Catchin' up on Blogistan's Homework

Ok, you know how you have like several "to-do" lists going at any given time? No? Well, I do. And one of them involves the homework assignments I get in Blogistan. I am just now handing in my work teacher, sorry it took so long. The dog(s) kept eating up my free time, not my homework, just my free time! (Likely story.)

First and foremost, I need to thank my Bloggin' friend, Karen Gberger. Long, long ago, in a kingdom far away, she gave me not one, but TWO awards. They're pretty cool awards if I do say so myself, and I want to say THANKS KAREN!

The Arte and Pico award has a very beautiful award picture, and you can read about it here: http://karengberger.blogspot.com/2008/07/arte-y-pico-award.html . The You Make My Day award puts a smile on my face and you can read about it here: http://karengberger.blogspot.com/2008/07/you-make-my-day-award.html. As you can tell Blogistan, these awards were given a long, long time ago, but like I said, the dog(s) ate my homework.

Karen is also responsible for tagging me for my very first MeMe. She is my first. (tee hee!) Here it is.....

MeMe
This is my first ever MeMe, no joke. Karen tagged me in http://karengberger.blogspot.com/2009/05/meme.html on May 2nd. Yah, that's only like two weeks ago, but wait till you see how long it has taken me to do my OTHER assignment I'll be handing in later on down the post.

Soooo, Karen lives in the great state of Washington, where Occupation Rain Hater Laura of Live Happy also lives now. One day soon, they'd better watch out, I'm flying up for a visit and all manners of hilarity and devilry will ensue!!!! I love Karen's blog. She's not all that bad herself. :-) I'll visit and return with either or both of her cats, Latte and Liger, and maybe Chumz will be in my carry-on.Ya never know. Ok, here goes....

What are your current obsessions?

a)Getting our home organized and into shape. There is always a project. Our remodel/construction officially ended in November, but there are still HUGE areas of the house that need to be unpacked, organized, arranged, decorated, cleaned, you name it. Working 50+ hours per week doesn't allow me much time, but I try to fit in what I can in the evenings and weekends. The rooms labeled "chaos" consume my thoughts as I try to figure how best to tackel the monstrous tasks. (((sigh)))

b) Costco. It is always my obsession. It is literally down the hill from our house and I go there MULTIPLE TIMES per week. My sister jokes that I should get a "Costco for Life" tattoo on my boob with my Costco card's bar code underneath.

Which items from your wardrobe do you wear most often?

a) Any one of my 3 pairs of "funky" eyeglasses. I'm especially in love with my new Bulovas right now. I bought them because the design was the "Kabul" design. They rock! Tortoise with a blue line running along the top. Guess where I bought them? Costco!

b) My brown tunic top that I got at COSTCO (!!!!) on clearance for $5!!! I love the top. I'm actually wearing right now. Billowy and pretty.

c) My Bjorn clogs. Sooooo comfy. (Not from Costco.)

d) My Asics trail shoes. I have other running shoes, but these are my favorite. Plus, they are the pair that have my orthotic inserts. Yah, you heard me. I said ORTHOTICS. Just like the little old ladies wear. I don't care how unsexy they may sound, they make my feet feel sooooooo goooooood. I have the FLATTEST feet on this planet. They always need TLC. ;-)

Last thing you bought?

a) Baked potato to go with my salad for lunch.

b) 8 pounds of tomatoes at our local grocer's.

c) Cheez Whiz. My first time EVER buying that stuff. I went round and round in the store looking for it and had NO idea where it was. I finally asked a clerk, who led me to the aisle with the powdered drinks. WTF?! Anyway, it's this amazing creamy cheesy thing in a dispenser can. I was told it would help Achilles take his meds. Guess what!? He LOVES that stuff. It's got the craziest yellow color! Most importantly, he takes his meds now without spitting it all up immediately. Oh, and little bits of hot dogs also work. Wahoo!

What are you listening to these days?

a) Keri Hilson featuring Lil Wayne, "You're Turnin' Me On." Love that song. Ya'll didn't know that I'm a bit " 'hood " did ya? Ha! I grew up in the ghettos of the West Siiiiiide of Chicago, remember that!!!

b) Punjabi MC with Jay Z, "Mundian/Beware." I love bhangra beats.

c) Jonny Lang, "Lie to Me." Hands down, one of my favorite blues artists.

d) David Bowie, "Let's Dance" from the Club Bowie Bollywood remix album. IT. ROCKS.

e) Brooks & Dunn, "Neon Moon", one of my favorite country songs. YES, you heard me. I love country music.

f) Julieta Venegas, "Eres Para Mi." I speak Spanish and it for the love of Spanish lyrics that I'm grateful I know this beautiful language. GREAT SONG!

Favorite kid's film

a) Transformers, Voltron, X-Men, Thundercats, among others, are my favorite cartoons. I was too old for "kids" films when I came to the U.S., but I fell in LOVE with sci-fi cartoons.

b) I love The Sandlot and watch it whenever it comes on cable. "You're killin' me, Smalls!"

Favorite Holiday Spots

Of all the places I've been to with my Manboy, I had the BEST times in Platja d'Aro, Spain, then Newport, Rhode Island, and then Annapolis, Maryland. We have traveled a lot, but those places are the ones that bring a little smile to my face whenever I think of a travel memory.

What are you reading right now?

Nothing this month (other than stuff for work), but I need to start Rabbit Run for my book club!

Four words to describe you:

I don't know what this one is asking....4 words that I use to describe me? I guess I'll go with that.....polyglot, patient, Afghan, and American.

Guilty pleasure?

Chocolate-covered almonds, from Costco of course.

Who or what can make you laugh until you are weak?

a) Hands down, all the time. my manboy, my husband, my Belov-Ed. He is hysterical!

b) My little sister. She has a SAUCY streak in her and has a super sharp wit. She and Ed play very well off each other when they banter and mock each other.

c) Laura's blog, Busy Bee Suz' blogs, Bon Don's blog, Lizzibelle's blog, and Joe*to*Hell's blog are always a sure bet for a giggle or a giant cackle!

First Spring thing?

We're in San Diego, so it is a perpetual state of spring/summer here. But, if I had to pick something, I'd say the sighting of whales and their babies off shore. Then you know warmer days are 'round the corner.

Planning to travel next?

Seattle and New York.

After this?

Maybe Hawaii.

Best thing you ate and drank recently?

I need to post some pics soon...we are tomato roasting FREAKS in our house. Mmmmmm! Roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarrella, fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, grilled chicken breast, pinch of kosher salt and balsamic, on a fresh baked roll. Oh. My. Lord. It is sooo good. We've had like 10 of them this week!!!

When did you last get tipsy?

At our annual *girls only* Vagrant's Day on St. Patty's weekend. We did a beach/pub crawl and it was SO fun.

Favorite ever film?

Too many to say just one, but here are some: Gladiator, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Transformers, X-Men, Bend it Like Beckham, The Sandlot, The Transporter, Ronin, Fools Rush In, Old School, all James Bond flicks, Napoleon Dynamite, and Say Anything.

Care to share some wisdom?

Be considerate to the animals, the elderly people in your life, and the poor. They are dependent beings and how you treat them is a reflection of your character, your integrity, and of how you were brought up. And, in the immortal words of Mahatma Gahndi, "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Sometimes I think about how cool it would be if I were a redhead. I love Lucille Ball. I want to dye my hair red. I just don't have the BALLS...get it? Balls as in Lucille Ball. Ha ha ha!

Ok, that's done!

Rules of the MeMe above: Respond and rework. Answer questions on your own blog. Replace one question. Add one question. Tag 8 people. And hell yah I'm gonna tag!!! I tag:

Bon Don at Who Throws a Cupcake? Honestly! (we share a love of funky glasses and frozen 'ritas, I think we were separated at birth)

Happy Wife, Happy Life (one cool mama, recently thrown back into corporate America)

Stephanie at Oranges Grows on Trees (super smart, young, hip lil lady, and we share a love of Asics and I just found out, yogurt)

Chitown Girl (because she needs a distraction from her JOBS..hee hee)

Busy Bee Suz (because she needs more stuff to keep her busy....she runs a TIGHT SHIP)

Sue at Random Ramblings (with her gorgeous gaggle of Goldens!)

Amanda at Nurses Rock (I need to get the 4-1-1 on her handsome beau!)
____________________________________________________________________

Ok, my second assignment comes from Stephanie, and it is from February 3rd!!!!
http://orangesgrowontrees.blogspot.com/2009/02/tagged.html Sorry it took me so long Stephanie!

Here are the rules:
1) Go to the 4th folder in my computer where you store your pictures.
2) Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
3) Explain the picture.
4) Tag 4 people to do the same.

So, my 4th picture from my 4th folder was taken on Vagrant's Day 2009, which is one day of the year that my girls and I get together early in the day and just stroll all the beach bars, pubs, and grills well into the evening sampling cocktails, food, as well as sampling the "sights" of Southern Cali.

This year's get together was on a rather cool day, so we all wore jeans. My little sassy ass sister mocked my "earthy crunchy edamame granola hippie" clogs mercilessly. She did not, however, mock my crazy socks, something she and I are both known for (unique, funky socks) amongst other things.

So, we decided that a picture of our shoes told a tale of who we are as individuals. Hence, the photo below. If you didn't know anything about us, you could tell alot just by our shoes.


Oh, just fyi, by the end of the day her feet were KILLING her. Ha ha ha ha!!! But her boots did make her look super bootylicious.

Soooo, for this MeMe I will tag Adam at Just Golden, Laura at Live Happy, Mindy at Live for Today, and of course, Karen!

No pressure ya'll...obviously I took my own sweet time handing in my homework. Go forth and have fun!