Meli La Gringa

Best Birthday Surprise!

2012-01-27T11:44:00.001-08:00

I LOVE the Muppets! I especially adore Kermit the Frog. My lovely sister, Carmen, planned a The Muppets Movie surprise party for me. My birthday is Christmas Eve and I was so thankful to be celebrated. It means a lot that my dear ones set aside time during the busy holiday excitement to do something special with me. Thank you guys!

And a special thank you to Jason Segal for making The Muppets movie happen for me. I loved it!

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

2011-10-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

RIP Steve Jobs.

Father's Day

2011-06-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected. ~Red Buttons

Kids are dangerous. Thanks for putting up with us Daddy-O.

I love you!

I'm Rich!

2011-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been trying to be a better budgeter. It's been great fun to see how much we can buy with our alotted amount. We put our food cash in an envelope every Saturday and head to the farmer's market. (I highly recommend the one in Little Italy!) We buy what we want/need and then get the rest at Henry's, VONS, or Stater Brothers later in the week. I'm learning about coupons and am addicted to get1free.com.

All of this thinking about money had me wondering, do I make enough? I mean I eat every day and have all sorts of fun extras like movies and date nights, but sometimes I think "I should make more." Then I came across a nice bit of perspective, The Global Rich List allowed me to see once again that I don't only make enough, I make MORE THAN ENOUGH. So you can officially call this girl thankful and content with all I have. There is no shame in using coupons to save some dough to donate to kiva.org or to buy a new pair of toms... :-) Go ahead and type in your salary on The Global Rich List, it will blow your mind.

Now that we're planning the wedding budget... it's an even better slap in the face. I'm super excited to celebrate our love and the start of our life together with all of our friends and loved ones, and keeping the dollar amounts in context of the WORLD rather than the normal wedding budget here in the States is helpful. We are so blessed to have extra money to throw a party and not have to skip out on food just to make the bills.

I'm getting married!!!!

2011-06-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

We've started a blog that will serve as our wedding website until November and our family blog for FOREVER!

http://christopherandmelissa.blogspot.com/

Bookmark it!

I'll still post here as an 'individual' and about travel stuff, etc. So don't get rid of me yet. I swear I'll be posting more very soon.

Disney Lovin'

2011-03-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

This made my day!!!

Expect more posts soon. I'm back in action. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Each moment a blessing of abundance,
Each breath a prayer of thanksgiving.
--Michael Rawls

Each year as Thanksgiving comes, I am overwhelmed with all of the things that I have to be thankful for. Below are just a few...

I am thankful to live in (and have grown up in) a place of beauty. Southern California, with your salty air, clear blue skies, and happy palm trees, I am thankful for you!

Outside of my office. :-)

I am thankful for my super fun roomie Esther (and sweet Bella too!). Yeah for Wheel of Fortune, Law & Order, and weird vegan cooking! You make coming home fun.

Beer Festival = Our kind of fun.

I am thankful for the most incredible family on the planet. I never laugh harder or feel deeper than when I am with my family. Game nights! Hurricane parties! Camping! Disneyland! Picnics! I love you all and am thankful for you each and every day of the year.

We take Disneyland seriously.

I am thankful to have a wonderful man in my life. He treats me like I'm a precious gift, listens to every silly detail of my day, and makes me laugh until it hurts. Thanks for making my fantastic life even better!

Me and my delightful manfriend on a doggy walk.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
--William Arthur Ward

Brittany is my favorite!

2010-11-23T07:57:00.000-08:00

I know that this doesn't count as a "real" post, but I've been busy. Please don't worry, dear reader, because as a Thanksgiving gift, I've scheduled a legit post and not just a video that makes me laugh so hard I cry. Until then, you will have to just sit back and enjoy this wonderful montage over and over and over again. That's what I did with it!

Christmas Music... how soon is too soon?

2010-08-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

The debate rages in most offices and homes; How soon is too soon for the Christmas carols to start playing? Some people say not until after Thanksgiving... Some people are wrong!

I say, "ALL YEAR LONG!!!"

Thank you iTunes shuffle for reminding me that I LOVE Christmas songs all year long!

Happy National Mustard Day!

2010-08-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

I once confessed here on this bloggity blog that I have a very, VERY deep fear of mayonnaise. It really and truly gives me the creeps, BUT my fear does not extend to all condiments. In fact, I also have a VERY deep love and appreciation of mustard. I adore its yellowy goodness in just about any and every type it can be found. I have, at this point in my life, never snorted it in its powdery form... but I never say never about anything... so there is still a chance I might find the opportunity and take it.

Fact: The more mustard, the better!

This statement remains true at all times and in all situations.

My favorite brand of mustard is Inglehoffer. I normally have three bottles in my fridge, just in case I want to send a guest home with a bottle after they have fallen head over heels in love with it. (Quit snickering at my melodramatic ways! It has happened before and I refuse to be found unprepared when it happens again.) One of my new life goals is to visit the Mustard Museum and Poupon U. On this most holy of days, I would like to wish my dear readers a delightful day of mustardy decadence. I leave you with the fight song of the auspicious Poupon U.

On our hot dogs, on our bratwurst, mustard is so cool.
Never mayo, never ketchup; they're against the rules.
Gleaming gold and mellow yellow; smooth, rough, sweet and hot,
Fight, POUPON U! We'll fight and eat some lunch.

CA Prop 8 = Unconstitutional

2010-08-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

Judge Vaughn R. Walker's conclusion:

"Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional."

My Thoughts:

Your church can make any judgements it wants to about peoples' lifestyles. It can decided to offer them membership or not based on their sexual orientation. That is your right. You personally can have any opinion you want to about who I have sex with and who I choose to make a commitment to. You can decide to be my friend or not. That is your right.

BUT GUESS WHAT? OUR government cannot! OUR government cannot offer benefits to those who are married, at the same time limiting who can enter into a marriage contract. OUR government is called to "establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" for ALL citizens of the United States of America. So on this day I celebrate that the rights of ALL citizens have been defended... that justice has been served... that domestic tranquility can and will exist. I raise a glass to liberty!

Why I care:

I cried when the ruling came down this afternoon... I cried, because I knew that equality had won... I cried, because I believe that love has triumphed. I believe in a lot of things. I believe in a god who doesn't make mistakes and who loves more than I can imagine. I believe that freedom is not just about eagles and stripes... but also about living and loving with no limits. I believe that truth will always win... given enough time and enough appeals. I believe that we will look back in shame at our close minded attitudes in dealing with others. I believe that tomorrow will be an even better day. I believe in love.

Holy Crap

2010-06-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pargon/sets/72157623594187379/

This kind of stuff drives me crazy...

The mispelling is priceless. If we follow Mayor Chester Stranczek's rule, he has to leave too. Works out well for everyone.

Things that I LOVE on this lovely Wednesday

2010-05-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

1.)
This drawer set (which I found on my new favorite website apartmenttherapy) is BRILLIANT!

2.) The "Time After Time" duet with Cyndi Lauper and Sarah MacLachlan is rocking my world. Isn't it the best when iTunes shuffles to a song that you forgot you were in love with? :-)

I flipping LOVE it! Two magical voices in one timeless song.

3.) Glee and all things Gleekalicious...

Last night's Theatricality episode was wonderful. I laugh. I cried. I screamed in shock. ***SPOILER ALERT*** The vampire scene was HYSTERICAL. "Asian vampires are the most vicious of all the vampires!"

4.) Life. I just love life.

A Thought for the Month...

2010-05-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

“Even where you are sure, seem rather doubtful;

represent, but do not pronounce,
and if you would convince others,

seem open to conviction yourself.”

- Lord Chesterfield

...A lesson in humility and effective diplomacy.

As a result of running into this quote the other day, my goal for May will be to speak with humility and to listen more often than I speak.

Sayōnara Wisdom Teeth

2010-04-30T06:43:00.000-07:00

Today is the day...

I'm going under the drill to get my wisdom teeth removed this morning. Here's to hoping for being greatly affected by the anesthesia... I've charged the camera battery and given my mother clear instructions to capture anything that may be YouTube worthy... perhaps if all goes well, I'll be the next David After the Dentist...

(Oh man, my life would be complete if my dental surgery was such a hit that people autotuned it!)

Truly though, I'm just hoping for a quick recovery and to not end up in a similar situation to this poor fellow.

Something more like this will work just fine for me...

I'll see y'all on the YouTube...

Bucket List

2010-04-28T01:20:00.000-07:00

So my skydiving adventure has inspired me to share some other entries I have on my bucket list...

- Drive Route 66

My sister and brother-in-law leave this weekend on a cross-country adventure. (Follow them on their blog!) Hopefully one day I'll be able to follow in their interstate tracks and make the trek myself... If anyone has an extra Airstream hanging around that they want me to take with me, please don't hesitate to send it my way.

- Soar in a Hot Air Balloon

A little more sedate than skydiving... but I imagine it is breathtaking!

- Walk on the Great Wall of China

Part of me wants to walk the length of the Great Wall of China... but then I think, "Melissa, quit it with all of your crazy talk." It's not that I don't want to walk that long of a distance... it's more like, I don't think I'd want to devote that large of a portion of a trip to China on walking. I'd rather visit more places and eat more food. ;-)

- See the Northern Lights

Ummmm HELLO! If you have ever seen a picture of the Northern Lights and not wanted to see them in person... well then I don't think I even want know you! I am pretty sure that when I finally see them it will blow my mind, my heart will swell and I'll cry... In fact, if we're going to be honest (and I think we're at the point now where we should be honest with one another) I sometimes get misty in the eyes just thinking about seeing the Northern Lights. Perhaps that should be next year's big trip...

There are so many more things on the list, but that's enough sharing for me for today.

What's on your list?

'Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?'

2010-04-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

This is why!

The most common response people have when I tell them that I went skydiving to celebrate turning thirty this year is to incredulously ask, "Why?!? Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" Well the simple way to answer that question is to show them the picture that I have posted above. Ummm OBVIOUSLY it's fun! ...So that's why I did it (and why YOU SHOULD TOO!).

But there was more involved in the decision than simply wanting to have fun. I have always wanted to fly... I pick window seats on airplanes and longingly imagine that I can feel the moisture of the clouds on my face. I watch birds soar with ease and wonder, "Why not me?" When presented with the question "Which superpower would you want to have?" the answer has always been easy. I would want to fly! (Invisibility would lead to too many problems... you'd get stepped on and bumped into a lot. Super Strength could lead to accidentally hurting someone whom I loved. That would be horrible... And the people who would choose to be able to touch things and have them to turn to gold... well that's just plain stupid. How would you eat? Think it through people! Nope... Hands down, I would choose to fly.)

So as my best friend Lauren and I started to talk about the things we wanted to do to celebrate ending our 20s... Skydiving was the one idea that truly made my heart skip a beat. Sure it sounded a little frightening and every so often when I thought about it I would start sweating more than is socially acceptable... but the reality is that my goal was to conquer that fear and start living out loud. You can't miss out on the adventures because you let the what-ifs get in your way. The new older, wiser Melissa is ready to take some plunges... literally.

A quick summary of events:

Sure, looking out of the open door and down 15,000 feet to the ground is a little scary... but before the fear could even truly register I just screamed it out and jumped.

Literally as soon as I was moving out... as soon as there was no option to turn around... the fear was gone and pure ecstasy took its place... sheer exhilaration! I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it is to fly!

After the 60-90 seconds of free fall there were five minutes of paragliding over the most beautiful view I've ever seen. I could see the curvature of the earth. I looked out over the ocean, the hills, the valleys, and it was all I could do to remember to breath. I just smiled and smiled.

And we made it out of the entire experience safe and sound and ready to go again! I can't think of a better way to celebrate 31 next year.

Bookworm? Damn right!

2010-04-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

So what if I always have my nose in a book... is that really so bad?

So what if I take books into the bathroom with me and keep them in every purse I own... is that wrong?

I say NO! It is good and it is right!

Bookworms of the World Unite!

Jayma started calling me Bookworm this weekend while we were away... I have to admit that I earned the title. I managed to read most of the book (Ender's Game = SO GOOD!) I brought with me and a good percentage of the New York Times articles on my iPhone app in the short 44 hours that we were up on the mountain. I love books. I will read just about anything that I find in front of my face. Some people craft (Jayma). Some people take and edit photos (Lauren). I read books... it's my skill set. I just need to figure out how to get paid for it... I suppose I could read books for students and summarize them, but CliffsNotes seems to have that market cornered... hmmm... I'm not sure I'm the caliber of reader required for book reviewing... but perhaps. Will they hold it against me that I have been known to read a People magazine or two? I should hope not, because that information is even more practical than reading Moby Dick. The Lohans and Larry King come up in many more conversations than good ol' Ahab. I can't help it that I live in a fickle culture. I am just one of many and I need to assimilate somehow... so keep the People magazines coming my way! I'll sneak in the classics waiting in line at the Post Office or on my lunch break. When it comes to reading, I seriously believe that I can do it all.

So what have you been reading lately?

Palomar Mountain - Sunday Funday

2010-04-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

It was difficult to leave the confines of our adorable cabin.

(Lauren's grandpa ordered the cabin as a kit and built it in the 1960's.)

But by Sunday midday we pulled ourselves away from crafting/reading/editing and went on a Geekspedition to the Palomar Observatory.
I do not mean to imply that only geeks go to observatories...

BUT I do mean to imply that we might be geeks...

Exhibit A.

...or possibly even tree hugging dorks.

Exhibit B.
We each loved our time spent at the Observatory. There were incredible pictures and stories of how the Pyrex for the telescope was transported and then meticulously refined and polished to be usable. All of the talk of stars, solar systems, and galaxies made me think back to the days of the Starlab in elementary school. I loved piling into the weird igloo shaped balloon and listening to stories inspired by the night sky. We would sit with our little legs crossed soaking up tales of how the stars came to be and how the Earth was made. There were sailors' stories from ships long ago... We'd look at Orion's Belt, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. It all made the sky seem so... well magical. Currently, it's a miraculous event if I can see any stars above my house. The suburban lights conspire with the marine layer to block the ancient stories that the heavens have whispered. This weekend up in the mountains helped me to remember to look up... and make an effort to get to a place where I can see the heavenly bodies that have inspired all generations to awe, creativity, and fear... and to keep my eyes peeled for new stories to be told.

Please note that these pictures are courtesy of JaymaLew.

*Editor's Note: Apparently we made it up to the mountains just in time.

Palomar Mountain - a Saturday delightfully spent.

2010-04-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was able to get away with some friends to Palomar Mountain.

Below is the view from the porch at the cabin... not too shabby.

Is there anything lovelier than enjoying a brisk mountain morning, wrapped in a blanket, drinking hot tea with a good book in your lap? (I'll answer that for you.) No... except maybe starting your morning in a hammock with fresh coffee, ocean breezes and yet another good book in your hands... Life is full of so many wonderful things. How did I ever get so lucky as to know so many tantalizing experiences? Oh did I mention the smell!?!? I LOVE the smell of a forest in the morning... or evening... or mid afternoon isn't too bad either. Sure I may be allergic to most of the things that I was smelling, but that is NOT going to stop this Happy Camper. That is why God made Benadryl... so that I could keep on keepin' on.

After a rough day of 'working'...

It was time for a delicious dinner!

And then a quiet evening in front of a roaring fire...
P.S. I built that fire all by myself... (with some assistance from my Great Uncle Duraflame.)

All in all, a Saturday delightfully spent.

Palomar Mountain - Our Thrilling Friday Night

2010-04-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend my bestie Lauren and I went away to Palomar Mountain for some downtime. Our dear friend Jayma drove up from LA and met us on Saturday. We all had a blast just doing our own things and kicking back.

As I looked back on the weekend, I got to thinking about life... which is dangerous, but I do it for the good of my readers. Here is a thought that came my way:

Singlehood = ?
Some of my married friends like to talk as if their lives now aren't as exciting as they were when they were footloose, fancy-free and single. I hear people at work reminisce about the thrills of life before marriage and I think it's a lot like people missing the 'good ole days of high school'... They are remembering it all through rose colored glasses. Now that Lauren and I are "Thirty, Flirty and Fabulous," THIS is how we spend our Friday nights. Lauren alternates between playing Words With Friends on her iPhone and vacuuming up dead ants or spiders. I wear my Hooters jammies (They have owls on them... get your minds out of the gutter!) and read Ender's Game for book club (SUPER GOOD BOOK! READ IT!). It's not like we partied with Diddy or made out with foreign men (well not this weekend). I just want to break my married readers of the fear that they are missing out on something exciting... The single life is a lot like married life... minus the marriage part, but you get the idea.

Here we are, living the dream:

Five Things I Love

2010-03-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by JaymaLew to post a list of five things that I love. Here it is, a bit late... but hey it's a blog and we haven't seen one of those around here since last year, so I assume my patient readers will be gracious:

Here is my simple list (which I feel like I've already posted at some point):

I love (1) Books, (2) Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, (3) Adventures/Travel, (4) Babies, and (5) my life.

So I'm going to get a little more creative and list the Five Things That I Love TODAY:

Today I love my 'Latin America' channel on Pandora. Some ManA, some Shakira, and some Juanes and I'm all set to conquer the week. A little music to shake the hips to makes a Monday morning easier to swallow.

Today I love my oatmeal with blackberries... The perfect start to any day. A little trick for you dear readers, buy blackberries when they are on sale and freeze them... as they defrost later they are at the PERFECT level of softness (not quite mushy) to add to oatmeal or yogurt.

Today I love my outfit... I know it sounds silly, but keep reading... I made a deal with myself (aka a New Years' Resolution) that I would wear a dress or skirt at least once a week this year. So far, so good. Today I'm wearing my adorable black wedges and a flowy black and white skirt. Sometimes Monday mornings are a bit harder than the other mornings... but putting on an adorable outfit can be the extra push I need to remember that my life is good and I am cute. :-) Vanity... it can be used for good.

Today I love my clean laundry. Yesterday I was SUPER productive... and that is rare for me on a Sunday. I moved furniture and washed ALL of my dirty clothes. The only unlaundered items of clothing at my house are my pajamas from last night... those of you who know me well, know that this is a VERY RARE situation. I ALWAYS seem to have laundry that needs to be done... but tonight I have NO laundry to do. I do however need to 'wrinkle release' the clothes that are line drying and put them away... this woman's work is never done.

Today I love my book in my purse... Book Club is coming soon and I need to finish reading The Lovely Bones. I love Book Club. I love reading. I love disappearing into another world, another life, another mind... I love it all. I love that tonight I can sit in my bed (with my clean sheets!) and read for hours.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here I am with my dear Kermit's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame... Here's to hoping that this is the year that he and I finally get married.

I wish all of you and yours the very best in 2010.

My (Virtual) Christmas Card

2009-12-25T12:17:00.000-08:00

One more trip around the sun completed and I am now officially thirty, flirty and fabulous.

A year in review:

January:
New Years Weekend 2009 last year found me in Vegas learning how to play Blackjack. This year the plan is to apply that knowledge and make some money. :-) We'll see how that goes...
[Lenny and I in Las Vegas, January 2009]

February:
Valentines' Day was spent celebrating the love of my sister Rosie and her new husband Adam. Wedding weekend in Nor Cal!
[Mr. & Mrs. Malicay]

March:
My dear friend Aimee and I spent a long weekend adventuring in New York City. We had a blast in this city that never sleeps and visited the Apple Store at 2:00 am... just because we could.

We were very sad to leave...

Summer:
This was a summer of family fun. Pool days... Breakfast brunch at the parents'... Game nights... Our family knows how to have fun!
[This is us visiting with Grandma at her new home.]

September was crazy!!!
Labor Day weekend I took my traditional trip to visit Robin in Seattle and we had a blast. This picture is on Lopez Island.

While I was in Seattle my new nephew Jayden refused to wait for me to get home. He decided it was time to check this world out. He's pretty flippin' adorable! Our family is always excited for new babies.

There is no rest for the weary. We ended a full September with Petra and Pierce's wedding. It was a beautiful day filled with love.
[Mr. & Mrs. Kavanagh]
[It was nice to have the whole damn fam together!]

November:
I was blessed to spend Thanksgiving in Costa Rica this year! Feel free to check some of the archive blogs for more pictures and stories. I had so much fun and it only fed my serious addiction to travel.
[Me, my ticas, and a rainbow after riding horses near the Arenal volcano and ziplining in the canopy!]

[My new monkey friend.]

December:
We celebrated my dear friend Jayma's birthday up in LA. Here we are kickin' it on Rodeo Drive... 'cause that's how we roll.
[Lauren, Jayma, Me & Erika.]

I spent my birthday at Disneyland with my parents, nephew, sister and brother-in-law. It was the best gift! Disneyland at Christmas is the most magical of all places.

General Highlights:
I was published! I am featured in The World According to Twitter by David Pogue. Check me out on pages 199 and 245!

I am so glad to be where I am... This is a sunset picture I took on my way home from work. Southern California is the place to be. I love being near my family and friends. I am very thankful for this past year filled with love and laughter. Thank you all!

Take the Time

2009-12-16T08:02:00.000-08:00

This literally takes ten seconds and it's a great thing to do with kids during the holiday chaos. No one asks for your email address and you don't have to watch a commercial. It's soooooo simple. You choose one of the adorable cards drawn by kiddos, add your name and message and then Xerox prints it out and delivers it to a soldier. It's soooooo easy. www.LetsSayThanks.com

I obviously had to choose the adorable one from San Diego. :-) Dolphins and sunshine... it doesn't get any better than that.

Pictures: Tamarindo, Costa Rica

2009-12-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

Check out my pictures of Pao and my road trip to Tamarindo. We loved the beach! It was such a sweet time with my dear, dear friend.

Pictures: Arenal, Costa Rica

2009-12-03T06:14:00.000-08:00

Check out my pictures of Arenal. I had a great time with Sofi, Pao and Yendri! We went zip lining in the canopy, horseback riding around Arenal AND then relaxed in the hot springs at Baldi!

Pictures: Tortuguero, Costa Rica

2009-12-01T03:59:00.000-08:00

Check out my Tortuguero album here.

Everyone's Favorite Tica

2009-11-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

Tonight is my last night in Costa Rica (for this trip) and I'm getting
a little emotional. I have no idea what draws me to this place... I
mean I could write you a list (and I probably will in an upcoming
blog) but like being in love with a person, being in love with this
place can't be explained, it just is. With people there is a chemistry
that can't be manufactured and normally exists from the very
beginning. There are people that look like a match on paper but, in
person, "it" is just not there. Then there are people that you love
before you really even know them. You see them and you just know that
they'll be a part of your heart forever. Paola is one of those people.
I met her on a bus on our way to a camp here in Costa Rica seven years
ago and I knew that I would know her and love her for the rest of my
life. This trip with her has been such a blessing! Thank you Pao for
carting me around Costa Rica and for sharing so much with me. I love
your attitude, your heart and your laughter. I love you my dear tica.
I will miss you (and your precious family and friends) and look
forward to our next adventure. Somos gemelas de corazon y de alma. :-)

Pictures: San Jose, Costa Rica

2009-11-28T03:48:00.000-08:00

To see my San Jose Album Click Here!
There is more to come. :-)
But not today, becuase I'm off to the mountains and the beach.

Lessons Learned Today in Tortuguero

2009-11-25T17:01:00.001-08:00

- Walking through a construction site in the dark could lead to cement
covered shoes.

- If you wake up at 4:30am to take the Tortuguero National Park boat
tour, you could be rewarded with INCREDIBLE views of cayman, spider/
howler/white face monkeys, Blue Morpho butterflies, sloths, iguanas,
and turtles.

- If you are in Costa Rica and you think you may feel something
crawling on your back, don't assume that it's sweat or chills from
your sunburn. Assume that it's something crawling on your back, smack
it, and get it the heck off of you!

- Always be prepared for dinner guests... (crab story to come)

- Sometimes you have to wake up the kitchen staff during the off
season... Really they don't mind.

- Don't consider a granola bar lunch and then start dinner with a
beer... Unless that's the kind of night you're looking for.

Costa Rica - Tortuguero - Getting There

2009-11-25T12:54:00.001-08:00

So, um... Yeah... I'm in heaven and I'm not leaving!

Tuesday morning I caught a bus in San Jose to Cariari. The ride was
gorgeous. We drove through the mountains and saw waterfalls just off
the side of the road. The views were breathtaking! I made a friend
(surprised?) who helped me figure out where to get off and, more
importantly, when not to. (I learned that the buses take rest stops
along the way... This gringa was packing up her bags just to sit and
wait for the driver to pee.) I'm learning that Ticos have a funny
sense of time. A forty-five minute bus ride seems to be two hours for
some and twenty minutes for others. I have decided that I will just be
ready at all times to get on or off a bus. I also learned that there
is always time for a cafecito or a cigarette break.

My new friend's stop was before mine, so he handed me off for someone
else to babysit. 'She is going to Cariari. Make sure she doesn't get
lost.' My newest friend was all too eager to help the blue-eyed
gringa. 'Are you traveling alone? Are you from England? Do you like
Costa Rica so far?' I had a talker on my hands... Luckily I can chat
with the best of them. :-)

Once I got to Cariari (safely) I needed to catch a bus to Pavona, but
the first stop was the bathroom where I became extremely proud of
myself for always traveling with a pack of tissues. Once I realized
there wasn't toilet paper I giggled and started hunting in my bag.
There had been a sign outside listing the cost to use the bathroom as
100 colones (~$0.20). My neighbor to the right did not find it as
amusing as I did. 'Without shame! I will pay you nothing if you don't
provide toilet paper!' she yelled. I took her lead and we both left
without paying... Me grinning and her frowning.
(Side note: She had tissues in her purse too. I didn't leave her
without resources.)

At Cariari I had to catch another bus to Pavona. This proved to be an
even greater adventure than the bathroom. There was no bus, but there
was a pushy lady who swore that there was a bus coming. A few of the
other gringos decided to walk to a nearby bus station that they new
about... I decided to trust the lady in the red polo shirt... She
looked official enough. ;-) I waited my five minutes and the most
rickety bus I have ever seen pulled up. I paid the bus driver my money
and we headed for gas and our first stop. Guess where our first stop
was... The other bus station! We all ended up on the same bus after
all... Only I got to sit with my new friend Jose and I didn't have to
hoof it over to the VERY busy station in the humidity.

This ride was bumpy and loud and hot and sweaty and... awesome! We
picked up school children and people coming to and from work. The bus
driver (Jose) was like a local hero. Everyone knew his name and was
glad to see him. We drove through farmland and fields. The cows had
humpbacks and the fence posts were growing into trees.

A 'gang' of locals started congregating in the front of the bus and
goofing around. They were laughing and threatening to push each other
out the door. I could hear them talking in the front and they were
laughing about trying to scare the gringo in the back. A few of them
were very obviously eyeing him and it took all of my self control not
to flip around in my seat and look behind me to see if anyone was
scared. It was a weird moment for me. I was very obviously not a
local, but I also very obviously understood Spanish and laughed at all
the right times.i was kind of stuck between two worlds. No one was
hurt and I'm pretty sure that my fellow gringo wasn't even frightened,
but they put forth a good effort and I appreciated the show.

Once in Pavona, which is basically a large restaurant and a boat dock,
we got on our boats to head to Tortuguero. I was the ONLY gringo on my
boat. The other boat was filled to the brim with people, almost all
tourists and I was on a mostly empty boat with locals. I took a
picture. It was hysterical. The ride into Tortuguero was magnificent.
I loved being on the water. I felt like I was in The Rescuers and
being toted around by Evenrude. I made another friend named Carlos,
who is a tour guide. He told me all about the area and his recent trip
to Nicaragua. I told him a little about myself and taught him some
English.

I am learning that I'm pretty good at traveling by myself. In fact, I
like it. I am especially thankful for it on this trip, because it
causes me to use my Spanish and I need the practice.

So I am here in Tortuguero and I love it. The journey here was long
and exciting and well worth it!

Amy is awesome!

2009-11-25T12:48:00.000-08:00

I miss my sister so much in Costa Rica that I just wanted to write a little post about how awesome she is :P

Costa Rica - San Jose Museums

2009-11-25T11:47:00.001-08:00

Monday I spent the day in San Jose with Pao's mom. She had never been
to most of the places we visited; so we had a great time being
tourists together! The Plaza Cultura was very interesting. (I took
tons of pictures that will have to be uploaded later.) I loved seeing
where the indigenous people live now and where they came from. We saw
gold from all different regions and examples of houses, jars, and
weaponry. All of the museums were in walking distance from each other
and very reasonable. Pao's mom was upset because I had to pay more as
a tourist, but it only seemed fair to me. Costa Ricans pay the taxes
that build the museums, I don't mind paying more to support what I
have the priviledge to enjoy.

We had lunch at the Mercado Central with Johnn (my Tico brother). It
was delicious! Arroz con pollo is probably my favorite dish in the
world and this was the best that I've had. We sat in the middle of the
hustle and bustle and stuffed ourselves silly. I may have mentioned
this before, but I freakin' love my family here. I feel like they
really are the Tico version of my family at home. I can't wait for the
day that both families meet!

After lunch we walked around a park and saw some government buildings
(court house, etc.) and the National Museum (which is closed on
Mondays). Then we went to a museum of contemporary art. I loved it!
They had an exhibit about renewable resources and reusing things we
already own in new ways. My favorite idea was making purses out of old
jackets... Oh no, I take that back. My favorite was a display of lamps
made out of car parts. They were gorgeous! ...Oh crap; I lied. My
(actual) favorite was the exhibit of photography. There were
collections of photos from different Spanish speaking countries
separated between two floors. The bottom floor had pictures of people
from the lower classes of the countries. There were immigrants on the
Northbound trains in Mexico, children with no shoes in Peru, people
living on the streets in Brazil, etc. On the top floor were photos of
people living in excess; opulent weddings in Spain, Carnival in
Brazil, etc. It was very thoughtful and well done. Sometimes exhibits
spend too much time telling you what to think; this one left you with
the images and your own thoughts. It triggered some great
conversations between Mama and me. I am especially excited to upload a
few photos from that exhibit.

We went by the hospital that Pao did her internship at, which is the
same one her grandmother used to work at as a nurse! We walked around
San Jose some more and had a coffee date at Spoons (a great little
chain of snack/coffee shops). Then we thought we were going to tour
Teatro Nacional, but the information they gave Pao was wrong. So
instead we had a second coffee date, this time with Pao. :-) We
visited the national cathedral and their central park and it was time
to get home and let our feet rest.

For those of you traveling to Costa Rica, don't skip San Jose. It may
not be clean and fancy, but it's a great taste of the culture. The
majority of Ticos live here, so it's worth the time to get know a
little about life here.

Costa Rica - Day 1 & 2

2009-11-22T16:57:00.001-08:00

My adventure has begun! Friday night I rode up on the train to LAX and
hung out trying to stay awake for my 12:30 am flight. I started my
melatonin regimine an hour before the flight (one pill every half hour
to build up the exhaustion). Once I was on the flight with my
earplugs, neck pillow, and AWESOME eye cover (picture to come) in
place there was no chance I wasn't going to sleep my way to San Jose.
I slept sooo well. I don't think I've ever slept so soundly on a
plane. Red-eye shmed-eye... I was perky and ready for what Saturday
had in store for me.

I had a 'technical' stop in San Salvador, El Salvador. Flying in over
the birthplace of my sisters was very emotional for me. I even
surprised myself. The landscape was lush and green. There was a sweet
handicrafts shop next to my gate and I had a hard time controlling
myself. After I was already missing my sisters and all mushy about how
thankful I am for my wonderful family, I was hit with another
emotional smack. The Step By Step music video by the New Kids on the
Block was on the TV by the gate! What are the odds?!?! My family was
consumed by NKOTB for a significant portion of my childhood... So my
heart was filled with memories of lunch boxes, concerts and bed
sheets. :-) El Salvador has officially moved even further up my "I
Must Go There" list.

Saturday I spent catching up with Pao (my best friend) and her family.
We had lunch and went shopping for Christmas decorations. I adore
them! I can't even begin to explain the sweet connection I have with
my Tico family. They just love me... And I love them.

Last night it was off to the local tavern and guess what was on the
TV... Go ahead try. Yep. NKOTB Step By Step. Twice in one day in two
different countries!!! Oh yeah and don't worry the waiter fell in love
with me... Obviously.

This morning church was lovely and it was nice to catch up with more
old friends. Isn't it wonderful when even the passing of years doesn't
mean a thing? The rest of the day was spent eating, sleeping, and
planning the remainder of the week. Tomorrow is San Jose museum day
with Mama. Tuesday I'm off to Tortuguero on the East Coast for a few
days. Yeah for more adventures!

WHAT!??!?!

2009-11-06T17:20:00.000-08:00

Since Rihanna and Chris Brown are all over the airwaves today. I thought I would share some disturbing information I heard recently.

An American Bar Association survey found that one out of four American women are raped or physically assaulted by a current or former partner at some point in their lifetime.

The average number of times that a woman in an abusive relationship is injured before they leave is nine... NINE!

Each person reading this knows someone who has been injured... abused... raped... by someone who was supposed to love them... supposed to protect them. You may not realize that someone you love has been hurt, but the numbers say that you most definitely DO know someone. A friend is suffering in silence. A neighbor is working to recover from the unthinkable. They need your love and support.

We can't change the broken things in this world, until we start talking about them. So talk about it tonight over dinner. Talk about it tomorrow over coffee. We should be speaking up. My sisters, my friends, my neighbors, and my coworkers will not be protected if I am silent. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!

May we break the cycle. May we raise sons who respect the women in their lives. May our daughters rise up and declare that they are worthy of more; They are worthy of the best. Speak out. Raise your voice.

More than that may we look around and see the pain in the eyes that the smiles try to hide.... may we love those around us in such a way that they realize they were created for much more. Raise your voice, but more importantly increase your hearing. Listen in love and act in kindness.

My Hero Speaks

2009-11-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

On Twitter I follow the funniest man alive... perhaps of all time. Tim Siedell is known in the twitterverse as @badbanana and I love him. I think you should love him too. Here is an interview with my hero. Please read and enjoy. Then get a twitter account and follow him. OR just bookmark his twitter page and check him out every morning. You are guaranteed at the very least one belly laugh. If you don't enjoy him... actually I don't want to talk about the consequences of that option. I would prefer to assume that you will all live long and happy lives without ever having to say hello to my lil' friend.

Happy Birthday Besties!!!

2009-11-04T07:32:00.000-08:00

I love me some Muppets and these ones taught me everything I know... literally. Thank you to my best friends in all of the world. Happy Birthday to you.

NYC (6 months later)

2009-11-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

In May I went with my dear friend Aimee to New York City for a long weekend. We had a blast galavanting in the city. Here are some snapshots of our grand adventure:

MOMA, how I love thee. (My plan is to live in one of those houses one day and be MOMA's neighbor.)

We love a 24/7 Apple store!!! Two o'clock in the morning is the best time to lust after computers... and it's truly best done in person.

I ADORE Rodin. I really wanted to touch every sculpture... turns out they frown on that. Snobs!

Dear friends reunited. Such lovelies!

I won a free shirt from the most delicious vegan restaurant. We were hoping it might come with the waiter's number. Sadly, it did not.

We went to see Exit the King, but Aimee's adorable vintage shoes didn't quite 'make it on Broadway.'

Luckily Krazy Glue was readily available directly across the street from our hotel.

Aimee found true love in chocolate form. Is there any other kind of love?

I got my groove on. I had no idea that I was such a fan of karaoke. I now know! Look out people.

Aimee's loot being displayed on our lunch table. She found TONS of delicious shoes at a salon/vintage shop. It seemed like every time we got 'lost' in New York, we found another treasure around the corner.

We were very sad to leave. Thanks for the memories!

40,000 Soldiers or 40,000 Schools?

2009-10-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

A topic to ponder over the weekend:

Nicholas D. Kristof the author of Half the Sky and a New York Times columnist wrote a very interesting article about Afghanistan. He proposes that we should be starting schools instead of sending more troops to the region. I appreciated his thoughtful points. What do you think? Where are our resources best invested?

My Current Crush

2009-10-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

After Game 1 of the World Series, I have myself a crush. Phillies' starting pitcher Cliff Lee is the new object of my affection.

I loved the catch behind the back!

How adorable are they?!? I have crush on his entire family. I double dog dare you not to smile while looking at this picture. (Yep that was a DOUBLE dog dare.)

I knew you couldn't do it. Don't feel bad; Nobody stands a chance against this level of cute.

Full of Wonder... Wonderful

2009-10-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

As an North San Diego County local (born and raised!) sometimes I take the luxury of living by the beach for granted. Recently, after running some errands, I parked by the ocean to eat my dinner (In N Out BABY!). As I sat watching the waves and listening to the birds, a family in an SUV pulled up and piled out. They laughed as they threw sand at each other and flew kites. Mom pulled out a picnic dinner. The kids started tossing around a football. The father was snapping pictures without a pause; wanting to capture each and every memory of their Day at the Beach. I am pretty sure that they weren't locals. It seemed to me that this was a rare and special day... an out of the ordinary adventure.

Their excitement reminded me that my daily experiences are truly extraordinary. I can see the ocean from my office! (I may have to be on my tip toes but I can see it; and people of normal height don't have to stretch at all.) My mornings and nights are filled with salty breezes and palm trees. People dream their whole lives of seeing the ocean one day and I was raise in it and around it. I took a second look at what was before me... The sand was literally sparkling like miniscule stars reminding me that magic is still around; that life is still exciting. The pelicans swooped and fish jumped. Waves rolled in and I was carried away with them as they returned with the same mysterious force that sent them to shore. My head may know that the wind, the moon, and earthquakes make waves, but today my heart saw only magic. I wanted to believe that the sand before me wasn't broken rocks or shells but that it was in fact stars dropped from the heavens to decorate my seashore. This was a day that wonder won. Tomorrow who knows?

Don't worry I snapped a shot myself.

Daydream Believer

2009-10-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today's daydream is brought to you by Theraflu and the sinus congestion that isn't allowing me to focus on the real business at hand.

Instead of taking care of the tasks on my mounting To Do List (T-20 days until official Moving Day and T-25 days until I am Costa Rica vacation bound!) I have been solving a potential future problem. I am sure many of you have found yourself wondering, "What to do? What to do with all of my extra money?" At some point in every one's life we find Scrooge McDuck-style piles of money and have no blueprint of how to spend it. I refuse to come to that point without a well-laid plan! So I have devoted many hours developing (read daydreaming) the following solutions to a very serious future issue.

If I were to run into an abandoned pile of thirty government issued Franklins, I would not panic and run to deposit them into the nearest bank. Oh no, my friend. I would not be left without a clear course of action. That money would serve a noble purpose. It would provide me with my dream computer. The Apple Store would be destination number one. Destination number two would be anywhere and everywhere. I would travel and write all about how much I love my computer. I would sleep with it and drive with it in the passenger seat all buckled in, safe and sound. I know some of you might think I'm a little (or a lot) crazy. Think what you may, but I will be the one prepared in case of sudden cash flow. Where will you be when the money comes? What will you do? Think fast!

I hear your question before you even ask, Dear Reader. I know your concerns. "Melissa, what will you do if more money comes? You could not possibly have a clear path laid out for an influx of thirty thousand dollars." Now this was a harder task. I admit that many of the options were tempting. After much thought and consideration the difficult decision has been made. If I find a bag of gold on my windshield tomorrow, I will be driving straight to the local Honda dealership. Once I have my fancy computer, I'm going to need to travel and find inspiration for my writing. I will need something practical that can take me from coast to coast and maybe even across a few borders. Now I know that this is not a standard issue Honda Element pictured. I will have to get my customized camper shell from someone else, but the Honda dealership is my first stop in the plan. After we're all decked out and ready to go, I will have to camp across the country, perhaps the continent. There is room for two... so if there are any volunteers please let me know. I like to be prepared, so notify me BEFORE I find my bags and piles of money that you are up for sharing in the adventure.

Now I would like to encourage each of you to set aside some time today to plan out what you will do when the money comes. Don't let yourself be caught off guard. Money lurks around every corner. Be prepared people!

Goodbye My Dear Friend

2009-10-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

I know that Diet Coke is bad for me.
I have known it for a long time.
But most of that time I have still loved it and chosen to drink it; and to drink it often. Last week I did a little detoxing experiment. I went the whole week without drinking a single Diet Coke (Friday I made a small exception to drink Diet Coke and Bacardi, but in my defense it was mostly Bacardi). This afternoon, at lunch, I decided to break my fast with a delicious ice cold Diet Coke. The first sip tasted weird... like it had when I was in high school and "hated anything diet." I kept drinking and it tasted a little better. After about a quarter of the can my head started to feel tight at the base of my skull... like the onset of a migraine! WHAT?!!? I was so excited to drink Diet Coke again and it turns out that I don't really like the taste and it causes my brain to swell. So D.C. and I are breaking up. I think I really mean it this time. It's over. Goodbye.

Deep Thoughts with Meli La Gringa

2009-10-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

I’ve learned a lot in the past week and thought I would share:

1.) Pandora's Paula Abdul station always results in a good work day.
I'm just saying that Pandora connects a lot of AWESOMENESS to Paula. Some examples that made me dance in my office chair: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper), Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar), Call Me (Blondie), Like a Prayer (Madonna), Every Little Step (Bobby Brown), Billie Jean (You Know Who… and if you don’t know who then I’m re-evaluating our friendship as of now), and Cold Hearted (by Ms. Abdul herself). I have a great job, but I need the tunes (or NPR’s Fresh Air podcasts) to keep me going throughout the day with a smile. I’m pretty sure that this one station choice has brought me more joy than any other and I have some other GREAT stations (Vampire Weekend, Motown, Jack Johnson, etc.) but my heart connects to the early 90s and a little late 80s. I can’t help it, it’s just who I am.

2.) Even smart people can do stupid things.
Wednesday morning I was getting ready to leave for work and couldn't find my keys anywhere. After a good eight minutes of hunting (purse, couch, bed, fridge, freezer, etc) I realized with dread that I may have lost my keys. I opened the door to see if I had dropped them outside… nope. As I turned around to go inside I saw my keys dangling from the deadbolt on the front door… where they had been ALL night long. The best part of this story is that I had been in and out of the house at least two times since unlocking the door.

… and the Luckiest Absent-Minded Moron Award goes to….
Drum roll please)

MELISSA!

“I’d like to thank Diet Coke for killing the brain cells necessary to remember simple things like that when you lock the door at night and leave the key in the exterior lock you are not, in fact, locking anyone out of the house… I would also like to thank my kind neighbors for not using the key I left ready and available for them. I couldn’t have done any of this without all of your contributions. (Hand covering mouth, tears welling up) Thank you all.”

3.) Boys fart often; girls need to allow that venting. Women talk often; men need to allow that venting.
I was pretty proud of myself for coming up with this today. I was talking to Esther about if women are neurotic… actually about if WE, in specific, are neurotic. I came up with "No, we’re not, we just think a lot"… about things we can’t change, but how we would change them if we could… about what he meant when he said that… and what she was thinking when she did that… and well okay so maybe we’re all a little neurotic, BUT verbalizing those thoughts is part of how we process life. Men fart. Women process life in another way. It’s okay. It’s just how it works.

4.) Yes, I know that I owe pictures and updates on other things like weddings, trips to NYC and Seattle, but right now this is what you get. You’re welcome.

You are welcome

2009-09-25T14:29:00.001-07:00

A Freakin' Minefield

2009-07-23T00:31:00.000-07:00

"What you want frightens you to death, that is why you fail to comprehend yourself."
- Lost in Austen

This one sent me spinning when I heard it...

My irrational response to Jane Austen follows:
(...and yes I do talk to deceased authors in my head.)
Oh really Jane, you can cut this crap out right now! Quit getting into my head and KNOWING what I'm thinking. It's upsetting and rude. How dare you understand ME!?!

My more rational response:

It seems to resonate and yet I can't comprehend it fully. (Which of course, Jane said I wouldn't! Vile creature you are Jane. Vile.) But is it true? Do I know what I want? Am I frightened to death? Do I comprehend myself? Do I fail to comprehend myself?!?! Does ANYONE comprehend themselves?

I don't know.

To be honest, I started pondering this blog months ago. I had hoped I would be able to wrestle with the questions the quote provoked and compose an elegant response, or perhaps even two. Well plans change... and to be honest I failed. I am almost thirty years old and I might not know what I want. In the movie, in which I first heard this line, the heroine knows what she desires, she wants to marry Mr. Darcy, but she also knows that she can't have him, because he is destined for another, Miss Elizabeth Bennett. In the end, (plot spoiler alert!) she gets the man and lives happily ever after. Well real life isn't like that... or that's what I hear from people who seem to know things. In the "real" life that I live, the struggle that makes up the beginning of a Jane Austen plot is the majority of my life. The miscommunication and misjudgements seem to be what I experience, without any of the enlightening moments to clarify the misguided motivations of genuine love. Each of us imagines that we are the Elizabeth Bennett or the Emma of our life's plot, but what if I'm the Charlotte or Miss Bates. What if I am not the heroine of the love story?

"Reading Jane Austen is a freakin' minefield!"
- Jocelyn, The Jane Austen Book Club

to be continued...

Thank You!

2009-05-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

All we have of freedom, all we use or know -
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899

So this Memorial Day got me to thinking...

I want to say THANK YOU, to those who have served, do serve and will serve.

Rehab?

2009-05-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

I once confessed here on this very blog, to my reading public, that I was a procrastinating perfectionist addicted to M&Ms... well time for an update... or really a confession, I am still putting off plenty of tasks (because I want to wait until I can give them my "best" effort) and this morning I had Diet Coke and M&Ms for breakfast.

I can, and will, produce a list of genuine reasons (read: excuses) why I made my culinary decision today:
1) I just got back from vacation and haven't had a chance to stop by the grocery store to purchase delicious and healthy oatmeal.
2) I forgot to grab my yogurt from the fridge... and who wants to eat granola without yogurt?!
3) The M&Ms are from New York and I was using them as a reminder of my grand adventures this past weekend.
4) I'm allergic to everything BUT M&Ms and Diet Coke...

Okay so maybe this last one is a lie, but sometimes the only thing I want in life is some genuine colored sugar wrapped nicely around some dark chocolate goodness and a can of liquid fake sugar pumped up with massive amounts of caffeine... Is that so wrong?

I think not!

But I, like Amy Winehouse, have some issues. Sure my addictions include aspartame, caffeine, NPR, loud jewelry and fuchsia leggings and she is a fan of the more lightweight stuff like cocaine, bulimia and cutting.

Amy Winehouse has issues... and she also has a song called "Rehab" (YouTube video here)

"They tried to make me go to rehab. I said "No. No. No."

Top One Reason That I Am An Idiot

2009-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after bowling I was all excited to read my book and finish it or at least come close by the time I went to bed last night... I went to grab my book after changing into sweatpants... "Where did I leave my book?" Madly search the car. Nope. Madly search my room and purse. Nope. Search the car again. Nope. Call the bowling alley, because I had taken it out to show a coworker at the bowling extravaganza. Nope. Check my purse and room and car again. Nope. Decide I have officially lost my book club book...

Call Barnes and Noble to see if I can stop by and buy another copy. (I have reading to finish... I take this shiznit seriously!) Nope. Call Borders. Another nope.

Grump at myself for being so irresponsible and settle into the couch with a new book and alternately read a few pages of the replacement book and watch crap TV shows.

Fast forward to this morning... I walk into the bathroom and the FIRST THING I see is... drum roll please.... MY F****** CONTACT BOOK. Apparently I walked into the bathroom after bowling with book in hand, set it on top of a stack of towels and then proceeded to completely forget where I left it. Mind you I had been in and out of the bathroom at least three times since the infamous book-losing trip...

Lesson learned: NEVER drink, read, and bowl on the same day. It's just too much goodness for one human brain to process... something is bound to get lost in the shuffle... or in the water closet.

America is a hypocrite?!??!

2009-04-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

USA is hypocritical. See: Treatment of China vs. Treatment of Cuba. A very interesting blog... so true!

Party Time! Excellent!

2009-04-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

My sister is awesome! She made this for me.
Melissa aka Wayne, Amy aka Garth... for those of you who thought it was just regular old Wayne & Garth

Looking good today...

2009-04-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

I helped a coworker out with a project today and received this as a Thank You. I love my life!

Speaking of coworkers... look out for tomorrow's blog.

Twitterpated

2009-03-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

I fell in love via Twitter...

It's true. His name is Jack Gray. He works at CNN... and well he has just the right amount of sarcasm to really speak to this girl's heart.

Here is his blog about the Love Shack that he's buying for us.

Apparently he's loaded and moving to my coast. So I think everything is going to work out just fine! I'll be visiting him in NYC in a few short weeks. We plan on making out the entire time, so please don't bother us. Thanks!

Charity: Water (on CNN)

2009-03-24T23:32:00.000-07:00

Check out this video about an exhibit in Chelsea Market in NYC. I'll be visiting it in FIVE weeks!!!

OH I have an idea!!! What if we collected money for me to take to the fountain!??!?! OMG. That would be great. Let's collect change for clean water in Africa and around the world!!! Gather up your quarters people and I'll deliver them to the fountain.

Shoes...

2009-03-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I was complaining because I only had three or four pairs of shoes to rotate through when looking to get dressed each morning for work...

Then I was googling recycling images to post in our break room and I ran into this. It hit me like a ton of bricks... HOLY CRAP! I am unsatisfied with having too few options for fancy work shoes?!?! This person has one pair of shoes and they were made with plastic bottles... the same bottles that I watch being thrown into trash cans day in and day out. My Starbucks venti water cup would make great shoes... for those with longer, slender feet a Smart Water bottle could work nicely.

So instead of shopping for new shoes this week, which was the plan, I decided to do something a little different. I bought a pair of Tom's Shoes (I get a pair and another is given to a child in need) and I gave money to Charity: Water, which is bringing clean water to people in developing countries.

Surprisingly, my Google search resulted in a much needed reminder that I live a blessed life. To whom much is given, much is required. So let this be your reminder that if you are reading this on a computer (powered by electricity)... and if you've eaten in the last 24 hours... and if you own a pair of shoes that wasn't made from old plastic bottles, well then YOU, my friend, are rich! Praise the Lord for what you have and do something with your resources today that will bless someone else.

Sing It Out Loud

2009-03-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

This makes me sing along, tap my foot, and sway a little on my swivel chair at work.

Why My Job is Better Than Your Job...

2009-03-03T09:43:00.000-08:00

This is what we discuss at Staff Meetings

AND I received a High Five Award today for my "relentless efforts in driving our recycling program." This was after I was out sick for most of last week...

oh yeah AND I got a raise!!!

Pictures!

2009-03-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

My sister got married on Valentine's Day. It was a lovely wedding and her and her husband are happy to be settling into married life. (So far they tell me it's a lot like life was before.) The weekend was certainly full! I ended up coming home pretty exhausted. Here are some pics.
(Thanks to Petra who took them.)

Pipe Organs = My Secret Obsession

2009-02-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

Anybody want to come and see Cameron Carpenter in Fullerton???

Going to the Chapel?!?!

2009-02-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

"Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution yet."
Mae West (1892 - 1980)

An interesting conversation today with a friend led me to finish a blog that I started months ago. She was discussing her marriage and the difficulties she faces in her current situation. Her husband, the father of her two children, doesn't support her, or the children, financially nor, most sadly, emotionally. She works long and hard hours at a very physical job. Her daughter is being tested for autism and in the course of the testing was asked if her parents hit her. She responded with, "Yes, my mother does." It was a lie, and thankfully the doctor knew it was. Later, my friend found out that her husband had directed her daughter to say it. I'm sorry... WHAT?!??! How does one stay with a man who supports none of your needs and encourages your children to lie about you...

The craziest part of this whole story (and the reason I'm writing this) is that this dear woman wants to set me up with a husband so that I will be happy. She doesn't think anyone can be happy and single. In her opinion, and in the opinions of many others, singleness and happiness are mutually exclusive. Why would a woman who is devastated in her unhappy/unhealthy/disastrous marriage think that I "needed" to find someone. Why do we think that being paired up is necessary to survival?

Now this is not a rant... It is more of an observation. In my travels I have been places where singleness is a handicap. In rural India, I was a 25 year old single woman traveling in a group of single women. Everyone I met was nervous for my future... they were worried that if I did not get married soon, that I would be destined for a life of poverty. In South Korea, I was getting near the "past due" date of a single woman and was asked by quite a few older people if I wanted help in finding a husband. They were worried because I didn't have a "wife job"... I wasn't a teacher/nurse/secretary (funny thing is, I do now have a "wife job"). Around every street corner was another wedding chapel screaming at the Korean youth that they needed to get around to getting married.

Please don't misunderstand, I think marriage is fantastic. I do desire to be married one day, BUT I don't think that it will make me happy. I am happy. I love my life. I love my family. I love my friends. I love my free hours to do with whatever I want. I like being a little selfish and not having to answer to anyone about what I do with my time, money, or energy.

The majority of my friends are married, and happily so, but the thing I love about them is that they were happy in singlehood just as much as in couplehood. I may tease and joke about needing to find a man, but really I am so thankful to live in a time and a culture where singleness is an option. To be able to provide for myself financially is something that the majority of women over the span of history have not had the opportunity to do. I am allowed to work. I am allowed to read any book that I want to. I am allowed to drive. I was allowed to go to school. I am so thankful that being a single woman is no longer a handicap. Being single allows me to babysit your children without a second thought, it allows me to be available for spontaneous adventures, and it allows me to spend a little more liberally on my nieces and nephews. I like being single and I will like being married... why? Because I like being me.

"I pay very little regard...to what any young person says on the subject of marriage. If they profess a disinclination for it, I only set it down that they have not yet seen the right person."
Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), Mansfield Park

Melissa Remembers Korea Day

2009-02-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

I have officially declared today, Wednesday February 18, 2009, to be Melissa Remembers Korea Day.

In honor of this auspicious occasion, I had a Bowl of Noodles for lunch.

Sometimes a girl has to get creative at work. A stapler is no longer just for attaching notes to one's forehead anymore...

Sadly I forgot my chopsticks and had to eat my noodles with a fork... oh well, I guess not every Melissa Remembers Korea Day can go off without a hitch. ;-)

AND the best part of Melissa Remembers Korea Day is...

Instant Hazelnut Coffee Packets... It's a well known fact that instant coffee (and sugar) stored in tubes is much more delicious than any other kind. Once you cut the top off and pour the contents in, you can stir the instant goodness with the tube. It's pretty awesome!

And now, to continue the celebration, I will be eating dried seaweed as a mid afternoon snack... Today is the best Melissa Remembers Korea Day ever!

3 Things

2009-02-18T06:33:00.000-08:00

Three Names I go by
1. Meli
2. Missy
3. Plus

Three Jobs I have had in my life
1. Secretary
2. Barista
3. Nanny

Three Places I have lived
1. Encinitas, CA
2. Asan-Si, South Korea
3. Oceanside, CA

Three TV Shows that I watch
1. Dexter
2. The Wire
3. Amazing Race

Three places I have been
1. Bangalore, India
2. Jeju-Do, South Korea
3. Florence, Italy

Three People who email me regularly
1. Jayma
2. Erika
3. President Obama (not kidding)

Three favorite foods
1. asparagus, roasted red potatoes & grilled salmon
2. Naked Cafe's blackberry-banana pancakes
3. spinach/onion/bell pepper/feta egg white scrambler

Things I am looking forward to
1. New York with Aimee in May!
2. Dexter with "the fam" tonight
3. Book Club: Pi(E) = Awesome!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

2009-02-14T03:01:00.000-08:00

Today Rosie & Adam are getting married. Congrats to the Malicay family!!!

I love love!

Six Words Describing Me, Marvelous Melissa

2009-02-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

I recently read an article on NPR's website that inspired a little writing exercise.

My life summarized in six little words:

"Big family. Big heart. Big mouth."

"Exotic adventurer pausing in sunny suburbia."

"Thirty, flirty and thriving... sort of."

"Good book + hot tea = happy me."

"Passionate lady seeking modern Mr. Knightly."

"Passionate fickle lady seeking Mr. Darcy."

"Hottie seeking roll in the hay."

I think that this one is the current winner: "Delicious Pam hoping for Tender Jim."

Please feel free to comment with any suggestions or one of your own. It's a fun little exercise!

Please let my future husband know...

2009-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

that I both desire and fear this.

Life of Pi & National Pi Day Unite!

2009-02-10T15:26:00.000-08:00

So I have officially started a book club. The original plan was for it to be a Jane Austen Book Club... but the opportunity to celebrate National Pi Day by discussing the book Life of Pi AND eating PI(e) was just too much to pass up. So if any of my dear readers are interested in joining the group, please feel free to contact me. All book lovers are welcome.

The Office

2009-02-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

I have been loving watching The Office instantly on Netflix. Season Two is my favorite. I loved the British version too. I cried at the end... I am totally the Pam at my office... but I haven't found my Jim yet. Perhaps we'll hire someone new soon who likes to put other people's staplers in Jello. I can only hope.

I freaking love this!!!

2009-02-08T13:30:00.000-08:00

Jane Austen Quote of the Day

2009-02-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

Seldom, very seldom does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken.

- Jane Austen, Emma

Why My Mommy is Awesome!

2009-02-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

My mom leading our Adult Brownie Field trip to the casino!!!

A poem in honor of my mother on this the anniversary of her birth:

M_A_U_R_E_E_N

M - My Musical Momma
My parents are much hipper than I am when it comes to music. My mother owns all of the Grammy Nominees CDs. She loves concerts and is practically a groupie. She always tries to pull the "old lady" card to get better seats. Her and my dad plan their vacations around concerts... how cute is that?

A - Abundant in Fun
My mom is FUN! She loves games, parades, marching bands, Christmas morning, Hannah Montana and Disneyland... in fact, TODAY, on her birthday, she is gallivanting at Disneyland. I think my parents went there on their honeymoon as well. My mom is fun! Just try and hang out with her and not have a good time... it's not possible.

U - Understanding and Kind
Mom is the queen of empathizers. She is always there with a listening ear. I am amazed when I watch her as a friend, sister, daughter and sister-in-law. Many of her friends have been in her life forever... and a few of them, I'm not sure why she keeps around, but she does... and she loves them. She is a better woman than I!

R - Roadtrippin' Adventurer
I don't know too many other Moms who are willing to drive twelve hours straight and sleep in a car on the side of the road. My mom is game for anything at just about anytime. She is probably the most adventurous of us all... we don't give her enough credit for all of the times she jumps up and says "Let's go!" She is not only super fun, but she is pretty hardcore. Her and my aunts stayed up all night in line for the Price is Right. Troopers. I come from a long line of troopers.

E - Every one's Favorite
I can't even count all of the times I've heard a variation of this sentence: "I love your mom!" She is the favorite child, in-law, aunt, mom, friend, etc. of many people. I may be biased, but I think she's the best!

E - Engaged in the World
As a kid, I watched my mom try and influence my neighborhood and community with her in the Parks and Recreation Committee, PTA, city council, and brownie troop meetings. She taught us to be involved and engaged if we want to see things happen, we have to work for the change, not wait for it.

N - Napping Queen
While she may be trooper who can stay up all hours of the night and then trek around Disneyland the next day... she eventually hits her wall and could easily sleep for days. I have to admit that this is one of the many gifts she has passed along to me. Yeah for Momma, my napping queen!

Happy 92nd Birthday, Constitution of Mexico!

2009-02-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 is the present constitution of Mexico. It was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro by a Constitutional Convention during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constitutional Congress on February 5, 1917, with Venustiano Carranza serving as the first president under its terms.

I know what you, dear reader, are thinking "Melissa!!! Why are you filling your blog with BORING historical facts!?!?!?"

I'm so glad you asked... BECAUSE this constitution was ground-breaking and it is interesting. Just read a few of the things that changed for Mexico...

- Education became available and free for all!

- ALL of the resources (land, soil & water) in Mexico now officially belonged to the people of Mexico.

- And my favorite:
"Article 123 protects the workers. It states that the working day may not exceed eight hours, instead of the twelve or fifteen hours in force beforehand, and that there must be an obligatory day of rest every week. It prohibits women and children from engaging in activities that are not suitable for their gender or age. It also recognizes that workers have the right to form trade unions (associations to protect their interests), and to strike (stop working to pressure their employers when labor conflicts arise)."

I know that many of my friends have lovingly labeled me the Little Socialist... but this kind of stuff truly excites me. I am aware that things aren't perfect in Mexico... most of the time it's not even close to perfect. BUT I think that the most progressive constitution of its time deserves a shoutout on it's birthday. Don't you?

Check out Wikipedia's entry on the Constitution of Mexico.

This one is for kids BUT is the clearest.

My current obsession...

2009-02-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

... is a show about a red-headed serial killer!!!

I Recommend

2009-02-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

I watched The Visitor this week. (I love Netflix! It delivers whatever I ask for right to my front door.) I tend to get excited about movies... but I really loved this film. I will probably own it. I don't buy a lot of movies, so this is a big deal and means I would be willing to watch it over and over again.

The simple intro to Thomas McCarthy's film is: A widowed college professor travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple, who turn out to be illegal immigrants, living in his apartment.

My summary is: A sad and empty widowed college professor finds joy and life in his new relationships with his illegal roommates.

The movie is thoughtful and sweet. Richard Jenkins hits every note just right as he finds his emotions again... and learns to live and breathe. Haaz Sleiman is exuberant as Tarek, the young drummer. Danai Jekesai Gurira is breathtakingly beautiful as his girlfriend and manages to appear wise and controlled even in times of devastation. I adored Hiam Abbass who plays Tarek's mother. Some of you will recognize her from Munich. This film is so simple and character driven that it is reminiscent of a play. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of watching it and was even more thankful for the pondering that it inspired in me.

Basically the moral of my story is; I loved it and I think you should see it!

25 facts about me

2009-02-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

I was tagged on Facebook to write 25 things about me... So I am sharing them here as well. (Truth be told, I don't think anyone reads this who isn't Jayma or June or Erika and they could all read it on Facebook... but just in case.)

okay here goes.....

1. I still harbor a desire from childhood to marry Kermit the Frog... He's probably the reason I'm still single. I compare everyone to him... and it's hard to find a green man these days.

2. Because of #1 I still harbor some animosity for Miss Piggy... that Jezebel!

3. I am not by nature a morning person, but I long to be someone who starts her day with the sun... just can't seem to get out from underneath the warm blankets.

4. I'm one of only two people under the age of 80 who've had pleurisy... and one of one I know of who had it under the age of 15.

5. My torso is much longer in proportion to my legs... in fact when sitting, I can almost fool you into thinking that I'm normal height.

6. My favorite TV shows at the moment are Dexter (about a serial killer) and Sesame Street (well I HOPE you know what it's about)... I'm a complicated woman.

7. I detest mayonnaise... like it really freaks me out.

8. BUT I'm willing to eat just about anything. I'm thinking I should start a female version of Bizarre Foods on the travel channel. All those crazy eating shows are about men eating brains... I could eat brains and make millions. I would even eat mayo and brains if it was necessary.

9. Speaking of eating weird things, I ate dog soup while I was living in South Korea. I liked it... didn't LOVE it. (Don't send me hate mail... I eat cows all the time and I think they are some of the most beautiful animals around.)

10. I once saw someone heating sausages in the back window of their car in the Nordstrom's parking lot while they shopped... please feel free to see my Mobile Uploads album for proof. (Although if we're honest, I probably would have eaten those too.)

11. I am the oldest of five daughters and we were all in high school at the same time. (You do the math.)

12. Two of, the afore mentioned, sisters are getting married this year!

13. I am addicted to NPR/PBS. My favorite part of the week is listening to my podcast of Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me. I love it!!! Sometimes I laugh so hard I cry.

14. My favorite part of the day is driving away from work and seeing the ocean smiling at me as the sun sets. I am not a swimmer, a surfer, or really a beach-goer, but I LOVE living by the beach. Whenever I get home from being away, I adore the smell of the ocean and the feeling of saltwater on my skin and in my lungs.

15. I love babies! I come by the addiction naturally, my father is a fellow addict and my mother isn't too far behind us. My paternal grandmother was probably the worst addict of us all. I love the way they smell. I love the way they laugh and cry. I love watching as their little personalities develop. Babies are freaking awesome!

16. My dream job would be to be a travel journalist/writer. Although the more I think about it, I think I'd be a great TV personality... think Anthony Bourdainne only adorable and perky and funny... but not too much of any of those things. Maybe I could be his sidekick... I'm looking into this.

17. I am 5' 2" with eyes of blue... there is a song about me.

18. Oh wait!!! There IS actually a song about me. My dear Paige wrote me a song... I love my song. THANKS PAIGE!!!

19. I'm getting really good at being a bridesmaid... 27 Dresses was about me. I'm looking into suing for part of the royalties. ;-) I love weddings and I especially love celebrating the marriages of the people that I care about.

20. My wedding will probably not be too crazy. After all of my wedding experiences... and as I get older (ALMOST 30!) I start to think that the beach in Mexico sounds like a great wedding spot... with tacos and margaritas after. I may not even wear white.

21. I love to read and have been known to turn off my phone hide on the couch and read for days at a time... I can do the same thing with TV, but I like it more when it's with a book. I LOVE books that get me so excited I have to stay up until four AM to finish reading. So awesome... I love books!

22. My full name is Melissa Gail Gaare. I was named after a plant, Melissa Olympiadus and sort of after Crystal Gayle... I think my parents were kidding about the middle name, but who knows.

23. I love to travel and learn new things. I'm always ready for the next adventure... and I'm always daydreaming about the next BIG adventure.

24. I love people. I probably love you if you're reading this. I think it's never a mistake to have known and loved someone. I learn the most when I choose to go forward, even if I eventually have to say goodbye.

25. I had no idea how long this would take and may end up being late to my breakfast date.... if only I really WERE a morning person all of this could be avoided.

Pounds of Pig

2009-01-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

WOW!!! Sausage AND bacon wrapped in BACON!

Check out the recipe for the Bacon Explosion.

Quote of the Day

2009-01-22T22:51:00.000-08:00

"The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. On occasion, some may be correct. But do not do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don't take it personally when they say "no" - they may not be smart enough to say "yes."
-Keith Olbermann
(courtesy of my Starbucks cup)

100

2009-01-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

This, dear reader, is my 100th published blog at Meli La Gringa!

In honor of this magnificent event, I was planning on writing 100 words to describe myself... BUT that, it turns out, is difficult. So I changed my mind.

Since one hundred is the square of 10, I am going to instead list ten words that I would use to describe myself.

1. Bubbly - I have been told that I have "a personality plus." I always assume that that is a compliment...
2. Delectable - Hello! Best describing word ever! Defined as "highly pleasing or delicious." I would like to see myself as quite a delicious dish!
3. Bookworm - I may be addicted to books, NPR, and all things mildly nerdy.
4. Fickle - I have a hard time being "sure" of things that I want. Short hair? Yes! Long hair? Yes! Brown hair? Yes! Blonde hair? Yes! I blame my father who used to make me play Devil's Advocate all time. I was basically trained from birth to see both sides of all issues... makes it difficult to pick ONE side.
5. Curious - "Why? How? What does that do?" I tend to question a lot and want to know more about just about everything.
6. Heckler - If you've ever seen me at a hockey game, you'll know that I can get a little animated. I must admit at this point, that this is even the case at my sweet nephew's soccer games as well. "Come on guys! Run for the ball! I don't care if your six. Focus!!!"
7. Lover - This is an odd choice to follow heckler, but I would like to think that a heckler can be a lover too. I love people. I love life. I love today and I'll most likely love tomorrow. Despite my fickle nature, I am a faithful and loyal lover of people.
8. Adventurer - I'm ready! Let's go! My normal response to just about anything, at just about any time, is "Woohoo! I'm in! We are so fun!"
9. Eye-Candy - My current job is not the most challenging, so I have jokingly dubbed my title as Eye-Candy. I hope that this title will follow me all of my days. It's pretty fun to think that your purpose for the day is to be pleasant.
10. Passionate - I am passionate about movies that I love, books that I love, people that I love, politics. I'm passionate about kissing, about babies, about old people, and about love. I'm passionate about food and wine and Diet Coke. I am pretty sure that I can safely describe myself as a passionate person.

So... narrowing it down to only ten words was a tough task as well. I guess writing is always an effort. In my case, it happens to be an effort of love.

**Erika & Jayma gave me some suggestions that are receiving honorable mention.**
So-hot-right-now
Crap-your-pants-funny
Coma-un-inducer

They, most definitely, get extra credit for their creative use of dashes!

Below are a few 100-themed links for those with some extra time on their hands:
All about the number 100

100 Best Novels

AFI's 100 Best Movies of All Time

100 Most Misspelled Words in the English Language

Thank you Erika!

2009-01-20T10:13:00.001-08:00

You're welcome!

Peanut Dark Chocolate M&Ms

2009-01-12T15:05:00.001-08:00

For those of you concerned with my health...

Today I had oatmeal for breakfast AND dark chocolate peanut M&Ms for my afternoon snack. They are obviously the healthiest of all M&M choices. The peanuts offer me protein and the dark chocolate offers antioxidants. Really I am the queen of healthy eating.

My name is Melissa...

2009-01-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

... and I am a procrastinating perfectionist addicted to M&Ms.

If M&Ms are nearby, I eat them. This morning I had M&Ms for breakfast. I know! I know! It's gross. It's not healthy. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Blah. Blah. Blah. I have heard it all, but it seems to make no difference. Normally for breakfast I try and eat Oats & Flax oatmeal. It's the perfect breakfast food, low in calories, full of healthy things and fiber... today I was out of my sacred packets. I forgot to bring more from home and was left to fend for myself at work. There are other instant oatmeal packets in the kitchen... Apple Cinnamon, Banana Bread and other sugar-laden flavors. I chose not to eat those... I ate M&Ms instead. My reasoning is embarrassing... Since I could not have the healthiest breakfast option then why even worry about health at all.

I have always struggled with being a bit of a perfectionist, I've been told this goes hand in hand with my other "p" trait, the gift of procrastination. Basically, if I can't get it done perfectly, then I give up OR put it off. Case in point, this morning's incident... I couldn't eat the healthiest breakfast option so I went with the worst instead. Although in my defense (and yes, I always have one!) I could have eaten more M&Ms than I did AND I could have eaten all of the chocolate covered cashews and strawberries we have laying around here.

There are two morals to this story:
1. I LOVE M&Ms!
2. Logic is lost on a procrastinating perfectionist.

So after initially starting this blog I felt guilty, so I drank a V8. I feel much better!

"Go and live."

2008-12-21T23:51:00.000-08:00

Even when the medications and pain clouded your mind, your words somehow came out clearly on the phone line from California to South Korea. "Go and live. Don't put off living your life, to watch me sit around here."

Grandma,
you gave us each wings
and told us to fly.

Your tender hands
quilted love into blankets
to keep the adventurers warm.

Your big heart
stored all of the silly stories
and logged each of our accomplishments.

Your eager ears
waited for our "little" footsteps
to return once more.

Your searching eyes
found ours... hoping
to see happiness,
contentment,
and joy.

Your loving soul,
it birthed us,
nurtured us,
and made us each whole.

What I'll miss...
Your smile
Your sweet tooth
Your pure joy in the presence of children... your longing to be with babies wherever they were.
Your nose in a book.
Your "friends"=the quail, the cows, and hummingbirds in the backyard.
The way your voice went low when you'd say "Honey" and lean in, because you wanted me to really 'hear' this part.
The way you "washed" the dishes in hot, soapy water before letting the dishwasher even get a chance to try.
Your lovely red locks... I always envied your hair.
How I always got choked up when we left your house and that desperate desire I'd feel to hold onto the last moments with you, after the car was packed but before we had climbed in. The longing to sit with you... to touch you again.
The tenderness you had with your children. I'll especially miss the way you loved my Daddy and the way that he loved how you loved him.

Grandma, I miss you already... and selfishly so.
I wish that my children could have known you and that my future husband could have met you...

BUT they will know you through me.
My love of reading came from a red-headed grandma who always had her nose in a book and a list of book recommendations as soon as I walked through the door.
My love of children came from the single mother of seven who raised a clan of Gaares and not only lived to tell about it, but seems to have loved every minute of it.
My love of adventure came from a strong woman who listened to my stories and sent me off to record more.
My sense of humor came from the woman who wore the "little old lady shoes" and loved to tell and re-tell the funny things her children and grandchildren once did.

You live on in my tender moments with my family... the family you started and that I am blessed to continue in.

I know that once I make it to Heaven finding you will be a cinch, I'll listen for babies laughing and hummingbird wings.

A Christmas Story

2008-12-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

**A jewel of a story that I stole from my Great Aunt & Uncle.**

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When we went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his fustration he accidentally dropped the cider jug and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?"

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

Underwear Police

2008-12-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

A coworker sent this to me today... and well I had to share, once again.

My sharing has already inspired a few Halloween costumes for next year! That's what I like to see.

Inspiration... is why I am here; to inspire the masses.

Made my day...

2008-12-02T15:38:00.000-08:00

R2D2 French Press Cozy

2008-12-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Robin is freaking awesome!!!!

She made this.

My Little Grandma

2008-11-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

Grandmothers are just antique little girls. ~Author Unknown

The story goes that when I was young, I walked up to my paternal grandmother and said with much pride "Grandma, look at my new little girl shoes." She responded, without skipping a beat, "Look at my little old lady shoes." Little Old Lady became Little Grandma and we have tenderly referred to her as such ever since.

This morning, my Little Grandma passed away.

She was adored by each of us and we were adored by her. The hole that she leaves is immeasurable, but the space that she fills in our hearts and memories is infinitely larger.

Manager's Award

2008-11-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

Today I was awarded the Manager's Award at work.

I'm not going to lie, I am pretty excited about it!

I recently added some new responsibilities and have apparently done a great job. :-) It certainly feels nice to be appreciated!

Now... what to do with my new gift card? So many difficult decisions...

Love it!

2008-11-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

I needed to google "high five images" today for work. (I'm creating an award to be used in the office.) In the process, I ran into this. Google Images is the best resource ever!

Bonus points if you can tell me where this picture was taken!

Make Balloons, Not War

2008-11-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

I laughed out loud...
So I thought I would share.

True Confession

2008-11-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

I JUST figured out the Kay Jewelers song!!!!

"Every kiss begins with Kay"

As in, every kiss begins with "k"

Man oh man... sometimes I scare myself.

WoooHoo!!!!

2008-11-04T22:23:00.000-08:00

Why Obama? (Dedicated to Chris)

2008-11-02T22:09:00.000-08:00

This is Chris' response to my Palin blog:

Shoot Meli, if I had read this article earlier, I would have loved to have a political conversation with you yesterday when you are down here. Even beyond Palin, I am really curious to why people support Obama. Why are you supporting him? Issue, policy, attitude, slogan, what is it about him?

Friendly conversation here, I promise :-)

- chris

So because I love Chris, I am going to answer. :-) Sorry that it has taken awhile... it was a LONG week for me. (See Tuesday's blog.)

Why I am voting for Barack Obama:

Issue(s):
The Economy. I would prefer that the man in charge desire to come at the budget with a scalpel rather than to offer an across the board freeze. Obama's phrasing here demonstrates once again that he is evenhanded and levelheaded. We are much better served to move forward (with programs and services still working) with our eye toward the future, than to ask the country to come to a screeching stop while McCain takes lessons in economics. An across the board spending freeze at a time when our economy is limping along would only magnify the problems. A delicate hand to direct the spending cuts where they can be most effective will allow healing and even growth over time. I don't think that I need to belabor the economy issue, since McCain's campaign itself, says that Obama is better prepared in this area.

Community Service. His emphasis on community service (Peace Corps, Americorps, etc) is exactly what we need. Why not support the brightest minds of the current generation to be a part of building solutions for the future? His own experience in community organizing prepares him for leading a country down what could be a difficult road as we climb out of the current economic situation and start to pull out of and recover from the war in Iraq. He has experience in working with people of varied life experiences and heritages. He is ready to lead the "World's Leaders" in a way that a military commander might not be. Military experience values giving and following orders. A man with Obama's experience is better prepared to lead as a peer in the international community, than to lead as a commander of other nations.

The Supreme Court (and the Constitution in general). Obama is a former professor of Constitutional Law. I believe that he will use his knowledge and experience to nominate wise members to the Supreme Court. Even more importantly, I trust that he will keep the Constitution as a clear guideline while he serves as President. Our Founding Fathers spent years thinking about what it meant to lead and what would be necessary not just in the role of the President and the Executive Branch, but also in how each of the branches of government should work together and serve as checks and balances. In recent history that balance has been ignored. I feel that Barack's thoughtful nature and respect for the document that was left behind as our guide, will lead him to serve as a part of the system set in place and not with the thought that he is the "whole."

Policy:
Foreign Policy. Obama's life experience has given him a rare ability to have experienced the United States not only as a citizen but also as someone who has lived outside of its borders and felt its influence. We are the greatest nation on earth. We are powerful and influential. With that comes much responsibility. "To whom much is given, much is required." Obama feels that weight perhaps more than any presidential candidate in recent history. I believe that you can see the results of that when you look at his foreign policy. He is willing to meet with leaders and start a dialogue with our neighbors around the globe. I know that some have called this naive, BUT I think the reality is that we can no longer sit, as if on a throne, and dictate the types of political leaders that we are willing to make time for in the international community. After the Bush years, the rest of the world will be looking closely to see if the next president sees himself as the boss or as a participant on the world stage. I think that we need to engage with the rest of the world and quit thinking that we are right about everything all of the time. Even if we are right, no one wants it shoved down their throat. I feel that Senator Obama will come as a co-laborer with the rest of the world's leaders and lead in his actions, not in his demands on the actions of others. Better to lead by example than to tell others what to do and not to do.

Health Care. We all must know that our current system needs reform. Obama's proposed health care reforms demonstrates a clear understanding of the problems that everyday Americans face and offers real solutions to solve them in a relatively short amount of time. What he is offering is NOT socialized health care and will cost LESS money over the next ten years and cover MORE people than John McCain's. (I will note here that I AM a proponent of universal health care and universal education up through university, BUT even if you're not, Obama's health care policy will cost less money, which should please any fiscal conservative.)

Attitude:
I want a thoughtful and intelligent president... someone who doesn't jump to decisions and someone who encourages conversations rather than dictations. I think that the smartest and brightest should be our leaders and I think that Barack Obama fits that bill.

Slogan:
"Yes we can!" - It's catchy and empowering, but it's not why I'm voting for him.
I think that Barack Obama has shown his ability to lead and inspire during his campaign over the last two years. It is incredible by anyone's standards that HE is the Democratic nominee this year. He did not get there just because of his charisma (don't get me wrong, he certainly is charismatic.). He is where he is because he surrounded himself with bright people and led them to lead others. That is what a President is after all, a leader. He will lead our country not just in policy, but in character and in attitude. The President should inspire us to action. People have moved for this man in epic ways. I donated money for the first time to a national political campaign and I even ordered a sticker for my car. I DON'T put things on my car, but this year I felt a real desire to let those around me know whom I supported. He has drawn record crowds and inspired millions. More importantly to this blogger, he has inspired me.

Why I will not be voting for John McCain:
This list is shorter, but I wanted to explain a few things.

The flip and the flop.
The "candidate" John McCain looks nothing like the "man" John McCain that many of us thought we knew. How am I to know which one would end up being "president" John McCain? His change over the past nine months has been drastic and, to be honest, kind of frightening. A year ago, I thought I might vote for him, if he made it through the primaries, but now I don't even know where he really stands on anything.

His choice in a running mate.
I'm sorry, but of all of the options in this country, it was Sarah Palin who he thought would "complete" his ticket?!!? There are many other social conservatives who could have come with more experience in diplomacy and just general knowledge about the international stage. I think in four or eight years she could be a real contender... but I think his choice was rash and it certainly caused me to question his judgement.

His tendency to jump before thinking.
As demonstrated in his decision to "cancel" the presidential debate to "help" fix the economy. One more time that I had to ask myself, "what is this man thinking?" At a time when he should have had his pulse on both Washington, DC and the American people, he acted in a way that demonstrated he had his hand on the pulse of neither. He offered what appeared to be no effective "help" to anyone.

All of this to say:

I am a registered Non-Partisan who has decided on her candidate and is hopeful that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States of America.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is the costume I have planned for the year I reach my life goal: being a grandma.

Thanksgiving Adventures.... four weeks and counting

2008-10-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

Most years my family goes camping over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is a great tradition that we have with some dear friends of ours. I love getting away and just enjoying each other's company. We get ridiculously competitive about board games (okay maybe Tim and I get ridiculously competitive), we go hiking/adventuring and we eat tons of yummy food.

We have done beach camping, mountain camping (We froze our tushes off at Lake Isabella!), house camping (We rented a house in the desert and slept indoors!), and last year it was fire camping.... ummm fire camping? you ask. I will fill you in on that later.

As you can imagine cooking a turkey while camping is not ideal... so we precook and heat at the campsite.

Here we are preparing with a Target Shopping Extravaganza.

This is our Thanksgiving Feast.

Hiking with Joel and Todd can be quite the adventure....

Our fun was cut short at around 3:30 am.... with the sound of helicopters flying overhead to drop water on the Malibu Creek Fire.

This last picture was our view as we drove home... BUT we are gamblers by nature... so we are trying Malibu again this year! Hopefully we'll make it the whole weekend without any evacuations.

Grandmotherhood = Life Goal?

2008-10-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

Today I met my hero...

Ever since I was a child, I have held a secret desire. My life goal is to be a grandmother... yep, you read that right. I have always wanted to be a cute little old lady who has a wraparound porch, a bench swing, and a faithful old dog that sits at my feet as I crochet, or maybe crosstich. I want to make lemonade, bake cookies, and sew Halloween costumes. The idea of Thanksgiving dinner for dozens being cooked in my kitchen, thrills me! I love the idea of being a grandmother, I always have. I assume that that must mean I have fantastic grandmothers who have inspired me (I have at least one!).

The one problem with my life goal has been that I'm not as excited to be a mother. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE CHILDREN. I just don't have the same passion for motherhood that I have for grandmotherhood. (I know I'm a little weird.)

Today I met my hero. Today I met someone who married into grandmotherhood. It's brilliant! She didn't have to raise anyone, AND she gets to love on grandkids and spoil them rotten. She married a grandfather and inherited a complete family.

So it's official I am in the market for a grandfather.

... or I will be in about thirty years. So keep your eyes peeled!

Why today just might have sucked...

2008-10-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

1. I rear ended a car on my way to work... don't worry I'm fine. We were at a red light. He started to move. I started to move. The car in front of him stalled. He stopped. I stopped... just not fast enough.

2. I came into the office and found five voicemail messages that consisted of clicking.... alternating silence and clicking. Turns out our phone system has crashed. That's good news. Right?

3. The phone tech comes to check on the phone system (stored in our server room)... and says "Melissa, I think you have a bigger problem." Bigger than a broken phone system?!?!

The air conditioner that is supposed to keep our server/phone equipment safe from overheating has a leak.... there is a freakin' flood in the server room!!!

4. I go to tell the office manager about our new Server Sea and find a small flood in the kitchen as well. mmm... sweet!

5. Now the Internet is coming and going.... so we can't communicate with phones or email!

HOW are we supposed to call for help, when we start drowning?

6. The pizza that I ordered for the teleconference (that is now being held via two cell phones on speakerphone) comes burnt!

7. I twisted my ankle thanks to the wet kitchen floor...

8. I blame part of my lack of grace on my impending period. I am (on top of everything else) suffering from stomach cramps and a mild case of PMS. (I know. I can't believe I just blogged about PMS either!)

9. Because of our phone situation, the alarm system that lives on the wall next to my desk spends the ENTIRE day beeping to let me know that it can't connect to the phone.

10. Oh yeah and yesterday we laid off seven people at the office so basically today would have sucked without #'s 1-9.

So yeah... I think it might be official that today sucked. :)

My Favorite Family

2008-10-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

Okay so this blog may have become a total love-fest.... but let's be real, it's me... I LOVE a good love-fest.

One of my favorite blogs to read is my dear friend Kacy's. I love her honesty and her tender heart. She has always been one of those friends who speaks directly to your soul, with truth and love. NOW she speaks straight to my heart and soul via the world wide web. As Kacy grows as a mother and wife, I feel like I get the benefit of growing a little with her.

This picture is of Halee (Kacy's oldest daughter) and I... speaking of tender, Halee is most certainly a sweet reflection of her mother.

Don't worry. I'll write an angry blog really soon!

The Men I Love...

2008-10-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite faces on the news is Anderson Cooper. I try to watch his podcast everyday... The podcast is better than the show, because it is much shorter and therefore less repetitive. I can't wait to spend election night this year with my dear friend Anderson.

Mo Rocca 180 "Only half as tediuos as the regular news" is a favorite blog of mine and he is tied (with Paula Poundstone) as my favorite panel member on Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me. He makes me laugh really hard. I know that he can be a little crazy and little bit crude... but when I see him on Best of the 80s or watch him perform one of his useless surveys (like: Would you vote for a president with a lisp?) I can't help but wish that we hung out in real life.

David Pogue of the New York Times is most probably the nerd to end all nerds. He is everything I could hope for in a friend and journalist. He spends his days reviewing techy geeky things and putting it all into terms that I can understand. PLUS he makes really cheesy video blogs... yep! He is the complete package. He has a blog but normally I watch his video podcasts and you can catch him on CNBC as well.

Chicken Run

2008-10-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

My father and nephew are visiting my grandmother up in Northern California this week... so I have become the Mother Hen around this homestead. I've been up early feeding chickens and gathering eggs. The picture I'm posting is of our newest additions to the family. They are already bigger than this picture... by quite a bit! I am not going to lie, I'm getting emotionally attached. I dare you to hold one of them and not love them.... I double-dog dare you!

Look out... I'm becoming a chicken lady. I'm never going to get married at this rate. ;)