So this happened to me a few days ago and I thought, "I should blog about that." But then I was busy, but I keep thinking about it at weird times, like in the shower this morning and it was making me mad just thinking about it so I will write to get it out of my system.

So I'm at the gym, minding my business, like I do. I happend to be finishing up a 4th set of 25 push-ups on the half-balance ball thing with the flat bottom (you know what I mean). And no, I can't do 100 real push-ups, I do them on my knees.

Backstory on this gym thing: I go pretty regularly (although you might not know to look at me). I'm there 3-4 times a week pretty much the same time. Me and the guy that works the front at that time (I think he lives there) and a few of the trainers are on a first-name basis.

Anywho, this trainer who I've never seen at this gym before comes up to me to try to drum up a little business. And I find this to be annoying, but I understand - we all gotta pay our bills. But after this one, I want to be put on the "do not bug me" list. Officially. Maybe I'll ask one of the cool trainers to spread the word. I mean, I didn't just join the gym yesterday. I've had a trainer before and when I want some more sessions, I'll let you know. In other words - don't call me, we'll call you.

So the trainer's pick-up line is "Hi, I noticed you're breaking your form there." Me: "Oh?" "Yeah, you're head's out of alignment and I'd hate to see you hurt your neck." Me again: "Umhumm." But what I'm thinking is "Duh, I'm just finishing my 100th, which is a miracle really, of course my head's out of alignment." Really, you're picking on that? It's not like I'm doing a ridiculous belly-up or misusing a machine or slamming the weights down. I'm no gym rat, but I do know my way around. Maybe I was just more annoyed she didn't just come right out and say, "Hey, I need to train some people, can I train you?"

But anyway back to the conversation. Me: "Umhumm." Her: "Yeah, you wanna give me ten more then?" Me: Uh, ok [thinking: No! I don't want to give you ten more because I just did 100 and I'm tired and I only told myself I had to do 100, not 110, but thanks." But of course I don't say that because I don't like confrontation.

So after I "give her 10 more," she says, "SO what are you trying to accomplish by doing those push-ups?" Seriously? Why do you do push-ups? We have a couple more seconds of ridiculous gym small talk which I know is all building up to her pitch and I don't want her to get to the "so could I show you a couple more things?" So I just say, "Look I've had a personal trainer before and it's great, but it's just not realistic for me to have a trainer right now."

And she says...wait for it..."Yeah, it's not realistic for most people...ESPECIALLY IF IT'S NOT A PRIORITY FOR YOU."

I wanted to punch her. First of all, "saying it's not a priority" is just a fallacy.  Everything's a priority (if it's on your radar at least - I mean I'm at the gym and I've had a trainer before, so you know it's on the list there somewhere). I think what she meant to say is "...if it's not high on your list of priorities." Anyway, these mechanical problems aside, I wanted to say something like this. You're right lady, clearly since I'm here, fitness is not a priority and having a trainer is just something I've decided not to do because I'm lazy. But here's the real thing: I can't afford to pay someone a dollar a minute to help me during my workouts. I'd actually love to, but college was also a priority and now I'm paying for that. But I'm here. Right after work, at 7:00 pm, straight from work, when you could also make the argument that maybe my priority should be at home getting dinner ready and feeding my cats and tidying up so that when my husband gets home from a long day at work, his wife is home and calm in a nice clean house with dinner ready instead of me running in like a sweaty mess right when he gets home and trying to throw dinner together and hop in the shower and put all my crap away and still have eaten dinner by 9. (Wow, that was a really long run on sentence, but I'm not in the mood to edit). But you're right lady (her name's Laura btw), not a priority. Not at all. And thanks for trying to guilt me into having you as my trainer.

I just feel like, I pay money to be here. Please leave me alone unless I ask, OR unless you know me and it really is friendly advice and not a sales pitch.

When she said "Especially if it's not a priority for you." I just said, "Yep," and stared at her. Then she tried to make some more friendly parting small talk and started to walk away. And then as she walked away, she turned and said, "And no more cheating...I caught ya before." Yes. Yes you did. And guess what else? Having a trainer is on my priority list. And someday it's going to be closer to the top. And do you know what you've just ensured? I won't be asking YOU to be my trainer. Good work here.

Really?

So two things happened in the last few days that just made me think that I must be on candid camera.


The Library Card Incident:
I joined a book club about a year ago.  It's with some ladies that I work with.  I bring the average age down considerably.  But it's great fun.  We meet in one of our conference rooms after work one Wednesday a month to eat take out, dessert, and discuss our book.  But everyone in the office calls it "Wine Night."  Admittedly, sometimes the discussion is not that much about the book, but I digress.

Anyway, buying all these books was getting expensive and we don't have that much shelf space, so I decided to get a library card (I'll upgrade to a Kindle one of these days, but I'm not ready yet).  I had a library card in L.A., but when we moved to Lake Forest, I never got one.  So I went on the OC Public Library website and signed up for my card and set my pickup location for the local El Toro library.  I stopped by on my lunchbreak on Thursday to pick it up.  I gave her my driver's license, but the lady who takes her job very seriously said, "Ma'am [yeah, ma'am - I already dislike her, but she was old so I'll give her a pass], do you have anything that has your current address here in Lake Forest on it?"  So I pulled out my address change card that I printed off the DMV website.  Unfortunately she informed me that if I'm going to use that I need the whole page (yeah, like that fits in my wallet); I made the cardinal sin of cutting it down to a wallet size.  Or she suggested that maybe I have a piece of mail in my purse or car.  But since I don't leave anything in my car because it's not a storage locker (I know that will change when I have kids, but for now) or carry mail around in my purse (am I the only one who gets it out of the mailbox when I get home from work and sort it when I walk in the door?) I was out of luck.  Really?  It's a library card (I could get some medical marijuana easier than this - I only know this from my line of work, not from personal experience).  I'm being punished for being tidy.

I left the library defeated and wasted 20 minutes of my lunch break with nothing to show for it.  I went back today.  I was prepared.  I am now the proud owner of an O.C. Public Library card.  But I'll be careful when I go to the library from now on - they don't mess around.


You Found The Cat Where?:
So our cat Patrick is anti-social.  He's so adorable and sweet, but he is scared of everything...other people in his house most of all.  It's our fault; we haven't socialized him properly.  I wouldn't call him well behaved, but litter box trouble is something we have never had a problem with until...people started trying to make him social.  Someone tried to pull him out from behind the couch while they were pet sitting for us "to make sure he was okay" and he was so scared he peed.  One day some of Sam's family was over and they wanted to see him (because he is stinkin cute and so fun to squish).  Knowing what happened last time and with my insistence that this was a bad idea and my pleas to just leave Pat alone, Sam pulled him out from behind the couch and guess what? Yeah.  So we learned our lesson, right?  No.  This time we took a different approach - we held Patrick before the guest walked in and as soon as he did...Patrick peed on Sam (at least this time it was on tile - by the front door).  So fearing that he had it on himself, we put Patrick in the garage.  It's small - there's not much in there but the car and some stuff in one corner, so he can chill in there while we clean up and then go get him and clean him up.  Well of course he hid under the car.  Wanting to shield my poor cat from any further trauma, I suggested that Sam and our guest leave (they were on their way out anyway) and just leave the garage open and Patrick will come out when he's ready (he always has before after people leave).

But he didn't.  I went to check on him and he's not under the car.  I tear the apartment apart.  No cat.  I look in the corner in the garage.  No cat.  I pop the hood and look into my car with a flashlight (I have heard about cats doing that - something about the engine being warm).  But still no cat.  I am annoyed by this point and give up.  He'll come out if I'm patient.  But Sam came home a few hours later and still no cat.  So Sam tears the apartment and garage apart (that I had already put back) and no cat.  By this time I am panicking.  He's gotten out, I'm sure of it.  I'm a bad kitty momma for not protecting him so he ran away.  Sam is sure he did not get out so he looks in the car (under the hood) and no cat.  So he lays under the car and searches...and found Patrick shoved up in the rear bumper.  And he is not coming out.  Sam spent the next 20 minutes laying under the back bumper (my car is pretty low) sweet talking the cat, trying to coax the cat out from inside the bumper.  I am sitting next to them cooing to the bumper in my most soothing cat momma voice asking my kitty to come out.  Finally with a firm push (literally) and some treats, he came out.  Covered in dirt/grease/oil (whatever car dirt that you'd find inside a bumper) and he has naturally gotten it all over us.  So now we all have to shower...including Patrick.  Sam took one for the team and did the honors.

So we are relieved to have our Patrick back safe and sound, but REALLY??  Can having kids really be worse than this?

Pray for Nina

I haven't posted for nearly a year. I am sure I have very few readers at this point, but I have a very good reason to post tonight. A dear family is facing something that no one should have to face. I don't even know them - they are friends of a friend - but I feel as if I know them because of Rosy's posts on her blog. In August the Fredeen's daughter (5 years old) was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in her brain stem and I have been following her blog since then. Since they received the news, they have been trying to live life to the fullest and make as many precious memories as possible, all the while praying for their miracle. It is looking like sweet Nina is not going to get her miracle, although her journey has been a miracle in many other's lives. Just her short life has been a miracle to those who have know her. Please pray for her family, for her parents and her brother Teddy as they face this trying time. Check out Rosy's blog and say a little prayer, if for nothing else than another day spent with loved ones.

http://www.prayingfornina.blogspot.com/

Changes...

Okay, so not really a lot of changes, but one big change: I just started a new job. 

I had been working as a planning intern at the City of Downey.  Which made sense at the time I started.  It wasn't too far from West Hollywood (where we lived) even though the traffic was pretty bad.  But if you are familiar with Southern California, you know that when Sam switched jobs and we moved down to Lake Forest, we were no where NEAR Downey.  I spent over 2 hours in the car 3 days a week to get to work.  I loved the job, loved the people, but it just wasn't working anymore.  I began looking for jobs and hadn't even gotten an interview for what seemed like forever.  And just when I decided to stop stressing about it and find something else to do with my free time (volunteering)...TWO job opportunities popped right up.  Isn't that just how it is: as soon as you let something go and turn it over to God, that's just when he gives it to you.

It was quite the story and quite the decision, but I'll spare you the details that are boring to everyone except me.  Long story short, I ended up taking an (almost) full-time job as a planning intern at Laguna Hills.  It's very similar to the job I was already doing. You know, except an entirely different zoning code, different permits to issue, and different procedures for EVERYTHING.  But it is 10 minutes away from our house and is almost double the number of hours I was working.  Plus since it's closer, if the opportunity comes along for a more permanent position, I'm in a much better spot to take it.  So, we'll see what happens with that. 

My last day at Downey was Friday and I started Laguna Hills on Monday.  So it's been a quick transition, but so far so good.  I already have several cases to do while I try to figure out...everything else about the job.  But it's only day three.  Things are already getting easier.  My computer usually works, I have a phone on my desk now, and I have a little electronic name badge thingy so I don't get locked out of the conference room anymore. 

Oh and there is another change: the time change!  LOVE IT!  Who cares if you have to get up in the dark if you can come home from work and still have daylight to enjoy? Plus, now that I'm working closer to home, I don't even have to get up in the dark anymore!  Yay! I like change...this time anyway.

A month later...

So I'm a little behind.  But luckily my life's not that exciting so I really only have to recap on our Valentine's/President's Day weekend.  Just like last year, Sam and I went to Mammoth for the long weekend.  But this time we went with friends.  And we did not get a flat tire.  We got Friday off work so we could leave in the morning...which was such a good idea.  It was so nice to get there early so we could get all settled and pick up my lift ticket and snowboard rentals for the next day.

I took a snowboard lesson ALL DAY Saturday.  Such a good and bad idea all at the same time.  I never really got good at snowboarding and was at a bit of an impasse so I decided that if I want to be able to enjoy the mountain with my husband, I had to bite the bullet.  They placed me in an intermediate class (whose idea was that?) which, of course, meant that me and one other woman were the only people over the age of 15.  All the older people were in the beginner class.  So I'm sure it was good and it pushed me, but man did I want to be in the class with all the older people (and by older, I mean post puberty) who had the fear of falling in them.  At any rate, I made it and can fairly successfully navigate non-steep terrain.  However, I have never been in more pain in my life.  Seriously. 

Anyway here's some of the fun everyone else was enjoying while I was incurring multiple minor injuries:

There was a video of the tubing but it was taking too long to upload.  I assure you they were having a lot of fun. 

Sunday, equipped with my newly acquired skills, Sam and I went snowbarding with Ben and Kalyn.  I of course seemed to forget everything that I learned the previous day, but Sam quickly jogged my memory.  The guys spent the morning with us on Schoolyard Express (no joke, that's what it's called) and then after lunch they hit the big boy slopes and Kalyn and I hit the lodge to lick our wounds (well, me anyway; I guess I should speak for myself). 

The weekend was great.  Perfect weather, great friends, and a much needed break from the real world. 

On the glass

I don't mind hockey, but in general I could take it or leave it.  But when you get to sit on the glass, I turn into a die hard fan.  It's a totally different experience - and a totally awesome one.

One of my father-in-law's co-workers gave him 4 tickets and Sam and I were lucky enough to get to go with Sam's brother Ben and his girlfriend Kalyn.  Aside from the great view, another advantage to those seats is access to the club level.  This is important because they have better food and cleaner bathrooms with no lines.

The downside of sitting so close: we got an up close view of Teemu Selanne getting his jaw broken. Ouch. 

Here are a few photos of us soaking in the evening.

One Year of Marriage Down...

We've been married one year now.  To celebrate, we decided instead of gifts (since we just had Christmas) we would go out and enjoy a nice dinner together.  We love Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fierri on the Food Network and had just watched a Christmas at Disneyland special with Guy Fierri that highlighted the Napa Rose restaurant at the Grand Californian hotel.  So when Sam asked me where I wanted to go, I told him it would be fun to go there.  And there we went.  It was so nice.  The food and service were totally worth the price.  Plus, you get 5 hours (5!!!) of free parking at the valet for the hotel when you eat there.

 

He cleans up nice doesn't he?

  

  

We ordered the "World's Best Hot Chocolate" for dessert.  And let me tell you: they aren't kidding.  And the homemade doughnuts that go with it are to die for.  They even dressed it up for our anniversary and gave us a box of truffles to take home as a gift.

I love the lobby of the hotel.  So pretty and just a nice place to be.  Plus the Christmas decorations were nice.

If you get the chance to to, the two must orders are the scallops appetizer and the hot chocolate.  Both of which are also served in the lounge (if you want to keep it on the cheap).  I still dream about those scallops.  The sauce on them was so good I used the bread to soak it up.  I told Sam that if it weren't such a fancy place I would've licked the plate.  True story.