my mom has turned into a cowboy

yes friends, it's true.

i leave the state for a mere year and a half only to return to my cowboy mom. and she doesn't just have the wranglers and the belt buckle. she has expensive chaps, and 2 stetson hats. she listens to kenny chesney, and does the "be-donk-a-donk" dance. she rides her horse almost every day, and is having a barn build on her property. she started drinking scotch (well, i'm not sure how cowboy that is). it's funny, because since i've been goen, i'm definately more of a city girl (a "girly girl", as some would say). so as i get further towards the "city" side of the spectrum, my mom is getting further towards the "country" side of the spectrum. this is to the delight of my step dad. the rest of us are just in shock. it's just interesting....

my trip home has been fun so far...i've seen so many people from the past. that's when you know you're from a small town - when you see 10 people you know in the local walmart. we went into the iron door saloon for a drink, and we were seriously the only people in there. it was sad...now i remember what winters were like in groveland. boring!

i've also been learning how to knit which is pretty challenging. although because i know how to crochet, i'm learning at a faster pace. but i practice and practice...i show my mom a finished piece and she looks at me and says (in her motherly tone) "honey, that doesn't look right". awww, she's so nice. don't plan on me making any hats or scarves for anyone yet. i need to keep practicing...

pink bunny suits for christmas...

so have you ever seen the movie "the christmas story"? the one with the little boy who wants the red rider b.b. gun for christmas, and his mom always says "you'll shoot your eye out? well anyway, in that movie, ralphie (the little boy) gets a hideous pink bunny suit for christmas, thoughtfully made by his aunt. and his mom makes him run upstairs to put it on. he comes back downstairs, humiliated. i kind of felt like that last night while opening presents. though i didn't get a pink bunny suit, i did get a pair of hideously pink slippers from my aunt. they're pretty ugly. and though my stepmom did not make me try them on, i did feel pretty humiliated....

we had a really nice christmas eve dinner last night here at my dad and step-mom's new house. yummy. it's still hard to believe that my dad built this house all by himself. he's such a handy guy! after dinner and present opening, my brothers and i went in the hot tub to relax. i think it's required to have a hot tub in the mountains...they are just so nice, you almost want to fall asleep in them! (but that wouldn't be a good idea now, would it?) i pretty much made it out with good gifts....money, a beautiful bracelet, some new workout pants, and lots of smelly pretty lotion. and the best gift had to be the new umbrella from my uncle james. it's one of those heavy duty ones with a wooden handle. i was so excited, and when i opened it i started laughing SO hard. the print is of a bulldog sitting next to a gazebo in a pretty english garden. the people in boston are gonna get a kick out of it :)

merry christmas, everyone!!

sad sad news.....

it's been one hell of a week.....

first, my computer gets a nasty virus and i have to have it cleaned or repaired or whatever they call it. basically erase everything. luckily i backed everything up. everything that is except my itunes. i'm hoping they can recover the songs. if they don't, i'll be REALLY depressed.

then, my trip to cuba gets canceled. at this point, it's canceled due to the fact that the US treasury won't issue us a visa. the trip has been going for 30 years, and they won't issue the visa. i didn't really know how to respond. of course i'm super depressed and i feel defeated - there's honestly nothing we can do. the school has appealed the decision, and we'll know by friday whether we're going or not. please cross your fingers for me....i've been preparing for this trip since last june...

i'm in amazingly high spirits considering the shitty week i had. must be because i'm going home in less than a week. YEAH! i can't wait to see my family and friends. and reggie, of course. gonna give him a big puppy hug.

a jaded love story...and a broken computer

so i'm actually not blogging on my computer anymore...it's got a nasty virus and i don't know what to do about it. everytime i open something up, it says it is sending "hot horny asian" emails to people (note: i'm sorry if you get one!) i've been downloading lots of stuff for my final projects that i've been working on. must've gotten it then (or maybe it was when i was looking at midget porn the other day? oh well!) anyway it's been such a pain in the ass because, well, it's finals week. and i have 2 major papers/presentations due on Friday. Luckily for me, work has been slow and I've been able to work on it here (don't tell my bosses....)

in other news of the weird, i've met a guy. weird, i know. and i'm jaded, so i'm not going to say how cool, or cute, nice, or funny he is. yeah, it just jinx's it...and i'm not ready for that. gotta enjoy it a little bit longer. once we get passed the "are we going to keep hanging out?" stage, i'll let you all know the details :)

and guess what??? i'm going to CUBA in less than a month! i'm soooo friggin' excited. thanks to all who have donated money/supplies to bring with me. i've gotten 3 huge boxes of stuff, and over $200 to buy things. so far i bought a lot of ast/school supplies for the little kids. i couldn't imagine not havin crayons growing up! i leave the bay area on january 2...to return in Boston on the 17th. and please, don't ask for cigars...they aren't allowed, and i'm not going to stash them in unmentionable places just for you :)

...and i'll be home in CA on dec. 16th for those that wanna hang out...just get in touch....

happy december!!!