when nacho met krunchy mustard

For the first time My Heart and I decided to donate to our local public radio station this year. We listen regularly (even more so now that 97.1 plays dumb music) and we really enjoy it so it was about time we decided to give. It wasn't much but every penny helps right?

We try to be as giving as we can with our money and our time (ok, not as much anymore but we will again!). I've joined a group on facebook called Once A Month Charity Club that nominates and votes on organizations we all want to donate $5 to for the month. A friend of mine came up with the idea and I just love it.

So, if I'm a patron of the arts, a supporter of non-profits, then why can't I show some love for one of the best blogs I read every day? There's been some controversy surronding Petunia Face and her addition of the Nacho button which takes you to a paypal page where she accepts donations. I just want to put it out there, I find nothing wrong with this. She writes an amazing blog EVERY DAY! Why not show her you support her efforts, hell... you applaud her efforts!? She's not asking you to, it's there if you want to and you can ignore it if you don't. I personally think her writing is an enjoyment that I don't want to go without so I'm willing to pay the price and to me that price is not free.

pink ribbon with white hearts

What happens when you've learned nothing but to run from your feelings? Eventually you may start eating them, or starving them or covering them up with cuts or drugs. Me, I've run the gamut having never really learned how to communicate. Even now, in love with a communicator, I struggle.

Getting serious with this communicator at least opened my eyes to my ways, my anger and my running. My Heart had to teach me that this is not normal. People actually talk about things to solve problems. It's been a hard lesson to learn but I'm making progress.

So I find it difficult that I still have a family of non-communicators. We just don't talk about things. Sometimes we try but there tends to be a point were someone gets angry and runs away. It's happened to me twice recently and I just go with it. I'm not going to be even more confrontational to make them talk but I just wish we knew how to deal with it, with each other!

Apparently people work better together when they're on the same team. So I strive for that with My Heart. We are teammates first and foremost. We are not out to get one another. We are not trying to be hurtful. Let's talk openly and honestly. Don't run from the truth. You can be angry with me but tell me why and all I ask in return is for you to listen.

reach out to head, hearts, hands

Vote Earth, Earth Hour tree in Centennial Gardens, Sydney
Uploaded to Flickr by Earth Hour Global

DON'T FORGET!
Today is the day we Vote Earth.
At 8:30pm local time switch off all non-essential lights for one hour - EARTH HOUR.
Even you can make a difference.
And you should.

this hand against my face

And this is on Le Love today, another one you shouldn't miss:

Ellipsis

i love love

this hat against the wind

This was on Le Love yesterday and I didn't want you to miss seeing it:

Phillip Toledano - Days With My Dad

running wild with hope and fear

I think this looks amazing.
It's brought a tear to the eye of more than one person I know.
It feels appropriate for where I'm at right now.
I could use an escape into the land of the wild things.
Maybe that will help with a little perspective.

dancing in the dark

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 8:30 pm, I am taking part in Earth Hour-a global event in which millions of people will turn out their lights to make a statement of concern about our planet and climate change. I want to invite you to join, too! Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour got started just two years ago and is now the largest event of its kind in the world. Last year, more than 50 million participated and the lights went out at the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the Coliseum in Rome, just to name a few. Even Google's homepage went black for the day! In Israel, President Shimon Peres personally turned off lights in Tel Aviv.

This year, Earth Hour will be even bigger-already 250 cities in 74 countries have agreed to take part including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville with more signing up every day. Around the world cities like Moscow, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai and Mexico City will turn out their lights.

But Earth Hour isn't just for big cities-anyone can participate. To get a better sense of the event, check out this video

.

Participating in Earth Hour is easy, fun and free. I hope you will join me for this amazing event. To sign up, visit Earth Hour where you'll learn more including ways you can spread the word about Earth Hour, plus creative things to do when the lights go out in case you need inspiration!

Please pass this note along to anyone you think might want to take part. Let's all turn out and take action on March 28 at 8:30 pm.

the recording lasted an hour

I'm tired. I'm not in the right mind set to be writing on this here blog but I am anyway. The weekend was out of control. Didn't do so well in the Great Urban Race but had a hell of a good time doing it. There's always next year or San Diego in October. The baby shower seemed to be a success. My Heart and I stayed for a friendly game of poker afterward but even though I was up had to pay it all back because he wasn't. Oh well, this weekend is done and over. Now on to new stresses. The house. Almost there. Other stuff not suitable for your eyes. Stuff. So, send some good vibes my way for a bit. I really need it right now. XOXO

my red shoe world

One of my co-workers (who always seems to find the coolest shit on these here internets) sent me this link on Friday: Tag Galaxy
You type in something you want to see and this galaxy is created so that you can narrow it down to something more specific. Once you are ready to see all the images in your new world you click on the center planet and see what they reveal... amazing!

robin blogged the hood

an autobiography in 5 short chapters:

Chapter I
I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I'm in the same place, but it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in...it's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter IV
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter V
I walk down another street.

~ Portia Nelson

Thanks BFF G for letting me steal this from your blog! I really love it XOXO

simply made real

James Baigrie

The beautiful is everywhere.

―Fernand Léger

Every time I receive another email I turn on panic mode. It's all going to get done and it's all going to be great. These are my best friends and I need to focus and remember that. I love them and I am doing this out of that love.

There is a lot of emphasis on us placing and making it to New Orleans in November. I wish I would have spent more time preparing, gearing up for the journey ahead. It means a lot to me but really that isn't what's important. My Heart and I are doing this as a team. This day is about us experiencing something new, having fun and refocusing on our strengths as a couple.

The house. Oh, the house that is so close to being ours but still so far from reach. I dream. I stress. But mostly I dream.

In the end it will all be great and then come Monday we will relax at the PJ Harvey concert. This is the way life is meant to be lived. When I was lying on the bedroom floor, refusing to get up and get ready for work, I could see just the trees and sky outside the window. That's when I remembered, the beautiful is everywhere.

the ants in the geyser

I'm pretty sure that while outside on a break with Friend J we heard someone singing, "I just pooped on the sidewalk." And we definitely saw 2 dudes practicing their cheerleader moves on the street corner. God Bless ghetto Hollywood at 9pm on a Wednesday night.

irish i was a little bit taller

How f*ing hot are these Burberry Crisscross Ankle-Wrap Sandals!? And can you believe Spring starts this week. I'd like to wear these to bring in the new season!

(Click on image to purchase at NeimanMarcus.com)

stuck in the middle with you

So sadly, I did not win the Great Twitter Race. I'm quite disappointed but glad I participated none the less. So next I focus on Team Bear Attack's victory at the Great Urban Race Los Angeles this coming Saturday. In order to help gear up a group of us did a mini pub crawl using public transit this past Saturday. And other than the fight I had with My Heart (which does not bode well for race day I'm afraid) we had a blast riding the bus and trains all over downtown and even into Hollywood.















And for those of you who may be concerned, we are over it but it's bound to happen again. You know how couples can be. The unknown causing friction mixed in with impatience and a lack of trust with myself cost us a $40 cab ride home. At least we got home right?

Additional photos from the evening can be found here. Many thanks to Friend S for organizing the entire thing (hope your back is feeling better!). XOXO

and for my final trick

We had a champagne toast and then we did this:

Have I mentioned how great the people I work with are!?

And yes, that IS the one and only Bernie Madoff on the top of our pyramid wearing a warrior helmet... you should have seen what happened to him after this crashed to the ground! I think there might be a youtube video of this coming... stay tuned.

ring-a-round-the-ratio

Today is Friday the 13th and somehow that makes me happier, like it's a better Friday than normal. It is also the final day of the Great Twitter Race. So far I've submitted the following photos:

Day 1: Someone wearing a watermelon helmet
Day 2: Someone wearing a Snuggie holding a sign that says The Great Twitter Race
Day 3: Someone wrapped in bubble wrap holding a sign that says The Great Twitter Race
Day 4: At least 3 people standing in the middle of a hula hoop

That last one was a doozy! GUR upped the ante by saying whoever had the most people in their hoop got an extra 50 points. Lucky for me Friend C from work had an awesome hula hoop that was twice the size of a kiddie one you would normally find in a toy store. So I gathered all the smallest people at Aspect Ratio and together we pulled off 14 people standing in the middle of a hula hoop!


Today's task is to form a human pyramid with 10 people and the person on top has to be wearing a warrior helmet. So at lunch I'm off to find a warrior helmet! They've also added a bonus round:

Submit A Picture With The Most GUR Spirit, Which Will Be Judged By The GUR Team! 50 Points Will Be Awarded For The Best Pic! GO CRAZY

I've been brain storming all morning but I'm not sure what direction I'm going to go in. This could make or break the competition for me... I'm currently tied for 2nd place. Any suggestions?

god bless watermelon brain helmets

The Great Urban Race is less than 2 weeks away and Team Bear Attack is getting ready! I've joined Twitter in an attempt to reach out to people when we need help on clues. So if you're going to be home between 12pm and 3pm (PST) on Saturday, March 21st please join Twitter and follow me (bearattackgirL) so that when I send a tweet you can help a sista out by using your home computer to Google the answer for me and My Heart (aka Team Bear Attack). It's not a cheat, they actually encourage this kind of game play. So much so that they are hosting The Great Twitter Race this week. The first clue they sent out today was to send in a picture of someone wearing a watermelon as a helmet. Well, here's my someone:


If this is all a little too confusing for you but you're willing to help out Team Bear Attack with your Googling skills we would LOVE your help so let me know and I can either email, text or IM you clues as we need the help. XOXO

bock bach chickens

HAPPY FRIED-EGG!

puddle jump in my new boots

WHOO HOO!!! The Bank said yes! We have papers in hand! The house is ours! Save the date for a Memorial Day BBQ at the new "Mountain House" as we've been calling it!

I hope some of this blog luck rubs off on Alex too...

some sort of pop phenom

Also, this just in... I've never watched American Idol before this guy but he's great and it's so much fun to feel personally vested in something like this - he's the son of the head honcho at Aspect Ratio :-)

Hi Everyone,

Tonight we finally get to vote for Alex!!! All of you need to watch the show tonight (Fox, 8/7c) and VOTE. Please vote as many times as you can, not just once. It's sooooo important. Alex is going to be amazing tonight, obviously, but he won't make it to the top 12 unless everyone votes for him A LOT.
Apparently, if you're calling from a cell phone to vote you can only vote during the voting time in the time zone of your phone number. This is from the American Idol website, and explains:

"If you are calling or text voting from a cell phone and you are in a different time zone from your cell phone number, the systems will accept or reject your vote based on the time zone of your cell phone area code. For example, if you have a New York cell phone area code but are calling from
Los Angeles, you will be voting outside the East Coast voting window and your vote will not be accepted. Try calling again from a landline telephone during the West Coast voting window."

So make sure when you call to vote it's the appropriate time in the time zone of your area code. or just call from a land-line.

PLEASE VOTE FOR ALEX WAGNER-TRUGMAN TONIGHT ON AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!!!

Thanks,
The Alex Wagner-Trugman Fan Club

put up the tent

We are officially in escrow but I'm not sure how much that means at this point. It's a short sale so even though we have agreed upon a price with the seller, it's lower than what they still owe the bank so we have to wait for the bank to say ok to the whole deal and call it even. They've given us a verbal "we are leaning toward a yes" but without anything in writing it doesn't mean much. The thing about this house is that it really is an oasis in the city. I can imagine living there. Not that I couldn't imagine living in about half the houses we've seen. So we wait and wait and wait... hopefully for this.