1/2 burned

I've had a little extra time lately since I'm out of school for the summer. For a while now I've been complaining (mostly to myself) that I am pasty and need a tan. When I lived in Utah I use to go tanning all the time, but curiously, living out here in California, I've hardly gone at all. Partly because tanning in Utah is cheaper than out here in the Bay Area. Partly because Utah summers are great for laying out in the backyard, and here I don't have a backyard. Anyway, back to the story, I decided to lay out at the pool today. I clearly wasn't keeping track of the time, or about how much time I was spending on my back vs. my front...a while after coming inside from my long lay-out session I felt the back of my legs burning, then my back burning. I went to look in the mirror...my front side looked great, slightly tan with no burn...a good base tan to start the summer out with. Then I turned around, my entire back side is as RED as a lobster...seriously! So now I'm half burned...I'm kinda embarrassed, ah well, that's what I get for exposing my skin to the harmful sun's rays.

Who Needs Toenails Anyway!?!

In Early May Greg and I went with some friends to play miniature golf for a friend's birthday. The day was going splendid. We were about half way through when one of the balls went flying into a near by pool of water. Greg, being the hero of the day, went off into the water (in his flip flops) to save the ball. He came out triumphant, BUT with the wrong colored ball. So he went back to the pool of water with a big smile on his face, determined to get the correct ball. However, on the grass, next to the pool of water there was a post or rock or something very hard. He slipped and his big toe crashed into the post, his golf club hit him in the eye, and he landed on his butt. The next thing I know he is pulling his big toe nail all the way back asking "What am I suppose to do?" I almost fainted. Blood was oozing out in the shape of a big toe nail. He managed to clean it up with a couple of band-aids and dirty water in the mens bathroom. Then he finished the game of mini-golf. THEN he went out to dinner with the gang. FINALLY, at almost 8 pm, he decided he wanted to go to the Instant Care center down the road.

At the instant care center we were met with a doctor that didn't seem to know anything. She certainly didn't have very good social skills, and acted as if Greg should know what the best thing to do was. Once a decision was made as to whether the toe nail should stay or go she attempted the process of cutting an entire toe nail off. She started by stabbing a needle into the tip of his toe, wiggled it around, and claimed that she numbed it. Greg could beg to differ. I watched the whole thing, and almost threw up. Next she grabbed some plier like utensil and grabbed hold of the big nail, moved it around like it's nobody's business, then gave herself a little pep talk that we could all hear. She said, "I'm just gonna do it." Then with some scissors ripped into the nail and very NOT-gracefully cut the damn nail off to the very edge of the cuticle.

It was very dramatic, and painful. I still cringe just thinking about it. So you can imagine how I felt when this evening I saw Greg trip, barefooted, into our ottoman, ripping off a portion of the opposite foot's big toe nail. It wasn't nearly as bad, but it was bleeding a bit. I told Greg he needs to start wearing steel toed shoes at all times. I am serious.

My Bedroom

I put together our bed today all by myself. It made me feel all confident and independent. It reminded me of when I was thirteen years old and I wanted hard wood floors in my bedroom. Originally my bedroom had hardwood floors, but years before had been covered with carpet. I asked my mom if we could have the hard wood floors restored. She told me that wasn't a good idea. So I went into my bedroom and, over the next few weeks, moved my furniture out of my room, tore out the carpet, tore out the cushioning under the carpet, and tore out all the nails, staples, and thorny like boards that held the carpet down. When I was done the floor looked so beautiful.

My mom was, of course, impressed. I think she also felt a tinge of guilt that she hadn't helped me, so she decided to help me paint my room. It was so elegant looking. It looked like it had been restored to it's original condition. If I do say so myself, it looked like a professional had come in and fixed up the place, not a thirteen year old little girl.

That was a really significant experience in my life. It secured the idea in my mind that whatever I set my mind to I can accomplish. I still feel a lot of pride when I think about all the work I did. Unfortunately, a few months later I moved to a newer house. I wonder if my hard wood floor is still on display in that house. I wish I had pictures.

:(

Today I saw two of my first friends here in California. I met them both through a French class at the Bechtel Center at Stanford. One is from Tokyo, Japan and the other is from Lima, Peru. They told me they are moving in less than a month, and our other good friend from Spain is moving too. It made me sad. They have been some of the most inspiring people I've ever met. We are always talking about our cultures and personal worldviews. I feel like I've expanded my worldview so much from all that they've shared and experienced with me. I'm really going to miss them. Goodbye girls! :(

Moving

Many people that have known me for a long time know that I move A LOT. I moved last weekend to a new apartment after having lived in my last apartment for one year. Since the year 2000 (8 years) I've moved 18 times.

Moving is so refreshing, it is like a deep internal cleanse. I always feel so hopeful when I move, like everything I've ever wanted to do I can finally do because I've moved somewhere new.

Despite having moved so much my favorite place I ever lived was the house I grew up in in Salt Lake City, Utah. I lived there for the majority of the first 14 years of my life, and it is where my mom grew up. My grandparents were the original owners of this house. In the back there is a big weeping willow tree with a tire swing. Someday I want to buy it back so we can keep it in the family.

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza!

A while ago I had some really yummy pizza from a pizza place right around the corner from my house called Maldonado's Pizzeria. Greg and I were on a walk, we saw it, so we went in and ordered a pizza. We just got a pepperoni pizza because that is Greg's favorite. I normally like to get pizza with a bit more on it than pepperoni, but let me tell ya, I was NOT disappointed! It was GOOD. The crust was just right. It wasn't too thin, or overcooked, nor was it too thick. I normally prefer thicker pizzas, but this crust was just right. The sauce must be the secret ingredient to this pizza...it was sweet, but not sugar sweet, tomato sweet. mmm.....I'll definitely be going back there again.

A few weeks ago a friend of ours invited us out to dinner to celebrate his birthday at Toto's Pizzeria and Restaurant in Millbrae. It was that night that I said to Greg, "Greg, we should find the best pizza in the Bay Area, I'll write a blog about it." So here I am, writing about what I know so far. So about Toto's...it was a busy place, we kinda had to fight for a table, but it was worth it. They only offer a small selection of toppings, so we chose a pizza with sausage, mushrooms, and olives (olives always make a pizza extra yummy in my opinion). As I ate this pizza I thought, "This pizza is good, what is it that makes THIS pizza good?" I ate more, then more, then more, finally I knew what it was...garlic! There was nothing out of the ordinary about the crust, the sauce, or the other ingredients, but this pizza had chopped up garlic all over it...mmmm...if you like garlic, which I do. I think I like Maldonado's better, but Toto's is really good.

To cover many of the other places I've tried so far, but without the intention of noting what is so good, I'll start with Frankie, Johnnie, and Luigi's (I think that is the name of the restaurant on El Camino Real in Mountain View). This place was recommended to us, and we've had it a few times. We've never ordered it with extra sauce and/or cheese, but that is suppose to be really good. I personally thought this pizza (we got the cheese pizza) was ok. Better than anything I'd ever make, but not the best. I'd probably order the calzone or some other dish at this restaurant instead of pizza.

Next, I have to admit that we really love Round Table Pizza. We almost always get the Maui Zaui, and it is the best! This pizza is a comfort food for me. I'm not really sure how I would rank this pizza because I can't really separate my good memories spent at Round Table from the taste of the pizza.

Like I mentioned I like thick crusted pizza, so Pizza Chicago (also on El Camino Real I think in Palo Alto) was calling my name every time I drove by it, then I went there. There crust is thick, but not very yummy. The sauce and toppings aren't anything very great either. I think this is my least favorite pizza.

As I try more pizza in the area I'll try to remember to write what I like or don't like about it. Signing off.

I'm a bore

Lately I've been wondering if I am boring. To find out I just want to list some things that make me not boring, and some things I could do to make me less boring than I already am. Here it goes:

Why I'm not boring:

• I am learning a lot of cool stuff these days like attachment theory, and object relations. I think it is fascinating.
• I do art projects every week. This week I made paper heart boxes with the girls I babysit, and we painted, and next week we'll be making Valentines, and maybe some Valentine treats.
• I still use my imagination. This past week I got to play with Polly pocket and a doll house! wahoo!
• I'm getting better at Yoga all the time, and am actively trying to learn about all aspects of yoga.
• I keep up with politics.
• Last weekend I hosted a poker party, and it was fun.
• I try new things like going to horse races and making new recipes.
• I celebrate life whenever possible.
• I try to read in French everyday, and try to improve my French.

So I guess a lot of what I just listed could qualify as me being boring, but the truth is I really enjoy all that stuff I listed, so I don't care. Now for part deux.

What I could do to make me less boring:

• travel more.
• be more social.
• check out local attractions like the farmers market, six flags, wine country, etc.
• read more.
• start a new hobby, like I could make a website or something...I think that would make Greg more attracted to me. I should do it:)
• volunteer to work as a counselor for some good experience.
• invest in the stock market
• go hiking
• have a dance party
• go dancing

there is a lot I could do, I guess what I'd like to do is pick up a new hobby. Anyway, this is the most boring blog I've written yet. They are all kinda lengthy and boring. I'm not very good at this blog shit.