Diosa Blog

Hello 2010, meet my new blog!

2010-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

My new and improved blog.

diosablog.tumblr.com

A new year, a new blog. It's purtier!

I may still post every once in a while over here, but it's highly unlikely. I like the tumblr format quite a lot!

Quotables (Pt. 5)

2009-12-28T23:52:00.001-08:00

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth

becomes a revolutionary act."

- George Orwell

Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah!!!

2009-12-28T10:39:00.001-08:00

I love to mock me some super cool American Apparel wearing hipsters!

Quotables (pt. 4)

2009-12-27T23:46:00.001-08:00

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." - Rudyard Kipling

Brain Dump

2009-12-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

There's too much rattling around in my brain. Time for a brain/observation/information/nonsense dump. The one and only reason I find a blog essential.

- I feel so free and so alone these days it's almost like I'm floating.

- Nothing feels the way it did pre-Europe. It's official. My life will forever be measured in time increments including (but not limited to) Pre and Post Europe.

- I've been worried about sounding like a pompous turd when I say shit like, "do you really think that matters?" Yet I still find myself unable to think anything different.

- I have attained this absurd level of apathy that I kind of hate, but also kind of love. It's liberating, but I've noticed more and more that the better acquainted you become with liberation, the better acquainted you become with loneliness.

- I feel connected to nothing and everything.

- I'm totally conflicted.

- I feel warm and fuzzy all the time, and I don't know why.

- I feel like I'm stoned all the time, only ... I'm not.

- I haven't drank much (or even had the urge to) since I've been home. Weird.

- In discovering more of my roots, I feel more rootless then ever (and that's okay).

- I want to travel more.

- I want EVERYONE to travel more.

- I wish people would really figure out priorities. Myself included. Life is short, and wonderful if you let it be so. Don't wish your life away. In stead of saying on a Tuesday, "I wish it were Friday", figure out how to make Wednesday and Thursday worthwhile too.

- I have no use for or interest in people with a lack of intellectual curiosity. You don't have to be an intellectual giant. You just have to be curious. Bring something to the table or just ... well ... find the nearest frat party.

- Quality of thought and a sense of humor and humility are key.

- Don't take yourself, or anyone else for that matter, too seriously!

- People have abused the irony concept to the point that it's not even recognizable anymore. I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse.

- You probably shouldn't walk into cathedrals and gasp, "Jesus Christ"! Poor taste!

- I have the best friends in the world. And I've started to become the ultimate narcissist by believing that I must have some pretty amazing qualities myself (lord knows what they are) in order to have amassed such an incredible group. Otherwise, they would have drop kicked my ass by now. As they should.

- This blog, is self-absorbed, confusing, stream of conscience, arrogant, and no matter how ignorant it may sound it's completely true at this moment.

You get pitted ... so pitted!!!

2009-12-19T10:52:00.001-08:00

This is one of my new favorite things. It makes me laugh every time I watch it. Enjoy!

Hatfield House

2009-12-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

Old Hatfield

2009-12-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

Oxford Street/Selfridges Windows

2009-12-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

odds and sods pt. 2

2009-12-16T12:18:00.001-08:00

Westminster Abbey

2009-12-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament

2009-12-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

St. Albans Cathedral & Abbey

2009-12-15T11:46:00.000-08:00

St. Pauls Cathedral

2009-12-15T11:41:00.001-08:00

odds and sods pt. 1

2009-12-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

Westminster Highlights

2009-12-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

St. Pancras Statue, Tower of London & Tower Bridge

2009-12-04T13:48:00.001-08:00

Sussex Best Bitter

2009-12-03T16:23:00.000-08:00

It's delicious! And the way it's poured/pumped is pretty cool too!

Holy Crap!

2009-12-03T09:55:00.001-08:00

I was walking through the tube and heard this man singing, so I turned on my camera and started recording, what I wasn't expecting was to be smacked in the face by a stunning view when I popped out...

What isn't filmed is my reaction when I turned to the right and was confronted by the monstrosity known as "Big Ben"!

Tower of London Guard

2009-12-03T07:44:00.001-08:00

Yeoman Guard outside where the Crown Jewels are on display!

long lost relatives

2009-11-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

Emma & Jenn

Reggie & Lisa (and baby-in-belly)

Sam (the Ham)!

Samuel, Lara, Archie

Sophie, Samuel, Lara, Archie, & Joe

Gina, Jake, & Jamie

Meg, the Dog!

2009-11-29T15:29:00.000-08:00

^^^^^ Meet Meg <<<<<

Safe European Home

2009-11-29T10:18:00.001-08:00

I do not make any claim of being an expert commentator or videographer.

a room with a view

2009-11-28T17:48:00.000-08:00

OH Sweet SLEEPY!!!

2009-11-28T14:29:00.001-08:00

With the time change and 10 hour flight, I feel like a day has been stolen from me, but also so incredibly tired I can barely think straight.

The plane I flew in on was populated with some of the prettiest/most stylish people I've ever seen at 30,000 feet. It was long, but great. I will forever recommend Virgin Atlantic for international flights, if possible. Even the flight attendants were pretty (both male and female). And let me not forget ... one of the was named "Rad". No joke, his name was RAD! Unfortunately, I couldn't find my camera in enough time to snap a proper photo of his name tag. The in-flight entertainment was absolutely stellar. Movies I watched included, "The Soloist", "The Boat That Rocked" (a.k.a. "Pirate Radio" for us America types), and "The Hangover". They had somehting like 55 movies to choose from, and most of them were awesome! I also played some serious sudoku, but that's another addiction for another day.

When I arrived in Heathrow, things went quite smoothly. I didn't realize how accurate "Love Actually" is!!! There were throngs of people crowding the arrivals gate. I felt like Moses walking out of there ... and then couldn't find my aunt. HAH! So really, more than "Love Actually", as per usual, it turned out more like "Bridget Jones", a comedy of errors, and the two of us passing each other (more than once).

Emma's house is quite adorable. A little cottage home, perfect for a single person or couple. I love it! She demands it's too small, but I strongly disagree. I think it's wonderful. I'll try to post some pictures (hopefully tomorrow), but tonight I am just too sleepy. Hopefully I will wake up with renewed energy to take on a sunday pub extravaganza. Emma's dog, Meg, is the kookiest cutest mix of creatures I may have ever seen. She seems like she should be in a movie or something. Like she's the outcast dog that nobody likes and then she wins everyone over with her undeniable charm. Much like Rudolph. Again, pictures tomorrow.

She made me soup (potato leek) for lunch and shepherd's pie for dinner. SO GOOD!!! I love the homemade comfort-y goodness and we've been chatting for hours! Watching television here gives me hope though. They actually spotlight real looking people. Rather than waifs with boob jobs, there are real men and women, with real bodies, doing real-people things. It's a nice change! Now that's change I can believe in.

So today, was kind of a catch-up day, tomorrow ... let the games begin.

what are words for?

2009-11-23T00:25:00.000-08:00

They say the definition of crazy is to repeat the same behavior over and over, expecting a different result. I try to remember this on a fairly regular basis, because I tend to be a creature of habit. I think most people are. The reason I type this though, isn't because of me, it's because of what I have recently noticed others doing. Too often I hear from friends who are "shocked, shocked I tell you," when they repeat behavior that has once burned them and they end up getting the same unwanted result. This seems ... counter-productive, counter-intuitive, and in some cases just flat-out dumb!

I think this translates into inter-personal/conversational behavior as well.

I know a number of people who dumb-down their conversations just to get through a night. It goes a number of ways. You might dumb-down your conversation because you think that's what people want to hear. You might think it makes you really attractive and "cute"/"hot" to be dumb as a bag of hammers! You might be forced to dumb-down your conversation so you don't have to end up in a bar-fight, or you might have to do it just to maintain a flowing conversation because your conversational counterpart can't keep up. And the list goes on, but the list isn't the point ... the point is this ... if you find yourself regularly in these situations, do you think it might be a good idea to rethink the people you've been chatting up?

Maybe the venue has changed, but if the conversations are remaining the same aren't you just talking to the same person occupying a different vessel? And clearly ... if you do this over and over again, the conversation isn't so satisfying.

Wow! It's almost here!

2009-11-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

I'm doing it! In 6 days, I leave for the UK. I can't believe it's finally here, and suddenly ... I'm riddled with butterflies. HAH! I am so excited, and yet so reluctant to say good bye to my everyday life. What the heck? I guess I've just been really lucky and have had the good fortune to make friends with some truly wonderful people, and leaving them makes me sad. It's not like they won't be here when I get back or anything. I just wish I could pack them in my suitcases and unleash them on foreign soil alongside me.

I've been reading:

So yeah, did I mention I'll be heading to Paris as well? Amazing. I just feel so incredibly full of luck and joy that I am able to do this. It's a little overwhelming.

The Gaylettes - Son of a Preacher Man

2009-11-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

Tyson asked if I might be interested in recording this with his band. Fun!

The Gaylettes - Son of a Preacher Man

I can't help but wonder

2009-11-09T23:04:00.000-08:00

Why is it that pretty much every time I've ever come across some form of relationship commentary or advice, whether it be written/spoken by a man or woman, the advice comes from a place of what it is the man in the relationship wants? I suppose the easy answer would be that the ladies are the ones writing in for the advice, or the ones who seem to reach out for help in such situations. But is that really the kind of advice we want? Ladies, we have GOT to stop allowing this to be such a one-sided adventure. Why are we the ones expected to alter, or play his game, or alter our game to fit his? Is it so hard to find the absurdity in that? Why shouldn't he be the one altering his ways for you? Actually, scratch that, because really ... that's equally stupid.

And this thought, spawns another ...

Be it boy or girl, you're doomed to a life of self-imprisonment if you don't get out in the world and behave the way you want to, simply because it pleases you. I say, enjoy your life. Enjoy yourself. Live life to whatever your version of its fullest might be. Love with the heat of a thousand white hot suns (or don't).

Pause, I don't mean that to sound as hedonistic as it comes off.

Common sense would have to dictate ... don't abuse people, don't take people for granted. Don't be selfish or slimy. That's just bad manners. The people who love you, and are there for you, and are wonderful to you simply because you're who you are (i.e. your friends and family) are the people who will be there when you've got snot flying out your nose and can't contain your bowel movements. Yeah, it's gonna happen one day I'm sure.

When it comes to the people who we actually get to choose to share our lives with (good and bad), wouldn't you rather have it be someone who's choosing you (this goes for who you choose as well) because what you are at your core is so undeniably magnetic? Not because you put on a good show and let them see what you wanted them to, but because YOU are irresistible?

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy???

I've just seen far too many couples self-destruct like a letter to Inspector Gadget, because one or both of the parties involved presented themselves as something ... other. If the parties involved don't fit, it's much better to know right away than it is to prolong the inevitable.

Hello divorce rate? Hello broken homes and families?

Maybe I just romanticize romance???

Quotables (Pt. 3)

2009-11-09T22:58:00.000-08:00

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain

This is It!

2009-11-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

I was just completely floored by "This is it". Michael Jackson was undoubtedly an icon. But I think he's an icon in more than one way. Not only is he an icon of artistic genius, but he's an icon of pretty much everything that is wrong with our hyper-infatuated celebrity-stalking culture. It's highly unlikely that he even knew how to brew a pot of coffee. All he's known since childhood, is music, and stardom, and pain, and medication. He was clearly an incredibly loving and caring human being, with talent oozing from his every orifice (and probably some places that couldn't even be classified as an orifice), but there is something entirely disturbing about the emptiness evident in his eyes. It's undeniably clear that his whole life was spent looking for love, or at least whatever he thought love was.

"This is It", is an incredible exhibition of his vocal and dancing skill, his infinite patience, and his calculating perfectionist eye for production on a scale unseen. It is also however an exhibition of a man who has been used as a vessel for others pleasure that was never fully reciprocated. He is essentially, the worlds most revered rape victim! And as odd as it may sound, those revering him are among the guilty.

I was skeptical when I walked into the theatre, but I am SO GLAD I did. I walked out having rediscovered my respect for his unwavering professionalism and talent, and crystalizing my belief that he was one of the most tragic beings to ever grace this planet. We are all better having been treated to the likes of him.

Click me for further rantings/ravings of Mr. Jackson.

This will be seen!

2009-11-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

Reaffirming my faith in humanity

2009-11-04T16:31:00.000-08:00

Monday afternoon, one of the parents who likes to visit with me told me a great story.

Apparently he believes that every kind deed a person does is revisited upon them. I like it. I can get behind that. So he was telling me how he and his son used to always see this little old lady walking around Laguna in a somewhat suspicious manner, so they started to kind of follow her around and attempt to observe what exactly she was up to. Creepy so far? I thought so too. "Hello sir, you're teaching your kid to be a stalker. Awesome!" But in my infinite kindness, I allowed him to continue. ;)

He went on to explain that she was going around to all the different coin return slots in the area checking for any change that might have been left behind. He apparently also frequents a gym in this area. He would see the same old lady every time when he was in the gym looking out onto the street. Finally, he decided he was going to grab all the change he could find just laying around the house and in his car, map out her coin-collecting route, and plant the spare change he had in the coin return slots before she got there. He told his son about the plan and every week (at least once, oftentimes more) they go out and plant money for this little lady to rifle through. They then go to the gym and watch her as her face lights up with joy everytime she comes across a sweet little coin-laden treasure.

I'm not a big fan of handing out money to people on the street. A sammich? Sure. But money? Not-So-Much. For some reason though, this case ... well, it warmed the cockles of my heart.

Do hearts really have cockles?

Real Quick-like

2009-11-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

It's true that I might be chasing an unrealistic dream.

I'd rather die fighting for it, then live with a compromised heart.

Subtle Sexuality

2009-10-31T11:40:00.001-07:00

Male Prima Donna
Halloween idea?

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

haha, oh capricious youth

2009-10-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

They have PBR there ... really cheap"

never.gets.old

2009-10-29T17:00:00.001-07:00

Punkin!

2009-10-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

Tyson rocked the pumpkin this year! Inspired by Tree Spirits from "Princess Mononoke".

I used to dance

2009-10-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

Queens of the World go bump in the night too!

2009-10-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have an unholy obsession with her... it's true!

Lyrics:

Whisky please, I need some Whisky please

So bring me conciosness

And kill my innocence

Please lay your eyes on me

Lead me in the dance

Give me no chance to reconsider, reconsider

I'm Queen of the world

I bump into things

I spin around in circles

And I'm singing, and I'm singing I'm singing

Why can't I stay like this?

Dear God.

Oh let me be young

Let me stay, please

Oh let me stay like this ohhhh

Bring me home

I've got no plans for tomorrow

I got no plans insight

In fact I'm free this week

I'm free this month

I lonely, lonely this year

I'm lonely forever

But today, oh

I'm Queen of the world

I bump into things

I spin around in circles

And I'm singing, and I'm singing I'm singing

Why can't I stay like this?

Dear God.

Oh let me be young

Let me stay, please

Oh let me stay like this ohhhh

And I'm singing, I'm singing I'm singing

I'm Queen of the world

I bump into things

I spin around in circles

And I'm singing, and I'm singing I'm singing

Why can't I stay like this?

Dear God.

Let me be young

Let me stay, please

Oh let me stay like this ohhhh

Oh jeepers!!!

2009-10-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

Introduction... I've attended an event called ALHC (American Lindy Hop Championships) for something like a decade now. It's in Connecticut in fall. Read: it's gorgeous! I've gone there to either compete, judge, teach, DJ, be the bringer of the party ... you name it, I've done it. This year I was hired as the DJ coordinator. Strange task for my talents, but totally within reason.

I've been worried about it because I like to keep things organized, especially when it involves scheduling of other people. I got all the major work out of the way by Wednesday. I had mailed out a schedule to all of the DJ's and everything seemed to be fine except, I wasn't hearing any feedback, which worried me. I don't like when things go too smoothly, it doesn't feel real. I was starting to get a little paranoid ... like the calm before the storm.

Add to all this, I've had a cold since Sunday (why do I always type "Sinday"). It's not a major debilitating cold or anything, but it's one of those coughs that lingers. Whenever I go to bed or wake up, it's at it's worst. It's all the gook in my chest repositioning itself. mmm... yum.

Conflict mounts ... Last night, I went to bed around midnight - 1 AM. I had a flight scheduled this morning at 7:45 AM. & set my alarm for 5:30 AM. As I resigned myself to sleepytown last night, I noticed my cough. It was worse than it had been all week. I remembered that I had been administering the Nyquil all week. There was no way I could do that last night. I had less than 6 hours to sleep, and I didn't want to miss my alarm in the morning (which I do from time to time). So, I suffered, for hours. Coughing myself awake, staring at the ceiling until about 3 or 4 AM. Awesome. So, when my alarm went off at 5:30 AM, I think my body involuntarily chuckled at it, and ignored it completely.

Conflict hits hard ... Come 6:50 AM, I woke in a panic, let out a silent scream, straightened my bangs, brushed my teeth, woke up Justin, packed up the last minute necessities and hauled ASS to John Wayne airport. I got there by 7:15AM, but being that my flight was to leave a half hour later, there was NO WAY they were going to help me get on my flight. Interestingly, there were two other people behind me who were also scheduled on the same flight who had to be rebooked as well. I know they could have gotten us on that flight. John Wayne is a super small airport, and they have magical ways, but I'm not Hannah-Kate Ashley Lohan so that's not gonna happen. I"m fairly certain (kinda because the lady told me as much) they overbooked the flight, and once they had a chance to fill our seats they did so immediately, and we got assed out.

The result... I got rebooked on a flight at 3:45 PM and I'll arrive in NY at 12:04 AM. I was a little panicky, but Justin picked me up, we headed over to a Denny's with some of the rudest patrons I've ever witnessed, drank coffee, ate, but more importantly ... I heard Hall and Oates's "Kiss on my List", and Paul Young's "Every time You Go Away". I take those as grand omens that I will have a stellar weekend. Case closed.

Conclusion ... meh, it's fine. I managed to work out the schedule so well that I've already got my DJ shift covered. Organizational skills totally do pay off. Also having awesome people to work with (the DJ's I'm in charge of) helps a SHIT - TON!

Pictures and blogs to come!

... and so it begins ...

2009-10-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

Say what you will about Cameron Crowe... the man can capture moments!

b-day week!

2009-10-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post a birthday blog for a couple of days now, but I think I needed to officially recover and compartmentalize. The actual day was Tuesday, but festivities began the Sunday before, with a lovely football/birthday lunch. Rumors started to fly about nonsense I won't discuss here, but suffice it to say that it's really hard to remain sympathetic and to keep that happy-face in tact when someone who is supposed to be your friend is hoping for less than stellar affairs for you. But I digress...

Monday was fairly mellow save this one awesome moment. Justin kept asking me what I wanted. I could think of two things: a camera (a kind of over-the-top expense for someone whose heart you've broken... more than once), and some (super sexy) silk long-john underwear (for my London trip). He asked me my sizes and all that and went on his merry way. I got home from work, and he had this gift bag waiting for me. He said "look what I found on my way home. I want to give it to you right now." I really did not want him to. I like surprises. I like that delicious anticipation you feel when you know you're about to get something, but you have to wait. Well, in his INFINITE wisdom (beyond his 14 years) Jamie said, "well, you were born in England right?". Jenn says, "yes!" Jamie, "Well... it's Tuesday in England right now. It's technically your birthday". Huzzah! I'd been rocked by a 14 year old. Sweet! So as I went to open the gift, Justin said, "It's reeeeaaallyy silky". So I got pissed and said, "what the hell is wrong with you? You always do this shit! It's like IMPOSSIBLE for you to allow me to enjoy a surprise. Forget it, I'm not opening it!" Like a proper whiny brat/bitch! He laughed and just pushed the bag toward me. As resigned as I could, I opened up the gift to find an amazing new canon powershot! I was SHOCKED!!! It was such a pleasant surprise. Also, I have to say, it's pretty amazing that this is the camera I ended up with. I've bought 2 digital cameras in the past 4 years or so and I hate them both. I decided after I bought the second one, that I'd ONLY buy a powershot from that moment on. He had no idea which camera I wanted, so... well done sir, well done!

Tuesday was also fairly tame. It is exactly how I wanted my actual birthday to go. Mary brought me a gift and instead of a cake, she went to Boudin and bought me a loaf of sourdough french bread and shoved a candle in it! Bomb! Perhaps a bit phallic, but still... bomb! Overall, nothing high-maintenance, just some face-time w/ some friends, some catching up, and some food.

Wednesday a group of 11 of us (I lied to the reservation lady) headed to Benihana for some grubs and some celebration! Carrie, Amanda, Theresa, Jamie, Rob, Josh, Davina, Tyson, Trager, Justin, and myself! Super-fun times, and yum yum scallops. For the record, Carrie is definitely the best person to sit next to when you go to Benihana. Tyson baked me a KILLER cake. It was ddeeeeeeelish!!! He sent me the cutest text ever too. Something about how he messed up what was supposed to be the world most "m-woriest cake". My friends are awesome! Just sayin'...

Thursday... I think I might just let this one go... well... I'll keep it brief and vague (mainly because that's how I remember it). Let's see... karaoke... surprise visitors... and not just one or two... MANY! Chunks of my night have gone missing. I told Suzi after I had drank two cocktails (one being straight Jameson) to cut me off from liquor consumption and leave me with beer only. Apparently, if it comes in a small enough glass, she doesn't consider that liquor (i.e. shots are A-OK!), and I assure you, they flowed like wine. The only reason I know I sang, no I'm sorry, SCREAMED "Proud Mary", is because I have video of it on my fancy new camera. *I* haven't even used that function yet... thanks. Video was shot that I did not authorize, and asked to be turned off three times (at least), and that COMPLETELY mortifies me every time I see it. For some sort of train-wreck-related reason, I can't delete it though. Usually if there are hazy parts of my night, someone will tell me what happened and it'll trigger a memory. In this case, I can actually watch video of myself and I STILL don't remember it. If I offended anyone... sorry. In case you were unsure, I'm pretty much the most fun drunk person ever. And by most fun, I mean I'm most likely to completely embarrass myself, but laughter is gonna happen! Don't worry mom, I didn't drive. xoxo.

Friday - I slept until about 1:45PM. I tried my best to recover before work, and then the texts/calls came. There were a number of texts I received on Friday asking me if I remembered (insert random act of retardation and/or inappropriate drunkenness here), and of course I did not. There were a couple of points where I actually had to excuse myself from what I was doing so I could compose myself and turn a less obvious shade of red/purple. Later on in the day I got to see, "Where the Wild Things Are" with Josh, Justin, and Jamie. It was a fantastic way to kind of round out my completely ridiculous week. Until this point, my week had started off so nice and mellow, and ended in complete black-out/hangover! I needed to bring it back down a notch or 36. Mission Accomplished!

Oooo but I did get to slip in someone's puke at the movie theatre... that's always fun for the whole family! I mean really... who pukes in the doorway to the ladies room of an Edwards movie theatre???? Nobody could walk in or out without slipping in it, SO GROSS!!!! *shiver*

This week: 1 - chill the "F" out. 2 - pack. 3 - sort out some DJing set-lists. 4 - Fly out to NYC/CT (Friday - Monday).

... and now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

If you can't handle crazy, go ahead & leave!

2009-10-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

my current theme song (at least since Dec. 2008). it sounds all sassy... until... the truth hits.

Those Darlins, "Wild One"

Lyrics:

i may be a little darling gal of yours

that's when i'm straight and sober, and both feet are on the floor

but sometimes when the booze grabs a hold of me

i get the devil in my eyes and i'm running wild and free