So long Westside...

When I was 17, I knew I needed my days in the Valley to be numbered. So against my parents' advice (and any hopes of having money in my savings account), I decided that I would move to on campus housing at LMU. And needless to say after 4 years of living on the bluff with the Marina as my backdrop, I was hooked on the Westside (and, by 4 years, I mean 4 minutes).
So after I graduated, I would love to say that I moved into a beautiful ocean view apartment on the Westside...but again, it was LMU, and I opted for on campus housing so with my PA job and 4 years of loans, there was no way I could afford anything more luxurious than a box behind the Vons, so I moved back in with my parents for a couple years...back in the valley, then as soon as I could get on my feet, I packed up and headed back over the hill. And that's where I've been for the past 5 years, almost 3 of which have been spent living with my awesome roommate and friend in an awesome place. And the craziest thing is that's the longest I've ever lived in one place.
But now, the bittersweet time has come once again to say adieu to the beautiful Westside, and hello again to the Valley. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the Valley. I grew up in the Valley, my first house was on Hollywood Way, my high school was in Burbank, my parents and relatives all live in the Valley. So while I have nothing against the Valley, I just like the Westside more. The Westside has the beach. The Valley has parking. The Westside has the breeze. The Valley has parking. The Westside had my heart. The Valley has parking...fine...the Valley has my heart. Well one specific person in the Valley has my heart and so there it is...
Valley here I come!

A Creature of Habit

The other day one of my friend's said, "I'm a creature of habit," and I whole-heartedly agreed with her. I, too, am a creature of habit. I remember in one of my Psychology classes we learned the different definitions of intelligence. One of which states that intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. Well, shit. Then again, it's not that I can't adapt to it, it's that I'm stubborn and I don't want to.
I hate it when DirecTV decides to change its layout. I can't stand interface changes. I'm the reason yahoo.com still has "return to old yahoo page" in the top corner. In my opinion, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm still annoyed that I can't get the "news" icon to show up on my yahoo start page but OMG! and Hot Jobs are there, two links I have never in my life clicked on. If you're gonna change it, at least make it better. I digress.
For the most part though, I get used to the change and then I'm fine with it. As a creature of habit, naturally, I work in a freelance world. So it usually goes something like this: I work for a few months, get used to working, my job ends, I don't know what to do with myself, then the minute I get used to having time off a new job starts, I don't want to go back to work, then I get used to it...and so the cycle continues.
Now here's the interesting thing about my personality, if you know me at all, you know I'm a very restless person. So it really wouldn't make sense that I'm a creature of habit, because I've never lived in the same house for more than 3 years, I've never owned the same car for more than 4, I've never stayed at the same job for more than 2. Although I hate change, I need change. Or maybe because I need the more important things to change, I need the smaller things to remain the same...for at least some sense of stability. Then again, maybe one day I'll find "home" and then I won't find myself restless anymore.
But as for now, I'm getting comfortable being off work...and I go back to work on Tuesday, and of course, I'll adjust accordingly (at least til the end of November). Rinse. Lather. Repeat. (Shouldn't it be: Lather. Rinse. Repeat. ???)

I Love the Olympics!

I've always been aware that the Olympics existed but for some reason I can barely remember ever watching them. Four years ago, I vaguely recall muttering "the Olympics are on?!" during the closing ceremony. So why all the sudden am I absolutely obsessed with them? I can't get enough. I know that I will go through withdrawal the minute they're over.
So every night I go home and plant myself in front of the TV from 7pm until 1am so I don't miss a single thing. Now going into it, I said the only thing I care about is diving and gymnastics. But, I've gotta say, I've gotten really into the swimming. There's nothing like hearing the French trash talk the American team hours before the 400 meter relay. Then screaming at the TV as the announcer is saying there's no way the Americans can beat the French as Jason Lezak comes back from behind and breaks a record, beating the French by 8/100 of a second. Yeah, 8/100. I think my pulse is still racing from watching that.
So now I sit at work watching some diving, and maybe later I'll watch a little more gymnastics.
The other day we were watching women's gymnastics, I actually don't know why it's called that because it's girl's gymnastics. Apparently, they're supposed to be at least 16 to compete, but if you look at China's team, some of the girls are definitely no older than 12, and I'm being generous. But anyways, we were watching gymnastics, and the announcer was talking about how the Russian team has gone downhill in the past few Olympics. He reminisced about how incredible they used to be and now they're just not so great. So as he's saying this, the Russian gymnast makes a few mistakes and walks down to the coach who gives her a hug and a kiss on the forehead and the announcer says "See, that's the problem, that would have never happened before, a hug and a kiss after a poor performance, that's the problem." I think he caught himself right before he said "Beating those children is the only way to make a great gymnast" and instead he muttered "Well, I mean, I just think they've gotten a little softer." Riiiight.

But anyways, I LOVE the Olympics!!!

Weekends

I have this thing I do where I convince myself and innocent others (FC) that I'm not going to overbook our weekend. I do this "thing" every. single. weekend. Needless to say, I rarely, if ever, succeed. It always starts with the same good intention...alright babe, next weekend, we're gonna have soooo much time to relax! Then, innocently enough, I add a movie to plan, thinking "it's just a movie, and besides that is relaxing, right?" And then I think, well we have to go to church. Then, inevitably, my mom calls and wants us to come over because she's making meatballs (mmm, meatballs) but more accurately because she needs FC to fix something or build something or drill something. So by Thursday, the planner is packed full of things we need to do over the weekend, and once again I promise that "Next weekend, we seriously are just gonna relax, no seriously." Well now we're in what Christine calls "Birthday Season" meaning there are at least 2 birthdays a week, if not more. So we have parties galore, which will be awesome, but also means that I really need to work harder on my "relaxing weekend" promises. I'm totally gonna do it, just not this weekend.

Time to dust off the Thigh Master

I've kinda been in a slump lately and I think most of it is simply because I'm bored and uninspired. Most of this is coming from work but needless to say it's affecting every other part of my life. I really want to work out and eat healthier but at the same time, my motivation to do so is really low. But the good news is, last week (and the 3 months before), I didn't even have an inclination to work out so maybe I'm getting closer to actually wanting to do something. It's definitely a catch 22...I don't workout because I'm tired and I'm tired because I don't work out.

I think I've always had an issue with working out because in my opinion I never see results. To me, I always look the same. And this may or may not be true. Jamie sent me a picture of the two of us from a few years ago and I'm definitely a little chub, so I have lost weight but I don't feel like all my working out since then has made me any more tone. So it's really hard to stick with something when I don't feel like it's making any difference. But for me working out has always been more about dealing with the tendinitis in my shoulder and the pain in my knee...when I work out, the pain vanishes, so you'd think that would be enough incentive...but it's pretty amazing how lazy I can be.

One of the best parts of my job is that they give us dinner at 6pm...but, it's never really healthy dinner and I am not one to pass up free food...ever. And I think the reason I haven't gained a bunch of weight is that I'm eating at 6pm instead of 9pm as usual, but the chicken parm, the wings, and the garlic mash potatoes are definitely going to catch up with me. I did buy grapes this weekend but they're MIA. So here I am with a dusty Wii Fit and no fruit...I really gotta step it up. If not only to complete with my gf's six pack (ridiculous), then definitely for my mental health.

Current Wii Age: 32

I'm awesome!

Yeah that's right...24! Woohoooooo!
Now I never want to take the fitness test again, because I know I can't beat that.
(Please don't pay attention to my ridiculous amount of inconsistency)

The ever exciting topic...pillows.

I’ve been on a quest to replace my pillows for about 5 years now. Who knew how difficult it would be to replace pillows?! My pillows are probably about 20 years old so they seriously need to be replaced, especially after I read an article saying pillow should be replaced every year because of dust mites and bed bugs. Awesome. So here’s the thing, the reason I love my 20 year old pillows is because they’re really flat and I have an oddly small head...I do, and I know this because hats don’t fit me, unless they’re children’s large but those are really hard to find, so I’ve learned to deal with never being able to wear a hat on a bad hair day...but this post isn’t about my oddly small head, it’s about my inability to find really flat, smashed down pillows which don’t over extent my neck (which is also small because of my oddly small head). You can find jeans that look worn out and torn up...it’s actually in fashion...but, interestingly enough, not pillows. So at this point, I’ve bought numerous pillows and returned them because they were too high. But then I heard about a 50% off sale Macy’s was having on pillows so we headed over there and I was really hopeful. I thought, no matter what, I am replacing this nasty ass pillows tonight. We found a couple great ones, with feathers...whatever those are called, and I figured since they’re so soft, it should work out perfectly for my small head. Well, I must say, it’s been a week and my neck and shoulders are really sore. But I refuse to return these pillows, even though I can’t bring myself to throw away the 2 old pillows so now they’re sitting by my bed patiently awaiting their fate. So I figure I have two options here, I can tear open the pillow cases and remove some of the stuffing which may result in a lot of sneezing...just imagine the mess...sneezing...feathers... bad. Or I could just assume that after sleeping on them for a while they’ll flatten out, much like my down comforter (DOWN! That’s the word I was looking for), but then again I can’t remember how long it took my comforter to flatten out...it may be weeks or even months, but hey I’m gonna be stubborn this time and stick with the new, non-stained, pillows. Can anyone sew?
And by the way, when did pillow cases start costing more than most economy class cars?

i'm so mentally exhausted that this was my dream last night:
i was sitting on a bench in the mall. that was it. i was sitting there for what seemed like 10 minutes waiting for my friends who were shopping and i was staring at a baskin robbins sign but i was too lazy to get up.

just got back from new york...it was awesome...i could go there every few months, just wish it was a wee bit closer. funny thing is, i live in LA, i went to NY and came back with tan.


observations:

1. the temp in this room is such that if i remove my jacket, it will take 3 minutes for me to get cold, and when i put it back on, it will take 3 minutes for me to get hot

2. rowing a boat is not as easy as it looks

3. meeting people is not as easy as it looks

4. i get this strange "itch" on my nose that feels more like a hair is hovering on the edge of it, but there's never a hair and scratching it does absolutely nothing

5. this is the longest job i've ever had...5 months so far

6. i've been too restless to go watch a movie in quite a while

7. i cant keep my eyes off the oreos on top of the fridge

8. i have saddlebags

9. i will have a six pack within 2 months...correction: i have a six pack, i will be able to see it behind the layer of fat within two months

10. i often wonder what people are thinking when they receive an email and don't bother to respond

11. i have 3 pictures that need to be framed...make that four

12. i need cable

13. i need a roommate

14. i need a haircut

15. i need a nap

16. i need a massage

17. i need an oreo

Your IQ score is 133

This number is the result of a formula based on how many questions you answered correctly on Emode's Classic IQ test. Your IQ score is scientifically accurate; to read more about the science behind our IQ test, click here.

During the test, you answered four different types of questions — mathematical, visual-spatial, linguistic and logical. We analyzed how you did on each of those questions which reveals how your brain uniquely works.

We also compared your answers with others who have taken the test. According to the sorts of questions you got correct, we can tell your Intellectual Type is a Visionary Philosopher.

This means you are highly intelligent and have a powerful mix of skills and insight that can be applied in a variety of different ways. Like Plato, your exceptional math and verbal skills make you very adept at explaining things to others — and at anticipating and predicting patterns. And that's just some of what we know about you from your IQ results.

Shib: who warned u
hoftroy 797: oh...it appears as though i warned myself
Shib: how do you do that
Shib: idiot
hoftroy 797: well i didnt think it was possible, so i figured i'd try
hoftroy 797: lo and behold

hoftroy 797: im so dumb sometimes
Stacers: why
hoftroy 797: i have the keyboard in my lap
Stacers: uh huh
hoftroy 797: and i just clicked on something and went to press enter and stared at my desk baffled as to where my keyboard could have gone
Stacers: hahahaah
Stacers: LMAO

i have 3 pairs of these really soft think cotton socks. they make me happy. it's a treat to wear them, feels like walking on clouds.

i should buy more.

City of Anaheim: city of dreams, aspirations, casting calls...I'm so excited to be coordinating this event in anaheim.

We're listening to a Gainesville, FL radio station...an Arnold impersonator is on the air...hence: the folks in Gainesville are mocking Californians...ouch.

My PA was discussing his spotless driving record...well, it has a few specks...a couple years ago he was driving into the Dairy Queen Drive Thru and he DROVE INTO the Dairy Queen Drive Thru--into the drive thru menu order thingy and it fell over and nobody could order for over a month. The reason this came up is saturday he backed up into a pole because he was distracted by a girl...now when he says pole, it's not the 4 inch diameter steel pole you're thinking off...he rammed into the concrete pillar that holds up a bridge....the 4 foot diameter pillar....he didn't see it. We're currently looking to additional driving insurance. but we love him.

Hey...GO ANAHEIM!

sang to "greensleeves":
oh where oh where can that fedex be
we searched as far as our eyes could see
oh where oh where could that package be
must find it soon before they fire me
we looked all over the city and state
but no longer can the producers wait
oh where oh where can those tapes be
i've done lost mah mind as all you can see

i'm planning a local shoot for saturday and i'm the only coordinator here...everyone else flies in sunday. and it's not that it's stressful....it's more like there is a huge amount of really important things that need to get done and i really want to prove myself. between taking care of the cast and the crew and making sure everything goes smoothly, i guess i'm worried. but anyways, got another job offer at an awesome show.....i'd love to work there but i don't know if i got it yet...if i do, it would save me from the trip to BFE, though I was looking forward to lunches at walmart...they have 7 walmarts in this town of 1200 people.....i don't quite know how to react to that.

there's an auto body shop down the street called "picasso auto body" and i cant help but think what a horrible name for an auto body shop cus the last thing you want someone getting all "picasso" with is your car. you go to pick it up and there is your rear view mirror on the tail light, the tire is now the steering wheel, everything's a mess.....he's got this italian accent "it's a work of art, you don't appreciate beauty and art, stupid americans!!!".....you are upset, you get in the car and sit on the sofa, which has now replaced the two front seats and head home....i don't know where i'm going with this....oh well