Sex and The WC City

Tonight was opening weekend for Sex and The City and we ventured out on the town for a little ladies night out. We started off the night with some martini's and then headed to the movies. It was crazy! I've never seen such a site. Woman were everywhere and in large groups. The line to get a seat had to be about 300 deep. The movie was great, but more importantly loved the scene. It truly was great to be sitting with so many different groups of girlfriends that were all there for the same purpose...to have some fun.

Two thumbs up!

YEAH! We got seats together. All 13 of us.

Bubbly Anyone?


Nothing but ladies in the house!

I HAVE BANGS!!!

I needed a change. And so I visited Heidi this afternoon and insisted, "Give me some bangs!" After debating (with myself) for about a 1/2 an hour and also looking through current magazines, I realized it was the way to go. I got quite an stylish cut (that I'm hoping I can duplicate on my own). I feel that I can best describe it as Cleopatra. Hope you like it! Hey, at least it is something different.

Jason's 1st reaction (since he didn't know what I was doing), "Is it a wig?" Not sure how to take that, but soon he will realize the wig does not come off.

Cut In Progress


New Do

Yes, I know it is a little shocking!


Melissa also got some bangs today.

New Hair Do or Do Not

So, I'm just a few minutes away from heading out to see my good friend Heidi for a little dye and cut action. I'm contemplating if I want a new "do" for the summer. Everyone laughs at my excitement with my last cut when I claimed I now had bangs and truth be told they were really just short layers. So we will see what I end up with. At least I know it will turn out great since Heidi is doing it.

To be continued...

And yes Mom, I know you are probably reading this and ready to pick-up your phone to tell me to cut it short. I know you love it that way!

The Bachelorette

So, my favorite show premiered last night and it did not disappoint. Here is a re-cap on why I (and Jason, but he probably won't admit it in public) love this show so much.

Deanna "The Bachelorette" has got to be the cutest, most geniune person they have ever had on this show. She is absolutely beautiful and the men are already completely smitten by her. It is refreshing to see someone who really wants to find true love (if that is even possible on a TV program).

I like "The Bachelorette" much more than "The Bachelor" since it is hilarous to watch grown men compete over one woman. You rarely see a glimpse into what men act like in groups and this show gives you an inside look. I loved seeing the men try all their different techniques of getting her attention. One even jumped in the pool and when he stripped down it revealed he was wearing a speedo with her name on it. Another did a Kung Foo flying kick to knock a lemon off another guy's head. Now that would actually scare me a little.

Truly a guilty pleasure...I can't wait for next week.

Here are predictions and picks for the Final 3.

Graham

Pro: HOT, SLY and FLIRTY
Con: His profile says he is a professional basketball player, however when Deanna asked him what he does he said invests in bars. Seems a little suspicious.

Jason

Pro: Adorable and an all-around nice guy
Con: He has a child. I don't think it is a big deal, but will Deanna?

Jeremy

Pro: HOT, HOT, HOT
Con: Was a little quiet last night, but maybe because he got the 1st rose.

If you watch, did you have any favorites?

Frozen Yogurt

Is it just me or do you love Frozen Yogurt? A few of us just took a break from work and headed down to Yogurt Park (the very best place to go!!!!) I got 1/2 lemon chiffon, 1/2 vanilla with yogurt drops added in. YUM!!! Am I making you crave it too? Frozen Yogurt is always such a good snack and satisfies so many cravings. Whether you are in the mood for something fruity, a little bit of chocolate or both it is the very best!

Marley's Trip to the City

A few weeks ago we brought Marley to Baker Beach in San Francisco. If you are looking for a dog friendly beach this is the best spot. Dogs are everywhere! She loved the whole experience and we were so blessed with amazing weather for the city. Sadly, she stayed on leash since she is still quite the rascal and I don't quite trust her to not eat everyone's food. But we had a nice retractable leash which allowed her 16-feet of independence which came in handy in the ocean. We then headed to Sausalito for a drink with the most amazing ocean view. It was the perfect day. Sometimes you forget how many places we have to visit here right in our own backyard. Marley makes us get out and want to experience all of them with her.

I love this dog so much! She means so much to Jason and I and I always think about what an amazing family pet she will someday be. She is the best addition in our lives.

Seascape Escape

Last weekend I headed to the beach for a much needed night of relaxation and rejuvenation with some friends. Alix, Melissa, Monica and I headed down to Aptos to a gorgeous resort on the beach.

It was the perfect trip with the girls: plenty of celebrity magazines to read, in-room massages, sunny warm weather, smores down at the beach, sitting around the bonfire, friendship, laughter and more.

Sitting on the deck and looking out to the beautiful blue ocean made me realize how relaxing the water is. The whole weekend was amazing and if you are ever looking for a quick trip to get away and unwind, I highly recommend this destination.

Seascape Resort

Spirit Week

This week, Diablo held Spirit Week, which was a chance for employees to get excited and recharged for work. Here is a re-cap of the events. It was truly a blast, but I can't even think about how much work I've got to make-up next week.

Monday - Pajama Day
Our Operations team started off the week by serving the entire office a gourmet breakfast buffet. We even had flowers on the tables, tablecloths and nice dishes to make it feel like a real restaurant. At lunch we had a "slumber party" where we served girlie snacks and played board games.


Tuesday - Green Day
In honor of Earth day, this day was centered around educating the office on being more Green-friendly. We were served fresh smoothies in the morning and a hike took place in the afternoon.


Wednesday - American Idol
Randy, Paula and Simon made a special guest appearance to give the routines some harsh critiques. Our group did a Village People mega-mix to YMCA, Macho Man and In the Navy. We were able to throw together our routine in about an hour and I will say it was pretty impressive (even included a kick-line).



Thursday - Office Olympics
OK...this was the best day! We competed in teams of two.


1) 3-Legged Race: Anyone who has been up our work drive-way will understand it is quite a work-out. Well...we had timed races where we were tied to a partner and had to run up the hill and unlock the front door. My partner and I got 3rd!


2) Chair Race: This consisted of pushing your teammate through an obstacle course while they sat in their office chair. Lots of knees and fingers were almost lost at the high speeds. This was the funniest event to watch. You can't imagine how fast these chairs go. It was a true adrenaline rush.

3) Waterballoon Toss: Brought back some good childhood memories.


4) Tug of War: The rope gave everyone severe rope burn, so this event was short lived. I think I let go 30 seconds in due to my hand on fire.


Friday - BBQ and Secret Buddies Revealed
All week long we had secret buddies that we would leave fun notes for. We reveavled our identities today.

Can you believe they call this work?

Happy Birthday Heidi!

Wanted to wish my sister Heidi a very Happy Birthday. If anyone deserves a good one, it is her. She has been through quite a year, but has handled everything with such grace, optimism and courage. I feel so lucky to be blessed with such an amazing sister and she inspires me daily to be a better person. We always find a way to laugh together, even at the hardest times.

Here are just a few of my favorite things about her:
-Her contagious laugh and smile
-Her strong faith
-Her relaxed attitude
-Her trust
-Her amazing parenting skills
-Her generosity
-Her competitive spirit
-Her willingness to always help anyone in need

Growing up, we were kind of opposites but as we grow older we begin to become more and more alike. I am so appreciative of all the support she has given me through this difficult time in my life. I look at what she has been through and it is always a reminder for me to keep looking forward and never give up. I thank her for blessing me with amazing nephews and allowing Uncle Jay and I time to have such fun times with Scott and Tyler.

Happy Birthday Heidi! Wishing you a year filled with nothing but happiness.

Danny, the photographer

So these pictures of Marley are pretty amazing. Not only are they beautiful, but they also make her look like an angel. I would like to admit that they are because my dog is so well trained, but really this was the work of a wonderful photographer I like to call my brother-in-law, Danny. Danny is a man of so many traits: a dentist, a car mechanic and now a photographer. He is so patient and quite a perfectionist when is comes to getting just the right lighting. Thank you Danny for helping capture the beauty of Miss Marley. Next up...I'm gonna request a photo of my recluse cat, Sage. That should be a real challenge, considering she only sees light for about 2 hours a day.

If you are interested in having Danny take some photos for you, check out his new blog:
LINK HERE
Danny McMillan Photography

Arizona 2008

We just got back from Arizona and had an awesome vacation with friends from ASU. We rented a house that came with everything we could ever need: a fire pit, pool, spa, grill and close to downtown Scottsdale. Since all of us live in different parts of the country, we've been really good about meeting up every year for some fun. This year was truly the best yet!

Here are some pics and highlights of the weekend:

We visited ASU campus to see everything that has changed. It is amazing how much has been built on campus. Sadly, our favorite College Street Deli is now closed. However, one thing that hadn't changed in 10 years is Jerry from "Jerry's Drive-Thru Liquor". He was still there and looking as good as always. We couldn't resist taking a picture with him at the drive-thru window.


Ryan and Jason enjoyed a morning dip in the hot tub. Our backyard was so relaxing with an amazing, dramatic view of Camelback Mountain. There truly is something so peaceful about the desert.


Cheers to dinner at the Pink Taco.


What is a trip to the Devil's Martini without dancing with a random old man? This guy was hilarous and knew all the words to every song. We couldn't get enough of him all night long. Even the guys had to get a picture with him.



Kadie and I thought it would be hilarous to try and get everyone to play "Light as a feather, stiff as a board" when we got home. Sadly, didn't work quite how it used to.


One of our favorite activities of the weekend was sitting by the firepit. I've put one of these on my wish list for my next birthday.


On Sunday, Jason and I went to breakfast with Michelle and then got to see her place in Scottsdale. I loved being able to spend some time with her and meet her doggy, Sabo.


What a wonderful trip! Can't wait for next year. I'm voting for a tropical location.

MIGRAINE

Sadly I had to miss out on Calistoga this weekend due to having a migraine starting Friday night thru Sunday. I've only had one previously and can't believe how debilitating they are. I feel so bad for anyone that has ever been cursed with them and am hoping this past weekend was a one time deal. I feel so much better today and am hopeful that they don't come up again. The scariest part about having them was the flashing lights that come on prior to the headache setting in. You truly can't even see straight and everything turns to blurry vision.

If anyone has any good advice on treating them, please send along.

Calistoga

Jason and I are looking forward to heading up to Calistoga tomorrow for the weekend. Every year (for the last 20 years), Jason's family has spent a weekend in March in Calistoga with family friends. We always look forward to going since Calistoga is such a beautiful spot in the Napa Valley that has so much small town charm. Marley is coming with us, so I was lucky to find a cottage where we can stay with her. We are looking forward to relaxing, reading, visiting a few dog friendly wineries and of course, eating.

Tyler's 2nd Surgery

So Tyler has completed his 2nd heart surgery and recovery seems to be going great. I just got back from visiting him and Heidi at UCSF for the day and it was amazing to see how good he looks just one day after surgery. His breathing tube has been removed and although he is still pretty sedated, all his stats are looking where they should be.
I don't know how Heidi and Danny do it. It is exhausting to be at the ICU all day, but they never complain. Heidi is on top of it all and has become a real advocate for Tyler. You realize when you have a child in the hospital, you are their voice. I'm so proud of Tyler. He is a true angel to me.

Conehead

Our little Miss Marley got fixed yesterday and she is doing great!
Sadly, she now must wear a cone for a few days. Jason sent this to me while I'm at work with the caption, "I'm sick of wearing this thing!" Look at that face...too cute, makes me want to cry.

A Big Week For Tyler

This is an important week for Tyler as he heads back to UCSF on Wednesday for his catheritization and then on Friday he will have his 2nd heart surgery. Please keep him on your prayer list throughout the week. I know how important each and every prayer can be.

We were lucky to be able to have him over to our house tonight and he looked great. Better than he has for months. He was happy, which was amazing to see.

We send him, Heidi and Danny all our love as they prepare for a challenging week ahead. We are so proud of your constant strength, faith and patience you have portrayed through it all. You are truly AMAZING. We love you!

Little Miss Marley

Our little Marley will be 6 months old in just a few days and just weighed in on Friday at 39 pounds. She is a bundle of energy and keeps us busy and laughing throughout the day. We feel so lucky to have her since she has the best personality and also the most adorable little face.



Some highlights of the past few weeks include:
*Graduating from Puppy Manners class at ARF. She mastered sit and down and we even learned some tricks. She definitely wasn't the valedictorian in the class, but she sure was social. Hey, just like her parents.
*Sleeping in bed with us. Yes, I know this is the cardinal sin in dog training, but we couldn't resist. She loves to snuggle up on the pillow at night.
*Visiting the dog park. We are so lucky to live so close to the Heather Farm's dog park. I love going on the weekends. It is so fun to watch all the dogs play together. She has no fear and wags her tail even at the 190 pound mastiff.


I feel so lucky to be blessed with Marley. She has brought me so much happiness when I needed it most. Dogs are such amazing animals and Jason has quickly realized why they are called "Man's Best Friend". He keeps begging me to get another, but I think we are set now with our cats and pup.

My New Hairstyles

OK...you've got to check out this site. It is hilarous and has been entertaining me for hours. You can upload a photo of yourself and then experiement with hundreds of celebrity hair styles.

Go to In Style Makeover

Check out my inspirations:

Jennifer Aniston, yes I won't ever be a blonde.

Inspired by my mother. Can you believe how much we look alike? AHHHHHHH!!! I couldn't stop laughing at this one. I think it scared Jason.

ROCK ON JASON!