SO much to tell you:
- Thanks to my sister, my little family has a new addition. A little white Chihuahua named (after much thought) Dolly. After Dolly Parton. The first record I bought when I was like 5 years old, because I liked the lady with all the makeup and the big boobs on the cover, haha. We're already calling her "baby doll" in her absence. This means I have to go pick her up in NC in a few weeks. Lou's world is going to be wrecked for a few days. Just like my sister's was when I was born. My Mom used to find bite marks on my cheeks when I was a baby... from where she had bitten me! It explains a lot. That considered, she's still the best sister ever.
- I just got back from an enduro race in the middle of nowhere where my old man took 3rd place. I spent some QT with my friend Carla at Denny's and later we hit up La Nails for a mani-pedi sesh. It's funny how even way the fuck out in nowhere, there's a Vietnamese nail salon. My people know their shit! I got a dark purpley manicure, with heart shaped rhinestones... and pearly white toes. Fly. The chick who was doing my nails had only been in the US from Vietnam for 8 months. We were talking about stuff, kind of awkwardly because her English was limited, and all of a sudden she said "You SO lucky to be born here." Really wistfully. I was like... "Yeah, you know... I guess I am." She's right. It's easy to forget.
- I just signed up to support my 5th "sister" through womenforwomen.org. You should look it up because it's a reliable, easy way to give back. They have programs that teach women how to support their families with a trade. It also covers basic needs and provides counselors to help with stuff like recovering from rape. So far all of the women have been in the Congo, but I'm not sure where the latest one is, or even of her name. There's a commitment of one year, and the cost is around 30 bucks a month. You exchange letters with her and everything. It's just like About Schmidt, kind of. It could save your life, like it did Jack Nicholson's. It will definitely change someone else's for the better.
- I just finished volunteeering with a bunch of summer camps. Writing was fun, but we had a really small group. After that was adventure camp. We took a bunch of 13 year olds to the Art Museum, which really is amazing. We were there all morning and got through about 1/40 of it. The big end-of-the-week bonanza was Water World. Oh yes, haha. I almost drowned in the wave pool (WTF) because it was just one immense wave that knocked me from the deep end all the way to shin-deep water. Not exaggerating. My favorite was the Lazy River, to be honest.
- I had a birthday! 26 is a weird age. Upper twenties. "Congratulations on turning 30" is what my husband said. What? No, 26. That's not the same as 30. There's nothing wrong with 30, but I'm not there yet! We were camping for the first part of it, unfortunately. I'm down for camping, just not in the middle of a motorcycle track. Which is basically what we did. Not a great start to the birthday but we got home and ironed it out. I went out and had margaritas and cupcakes with my homegirl and then came home where the hubby and I watched Unforgiven on the couch and ate an entire box of popsicles.
- My present was awesome. A trip to the Brown Palace in Denver, coupled with a stripper pole. I've wanted one ever since I took the work out classes in NYC with Aspen. Finally. It's in the guest room. I did my first workout on it yesterday. IT WAS AWESOME. Everything I ever imagined and more. Plus my arms are sore.
- I am taking some small trips in the next few months. St. Louis and then New Orleans. Maybe Vegas, it depends on $. Miami before the end of the year.
- Last week I took the best passport picture in the history of the world. Seriously.
- Lots of other stuff, but I don't want to open my big mouth about it until I'm more certain of how things will turn out. But it could be cool, career wise. I'm working hard though, we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out. Please send positive thoughts, good luck charms, voo doo and santeria spells, wiccan twig figurines, good vibes, prayers and good karma. Burn a candle. I really want this to work out.
New pics:
My sis and I both have this, it's her only one.
On my left foot:
The moose we saw recently when driving over the Continental Divide.
Colorado looks like this when you're high on life.
Lou lives the Luxe Life. Here his is in the Brown Palace, CO's oldest hotel.
More blonde in my hair:
The new Hello Kitty vibrator... I want it!
- Thanks to my sister, my little family has a new addition. A little white Chihuahua named (after much thought) Dolly. After Dolly Parton. The first record I bought when I was like 5 years old, because I liked the lady with all the makeup and the big boobs on the cover, haha. We're already calling her "baby doll" in her absence. This means I have to go pick her up in NC in a few weeks. Lou's world is going to be wrecked for a few days. Just like my sister's was when I was born. My Mom used to find bite marks on my cheeks when I was a baby... from where she had bitten me! It explains a lot. That considered, she's still the best sister ever.
- I just got back from an enduro race in the middle of nowhere where my old man took 3rd place. I spent some QT with my friend Carla at Denny's and later we hit up La Nails for a mani-pedi sesh. It's funny how even way the fuck out in nowhere, there's a Vietnamese nail salon. My people know their shit! I got a dark purpley manicure, with heart shaped rhinestones... and pearly white toes. Fly. The chick who was doing my nails had only been in the US from Vietnam for 8 months. We were talking about stuff, kind of awkwardly because her English was limited, and all of a sudden she said "You SO lucky to be born here." Really wistfully. I was like... "Yeah, you know... I guess I am." She's right. It's easy to forget.
- I just signed up to support my 5th "sister" through womenforwomen.org. You should look it up because it's a reliable, easy way to give back. They have programs that teach women how to support their families with a trade. It also covers basic needs and provides counselors to help with stuff like recovering from rape. So far all of the women have been in the Congo, but I'm not sure where the latest one is, or even of her name. There's a commitment of one year, and the cost is around 30 bucks a month. You exchange letters with her and everything. It's just like About Schmidt, kind of. It could save your life, like it did Jack Nicholson's. It will definitely change someone else's for the better.
- I just finished volunteeering with a bunch of summer camps. Writing was fun, but we had a really small group. After that was adventure camp. We took a bunch of 13 year olds to the Art Museum, which really is amazing. We were there all morning and got through about 1/40 of it. The big end-of-the-week bonanza was Water World. Oh yes, haha. I almost drowned in the wave pool (WTF) because it was just one immense wave that knocked me from the deep end all the way to shin-deep water. Not exaggerating. My favorite was the Lazy River, to be honest.
- I had a birthday! 26 is a weird age. Upper twenties. "Congratulations on turning 30" is what my husband said. What? No, 26. That's not the same as 30. There's nothing wrong with 30, but I'm not there yet! We were camping for the first part of it, unfortunately. I'm down for camping, just not in the middle of a motorcycle track. Which is basically what we did. Not a great start to the birthday but we got home and ironed it out. I went out and had margaritas and cupcakes with my homegirl and then came home where the hubby and I watched Unforgiven on the couch and ate an entire box of popsicles.
- My present was awesome. A trip to the Brown Palace in Denver, coupled with a stripper pole. I've wanted one ever since I took the work out classes in NYC with Aspen. Finally. It's in the guest room. I did my first workout on it yesterday. IT WAS AWESOME. Everything I ever imagined and more. Plus my arms are sore.
- I am taking some small trips in the next few months. St. Louis and then New Orleans. Maybe Vegas, it depends on $. Miami before the end of the year.
- Last week I took the best passport picture in the history of the world. Seriously.
- Lots of other stuff, but I don't want to open my big mouth about it until I'm more certain of how things will turn out. But it could be cool, career wise. I'm working hard though, we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out. Please send positive thoughts, good luck charms, voo doo and santeria spells, wiccan twig figurines, good vibes, prayers and good karma. Burn a candle. I really want this to work out.
New pics:
My sis and I both have this, it's her only one.
On my left foot:
The moose we saw recently when driving over the Continental Divide.
Colorado looks like this when you're high on life.
Lou lives the Luxe Life. Here his is in the Brown Palace, CO's oldest hotel.
More blonde in my hair:
The new Hello Kitty vibrator... I want it!
VIEW 19 of 19 COMMENTS
I think sometimes a lot of people forget that. My family was pretty poor when I was a kid. But poor here really isn't the same as poor in a lot of the rest of the world. It wasn't until I started traveling that I really understood what poverty can be.
Speaking of which, that sounds like a great program. I'll have to check it out. I've been very fortunate and I am always looking for new ways to give back.
Sounds like a great birthday.
Stripper poles really are a great workout. I didn't realize how great until I stopped dancing. Maybe I should get one for my new place.
St. Louis & New Orleans are two of my favorite cities. Hope you have fun.