Hope, faith and wishes

"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now..."
- B.o.B. Airpanes featuring Hayley Williams from Paramore


I never publicly admitted what a hard time I was having what seemed like yesterday to me.  The thought of my frustration still saddens me to my core and I can't stop the emotion at any moment I recall those memories.  I thought I was over it until I brought it up during a conversation with a friend and realized that it was still heart breaking to discuss.  Granted, I'm still not publicly stating my issue but I feel like this one song really gave me the hope, faith and artificial wish I really longed to have to reach my happiness.  Outside of this issue, I was happy and I enjoyed my life.  But, since this problem was a large part of my life, I couldn't help but feel helpless with the situation until I finally found a resolution.

I'm rambling but I feel like this song may give those in need that artificial shooting star to wish that may help them through this tough time.  (Keep in mind, my "tough time" is no where close to what Japan is feeling nor am I making any comparison of any sort.)  I know from here I can't do much but pray for their well being and donate money but everything helps.  Wishing people to be well and hope they can bounce back from this horrendous act of nature may not seem like much but you never know the power of good thoughts.  I like to stay optimistic.  So to all those suffering no matter what level, mentally or physically, and to all those lost in the living world or spiritual world, I pray for you.  And to all those living who need just SOMETHING ... maybe this song will get you through the tough times.

Please donate to help the relief efforts in Japan.

One of many other new year reflection posts by random person (me)

Another year means another reflection but not just any other reflection... it's the start of a new decade!  So what all happened in this last decade?  I have no idea.  It seemed like it flew by so fast and then it inched by slowly.  And, although most people would like to know what they want to change for the new year and make their silly resolutions that no one ever keeps, I just want to reflect and be thankful for the life I've lived thus far.  Here goes in really random order:

• My mom and I became friends and I can actually talk to her about my life.
• My dad is a super human with loads of skills and knowledge that needs to be backed up in an external hard drive.
• My sister finally moved back from silly old California and gave birth to my awesome nephews and niece.
• My brother got married to my cool sister in law who we all get a long with.
• My other brother gave me an awesome nephew right before Edwin and I got married.
• Edwin and I found each other and decided we'd get married and create a world of chaos be it good or bad, we'd be in it together.
• We have a great place we call home where my nephews and niece can come over and go swimming or come play games with us.  
• Edwin's brother and sister-in-law gave his parents their first grandchild.  We can't wait to meet her.
• I bought my first car ever and I love it.
• I have the greatest of close friends I could ever ask for in a lifetime.
• I can afford to eat all the greatest flavors in the world.
• My two wonderfully stinky dogs.
• The travels I've been able to take (within the U.S., Cozumel, Beijing and Hong Kong).
• The employers that have given me an opportunity to grow their business and myself.
• The ability to make changes to my life to make it better or someone else's life better.

I'm just grateful that I'm still here and able to enjoy the life I live with the people that are most dear to me.  Nothing is more important than that... and everything else can wait.  I'm still learning to be more patient and to not rush from one place to another.  I'm still learning to listen and embrace whatever situation lies ahead.  For the new year, I'd be happy to just stroll and enjoy what nature brings us.  

(1 of 2)

Running away from white

For years I've had to look at this all white-ish colors in my bathroom. The walls are a faint tan, the counter/sink is off white and the cabinets are bright white. WHY? I ask you would you paint the bathroom all about the same color? And then I ask myself, WHY have you lived with this poor decision for so long? White is a fine color. I love white. At least it matches almost everything. I actually have a lot of things that are white but things... they are a changing. It's time to add color! Bring in BOLD.

years of white insanity

dark red conquers the bathroom

And so confirms my sucky skills of photography. But at least I've successfully run away from all white... at least for now. I can't say the rest of my crib is white-take-over free. With my historical pace it will be another few years until I reach full color potential. Plus I can't say I'm the most decisive when it comes to my style. So, now I leave you with some random photos of Suga and Toefuh to show you a little bit of their life with the FUHs.

bird's eye view (Suga = min pin = black dog aka big sis aka Old Lady)

ground view (Toefuh = tan dog aka chaweenie aka little brother aka the big stinker)

Emergency escapes analyzed

I speak of a topic that's socially not acceptable: bathrooms. While you silently spend a few minutes to yourself, this time is your most vulnerable. But what if this would become one's safe place during an emergency? There's definitely one on each floor of my building but who would ever think of using it as a safe spot at work? (Points finger at herself.)

#3 Beware of bathrooms via Zombieland

Beware is true when there are more than one stall but finding one with one stall that locks? Oh yea! That one stall locking bathroom is golden. If anything, at least I could survive on water and I had a place I could go. The door is made of steel and I can't see any obvious weaknesses. The ceiling is all cement. Maybe escaping through the ceiling would have been ideal but at least I won't have to worry about zombies falling through the sky. If anything I'm only 1.5 floors and a stairway away from the vending snack and drink machine. Or just a few steps away from the cubes where I know there's a lot of stashed snacks in desks. If I needed a weapon there's a couple of pipes I could try my best to jack from the wall or some steel vents I could reshape into a sword from the bathroom.

But if not for zombies this bathroom would still be great in times of hurricanes too. Actually when Hurricane Ike hit, there were quite a few people who took refuge at the building. It at least continuously had a/c, electricity, phone and internet which is more than what most Heights, Sugar Land or The Woodlands had. If I was out and about the only other place that could stand anything more would be Kelvin Arms's bank vault. But in terms of 2012 and if the world were to flood, well, then... I need another option.

Smells like Dog

You know when someone has a pet. Once that door opens to their home, you smell it. I ain't gonna lie. I have two smelly dogs, one that marks her territory and one that can't hold his bladder. They've gotten a lot better as far as keeping their "accidents" to specific areas but even still its frequency is quite frustrating.

Toefuh & Suga

Edwin and I continue to make small adjustments but nothing has really worked long term. With Toefuh peeing in his cage everyday, it makes for some pretty wretched laundry times. At this point it seems as if our last resort is to try to train them to go in the kitty litter. I'm not sure logistically how to make it work but Toefuh has successfully used it twice before. I guess time will tell and maybe treats will help. Since I've been slowly decluttering, cleaning and improving our home, I'd love my guests to enjoy their time here without thinking it smells or wondering, "What is that stain?" I'm itching for a game night.

NERTZ!

I am not the pack leader

All I can say is, "selective hearing."

What's in your head?

• I wish my dogs would stop peeing in their cage.
• Hmm... what else can I throw away in this storage room?
  
• Just one more episode of The Big Bang Theory and I'll head out to work.
  
• Not much traffic today surprisingly with all this rain
• I guess I'll park in my option 2 spot
• Man I'm hungry. Is it lunchtime yet?
• That's weird, my image for HoustonGrows actually loaded last night. It kept giving me an error. Stupid Facebook lag.
• Ugh... it may snow tonight.
  
• Nice article about Google Buzz vs. Facebook vs MySpace vs Twitter
  
• Nice, Nick Anderson kept the door open for me.
• Maggie Ritas is packed. It's weird people are sitting so low to the ground now. I remember when they were looking down on my head.
• What to eat? What's hot? What can I eat with a spoon/fork/chopsticks?
• What's worse? Not knowing what to eat or wondering in the tunnels saying "no, no, no" to places you pass? No wonder I frustrate Edwin.
• Chicken or Beef? ooh... Chicken with shrimp or chicken with beef?
  
• Where's your head at? Basement Jaxx
• What's in your head? in your head? Zombie Zombie Zombie eh eh eh oh oh oh ... Cranberries
• When emerging from an eatery inside the tunnels, it is always wise to slowly walk out while looking left and right for traffic and unaware talkers, phone users and cart pushers.
• Whoa, keep to the right else confuse the heck out of people walking. Tunnel Tips... I should write a blog about it?
• Is anyone walking behind me?
• Oh Rodeo tickets... correction carnival tickets. Concert tickets? Who's playing? Do I want to go? hmm... fried oreos... yeeeeeeeeees
• Alex, where'd you go? ... wait, how come you never want to lunch with me?
• Who's chatty on twitter?
• More how to-s about Google Buzz
• Eww... what is that? fat? no, it's meat ... ok. I don't eat fat.

If you don't love Houston, why are you here?

I guess my love for Houston was exuding from me the past few months or how ever long my friends have known me because more than two friends on different dates mentioned it to me. The conversation started around traveling to other cities and why or why I didn't like the city and if that city would be a place I would want to live. The answer always ended with, "I would still live in Houston."

For the longest time, Houston was just the default city to live. It's where my family lives. It's where my friends moved to after college. It's where I'm from, so it just made sense. I know the city (half of it... I don't know North Houston). I'm comfortable. I can't stand the cold so anything north of Dallas is pretty much out.

"Why do you love Houston so much?" they kept asking me.

It's really simple. FOOD. Seriously. I absolutely love the food here. The restaurants, my parent's house, my relative's cooking... I'd say my house but that's relevant no matter which city I live in. Yet, there's still so many places I still haven't tried yet, but I will. No other city beats our Tex Mex. I admit, LA has some pretty bad ass Asian food but for the cost of living, no deal here. Of course, I don't see how anyone can beat Texas bar-be-que.

I said family already. I'm daddy's girl - 'nuff said. I said friends but I can expand on that. I've met so many great people the past few years that living and working in Houston has made my life so much better. Having friends I can call up and invite to hang out or just going to events and seeing familiar faces is such a comforting feeling. I am one of those that walks into a party and looks for familiar faces and now I see them.

Another one... work. It's no secret I love my job. I'm lucky. Working at chron.com is so much fun. The people, the projects, upper management, the culture - it all meshes well with my personality. Then one day Hearst put me on a team to help come up with a new site, 29-95... it's where you go to find the good stuff in Houston. Ever since we launched I've been discovering so many cool things to do and so many free things I like. One of the best things on the site (aside from the restaurant section) is the online radio. I never heard any of these bands until now... well Chamillionaire because I have his cd. The art section is also kick ass but check the site out for yourself. To me, 29-95 proves that Houston doesn't suck. Who ever says that... YOU SUCK!

Other things that make me love Houston.

• Low cost of living means I get to enjoy as much good food as possible.
• No state tax means more money goes towards eating.
• Weather - It's hot & humid. I guess I'm getting used to it but that's why every building and car has a/c or you opt to get out after 4pm.
  
• Mosquitos - yeah I don't love them but it's not that bad where I live.

I must not be the only one that thinks Houston is a great city. Kiplinger rated it 2008 Best City.

Life is too short to be wasting it away complaining about why Houston doesn't have what you need or want. It's your life. You make it what it is. So now I ask you... if you don't love Houston, why are you still here?

"Yo Stinky! The dogs needa pee."

I was listening to the radio this morning and they started talking about this article on msnbc - Cutesy nicknames strengthen a couple's bond. Of course the DJs asked for callers to tell everyone what nicknames they have for their boyfriends/girlfriends, etc. The article goes into more about using code to tell the other person you want to leave. And today, at the end of a meeting for MomHouston, we started talking about nicknames for kiddos and parents which ended up with how kids learn to crawl.

I wonder how true it is that using "cutesy nicknames" makes a couple's connection stronger because if it is true, E & I won't last much longer. I'm not sure we do cute well but goofy and literal works for us. A lot of our conversations goes like this...

E: Hey Mrs. Stinky.
L: Sup Mr. Stinky. Watcha doin?
E: Just workin. You?
L: It's going. Yo Stinky! The dogs needa pee. Bye!

I can only imagine the nicknames we'll give our kids when ever we decide to have one or two. And even then I'm sure they'd run away from us as soon as they can crawl.

Best garden "sculpture" - worst nigtmare

"If you have any medical conditions like pregnancy, sensitive heart conditions or just plain trying to stay sane please consult your physical and mental physician prior to contacting Sky Mall for purchase."

Oh Southwest, I still love you!

Leg room is awesome!
and no my feet can't touch the wall

Peer Pressure

Another one tries to jump...
to Queen's Another one bites the dust.

Spring Forward

It's 7:17 a.m. ... wait 8:18 a.m.
Sleep is broken and awake I am.
Time is fast forwarded one hour 8:18 a.m.
My dogs have shat on the stairs again this a.m.
I hate picking up their dog poop in the a.m.
I turned down the a/c to 78°F at 5:57 a.m.
I don't know why I remember that, crazy I am
I'm looking forward to hanging out with my mom I am
It's funny our relationship - we've become friends yes mam
I just want to go to sleep, sleep deprived I am
I wish I could go play beach volleyball again
Thinking of Stan speeding to catch me at Main I am
Thinking of starting my taxes I am
Thinking of drinking that Coke on my stand
I'm really tired now, been up since 5:45 a.m.
Time to stop rhyming (trying) and try to sleep again.