Next Big News!

We have two spots of good news...

 

One, Smirk, has taken the written test fo rthe LAPD.  She was nervous about the test, being that it is written and she is the worlds worst spelling champion.  She hates writing and heavily relies on spellcheck.  But she thinks she did well, she took her time and checked her work... So now we are in a waiting game... Next steps, hopefully Interview... Keep your fingers crossed.

 

The other news involves Grin...

 

They arent the ivy covered halls of Princeton or Yale, like she dreamed as a child, but Grin is going to University! She has been officially accepted by University of California, Davis.   She will be studying animal biology and then if the crazy loans dont kill us, vet school.  She will become an Aggie

 

 

So in September, we will be taking a trip up north, to the lovely Sacramento area to drop her off at the dorms, away from us... for the first time that will last more than a week! 

 

I am not really sure how we are going to survive, but hopefully, we will all have enough to keep us busy so we dont miss her until Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

Infamy

I am usually apolitical and pretty liberal in my thinking. But there is an issue that does concern me and more importantly concerns Grin. She is a vegetarian tree hugging, animal saving, extreme liberal. So when Grin finds something that incites her "Occupy-ish" passion, I try to support. This time it comes in the form of Kony 2012.

Joseph Kony is the Ugandan war lord leader of the LRA. What this crazed Rebel leader has done is horrifying. Some of the people say he has mystical powers and he has been elevated to almost cult like status. Almost an African pied piper mixed with Jim Jones. Kidnapping children and forcing them to kill is a heinous thing!

Invisible Children is an organization dedicated to bringing Joseph Kony to justice through the international high court. This group is working really hard to get international awareness to the plight of these poor children in Africa. But what amazes me is the drive and dedication of this group to get this crazed despot brought to justice. In just one day, the Kony 2012 campaign has generated an amazing flow of web traffic. Watch the video here http://youtu.be/Y4MnpzG5Sqc Be warned it is a bit long.

While I do I agree with the problem, I do wish the group had more of an action plan. If the plan is to make the world aware, I think a video with over 9 million hits is pretty good, but what happens next? The US has sent military advisers to Uganda to equip and train the Ugandan Army to be able to track and arrest Kony, but that is a short term solution. Were it me, I would hatch an elaborate plan that could rival any Hollywood movie plot with a great Bruce Willis like hero to bring him down.

While I do kid about the movie plot, the issue is real. Please watch the video!
If you agree with the cause, here is the link to support:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/kony2012/kony_5.html

You aint never had a friend like me!

My lovely daughters are still children at heart. They love their Disney movies and toys and still act like 4 year olds even though they dont look like it anymore. Below is a picture of Smirk who was dancing in he rnew hat and dress while listening to Robin Williams sing You Aint Never Had A Friend Like Me, from the Aladdin movie.

Silly girl child!

Old...

Since I only have one reader, I will use this post to tell him about the oldest member of our family. Poor Granny! She fell yesterday and has a broken nose, broken shoulder/arm, neither of which the doctor can do anything about because of their locations and 9 stiches in her lip! She is bruised and battered. And poor Auntie is tired! She tripped over the sidewalk and faceplanted in the side of the car.

The only good thing is she probably cant remember how she fell! Poor, poor Granny!

The end of youth!

Today Smirk has moved from a student in her prime of her youth to a burgeoning working stiff like the rest of the grown ups! She got a job! A real job!!!

Finally after applying everywhere, someone finally hired her! We have filled out more applications on company websites than there are birds in the sky! Every store in the mall, all of the big box stores, restaurants, warehouses, security companies. Everything that we could find, she filled out an application! This was the first time she even got a call back.

Not only did she get a call back, she got an interview. Then yesterday she got the call for a second interview. Today she had the interview and they said they would call next week. She got home and about an hour later, she had an email stating she had been hired. There was an offer letter and a link to start paperwork!

So on Wednesday at 11am, Smirk will be starting at one of my favorite stores...

Employee discount here we come!!!!

Ennui

Hello all,
Today as with the past weekend we at the amused house are feeling a bit melancholic. Friday marked the end of an era for us and many around the world. I refer to the Harry Potter Phenomenon.
When these fantastic books came out, Grin and Smirk were 5 & 8. We did not start reading them until 1999 when they were 7 & 10. But wow are we glad we did. Ever since then they have been immersed in the wizarding world. I would read the books out loud to them and their friends using different accents for each voice. Before the movies we would frantically wait up for the book release parties at local Barnes and Nobles, then when the movies started coming we would wait and see them at the midnight showings. This final one was no different! Grin and Prince Ali camped out on Wed night as the line had been set up since SUNDAY! They stayed in a tent and Smirk and I joined them in the wait on Thursday afternoon. The line was crazy, people were dressed in costumes, but they were good natured and most were having an amazing time.
When the movie finally started, we were left breathless and most in the theater were crying. At one point Grin waved for a tissue, as did Grin's friend. Smirk had them on her lap and she kept handing them to me. And all of a sudden, someone tapped me on the shoulder and reached their hand down in the traditional wave and asked for a tissue... Total stranger, but did we say anything, nope... Just handed them up!

There is one thing to be said for this young generation... We have had Gen X, Gen Y, Baby Boomers and all have their trademark. This generation has got to be named Gen I. If there is one thing they all have in common is imagination. What other group of people could bond so adeptly with a book. These are fiercely loyal kids. They have embraced JK Rowlings vision of a fantasy world with vigor and complete abandon. Groups have started Quidditch as a sport in colleges and schools. People write fan fiction (actual website.. pretty amazing too... fanfiction.net) where these ingenious people write their own alternative stories to popular tv shows, books, etc. They do this because the either don't like the ending or have so much talent that they think of things that should have happened but did not get included in the book.

There is a new book, it wont have the same impact as Harry Potter, but it is very highly regarded. I have read it and it is very good. It is called the Hunger Games. It is a trilogy that will be made into a movie. It is about a girl who is reaped into the Hunger Games, a murderous sport that takes place in North America after it has crumbled. She prevails and shows the authority that the people are not going to go easy and just kill for their personal sport. It is a great message and fantastically written book. But yet again, the creative talent of Gen I have expanded on that. There is a web game, that is the Hunger Games. Those wishing to play put their names in to a random number generator. If they are chosen, they are give a district, then a mentor, then troll for sponsors, just like the books. Grin has been chosen and last night she had to make her first decision... Does she kill one person or two? Does she form an alliance and she should choose carefully...

While this does personify violence, so many things in our world to do, this also teaches them to show loyalty, and work for a common goal. Grin has formed an alliance with several people and they are working together to win... In short, teamwork and strategy...

I am very sad that Harry Potter has ended and thus symbolizing that my own brood are now entering adulthood, but at the same time, I cannot wait to see what the future can hold for these talented, creative and amazing people of the Generation Imagination.

Today in history....

Did you know that July 12 is a that will go down in history?? It is already historically amazing...
In 1389 Geoffrey Chaucer became chief clerk of the Court of Richard II.

1861 saw Wild Bill Hickock in his first shoot out, he shot 3 men in a duel in Nebraska.

In 1957 Eisenhower became the first president to ride in a helicopter.

Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman vice presidential candidate in 1984.

Angelina Jolie gave birth to twins in 2008.
Grin Got Her Driver's License!!!

Amazing isn't it!!!! She passed first time out!! She got 9 marks off, mainly not being able to back up in a straight line and not sufficiently looking while doing said backing up, but she PASSED!!! We are all so very happy!!!

All things considered...

As I sit here in my office, bored out of my skull, I think back to the All Things considered story I heard on the way home the other day. Side rant.... Yes, I listen to NPR and I watch PBS. But I am not old and I also listen to Rap, Pop, Country, Classic Rock and Classical music... This does not make me old but it makes me well informed and cultured.... Side rant over...

I was listening to NPR's All Things Considered. Interesting tidbits on the news topics of the day. This particular interview was with Tom Hanks, who was speaking about his new movie, Larry Crown. This upcoming release if you haven't heard anything about it, is about a man who gets fired for not going to college. So Larry goes back to college. It looks to be a rom com. And it could be funny, Mr. Hanks is funny! Julia Roberts is a great actress.... Not sure I am running out and paying $12 to see it, but could be a good video rent eventually.

Anyway Tom was asked the question "If you hadn't made it into the movies, what would you be doing?" He told this very sweet story of the Circle Line in New York City. The Circle Line is a sightseeing cruise that goes around the NY harbor. The story was of an old tour guide who told the story to the passengers of days in the past when the Maxwell House coffee factory was in production on the Jersey side of the river and the winds would blow making most of lower Manhattan smell of coffee. Tom said that just for a moment, this man's story was so consuming you could almost smell that coffee right there on the river. That would be the kind of job Tom Hanks would be doing if he wasn't a world famous actor. He thought he would like to be a docent in a museum or a operator on a sightseeing boat.

This story got me to thinking... If I could just ditch it all right now, what would I want to do? The options are limitless. I know I would love to work in a museum, like the Met or Le Louvre. Or a gardener at Versaille. Or maybe a tour guide on a bus tour of Italy, Greece or France. How about a winemaker in a chateau in Burgandy. Ski patrol in the Alps? Lifeguard on a beach in Positano? Blackjack dealer in Monaco? Snorkel washer at a resort in Vanuatu? Nature photographer who gets to travel the world to take pictures of well, everything?

What would you do, if you had no limitations, no worries and no responsibilities?

Scents...

Does a smell ever make you think of things long ago or even a happy event. I know that if I smell baby powder, I smile. If I smell wet sagebrush and honeysuckle I think of summertime in the fields behind my house growing up. When I first moved back to Southern California after high school this area was certainly different than it is now.

Moving back almost 25 years ago, driving through Irvine was pleasant, it smelled of oranges, strawberries and eucalyptus trees. As the years went on and urban sprawl took over the oranges and strawberries became fewer and fewer. About 5 years ago, driving through Irvine you could smell the overwhelming scent of eucalyptus and freshly sown manured dirt.

Now when you drive through Irvine in the heat of the day, you have to hold your breath. It smells of stale stir fry oil, fish and bad chinese food...

Now I realize this post makes me sound ridiculously old in a "I can remember the good old days" granny voice, but I really do remember the good old days when you didnt have to hold your breath for a mile just to get to work without throwing up your morning coffee... I never thought I would wish for the smell of vicks and cow poop during my morning commute!

Southern Gentility!

Yesterday Grin and Smirk went to Los Angeles. Their mission was to find something to wear to the Harry Potter premiere next Thursday at midnight. So they trolled around the thrift shops and found nothing... Saddened, hot and hungry they returned home. I fixed them dinner, and we sat basking in the breeze of the fan. One of their friends arrived at the house. Lets call him Prince Ali. He wanted assistance writing a song. Grin was sitting on the floor computering, she had sufficiently rested and had been fed. So Prince Ali burst into the room and said Grin, meet me upstairs in your room, I need your help! and he proceeds to run up the stairs.

Grin jumps up and does a little half skip in the air, puts her hand to her lips and in the most exaggerated southern accent says "Oh my, a gentlemen caller!!" Then runs up the stairs!

Smirk and I burst out laughing so hard that Grin almost falls down the stairs as we startled her....

I sometimes wish we could have our own reality show, just for priceless moments like that!

Reading people's minds?

Hello dear readers, also known as my father and auntie... Although since it has been so long, they may have given up on me...

Today's post is a mild rant on people... Why are people sooooo strange? As you both know, I have a new job. Fun stuff, working for a guy I dont like, doing things that are so boring I can barely keep awake in the office. I am promised each day there will be more, but that has yet to materialize. Today something came into my inbox and it read like a bad grammar sentence used to teach small children how not to write.

I think the person doing the writing believed I could read his mind in the words he typed.

Literally, here is what he wrote

Please filter this by Socal only then filter by q2 and then send it out to all Dealer IAE’s and ISM. CC xxx, xxx and myself

Along with this go into the closed door list and list the most recent doors termed and say this are the dealer that should in process to archive contracts

Sounds easy right??? And trust me I know how to use excel and filters and all of that, but... There is no list, no filter that would show me Socal, no closed door list, no most recent doors termed... In otherwords, I am supposed to magically jump inside his head and figure it out...Oh and when questioned, he is too busy to tell me what he wants and we will discuss tomorrow.

So again another day with no work, no projects, no fun, just sitting in the office counting down the minutes until I can bolt out the door and go home.

By the way, I really miss my living room and the fun I had working from my couch! I hope both of my readers are well and now that I have nothing to do during the day, maybe I can post more! Tomorrow, a Grin story to laugh at!

ok, I know it has been a while....

But now I have something fabulous to post!!

Grin was in a play and a choir concert!

Singing....... Singing.............Singing...... Singing..... Singing........Dead woman in a play!

Isnt she pretty!!!

Even they dont want me...

I am starting to get a complex... First I cant find a man and now even a JURY doesnt want me. I got called for jury duty and was excited. I want to be on a jury, I want to see how things work... I got called up to the panel and was so hopeful as I made it through day one of jury selection and today, the stupid defense attorney dismissed me... It was a murder case and would have been fascinating but nooooo stupid woman decided that I wouldnt be sympathetic towards her client.... Now I am sad! Its not fair... Over half the people in the room really just wanted to go home. Half the people up on the panel wanted to be out of there, but me... no... Sad... Oh well, someday maybe!

I new the economy was in bad shape....

This week when I took my foray into the City of Angels, I had to drive to pick up one of my co workers at one of the stores we manage for the National Cellular Phone Company we work for. He was there with our boss and I was going to drive him back to his car, so the boss could take the big boss to the airport. Coworker and I got into my car, the convertible, and started driving down Sunset blvd. We stopped at a signal and were chatting when suddenly a homeless man came to my window and asked

"Sister, can you spare a hundred?"

A HUNDRED?? Seriously?? I don't even have a five I could spare, but now inflation has even hit the homeless? I mumbled sorry and stepped on the gas... We were cracking up so hard... A hundred.. I remember when they asked for a quarter. But now with the cost of living rising, the homeless must be feeling it too..

But then I wondered, wait what has gone up for the homeless?? Has the rent on his cardboard box gone up? Does he have to pay for a space rental on the box like you do in a mobile home park? Has the cost of flip flops at the salvation army store on the corner gone up? Or the store brand hooch? Has that increased in price, I mean, I know I can get a bottle of wine for $4 so I am assuming some vodka or tequila cant be that much more for the cheap stuff? I mean, I realize he is in Hollywood, but seriously... A Hundred????

Sleepy... Need Caffeine... Send help

I am an idiot! I had fun, but I am stupid! My 24 hours of insanity started yesterday morning at 6:30am. I got up, worked out, started my working at 7am. I rushed around making sure things were perfect for my boss and our big boss who was out visiting our stores in the city of angels. I emailed, I did reports, normal day, no big deal. Then at 5pm, I stopped working and put on the mom hat, didn't feel like cooking so we went and got Chinese....But at 8pm, the insanity started... The girls and I jumped into the car with the Grin's friends and drove to the movie theater... Jumped out of the car and ran to our spot in the queue starting form around the side of the building...

Can you tell what is coming yet??

We sat with other crazed individuals, some in costume, some in PJ's, most sitting on the ground...There were board games out and cards flowing and people eating, laughing, having a great time....

Do you know what it is yet???

So at 11pm, we are still in line, but management has told us it will be another half hour and we can go in!!!

In to what you ask??? THE MIDNIGHT SHOW OF HARRY POTTER!

How daft am I right? A 4o year old in line with all her kids hanging at the midnight show to see a movie! Absolutely Barmy right? So do the math, movies is 2 hours and 33 minutes long. It starts at 12:30am. So when did we get home?? You guessed it... 3:40am! Straight to bed by 4am! Barking mad right!!

Yes, considering that I had to get up at 6:30am to drive 2 hours to Hollyweird to coordinate a meeting at 9am. Oh did I mention that I had to take the car we affectionately call Charlie? The BMW convertible whose top has been ripped apart by a werewolf before we bought it? Smirk has to work tonight and cannot drive a stick shift so I had to drive the convertible through LA traffic at 7am!!! Yahoo!!

I love Charlie, the car not the perfume from the 70's or the mystery dude with the angels, but the car is from 1991 and apparently cup holders were a novelty in 1991...So how do you shift gears in stop and go traffic while attempting to stay awake and not spill coffee?? You don't, you forgo caffeine until you arrive then pound 5 cups of coffee to stay awake! Then after your party leaves, you curl up in the conference room and nap... Just close your eyes to recenter after the meeting... Really, I am not sleeping, just resting my eyes and getting my focus back...

zzzzzz... Wake me in three hours.

Stars!!!

So a sad day for the world, both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson pass, and both too soon... And as morbid as this is, I have some new rising stars to show you!!!! MY BABIES!!! Grin got a summer job... She works at Wild Rivers. Smirk got a job too, she is working at the Fair.. But Grin... She went to work one day and the PR person for Wild Rivers asked if she would like to be in a commercial for the water park! Of course my little actress said YES!!! Then she asked if she could bring her sister (what a good kid!!). The PR person said great, we need more extras! So the two actress went to the water park and filmed a commercial! Exciting? YES? Even more exciting...SEEING YOUR KIDS ON TV!!!! Check the link below and watch really close, it isn't that long, but they look fantastic!!!! I'm so proud!!!

http://lnk.ms/0crWW

What is sometimes green and currently invading my house?

MOLD! It is so disgusting! All right, so I have been told it is not mold, but it is mildew. Mold, mildew, fungus... Who cares it is still absolutely gross! It has taken over the back wall of my pantry. I reached for the oatmeal and noticed some green spots on the wall. As I searched to figure out what could have splashed on the wall, I saw it down on a shelf below too... As I frantically pulled things out of the cupboard, I noticed it smelt really gross. I chased down the maintenance guys and asked them to come over and check it out...

Come to find out I have a leaking water heater. And it has been leaking for a while.... But not in the usual way, flooding into the house, which is great I guess!! So now we have taken apart the kitchen, stored things in the garage. And everywhere else... So now we are just waiting for the guys to come to start ripping out the drywall, the water heater and then the repairs will start! This could be a really long weekend with out water!!!

Why I will never do dishes again (at least for a week)

So after a lovely day of working, nice dinner of tacos, there was a pile of dishes in the sink. Dishwasher being on the fritz, I decided to wash the dishes by hand, like I was taught as a child. Fill up the sink with hot, soapy water, put dishes in, scrub, rinse, repeat... No way!!! No more...

I did everything right... Until, I picked up a mason jar glass that had apparently cracked in the heat... Why look at the item in your hands, just plunge in and scrub...Ok so in goes the sponge, and my hand, up to the area between my pinkie and ring finger... Turn the glass for maximum cleansing and hey look, why is the water turning red... Cuss out loud, grab and towel and announce to the shocked kids who are looking at their mother who just cussed out loud, that I had cut myself... Jokingly Smirk says do we need to go to the hospital... Uh yeah, I said and quick, get the keys... Grin, freaks out and starts asking questions... I calmly grab two clean and my favorite dish towels to stop the arterial spray and walk to the garage, forgetting that oh so important wallet and fact that I cant drive since I am applying pressure... The girls start grabbing things like an expectant father... Do you need towels, where are the keys, here is your wallet, find the insurance card... Meanwhile I am calmly strolling to the car, blood dripping down my arm and onto my white shirt... Now, it was after dinner, I had been working from home so I was in my grubby sweats (grubby = huge hole in the knee), hair a mess and no makeup, no shoes and now a blood stained shirt. Girls rush past me and tuck me into the car... Grin is freaking out mildly. Smirk is driving. We get to the hospital and the triage nurse asks me to remove the towel... As I start to do this I realize that the bleeding has stopped and the blood is clotting, to the towel. As I remove, it starts to pump blood again. The nurse slaps some gauze on my hand and says more pressure... Hospital is packed so they ask me to sit in a chair in the hall way... 45 minutes later, someone takes my xray's... 30 minutes after that they found me a room... By 9:30, I have 5 stitches and have lost a quart of blood! I could feel it pumping from my the palm of my hand while the top was numb. There was blood on the bed and the floor...It looked like a warzone! All from a cut in my hand! Finally cleaned up and gauze stuffed in between the fingers so it looks like a really warped Spock-like- live long and prospers sign, I am allowed to go home. Now two days later, I can take the bandage off and can use the fingers just not over use it... So does that mean no more typing or working for the day??? Of course not, I just cant use my pinkie... Typing has gone from 90 wpm to 10!! Not fair!! And painful... But at least the doctor of my dreams did not show up while I was looking scuzzy... I know he is still out there and next time I injure myself (and I am sure there will be a next time) I will not be wearing scuzzy clothes, I have now vowed to constantly wear ball gowns and tiara's while doing everything, including vacuuming, laundry, gardening....

Happy.....

Taco Tuesday!!

I would say Cinco de Mayo but since that phrase is currently taboo in my household, Happy Taco Tuesday! Anything Spanish is pretty much taboo right now, but just until tonight. See the oh-so-stressed- junior in high school, Grin, has a very full month. She started it off with a lovely trip to the SAT test on May 2nd, today is the Spanish AP test, Thursday is the English Lang AP test, then she has her final for drama, which is just in front of everyone who attends but it has to be something different, so Smirk's best friend wrote a short scene for Grin and a friend to perform... Then come finals, then training for her new job at the water park for the summer...All that in May. She is wound so tightly I expect her curls are going to turn into a fro very soon!

So to keep her spirits up, we are not having a Cinco de Mayo festival tonight, but are having her favorite dinner Taco's...

I cannot wait for school to end, but that of course will not allow the stress to end, then it will be working and shuttling her back and forth to her new job, going to visit colleges on days off, hopefully helping Smirk find a job, and in between all that, studying for Grin's drivers permit... (Mental note: go to store, get hair dye for all the new grays they are giving me and at least a pound of chocolate or bottle of rum... or maybe both)

I am sure life will calm down soon... Maybe next year (HA!)

What do you do for an hour???

So I am now sitting in my office in Los Angeles, there is no one here but me and one other dedicated employee... Why am I sitting here at 6:06pm? I am trying to kill time before I go to an event... A nice event... Where I have to wear nice clothes and make up... Shocking right!

Before anyone asks... No, I did not bring a camera, no there is no photographic evidence unless I happen to get in a shot with the guest of honor. But if that happens I can GUARANTEE no one will be looking at me...

See tonight's event is sponsored by LG (makes sense since I work for the large national wireless carrier) and the special guest is Heidi Klum.. You all know her right? Project Runway, Victoria's Secret, 3 kids and one on the way, amazing body...

Yeah this woman, so I know for sure, between her and the hot new phone, no one is going to be checking me out!

But my question still stands, what do you do for an hour, I can get dressed in 10 minutes, the event is right down the street, they are going to have food, I already did my make up (yes auntie, I am actually wearing makeup, foundation and all) So what do I do?? I guess sit and read blogs, lotion my feet, talk to no one as there is no one to talk to here... I can run up and down the halls but my back hurts already so I don't want to do that... Already talked to the girls... I am bored and I need caffeine! Let's go people, tell me what you would do to kill an hour....