Blossoms in the Sun

Please Fasten Your Seatbelts

2008-02-18T11:04:00.000-08:00

*****
And prepare for takeoff.

www.yzbft.blogspot.com

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Returning to a Reader Near You!

2008-02-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

****
I am awake, I am inspired, I am ready.

T-24 hrs and counting......

~Yvette

Status Update

2008-01-21T17:39:00.000-08:00

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Hi there. I know that I planned to debut my new blog today, but, I'm running behind schedule. I do have a few days off this week, so I'm planning to work on it. It's like 75% done.

So if you RSS, I'll post a post redirecting you to my new blog. If you don't, you can either keep checking back starting around Wednesday, or just check back on Saturday for sure.

~The Big YZ

Last Blog of the Year

2007-12-31T20:03:00.000-08:00

*****
Hi there. I had planned to go out as my verbose self and post a really big blog post. But, that is not going to be the case. So here is the gist of the matter:

I'm really busy living my life.

I need a break from my blog.

I'm tired of pink.

I'm sick and tired of some other crap that's going on in the backstage of my life.

So I'm taking a break from blogging for a while. My tentative return date is sometime between January 21 and February 1. The goal is to have a new look, new links, new focus, just be new. Yet, be more me at the same time. I may or may not have a new address, if I do, I'll post a link.

My resolution for 2008 is to fully embrace my Yvetteness. I'm ready, the haze of the last decade is wearing off. Thank goodness.

As for you, my friends, Happy New Year. Push your boundaries and make them bigger.

~Yvette
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

I Miss You

2007-12-20T19:57:00.000-08:00

*****
I miss blogging.

If I could, I would freeze time like Piper just so I'd have more time to blog. There's so much I want to say. It's that big blog. I have bits and pieces of it on paper, but no time to commit it to the computer. Hopefully soon. Stay tuned.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

WARNING Contains Foul Language

2007-12-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

*****
This was just too funny not to repost. I snatched this off a blog I read.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Right Now, Right Now-Right Now

2007-12-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

*****
(Not later-later)

It is absolutely mind-blowing crazy at REI. No time to pause, no time to breathe, no time to think.

Loving it!!!!!!! I love the chaos!!!!!!!!

Bring it.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Random Post

2007-12-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

*****
I was really bored today at work, so I took my camera and went outside and shot some pictures. Just because.

Rainy Day

Other than that, I have a big post coming up but not done with it yet. So stay tuned.

Here are pictures with my new Christmas decorations. Enjoy.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

iPod Post pt 3

2007-12-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

*******
Okay, so I bought my iPod on Wednesday during my lunch break, and was just thrilled. I got it home and plugged it into my computer so I could charge it. After a couple of hours, my new iPod was fully charge, but uh-oh, my computer wasn't recognizing the iPod. Oh shit!!!!

Okay, let me tell you about my computer. I bought it right after I bought my car. I paid off my car this past March. So, in computer years, my computer is..... old. It originally had a 20Gb hard drive, 128Mb of RAM, and still isn't USB 2.0. I've upgraded my hard drive and RAM, but the USB, meh. (I need a new computer, but I'm scared of Vista)
So now I'm ready to go into pitch a fit mode. I'm hoping my only issue the USB thing. I have an open slot in my computer, I guess I could go to CompUSA and buy something to fix it (I sound so gosh darn technical, don't I?) So, I go online to take a look around. Very lucky for me, I am spied online by my friend, fellow cyclist (if I can still call myself one these days), and former colleague Carlos. Carlos knows all things Apple. If he can't help me, I'm screwed.

I tell Carlos my troubles and ask for his assistance. In all his Apple wisdom, he asks me one simple question: What version of iTunes are you running? Hell if I know. So I click Help > About, and check out the version. I'm running v4.0. I heard his laughter from Northern California. The most current version of iTunes is v7.5. I guess I'm a little behind the times. He tells me to update and try again, we'll go from there.

So I download v7.5 and install. Voila!!!! Hello Yvette Z.'s iPod!!!! *whew*

Now my iPod is set up and ready to be filled with all my beautiful music. So what do you think I uploaded first? Take a guess. If you know me, you know my song.

Yes, this is a crappy picture. My batteries in my digital camera died so I took a picture of my iPod with my phone's camera. Here's what it says:

In Your Eyes

Peter Gabriel

1 of 1

Of course, after taking the picture, I uploaded the entire album plus a couple others. When I sat down to listen, the first song I listened to was In Your Eyes, and the first album I listened to in it's entirety was So.

As of right now, I have 8 albums loaded for a total of 93 songs. I'll give updates as I gain progress. Oh, and as far as my iPod is concerned, I have 73.6Gb free. I have less than a gig of music on my player, I don't really know where my missing gigs went. *shrug*

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

iPod News pt 2

2007-12-07T13:44:00.001-08:00

*******
First, shout out to my friend Steveo, today is his birthday. Happy birthday Steve, I love you!
(yes, his birthday is Pearl Harbor Day)

So, this is my Christmas present to myself, a new mp3 player, an iPod. An 80Gb iPod. Mmmmmm......music........

Those of you who know me know that I sprang forth from my Mommy's forehead fully formed, singing and dancing A Chorus Line (ONE singular sensation, every little step she takes). I love music. I sing, I dance, I play instruments. When I work, I sing. When I'm at the frontline at REI, I'm dancing. Just ask anyone!!!

I need to be surrounded by music all the time. I do. Once upon a time I used to lug cassette tapes with me wherever I went. Then I graduated to CDs. Carrying a big book of CDs gets really heavy. When the mp3 player came out, I didn't get one right away because they cost more than I could afford. I did buy a disc-man (remember those?) that could read mp3 files, so I converted album after album to mp3 and I could put like 100 songs on a single CD. So then, instead of carrying a big book of CDs, I was carrying a little book of CDs. It was very nice to have all my Peter Gabriel albums on 1 CD.

I did get tired of it though, so I went out and bought myself a little mp3 player. I mean little, like 1Gb. Unfortunately I was only able to put like 200 songs on it. Now, to some of you, 200 songs may sound like alot, but when you listen to it while you're getting ready for work in the AM and then for 8 hours at your desk, after a while it gets really repetitive. My little mp3 player only allowed for one playlist too, I didn't like that. I ultimately wanted to be able to create a playlist for every mood I had: Happy, pissed-off, in a taiko mood, and most famously, when I'm in a wine and cheese mood. Having only the ability to have a certain amount of songs, I had to pick and choose only my favorite 1 or 2 songs off of any certain album. If I got a new CD and wanted to add a song or 2 to my player, I had to vote a song or 2 off the island. The only artist who had total immunity was Peter Gabriel. I hated having to choose. To me it's like having to choose, who do you love more, your cat or your boyfriend? Ugh.

So, with the second job, I was able to save up some dough and get myself something bigger. Okay, I admit, I really wanted the 160Gb one, but the price was pushing my limit. What I want, right now, is to be able to have ALL my music with me, wherever I go, whatever mood I'm in. I'm assuming 80 is going to be enough. I'm going to scream if it's not.

~Vet
"640K ought to be enough for anybody."

I Have An iPod Now

2007-12-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

*******

Testy picture, blog post coming soon.

~Vet
"What? What do you mean I'm obsessive? I thought I was just enthusiastic."

I Can't Believe It Myself....

2007-11-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

*****
I can't believe that I've got Christmas spirit this year. I'm not anti-Christmas, I love Christmas, but it's still November, and *I* have put up some (but not all) Christmas decorations in my office already. It's unbelieveable. Hopefully pictures will come soon, we'll see. For now, I leave you with this. It's as true in 2007 as it was in 1984.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

No, I Am Not Sorry

2007-11-24T18:15:00.000-08:00

*****
I hope that didn't come across bitchy, it was not my intention, but I am clearly not apologetic about not blogging. There are not enough hours in my day to blog anymore. On one hand it's very good that my life is busy and filling in so many ways I cannot even begin to describe, but on the other hand it kinda sucks that I'm too busy to share what is going on in my life with you. (Okay, like all 5 of you) I really want to, but a busy girl like me needs her sleep. I went dancing last night with my dance partner Manny, and we had so much fun. We closed the club down and I didn't get home until 2:30. I was awake, and very tempted to log on and tell you about my evening, but my better judgement took hold and told me to take a shower and go straight to bed. And that is exactly what I did. Hopefully I will write more tonight, since I currently have no plans this evening once I get home from work. Don't tell anyone but I am on my lunch break using the computer in the breakroom.

Life is good.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

Blessings to you all!

(now it's party time with the familia!!!!)

*****
~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Volunteer Project

2007-11-06T20:46:00.001-08:00

*****

Okay, I'm supposed to write about this volunteer project we did this past saturday, but I wanted to go ahead and post the picture of afterwards

From left: Sara, Alyson, Shane (from the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust), Jessica, Richard, me, and Jeri. (Thanks to Sara's friend for taking the picture)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Weekend

2007-11-05T13:17:00.001-08:00

*****
How was my weekend? It was jam-packed and fun-filled. Okay not quite exactly, but close. Friday evening I worked, no big surpise. It was fun as usual.

It's strange associating work with fun, but really, it is. Sometimes I stop and try to think back to during my interview and training, and wonder if they used any mind-control techniques on me. I'm reminded of a book I read, a sci-fi medical drama: During a med school application and testing process, this one medical school used subliminal messages on their applicants. If they responded positively, they were accepted, and subsiquently manipulated to have certain view points on world healthcare and research. These things included performing medical research on the homeless in the name of science.

Anyways, I did have a point in there somewhere. I'm not implying that I've been brainwashed, but I am more gung-ho about working at REI than I imagined. Well, there was that moment during my interview with Alyson and Joseph where I broke down crying and told them that if they didn't hire me I would die.... Well, I haven't agreed to drink any Flavor-Aid (to be historically accurate) so I think I'm doing ok.

I believe in the company's environmental practices, and I love that most of my fellow co-workers live these practices in their daily lives outside of REI. I love the outdoors, I guess I'm making up for spending my childhood indoors. I love the smell of being in the mountains- the trees, the grass. All the green, the open space, away from this city I live in. Beautiful majestic rocks, pleasantly reminding me of how tiny I am in God's universe. I love the vastness of the ocean, me sitting on the shore watching the waves come rolling in, the sound of the water smashing against the rocks. I love that I can't see to the other side. Just water to the horizon. It's just so much bigger than me. You would think that feeling so small would be a scary thing, but for me it's not. It's comforting knowing that there is something so huge out there, made in love.

And that's what I want to take care of, and protect.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

***
And I am not telling you this to scare you, but the word out on the street is that Lance Armstrong is now dating Ashley Olsen. WTF???????

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Tuesday Ramblings

2007-10-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

***

How about that storm last night? I checked NOAA, and we were beyond red, we were magenta! I was at work and I guess you can say that we had our first official test of the building. Uhm, we failed. A pipe wasn't connected like it was supposed to be and during the magenta downpour, we had a small waterfall upstairs. Some jackets got wet, and the carpet was soaked, but at least we never lost power. Thank goodness.

Halloween party was awesome, as usual. I did catch some grief for the weather, because I was dressed like mother nature. No stories about the party, because what happens in Club Rich stays in Club Rich. I will tell you that one man was dressed like a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, and there was another young man there that I thought was very cute. 'Nuff said.

Here's a pic of me (Mother Nature) and Lisa (Fallen Angel):

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Movie Night

2007-10-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

*****
Last night I went with a friend from work2 to see the movie Into the Wild.

It was beautiful, it was awesome. I cannot imagine anyone not being moved by this story.

I highly recommend seeing it. If you haven't seen it yet, you better hurry before it goes away. I can only imagine what the special features will be when this movie is released on DVD.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Nothing

2007-10-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

*****
Just a quick blurb since I have sooooooooo much to do tonight:

Last night I worked2 and I finally got to meet John in Fresno. It was so awesome to finally meet him. :)

This morning I am helping my sister make MENUDO (yeah, be jealous)

This afternoon I work2, always look forward to that

Tonight is my Aunt and Uncle's annual halloween party. We take this party very VERY serious, and no one, absolutely no one gets in without a costume. We even have security. I have one word for you: Jager
(we're going to par-tay)

Peace,
Reduce, re-use, recycle,
Plant a tree,
Go climb a rock,
Pack it out,
Breathe,

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

I Know, I Know.....

2007-10-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

*****
I'm sorry.

My actual physical life is interfering big time with my virtual life.

I still have to tell you about going rock climbing with a gal from work2.

(work2 = REI)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

DO THIS NOW!!!!

2007-10-13T23:18:00.000-07:00

*******
Just click this link and tell me what you see. I don't care if I know you or not, if you are a friend or a stranger or an enemy or a bored stalker. Tell me whether you see her moving clockwise or counter clockwise. Post with your name, post anonymously, or post as your favorite actor (all John Cusacks welcomed). I saw her originally moving clockwise but now I can make her dance. :)

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22492511-5005375,00.html

PS- I just completed my first month at REI- totally cool :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

BE HONEST!!!!

2007-10-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

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For those of you watching House with me this evening-- At the beginning, how many of you were more concerned about the dog, than the poor sick guy in the wheelchair?

Yeah, me too. :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Quote Correction

2007-09-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

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About a billion and a half months ago I quoted part of a quote and credited Nelson Mandela. I just found out that that was incorrect. Here is the quote in its entirety, and correctly credited:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” --Marianne Williamson

~Vet

Wandering Thoughts

2007-09-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

*****
Yeah, I know I'm crazy. I want to do this! i STILL want to do this. Nope don't know these people, but just found their videos and loved them.

For the record, I HAVE hiked up to the tops of Vernal and Nevada Falls, but never all the way to the top. Thinking June, before I have to move to Sacramento (long story).

~Vet

"You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your f***ing khakis." -- Tyler Durden

Hi & I Love My Job(s)

2007-09-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

*******
This is just another quickie post because I have to finish my dinner, wash my face, and brush my teeth before 10:30pm. If I don't get to bed pronto, I so incredibly feel it in the morning. I really hate that I'm not a jump out of bed singing and dancing kind of person. I think I used to be a really long time ago, but now I'm not functional until I've had at least half a cup of coffee. Maybe I'm just old, I am 34 now. ;)

I spent today-day at a path lab. I reviewed 2200 path reports. That's a lot of path reports. I'll be doing that every Wednesday now as part of our reorganizing. Usually I don't go to this particular lab. Mine are in Merced and Modesto. This new one is here in The No. Pathologists are very strange. I like it. I should have been a pathologist. I always liked looking at things under a microscope.

I spent today-night at REI. The mad rush is over, I think. One special treat I like about working frontline is that I get to see different membership cards from different eras. REI has been around since 1938, and has always been a co-op, so the style of the cards changes with the times. The current cards are typical plastic with a bar code on it. Older ones are typed and laminated. I have to key those in manually. The lowest number I have seen so far is in the 202,000 range. A man came in this evening in the 300,000 range. He said he joined back in 1971. Isn't that awesome?

JENNY MY FRIEND!!!!!- This one is for you! Mr Ikeda came in the store today. We talked briefly. I was never one of his students, but I told him that I was friends with you, and Amy, and Suzie. He remembered all of you. He says hi and wanted me to tell you that he still has your notebook from AP History. :)

All of my coworkers at REI are really nice people. Today after work I was asking Richard and Carlos about climbing. They were so nice to me. If you ever visit the store you'll find Richard downstairs running the shop and Carlos upstairs in clothing/footwear. You can't miss Carlos, he's tall with beautifully wild hair. Don't tell him-- but I love his hair.

Okay, enough gabbing on my part. I have 8 minutes to do the bedtime prep!

P.S. I hate the White Stripes song Icky Thump!

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Quickie Hi

2007-09-17T22:30:00.000-07:00

*******
I hate to admit it, but I think I may need to re-think this whole blog thingy. There's too much I am doing, too much I want to do, and not enough time to blog about it.

Did I tell you that I'm getting a massage for my birthday? Well I am :) Stacey rocks!!! (and she uses them too woo-hoo!)

There's so many thoughts running around in my head, you don't even know.

And I was thinking today, I wish I had known my friend Carlos before I knew him. I would have liked to see him do the things he did back them.

Oh, and I'm taking up bouldering :-D

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit." --Word.

Tonight Rocked!!!!

2007-09-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

*******
First off, for those of you who didn't know. Today is my birthday. I'm this many now *holding up thirty-four fingers* (^ ^)

Tonight was also Friends & Family Night at REI. From 6 to 9, REI was a mad house. We did nearly $30,000 in sales and sold about 140 memberships. I sold 2 myself. It was CRAZY!!!

Of course I scored some schwagg. I got my very first Nalgene bottle today, and it is sweet.
You can't really see what it says on the top. It says Fresno California Grand Opening 2007. It's a 32oz bottle. I also received this past weekend another REI shirt. This one in black with a cool trim.
I am soooooo loving it.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Vet is TIRED!!!!!

2007-09-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

*******
Yes, I'm here, and I'm still alive. I'm TIRED. I worked today, but I didn't have to work tonight, my first evening off since the Sunday before Labor Day.

Last week I worked 61 hours.
This week so far I have worked 31 hours.
This past Sat & Sun I worked 9-9. Those were the hardest days.

But I'm alive, and grateful that I can work like this- if only barely ;)

Once the store opens, my schedule will settle down.

Tomorrow we have a special opening by invitation only. I'm excited.

The grand opening is this Friday. I'll be working in the evening. If you are near Fresno, stop on by so I can sell you a membership! ;)

Did I tell you that the dress code is super relaxed? I can wear shorts and sandels if I so desire, Woo-Hoo!

I have Thursday evening off too, so hopefully I'll be able to finish my laundry and get some posting done! :)

Special note to John in Fresno: Are nordic skis the same as cross-country skis? That's what I was told. So, to answer your question, no, we won't be carrying them in the store, but you can buy them online (or online in the store) and have them shipped to the store at no charge. I don't know if that's what you were needing to know....

~Vet
"I'm tired"

Here Comes the Bride!!!!!

2007-09-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

*******
Okay, I'm not getting married anytime soon, but today at REI we learned how to create gift registries. We were allowed to create a registry for ourselves, and I made myself a wedding registry. So who's the lucky groom I know you are asking?

John Cusack

I've set the date for May 1, 2009. An arbitrary date. I need time to plan a proper wedding ;) Unfortunately I deleted the account, since we were only pretending. Had I thought about it, I should have left it up for a day or two and posted a link so you guys could see.

Ahhh, a girl can dream....

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Worth Losing (a little) Sleep Over

2007-09-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

******

This is on the sidewalk outside the door of REI. It's like the USGS summit markers. Way, way, way, WAY cool :)

Today was my first day working both jobs. I'm ready for bed, but I couldn't not post this totally cool picture.

I am so excited. I cannot even begin to describe it. I feel like its Disneyland or something.

Another bonus is that there are lots of stairs involved for me. Good for the legs :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Happy Labor Day!

2007-09-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

*******

Hi :)

Didn't have to day job work today, but I will have to night job work later. This morning my Aunt Margie made menudo and invited the whole family over for breakfast, so that's where I was this morning.

I know this sounds funny, but I've been taking the time since I returned from vacation to adjust my sleeping schedule and work schedule. I'll be working 12hr days some days now, and I'll be going into work at 7 instead of 8:30 (come on, lets be honest). So, I've been fiddling with my bedtime and waking time. It's been hard. I'm not used to going to bed so early and getting up even earlier.

Tonight I will be going into the new store for the very first time! :) We've been trainning out of the business office so far. I'm excited. Woo-Hoo!

Here is an old picture, the morning after the last halloween party (you can tell by the hair) of me eating some menudo. Mmm-mmm gooooooood! ;)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

New T-Shirt

2007-08-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

*******

While I was at the aquarium, I bought myself a t-shirt. I think it's pretty!

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Back from the Coast

2007-08-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

*******
Yesterday I went to Monterey. I went to the aquarium and to the water's edge to sit on the rocks and watch the waves crash on the shore. I actually took a ton of pictures, for once. I'll be posting them to Flickr soon. I think I need to take a photography class to learn how to take good pictures and save up for a better camera, since most of my pictures came out blurry.

Going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium makes me want to stop eating seafood completely....but seafood tastes so good! For now, I'll just be content with having eliminated tuna from my diet.

I'll post more later today, I have a lot of stuff I've been meaning to write on, but I'm hungry and want to eat. Oh yeah, I'm thinking of changing the style of my blog. The pink is too pink for me right now. I'm feeling very purple and green these days.

P.S. Did you know that my mom really REALLY likes the movie Malibu's Most Wanted? She's always going around saying "don't be hatin'" :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

One Last Hurrah!

2007-08-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

*******

The arundo project. Geeze Louise!!! It was freaking bamboo!!! Bamboo by any other name is still a bitch to cut down. It was lots of hard work and I got real dirty. But I got an awesome t-shirt for it. Sorry, no pictures, was too busy working :(

Last night I got new tires for my car. My car is very happy. "Road Trip! Road Trip!" she cries. Since this is my last free weekend before REI opens, I'm taking a time-out day trip for myself, to charge up my batteries. I don't have time to do a full weekend, because I have so much to do before my schedule changes, so I'm going to disappear for a few hours into a space where I can chill, be thankful, get focused, and get rested.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Thoughts on the New Job Stuff

2007-08-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

*******
Oh yeah, I remembered what I wanted to write about in my last post. Paperclips. I think of them as office cockroaches. They are everywhere, they mulitply, and you can't get rid of them. I also really dislike it when they slip into my keyboard. Does anyone know of a way to recycle them? I don't want to just toss them, and there is a huge drawer in the copyroom of my office that is full of used paperclips. It seems that no one likes to reuse them. I admit, I won't reuse them if they are bent even ever so slightly. But if they are still flat, I will. I want to bring in a ziploc bag and fill it up with paperclips, take it home and put it in my recycling bin. I tried doing an internet search to find out how to properly recycle them, but I came up empty handed. I must be using a lame algorithm. ;)

This past week, I attended Base Camp for REI. For an orientation meeting it was a lot of fun. No really, it was. I won't bore you with any details, it was just typical going over the manual and stuff. Today, we had our sales and service training. I won't be on the sales floor, I'll be at the front line, but still, I needed to learn the REI way of doing things. I've had sales experience in the past, but not in a way I felt comfortable doing business. What I learned today was very different, and very refreshing. I think I'm going to like it.

Tomorrow we have our first service project. We will be removing arundo, an invasive plant, that is growing along the San Joaquin River. If you care to learn more about this plant click here. We'll be doing that in the AM and then we'll have an opportunity to hang out afterwards for free canoe trips! WOO-HOO! Oh, and I'll get a free t-shirt (LOVE THE SCHWAG!!!)

I love this job already!

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

ÕQb

I'm Such A Dork

2007-08-15T21:27:00.001-07:00

*******
I think I should have taken an extra day off. Just a day to unwind and relax. And read.

Today I spent the entire day genuinely thinking it was Monday. My officemate Melissa had to set me straight several times today. There was no way that she was going to let me drag her back to Monday.

This morning I was seriously debating coming in late. I was in the middle of a book that I did not want to put down. It's not a big book and I'm already 3/4 of the way done. I'll definitely have it completed before I go to bed tonight. It's one of those business fables like that mouse & cheese story. I was recommended the book by a business website I visit. Pretty good so far, and practical- stuff I can take to work and really use (like that 7 habits book). Also I've heard some good things about a organization method called GTD. I'll have to look into it some time.

Before I forget, here's that picture of me with that handsome soldier I was telling you about:
Okay, I'm a bit of a tease. Sorry to those who were expecting a younger man. This is my Uncle Pete, a.k.a. father of the groom (my cousin Tony), retired Army, now proudly serving USPS. Because Pete has a niece who likes to brag about her awesome family, you should take note of the sleeve of his jacket. You can definitely make out three stripes and a tiny bit of a fourth-- Actually there are not four but SEVEN stripes on his sleeves, which means a pretty long time (at least 21 years). I'm very proud of him, but I'll be honest, I'm SO glad that he retired before all this Iraq stuff started. He looked GOOD at the wedding ceremony and reception.

There was other stuff I know I wanted to blog about, but I can't remember anymore. I'll talk about the wedding, training, and Guitar Hero another day. I really really want to finish my book tonight.

~Yvette
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

I'm Back!

2007-08-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

*******
Hello people.I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm "back" from my vacation. The wedding was awesome and it was good to see all my family. Even had a time out for myself and spent an evening with a special amigo. Tonight I had my base camp for REI so I am now officially on the clock. I return to my regular job in cancer information management tomorrow bright and early. Hopefully soon I'll return to my blogging. I have much to blog about, and some pictures to post (especially the one with me and a very handsome soldier) but now, my available time is diminishing. Not to worry, I'll figure out a solution.

Yvette Z.
a.k.a. Judy Nails, guitar hero.
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Calgon Take Me Away!!!

2007-08-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

*******
Now I remember why I don't take vacations.

Next year I'm taking a vacation WITHOUT my family. Someplace far far away....

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Vacation, Day 1

2007-08-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

*******

I have to admit, to not go to work today was a little tough. This morning I asked my sister to take me to the Fulton Mall to look for shoes (I admit, I won't go there without a translator). As I was driving south on 41, I felt like I was ditching work. This afternoon, as I was sitting in line at Costco waiting to get gas, my thoughts returned to work and to the piles of cases on my desk, waiting to be abstracted. Man, this is pretty bad, I can't let this job of mine turn into my life. Maybe I already have....

On the bright side, I found a purse and some shoes! The shoes are awesome and SO comfortable! I just took a picture of them with my camera phone. If the pic looks good, I'll post it. I love shoes.

Also, since I was in the Riverpark area, I did a drive by of what I believe is the new REI. I took a pic of that too, but I want to verify the address first. I would feel really dumb if I posted a picture and it ended up being the wrong building. So the next time I post, I'll let you know for sure.

Famiy-wise, my Aunt Sue is here. She arrived Saturday night. My Uncle Waldo and family should be getting in any minute now. It's so cool. :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

ÕbQ

Ready, Set, VACATION!!!!!!!

2007-08-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

*******
Okay, I am officially on vacation! I've actually taken time off from work to spend time with my family that are coming down for my cousin's wedding. I think I must be absolutely insane. No, not for wanting to spend time with my family, but for wanting to spend time away from work. I'm one of those crazy people who doesn't like to spend time away from the office because I believe it will fall apart without me. In fact, besides the occasional day off here and there, I haven't had an official vacation since I went to Michigan 2 years ago.

I think it will nice to have some time off. It's been way too long. I took a quiz at a business website that I often visit, and this quiz told me that I am on the path to career burnout. Boy, was I shocked to discover that. But, on the bright side, I read a related article that gave some recommendations on fighting career burnout and one recommendation was to start a side job or project. What timing!!! And on that tanget....

I went to REI today to fill out the appropriate new hire paperwork. The employee handbook rocks! AND..... they gave me magnets! (^ ^) The refrigerator poetry type that are words. I love refrigerator magnets. Oh hell, I love magnets in general. If you've ever seen my office, you know what I'm talking about. Anyways, I'm signed up for all my training shifts. I should be well trained in time for our grand opening. I'm really, really excited. (^ ^)

Since I'm going to be on vacation through Tuesday August 14, I don't know how much posting I will be doing. I know I won't be home much, but I hope that I'll be able to post about the wedding and my Base Camp training.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

ÕbQ

I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!

2007-08-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

*******
"We inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure"

http://www.rei.com/

Yes, I got the job! I will be a part-time cashier at REI. I am absolutely thrilled! I was notified by phone this morning.

But there is no REI in Fresno. Well, not yet. REI is currently building their new store at Riverpark with grand opening September 14. At this point I don't have many concrete details, but I'll know more once I've gone through orientation. They call it Base Camp. Tell me that isn't the coolest thing!

I cannot begin to describe how excited I am to start this new adventure. I admit, I've been out of the retail business for quite some time, but I am confident that my customer service skills are still intact. I was dancing around doing the "Superstar" like a complete idiot at work today because I was sooooo happy. Quite frankly, I'm ecstatic.

I must give a shout out of thanks to my amigo Jim, who gave me the heads-up about the store opening and told me to apply. He knew I was looking for something just like this. That's what buds are for. :) We'll toast with some nice tequila. Also, I thank all my well-wishers, this opportunity means so much to me.

If you are not familiar with REI, I encourage you to check out their website. It's a Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work for in America." Especially check out REI's Active Stewardship. REI rocks.

Tonight's quote:

"Each year, REI donates millions of dollars to support conservation efforts nationwide, and sends scores of volunteers to build trails, clean up beaches, and teach outdoor ethics to kids. Through responsible business practices, we strive to reduce our environmental footprint."
--REI website

~Yvette
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

ÕbQ

Monday Blog

2007-07-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

*******
I'm back. What have I been up to?

1. Applying for a second job. Not for the money, but for the exposure to a company with a particular environment/culture, not to mention excellent employee perks. (Can you say pro-deal?) I want more friends in this cultural subset because I don't have enough. If you haven't guessed which company I have applied for, it's actually a co-op with more than 3 million members! I went to a general hiring clinic a few weeks ago and had a good interview. I recently went back last week for a second interview, they still seemed to like me. So for now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and lighting every candle within walking distance ;) I'm not saying right out what company I've applied with, I feel uncertain revealing what I have already because I don't want to jinx myself. I really want this job. (A Chorus Line: Oh God, I need this job.....) Once I hear final word, I'll fess up to everything.

2. Got dealt a blow at work. The Governator has slashed our budget 20% and the powers that be (above me) had to make some really hard choices. Closest to home, I'm losing one of my team members. I'm absolutely heartbroken, because she was new and we just really got to know each other like last week. :( I'm totally bummed about this I nearly cried at work. On a wider scale, the ax came down in Sacramento too and I was informed that most of our consultants (read: programmers) are being let go too. Of course, the people who are being let go, are the ones responsible for the part of the system that I'm primarily responsible for. They make my tools possible, so if I don't have tools that work, how am I supposed to be able to get my projects done on top of being short one person! Sigh, I used to know one of the Sacramento programmers. I wonder if his position was cut too....

3. Countdown to the wedding- 11 days. I don't care anymore about not having a date, I am so happy that I found a dress today! :) Now I just have to find shoes :-O On the bright side, about 85% of the Michigan clan is coming. I'm SO EXCITED. I have the coolest family, you don't even know. We are going to have so much fun. It's going to be one non-stop party from the time the first plane lands to the last plane leaves.

4. Personal life, still single. Or is it, single again? A combination of both. It's okay. Right now I'm discovering that there worse things I could be. Although I miss the companionship, I've always liked my autonomy. Doing whatever I want, whenever I want. I just believe it's not my time to settle down. I have soo much that I want to do yet. Besides, unless I get totally ax'ed myself, there might be a job relocation in my future. It will be easier with only my needs to take into consideration. Da Ma will follow me wherever I go. She better, damn cat.

5. Exciting time this evening, we lost power. I have no idea what happened, I'll have to watch the news tonight to see if they say anything about it. I'm just glad that the blackout decided to wait until after Big Love.

That's about it. I'm feeling better, excited about this new employment prospect. I'm always excited about new things. Aren't we all?

~Vet

"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

ÕbQ‡

Quickie Hi!

2007-07-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

*******
Hello! I just wanted to say hi and let everyone know that I'm feeling much much better. Now I'm just busy. Got my share of the annual report to work on and a path lab to visit. AND talking about serious countdown til the wedding. I still haven't found a dress yet, but I'm not giving up.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Anemia Sucks

2007-07-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

*****

Sorry everyone. When the anemia hits, I get tired, cranky, and I start craving beef. Do you remember that animated movie (I really can't remember the title, it might be Madagascar) where the lion is dreaming of meat and there are all these steaks floating about à la American Beauty? That is my life right now. And it is somewhat annoying because my protein preference has beef in dead last place (sorry Harris Ranch).

I look like crap, I feel like crap, my attention span is crap and all I want to do is sleep. It started right after Climb to Kaiser. At first I thought it was let down from the adrenaline rush of the day, but after a day or two, I noticed that it didn't clear up like I would expect it to. It's been downhill ever since. I'd have to say that yesterday and today I've been feeling much better, so hopefully I should be my Vettie self again in a week.

I have to really watch myself when I get like this. Lupus runs in my family: mom, aunts, cousins. My mom's lupus is so active that I have to give her weekly Procrit shots (that's EPO for those who don't know) to keep her RBCs in the green. She's had to be admitted to the hospital a few times since her Dx over 10+ years ago for blood transfusions. I don't have lupus (thank God) but I'm at risk since I was officially Dx'd with anemia my senior year of high school. It comes and goes, but usually I'm okay.

So that's why I've been quiet and when I haven't been quiet I've been whiney and crabby. So my deepest apologies to ANYONE I may have snapped at over the past 3 weeks. :)

~Vet
"Tastey cow Aunt Meg."

Ýä

Because I Am the Friend

2007-07-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

***********
Today I went to a delicious dinner/BBQ with a friend. This evening I had a comforting conversation with a different friend.

Last week I took a fun quiz that was to determine why I was still single. My diagnosis- I am The Friend.

Maybe that's all I'm supposed to be, just the friend. I guess if I made enough to afford myself a small condo somewhere, I wouldn't mind being single, as long as my friends stepped-up for me whenever I needed them.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

BLA BLA BLA

2007-07-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

*******
Whatever dude. LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE!!!!!!!!

If you even care, read about it here: www.mypopeisadork.com

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

I Can't Believe I Said It

2007-07-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

*******
I knew it was inevitable, I say it every year, yet it still has the power to shock me as the words are flying out of my mouth.

"It was only 101 today."

*Gasp*

Yup. It's that time. Here in Fresno, the summers are HOT! Once the high gets over 105, anything less than that gets the qualifier "only" added to it. I think our highest so far this summer is 108, so yeah, 101 suddenly becomes a nice day. Go figure.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ á

And So It Begins Again....

2007-07-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

******
Today started the 2007 Tour De France. I watched the prologue this morning. This is the first year that I'm not excited about it. Which kind of sucks, because I like being excited about it. I'm still undecided as to who I'm cheering for.

Fabian Cancellara won today's time trial and the first American is George Hincapie in third place. I just hope it's a bad-drama free tour (read: drug-drama). The good-drama, I'm all for, it's what makes for awesome sports.

My plan for today is to drown all my sorrows, literally. (^ ^) Today is my nephew's birthday, happy birthday Dante! and he's having a pool party. My plan is to be in the pool all freaking day long, and get so dark that I'll look more Indian than ever. When I put on my makeup Monday for work, I want to look in the mirror and say "dayam, I need to hit the MAC counter on my lunch, this thing isn't going to work."

Off to get ready! Bye!

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

b I Š á

Hi (Sigh)

2007-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

*******
Well, smile time is over. :( Somethings are just not meant to be. Oh well, life carries on. It was very nice in ways I cannot explain. I will cherish my memories of the moments where I swear time stood still.

~Vet
"And rain, will make the flowers grow"

Û

I've Got a Case of the Mondays!

2007-07-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

*******

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

C2K note

2007-07-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

*******
Hi. This is going to be a short write-up because I don't know, my right hand hurts. My middle and ring fingers hurt at the knuckle and are swollen. Must have been from all the kickin' ass and takin' numbers I did yesterday. Okay, maybe not the ass-kicking, but definitely from the taking numbers.

My job yesterday was to was to check off the riders as they hit the lunch stop at Huntington Lake. I was standing at the entrance with a clipboard and checking off numbers from the spreadsheet. I checked off my first two riders at 10:13am and checked off my last rider at 3:53pm. In between, I checked off 265-270 riders. I forgot what the exact number was. There were more riders registered, but either they didn't show up, or they didn't make it this far.

I'm glad I wore my sunscreen and actually remembered to bring my hat (My 508 hat) because by 1pm, I lost all my shade. It was beautiful up there and warm for me. I made the mistake of getting dressed before 5am, so I was a little over dressed. At least I dressed in layers and was able to start stripping. Unfortunately once the great mass of riders started showing up, there was no time for a break until after 2:30. Big mistake, I wore jeans.

Next year I'm going to suck it up and risk dirty legs and wear shorts. Unless I decide to ride next year. No, not the Climb to Kaiser, that's in the 5-year plan, but either the Millerton metric or the Tollhouse century.

Sorry, no pictures, too busy. Maybe some year I should not help and just go out there on my own and take pictures. I do have two, of the lunch stop as we were setting up. That was the only time I had to snap some shots.

Oh, I'm assuming that my phone was working up there because I was able to send texts and make phone calls. But I didn't receive any text messages or phone calls, so I don't know if it's because no one did *sniff* or people did, but I didn't receive them. But, then if I just didn't receive them, I think I would have gotten them all at once as I was coming down the hill. But I didn't *sniff*. Oh well.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

b

Climb to Kaiser (C2K)

2007-06-30T05:15:00.000-07:00

*******
Hi. It's 05:15 and TFE!!!!! Mass start begins in T-15. I hope everyone will be safe today, and I pray no one dies this year or needs to get air-lifted to Fresno Regional Medical Center. I'm assuming that's where our #1 ER moved to since University Medical Center closed down.....

To all you hardcore riders just waiting to take off: Keep the rubber to the road and I'll see you at Bear Cove.

~Vet a.k.a. "C2K Betty"
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Way Past My Bedtime!!!!

2007-06-29T22:15:00.001-07:00

*******
Because I'm getting up at 4 and I still need to wash my face and brush my teeth. It's time for C2K baby! and I'm excited. Read today's Fresno Bee article here . My hope for tomorrow is to twitter results as I can get them. We'll see what happens. It's going to be so much fun!!!!

~Vet a.k.a "C2K Betty"
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Chaos

2007-06-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

*******
I was going to post tonight, since I don't think I will be able to post again until Sunday. But silly me logged into myspace and ended up filling out a survey (I'm addicted to those) and chatting with my long-time amigo Jim (friends since September 1985). So here is the very abbrivated version:

WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING?????? I signed up with twitter. I'm just begging people to stalk me now. I was going to add the thingy to my blog, but the site is not working right now. Dammit, I broke it already. So be on the lookout for it.

Climb to Kaiser is this weekend!!!!! If you are a super-cyclist and plan on riding, be sure to say hi to me, I'll be at the lunch stop!

I had sushi for lunch. Twitter will tell you, but I think cream cheese in sushi is just WRONG!!!!!

I'm changing my email address again and consolidating. 15 addresses are too much for just one person. For those of you who know me in real life, I'll be sending you an email with my final email address. I change my email address like some people change their hair color. I just can't make up my mind. But I think I've found a permanent solution.

That's it for now. I'll try adding the twitter thingy tomorrow morning before I head into the office.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."
*Locutus says sleeeeeep*

A Day of Silence

2007-06-26T08:29:00.000-07:00

*******
Read about it here: SaveNetRadio

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

¯°±²

Hi, It's Me (gentle ramblings)

2007-06-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

*******
I'm neglecting my blog, I know. And actually I am a little sorry. Just a little. Things are still going great- I'm still smiling (^ ^) <-- see!

We went to an all you can eat sushi place on Saturday. Yummmmmmmmy! All the sake nigiri my heart desired. The company was just as pleasureable :) (okay, a little bit more)

I've been thinking a bit about self-discipline since Thursday. About its origins. Is it learned or inherent? I might have to go to the library and see if there are any books on the subject. From a psychological/neurological perspective, not a self-help one. I'm sure there is, probably hundreds. I'm just curious. I was inspired to investigate after watching my SJT (San Jose Taiko) DVD, and reading some cycling blogs talking on the subject of intervals. So if you see me at the library, say hi! ;)

On a professional level, I'm getting wild ideas in my head. Ideas like going back to school. In recent conversations, I was discussing somatic methods/techniques I had learned about when I was a dance major. Methods like The Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais (Functional Integration), and other methods that study the alignment of the body and the awareness of the body through space. Back in the day I had briefly contemplated majoring in physical therapy. I ultimately chose information systems. Now I'm wondering if it's not too late to go back. I have no roots to to keep me grounded- no husband, no kids, no huge mortgage. It's just an idea. I may forget completely about it next week, but this week, it's weighing on my mind. I've been reminded of how much I miss being in "my body" as opposed to being in "my mind" as my current career path has taken me.

This is an old dilema for me. If I remember my college campus tours correctly, Stanford University called this being either fuzzy or techie. Fuzzies were the liberal arts majors, and techies were the science and technology majors. I couldn't decide which one I was. I guess I still can't.

That's all. I'm just killing time waiting for The Tonight Show to come on. Maz Jobrani is scheduled to perform. He cracks me up! :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

???

Quick Hi

2007-06-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

*******
Working in Merced. Not overnight, so the driving takes its toll after a while. Reviewing autopsy/coroner reports. It's kind of a downer, but it's work that must be done.
I promise, I'll be back soon.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Sometimes I Am Such a Dork

2007-06-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

*******
Friday morning in the shower, I was washing my face with those Olay facial cloths. I don't know what I was doing but somehow I jabbed myself in my left eye with my finger and the cloth.

I got a huge gob of soap lather in my eye and it really really hurt. I mean, really hurt. The soap didn't sting, that would have hurt less. I really thought my eye was going to shrivel up and fall out. It started throbbing and then it dried out. Of course my eye turned bright red. It was so red, that I thought it was bleeding, but it wasn't.

I think the trauma from the poke, along with the soap made my eye seize up. I could not get my eye to tear up to lubricate my eye. And I had no eye drops. And my eye was hurting more for the dryness. I tried to think of sad thoughts to make my eyes water, but nothing was working. Dead puppies and kittens. Nothing. I was in a pickle. I was going to be late for work, and I didn't want to go to my doctor.

So I did the only thing I could think of. Mind you I hadn't had any sort of caffeine yet. I was in pain, and was not thinking clearly. So I grabbed my DVDs of Grey's Anatomy, and put on the saddest episode I could think of. The prom episode. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, let's just say it's a big emotional rollercoaster ride. Dude, I was balling BOTH my eyes out in ten minutes! It felt really, really, really, good.

I still went to work, just late. My eye was dry the whole day, and would ache when I went out into the heat. Buring the day I started having eye junk build-up, but I wasn't worried. Probably just residual soap. On my way home I stopped off at Rite-Aid and picked up some eye drops. Once home, I ate dinner, put the drops in, and went to bed. I really think my eye needed time closed.

I was concerned that when I woke up this morning, my eye would be sealed shut. But it wasn't. Just a little crusty. Sorry if that is TMI.

Okay, time for me to go. My Manny-Man is in town and we are going out tonight! Woo-Hoo!

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

An Evening At Tri-Sport

2007-06-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

*******

(PS- This pic was taken with my new phone, not bad)

Tonight I went to a lecture at Tri-Sport presented by Luna Chix. The speaker was Catharina "Cat" Berge, ultracyclist. Cycling goddess IMHO. Cat gave a presentation, "How to Endure", on her 2005 RAAM experience.

For you non-cyclists out there, RAAM is Race Across AMerica- an annual transcontinental bicycle race from the west coast to the east coast. The race starts in Oceanside, CA and finishes in Atlantic City, NJ. The 2007 edition started this past Sunday.

In 2005 Cat was the only female solo cyclist, and the first female cyclist to finish since 2001. She completed the 3,052 mile race in 11 days, 11 hours, and 20 minutes. What a tough cookie! (and she did this at age 38!)

Her CV is just as impressive as her race resume. Yes, Cat has a day job- Cat is a Veterinarian! She has a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), a Masters of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and a PhD in Comparative Pathology (Pathology!!! Yippie!!! My cup of tea!!!) Oh, and she isn't into the cute and cuddly kittens and pups. Her bag is large animals- i.e. COWS (mooooooooooooo). Did I mention Cat is from Sweden?

As for her race resume, in 2001 Cat raced in the Furnace Creek 508 (yes, that's 508 miles). The real kicker, when she did this, she had only been cycling for a year and a half!!!!! She had the fastest rookie time of 31 hours 58 minutes. She was second overall and first female finisher. Between 2001 and 2005 she set course records for The Terrible Two, The Everest Challenge, and the Double Terrible Two, a.k.a. The Horrible Four (The Terrible Two ridden twice consecutively). She's also ridden, quite impressively, The Death Ride, and my club's own Climb to Kaiser.

Hearing her story tonight, along with a short video of her experince, was quite impressive. I hope that I will have an opportunity to ride with her in the future.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ b

Me Want Cookie!

2007-06-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

*******

Okay, today, I just wanted a cookie. So I went out and bought some cookies. While I was pondering my choice of cookies I found these:

So I bought them. Yes, I scanned the cookie. Then I ate it. I used to eat these a long time ago in my college days, but somehow forgot all about them. I only remembered them because I saw them on the shelf. I tried to remember how I started eating these tasty things, but I can't. Well, once upon a time for those of you who didn't know me back then, I used to work in a grocery store when I was in school. Probably got them from there. Oh well. Cookie good.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Arrivederci La Mia Famiglia

2007-06-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

*******
I have no idea if it's accurate. I got it off of an online translator.

*sniff* Tonight is the series finale of The Sopranos. *sniff*

I get all sad when shows I've watched for a long time end. Yes, it's proof that I watch WAY too much TV and really need to get a life. I Blame M*A*S*H. They started it for me. That was the first show I watched "end". It brought much saddness to my little-girl heart. I prefer for shows to get cancelled, it's much easier to tolerate.

Goodbye Tony, I'll miss you. :-(

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Can't Make Up My Mind

2007-06-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

*******
I posted this yesterday, but then changed my mind and pulled it this morning. Now I'm putting it back up. Who knows, I may pull it again tomorrow. So, for those of you who get to see it, congrats. I'm just in a mood to dance, I'm sure you can imagine why.... :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Tuesday Quote 06-05-07

2007-06-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

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"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try."
-- Beverly Sills

I was going to say that I was sorry that I haven't been posting, but in all honesty, I'm not. I know you understand. I will do my best to resume posting hopefully by this weekend. In the mean time keep smiling, I know I am. (^ ^)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ–

It's supposed to be a smile, just go with it.

First of the Month

2007-06-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

*******
Okay, yes, I know that today is June 3rd. I had wanted to blog about this on Friday, but I had last minute activities Friday evening which did not allow me to go online. Saturday-busy. So here I am today. Better late than never.

There are a lot of sucky things about the first of month that most people don't like: Mortgage/rent due being the main thing. Yes, I have rent and bills that are due. Usually the first of the month I am broke, and driving on fumes, because the first Collaborative pay day is the 5th. But finances are not the subject of today's post.

I LOVE the first of the month. Why? Because on the first, you get to flip the calendar.

To me, it is such a symbolic gesture and such a wonderful feeling. It's the opportunity to start all over again. It's a similar feeling to using a brand new ink pen for the first time. On the first, you have the whole month to look forward to. It is full of endless possibilities. Did last month suck donkeys? It's okay, this month will be better.

When you flip the calendar, you get a new picture. A new far off land to dream about. A new goal, or inspirational thought to ponder for the next 30-31 days (28-29 in February). A new cycle of the moon, some random holiday in a foreign country. The possibility of better, and different. It's so refreshing, like opening a new box of cereal. Old and stale is gone, the fresh and new has arrived.

I have 4 calendars, not including my planner. One in my bedroom, three in my office. I enjoy flipping each one of them. Such a lushious experience. Ahhhhhh......

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ Y ¦

Primer

2007-05-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

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Okay, this is a movie recommendation that is two years too late!

Today, as I'm home sick from work, I FINALLY saw the movie Primer.

I thought it was awesome. Also not nearly as confusing as I was led to believe.

Funny piece of trivial info- I was sent an email from someone I used to know, who had seen the movie. This email contained a summary of the plot. I did not read this email, because I knew I would eventually see the movie and I didn't want it spoiled. I didn't delete the email either because I knew I would need it, should I be completely lost on what was going on. So today I jumped online, and finally read this email I have been holding on to since....

Monday, November 01, 2004 10:42am.

And not even once was I ever tempted to read the email.

Cool. Creepy, but cool.

So, if you haven't had an opportunity to see this movie, I think you should do so.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

Tuesday Quote 05-29-07

2007-05-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

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"It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing."
--Oriah Mountain Dreamer

And on other thoughts:

I like mustard. Lots of different kinds. I like regular French's mustard. I like stone ground mustard. I like honey mustard. I even like hot mustard-- but only in small amounts because I am a chili-wimp. Yeah, I know, bad mexican. I've tried Jack Daniel's mustard, but Sierra Nevada mustard is better ;)

I'm not sure why I like mustard, I guess I just like its zesty-ness. hee-hee :)

PS- I'm having a bad cell phone day. I left for work, without my phone. Had to remedy that. Then I left work, without my phone. Had to go back to the office. Sheesh....

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

Breaking (my heart) News

2007-05-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

***
This is not a usual Blossoms post. Sometimes you get a thought or idea stuck in your head that it is all you can think about. It is a thought that makes you run home on your lunch break, just so you can blog about it.

Of course this is all my fault, and I should have seen it coming. Not necessarily what happened, just how I knew I was going to react.

I have a weakness/fault/bad habit of putting people on pedestals. I think of them as without fault, on the moral high ground, and selfless, just to name a few extrememly high expectations. I don't know where it came from. Maybe I watched too much Due South in college. Maybe I was born too trusting, too naive, too willing to see the best of people and to ignore the worst of them.

I'm sure you've heard the saying about people on pedestals have feet of clay? And when it comes crashing down it makes a big ole mess. You start seeing people for who they really are and then you're left standing there wondering "what the hell was I thinking?" It's so disappointing it nearly breaks your heart.

Well, that's how this week is turning out to be. Men (I've put) on pedestals, or should I say pedalstals are showing the world their dark side and disappointing a lot of cycling fans. Yesterday's confession of my Z-man, Erik Zabel, broke my heart. This morning's confession of Bjarne Riis, the 1996 winner of the Tour de France left me speechless. Made me want to go home and crawl under my covers until August.

I hate what I fear this will do to me. I'm already being cynical, wondering who will confess tomorrow? Who else is doping? Who else had doped? There are other names out there, names I dare not speak outloud, that if they were to admit to doping, I would be devastated.

I am not casting stones here, nor calling for a witchhunt. I'm just so....disappointed. And tired. Tired of being let down.

What the hell was I thinking?

Tuesday Hat Trick

2007-05-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

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Paradise is exactly like where you are right now, only much, much, better.

Okay, I don't know why I typed that, only that I've had that song on my mind all day today. *shrug*

I felt the need for a hat trick today, so please, just smile and say okay.

Tuesday's quotes:

"Life is overflowing with the new. But it is necessary to empty out the old to make room for the new to enter."
-- Eileen Caddy

"Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go."
--Sylvia Robinson

"If you want something you've never had before, you've got to do something you've never done before."
--Drina Reed

~Vet
"Language is a Virus"

Uh-Oh....

2007-05-21T19:03:00.000-07:00

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Soul, I hear you calling......

Beautiful Lengths

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ-

Thought I Wasn't Coming Back, Didn't You?

2007-05-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

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*Piff*
Shows what you know! ;) I'm teasing. It was a good weekend. The only thing is, now I can't remember where I was. :(

Now I remember: San Jose part 1 and 3, and Bike 2 Work Day.

Okay, I'm going to start with Bike 2 Work Day since it's brief:

For those of you who didn't know, Last week was Ride your bike to work week, and Thursday was Ride 2 Work Day. I didn't ride my bike on Monday, because I was sore and tired from my taiko/Mother's Day weekend. Since I made a promise to Francisco about not driving on Monday, I kept that promise by-- not driving. I walked to work that day. It felt really good on my poor legs. I was moving, but it felt like I was trying to walk through hip-high water. Tuesday through Thursday I rode my bike.

For Ride 2 Work Day My company entered a corporate challenge with the Fresno County Bicycle Coalition, and we formed a small team. The smallest in our division, 5 members: Capt. Francisco, Susan, Lesley, Mark and me :) Of course we came in last place, the goal being the team to ride the most miles. I didn't help because I only live 2 miles away from work. Next year I'm going to cheat by spending the night in Sanger and then riding in ;) Yeah, right. Anyways it was a worth-while event and we had fun. You already saw the pictures, but if you want to see them again, click here.

I will admit, Friday, I did not ride in. I overslept. Woke up with a really bad case of anal glaucoma. Once I got to the office, I had to self-medicate with some Rockstar. I hate those flair-ups. ;)

I think that's it for this topic. If I think of anything more, I'll let you know.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õb

Change Of Plans

2007-05-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

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I had planned on a nice quiet evening in front of my computer tonight, catching up on my blogging. But it's going to have to wait until tomorrow. Something has come up.

— Tonight I have a date.

And no, there will not be any recap post on this date, so don't even ask.

(The only reason it's worth mentioning at all is because I took myself completely off the market for the last 18 months for some serious ME time. So this is my first venture out again.)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

I've Been Busy

2007-05-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

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Yeah, I know. But I've been busy. I have lots of stuff to blog about right now too, so it kind of sucks that I'm busy.

I need to finish telling you about San Jose, and now I have to blog about Bike to Work Day that was yesterday.

I should get blogging again over the weekend, so feel free to check back soon (^ ^)

BTW- I'm very envious of male commuters right now, they don't have to deal with hair, makeup, and pantyhose issues!

Here are some Team CHC photos from yesterday. Yes, I am THAT short! ;)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

2007-05-16T08:38:00.001-07:00

LIVESTRONG Day 2007

2007-05-16T07:37:00.000-07:00

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It's LIVESTRONG Day again. Click the links to find out what you can do in the fight against cancer.

Lance Armstrong Foundation
The LIVESTRONG Army

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

Tuesday Quote Plus Post

2007-05-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

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The reason I am able to post today is because I didn't go to Tuesday ladies' night. I worked late today. Well, not really worked late. I just spent some extra time at work today. If you didn't already know, May is bike month and this week is ride your bike to work week. So, today I rode my bike to work. The riding part is no big deal. I live 2 miles away from work and it took me 10 minutes to get there at average 12mph. It took me longer to gear up than to ride. Since I wasn't going far, I didn't wear any bike shorts, just my baggy capries. Wearing "not cycling shorts" made me feel like something out of Quicksilver. Well, almost. The pink jersey and pink socks kind of takes away from the toughness ;)

Once I got to work, I had to get "presentable" for work. This was the hard part. I don't know how female bike commuters do it. I could sure use some pointers. The complex my office is located isn't commuter friendly- no showers, no plugs in the ladies' room. I had to learn that one the hard way as I was trying to plug-in my flat iron. And guess who wasn't wearing ANY makeup today? That would be me (>_<). To encourage us employees in this endeavor, the bosses that be relaxed the dress code for all participants- hence the capries. (Am I even spelling that right?) Under normal circumstances, I would have to be professionally dressed. I would consider commuting more often if I thought that I could clean up suffient enough without smelling sweaty or looking all wrinkled. For office days I could be good with that. Days I have to go to hospitals or path labs, it wouldn't work out.

A self-portrait of my baggy capri-style pants and my new pink socks. (^ ^) Not quite Lance Armstrong length, but half way there. Okay I prefer the lower cut socks.

On to today's quote:

"Yesterday is ashes; tomorrow is wood. Only today does the fire burn brightly."
-Old Eskimo proverb

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

Taiko: Part Deux

2007-05-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

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Okay, a little bit of organizational clarification: This could be one big long post, but I'm not going to do that to you. If you know me and love me, you are used to my long conversations and my ability to keep you up until 3am talking about absolutely nothing. If you don't know me and love me, then you will overdose on Yvette if I don't protect you. I am like a drug. I fill your mind with thoughts and ideas, then I leave. You are left feeling haunted-- or at least mildly perterbed. Some people have flashbacks of me years later and wake up screaming in the middle of the night. Others have the hair on the backs of their necks stand up, and get intense feelings of dread everytime Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" plays on the radio. I don't do this on purpose. I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way. ;)

Anyways, what I am going to do is split this one big post into 3 smaller posts. Notice I said smaller, not small. One post will be on some thoughts I had on the way up to San Jose. One post will be on the workshop. The last post will be on everything I did after the workshop. I'm not going to be doing this in order either because I want to talk about the workshop first. So on to the post!

I pulled into the public parking lot around 9:30. I was early. This particular lot was a block away from Okida Hall, and was not the same parking lot I used the first time I was here. Since it was Saturday, the closer lot wasn't free, and you could only park for two hours at a time. Our workshop was three hours, and I didn't want to have to think about running out to pump some quarters in a meter. Also, I was more familiar with the neighborhood this time, so I felt safe leaving my car down the street.

On my way to the hall, I stopped off at a Japanese grocery store for a bottled water. It was a really cute store. The cashier who helped me reminded me of a woman I had met after I graduated from Fresno State. Her name was Meesh and she was an aspiring pharmacist. Her parents also owned a kick-ass Chinese restaurant that I used to love to eat at.

I arrived at Okida Hall and entered immediately. I was ready to have some fun! It was a little weird, knowing already what to expect. As the other participants started arriving, I could tell they were... Hmm, not sure how to explain it. It wasn't nervousness, it was simply not knowing what to expect. That's how I felt my first time- I was excited to be there, but had no idea what I was in for.

This time it was different. I knew the general outline of how the workshop was going to play out. What I didn't know was how I was going to do. A lot of things were different. I had been training for this day: I got back on the bike, I was lifting weights (actually small dumbells), I was walking (to taiko music) on my breaks at work. I wanted to avert the serious breakdown my body had after my first workshop. I had to call in sick to work because I couldn't move, I was so sore! Another thing that was different were the instructors. This time the instructors were performing member Yumi Ishihara, and apprentice members Dylan Solomon and Rylan Sekiguchi.

The beginning of the workshop was similar to the one before. We were treated to a performance by the instructors. San Jose Taiko had a performance that day so some of the other members were there in the studio. They also participated in this little performance. One was apprentice member Alex Hudson who I remembered from my first workshop. There were two other performing members: Franco Imperial and another woman whose name I can't remember (argh!) ((Taking a peak at the performing members list at the SJT website, I think it could have been Meg Suzuki, but I'm not sure.)) Now, I do remember that the Executive Director, Roy Hirabayashi was there, and he spoke to us for a bit, but I can't remember if he was in the performance or not.

After that awesome performance (could have been half-assed for all I know), we watched a DVD talking about everything San Jose Taiko does in the community. Jumping ahead a bit in my story, I bought the DVD, so if you ever find yourself in Fresno, come on over, I'll make some popcorn and we can watch it together!

After watching the DVD, we circled up on the taiko floor and introduced ourselves. It's always interesting to hear where people came from and what brought them to the workshop. Afterwards, we got an introduction to all the different kinds of drums. I won't repeat all the details, but if you would like to read about it, click here .

Then it was time to get busy! We had a short but thorough warm-up. It had me sweating already. The warm up by itself could be the reason I can really feel my hamstrings right now. ;) We learned the stance, called kata, and how to hold the sticks used in taiko, called bachi. Kata reminds me of a variation of the fencing stance or a deep demi plie in fourth position. Which IS the reason why I can really feel my quads right now. (^ ^)

We learned some of the notes used in playing, and we learned a song. Then, to make things more challenging, we played the song in a round. At first I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to pull it off, but we did, and we sounded GOOD!

It was a really good workshop. And I'm not as sore as I was the first time. My hamstrings and quads are sore, but I am able to walk. I even walked to work this morning and back. My biceps and triceps aren't sore, but my forearms are KILLING ME. I need to figure out how to buff up my forearms for the next workshop. (^ ^)

~Vet

"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Extraneous Post

2007-05-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

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Look at what I did to my shoes! The sole of my right shoe is cracked completely through. The left shoe is just beginning to crack. I haven't even had these shoes a year yet. If I remember correctly, I believe I bought them in September. Why am I so hard on my shoes? I'm not even a runner! This isn't even the first pair I've done this to either. I destroyed a pair of black clogs I wear for work. The sole of both shoes cracked at the ball of the foot, all the way through to the inside of the shoe. I've even done this to a pair of Ecco shoes-- Okay, I had those shoes for like five years before it happened. The only shoes that wore me out before I wore them out were a pair of Doc Martens I bought in like 1994 and I gave them to the Goodwill two years ago when I replaced them with a newer, prettier pair. Can anyone recommend a brand of tennis shoe that can hold up to some serious wear and tear? Even regular shoes too. I'm thinking of getting another pair of Eccos they seemed to be a good investment. Grrrrrr.

~Vet

"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Inside the Taiko Studio

2007-05-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

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See? I really do go do these things! ;) Sorry the pics are a little blurry. I'll do my best to post my adventure tomorrow. It was Mother's Day today, so I had to spend some time with my Mother at a family BBQ. So for now, enjoy my pictures (^ ^)

<--One wall has a big mirror, just like a dance studio!

One side is a stage, just like a cafeteria--->

<--This wall is opposite the mirror, where the practice drums and misc instruments are stored

These are the performance drums, in cases.

No real point to this picture, I just liked all the shoes lined up. Remember, no shoes allowed on the marley

During a break I snapped off a quick pic of the setup for the workshop. The guy in the green t-shirt is Dylan, an apprentice with San Jose Taiko.

~Vet

"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Time To Taiko

2007-05-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

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Before I talk about anything else- Can you believe that Ricky Williams has ALREADY failed a drug test?!?!?!?!?!? Dude, the ink hasn't even dried yet on his reinstatement! Honestly I'm not surprised. This is just too freaking hilarious.

I'm back from Hollister. The funeral was, well... a funeral.

I can tell you that the strawberries are in season. They are sweet, juicy, and HUGE! I love me some strawberries. Always have, always will.

Good thing I like driving. I just drove to Hollister on Wednesday (116 mi), drove back to Fresno yesterday (116 mi), and tomorrow I will drive to San Jose (151 mi) and back (151 mi). 116+116+151+151= 534 miles. That's a lot of miles! If it weren't for the fact that Sunday is mother's day, I'd have to drive up to Sacramento (and back) and check out Jim's new bachelor pad just to round out the weekend.

Well tomorrow is taiko day. I'm SO EXCITED!!!!!!! It's hard to explain why I like taiko so much. If I have given you the impression that I have been some kind of life-long drummer, I'm sorry, that just isn't the case. My first instrument was the flute at age 9. Growing up, my older sister (by 7 years) was in the colorguard of Hoover High (Go Pates!). So I have always been familiar with the marching band, and I had always been attracted to the Hoover drumline. One name: Terry Longshore. Google it. When it was my turn for high school, I left my smarty-pants magnet school that was 7-12 (Edison-Computech) for literally greener pastures. Hoover had a better band, and I wasn't passing on my chance to wear knickers and a tri-corner hat.

And at this time I must do a shout-out to my fellow alumni band-geeks: Hi Amy! Hi Jenny! Hi Steve! (cheeseburger, onion rings, and large orange drink. Hooah!)

So for 9th and 10th grade I played the flute. In the 11th grade I learned to play the oboe. In my senior year in high school, our band director, Mr. Erker, asked me to join the drumline. I did not hesitate to say yes. So my senior year, I was on the Hoover High drumline and had all the attitude that came with the position. (Sidebar: CVC racer dude Jonathon Eropkin was also in this same drumline. He's a year younger than me and also left the same smarty-pants magnet school to go to Hoover. I even worked at the same company as his mom for a while. Small world.)

When it was time to go to college, I did join the Fresno State marching band, but I returned to the flute. I thought about participating in something called winter percussion, but ultimately I left music to persue my dancing "career".

I have a point to all of this and yes, I am getting to it. It was here, in the dance program, that I was introduced to taiko. My modern dance classes didn't have any live music accompaniment so my professor would use taiko music. From there I was hooked. I also had the opportunity to dance to music composed by Iannis Xenakis. Just trust me, beautiful and mesmerizing percussion music.

So, that is my long-winded story on why I like taiko and percussion in general. Maybe on a slow blogging day I'll scan some old band pictures and post them. Maybe.

I must get to bed now. The workshop starts at 10 tomorrow morning, which means I have to get up TFE tomorrow for the drive up. I figure, leave around 6:30, stop in Los Banos for breakfast around 7:30, leave Los Banos before 8, get through Pacheco Pass by 8:30, and get to Okida Hall by 9:30 with time to spare for re-inflating my gluteus maximus muscles from all this driving.

After the workshop, if I am still able to stand, I plan to spend the afternoon in San Jose and do a little shopping at The Container Store (this is my porn, I kid you not), and Crate and Barrel. Woo-Hoo!

I'm taking my camera again, and this time I plan on taking some pictures to share with you. :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

Tuesday Quote 05/08/07

2007-05-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

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"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."
--Nelson Mandela

Don't be afraid :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit"

Õ

Feeling Better

2007-05-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

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Yes, I am feeling much, much better. I'm tired, but I think it's a combination of all the Drixoral I was taking and Red Bulls I was drinking to get through the weekend. Yesterday, I felt well enough to go cold turkey without relapse. Now I can go back to my normal life and routine. I honestly felt drugged out from Wednesday through Saturday.

My voice is still shot, probably will be that way for the rest of the week, but I feel sooooo much better. I was even acting my usual self at work. I'm way too perky at work. I can't walk from point a to point b, I usually dance from point a to point b- especially when I'm hooked up to my mp3 player. My colleagues have accepted this part of me, they know it's just my joie de vivre. Also they know that how I act in the office is not the same as how I act at a hospital, path lab, or conference.

The only bummer part of this feeling better, is that I'm not going to be able to ride for a while. :( Tomorrow is Tuesday, and that is always out. But Wednesday and Thursday I'm driving my mom to Hollister for a funeral. My grandpa's sister died last week after a long illness. This was a favorite great-aunt of mine I always enjoyed visiting. If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm brown, and therefore have a BIG family. Whenever we meet someone who has a familiar sounding last name, we have to ask "who are your parents/grandparents" in case they are a rarely seen relative. Trust me, in my family, it's happened. Not to me, but to my sister and a cousin.

Wow! I am feeling better! I'm RAMBLING!! Woo-hoo! Anyways, back to my story. After the funeral, I'll have to turn around and go back. Saturday is my taiko workshop in San Jose. I'm excited.

Okay, almost time for Heroes/24.

PS- I finished my write-up for my Relay For Life report, so please scroll down and read/reread it. Thanks :)

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

Relay For Life Report

2007-05-05T22:34:00.000-07:00

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The picutures: As usual, I take lousy pictures, or I forget to take pictures at all. pictures at Flickr

The fundrasing: Thank you to everyone who donated to this worthy cause. Besides Daffodil Days, this was my first attempt at fundraising. I raised $265.00!!! Woo-Hoo! I will post my "List of Honor" shortly. I don't know what my team's final total is yet. Relay day was still open for raising funds that counted toward our goal. Our campsite was decorated as an igloo and we sold snowcones and face painting.

The day: It was SO WINDY! Weatherbug reported gusts up to 32mph! It was warm, but not hot. This day I actually missed being able to braid my hair. The wind blew my hair everywhere and there was nothing I could do about it. Once the sun set, the temperature dropped quickly and I found myself changing into jeans and a sweatshirt to keep warm, but the wind would not quit. My nose got sunburned a little bit, just a little bit of redness, but by the next day, my nose was back to normal.

The lap: I arrived earlier than my scheduled lap because I wanted time to look around and get ready. I arrived around 2:30 and after checking in, I cruised around the campground to check out all the other campsites. I must say that a lot of teams got creative with their team themes. I think it made the whole experience more festive. As I mentioned earlier, my assigned lap had a superhero theme. So I took one for the team and dressed up like a dork in a Superman t-shirt and red cape. I had my mp3 player in tow, so I queued up the tunes and set out forward. It was a lot like riding a bike, but much...much....slower, and with music. The effort was effortless, and the time didn't drag on for as long as I thought it would. I left the watch at home on purpose. I didn't want to be thinking about time.

Somewhere along the way, one of our team members wasn't able to make it for their walk time (I don't know who it was), so a few of us that were still there took turns making up the time. I walked for an additional 30 minutes with my teammate Patti. Patti is a radiation dosimetrist at the Cancer Center. It was nice to be able to meet people outside of the cancer registry.

Every year, the midnight theme is Prom, and everyone dresses up in dresses and tuxes. YOU KNOW I am so down for that next year! I may even have to rescurrect my senior prom dress (yes, I still have it). Of course I'd have to loose 500lbs to get back into it- freaking size 3- but if I did, wouldn't that be snazzy?

Hmmm, here is a crazy thought: Since my best friend and I are speaking again, I should make him a bet that if I can get back into my prom dress, he'll have to be my prom date once again. Wouldn't that be one blast from the past? He'd never go for it, but what the heck!

The Luminaria Ceremony: Okay, here's where things get misty. ;) At sundown, the Relay was paused and everyone was called to center stage. We had a reading of the Dr. Seuss book Oh The Places You'll Go, then we had two young speakers talking about their cancer experiences. I'm telling you there was not a dry eye in the place after that! Time to backtrack a little bit. During the day, there were volunteers placing the luminaria out around the track. There were soooooooooooo many luminaria there, that there wasn't enough track for all the luminaria. Also, since it was really windy, we were not able to use candles or else we would have burned the whole place down. We used glowsticks, which worked surprisinging well. So, after the speakers, volunteers passed around the remaining luminaria to us walkers, and we cracked open (on?) the glowsticks and lit our bags. I had two, one in honor of a survivor, and one in memory of someone who died. We then did a procession around the track, and all you could see were luminaria floating in the darkness.

For me, it was a very serious moment. All those lights were people. I've already lost two uncles to cancer, and I have one aunt, one uncle, and my mom, who are cancer survivors. In that moment, I was very aware of how blessed I am to still have my mom with me.

After my processional lap, I placed the luminaria that I was carrying down near a group of others and was able to go back and get another one. I lit it and carried it for another lap. Yes, there were THAT many.

Around 9:00 the organizers hit the flood lights and the campground was lit up as bright as day. Totally ruined the moment, but hey, what can you do, people gotta see. On that bright note, earlier in the day, I had purchased some raffle tickets from another campsite. I won something! I won a Melitta Take 2 coffeemaker and a thermos from Washington Mutual.

By this time it was almost 9:30 and colder than my sick little body could handle. I didn't want to leave, but I knew that if I didn't, I would just make myself sicker. So, because I am a sentimental type of person, I went out and walked one last lap.

But it won't be my last lap, because there is no finish line until we find a cure.

~Vet

aka Super Dork!

Õ

Tomorrow Is the Big Day...

2007-05-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

*****
Relay For Life Info

And I'm sick! (>_<) I'm congested, coughing, and I'm having serious phlegm issues. *YUK* My voice has dropped like 5 octives and it's very deep and raspy now, in contrast to my high-pitch-sound-like-I'm-5-years-old tone.

I'm doing it anyways.

I just hope that they aren't going to do drug testing there because I will test positive for an entire box of Drixoral. And Halls. And a swig of Nyquil, cherry flavored.

That's not even the worst part. I just found out that my designated lap time has a theme! Which means I have to DRESS UP!!! I have to dress up like a superhero. :-

So, I'm going to go as Superchick, Superman's second cousin by marriage. ;)

If I had been given more time to prepare, I would have loved to have dressed up like Hiro Nakamura (from Heroes), complete with sword. That would have been sweet!

So this week I've been pumping myself with OTC drugs and staying warm in spite of the wind and rain. Spending my time reading blog after blog after blog. I feel like a real voyeur right now since I don't even know any of these people who's blogs I've been reading this past week. Very strange. Although, I did come across a really good-sounding recipe for chicken, that I'll probably never try out, but what the heck...

Okay, time for that swig of Nyquil. I must be rested for tomorrow. I have my nephew's First Communion tomorrow morning in addition to the Relay. Good night.

~Vet

(PS- I had another death in the family today, so I will have to take off for a bit next week for the funeral. Sigh....)

Happy May Day and Tuesday's Quote

2007-05-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

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Relay For Life Info

Okay, to be totally honest, I don't even remember what May Day is. All I remember is that in elementary school, we would make a bouquet of flowers and then we'd take them home and leave them on the doorstep for our mom's to find. Did anyone else do this?
***

Did I ever tell you that I sing at work? A lot. Sometimes I sing a bit too loud. A lot. I sing just ok. Barely. I'd never make it past Simon on American Idol. Well, today I got busted singing too loud. My bad. Today's song: Black Velvet.
***

Okay, on to today's quote:

"You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith."
--Mary Manin Morrissey

Word.

~Vet

Õ

I Love Garlic...

2007-04-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

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Relay For Life Info

...and living in California. Don't you?

In other news, I got myself a second job working on a ship.

ROFLMAO!!!!!! I just had way too much fun in Vegas ;)

~Vet

Yes, I Think This Song Is About Me

2007-04-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

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Relay For Life Info

Okay, so I couldn't wait (^ ^)

~Vet

I'm Back!

2007-04-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

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Relay For Life Info

Hello, I'm back. And I'm really tired.

I got back into town yesterday afternoon, and went directly into the office. Sounds crappy, but it was all good, because I got to go home early today.

The flight into Vegas made me sick, but I recovered quickly. I was fine until we started circling for 30 minutes. My head did not like that. But once my feet were on the ground, my brain stopped spinning.

The conference was long, but interesting. I did not do very well sitting still. Being still is not one of my strong points. If you ask me, there were not enough breaks.

Mystere was... there are no words to do it justice, in my opinion. I highly recommend to see it if you can. Colors, music, movement... a feast for my senses. This is the circus I want to run away with. Had I known when I was a little girl that there would be Cirque du Soleil, I would have ditched music and my education and focused on dance. Hee-hee, I wouldn't even want to be an act, just one of the characters that dances around in the background in an awesome costume. Oh! This particular show incorporates taiko into the performance, so it was extra super awesome! Don't take my word for it, go and check it out yourself! I almost forgot, our seats were in the second row. Sweet.

I'll post pictures to my Flickr account soon. I have an nice new headshot should I care to venture into the meeting people online again. If you are one of my myspace friends, you can see it now.

Tomorrow I'm off to Gilroy. In August my cousin Tony is getting married, so some of us (family) are off to the outlet mall to look for dresses.

~Vet
"I am ready. The sky is not the limit."

Õ

Viva Las Vegas!

2007-04-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

*****
Relay For Life Info

Just a quickie post as I'm headed out the door.

I'm off to Las Vegas for a few days. It's work related, a national conference, but there will be plenty of time to play in the evening. One thing I'm really looking forward to is that a group of us will be seeing Cirque du Soleil while we are there. Mystere, to be exact. I'm totally jazzed about it.

So I will offline for a while. I'll be back on Friday. Hopefully I may have something interesting to say about the whole trip. But you know the rules...

Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

~Vet

Reply Comment So Big, I'm Posting It

2007-04-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

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Relay For Life Info

To fully appreciate this post, I invite you to read my quote w/comments if you haven't already.

"Love bites, love bleeds
It's bringin' me to my knees
Love lives, love dies
It's no surprise
Love begs, love pleads
It's what I need"

Ahhhhhhh, Darren...Hawaii.... man, what a week. It's memories like those that made high school so awesome! There is still a little part of my brain that still can't believe he danced with me.

Sigh, I'm a hopeless romantic and the condition is terminal. I'm doomed ;)

It's funny though. Time and time has passed. I'm not in high school anymore, I'm 33 years old. I know he is married and probably has children now. I think he's somewhere in the Silicon Valley, and I have absolutely no desire to see him again. Let's be real, between you (Amy, Jenny, & Steve) and me, we all know he doesn't remember me.

BUT

There is still a small part of me that, in a way, is still in high school, and will always be in high school. It's that little part of me that holds ALL my high school memories. I still remember what I wore to school on my first day of 9th grade, I remember my statement of affirmation to Amy that started a friendship that has spanned 19 years and counting. I remember Steve's mustang, and Jenny's "hot-n-tot" moment in Hawaii. If you put a flute in my hand right now, my fingers can still play Gary Owen (even though I never played it during pre-game). And it's that same part of me, that perpetual teenager that still has a BIG crush on the teenager DRN.

It's not a real crush, not anymore. But when I remember, I remember it all, and so vividly. The smile on my face would make you think it happened only yesterday. I'm not living in the past, I'm definitely living in the bizarre but great here and now. But like Steve said, you hear a song, or remember a moment, and it ALL comes flooding back. I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the subject. Good times.

"It's been seven hours and fifteen days

since you took your love away.

I go out every night and sleep all day

since you took your love away."

Okay, one more, for old times sake:

"So raise your hands to heaven and pray

that we'll be back together someday.

Tonight, I need your sweet caress

hold me in the darkness.

Tonight, you calm my restlessness

you relieve my sadness."

~Vet

My 100th Post

2007-04-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

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Relay For Life Info

Well, according to my Blogger Dashboard it is, so I guess it must be.

The pressure is on. I want this post to be meaningful, because I am sentimental. I want to look back on this entry and think, wow. If you, my readers, happen to like it too, that would be good also.

Yesterday I sat at my computer, thinking of subjects to write about. I wanted to be funny, but I am not intentionally funny. I wanted to be profound, but I am not philisophical. I wanted this to be more than a list. I wanted this to be more than me talking about cancer. Or cycling. Or the color pink.

So what, exactly did I do? I did one of the things that I knew how to do very well. I procrastinated.

I went to my friend Jenny's website. Both of them. I went to my friend Tony's website. I went to my friend Steve's website. I went to my friend Amy's website. I stayed a little bit, rereading some posts that I had read before, and being curious and browsing through the comments. Usually I don't, because the conversations that are there go beyond my understanding. It was there that I found a link to an interesting article from The Washington Post.

In a lame nutshell: Back in January The Washington post did an experiment. They asked Joshua Bell- really cute, totally awesome violin dude (he's the violinist on The Red Violin soundtrack)- to be like a street performer and play for a bit, just to see what would happen. He played, incognito, outside a Washington D.C. metro station during the morning rush for almost 45 minutes. He was mostly ignored and his open violin case only accumulated $32.17.

Questions were asked: Do you have time for beauty? What about the ability to appreciate life? If we are so busy with our lives, what else are we missing?

Questions like that make me pause and reflect, and yesterday I did. I wondered if I would have stopped to hear him play had I been there. I hoped, and I still hope, that I would have. I believe that I am a person who does take time for beauty. I believe I appreciate life. I admit I get busy with life, we all do. I just hope that it's "not much" that I am missing when I do get too busy, and that I realize quickly when it's happening.

I have gone to Yosemite and looked at majestic mountains. I have sat on the beach in Monterey and watched the waves crash on the rocks, sat still and watch the sun set in beautiful shades of pink. I have pulled off the road while driving, just to watch a full moon rise from behind the mountains. I have riden my bike along the American River, blinded by the green in the spring. I have been inspired by music, dance and art, and moved to tears by love.

I hope this is part of the beauty. I hope this is part of the appreciating life.

So as I sat here at my computer and thought all these thoughts, did I start pouring my heart out through my fingers and on to my keyboard?

No.

I did one of the things I knew how to do well. I procrastinated.

I turned off my computer and changed into some workout clothes. I went into the garage and put in some time on the trainer. I thought happy thoughts while spinning and made a mental packing list for my upcoming trip to Las Vegas. I'll blog tomorrow.

Happy 100 (^ ^)

~Vet

I've never posted anything from youtube to my blog before, so I'm not sure this is even going to work. But if it does work, check it out. It's supposed to be a condensed version of Joshua Bell's performance. At the article link, there is another link to an audio of the entire performance. I had an opportunity to listen to it. Very nice.

Wisdom in a Cup (Tuesday Quote)

2007-04-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

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Relay For Life Info

This tidbit of wisdom came to me from my very good friend and excellent shoulder, Vegas. Vegas enjoys Starbucks and often will show me the quotes on her cups.

"You simply can't make someone love you if they don't. You must choose someone who already loves you. If you choose someone who does not love you, this is the sort of love you must want."
--Israel Horovitz
Playwright

Makes me stop and go hmmm, reflecting back to my high school addiction to unrequited love in the form of a certain Yale-bound drum major. I wonder if this is the reason I am not married yet....

~Vet
"I see a red door and I want to paint it PINK"

Monday Crazies

2007-04-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

*****
Relay For Life Info

This post could just as easily be called "The Mind Is Willing, But the Flesh Is Weak, part 6,923"

Today I am sick beyond belief, beyond repair. :( Okay, not true. I can be repaired with a heating pad and an entire bottle of Midol.

When I got home from work, my brain said: "Hey, lets go for a bike ride."

My heart said: "Yeah! That's a great idea!"

My body said: "No f**king way."

After some serious negotiations, some idle threats, and some bribery, all of my body parts compromised and settled on some good time on the trainer. After that, I did some arm strength training because it's less than a month until my next taiko workshop.

I've got my next Tuesday quote all ready to go. I just have to wait until tomorrow. In my research I came across some other quotes, and man have they got me thinking.

Do you ever think too much? I do. Do you ever think so much that the heat from the cogs spinning, things around you accidently catch on fire? Okay, maybe that has never happened to me, but I swear I came close once. I think fast in my head too. Too fast. Sometimes I think of something to say, and the complete thought will form, express itself, then disappear, before I even have a chance to open my mouth. It feels like my neurons aren't firing fast enough and the messages aren't able to get from point A to point B. Hmm, it's probably why I don't say much and usually just stand there and smile. LOL, that was funny. Anyone who knows me knows that I can talk for hours and hours and hours.

That's all. I didn't really have anything important or witty to say today. Somedays I just don't. But I just wanted to post today. Say hi. Hi :)

~Vet

"Apres moi le deluge"

Relay For Life

2007-04-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

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Dear Friends and Family:

This year I am participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. Relay is the American Cancer Society’s nationwide signature event. I am on team HAPPY FEET from the California Cancer Center, and this year and we’re planning to raise $20,000.00. Throughout the event, my teammates and I will take turns walking around the track and camping out. I am doing this in honor of Alice Grimaldo Zavala, my mom, who has been surviving lung cancer for 5 years. In addition to my team goal, I have promised a personal goal of $150.00. If you’d like to help in the fight against cancer, you can make a contribution to the American Cancer Society through the Relay For Life website. Please make sure you make your donation before the event.

The event takes place on Saturday May 5, 2007 at Fresno State starting at 9:00am. I would be glad to walk in honor or in memory of someone you know who has been touched by cancer. For a $10.00 donation to the American Cancer Society, I will make sure that person’s name is included in the Luminaria Ceremony, when candles are lit and we remember those who have been touched by cancer.

All I am asking for (begging for) is $10.00 from each person. If you’d like to donate more, I won’t stop you, but just think, for the price of an evening movie, or lunch, or a gallon of gas ;) what a difference your donation can make!

Here is a link to my assigned donor web page:

Vet's Donor Page

If you have difficulty with the link, please try these instructions:

Go to: www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/fresno this should take you to our event homepage.

On the right hand side, there is a list of team rank. Look for team “California Cancer Center/Happy Feet” (click on the “more” if it’s not listed in the top 5). Click on the link, that will take you to our team page.

Under team members, look for my name (Yvette Zavala). Click on the link and that should take you to my personal page.

If you would prefer, you may also donate by cash, or check made out to American Cancer Society. Contact me for details.

I appreciate your support. There’s no finish line until we find a cure.

Gratefully, and with love,

Yvette I. Zavala,
aka ~Vet

Back From Modesto

2007-04-13T21:54:00.000-07:00

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Thank goodness.

I love traveling, but sometimes it feels like too much. I'm exhausted and glad to be home.

The hardest part of traveling is the not eating normally. I'm literally eating out 3 meals a day. I do my best to make healthy choices, but I think by design, eating out isn't healthy at all. The meals feel too heavy, and that just weighs me down. If I try to eat just salad, I feel like I'm not getting enough food and I get cranky. The hotel we stay at in Modesto has a workout room, and I do workout, but there's not a lot of time, and I feel like it barely makes a dent.

Ha, I've been doing this long enough that one would think I would have it all figured out already.

I'm hoping that tomorrow I'll be able to go for a bike ride, but the weather is not supposed to be friendly. Might rain, just might be really windy. I won't know until I stick my head outside tomorrow morning.

I'll say one nice thing about Modesto, the city has a lot of trees. I like that. Parts of Fresno has trees, but not all of Fresno. We need more trees.

Okay, enough blabbering on my part. I'm tired and I need to rest.

~Vet
"Tonight I'll dream in pink"

Crazy Saturday

2007-04-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

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You'll have to pardon the condition of this post. I'm exhausted, and I didn't want to hold off on posting else I'd forget completely.

I wrote this post sitting in my car getting an oil change and I'm typing it now starting at 10:52pm after running around all day getting ready for tomorrow and next week, and immediately after frosting and decorating what feels like 500 cupcakes. (^ ^)

I'm actually thinking of starting another blog. Crazy, yes I know. Part of me says I should, and part of me says I shouldn't.

Since my taiko experience back in December, I've been anxious to get back on the bike. Dec-Jan-Feb, I didn't ride. I am not ashamed to admit that. I dislike riding in foul weather. To those of you who ride come hell or high water, I applaud you and call you rockstars, but it's just not for me.

Since March, the weather has been nicer and I've been more inclined to ride. At the end of February, I donated blood, so as my bone marrow is rebuilding red blood cells, I'm feeling more and more energetic. I will also admit that spending a Saturday at a bike race really inspired me to get back on the bike. A big thank you to all the cyclists who came out that day to race in our humble little Fresburg.

Sorry, getting off track a bit. What I've been trying to say is that lately, a lot of my thoughts have been about cycling, and more specifically about my efforts getting back on the bike and in shape. More miles means better shape = more energy and strength for taiko....

That's why I am contemplating starting a separate cycling-focused blog.

I'm still not sure though, because I don't want to alienate my non-cycling readers (which is EVERYONE except Tony & Coutenay) when I haven't posted on "Blossoms" in 3 months because I'm too busy riding or writing about riding. YET, I don't want to go on and on and on, on this blog, and bore everyone to death. Sigh, I already have this blog AND my myspace page, so do I really want to add ANOTHER blog to it? Oh decisions, decisions....

So, an hour early, it's 11:08pm now- Happy Easter, I hope everyone has a pleasant day tomorrow.

Oh, I mentioned next week. I'm leaving for Modesto for a week, for work. I'll be doing casefinding at a local pathology lab. I can't remember if at our hotel we'll have access to a computer- I don't have a personal laptop. Some hotels have business centers, some don't. So, if you don't hear from me this week, then the answer is no access. Sorry (>_<).

~Vet

In case you were wondering, OF COURSE those cupcakes have PINK frosting on them (^ ^)

Tuesday Quote 04-03-2007

2007-04-03T22:20:00.000-07:00

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I'm going to try something new for a bit. If it works, I'll keep it. If it sucks, hasta.

Every Tuesday is kinda a ladies' family night for me. I meet up with my mom, aunts, sister, and cousins, and we just hang out and chat. It keeps us together, and close. We've been doing this for the past 4-5 years, and I really like it. Unfortunately I don't get home until late and I pretty much only have time to watch House before bed.

Since I really like posting quotes that I've come across in my life and in my work, I've decided that every Tuesday I'm going to post one of those quotes. This way I'm happy, and you guys aren't drowning in stupid quotes. Some are profound, some are silly, some are downright dumb. All are simply quotes, and you are free to take them or leave them. Enjoy!

So on to today's quote:

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart... Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."
--Carl Jung

Passion & purpose. I've found that inside. I don't even know why people use drugs (^ ^)

~Vet
"think pink"

Monday Shorts

2007-04-02T23:02:00.001-07:00

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I LOVE MY JOB:

On a regular basis I get to deal with statements like this "The colonic biopsies have an ulcerated neoplasm that is composed of moderately large cells with slightly enlarged nuclei. The latter exhibits moderate hyperchromasia and pleomorphism. Some of the cells have a signet ring configuration with cytoplasmic mucin. The neoplasm is poorly differentiated without well-developed gland formation. Foci of abundant extracellular mucin are also seen."

Also did some networking today so my colleagues in Sacramento don't forget who I am (^ ^).

ALMOST HIT BY A CAR:

...While out on a bike ride today. It was a close call, but I'm keeping it in perspective. If I were hit, the damage would have been minimal (I'm assuming). Also I know a few cyclists, but just a few, and I'm sure that they have had closer calls than this. They would probably be rolling their eyes at me. Still, I thank my guardian angels.

SPEAKING OF GUARDIAN ANGELS...

I aquired a new one last week. :( My Grandma died. Normally I would post pictures of us, and write up a big tribute like I did when my Uncle Michael died last year, but I can't. It wasn't sudden. It was long, and slow, and absolutely heartbreaking. This past month has been exhausting for my family as you can imagine. We had a rosary for her Friday night and we buried her on Saturday. That's all I have to say about that.

I LOVE MY JOB SOME MORE:

This past Thursday I was able to attend a management seminar. It was awesome. Of course they are supposed to be awesome, that's what our employers pay big money for. But still, I love the high/positive energy that the speakers have. Yeah, I know, it's all part of the gimmick, and they are just glorified used car salesmen (REFUND!?!) that I wouldn't trust with my 15 year old daughter if I had one. But still, it was good. I was reminded of stuff I already knew, but forgot I knew, learned some new tips, and was given some good reading recommendations. Hee-hee, sometimes I forget I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration ;) That probably explains why I had to take all those accounting and mangagement classes between the ballet and fencing classes. (^ ^)

(last one)

I FOUND A DIET DRINK I ACTUALLY LIKE:

And bonus points, it's NOT a diet soda! It's Lipton's (diet) Green Tea with Citrus. Yum-yum!!!! I hate diet sodas because of the yucky aftertaste. So forever I have been sabotaging my health efforts because I refused to give up my regular Coke. It's my intention to save the Coke for special occasions, or the occasional Crown (or Malibu) and Coke, and take to drinking this tea during those moments when water just won't do. WOO-HOO!

And that concludes the Monday Shorts

~Vet

I washed my white sports-bras with my red jersey. Guess what color my sports-bras are now?
P-I-N-K! (yeah, I really did)

A Quote Worth Repeating

2007-03-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

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I really like this quote, it's very optimistic

"It is possible to begin again. It is hard, and we never do it perfectly, but it can be done."
--Andrew Greeley

~Vet
(Okay, I can't think of any more pro-pink quotes. Any suggestions?)

Please Don't Laugh...

2007-03-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

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...too hard at me.

I really really want to see that movie Blades of Glory. It looks funny and like a movie that would have me doing some serious belly laughing. It has Jon Heder in it, and you can't knock Napoleon Dynamite.

That's all I wanted to say.

For those of you that have tomorrow off, happy holiday!

~Vet
"I like pink"