colie

The commercial that my sister shot in Mexico is now being released, only in the UK because the water is not popular here, but I have a link to view it online  http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2008/jul/02/oasis This is the first spot, there will be more to come. Check it out, my sister the star.

xoxo

Wow, I am in desperate need of an update. It's been so long that I keep putting it off even more. I don't even know where to start. Obviously my last post wasn't too informative, so my last actual post was May 14th. So I guess I'll start from there.

Workin' It: So our new director at work lasted all about 3 weeks. Syanora! I had been filling in as Acting Director since then. My RVP started giving me more and more responsibilities, a new phone, etc and as of July 1st I got a promotion to Program Director. Both exciting and scary at the same time. It's a lot of responsibility, but I feel so lucky to have moved up so fast. Oh yeah, and it's more money! =>

We are family: Dad is an official California resident. He lived with us for about a month, but got his own place about 2 weeks ago. Been spending a lot of time with him, helping him get his place together, buy a computer. Since he's been here the fam's gone to Six Flags!!!, LA Zoo, Los Feliz street festival...fun times.

Tomorrow we're cooking out for the Fourth at his place. I just made some broccoli salad for the event, yes I made something. Pretty easy too, the only hard part is keeping my fork out of it until tomorrow.

Ash just left for Europe yesterday. My sister, the jetsetter...Mexico, Europe. She'll be gone 3 1/2 weeks. I still cannot believe she is backpacking around Europe. Crazy.

My mom has been sober for the past 2 1/2 weeks. Very proud of her. It's all come from the fact that she's having problems with her liver really, but I'll take what I can get. I'm not gonna say I'm not skeptical about her staying sober because we've been down this road so many times before, but I have to be optimistic. It would be great to spend some time with her sober when I come home. I'm gonna keep hoping for that.

Be my friend: Tawny is here!!! Yeah! It's so nice to have her here. We've gone to the beach, done some shopping, saw SATC, karaoking, lunching, dinnering...nice. It had been so long since we had hung out really, like high school, so it's kinda like we're building our friendship back up. I feel like a slacker because I barely ever call to hang out though. It's really pure laziness. When I get off work I just feel like going home and doing nothing.

SF Outside Lands: In August Larry, Ash, George,and me are flying to San Fran for the Outside Lands music fest in Golden Gate Park. I am so stoked!! It'll be my first time in San Francisco and my first music fest. Jack Johnson, Tom Petty, Ben Harper, Regina Spektor, Beck, Radiohead, etc etc. Cannot wait!!!

It's def looking to be a good summer. Turtles/Badfinger/Animals concert, home visit in three weeks, Outside Lands.....and whatever else comes my way. I will try, try, try to be a better updater just in case there is actually anyone who reads this.

xoxo

Oh yeah and I actually read a book in June. Really good.

I could say that I haven't updated because I've been busy working, which is true being that I work 6 days a week, but honestly it's a mixture of laziness and having not too much to write about. So here is an update on my little ol' life...

On the work front: Job is going good. Working a lot, taking on more responsibilities since we haven't had a director. I've enjoyed the extra duties, it's been a learning experience. My RVP has continuously told me what a great job I've been doing and that's always nice to hear. Our new director started the 5th so I've kinda been showing her the ropes and stuff. I think we'll work well together, unfortunately as soon as she knows what she's doing my temporary raise will be reduced back to my normal wages. It was just while I was taking on director responsibilities. I think I am going to ask for a slight raise anyway though.

In addition to my primary job I have been helping out once a week at Griddle. It's quick hours, quick cash and it's nice to work with my sis again. After May is over I am done though. Having one day off a week is not for me. Janice Dickinson came in last week. Being the dork that I am I was like 'Ahhh, it's Janice freakin Dickinson!' Of course my sister was like 'oh yeah she comes in all the time', all nonchalant.

On the home front: Dad is driving here as I write this. He'll be in town around 5pm. My dad will now be living in Cali. It's seriously still hard for me to believe. I cannot believe that when I go home to visit Iowa my dad will not be there and our house won't be our house anymore. It was a piece of crap house, yes, but it holds a lot of memories. So now my dad is on his way here with a truck packed full of his life, no apartment and no job yet. This is the most unplanned, unorganized move ever. I am trying to find a place for him, but it hasn't been easy. And until he finds one he will be staying with us. That would be 5 people in our apartment. Stressful! I am trying to stay positive, but it is hard.

Ash booked a commercial. She is actually in Mexico shooting it right now. I am so happy for her. She was def nervous though, it being her first commercial and then having to go to another country for 9 days to shoot it. I haven't talked to her since Monday. She was on her way to rehearsal. I miss her already.

Tawny is supposed to be here tomorrow. I haven't talked to her for a few weeks, but I'm pretty sure it was a set date. So exciting! SG got the bank job and is steadily saving money away and she'll be out here before you know it.

Larry joined a softball team. George joined us for some dinner last night and then we went to Larry's game. Def not as boring as I though it would be. George kept me company which helped. I'm really glad Larry is being active. I wish I could get my lazy ass to be more active. I wanted to start running/walking, but I don't want to go myself. Bad excuse I know, but it keeps me from moving. Ash was supposed to start with me, but we didn't get far, meaning nowhere.

Eleven weeks until I come home to Iowa for a visit!!!!!

xoxo

(One) has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has enjoyed the trust (and respect) of intelligent men (and women), and the love of little children; who has filled (one’s) niche and accomplished (one’s) task; who has left the world better than (one) found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem or rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best (one) had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction.

-Bessie Anderson Stanley
1904

So here I am in San Diego on a conference for work. I am so stoked! Sure I have to go to 2 days worth of conferences, but I've heard nothing but good things about them and the rest of the time is mine. Duanea and I just drove in about 2 hours ago and what's the first thing she wants to do, workout! Um, okay. So we did. I worked out on my mini work vacation when I don't even work out normally. Eh, it's good for me. The hotel is amazing, it's the Catamaran Resort, Hotel & Spa, so nice. I have a sweet room with a huge patio over a pond with lots of ducky visitors, flat screen t.v., king size bed. This is the life. Tonight Duanea and I are going to get some dinner and drinks. Maybe check out the beach, it's a little chilly though. I'll upload pics when I get back!!!!

xoxo

Today I am having one of my lazy Saturdays, which is nice since last weekend was go, go, go. Matt and Jacob flew into town on Thursday and the party began. Literally they started drinking as soon as they got here in the afternoon. So when I got home from work Matt, Larry, Jacob, and Ash were all drunk. A little overwhelming taking 4 drunkies to Hollywood Blvd., but we had a good time. Hollywood Blvd is not mine or Ash's favorite place to be, but it's a place people want to see when they are visiting. It was kinda cool though because it was the premiere of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" so all the celebs were walking the red carpet and stuff.

Friday we went to Santa Monica Pier. It was a gorgeous day, a perfect weekend weather wise. It was so nice to just take off our shoes and walk along the beach. The water was freezing, but you got used to it. I really need to get to the beach more, it's so relaxing. Then the party was on....to Dimples we went for some drinking and karaoke. Larry and Matt were up first with "What I Got", what else, right? But when they got up there Ash stole the show from Matt and it became the Larry and Ash show. They rocked it though. Next up was Ash and me singing "Love is a Battlefield". I wanted to do "Heartbreaker", but Ash convinced me otherwise. I now know the real reason is because she taught herself all the moves and wanted to bust a move on stage. Of course I was wasted so I thought I was really rocking it out. After going back and watching the video, not so much, but it was still super fun. After Jacob bribed the song chick with $15!!!! his name was finally called. He spent forever trying to find a song and of course the only song he found that he really wanted to do was a duet. And of course he asked me to sing it with him, some song I had never even heard of, but being the drunk girl I was I said hell yeah! It was a little rough at first, but I drunkenly got into it. We were all karaoke stars that night...well except poor Matt....

Saturday was a bitch. I was so hungover, literally the worst headache of my life. But the boys went and picked me up some food, Ash got me some pills and on we went to the Hollywood sign. Climbing hills in the heat, hungover, what was I thinking? Matt and Jacob better appreciate that. It's always nice to bask in the beauty of California though. It never goes away, that feeling of awe I get from living in this beautiful place. It is just so gorgeous. Afterwards Ash and I cleaned up the pit of our apartment and invited Gen and Lousinia over for some fun. I of course was all funned out so no drinking for me, but that didn't stop anyone else. We played some Catchphrase, watched some old videotapes...and somehow they got started on a game of Truth or Dare. Matt and I were smart enough to keep out of it. All I know is people were kissing people and going in the pool. I went to bed because I had to work the next day, but I was kept up all night anyways with all the drunken craziness going on.

And that was our weekend. Lots of good times, some not so good times, tons of craziness and some good memories...

xoxo

I've been feeling pretty good lately, optimistic about life. Things have been looking up financially, people I love are moving to LA (and thinking of moving to LA), work is going good, Larry loves his job....why can't life just stay that way and not have to balance it with bad things? First we get a flat tire and have to get a new one, okay I can take that, no big deal. It didn't affect anything but our pocketbook. But then today I get a text from Larry's lil brother Philip saying that Grandma Carpio fell down the stairs and she was being rushed to the hospital. It's really serious. They think she is going to slip into a coma and don't give her a very positive outlook. It sucks. Larry is not taking it well and I feel horrible because there is nothing I can do to make him feel better. We just have to wait it out, pray and hope she pulls through it.

xoxo

I don't really talk to my mom on a regular basis. She calls frequently, but most the time it's at a time when you never know what kind of condition she's going to be in so it's safer not to answer. Yesterday she called around 5pm (7pm her time) and since I'd been ignoring a lot of her phone calls recently I answered. It's not like we fought or had a bad conversation or anything, it's just sad to talk to my mom sometimes. No matter how long it's been since I've come to the realization that my mom is who she is and she's never going to change, it still saddens me to think about the life she has chosen to lead. Talking to her it's always better to say on safe topics and keep things easy. You can't even really get into details on things going on in your own life because she doesn't even really pay attention to what it is you are saying. If it's not about her life, or something with lots of drama her attention span is not long enough to listen. It becomes more and more obvious how much alcohol has changed my mother. Clearly she was never perfect, but the good parts of her disappear in a beer can more and more each day.

xoxo

Dad just left last night. Took the red eye home. Larry and I took him to LAX. It was my first time taking someone to the airport myself. I was a little freaked out. LAX is freaking huge and airports make me nervous, but it was no prob. I am now ready to pick people up and take people to the airport all summer long (hint, hint). It was nice having Dad in town for the week. He was sick, which sucked, but he was a trooper. He really didn't let that ruin his trip. I uploaded pics for the week. We ate out a few times, including Dave and Buster's which was a lot of fun. Went to Santa Monica Pier with Mick and Eli. Chilled out at home and watched movies. Did some shopping. It was a rather exhausting week.
That's it for now.

xoxo