Lisa's final days of freedom!

Well, I guess I've been up and around as of late because my body realizes these are the last few days I have before getting back to work. Vacations are such a sweet thing! I'll be sad to see my free time go, but I'll be glad at the same time to have purpose back in my life =). Thus, it's a double edged sword.

So, I've got to live it up tonight and tomorrow and Sunday!

I suppose I'll put together my Comic-con frames and continue reading "Lullaby". It's quite a disturbing tale actually, about this guy who finds out about a culling song that when repeated kills. The more I get into the story, the higher the disturbing factor becomes, however, I want to finish the book just to see how the author is going to round out this character. hmmmm...we shall see.

Catalina =)

First time in Catalina and definitely not my last. It is a beautiful place to be and I shall return if it's just for the water activities...you know, the water over there is clear! You can see the fish and the sea kelp from land! haha...not typical southern california beaches!

What I've learned:
* Only 1 Dramamine tablet is required to ward off sea sickness, take 2 if you want to zZzZZzzzZ through all the days activities!
* Armstrong's is an excellent seafood restaurant! (I got the Swordfish...mmmmmm!)
* Golf cart rentals are lotsa mula, however, they look like tons of fun! (we were all too tired to actually rent and drive one, for fear of ploughing over the multitudes of pedestrians!)
* Buffalo can be seen by some campers and hikers...just take the inland tour and they stop the bus to catch glimpses of the huge rustic animals chopping away at the grasses. (my pictures of them are teeny tiny though!)
* Pretty much anything you want to do is quite costly, so bring lots of money!

Overall good times were had (I think =) ). I haven't been out on a "vacation" in a long time with my family, so it was nice. Although Krisitin had to stay behind because of summer school =(. It's ok...we brought her back souviniers =). It's a great place for good times with friends and can be quite romantic for you love birds out there =) haha *winks*

Calendar notes

So I don't forget:

July 28: Catalina Island
July 29: some unidentified activity with dad =)
July 30: Tumy's b-day dinner

August 2-6: OC training (district office)...pick up new room key
August 11: kids come back to school

Comic-con Craziness

Wow, it's been quite awhile since I've been on here...I guess I've just been chattering away to other people whilst away from this pc. "clique pc" =). It's funny, although I feel like I have so much I want to get done, I don't get anything done! I'm so busy, running around doing things...but they're not things on my "list" do get done, so in reality, I'm running around doing things that I don't need to do! lol...that's why this is called "this chick's chatter"! ;-)


So, Comic-con 2004, my first and possibly last! =) Haha...I don't know...there were so many people inside the convention center I wasn't sure which way was up or down. There were random people dressed up as random things, it was halloween or an amusement park. Haha...I guess if you want attention, just wear a costume, everyone will look at you!

We got to the comic-con at about 7:30, parking cost $20!! We waited in line for our "badges" and already, I could smell the odor of bodies in the room...omg, I knew then it was going to be a long day. Imagine the musky odor in the locker room at the gym and the pungent odor that escapes from the locker that is never washed out but filled with sweaty socks...the larger the crowds got that day...the greater that smell became! ewwwww!!! =s

Kristin went for the purpose of Dom and tickets were handed out first come first serve for the autograph signing...we got to the booth at 9:15, they were already gone!!!!! Apparently they ran out in 5 minutes! Sadness for her!!! However, a surprise appearance from LOTR actors, Billy Boyd (Pippin) and David Wenham (Faramir) lifted her spirits. I must say, both are quite good looking in person =), which helped with the wait, since we not only had to wait in line for nearly 2 hours but were trampled in the process of getting tickets for the signing! A very unorganized booth we were at! They were adament about passing tickets out at 11:30 sharp and refused to set-up any sort of line, claiming it wouldn't be fair and create chaos. Ha! Ultimate chaos ensued when they decided to deny the fans a line and instead everyone crowded the booth shifting directions when asked to disperse. geesh, craziness. I'll set the scene...gavin concert, standing in the pit, screaming drunk girls all around. Much like the concert, there were people on all sides crowding in, drunk with excitement for the actors. Then, 11:30 hits and everyone begins to tense up, looking around nervously for tickets, 11:31, 11:32, 11:33, 11:34...woosh!...tickets are being handed out on two sides of the booth, and people begin pushing forward to get to a ticket holder! Kristin and I were near the second row of people and had a good chance. While in rome do as the romans do, right? We shoved our hands out stretching with every breath possible as people smashed you against other people, I wasn't sure if we were going to get out of that mob alive! Blue ticket hit Kristin's hand, yes! Blue ticket hit my hand, yes! I'm telling you, I will never appreciate an autograph more than I will appreciate these two! =) So, despite the insanity, we came out winners with signed pictures and a smile.

After the signing war, we were famished and went to grab some eats. The lines everywhere were impossible and we decided to just pick one. 1/2 a sandwich was $8 and pizza's were $7.25. Sandwiches were the hugest rip off on the face of the planet from my viewpoint, and the pizza's seemed a bit better. At the counter we discovered there were no more pizza's, we would have to go to the 2nd floor! Up the stairs we went, determined to get decent food to feed our growling stomachs. Wah!!!!! The line was a giant L...*sigh*...I figured it couldn't get any worse and got in line...20 minutes in line for 2 slices of pizza and a soda...*sigh*...it wasn't even very good.

So, we refueled, rested, and went back out in the mobs to gather some final goodies. Kristin's "Lost" memorabilia and Jack's thank-you Megatokyo poster (which Fred autographed =) ). And, at 5:10 we headed for home =).

The moral of the story is...don't go to the comic-con unless you are prepared. Wear armor, nose plugs and bring a sack lunch. =)

hmmm...happiness =)

Ok, I've been contemplating...I'm reading this book for my master's class on reflective teaching. It talks about happiness and what makes people happy. It makes me think about someone who always seems to be looking for something to be happy about, and always seems to stumble into the wrong things. Interestingly enough, the book says to be truly happy, you have to make yourself happy, you can't wait for things to make you happy. I find this completely true. I mean, come one, no one is going to knock on your door and say, "hi, I'm here to make all your dreams come true"!

So I'm thinking, who am I to judge happiness, what makes one person happy may not be someone else's idea oa happiness at all, but instead pure misery. I can't see how this person could enjoy life and feel better about themself but somehow they are happy and I can't dispute that or pass judgement, I can only say, please don't try to pass on your means of happiness on to me. *sigh*

Generally, I find happiness in most things I do...my core group of friends are the best that anyone could have. There are few moments with them that I'm not happy =). I have a supportive and loving family, a job I'm almost certain I love (at least like most of the time =) ), super dooper great friends of all sorts, a comfortable roof over my head and food to eat. I guess I'm pretty lucky =).

So anytime I say life sucks and I'm not happy...just remind me of all this =) haha =)

hmmmm, the days are beginning to almost mesh together. I continuouly forget that these are weekdays I'm spending cleaning and relaxing and constantly wonder why there is traffic on the road! =) lol, I suppose losing my place in time is a small price to pay for the joys that are vacations =). I am filling my time quite easily framing my concert memorabilia, attempting to clean (as much as is humanly possible for a pack rat like myself =) ), and working on assignments for my summer school class.

upcoming events:

July 10th: Disneyland & Rodel's birthday bonfire

July 17th and 18th: John Mayer in concert! =) woohoo!

July 23rd: Emily's wedding *sigh*...someday it will be my turn =)

July 24th: Comic con in San Diego

Now that I have blogged my weekend occupying events, I can no longer forget!! =)

Here we go!

The chatter shall begin! =) haha. Most of what ends up on this page will pretty much be that, words that look a lot like nonsensical chatter =). It's nearly 1:30 am. and I'm still wide-eyed...note to self...no more diet coke after 6 =). *sigh* Perhaps I shall go read a bit and expand my mind, open my brain cells up to new experiences =). Perhaps I shall attempt to figure out why the water in the toilet is still running...hmmm...i hate that, such a waste of water! grrr...i may have to spend tomorrow with the landlord trying to understand the difficulty with bathroom appliances, *sigh*, I hope it's just a stuck something!