Fuits and Vegitables

Nothing much happening here… I’m in Monterey this week, again. I have discovered that tomatoes are not the most horrible fruit in the world, and I have eaten lots of them today. I especially like them covered in EVOO and paired with mozzarella cheese with Basil.

Before this discovery, the only tolerable form of tomatoes for me was salsa. I would eat any kind of salsa, but pick tomatoes out of my salad. I do not know when this aversion for tomatoes began, or why I was so particular about it. Everybody has their culinary quirks. I am working on my tomatoes… but I still HATE avocadoes for no good reason. I will not eat avocadoes under any circumstance, and I am sticking to my guns about this.

Note: For those of you who do not watch Rachel Ray, EVOO = Extra Virgin Olive Oil = it makes everything taste ten times better.

Note to self: buy more EVOO.

Life

First of all: I did not know Lady Bugs could bite. When I yelped in the middle of the street, and slapped a Lady Bug off of my arm, Alan thought I was going crazy. But it is true, and the bite left a mark.

My postings have not been as frequent as before because I have no internet access at home, and at work most of the fun sites I go to are blocked off.

Life is good. The HOLIDAYS are coming, like Holloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even though they seem far away, time has been passing so quickly for me that I fear by the next time I blink I’ll be 42. Unfortunately I have NO vacation time, so a January trip to Italy will in all likelihood not be repeated.

I still like my job and my bosses; they treat me very well. My responsibilities have been increasing almost daily at the workplace… and I am not complaining. I love what I do and I am learning a ton. I especially enjoy overtime (the pay is much better).
But not all is work: A couple of weeks ago, on a Wednesday, we closed all the offices in the area and all of us workers went to the Golden Gate Race Track. In this splendid location we had a wonderful buffet at the Turf Club, and gambled away company money. There was an open bar… I even won a race! It was a lot of fun.

I’m in Monterey at the moment, at Alan’s house. Saturday we attended a friend’s very informal wedding. I believe I fussed more about what I was going to wear than the actual bride did! There were only about 12 people (including the bride and groom). It was very sweet. With small intimate weddings you can almost see the love in the air. An old couple, that has been marring couples for years, wed my friends on Garrapata beach. The ceremony master wore a gigantic robe, which had once belonged to the Jesus of the Jesus Christ Super Star play. On this singular robe there were patches and embroidered trinkets that every couple he had ever wed had stitched on as a symbol of their relationship. Our couple stitched on Blinky, from the Simpsons. Alan was a witness and the ring bearer. Except, there were no rings, just engraved Superman-dog tags that they lovingly tied around each other’s necks.
…The only thing that did not go according to plan was that the bride was sick. Very sick, with a horrible cold. In fact, half the people at the wedding were sick (because they are all coworkers) and now I am paranoid that I might be getting sick. I made Chicken soup last night.

Over and Out.

NEW CAR

Yes, I purchased a car. Yes, I am debt for the rest of my 20’s. The following is a contrastive list of the benefits and the not so beneficial aspects of my recent consumer downfall:

Benefits

- I HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR. Toyota Corolla 2007. This means that for the rest of this year, I have the car of the "future"… and for all of next year I will have the car of the year. Yay!
- The car will last a long, long time. It is Silver and Pretty.
-I bought the car in my town, which means all the taxes from my purchase will go to the schools of my area.
- Alan was able to negotiate a really good price for me.

Not so beneficial

- I have car payments. Ohh Lord. Car payments. And I am poor, so poor for the next couple of months. Not to mention that my insurance has more than tripled.
- I am paranoid that some stupid-freak accident will happen and total my car again. (Like with the Nissan).
- It was really sad how I got treated at the car dealership (Not sad for me, but for the misogynists jerks who work there). Nobody even spoke with me; they all spoke with Alan. I did not exist. Alan kept pointing out that I was the person buying the car… I had never felt discriminated against, due to my gender, until I bought this car.

All in all, I am happy with my purchase. I will post a picture of it shortly.

Quick Update:

-May car got totaled this Monday. It was hit in a parking lot, when it was parked, and I was in the Office working. Needless to say, this event has provided me with many, many headaches. However, my little Nissan has been a blessing from the start until the very end: The insurance is going to pay me more money that what I paid for the car. (I bought the car over a year ago!)

-I need to buy a new car. AHHHH!!!! I don’t have the money for this Cr**. And, I don’t have the time to sit down and find the perfect used car in good conditions. Therefore, because of the circumstances, I will probably be forced to buy a new Honda Civic.

-I am going to San Antonio, Texas, for Labor Day Weekend. This could not come at a better time. I need a vacation. Alan and I plan to eat plentiful amounts of southern charm.
- My little bro is leaving town this Sunday, for Venezuela. I hardly got to spend any time with him at all. I’ve been working so much, and he has been out and about the country visiting family. So, I’m a little sad that I didn’t get to enjoy summer with him.

August 15, 2006

Dear World,

I think you are a wonderful place to be. If I didn’t have to work so much I might have been able to go with my family on a family-vacation this week, to explore you. Alas, I am growing up : Due to my condition as a workingwoman I am forced to, well, work. I work in an office, behind a big desk and a big computer. This means that I have very little time for going on hikes, bike riding, traveling in general, and enjoying you (… before Hummers and other ugly polluting parasites destroy what is left of you). My condition as a workingwoman sometimes makes me sad; being behind a desk all day is truly, very un-worldly. However, not all is lost: I plan to retire soon, and when I do I will go on many camping trips and soak in your star-filled sky.

Love,
MM.

The Grass is Always Greener…

A little background: I have been a full time student for as long as I can remember, and I can’t remember ever having a summer vacation that lasted more than two weeks in the past four years. I worked 14-hour days at a minimum almost every day as a full time student.

This is the first summer of my life that I have actually felt as if I were not a student, but a human being that works and toils for shelter and grub (mostly grub). I also feel a lot more stupid. My work can be challenging at times (and I DO love my job), but it is more of a “time management” challenge than an “intellectual” challenge. My brain is painfully letting evaporate all the swollen cells of knowledge that I wept proudly over during graduation.

Ironically, even though I now have a fixed 40-hour a week schedule and a steady income, I find myself lacking the energy after work to do anything. I get a lot less done in terms of “MM-things” (like crocheting and swimming). I also feel a lot poorer than I did when I had only a part time job. How is this possible? Am I comparing myself to a new set of impossible work-standards instead of student-standards? Am I being nostalgic about my student days? Or am I simply going crazy because of the summer heat wave?

In Monterey

This that have happened since my last post:
- I fell in love with a pair of Aldo shoes that I cannot buy. It is against my principals to pay so much for a pair of shoes.
- I made a commitment to train for my walkathon. I begin Monday.
- I have learned a lot at work. I like my job a lot.
- I've been pondering about starting a yoga class.
- I enrolled in a business class for next semester (I can't help myself. I must study)
- I saw Superman (the movie) with Alan.
- I got a pedicure and manicure for the first time in my life. It was so indulging!! I would love to do it again.
- Fourth of July came and went. There was a big party at my place. It was fun. I ate at least three times my weight in food during the course of said party. And of course, I went to the Alameda Parade. This parade is a mix of Mayberry meets Tehegraph avenue= the best!

It Is About Time

That I started telling people I'm in the 20th Annual Aids Walk in San Francisco. I'm actually really excited about it. The 16th of July, if you look hard enough, you might see me in the crowds... marching along with my ideals about how the world would be a better place to live in if we could find a cure for Aids.

The reason why I have taken so long to blog about this major event that could change the world: I hate asking people for money. But I need to get over that: So give me money!!! It is for a good cause. I am registered under Margaret Bryden, with the UCB team. You can also send me checks/cash/money orders... anything that would help.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support AIDS Walk San Francisco
Thank you.

Discovery of "A Sauna"

I have lived in an apartment complex with a sauna since I turned 18. I had never gone to the sauna, until last week. I went because of the terrible cold I got from all the flying. – the hot steamy air helped me breath through my nose again- I stayed because it was the most wonderful heat-experience I have ever had. I always thought the idea of sweating in a hot box was gross… but it makes you feel so good and relaxed! It helps you breathe better and shed toxins. I now understand the value of a good sauna.

Merida

Lovely, Lovely Merida. I love that city. It reminds me of Berkeley because:
1) It has a lot of hippies.
2) It’s existence is fueled mostly by the presence of the University of the Andes (Where I studied for 1.5 years).
3) I have really great friends there.
And Also:
4) The climate is not as hot as where I lived before I moved to Merida (Ciudad Ojeda), therefore making it heaven.
5) It is surrounded by gorgeous mountains.

Alan Arrived Sat afternoon. He met my mom, who as a token of friendship gave him a hamaca (hammock). The hamaca is very special because it was made by hand, and it can hold two people. I think she likes him, which makes me happy.Here is Alan the day after he arrived in Merida, with my mom.

Maracaibo

Maracaibo is the capital of Zulia State. It is also one of the biggest cities of the country. It’s location is about 1.5 hours from where my family lives: Ciudad Ojeda. I hate both Maracaibo and Ciudad Ojeda. I can’t stand being there. It is too chaotic, hot, irritating. I don’t know how to describe it, but just being there makes me annoyed. I can’t help it. I only go there because I love my family. My mommy is so sweet: She made me tons of scrumptious venezuelan food! My mom looks better than ever. My brother was super excited about the new i-pod I brought him...

I got to Ciudad Ojeda on a Wed. night. We all had family fun until Friday night, when we left for Merida.

Miami

I had not planned to stop in Miami, but when the people of American Airlines offered $800 (in flying vouchers) food, transportation, and accommodation in a five star hotel, and a seat in the next flight leaving for Maracaibo (Where my mom lives) I was very tempted to stay and have a little fun. I had never been to Miami before, and I couldn’t see myself planning a vacation around this city, so I decided to take a chance… and the 800 dollars.

When I got to the hotel, which is conveniently positioned next to a mall, I did what any normal girl without luggage would do: I made a mad dash for clothes and underwear. It was 10 min to 6pm, and the mall was closing as I walked in. It was almost a miracle that I found such a cute black and white dress (with a moderate price tag) and a cheap pair of sandals to go with it.

I was happy and hungry, which lead me to my next adventure: seeking food. The hotel recommended a little restaurant in South Beach. This restaurant would send a limo to pick me up from the hotel, and take me back to the hotel whenever I felt like it. Needless to say, I chose the limo. While I was riding in the gigantic car all by myself, thinking about how lucky I was, I figured the food would be expensive and good. I only got one adjective right: It was expensive and BAD, really bad. I couldn’t finish my main plate. Even my cappuccino was watery. I didn’t mind so much because I figured I was paying for the limousine.

After dinner I walked all around South Beach. I was mesmerized. Almost all the stores were open… most of them stayed open regularly until midnight or more. This was a Tuesday night, and I thought there wasn’t going to be much going on. I was pleasantly wrong. Everything was going on. There were people shooting themselves up by the beach, there were bars and discothèques and rows after rows of nicer restaurants than mine (none with a limo though). People were out and about. I went into almost every store I saw, just to look. I didn’t have any money.

When I got tiered of walking, and I realized that my cheap sandal had broken, I decided it was time to go home. By the time I got into the limo I was feeling kind of lonely, so I made some chitchat. The driver ended up giving me a tour of Miami! I will never forget what he said about the city: “If you do not speak English with an accent, you are an outsider”.

The next day I went to the downtown area, to see what it was like. It seemed like most of the city was under construction. It was even hotter and more humid than the night before. I took busses, to see the real face of Florida. Not surprisingly, they were all Latinamerican. I wondered how many of them were legal, and why they had come.

My plane left at 4 pm to Maracaibo.

Dear Loyal Blog Readers.

I am sorry I haven’t been able to update since I returned to the States, but I have unexpectedly come down with a terrible cold from all the flying , and Alan is hoarding the pictures we took.
Otherwise, I am doing well and tomorrow is my first day of work, so I am very excited. AAAACCHHHUUUUUUUU.