Come on, Hawaii

Yay for Hawaii for passing the anti-smoking legislation that went into effect this past November. However, get with the enforcement program! Making regular citizens file complaints with the police against offenders isn't the best solution, considering people's fears about getting involved and/or suffering retaliation from crazed nicotine junkies.

Smoking kills people. Second-hand smoke kills people. When there's attempted murder, police should act with swift hands to protect the innocent. This guy in this photo looks so smug that I really want to shave his tongue with a vegetable peeler. Then again, the smoke will eventually do that, so I guess I'll just have to wait a little longer. :o)

How to Shower: Men vs. Women

How to Shower: Men vs Women

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Clearly, I have nothing to say...

There is so little going on in my life right now that's blog-worthy that I having nothing to post except these ridiculous surveys. But, since I'm extremely self-absorbed and therefore love to talk about myself, here goes another one:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:15 am
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Yes
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Freedom Writers; excellent.
   
4. What is your favorite TV show? Grey's Anatomy, I think.
   
5. What did you have for breakfast? Steel Cut Oatmeal w/brown sugar.
   
6. What is your middle name? Joy
7. What is your favorite cuisine? Don't have a favorite; it's mood-related.
   
8. What foods do you dislike? Pickled beets.
9. Your favorite potato chip? Again, no favorite; depends on the craving.
   
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Don't have one.
    
11. What kind of car do you drive? Toyota 4Runner
    
12. Favorite sandwich? Turkey, provolone and dill pickle.
    
13. What characteristics do you despise? Dishonesty and arrogance
14. Favorite item of clothing? Anything soft and comfortable.
    
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Anyplace tropical with good scuba diving.
    
16. What color is your bathroom? White; haven't taken the time to paint or decorate it yet. Don't even have rugs. But the towels are sage and beige, and those are the colors in the tile, as well, so we'll probably go that direction.
    
17. Favorite brand of clothing? Lucky.
18. Where would you want to retire to? North Carolina.
    
19. Favorite time of day? Sunrise. Unfortunately, that's also my favorite time of day to be sleeping, so I rarely experience it.
    
20. Where were you born? Andrews A.F.B., Maryland
    
21. Favorite sports to watch? Equestrian
    
22. Who do you least expect to send this back? I don't expect anyone to send it back because I'm not sending it TO anyone.
    
23. Person who will respond first? Ditto.
24. What laundry detergent do you use? Either the Costco brand or something from Trader Joe's.
    
25. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi
26. Are you a morning person or night owl? Night Owl
27. What size shoe do you wear? 9
28. Favorite animal? Doberman dogs!
    
29. Any news you'd like to share with everyone? If there were, don't you think I would've, given my love of talking about myself?
    
30. What did you want to be when you were little? I don't remember having any career aspirations.
    
31. Favorite candy bar? Mounds.
32. What are your favorite childhood memories? Exploring the woods near our house. There were so many. Do people even have woods anymore? I don't think there are any woods in California. That sucks.
    
33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life? Grader, server, secretary, PR person, writer, designer, editor.
    
34. What color underwear are you wearing? Teal.
35. Nicknames: None.
36. Piercing? Nope.
37. Eye color? Green.
38. Ever been to Africa? Sadly, not yet.
    
39. Ever been toilet papering? No! That's mean and make the beautiful trees ugly!
    
40. Ever loved someone so much it made you cry? Yes
41. Ever been in a car accident? Yes
42. Favorite restaurant? Claim Jumper. Or the Melting Pot.
    
43. Favorite flower? Two-Lips.
44. Disney or Warner Brothers? Don't care.
    
45. Favorite fast food restaurant? Presto Pasta.
    
46. What color is your bedroom carpet? Off white with brown and black flecks. We love it!
    
47. How many times did you take your drivers test? Once.
48. Before this one, from whom did you get your last mail? A coworker.
    
49. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Costco.
50. What do you do most often when you are bored? I don't get bored!
51. Bedtime? 11:30
52. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire? MeeRa. But that's probably because she's the type of person who would NEVER do a survey like this, especially to post it in a public forum.
    
53. Last person you went to dinner with? Husband, Tami and Dan.
54. What are you listening to right now? The heater in my office building.
    
55. What is your favorite color? Don't have one.
    
56. Lake, ocean or river? Ocean for diving, river for rafting, lake for boating/relaxing.
    
57. How many tattoos do you have? None
58. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Chicken.
59. How many people are you sending this Email to? None.
60. Who sent this to you and what is something you didn't know about them? Sean. I didn't know he'd gotten a Mercedes.
    
61. What materialistic thing would you ask for if you had one wish to make? A huge piece of property with a huge house. :o)
    
62. Time you finished this email? 1:42 pm

Even-Order Harmonics

Ken has finally joined the blogging world with his very own site, Even-Order Harmonics. Be sure to visit to hear his latest music-related rants and raves!

Jeans That Fit!

Jeans - Designer Jeans - Top Brand Jeans | zafu.com

I haven't tried this site yet, but will soon. You answer a bunch of questions about how jeans usually fit you, and it gives you a list of brands and styles that should work well with your body. Genius!!

How has your life changed?

TEN YEARS AGO:

1. How old were you? 22
2. Where did you go to school? Southern Adventist University
   
3. Where did you work? SAU's Public Relations office
   
4. Where did you live? Collegedale, Tennessee, in an off-campus studio apartment
   
5. Where did you hang out? The school newspaper office (I was the layout editor).
   
6. Did you wear glasses? Nope
7. Who was your best friend? Jennifer Griner
   
8. How many tattoos did you have? 0
9. Piercings? 0
10. What car did you drive? The Toyota Celica GT my parents bought me for high school graduation.
    
11. Had you been to a real party? Too many.
    
12. Had your heart broken? Yes.
13. Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter: Single and occasionally taken (that was an exceptionally good year for me)
    

FIVE YEARS AGO.......................................................

1. How old were you? 27
2. Where did you go to school? Long since graduated
   
3. Where did you work? River City Copy & Graphics (I was the in-house graphic designer)
   
4. Where did you live? Sacramento, California
   
5. Did you wear glasses? Nope
6. Who was your regular-person crush? RoZ
7. How many tattoos did you have? 0
8. How many piercings did you have? 0
9. What car did you drive? The first brand-new car I bought for myself, all by myself; a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. Loved that car.
   
10. Had you ever had your heart broken? Yes.
11. Who was your best friend? Jennifer (Griner) Skavdahl
    
12. Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter: Single and Bitter

**January 2007**

1. How old are you? 32
2. Where do you work? As the magazine editor for the southwest region of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
   
3. Where do you live? Camarillo, California
4. Do you wear glasses? For distance vision (driving, movies, shopping in warehouse stores, etc.)
   
5. Who are your best friends? Aside from my husband, Jennifer, Stacey, and Stacy have the super-long term best friends status. However, I have a LOT of quality friends in my life that mean the world to me!
   
6. Do you talk to your old friends? Most of the ones that matter (only a few good ones have managed to escape).
   
7. How many piercings do you have? 0
8. How many tattoos? 0
9. What kind of car do you have? Toyota 4Runner and a Honda Civic
   
10. Has your heart been broken? Yes, but not recently!
    
11. Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter? Married

New Template

I've updated to the new version of Google's Blogger, which makes it easier to switch up templates, fonts, etc. I decided it was time for a refreshed look on this site. They don't give a ton of choices, but this one is nice enough for now. It's easy to change them, so I might switch them up now and then. Much easier than re-arranging bedroom furniture.

That crazy-long survey...

-Name: Alicia
-Age: 32
-Siblings: 5 (half)
-Brothers: 2
-Sisters: 3
-Eye color: green
-Shoe size: 9
-Height: 5'7"
-Innie or Outie: innie
-What are you wearing right now? jeans and a white T
-Where do you live? Camarillo, CA
-Righty or lefty: righty
-Best place to go for a date: The Melting Pot

Favorite...
-Month: April
-Juice: fresh-squeezed OJ
-Breakfast: eggs benedict
-Number: 7

Have You Ever....
-Bungee jumped: nope ... tempted, but scared
-Gone skinny dippin: yes
-Played Truth or Dare: yes
-Been in a police car: yes
-Been on a plane: yes
-Came close to dying: no (though Jesus may tell me otherwise someday)
-Been in a sauna: yes
-Been in a hot tub: yes
-Swam in the ocean: yes
-Fallen asleep in school: yes
-Broke someones heart: not that I'm aware of
-Sat by the phone all night: no
-Made out with just a friend: yes
-Been cheated on: yes

What...
-What's your room like: super-cool Asian theme; light greens and dark wood furniture (oversize dresser, king size platform bed, nightstands); memory foam mattress
-What is beside you: wall to the left; attention whore of a dog to my right
-What is the last thing you ate?: pizza and a white chocolate Lindor truffle
-What kind of shampoo do you use? Aussie and something else; can't remember and I'm too lazy to get up and look

Ever Had...
-Chicken pox: yes
-Sore throat: yes
-Stitches: yes
-Broken bones: broken toe and sprained ankle

Do You...
-Believe in love at first sight: no; lust, yes
-Like picnics: who doesn't?
-Like school: I SOOOOO love school!

Who...
-Was the last person you called: Michelle
-the last person you danced with: my dad
-makes you smile: my dog
-Did you last yell at?: I can't remember the last time I yelled. I'm not a yeller.
-Broke your heart: RoZ
-Told you they loved you? my husband
-Do you like filling these out?: too much; must be self-obsessed...
-Do you wear contact lenses or glasses: glasses for distance vision
-Do you like yourself: I am SUPER cool!
-Do you get along with your family? Without exception!

More Questions:
-What are you listening to right now: Ken's fingers clipping on his keyboard (World of Warcraft)
-What did you do yesterday? Walmart, Target, Ross, Trader Joes
-Hated someone in your family: never
-What car do you wish to have: no one in particular; something sleek and fast
-Good driver: I should teach all others how to drive; the world would be a better place.
-Good singer: unfortunately, no
-Diamond or pearl: uh, YES
-Indoor or outdoor?: depends what we're talking about

Today did you...
-Talk to someone you liked: yep, hubby and friends
-Buy something new: travel coffee mug for hubby; nothing for me
-Get sick: no
-Sing: I sing every day; just not usually where anyone hears.
-Talked to an ex: no
-Miss someone?: all my far-off friends

Last person who....
-Was on your bed? hubby
-Saw you cry: hubby and Andrea (sappy story in church)
-Made you cry: hubby
-You went to the movies with: hubby (saw "The Freedom Writers," great flick!)
-You went to the mall with: don't even remember when that was...

Have you....
-Ever been in a fight with your pet: yes, though he sucks and staying mad
-Been to California: live here
-Been to Mexico: South Padre and Tijuana
-Been to Canada: not yet
-Been to Africa: not yet

Random.....
-Do you have a crush on someone: always on my hubby
-What books are you reading now: unfortunately, I don't make time to read books because I read all day in my job as a magazine editor
-Best feeling in the world: joy; peace; relief
-Do you sleep with a stuffed animal: only when hubby eats too much :o)
-What's under your bed: the leaf of our dining table
-Favorite sport to watch: don't have a favorite
-Favorite location?: tropical waters at about 85' deep
-What are you most scared of right now: having another miscarriage
-Who do you really hate? people who take advantage of helpless people for their own gain
-Do you have a job? yes
-Ever liked someone you didn't have a chance with? the story of my life
-Are you lonely right now: no
-What's stuck in your head right now: guilt about sitting here at the computer rather than playing with the dog
-Have you ever played strip poker: no
-Have you ever gotten beat up: neighborhood bully said she wanted to beat me up when we were kids (maybe third grade?), but I told her no; if only it were always that easy!
Ever liked someone but thought they'd never noticed you?: yes
-Your Favorite Food?: don't think I have a favorite
-Have you ever cried for no reason? no; there's always a reason (it may not be a good one, but there's something!)
-Are you too shy to ask someone out? no; done it too many times
-Butter, plain or salted popcorn? salt and light on the butter
-Favorite Flower?: tulips
-Have you ever fired a gun?: yes, mostly shotguns and a few handguns
-Do you like to travel by plane as opposed to car? first class air over driving any day; coach vs. driving doesn't really matter
-How many pillows do you sleep with?: one (sides) or none (on my back or stomach)

Here's my toy for the day...

Ay, Dios Mio!

This hotel I'm staying at while I'm attending meetings in Tucson is a little old. It's been remodeled, but the structure is a little lacking, so I can hear every footstep, toilet flush, etc. I'm so glad I brought my ear plugs! Anyway, I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to a car alarm going off. Once I was satisfied that it wasn't mine, I went back to bed.

About 6:45, I woke up when my upstairs neighbors started moving around and showering. I swear the floor was going to cave in! Pipes banging, etc. One crash was so loud that it sounded like it was inside my room.

About 7:30, I woke up again, looked up, and saw a fat man's LEG sticking through the ceiling above my bed. I was in such shock that I couldn't scream. I just grabbed the phone and ran into hallway to call the desk. They were trying to calm me down and assured me that someone was one their way to help. YIKES!!! My heart was pounding so hard and I could barely breathe. That's when I woke up again — for real. No leg in the ceiling. Thank you, Jesus.

The day is off to an interesting start.

Whale Watching

Today we decided to play hookey from church and get a little nature. It was a gorgeous day; sunny, no wind and 70-some degrees. What could we do, we wondered, that would be more exciting that sitting on the sand at the beach but just as close to home? Channel Islands Harbor is a mere stone's throw away (OK, more like 10 miles, but close enough), and in the four years I've lived in southern California, I've never even been to the Harbor, much less out on the water to the islands. So, away we went on a whale watching trip! Gray whales are migrating from Alaska during this season, apparently. I wouldn't know personally, as we never actually saw a whale. However, perhaps even cooler than a whale might've been, was the playful group of perhaps 1,000 or more dolphins that we trolled with for most of the afternoon. I've been on the water a lot and never have I seen more than 10 or 12 dolphins in one place. This was perhaps the most amazing aquatic thing I've ever seen. Hundreds and hundreds of them, as far as the eye could see, riding our wake, racing and jumping and criss-crossing back and forth. TOOOOOO cool. God is SO awesome.

Cool Slideshows

Jingle Bell Rock

Ken and his two best buddies, Dan (left) and Brendon (center), were part of the worship team this past Sabbath. Not sure what they were all looking at!

Christmas puppy

Holiday Party

Our Christmas party / house-warming was a success. We ate haystacks (taco salad, in layman's terms) and decorated cookies. Here's Dan, Tami and Donovan, showing off their creation. Yummy!

Family Photo

Most of you have seen this, as it's the photo from our Christmas cards. But I thought I'd post it here, too.

Reheating Pizza

I hate leftover pizza. I don't like it cold, I don't want to wait for the oven to heat up, and the microwave just ruins it. BUT, I read somewhere recently that reheating pizza in the skillet is the solution, and let me just say, YES! Finally, no more wasted pizza. The crust gets crispy, the cheese melts evenly, and it's quick and easy. Thank you!!

RSS Feed

For those who hadn't noticed before, you can subscribe to this blog via RSS feed (if you use that).

OOOWWW!

So Wednesday night Ken and I started hanging the curtains in our bedroom. But we only got the first of three brackets installed before we had to leave for dinner with a friend. After dinner, Ken went out to play music with Dan and I came home. I thought it would be nice of me to finish the curtain job so he'd have a nice surprise upon arriving home (I'm a sweet wife like that). So, I measured, leveled, marked, drilled and inserted the flush-mount pegs that support weight in drywall. As soon as I picked up the bracket, I realized I'd gone blonde for a moment and drilled/pounded in the spots where I wanted the top and bottom of the bracket to sit, not where the screw holes were. DANGIT! So, after a brief rant that would require editing for publication, I jumped into the truck and zoomed to Home Depot for putty, texture, etc., to fill my holes and repaint, which I did quite well. As I picked up the ladder to move it to the third bracket, it suddenly felt as if someone behind me had hit me on the top of my right shoulder with a bat. Jesus saved me from my own stupidity, because I'd left the drill, complete with three inches of drill bit attached, sitting on top of the 8-foot ladder, and it fell off when I moved it. Thank goodness it wasn't my HEAD (or the drill bit). Anyway, still sore from that. DO NOT leave stuff on top of ladders!! Overall, not a good night, though the curtains are lovely now!

Resonance Experiment

This is a WILD video of a sound resonance experiment. Makes you wanna run out and study geometry, huh? God is SO cool; www.upyourvideo.net.

Studio 60

I just wanted to say how much we enjoy "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" on NBC (Monday nights, 10 p.m. Pacific). It's an hour-long dramedy (drama/comedy) series with Matthew Perry and Amanda Peet as its most famous faces. This is a show for smart people with quick wit. The dialogue is smart and funny, quick and not trite. I like that it's about something different, not just some who's sleeping with whom this week "plot". Boring! Here's a very brief synopsis: the show covers the drama behind the humor of producing a popular, late-night comedy sketch show, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." Basically, it's a fictionalized look at the production of "Saturday Night Live." Start watching it! (You can even see entire episodes online at the above website.)

Getting there...

Our new bedroom set was delivered yesterday, so here I am, posing on the bed. You can't get much feel for the set from this pic, so I guess you'll just have to come visit to see it!

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

The humidity here today is TWO percent. How is that possible? When I took my socks off in the dark last night, I saw dozens of sparks. Poor dog; whenever he gets up from his blanket, he gets zapped with static sparks, and it scares him.

Speaking of Brady, we went to the vet this morning. They rehydrated him by injecting fluids under his skin, so he looked like a camel with a hump on this back. She also gave him an injection of a bowel sedative and a bottle of Flagyl. They didn't call me back with the results of the stool test, but I'm hoping that the antibiotics get whatever's got him going! He's much better this afternoon. The dehydration was getting so bad that his back legs were too weak to barely stand up if he was sitting or laying down. Sad little boy. :o( But, no diarrhea since 2 this morning, so, much progress.

Sorry to ramble so much about dog poo. Our new bedroom furniture came today, so when it's light tomorrow I'll take a pic to post. That'll be a diversion from the poo. :o)

Chillin'

Ken and I both worked from home today. I had a major deadline with the magazine, so I wanted to edit without all the distractions from the office. Ken had to study. But at some point, the dog had had enough of being ignored and demanded some attention. Ken broke down and handed out the daddy love. Good stuff.

On a more frustrating note, said dog is still spurting diarrhea, so we may have to visit the vet tomorrow to test for parasites. It's possible he picked something up last week while eating a pile of vomit and/or snacking on pug terds in the lawn. GRRRR.

I'm watching "Deal or No Deal" for the first time. It's pretty fun, but I doubt I'll ever be sad if I miss an episode. It's weird to see Howie Mandell bald.

The smoke mostly cleared today. Thank goodness.

Holiday Decorating ... Fun!

Tonight we did some holiday decorating; good stuff! I baked oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookies while Ken wrestled the lights and garland onto the tree. Then we both hung the ornaments and I added a few other touches to the room. So, we're fully in festive cheer mode, and are about to settle in for some hot chocolate and a movie (even though it's now 10:15 p.m.). Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!

O, Tannenbaum!

Saturday night Ken and I went with our friends, Fred and Andrea (below), to pick out Christmas trees. Here it is! We had both our trees tied to the top of our 4-Runner, and I forgot they were up there and tried to go 75 on the freeway. "Why on earth can I not seem to go faster than 68?!" I lamented. Ken quickly reminded me that we had lots of extra drag because of the trees; duh!! When we got to their house, their tree had turned in the wind so far that it was half hanging off the truck. Yikes!

Smoke inhalation

We woke up this morning coughing and sputtering, our condo filled with smoke. One of the joys of living in California ... A brush fire started in west Moorpark at 2:30 a.m., which is, as the crow flies, about seven miles from here. It's spreading west toward Somis and the strong Santa Ana winds are blowing the smoke straight at us. Ug. We smell like a campfire after taking the dog out for his morning diarrhea. Fabulous.

Pumpkin sucks

I have to add an addendum to my previous post. Do NOT give your diarrhea-stricken dog pumpkin if you have new white carpet and no yard. Runny orange poo and vomit is VERY hard to get out of the carpet.

Squirt

We've had a nickname for Brady the past 48 hours ... Squirt. And it's not a term of endearment, but rather a description of his unfortunate bowel problem. Thursday evening he started with diarrhea, which, unfortunately, presented itself every two hours, all night long. As we live in a condo on the second floor, urgent dog poo requires a special regiment of slip-on shoes and sleeping in one's clothes. Not fun. Especially when it's 37 degrees with 50mph Santa Ana wind gusts. That was a LOOOOONG night. For supper last night, Brady enjoyed half a can of pumpkin with two Immodium tabs. Sweet relief. For all of us.

Thanksgiving Photos

CLICK HERE to go to our album of Thanksgiving photos at Shutterfly. There are also pics from my October Baltimore trip.

Fun with the Hartmans

Our dear friends, Tammy and Dan (and baby Donovan), invited us over for a post-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving feast on Sunday. We were so excited to go because (1) we enjoy these people, and (2) one can never have too much Thanksgiving food. So, after a lengthy computer armoire assembly project on Sunday, we cleaned up and headed over for some great food. The boys were stumped over how to best carve a tender turkey, but we soon decided that it doesn't really matter how you carve it because it's going to end up chewed anyway!