you need it, and then send some back out to others. It may not be magic, but it's amazingly powerful.

Wordless Wednesday

(Mrs. Chili does Wordless Wednesday over at her blog, so I'm following her lead. She's pretty freakin' fantastic, so I'll be stealing other theme days from her soon enough.)

More Randomness

Some of the stuff bouncing around in my head:

* My kitchen still looks the same as it did last week. I have two estimates for the repair work and will be getting another on Monday. At that point I will probably be talking to my insurance company about increasing their settlement a little bit, because the numbers aren't matching well. In the meantime, I have had an incredible urge to clean the rest of my house in depth...I'm guessing it's my way of trying to make myself feel like I am in control despite the chaos.

* This is probably my favorite time of year when it comes to professional sports. It's the baseball playoffs, football has started, and hockey is just around the corner. Yes, I am a huge Angels fan, so I won't discuss the LA/Boston series too much...I'd hate to piss off half my readership at once! I will say that my biggest issue in any competition based discussion is sportsmanship. For NFL week one, Jersey and I went to watch the games at a local bar. She and I were both wearing team jerseys, as were many others there. Some idiot felt that it was necessary to come all the way over to where we were sitting just to tell us that our team sucks and that we're assholes. Um, thanks. Anyway, in any sport, I will respect that other teams have true fans who love them, just as much as I hate them. I'm totally okay with that, but don't taunt me just to be mean. You cheer for your team, I'll cheer for mine, and we can do some friendly jabbing every now and then.

* Last night was the first time I've sat down to watch an entire debate. I have various touchy issues throughout politics, but there is one nagging question that I've had for a while. It's difficult to bring up to people because it sounds like I want to start a fight...and I really don't. I'm honestly confused and would love an explanation. What exactly is the big problem for the people who are okay with same sex "civil unions" but against same sex "marriage"? I mean, I've heard lots of people (12-15ish) who have said "Yeah, I have no problem with allowing same sex unions that entitle couples to joint insurance, hospital visitation rights, childcare decisions, etc. I just don't think that they should be allowed to get married." I guess my question is whether there is a difference beyond the vocabulary. Is it just that "marriage" implies some sort of religious union (though plenty of married couples aren't religious at all)? Is that what people are upset about? Does "civil union" imply a state decision and "marriage" imply a federal one? I just can't figure out what the difference between a "civil union" and a "marriage" is, assuming that these couples get all the rights that heterosexual couples do. Any ideas? What I am missing?

* Every day at work (well, everywhere, really) I am astonished at how many people expect everyone else to wipe their asses for them. Maybe it's that I was taught personal responsibility and other people missed that life lesson, but it's just awful that people don't make coffee after they take the last cup, don't turn it required paperwork until their paycheck is being held for it, don't pay their own annual/biannual/quarterly dues, etc. I hear excuses like "I didn't know" or "nobody told me" all day long. Seriously, how do these people not starve when they run out of groceries at home? Or do they get magical food drops from the sky? Nothing seems to be their fault...somebody else always did it to them. Ugh.

* It's still hot here in Vegas, but I am looking forward to the holidays! Thanksgiving will be spent at my grandparents' house in California. Normally we stay home, but my best friend from high school is getting married on the Friday after Thanksgiving, so Jersey and I will be in CA for that and my mom and sister decided to join us. Then, my sister is coming to Vegas for Christmas and Jersey has moved her East Coast visit up a little so that she can be here with me on Christmas, her birthday, and New Year's. Yay!

* Other assorted fun coming up: Jersey's mom is visiting at the beginning of November. I met her in July, but this will be the first time our moms are meeting each other. In fact, it's the first time my mom is meeting any family of anyone I've ever dated. Big step! I'm nervous in an excited sort of way.

In January, Jersey and I are going to Jamaica for a week. It will be a very relaxing vacation, unlike the trips we've taken where we are trying to cram a million things into a few days. Oh, and it's all-inclusive...alcohol, too! Yes, we'll behave.

I turn 30 in February! And I LOVE my birthday. Always have, always will. This February, I am planning a big party at Disneyland and we'll see if I can actually get a little group together. My aforementioned best friend lives about 15 minutes away from Disneyland and her birthday is just 12 days after mine, so maybe she and her new husband can join us. Jersey and I are in the process of trying to get her sister out here from Albany for the celebration. My sister (hopefully) will be flying down for it. My mom, of course, will be there. I've told lots of coworkers as well, and I'd love to see who can make it a big weekend of fun. For the record, if any of my (three? four?) readers would like to make some sort of family vacation out of it, I'd love to meet you. It's the three-day weekend (2/14-2/16). I'm just looking forward to wearing the special birthday Mickey ears and the huge button that says "It's my birthday".