On getting four large-ish pieces of enamel removed from my oral cavity...

It's currently 8 pm and I've been missing four teeth that have been with me... oh, for at least two and a half years or so... for about 8 hours now? Life is good so far. Hasn't hurt me much. But then, I've also been popping three Ibuprofen every four hours, lol.

I actually wouldn't complain at ALL if I could only finish clotting and remove that damn piece of gauze from either side of my mouth. It's irritating me. But as of yet, I show no signs of clotting in the near-future. And yes, it's slowed down. But... *sigh*

[And poor Cris got such a rude sight when we arrived back from the dentist's office... Sorry, Cris. But it was a pretty funny reaction, lol.]

My mom's watching some movie with Goldie Hawn in it (my "info" tells me that it's "Best Friends") and I really have never found her attractive. I actually think she's really cheap and trashy.

There's this man at my office who comes in about 3 x's a week for physical therapy (I can't, of course, say his name due to HIPAA. But he's really cute) who's an absolute sweetheart and always a joy to see. And he always wears this abuelo cologne and it's just so damn cute.... I kinda wanna stick him in my pocket so he can come home with me and play dominoes with the other viejos on the block.

Also, I'm getting sort of tired of hearing about MJ. I mean, I totally get that he was a great icon and an amazing artist... Totally. But really? Is this going to be Princess Di part 2? Are they EVER gonna shut up??

CLOT, DAMN IT!!!!!! CLOT!!!!!!!!!!

I believe that Cristy, Joey, Susie, Deya, & Mai are coming over tonight to:

1. Mock me.
2. Bring me gauze for the wound THAT WILL NOT CLOT!!!!
3. Bring me ice cream.
4. Entertain me since I am, of course, a horrible patient and dying of boredom. Even though I usually like spending a day at home doing nothing.

This will be fun, I am sure. I may have to kick them out early in order to sleep, but otherwise I shall be fine, I think. I'm actually feeling pretty spritely.

There's a very interesting scene going on outside my house right now. The sun's set and there's an odd yellow-ish color (which I'm going to assume is a result of the clouds, rain, and in-limbo time between sunset and dark). It's a really pretty color though. Soothing.

I'm on the phone with my grandparents now. I love them. They're so sweet--even if 97% of the time they drive me up a FUCKING WALL! They cleaned the house, made me pure de platano, and chicken soup. I love them today.

So. Mai's here and the rest are on their way.

AND I'VE ALMOST CLOTTED!!!

w00t

On feeling like I'm in 2nd grade again...

Lesson I learned today: Seeing certain people three times in a week is WAY too much. Another lesson: Yeah, some expensive restaurants might be nice, but... There's a lot to be said for La Nueva Argentina. Screw the $34 filet mignon.

I went on a little drive today. Mainly because I had nothing better to do. But also because I find it very therapeutic. But you know, did the usual. Hopped onto the Palmetto, got up to Pines (again. I keep going up there!), turned back around (because I had to be within reasonable distance of my mom because she's ill) and got to the 836 to go downtown so I could ogle the beautiful skyline. Drove past my job at night (and it's so rich that the drive that usually takes me 40-50 minutes only took me 20) to find that little club hoppin' at 2:30 in the morning.

So, headed back home (because my iPod was about to die) and decided I would stop by my old elementary school (St. Paul Lutheran). The driveway isn't locked, so it was no big.

It was beyond creepy. I was turned back about 9 years. It was really, really bizarre and frightening and upsetting and just... Bah. Like ugh. I don't really understand why, but it was shocking to me. I hadn't gone in there since that one time in 7th grade when I visited. There's no one left for me there now. My class has long since graduated and who knows if my old teachers are even still alive. But I should go back one of these days. It's strange to see how things change. It's even almost scary in hindsight? Like, I just know I'll go back to FCS like two decades from now and break down into tears because it won't be what I remembered. Hell, it isn't that already.

Cops were out in full force today. Saw about 5 or 6. Yuck. AND I almost did something illegal with one right behind me. SUPER happy I didn't because I didn't even know he was there. Bugger.

Tomorrow, I'm going to have lunch with my Abuelo, Abuela, & mom and then go see Robert. Of all the days of the week, this will be the most painful. Doubtless. Hmm. But no, perhaps that shall be Sunday. fml?

Ah, speaking of, my fifteen year old cousin was asked if he wanted wine with dinner. When my grandfather asked that I be served some, the waiter said, "She isn't of age." Fuck you, Mr. Waiter. Fuck. You.

Thanks for reading.... I guess.

On why my friends rule

You know you have the best friends in the world when you can sit on a couch with them for hours on end (sober as fuhhh) and still have the time of your life. Or when you're the only all-girl group at Bird Bowl playing pool in a testosterone (because CERTAIN males who were SUPPOSED to go decided they would rather sit and play... um. Ok, I forgot. But I'm sending dirty looks at YOU, Stephen!). Getting home at 5:30 in the morning after a night of simple love & laughter? Priceless.

So last night was semi-torturous. The first part, anyway. I trekked all the way up to Davie (I made that trip twice this weekend, btw) for my cousin's ballet recital. Which, actually, as far as recitals go, was rather painless. Or would have been. If not for the three horrific hours that I had to sit in a chair watching performance after performance after performance all for the five minutes that Naty was on stage. So then there was this drama (I won't bore you with the gross details) with her father & mother & etc., so dinner was... Late. And I managed to somehow not eat anything except a 4 oz. yogurt & string cheese all day. Not intelligent. Yes, I got that. But between one thing and another, I wasn't much hungry and then didn't have the chance to eat. So, killer headache and... Well, I may have almost fainted, but I don't think I let on to anyone.

Fast forward a few hours and I needed to get away from two mildly irritating 13-year-old girls (not because they themselves are irritating people... It's the age. How could anyone want to be around 13-year-old girls?), my tia's husband (who's a major pesado), and into my bed. Blah blah blah, my hormones make me C-R-A-Z-Y, fed my dad's dog, cried over his gift, yada yada, my grandpa drinks too much....

Arrived at Cristy's. :)

I <3>=0.

Add to that Cristy's little trip to my house tonight (Nat + Cris + camera = narcissism at its very best), and I've had a decent weekend. All things considered, yeah? Not too bad.

And as I sit here, waiting for my 150+ SF pictures to load, I smile. Because I'm happy. And I love my life. And I'm glad that I'm me and am optimistic about the world and about life.

...I'll look back in twenty years and say, "What an idealistic nincompoop."

It does happen.... L0L.

Thanks for reading.
~*~

"I let go."

On early morning musings...

I have found a renewed love for The Nanny. I pretty much try to watch it every day now. Which is just--and let's be honest--sorta lame. But I love it. It's pretty much my favorite sort of story. Woman has bad luck with men, woman finds job with wonderful children, woman falls in love with older employer. Older rich employer. Perfect!

My return from San Francisco has been... Exhausting, in a word. I've been running around pretty much nonstop (catching sleep when I can, getting rather unsatisfying naps here and there). It's my fault, given. I get back Saturday night and I go to Susie's to hang with my girls for a bit after a delayed flight with several shrieking children (and it was so refreshing. I realized how much I love my friends in SF since I couldn't hang with them whenever I wanted...). So, I get back home at about 2:30 A.M., only to have the earring in my tragus fall out. Greaaaaaat. So I have to devise this funny-looking little ghetto temporary save. I wake up WAY too early the next morning to run to Hot Topic to try to buy a replacement. Too bad they don't open until noon.

Then comes brunch with Elise, Megan, Matt, and Elise's family. Very fun, worth the utter lack of sleep. Then I go to home to take a nap. Right? Wrong. I end up having company (WHO INVITED MY COUSINS?!) and having to nap and prepare for my nap that I deeply regretted after. Not only am I $50 poorer, I could have really used the sleep. And Cristy bugged the SHIT out of me that day. Idk what was wrong with you, Cris, but you made me want to fly back to SF.

Work on Monday was tiring, but only because I was running on low amounts of sleep. Then I went with Ginz to see Up, which was really cute. But I got home late and I slept even less for work early on Tuesday. But it was just a mere four hours at work, so no big. I also discovered (the hard way) that it will no longer take me 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive to work in the mornings.

Since it was Tuesday and I only work until one, I went home and NAPPED. A glorious, delicious NAP! I was loony by then. Promise. So then I got all prettied up for the dinner party (lol, and they weren't exaggerating) at Cristy & Susie's. Thanks to Stephen, got all hot from the delicious wine (and somewhat ridiculously giggly, too). Michael met me there and we went to The Coffee Scene in Pines (far. Yes. Not my idea. But pleasant). Then after we finished there we returned to the house and hung with the people there. Did some firsts... And also some definitely-not-firsts, lol. Great night.

Wednesday was long as hell. I ended up filing (AND I'M ALMOST DONE!! JUST "V" LEFT AND PAPERS FOR "TUV"!!!) in the heat for about 4 hours without so much as a breeze because the damn lock was stuck. Had Subway for dinner because there was no way in hell I was going to cook. All I wanted to do was get home, shower, and sleep. And so I did. Then I woke up again and ironed my hair. Then fell asleep at like 4:30. So... I slept three hours for work, sorta. I was the most awake today. I don't understand my body.

Thursday was also good. Work was a total breeze (I even, dare I say it, enjoyed it. Very much so). Got home early, took yet another delicious nap (this one closer to three hours long... Yet not long enough!) and then went to my grandparents' for dinner, money, and food for the girls, lol. CREAM PUFFS! Saw my Leo in crime (Ferny), too. But he didn't have any cream puffs. The non-chocolate ones were better...

And then here I am! It's Friday, I get to sleep in undisturbed without any pressing reason to rise for the first time in... Oh, about three or four weeks. I think since I started working. And my mother won't be home to bother me either. This pleases me. My oil has to be changed (thanks, Abi!) and then at night I think we're playing pool? As I told Cris, "Idk and Idc what we do. I just know I don't want to be in my house."

Saturday: Naty's ballet & (wayyyyyyy later) Stephen's thing.
Sunday: Horseback riding.

I think this week might kill me. I have barely had a moment to rest.

Ah, and I saw The Princess Bride. Which is okay. The guy's super, SUPER hot. And I guess the whole "As you wish" thing is cute.... Except I don't know how "As you wish" could mean "I love you." Honestly, he just sounds irritated to have to do all these things for her. Just saying. "Inconceivable!" <--lol

To those there with me tonight: Lol @ the whole BK thing. I just remembered it now and wow.... Total blonde moment for me (where's Elise when you need her?! Oh, that's right... IN GREECE, LUCKY HOE!)

Oh. Home Improvement just came on and it's sort of awkward because Tim & whoever plays his wife are like necking and.... Yech. Old people kissing... So gross.

I'm still lost to my own horrible musings. And while I doubt none other than a select few will know (shut UP, Cristy!), I'll read back at this and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh.....

Or not.

But I think that I will. I tend to laugh at things in general. Like that whole incident with pan caliente. It's a mixture between cringes and laughter. Mostly cringes. But definitely a lot of hearty laughter. (And always a cry of "I plead temporary insanity!")

Thanks for reading.

On my last night in SF... And semi good riddance!

Hhhh-okay.

So, last night in this pretty, homeless-filled city. Not necessarily sad to see it go (or to watch myself go).

As I knew would happen, I never did end up writing every day. Pfft, I never even went online every day. This is good. I've found that I no longer have that DESPERATE OMG need to be online as much as I can.

So. I'll just mention the highlights.

The Bush Man
There's this man in SF famous for hiding behind a makeshift bush he'd constructed. He then proceeds to jump at the passersby. He jumped out at my mom. But when she didn't jump or scream or anything, he yells after her, "It's obvious you've been in a bush with a black man before!"

Yes, this was awesome. Great laugh. We saw him again tonight. But he didn't get us, lol.


Our Bad Luck with Buses
We seem to have a thing for getting on the wrong buses. Our first experience with this? We got on the F train going in the WAY WAY WAY opposite direction and ended up in... Well, not a horrible part of town, but definitely less-than-savory. Also lost an hour in the process because we didn't realize we'd headed the wrong way until the end of the line. Oops. However, out of this lovely experience, I got to sit next to a homeless man who had a lovely habit of talking to himself.

Our bad luck #2 came Monday. We boarded one of those hop-on, hop-off tourist double decker buses. Mmm hmmm. Yeah. Too bad we spent the whole day on the entirely wrong company. Yeah. Not just the wrong line. The wrong companys. Oops. At least we got a free day's ride, lol.

How I discovered what homeless people smell like
Yeah. Not pretty. A couple of them walked into a Subway and asked for forks. They sorta smelled like horse dung. It's sad because SF has it in its budget to put them all up in a hostile-like thing. But they don't like to be confined. As one social worker once put it, "You have the right to be crazy."

Foot massage, stranger?
Some random lady on the tour to Sonoma and Muir Woods saw my mom's foot wrapped (she sprained it somehow) and told her to take off her shoe. She then proceeded to massage my mother's foot. I don't freaking touch my mother's feet. But the stranger will? She was quite strange, that woman... And not wearing a bra...

The Roach
I almost ate a roach. Not really, of course. But today in Chinatown I bought a red bean custard no se que with que se yo in it. It looked good, at any rate.

Yeah. It wasn't.

It was going ok for the first couple bites. Then I realized there were hard things in it. So I start to take them out. Then I remove something that's in the shape of a roach. I mean, I knew it wasn't really a roach. But I was so traumatized that I threw out the pastry.

Cardboard Clothes
I walked into a shop in Chinatown and found that all the merchandise was made out of cardboard. Cardboard suits, cardboard dresses, cardboard jewelry, cardboard laptops, cardboard desktops, cardboard lingerie, cardboard shoes, etc etc. Mmm hmm. So... I'm thinking... "Perhaps it's for kids to play with?"

Yeah. No. Not so much.

The Chinese use these such objects to bury with their dead. As things that they'd enjoy in the afterlife.

Cool, no?

The Sea Lions!
So. The famous sea lions at Pier 39? Totally worth it. I loved them. Cute. Feisty. Wet. Kinda smelly and obnoxious.

They's my kind of creature. :)

Note: The sea gulls here are obese and on steroids. And somewhat frightening.

MEETING AMIE!!!!!
I met up with Amie. :) And her fiance David. Super sweeeeeeet. :) I'm just sad it was so short. :(

I'm looking forward to the wedding!!!

Thanks for reading.

On California's Prop 8

I think it's disgusting that they were told they could marry and then had that revoked.

Unfair. Completely. If you say something, then go through with it.

Disgusting.

On my traitorous little heart (actually, not really)

Hello. What? A post the day after another? CRAZY! I know. But I'm trying to write down some things I've done in San Francisco (since I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't really like to talk about her trips after she's done with them). Not to worry though, I never actually finish documenting a trip. I have a "travel journal" that I write in for like four days and never finish. It's hilarious, really. And a shame, because I'm sure I'll read them one day and love it and relive those lovely trips all over again.

So. Woke up too early today. 7 something. Because my mother almost keeled over in the shower. (Moral of the story: Don't have 14 take offs and landings in a 2 week span or your internal ear equilibrium or whatever will be seriously messed up.)

Made some croissants in the room (yes, we lugged our little oven all the way here. It's just really damn convenient! And I think wasting money on breakfast is ridiculous. Especially when all you really need is a little toast and cream cheese). Got dressed eventually. Headed out (at about 9:30-ish? I ate shit on the computer for a long time lol).

Btw, totally cold in San Francisco. TOTALLY. Wore a jacket all day. And my cheeks are wind-burned, the way they always are in the cold. Very uncomfortable feeling. I don't know how it's possible my skin is so damn sensitive.

Walked MILES (ok, a few blocks. About fifteen? I don't know. And too lazy to figure it out) to Fisherman's Wharf for the farmer's market. Which was really, really cute. And Cali fruit is so beautiful! And tastes good! And I had lavender salt (yum) and smelled fresh lavender (more yum--favorite smell ever) and had a delicious Burmese no-se-que curry sausage with absolutely divine mango cilantri chutney ($5.50). Then my mom went crazy (we'll blame it on the steroids) and I got cranky and we went back to the hotel to drop stuff off. Btw, super weirdos in SF. And lots of homeless people. And people running. And dogs. Everywhere. Like, people walking their dogs. Everywhere. On the bus. In buildings. In restaurants... Freaks. All of them. Again, to reiterate: FREAKS in SF and beautiful produce.

[Got super irritated within five minutes of our walk, too, because it was misting. So, not enough to take out the umbrella, and I'd look weird if I did. Damn.]

Then we walked (more. I know. Wtf.) to Beach & ... &... Damn, forgot the name of the street. Powell? No, that's before. Hyde? Maybe? Whatever. Waited in line for the motherfucking street car for AN HOUR AND A HALF in the freaking cold while some guy played the guitar (super badly, what's even worse) and begged for money. I wanted to throw a rock at him. He really sucked. Seriously. I've seen fifth graders play better. But moving on. The wait was totally worth it. Went up and down several hills (puts Tally into some perspective, lol) and freaked out a bit on the steep downhill slope. Idk. I just... Wasn't into that angle much. The fact that other streetcars were passing within five inches (not kidding) didn't help much. Ended up at Union Square (the shopping district) that has A HUGE FOREVER XXI I DIDN'T GO INTO!!!! But it was cold. And we were getting hungry. So. Hopped onto the F train--in the wrong direction. Got to the end, then had to go back in the way we came, lol. I sat to some guy who was talking to himself. People smell funny in SF. Eventually made it back to the hotel area (Mason & North Point, right off Fisherman's Wharf) and went in search of food (5:30 pm by now. Yes, we eat abnormally early on vacation. I know it's weird).

Now, I wanted to eat at this pizza place called the Pizza Zone or whatever (we're traveling cheap, fyi). My mom took one step in there and got "disgusted" and demanded we walk another three blocks to this Mexican place (my feet hurt by now and I just wanted to eat and get to the hotel). The Pizza Zone looked great--it was full of locals, it was relatively cheap, it was run by Chinos. It's very Jerry & Joe's-like. But a little bit more scattered, lol. So onward we trek to the Las Margaritas. Not only is the place completely EMPTY (y eso que it's near the tourist strip), the cheapest entree's $14. So we go back to the Pizza Zone. And GUESS WHAT? Delicious. Not like Jerry & Joe's, of course. But still super good. And cheap! ($9.80)

Went to Safeway again to buy my mom coffee and to get more Diet Coke (addicted. I know). Oh, I tried this Hibiscus tea today that was really yummy.

On our way into Safeway, we pass by this guy who's super happy and waving to Idk who across the street and I take a breath and... Wtf? Pot? So I go to my mom, "That smells like pot." "Yep, it sure does," she replies. I know pot when I smell it. On the street! Just smoking a joint! It was super funny. No wonder he's in such a good mood?

Back to the hotel we went. And now I'm here, in bed, with a blister on my big toe.

And I believe that's all.

Thanks for reading. :)