My Trip To Oregon

Just got back from a long weekend in Keizer, Oregon (near Salem) visiting my best friend, Gail, and her family. Although I talk to her every day, it's been over a year since I've seen them (they came down to CA last year in July). Gail and I met sophomore summer of high school when we both worked at Subway, bonded over liking the same boy and Days of Our Lives and have been friends ever since despite not going to the same high school, college or living in the same town since we were 18.

Here's some pics of my trip.

Collin (9) modeling the new sweatshirt I got him.

Courtney (13) and Camie (4)

One of the things I love to do when I'm up there is take the kids to school. Gail is the room mom for Collin's 4th grade class so this year I got to put together the Scholastic Book Sheets (remember those...), sort Jump Rope Club sign up forms and celebrate September birthdays during lunch.

Keizer is a mixture of rural and urban but mostly rural. There are alot of blueberry farms, blackberries growing on the sides of roads, flower gardens and farmhouses like this one that I got a shot of.

We stopped in at the Williamette Valley Winery to sample a few of their wines. Gail has been buying me their Riesling for the past couple of years. It's still my favorite wine there.

All of the kids love were hams so they were very willing to pose for me. Isn't Camie adorable?

Collin and I spent alot of time playing Guitar Hero - Rock of the 80's. I can do some of the songs on medium now (for those of you who play). We're doing Cooperative here which is why I have the controller instead of the guitar. I think Collin and I are ready to go on tour with our band.

So Los Angeles is in the mid 70's still. Thursday was gorgeous when I got there, but I wasn't at all prepared for the 50's or all the rain that ensued for the remainder of the weekend. Good thing I bought this cute beanie when I first got up there (just because I thought it was cute, not because I actually thought I was going to wear it). On Saturday, we bundled up (I have 4 layers on) and went out to watch Collin's football game.

So if you read my blog, you obviously know that I love the Colts and Peyton Manning, but I think after this weekend, Collin might be my favorite football player. His team is the Titans, and he plays fullback on the offense and linebacker on the defense. Yep, he's that good that they have him playing both ways.

Since it rained all weekend and Rainbow flip flops weren't going to work, I got some super cute navy rain boots (Costco $18, I got mine in OR but just saw them in CA too) to protect my feet. I'm ready for the rain in SoCal. They're really navy but the flash makes them look "Colts blue". I was really excited to wear them for Courtney's softball game, but it was rained out.

Here's a shot of the whole family.

Football Fan Shan

Kind of a random title but goes with Jen's blog (http://www.jenniferpawlak.blogspot.com/) title with the same pics - Typical Teacher Jen.

My friend, Jen Carpenter (right, in the awesome pink Colts hat) and I met at Price Waterhouse about 8 years ago. Around 3 years ago we starting getting together for Monday Night Football at Sharkeez. Last year we decided to change it up a bit and added a few sports bars to the mix. This past Monday, we went to Tony P's in the Marina and Jen Pawlak joined us.

Little known fact - That green shirt that Jen C is wearing is the first thing ever purchased at the JCrew in Plaza El Segundo. Yep I was at the store opening day at 10a and bought the first thing. (I wonder how many times those of you reading my blog have thought "what a dork")

Tony P's has hundreds and hundreds of these beer tap/pull things all stuck on the ceiling and displayed on the walls.

While Jen C and I watched football, Jen P was VERY productive for 3 hours grading papers and catching up on school work. That's some serious teacher dedication. I love having the company when I'm watching football so I didn't mind that she never looked at the tv.

If you're up for watching football (although Jen and I have concluded that we mostly sit and talk and don't really watch unless the Colts are playing) or just keeping me company, let me know. If nothing else, the places that Jen C and I have selected are based on the food menu.

Why I LOVE the Gundo

1. I can walk to friends (well most of them - who doesn't live in the Gundo), shops, restaurants, beach.

2. A little town in a big city... Farmer's Market, Rec Park, 4th of July fireworks, Main Street

3. My apartment - no the remodeling isn't finished but its where I sleep, where I work, where I hang out. The great view from my living room window.

4. My neighbors/roomies - Brigitte, Sam, Sarah and Momo (Yogi's first cat friend).

5. Richmond Street Fair - My friend from college, Heidi, came down for the day. How cool is this - we were both wearing white t-shirts and camo pants (I had capri ones on but when she came through the door, I ran (literally) and put on the pair that are in the picture because then we would have exactly the SAME camo pants. I know I'm a dork, but everyone noticed that we were dressed the same - yes we went to the fair like that. Poor Heidi didn't have anything else to change into so she was stuck. Aren't we cute?

Then it started raining (yes it rained on Friday and Saturday - crazy, huh, rain in September in Southern CA), so I dragged Heidi to the Richmond Street Fair. Poor Heidi - drenched at the Fair dressed like a twin. The rain stopped and the sun came out for the rest of the day.

Here's a pic of Heidi's first purchase - Ollie the Ostrich.

Met up with Steph who wants an English bulldog. I think this is the closest thing she's going to get since she can't have pets. Yes she's dressed for the winter - told you it rained. No seriously she was suffering from a cold and I dragged her to the Fair too.

We ran into the Andersons, and I had to grab a pic with Charlie. Why? She's looking super cute in her pink camo pants, of course!!!

One of the vendors had these giraffes and I loved them (although I didn't love them $185 worth) so I kissed him goodbye.

Here's his family...

Just a pic to document Shannifer's day at the Richmond Street Fair.

Relax, Refresh, Renew

I think most of my audience (which is probably only about 6 based on the comments) knows that I'm part of a church group through Journey of Faith called The Outlet which I've been a part of for over 4 years and played an integral role in my becoming a Christian and my walk with God. For the past year and a half, I have been a co-lead for the Outlet Social Events with my friend, Jen Pawlak. Here's a link to The Outlet and JOF http://journeyoffaith.com/weekends/outlet/

This past weekend the Outlet Leadership Team headed to Palm Desert for a retreat to relax, refresh and renew. Thanks to Tim for organizing a weekend for us to spend personal time with God, hang with each other and discuss the Outlet Ministry and our roles within the Outlet. It was an amazing time with God as we felt his presence throughout the weekend. I have truly enjoyed serving with all of the past and present team!!!

Jen kicks off Friday evening with a little nap.

It was over 100 degrees in the desert so Jen, Becky and I

caught up on some reading in the pool.

In case you're interested in the books,
here's what we were reading (me - The Undomestic Goddess; Jen - Water for Elephants; Becky - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan)

Here is Diane teaching us how to play a relatively violent card

game called Egyptian Rat Screw (kind of like Speed

but involves slapping - not each other, the cards). Diane won

both rounds that we played. Unfortunately no shots of her bionic arm

that consistently flew under ours and captured the cards every time.

Here's Diane at dinner showing us her imitation of an elephant.

Jen sleeping again.

Tim and Rich battling the blaze. Not sure why there was so

much smoke because the ribs were amazing.

Here's a shot of the Outlet Leadership Team.

And of course here's the "we have to do a funny one" pic.

Here's a self shot of the car ride home.

Don't we look relaxed, refreshed and renewed.

We HEART Taco Bell

Dana and I are pretty convinced that no one else that we know likes Taco Bell as much as us. We agreed that the next time Phil, her husband who does like Taco Bell, was out of town we would get together for dinner and go to Taco Bell (big evening for us huh...). THAT DAY WAS TODAY!!!

Dana and I decided that we couldn't wait for dinner and decided to go for lunch and figured the trip wouldn't be complete without a picture.

I know, I know. We started off the week with food poisoning and upset stomach and ended it with Taco Bell.

Taco Bell (well the one in Manhattan Beach) is hiring. Dana and I thought about applying for the opportunity to have Taco Bell all the time. Yeah, nah...

Are You Ready For Some Football???

Today was the first game of the 2007-08 football season with the Superbowl XLI Champions Indianapolis Colts hosting the New Orleans Saints and later winning their first game 41-10. Whoo hoo!!! First win of the season. Offense was there, but more importantly the defense looked like it did last year in the post season. I'm looking forward to the next 5 months of football...

I'm also hoping to read Tony Dungy's Memoir entitled Quiet Strength that was published this past summer. My mom and I were at Border's when she was down here in July, and she bought it for me (thanks, mom). You're probably thinking this girl is crazy for the Colts - she's even reading a book about the coach - well yeah I am pretty crazy about the Colts, but actually I'm pretty anxious to read it because Tony Dungy was very open about being a Christian during the Super Bowl post game interview and his book is about the role that God and his faith have played in his life.


Here's a pic of Yogi and I from last year. Didn't get a chance to grab a pic today, but you can bet that Yogi was sporting his Colts jersey tonight.

Chicken or Shrimp?

So on Monday (Labor Day, planned beach day, 3rd day of a long weekend - no I'm not bitter...) at 3am, I woke up really sick and spent the next 7 hours in the bathroom. Little did I know in those early morning hours that 7 others (Lauren, Steph, Dana, Rich, Mattie, (Dani and Emelen - Lauren's friends from work)) were experiencing the same symptoms, and we all spent our day on the couch or bed. Our self diagnosis was that we got food poisoning from Tokyo Wako. We can't seem to pin point whether it was the chicken or the shrimp since there were others at dinner who ate chicken and shrimp or one of the two but didn't get sick.

I really wanted to get pictures of everyone just to put on the blog (since we all look so happy at dinner the other night) but got some resounding "no's", and I didn't have the energy to get over to everyone's houses.

Make a Wish and Blow Out the Candles

What are your most memorable birthdays?

Here are my Top 5.

1. 4th birthday at McDonald's. Highlight was the orange punch and stacking styrofoam containers (remember when the burgers came in those).
2. 10th birthday at Hammer Skate (roller rink). Last birthday "party" as a kid, first real boy girl party. Invited a boy and was so excited for the couples skate where you have to hold hands and skate with the lights dimmed and disco ball light reflecting off the rink playing a slow song.
3. 18th birthday - not so much how we celebrated but that my best friend, Gail, went to the hospital that night to have her gall bladder out (supposedly because of the ice cream cake).
4. 21st birthday - isn't everyone's...
5. 30th birthday - Japan

So what brought up that walk down memory lane...
Went to a surprise birthday party that John, threw for Lauren's 26th birthday (her actual birthday was on Mon, 8/27) at Tokyo Wako at The Pike in Long Beach.

Chef Luis wowed us with his slicing and dicing, lighting things on fire and flipping things in the air. Here he is making fried rice.

Or so we thought...

He even got us involved. Here is Lauren preparing to catch a shrimp.

Dana claims she was clapping with her fork in her hand. I think she is trying to balance the fork on her nose (thought you could only do that with spoons). You be the judge...

Had to throw this shot in because Steph was so excited to document her first full meal eaten solely with chopsticks.

This is apparently a Tokyo Wako tradition to dress up the birthday girl in a geisha wig and kimono.

Here are the servers singing Happy Birthday to Lauren. Our server was the one on the far right.

Here's Jen preparing for her Math Music Video. For the actual performance, check out her blog. http://www.jenniferpawlak.blogspot.com/

Happy 26th Birthday, Lauren!!!