WooHoo Masters!

I e-mailed my advisor at CSUN before Thanksgiving to ask about being accepted to the program and whatnot. She just e-mailed me back and told me that she signed my papers to approve my acceptance to the Masters program.

Now I have to wait for the paper to get here and then sign up for classes! I’ll be taking 3 classes (I think – I need to find the paper/brochure she gave me). BUT I’m unable to register online because CSUN is stupid.

See… I registered for classes this past semester – but they dropped me because I didn’t pay. I figured – okay, whatever, I wasn’t going to take the classes anyway. THEN I get an e-mail saying that I am in delinquent status for failure to pay and in order to register I have to pay FIRST and in PERSON. Fuck. This means I have to go to CSUN, pay for parking, pay by cash or check or debit or something except credit for the registration – which will be a shitload of money my parents will have to let me borrow.

So that’s something I have to do in the coming weeks and I have to register for classes before January.

Shit. I’m going back to school. As much as I’ve wanted to go back to school – right now I don’t! I want to have my nice stay-at-home when I don’t work and don’t do anything kind of life. But that’s not gonna be possible, because I should study and get smarter and become educated and make more money by spending a lot of money to get a masters.

I am excited, however. The classes will hopefully be okay. I think I’m taking 2 classes (3 hour classes) back to back. We’ll see how it goes.

Organize

I go through times in which I want EVERYTHING to be nice and neat, completely organized. My room is VERY small and I have plenty of things, so organized doesn’t really mix. It frustrates me. I’m laying in bed looking at my desk – there are books/notebooks/folders all over the top of the hutch. Papers/scrapbook/etc on one shelf, more junk (medicine, etc) on another. On the desk (which rarely ever gets used) there is a notebook, my “organizer” (which should be in my purse), a bag with Lindsey’s birthday present. Then there is my iHome on a little shelf to the side, with two cups/holders with pens, markers, pencils, and other things. On top that is a jewelry box that I bought as a gift a long time ago and have yet to do anything with. On top of that is the pressurized air. Below all that is a three-level paper storage thingie. That’s not to mention the junk that is underneath the desk, on the keyboard pull out and the drawer.

Then, if I dare look at my closet, there is, of course, clothes hanging – although I rarely wear any of that. There is a three drawer plastic container with clothes, yarn, and some other things. Then there is a tub wth more things, and other things I need to keep on the floor of the closet. Then there is the bookcase, which isn’t too bad. I’ve been able to keep it pretty clear – but I have all my albums, yearbooks, kids books, DVDs. Those type of things. I have TWO chest of drawers for my clothes, plus three additional drawers underneath my bed. Now, these drawers aren’t completely full and a lot of the clothes that is in one of them is clothes that don’t fit me and I’m holding on to wishing they will one day fit me again (unlikely).

I’ve gone through the things in my room numerous times. I’ve gotten rid of things in each cleaning. Tried to give away things or throw things away that I no longer needed. But there is ALWAYS more things.

I suppose I need to do it again. Get things cleared and throw away more things. I should start with the clothes so I could then use the drawers to hide non-clothes that I need to keep, but don’t need in the immediate future (which is a bit).

Why did I start feeling this way, you ask? Because I had some pictures developed at Wal*Mart and I put them in my album, but I NEED to write down what is each picture so that in the long run people will know (sort of like how I wish my grandmother would have written things on all the pictures I now have. At least the date). So THAT got me thinking that if I’m going to be organized in my pictures, I should be in the rest of my room. This is not only a positive to unclutter my room, but to unclutter my mind. PLUS with the two girls coming for New Years – the least amount of things in view? The better. Because these girls touch everything and they need a bit of space to keep their own things for the week.

Chocolate

I did a post about coffee, so why not one about Chocolate?

Very rarely will you find a person who doesn’t like some form of chocolate. I like milk chocolate and I LOVE white chocolate.

You might stop be right there and tell me that white chocolate isn’t chocolate at all… I so totally just found out that that isn’t completely true. In fact in order to make white chocolate you start with the same steps as dark or milk chocolate. It just becomes different somewhere in the middle of the process. They seperate the cocoa butter from the powder. The butter is used for the white chocolate, while for milk or dark chocolate they use both parts.

SO! White chocolate is in fact a type of chocolate!

Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Cream is my ABSOLUTE favorite chocolate bar EVER. It is simply amazing. Then we have Lindt chocolate. Oh my goodness! It’s just… melt in your mouth perfection!

Oh! Here’s the answer to what happens to the other part of chocolate – the part that’s NOT used in white chocolate? The cocoa powder. HOT CHOCOLATE mix! Woo! I suppose that just shows how awesome it is for me… I like white chocolate and hot chocolate and with those two neither part of the chocolate goes to waste.

I do not like dark chocolate. It’s too bitter for me. But I don’t like too sweet either… which is weird, becuase I like white chocolate, right? It’s when the white chocolate is made into hot white chocolate that it becomes TOO sweet. Most of the time. Because sometimes? Starbucks (!) white hot chocolate is very yummy.

When it comes to cake? I prefer white cake to chocolate cake. Most of the time. SOMETIMES? You just NEED chocolate and there is NOTHING better than a sweet, delicious, moist piece of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Mmm. Now sounds like one of those times… but it’s not going to happen. :0)

Speaking of cakes? I love the show on the Food Network: Ace of Cakes. They design AMAZING cakes and how I wish I could order from them at some point. I can’t. They cost about $1,000 each. Maybe when I win the lottery. BUT the next time I buy a cake I’m going to buy one of those cakes at Ralphs that is shaped like a cheeseburger with fries. I LOVE the idea of eating a cake that is shaped into a different food. I’ll be over it once I get one, but until then? I WANT ONE!

Expensive!

I’ve been looking into getting my blog a nice design, but everything is SO expensive. The cheapest I’ve seen is $40, but right now I can’t spend that.

I was thinking of spending $20, but I guess I just didn’t realize how expensive these things are.

So maybe, for now, I’ll have to stay with the free layouts.

*sigh*

Super Mario

I got a Sega Genesis when I was little. I only ever had 2 or 3 games. Aladdin and the basic Sonic. I played, I don’t remember how much, but I never got any more games.

I remember going to neighbors houses and playing Nintendo’s Mario Brothers and I thought it rocked. I enjoyed it. So when Andrew told me he had this game, LOTS of games in fact… I was in awe. He was able to get Super Mario on my laptop! Woohoo!

But now? Now i’m addicted and it sucks because I suck at it. I’ve been trying to pass the same freaking level FOR EVER (and forever I mean just today). I want to move on and get to the next level.

Hmm? Maybe I can find cheats? Ha!

Anyway, I moved my bed back against the wall, because although I liked having the bed off the wall – when the girls come after Christmas one is going to sleep with me and she would fall off the side of the bed. Nikki has slept with me, but she does not move while she sleeps – the other two? They are all over the place.

My back continues to hurt. I took the anti-inflammatory medicine, but it didn’t help – so I assume it’s NOT inflammation. Haven’t taken my home made “vicodin” yet… but the night is not over yet. IF the pain is still this intense on Monday I’ll make a same-day appointment with my doctor and try and get her to give me a referral to a chiropracter. That’s the only place that I haven’t been to. UNLESS she has a good reasoning as to why my back hurts so gosh darn much and has a remedy for it. Because, DAMN, can I live normally without pain for one single day?

Alright. Good Night Ya’ll.

Coffee

I don’t drink coffee. I can’t stand it black. The only way that I might take a sip is if it is a WHITE MOCHA. Even then, eh, not a fan. Wasted calories. My mom? She’s addicted. She’s an admitted coffee-addict. If she doesn’t have coffee she feels sick. She bought a wall/kitchen sign that states it well “I don’t do mornings before coffee”. Very true.

Usually anytime we go out and there is a Starbucks, McDonalds, or Kelly’s coffee nearby – she’ll have a cup in her hand.

This wasn’t always so. Once upon a time she had no idea what a “Starbucks” was. But then? Starbucks opened across the street from our building. Two doors down from the Supercuts we go to. My brother made the introduction. That was it. My mom was addicted to having coffee while on the go! Of course it started with the basic cup of coffee. Black, decaf, non-fat, extra-hot. But then it evolved. The Caramel Macchiato! She was in LOVE! A grande non-fat, extra-hot, decaf, Caramel Macchiato, no whip” My goodness, how could she NOT drink this. And so she did. She had this coffee every time we visited a Starbucks.

But oh how things begin to change, right? New stores open, different flavors emerge. A Kelly’s Coffee opened in the Mall… and wow! Apparently it’s VERY good coffee. Dare she say it? BETTER than Starbucks. It was stronger. Mom likes strong. She’ll drink her coffee BLACK. No Starbucks in the mall, so Kelly’s was the new coffee place when we were there. New Flavors! SKINNY Caramel Latte! Whoah!

A new drink that was non-fat? Sugar-free? AND Caramel? Mom was IN LOVE. Then, one day, she had me ask the nice people at Kelly’s if they made such a drink. They did! They had sugar free caramel syrup, too? Amazing! Now she has a new favorite coffee place. A place she likes MORE than Starbucks.

But? Starbucks? She’ll still drink it. It’s more common, in more places, more available – oh, and? It’s across the street, still. (By the way, I tried adding a shot of expresso in the Skinny, but it didn’t make a big difference to her… apparently their coffee isn’t as strong as she’d like it to be.)

My vice? Since I dislike coffee? Jamba Juice. Those of you who have no idea what that is? You’re totally missing out. They are smoothies. They are delicious. Different flavors, and the variety availability like Starbucks. Usually where there is one, there is the other. Or, rather, where there is a JJ there is a Starbucks. Prices have gone up, but man, they are so good! Even in the dead of winter when it’s 40* outside (like that EVER happens!).

Jonathan

Exhausted

I’m so tired. We stopped at Fry’s this morning because they had a USB of 16G on sale for $20! Super cheap. We got three (one for me, one for Bro, one for Bro-in-Law). Then we went off to Fallbrook.

Went through Wal*Mart and didn’t buy anything. Went to Michael’s and got a Sudoku book for kids for Mika. Kohl’s – nothing. BUT that’s when I started feeling horrible. I felt like I was just going to fall in place. I rested, though, and that helped a bit. Target was next and I got presents for Andrew and Lindsey and a couple of DVDs for myself – woohoo!

Then! Then we stopped at Red Lobster. Weird, right? I hate fish! BUT we had a $10 off $10 coupon. Mom and I bought two desserts for a total of $2.60 after the coupons. Woo! Yum!

And now here I am. I’ve been playing Super Mario Brothers. Fun! But I get frustrated and stop playing. More later, I guess.

My back is REALLY killing me now. Especially on my left side. Mom said she has some strong muscle relaxant that she’s going to give me. So I’ll take that and then Codeine and tylenol so that I can make my own Vicodin.

That’s all for now!

Day is Done

The day was good. With a bumpy, but okay night.

I posted about the morning, and I might go into more detail, but I might now. Depends on when I get the pictures up.

I headed out to Andrews place and we had a really nice time together. We laid around, snuggling, watched Get Smart, went out to lunch, played video games, watched another movie, War, Inc. which I fell asleep on the couch for, and had pizza for dinner.

It was very nice. Nice to just be together, and see  us together. Not in a hurry to go to dinner, movie, and home. That’s what we normally do, and although I enjoy the time with him, it was really nice to have hours and hours of uninterrupted time together. He gave me massages, which was really nice.

Over lunch he told me about how he used to help his ex’s grandfather with things around the house and how ungrateful the man was. How he bitched at Andrew that it wasn’t perfect, or whatever. Made me feel good – in the sense that I know he’s a good guy that likes helping people and the fact that I’m not a TOTAL bitch, helps. I will take him out to dinner, lunch. Keep him entertained. Music, maybe, if he wants it. Something.

Tomorrow morning I will put the order in.

Now… what does it all mean? Where does the end of today leave us? I’m not sure. Time will tell.

Home at 8:40

We made it home! woohoo!

Let’s recap, shall we?

First stop went as planned. Got to Kohls at about 3:50. Waited in car until people began to move. The line was about a block long. We skipped waited in line and waited for the people in line to go in. Then we went in. All was good. At Kohls we got:

• Twin mattress pad that’s soft soft soft
• Watch TEO wanted
• Long sleeve shirt for me ($6 plus extra 15% off)

We were done with Kohls by 4:30. Next store was going to be Toys’R'Us/Babies’R'Us. We drove across town to Porter Ranch. Oh. My. G! Toys’R'Us is at one end of a 4 block long shopping center. The line for there was about 2 blocks long. Next to Toys’R'Us is Best Buy, as you can imagine, the line for BB was also super long, but I’m not sure if it was longer than TRU. It was probably about the same, extending to the front of Wal*Mart. Now. The Wal*Mart line? It had to 3-4 blocks long. It was 4:50 at this point and we decided that the lines and the IMMENSE amount of FOG (when the hell did there start being so much fog here?) left us with no choice but to walk across the very large parking lot and go to Starbucks. Off we went. We got our drinks (which took quite a while) and then went back outside. The line for Wal*Mart, which extended across their entire store front of their store, up a long drive way, around and back down the driveway, across the front of Jo-Anne’s, Tilly’s, Bath & Body Works, Sport Chalet, Longs, and Ralphs, finally began to move. We saw people were still coming to stand/walk with the line, so we got behind the last people and drank our nice warm drinks as we walked.

It was a madhouse! But that was to be expected, right? Not as much as it was, I think. It was a lot busier than the past few years, I think. We did a few rounds there. First we got a cart, but that was obviously not going to work because of the incredibe amount of people. Mom discarted it and we went on shopping. We got:

• Scooter for Camila (that my sister is paying us back for)
• A nice fleece warm ass jacket for me (in mens cause there were no more women) ($8)
• Another wrap for my sister (because it was only $5)
• Rubbermaid easy-to-find-the-lids set thing for $7
• A “workout” outfit for the baby (for $4)
• A Hannah Montana doll for Mika (for her Birthday in April) ($5)
• A Baby Alive doll for Camila (for her birthday in January) ($10)
• TWO $9 vacuums
• Hannah Montana PJ’s for Mika ($4)
• Hannah Montana Slippers for Mika ($4)
• Something else for the kitchen ($7)

I think that’s it. BUT when we were in line, the things went wrong. I had to find a cart. BUT THEN we were in one line and people decided to make another line. so two LONG lines waiting to go to the SAME ONE register. Umm. No. So a manager-wearing-a-non-blue-but-white-instead shirt was trying, key word: trying, to make things better. EXCEPT he had the people who had cut and formed a fake line, go first, while the rest of us just sat there for 90 minutes. FINALLY we made enough rucus that it worked out and we left, but SHIT. BAD management. BAD planning. But, at least we were in the NY store where someone actually died.

After Wal*Mart we figured we’d check out TRU/BRU and see if they had anything that we wanted left. They had only a bit, which was okay. The line was really fast and I told them they should go to Wal*Mart and guide them.

I wanted to go to Office Max and see if I could get the present for Mike, and TEO wanted and SD card as well. I wasn’t hopefuly since it was already past 8 and they had opened at 7. BUT we were succesful! They had a bunch of them left, and I was able to make the purchases.

There were a few DVDs I wanted from Target, but I’m not crazy about it, so if I don’t get them, that’s okay.

So that was our morning. I have pictures (some, but in most of them all you can see is the fog!!), and I’ll post those tomorrow.

Now I’m off to spend some time with Andrew