This is no longer Giants Baseball - Congrats to Juan OooooooooooooUribe

Okay, fine. I'm clearly avoiding giving my full attention to this blunder of a Giants baseball game. Who can blame me? The Giants are loosing their first game of this Giants vs. Dodgers homestand series... 5-0. I live with a Braves fan, who's hatred of the Giants is only a close second behind his love for the Braves, so this 5-0 situation is less than ideal.

On to better things...

Before the game tonight the Giants held a special on-the-field ring celebration for former Giants short stop, Juan Uribe. On KNBR this morning there was talk about doing a private ring-giving celebration because of sports-politics and the excuse of psyching out players before the first game of this heated rivalry. Yeah, it sure sounded like BS even at 7:30 am in the morning. It was good to know the Giants stepped up with a bit of class and gave Uribe his ring in a public way, for him and for fans.

I'll miss Uribe's inability to lay off swinging at those balls that bounce just before they get to the plate, nearly falling over with every swing, being so sure that thing was OUUUUTTTTAAA HEEEEEREEE!!!! But seriously... got respect for that guy, he was a good (pretty decent) defensive player and part of the Championship Team. He'll always have a special place in my heart. Each Giant on that team only added to the specialness of the TORTURE. I look forward to watching him strike out and fallin' over in that Dodger blue. Or better yet, hitting into all those double plays that you were famous for! TORTURE! Enjoy your 21 million!

And one last time, for old-times sake.... Oooooooooooooooooooooo-ribe!

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Okay... now back to hoping the Gigantes can score a few runs to make this game a little less pathetic.......

Goodbye Facebook... hello Blogger.

I finally did it. I quit Facebook. Somewhere between reading about a close friend's relationship breakup, death in the family (in-laws) and getting into a superficial debate over the merits of Buffy, and lack of merit of Grey's Anatomy, something in me snapped. Facebook is horrible. Awful. Sure, I won't deny that there are benefits, but overall, it's possibly one of the worst things that's happened to human interaction and socialization, maybe, ever (debate is between Facebook and texting). So I've said goodbye to Facebook, at least for now. I don't know whether writing a blog is all that much better, but at least it affords me an inkling of skill-building practice through writing and storytelling. Not to mention I've spent way less time online, and when I am online I'm much more productive. So far today I've done my homework, taxes and bills paid. Here's to more blogging in the absence of Facebooking...

Dear Japan, it feels like 5 years since we first met

(photo of a photo, Nathan and I at the bamboo grove, behind the Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto.)

You know when you have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for a vacation to come that when it finally arrives it's over and done before you know it? Not only that, but you come back and jump right into life's chaos which makes your vacation feel like it was 5 years ago?

That's what it felt like after returning from Japan... which was just about a month ago that we returned.

A trip to Japan has always been a dream of mine, which after a few bumps in travel plans and years of making arrangements, my dream was realized. The trip was absolutely amazing! What a beautiful country, with the most friendly and humble people I have ever met. I promise more photos and stories along the way, but for now, I wanted to provide myself with a little reminder to stop and celebrate some of the amazing things that occurred this year. As far as occurrences go, this is at the top of the list.

So, thank you Japan, for making 2010 so memorable. I promise to remember the big things and stop sweating the small stuff...

Design blogs serve as a not-so-subtle reminder...

Hello world! Remember me?

A few years ago I became obsessed with design blogs. I subscribed to a few dozen different ones and spent too many hours a day drooling over the mid-century designs in cute apartments and houses I could never afford. Since then I've scaled my reading to a handful of design blogs and only browsed them every few months.

Until now. Ever since my neighbors moved out a week or two ago I've been obsessed with the idea of moving (again). This happens quite often. I've never been too satisfied with my current apartment. It's a good size but the layout and design has never been very inspiring to me. It's always felt more like a placeholder and never fully like a home. That probably sounds sadder than I meant it to, it's still homey (at times), and my boyfriend and doggie definitely add to that, but it's never inspired me to really make it our home.

My boyfriend gently reminded me as I was pining over a cute 1920's duplex near downtown Willow Glen, that now is not exactly the ideal time for us to move. I guess packing up and moving a few weeks before Christmas, and at the end of my first semester of grad school when all my major papers and projects are due could be construed as less-than-ideal for most. Okay, terrible timing. Thus, I've thrown myself back into my design blogs, vicariously living in the cute apartments that taunt me as I scroll through post after post.

I've decided that in addition to my constant Craigslist "window-shopping" and design-blog scanning I will work on curing my mundane-apartment blues by purging the crap that clutters my house now, throw myself into deep cleaning mode, and pick up blogging again (that can be a somewhat creative, although heavily saturated, outlet). I figure this will at least make me more content in my current living situation, and mostly it will make things easier when we find that dream-home in early spring.

For now, here's a little inspiration for me:

Weekends are for play... thanks for the reminder.

I've been attempting to put in a little time today/tonight on a work project, and things just really have not gone as planned. Which I'm not certain is such a bad thing. Lucky for me I have a nice boyfriend who puts movies on Netflix on demand, like the Proposal and Up to serve as "background" noise.

I know he genuinely does put these movies on to half provide me with background noise and to half provide himself with slight entertainment to keep me company. Unknowing to him, I think what it really does is give me a little reminder that weekends are supposed to be MY time, or even OUR time, but not friggin' work time!

Shout out to my guy, for being the Russell to my Mr. Fredrickson. Time to close my work document and sit back and enjoy a little of Pixar's Up before heading to bed for a decent night's sleep.

I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

Auh blogger. Leave it to you to inspire a girl to make a return to her blog that she hasn't posted on in more than 6 months through a new template design feature. You had me at the books background image.

As I'm getting ready to celebrate my 29th birthday on Thursday, I decided it was time to get back to writing a bit. Part of that has to do with the fact that I'm starting graduate school at San Jose State in August and I'm a little freaked out by it. I realize blogging is NOT writing a research paper but it's a start.

I'm hoping that getting back to blogging will also motivate me to get back into photography. My big Japan trip is coming up in October and I've got to get some more practice in with the Nikon.

That's all for now... I'm stuck doing work from home again. I'm trying to prevent this from becoming a habit, because it's getting a little annoying.

More to come...

I take it back! I take it back!

I have to point out my utter lack of experience with other job shifts when I wrote this.

Luckily in less the 14 days I will be back at a normal business hour job schedule. January 11, 2010: you couldn't get here fast enough.

Me + Standardized Tests = One hot mess.

Here I am doing another graveyard shift at work, doing my best to stay awake and do something purposeful at the same time. My co-worker is snoring away and needless to say I'm quite jealous of him. I usually can't catch any zzzz's until the clock hits 4/5 a.m. Even then I constantly wake up because I feel myself falling out of my chair and am way too paranoid that someone is going to witness me doing so.

Thus, here I am doing practice GRE tests online (FYI- learnhub.com has some great sample tests). I have to admit, I rock something fierce when it comes to reading comprehension, sentence completion and even analogies. It's when we get to the math/quantitative sections that I have the major issues. Sure trying to figure out probability equations at 3 a.m. can give anyone ulcers or just fill one with indifference, but ayeyiyi, is it frustrating. Good thing my graduate program I'm applying for doesn't have much need for memorization of math equations. In fact, the professor who conducted the information seminar for the graduate program basically said if you have experience and good letters of support that the GRE scores don't weigh too heavily into the admissions decision. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Back to work...

Things for 2010.

What better way to catch up on my blog but with an ode to 2010, things to do. Here goes nothing.

1). Watch less TV, do more reading, writing, thinking.
2). More photography. Period.
3). Travel! Let's hope some job stability can enable this to happen, since I'm close to having 300 hours of time off.
4). Make use of my sewing machine. Seriously.
5). Make a happy + healthy home. Basically this equates to cleaning more frequently, organizing, donating, designing, utilizing, purging..
6). Walk more. Public transit more. (Again, new stable job should help this)
7). More family + friends time.
8). More date-dates with the boyfriend.
9). GRAD SCHOOL! (fingers crossed)
10). No more credit card debt.

Dearest Girl in the Suburbs Blog:

I miss you. This past year I've neglected you, and have truly missed writing. Starting now I shall pick up where I left off and do my best to spend at least a few days a week catching up with (on?) you. I don't want to over shoot and say I will update it every day, so for now I will attempt at least a few times a week for updates.

It's been a long year. Here's to a great 2010!

Happy New Year, to anyone who might still read this.

- nicole.

The "Are You Fucking Kidding Me?" moment of 9.15.09

This one comes courtesy of a blog posted up on Daily Kos regarding the joint session of Congress that today approved a resolution disapproving of Congressmen Joe Wilson's "You Lie" outburst during Obama's speech last week.

Seriously?

For real?

Fucking Democrats in Congress have time to dedicate to this bullshit? They are debating someones visceral, yet immature, response to something in a piece of legislation... instead of actually debating and working on the actual legislation? When I read things like that it makes me want to punch a wall. Or squeeze a banana until it bursts out all over the place (may seem random to you but I'm staring at a bowl of bananas). It makes me want to run to the top of a hill and yell "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?"

Speaking of which... I see a hill now! Be right back....

A good time in the suburbs [Part 2]...

More fun from this weekend...

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(From top left: summer blossoms on the tree outside our apartment, top right: the short dog wants to come back in side after a short sun bath, bottom left: me being a scrabble dork [I lost], a new recipe I tried/created for stuffed zucchini [we got at the Farmers Market] filled with rice, fresh basil, portabello mushrooms and topped with a little mozzarella + basil, yum.)

A good time in the suburbs...

So I achieved most of what was on my weekend's to-do-list, although I still a few hours until it comes to a close so I will hold off on noting down any of my lack of accomplishments. Here's some photos of my weekend (guess you can see some of the things I was able to get done this weekend).

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(Top left: bowl of fresh berries from the Mt. View Farmers Market; top right: me! watchin' the giants kick some booty; bottom left: Nate and I had game night on Saturday and had some coffee + fresh baked chocolate chip cookies; bottom right: our Sunday lunch of fresh french bread and roasted tomatoes from the Farmers Market with some mozzarella and topped with basil. There is also a little slices of baguette topped with olive brushetta)

Making a list, checking it twice.

So last Friday I set some weekend goals that I hoped to accomplish. I did a fair job I'd say, but wasn't able to accomplish the full list.

Here's what did & did not get done:

1.) Call landlord about getting new storage key [thus enabling me to move the holiday boxes back into storage and out of the downstairs storage closet I've been attempting to organize]. Although she didn't return my call until earlier this afternoon! >:O

2.) See "Inglorious Basterds." I have been trying to see this movie since it's release last week, Saturday matinee seems like as good of time as any to catch it. Soooo so so good! Very enjoyable movie from start to finish.

3.) Finish reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore [I've been reading this for far too long]. Although I think it was really Monday/Tuesday when I actually finished it. :]

4.) Pulling some more clothes from my closet for possible sale/donation. I managed to fill up three bags full of clothes to donate.

5.) Review at least 2-4 cds for KSCU to add on Sunday. I managed to get 5 done: Mew, Amy Millan, Dodos, Wild Beasts and Mark Mallman.

6.) Grocery shopping +/or Farmer's Market. My CSA box subscription I was doing at work recently was canceled so I guess it's back to the Farmer's Market for now. :[ No Farmer's Market sadly, but we did get a tiny bit of shopping done at Trader Joe's.

7.) Go through at least 5 old magazines so that they can be set aside for recycling/donation.

8.) Bake something. Unfortunately this one didn't get done. Although maybe that's fortunate for my waist line.

9.) Clean refrigerator. No luck on this one either. I did clear out some old food products but not the true cleaning that I had hoped for.

10.) Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera. Sadly, this one did not get done. I have too many hobbies!

---------------------------------------
New list for this 3-day weekend:

1. Bake something.

2. Clean refrigerator.

3. Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera.

4. Go on a hike/nice walk. I'm hoping to meet up with my sister and my dad for nice, easy hike somewhere between here and Sacramento. Suggestions welcome.

5. Cook something new.

6. Go to the Mountain View Farmer's Market (per Nathan's suggestion).

7. Discard another 3-5 magazines.

8. Blog at least 2-4 more entries.

9. Get to at least page 100 of the new book I'm reading, The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom, by Slavomir Rawicz.

10. Spend time researching Graduate Studies programs and map out a timeline for what I need to get done.

My graveyard shift diggin' for things to do days are over... [least for now]

Yup. There has been some good news in my life this past week or two... and that is that I am going to be returning to my former job.

After getting demoted two months ago and being forced into a new job that was so different than what I had been doing the previous 10 years, I thought my world was caving in. I had white hairs for the first time in my life. Although there have been several issues with my new work situation [working in a 24-hr/365 days/year facility, huge pay cut, no job training and management issues], I learned an incredible amount in just two months. I had been working with a population I have never worked with, met some great co-workers, and understood a different field of work that I never had before. While I had been longing for a change in my job for so long [working 10 years in the same field and being only 28 is a long time to be in one place], it was hard being forced into change.

When all is said and done, as I'm winding down my last graveyard shift [okay its only 2:40 am and I'm not off 'til 7:30 am but I'm all for wishful thinking], I can't help and feel bittersweet about going back to my "old" job, where I supposedly belong. The job I've had the last two months as been interesting, exciting and at times, admittedly a little scary. I'm not sure I've thought those things about my last job in quite some time. Working here has opened my eyes to new possibilities for my career and definitely spawned me to aggressively think about my next steps of my career path. I suppose also, that my dad will stop subtly nagging me and will be more than pleased that I'm actively looking into going back to school for graduate studies.

I guess this is my way of saying goodbye, but just for now.

Weekend goals.

Working a Friday night graveyard shift has really been eating up my weekend time these past two months. I end up loosing my Friday evening to nap attempts, and most of my Saturday disappears thanks to sleep catch-up. While I only have one more night of this shift [which thankfully ends after next Friday], I still would like to try and make the most out of my weekends. Here is a short list of somethings I'd like to accomplish:

1.) Call landlord about getting new storage key [thus enabling me to move the holiday boxes back into storage and out of the downstairs storage closet I've been attempting to organize].

2.) See "Inglorious Basterds." I have been trying to see this movie since it's release last week, Saturday matinee seems like as good of time as any to catch it.

3.) Finish reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore [I've been reading this for far too long].

4.) Pulling some more clothes from my closet for possible sale/donation.

5.) Review at least 2-4 cds for KSCU to add on Sunday.

6.) Grocery shopping +/or Farmer's Market. My CSA box subscription I was doing at work recently was canceled so I guess it's back to the Farmer's Market for now. :[

7.) Go through at least 5 old magazines so that they can be set aside for recycling/donation.

8.) Bake something.

9.) Clean refrigerator.

10.) Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera.

What I do when the rest of the world is sleeping...

I guess I am a sucky blogger. What's the point of even having a blog if it doesn't get updated? I guess for me it's something for me to do during my one-night a week graveyard work shift.

Speaking of work, here are my top ten time killers for working in the wee-hours of night:

1. Reviewing cd's for KSCU. I get MANY of these done during this shift. Definitely helps pass the time.
2. Paying bills!
3. Social networking... + texting. It's basically the only time I bother to post on Twitter anymore. I also have weekly text chats with my good friend Leticia, who always lets me know she's up with me. :]
4. Books, magazines, puzzle books... you name them, I do them. Just long enough before I get too sleepy.
5. Work tasks for my "other" job. Yeah, the County has a sweet deal with me.
6. Going through my Google Reader... which adds up during the week since I never have time to go through them all, it's the perfect time to go through them all.
7. Eat. I usually bring some coffee + water, plus lots of fruit and healthier snacks.
8. Walk and do my rounds, and if someone is up they usually needs something--which makes time go by faster.
9. Go through all my emails... personal, kscu, oxfam... it's the perfect time to go through them all + respond.
10. Sleep. Right around the time the sun starts coming up is when it's the most difficult to keep my eyes open. I usually just "rest my eyes" for like 10/15 minutes.

I am hoping I'm not on this shift only one day a week for much longer. My body can't adjust to it. We shall see. Keep your fingers crossed.

Spring-Summer(?) Cleaning.

Is it spring or summer? Time is flying by so quickly, I'm not sure if I missed the official first day of summer yet. Regardless, the weather has been so beautiful lately, it's hard to stay indoors to get some much needed cleaning done on the weekends. Thus, I will try to do little by little during the week so I can avoid weekend duties guilt-free.

I actually am bummed I fell so behind on my Google Reader blogroll and missed the Apartment Therapy Spring Cure challenge. Although, as I already have the book, and haven taken part in previous challenges, I suppose I can go through it on my own. Although, reading the blog posts from them usually was what kept me motivated for as long as I managed in the past--which sadly was never til the end of the 8-week challenge, but pretty darn close.

Here are links to my previous attempts:
Fall Cure 08 (Before) - which was as far as I made it--and frankly my house doesn't look tons different from what's in these pictures.
Spring Cure 08 (After)
Spring Cure 08 (During)
Spring Cure 08 (Before)

Hopefully in the following month or two I can post some more updated photos of all the work I WILL accomplish.

Is Pixar's UP one of my greatest fears?

Saw Pixar's Up this weekend with my boyfriend, unfortunately, only in 2-D. We were cheap and wanted to use our AMC giftcard. Man. That first fifteen to twenty minutes of the film killed me. As predicted, I cried, like a baby. It was such a sweet beginning of the movie, and I am always amazed at how quickly Pixar is able to make an audience instantly attached to their characters (though I'm still waiting for a Pixar film with a female lead character, COME ON ALREADY). Any way, the beginning was so sweet and tender, and made you really reflect about life, and living each day in the moment; taking chances in life and really doing everything you want. Don't just wait until it passes you by, thinking, "there is always one more day." Cheesy. Believe me, I know it's beyond cheesy, but it's true dammit! It begs the question "Is Up my worst fear?" Meaning, am I living life to the fullest? Living in the moment, the here and now? It made me think about the things I hope to do and see and accomplish and feel in my life, and how much I already have. Seriously, go see Up. So you can feel as dorky as I do about it.

Here are some things I'm looking forward to in the near future:

* Seeing Death Cab for Cutie at the Hollywood Bowl for my birthday, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic!

* Finding the KogiBBQ truck in LA and getting a Korean taco of some sort.

* Coldplay outreach with my Oxfam peeps.

and whatever else life brings me.............

- way optimistic, nicole

P.S. Was anyone else very uncomfortable with that Sacha Baren Cohen / Eminem stunt at the MTV Movie Awards? Eeek.

Some of the things I miss...

Lately I feel completely overwhelmed. I really need to learn how to say no to some things. Lately, it's my volunteer jobs (KSCU & Oxfam Action Corps) that are eating up most of my non-"work-work" time--not that I'm complaining. I love and value both of those organizations very much. BUT, that being said, there are some things I miss having time to do. Some of those things are:

* spending time with my boyfriend..
* lounging with my doggie watching lame, mindless & sometimes GOOD television
* reading for pleasure
* cooking
* my family... i miss the baird children, especially.
* taking photographs. how am i ever going to improve if i never shoot?
* clothes shopping. it's been... too long. lots of my stuff has holes! :/
* seeing movies
* exercising... my gym card has dust on it...
* working on my house. i don't even have time for basic cleaning these days.
* hanging out with friends, aside from just going to shows

Dear Blog:

I am sorry I have neglected you for over two months. I am sorry I have been cheating on you with Twitter and Facebook and other lesser social networking sites. I am sorry I have been subjecting my writing to mere 140 characters, when I should be practicing writing actual sentences. I am sorry that I only post to you to say I haven't posted in awhile. I am sorry I let spam comments be posted to you (the sure sign of a dead/dying blog).

I will try and be better. I will.

- nicole

Is this blog dead?

Yikes. I haven't updated this in a very long time. I just don't have the energy for it lately--too much other stuff goin' on.

Any way, the dj blog has some playlist updates! :D

-neeeeeeeeeeeecole

p.s. i am very excited about some upcoming prospects! more later.

To Mom: Happy Birthday. From: Your daughter, with love.

I just wanted to give a special shout out to my mom on her birthday! I love you so much mom and I appreciate everything that you've taught me (and continue to teach me) in life.

I'm not really even sure my mom reads this regularly, but I'm sure I can count on my dad to show this to her. Right dad?

- Nicole

P.S. The above photo is still one of my all time favorites of my mom and I.

Sweet little request.

I just got the cutest email to our Music Department account. It states the following:

Hi,

We are an all girl rock band outta Tacoma Wa and want to find out how to submit our original music to you for consideration.. We are 12 and 13 and play our own stuff as well as covers...
Thanks
Lizzy
Starstruck

How fucking cute is it that this little 12 or 13 year old named herself Lizzy Starstruck? I haven't even heard them yet but I'm already smitten! Plus I adore girl-groups!

Am I home from work yet?...

I wish this is what my day looked like today...

(caption: "this is ur dog when i got home!")

Lately our dog has figured out how to get up on our bed. I say this as if it's confusing because our bed is up fairly high for a short little guy to jump up. Sometimes I get out of the shower to find him burrowed deep under our covers. Nathan sent me a text message with the above photo with that caption when he found him like that today. So cute.