polished

The writing lady is a miracle worker, she turned my sandpaper into an emory board. You know it's going to be good when she says no worries, as Ernest Hemingway said, all rough drafts are shit - and I mine was literally about shit but now maybe a more polished turd. still has a little way to go though, but headed in the right direction. (and I found this little gem after teh fact - can't wait to use it in my paper... check it out! http://www.continence.org.au/client_images/601755.pdf

The weather here turned wicked crazy in the matter of minutes. The porch door flung open, Cubby ran in frozen with fear and a giant dust cloud blew inside the kitchen - blanketing everything in its reach, then the sideways, torrential rain. WOW. Reminds me of the Midwest.

I just watched the most bizarre commercial. Don't get me wrong, it has a good message but I took it the wrong way. An older lady has misplaced her keys, her husband (or significant other) says I 'll help you look, maybe you left them in the bathroom again but instead of helping her look he goes and pours himself a cup of coffee and goes to grab the creamer in the fridge and bam - there are the keys... in the fridge just as she walks into the kitchen. He pauses, looks at her and shakes his head and says I'm sorry. So on one hand, he inadvertently found her keys but I think he hid them there - or why else would he casually get a cup of coffee when he just said I will help you look. My theory - he's trying to make her think she's loosing her mind to put her in a home and move to the tropics with Brazilian beauties. Hey it could happen.

Want me to widdle you a match box car?

My paper is like sandpaper... rough.

Do you believe?

SAN DIEGO ZOO!

I was just reviewing my SD pics. Cubs pics turned out ok, zoo pics mediocre and the Whaley house pics... better than I thought.

The whaley house is in oldtown SD http://www.whaleyhouse.org/

So what's so cool about historic California landmark #65? Well it's been the site of gallows, a home, the first bilingual general store in SD, billiard hall, community theatre, court room, as well as the home to a suicide of one of the daughters of the owner, it is also one of the most haunted houses in the country. Paranormal activity has been documented since the first occupiers of the house. So while in San Diego and having stumbled upon this little gem (and pointed out by the shuttle driver), for $10 bucks a person it was worth to take a guided stroll thru the small house complete with authentic pieces from the original family and previous states of the house - reminiscent of the 1850s. We didn't know much about the house until the tour and didn't care to read much on it either pretty much just taking it as we came across it. They even have some pictures of "orbs" and strange flashes of light that can't be explained by anything else. Pictures were allowed, so I took several. Prior to hearing any stories about deaths or things others have felt in the house Shawn's heart started to race and feel heavy like someone was squeezing him. The curator/guide (hilary) then told us about Yankee Jim - a man hung in the gallows prior to the property being built (witnessed by Mr. Whaley himself) who incidentally was too tall to be hung and strangled to death instead. People often feel chest pain or tightness in their chest, wrists and neck. I think it caught Shawn by surprise. Coincidence or manifestation of the paranormal? So we checked out the upstairs, nothing too exciting, they reconstructed the theatre that existed in one area and apparently some orbs have been seen there, we didn't see any there or in the bedrooms where in fact there are some photos of figures from past visitors - but none for us. As we approached the last part of the house, the parlor, complete with many authentic pieces from the family such as a piano and courting couch where the daughter actually passed away I felt something strange. Can't explain it, no words, but I said to Shawn, hmm something feels weird, got chills and an overwhelming sense that there was someone standing in front of me as I snapped pictures (is that piano music I hear?). Snapped some pictures, tuned out the curator and off to dinner we went.

Tonight I loaded my SD pics to the computer. I am fairly disappointed with my photographer skills this trip - (explanation to come much later on why this is such a big deal) But as I sifted through the Whaley house pics, I noticed something odd in a couple pics that don't exist in any other pics but two also in the same room- light orbs. So here's the pic - it may be harder to see than on my computer, but it's in the same place I felt funny. there are 7 that I counted. You can believe what you want - fluke in the film? light reflecting? or perhaps the family was having an evening in the parlor at sunset.

Sorry, the chick stepped in my picture as I snapped it, she's not an orb or a figure (of the paranormal kind anyway), check out the piano...

So the question is, do you believe?

Survivor!

I survived my teeth cleaning! I still needed Shawn, but no Ativan and didn't even need someone to hold my hand the whole time. My hygienist is so gentle and she said my teeth looked great!
So now back to my paper, after a little J&K+8 scandal reality show. Turns out I work better on my paper with Shawn passed out next to me - who would of thought? Now tomorrow if it could rain so I could finish my paper.
I wonder if anyone else is missing clinic like I am.

Oh and I think I am going to buy a new car. GM filed for bankruptcy so their cars will be going cheap - too bad there won't be anyone left or parts left repairs...hmm maybe not such a good idea. (no i'm not really buying a new car)

Tomorrow is D-day

I go to the dentist tomorrow - it's just a cleaning but still scary. I hate the noises, i hate people or things in my mouth but luckily last time I was there (actually the last 2 times) I didn't throw up on anyone, which I am sure they all appreciated and I didn't even take my Ativan. Sad when you have to be practically sedated just to be able to sit and have your teeth cleaned. But like I said it's just a cleaning - and I even have a special lady who does my cleaning and literally someone else to hold my hand booked just for me, so it should be ok.

I found my motivation for my paper today... and it's almost enough to crank out a whole section tonight. I have to just get it done, no matter how ugly it is then it's rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite until it's perfect.

The Cubs hit the hole early today - 5 down in the 1st inning, just couldn't make the comeback I can tell you this isn't our year, but still look forward to our Chicago trip late August. I'm staring the tickets down now attached to our wall-o-tix.

PS to "seriously?!"

REED JOHNSON FREAKIN' ROCKS!!! He should be playing everyday!!!

seriously?!

I usually love to write, I can crank out a great paper in no time. So why am I having such a damn hard time writing this one?grrr! It's not that I'm not motivated, I want to finish it and finish it early if I can - no retract that, I will finish it early. I have a CV to finish, send out (it sucks to have job offers in 3 states except the one you're living in) and I have a million and one other things that have to be done. So why am I having such a hard time starting it? Seriously just do it already.

In semi related news...
there's nothing like waking up to the smell of warm poo and better yet, smelling warm poo and turning to step out of bed to see where the fragrance is coming from and stepping into a wet pile of poo. Cubs had wicked watery diarrhea the last 3 days and usually he's really great about telling us somehow so we can get him outside or when he was a pup he would go into the bathroom but no such luck. poor thing. can we say puppy probiotics? Maybe he is just trying to give me a first hand account for my paper -sorry buddy human studies only. Wrigley also had a runny butt for a day, however she managed to sit on my face and was shaking uncontrollably - luckily this was her way of waking me up at 5:45am to tell me she was sick and got her out side just before the watery explosion. What the hell is wrong with out dogs? Was it the steak we fed them? The marshmallows? All things they've had in the past and love for a special treat. Maybe it's the soot and ash they've been licking off the patio. Hopefully he's feeling better soon, Wrigs is seriously missing her play mate, she's sulking under the table now as I type.

and in unrelated news -
I went to a pilates/ballet class on Friday which actually turned out to be all pilates and no ballet. A small class in a new yoga studio here in the 'couv. There was me, the instructor and 3 super-fit soccer/running moms that basically make me look fat and out of shape. Needless to say the class kicked my ass. I am sore in places I didn't even know existed and that's said after having a cadaver lab. suck. I am dragging Shawn to my $5 Friday fun next week - he has no idea what he's in store for.

And in real life - between Cubby's runny butt, our waffle maker breaking with a waffle on the griddle (home made whip cream and strawberries ready) and our reclining chair breaking (half of the back came unhinged and a large metal piece popped off) I think we've met out 3 quota for awhile.

Wrigs hates the ice cream truck - she barks and growls whenever she hears the truck near us... that a girl!