On Being

This picture was taken by my good friend Rocio who was visiting her hometown of La Paz.

I turned 46 yesterday.

Spell it out: F - O - R - T - Y  (FUCKIN)  S - I - X

So Vain - I Tagged Myself

http://www.brainlesstales.com/

Bouncing Barb got tagged recently.

The Witch

Don't you just love it when you randomly pick up a book -

I'm Paper Mâcheying Over Here!

The SHE side...

Everything Takes Time... and Patience!

Broom Hilda? Come se dice en espanol?

Which we have plenty of (time), but the patience part? A whole n'other ball game! At least where I'm concerned that is! Not very patient at all...  *sigh* (Just ask the Captain in regards to the ongoing torture I've put him through these past few days because of my internet connection issues!)

La Paz has stores on every street corner. Some stores are "tiendas" like small general stores and hold everything from parts to build your own propane BBQ, to awesome terra cotta dishes and brooms. (Oh yeah, most stores have buckets of brooms right out the door, it appears as though these are always in need, especially when people sweep the sidewalks!) You can always find the unexpected...

A 3-Week Pictorial

Please enjoy the first leg of my journey.

Its getting cold and windy in La Paz. We're thinking of heading towards warmer climates yet. Apparently the low 70s is now deemed unacceptable to mi esposo. Harumph! Last night I woke to a wet bed. How sweet - hot flashes! Love this getting older trend I'm in. Yeah. Just loving it!

When In Rome...

Wear a toga and eat too much?

But when in Mexico - hang out with other gringos? Not for me - no gracias, no es para mi. What is it with the average American that fears the sense of being disoriented that they need buoyancy with their Hard Rock Cafés, Hooters and McDonalds in any country they dare visit?

I want to be lost, confused, thrown into a new culture with a whole new unknown world. That brings such a sense of adventure and keeps my eyes rolling constantly. That and the treacherous sidewalks where a fraction of a second in lack of attention can cost you an ankle! I'd hate to be in a wheelchair in Mexico - I'll tell you that much! Cracks, sudden drops beyond 2 feet, holes, or a pile of junk are what keep you alert on every stroll.

Cool Little Story

www.jimcline.com/baja

We left San Diego on November 10. Our "marina neighbors" Sam and Dave left the marina over 1 month before we did. We knew they were heading out, knew they were going Southbound, but that's all we knew.

Halfassed Weekender Edition!

Doncha wish I made YOU a birthday cake?

It was HIS birthday Friday! I made him a cake too! Kinda like a Pink Panther cake. You remember that one? Where he's so hungry, but his fridge is empty and so are his pockets to he has no food nor does he have access to food so he cuts out an image of a fish in a magazine and fries it up in a pan. Places the fried up image in a plate, ties a napkin around his neck, grabs a knife and fork and eats the image...

I Love Getting Mail Like This

Thanks Diva in Demand!

Diva in Demand hosted a giveaway a while back. And I won! Me! 3 gift certificates to try out Pillsbury's new frozen breakfast. We tried this one this morning. And be "we" I mean Booby ate this! He toasted it in our toaster oven rather than the recommended microwave. Yum - crispy IS a major food group you know!

Random Confessions

The Beach Cruiser: would be cooler if it was rare.

1. Every time I glance at a digital clock and see repeated digits (11:11 - 1:11 - 2:22 - 3:33 and so on...) I quickly look away from the time, make a wish and make sure I don't look at the time again for at least a minute because I'm somehow convinced if I do look and it's still the same time, my wish won't come true.
2. I fold my underwear: lay them flat, fold up the bottom flap, then fold that row in three and store them in a stuff sack. I've been doing this since living on the road, and it seemed appropriate to maintain this crazy habit on the boat.
3. Sometimes as I'm walking down the dock I close my eyes, and challenge myself to walk 20 steps before opening my eyes, sometimes I cheat and take a quick glance and still congratulate myself for doing the full 20 steps.

Things I've Done

www.socialnetworking.procon.org

Oh, what have you done? Sunday I posted a list of what I've never done. I've managed to pair up every thing I haven't done to its equivalent of what I have done. And this is a true exercise in humility. Things listed here are taboo, shameful, but harshly honest with myself. And by doing these things I have built the person I am today.

I am pretty awesome, so I cannot deny my past. None of it. Even the bad parts.

I'm 45 and so far I have:

Things I've Never Done

I'm 45 and I've never:

1. Had children.
2. Not said sorry when I needed to.
3. Was going to say "been to Africa" but just remembered I have - Morocco. But I find it hard to count that as being in Africa.
4. Jumped out of an airplane (when it was in the air...)

It's Official!

I showed him this ad this morning.

Me: "Hey we can save up to 89% in laser hair removal in LaJolla!"
Him: "I'm already losing all my hair for free!"

30 Shameless Days: SWEAT!

www.sweatblock.com

 This I do quite well.

I sweat. So much so that I keep a bar of deodorant in my glove compartment. I sweat. And 2-3 times a week at roller derby? I produce more salt water than the salt flats of Utah.

Three months into my new derby life, a girl next to me was smelling her gear (that makes her sound like a puppy after her tail, her gear - knee pads, elbow pads... gear!).

Half-Assed for a Jackass

Enter "santorum" in a Google search box and the very first result you get it is a definition:

Pronunciation: san-TOR-um
Function: noun
Etymology:
Savage Love - 05/29/03
1. The frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the by-product of anal sex.
2. Former Senator Rick Santorum (LINK)

Now, I must confess I am NOT knowledgeable in the sphere of American politics.  So much so that I had to spell check that knowledgeable word. But if a politician speaks loudly on anti-gay shit, then he deserves backlashes. Any anti-gay person makes me wish I wasn't married so I could be gay and seduce their wives. Or their daughters. Heck, they make me want to have 3-somes and 4-somes with their mothers, wives and daughters. Regardless of their age or race. That's how anti-anti-gay I am.

To Kill A Mockingbird is not available on Kindle. That will never cease to not shock me. (Whoa, easy on the double negatives there!)

I woke up wanting to kill zombies. Wish I knew why. Today is the season premiere of Dexter. That provides some explanation, but not all of it. I want a good Wii game of killing zombies. I hate the games where you need to figure shit out, like where to run in a building and how to pick up guns, I just want a good arcade style point and shoot and kill game. 

I'm really a mild nature'd person at heart.

The Mexican Navy rode up to us when we were anchored in Mexican waters. They had guns. They told us to dive off our boat we needed a commercial fishing license. Lost in translation you say? Who cares, they had guns, I had a Wii game without a gun attachment and paintings of mermaids. We left the Mexican waters before having our morning coffee.

After searching and searching we found out there is no such thing as a diving license for Mexican waters. Funny how the power of heavy artillery overpowers any kind of reasoning.

p.s. this is kinda a half-assed weekend post à-la Simple Dude style...

30 Shameless Days - Love For An Uncool Movie

I'm stumped by this. An uncool movie? Isn't that kinda like the uncool TV show? For my husband, any chick flick or musical is uncool. For me it's any horror movie. Grrrrr.....  Horror flicks keep me up at night and I do get very frightened by them.

But does that make them uncool? I've found awesome stuff at garage sales. That last-chance-to-make-cash-out-of-your-trash deal? Basically, what people sell out of their garage is to them uncool, right?

What's cool? I know I'm not cool. I'm a spaz. A geek. An annoying person who is always stressing over what people really think about her. Not that what people think of me will affect what I do or say, but I just want to know what's going on in people's heads when they look at me.

At derby I yell a lot. "Jammer coming up!" "Coming on your inside!" "Watch out! Old lady coming through!" Coaches tell us its good to be in constant communication and giving info is key in becoming a good derby athlete.

So words fly out my mouth constantly. And I don't really yell-yell per say. I know, I mentioned "yell" but that's only because the word says more than if I were to claim "I project a lot at derby". Projection allows you throw your voice further without strain on your throat and stuff. You push from the gut. I can actually whisper and an auditorium full of 500 will hear me.

So. Where does that put us in terms of uncool movies? Since I defined it by horror flicks, I must then talk about one of those frightening movies that keep you up at night with horrible visions in your brain.

The Changeling. That's my pick.

It came out in 1979 or 1980. My dad took me to see this telling me it was about classical music.

I was 14.

And I was frightened. A movie about classical music? I trusted my dad and believed his every words. Other than when he told me my mom was a lesbian, but that's beside the point and just angry divorce talk.

But this movie was NOT about classical music. Yes it's got a good soundtrack if that's your thing. But, needless to say I LOVED this movie even if it scared the bejeezus outta me.

I was 14. And my dad was taking me out to the movie theater. This is back when going to the movies was a big thing. Same goes as going out to a restaurant. Nowadays, movies are as disposable as a Seinfeld rerun episode.

p.s. also among unpopular movies I also love:

1. The Mask and most Jim Carrey movies out there... (including Cable Guy)
2. Amelie
3. Borat
4. Freddy Got Fingered
5. Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
6. O Brother Where Art Thou?

Random Stuff

Have I ever mentioned that I can't walk and fart at the same time? I can't. Just physically cannot do it. I need to stop and allow air passage for the evacuation to happen.

Right now I feel like throwing up. I'm so nauseous. I have a killer headache that won't relent. It's been hurting me for a few days now. But the nausea, where does that come from? Ugh.

I'm in the process of ripping my entire DVD collection, storing the files on an external hard drive to make them more accessible to watch. It also reduces my stuff here on the boat. Crazy how to minimize your junk you actually need to purchase stuff. Like my iPod reduced the need to carry a buttload of CDs, the Kindle reduces books, and now the media player/external hard drive will help me get rid of all those DVDs. The only downside so far is the fact that the movies we watch the most won't rip. The disk is so overused, its scratches are keeping it from ripping completely. Bummer. If they're my fave then I really want them on file!

I filed my application to renew my Green Card in mid May. The process is painfully long. Basically when you get your first Green Card by marriage, then you are conditionally approved for 2 years. You need to apply to remove those conditions and then obtain a 10-yr card. I've been waiting for about 4 months now. Trying to avoid thinking about it. What they want to see, apparently, is co-mingling of finances and lots and lots of bills from the 2-yr conditional period. We have no bills. Having gone from our employment that paid for everything to living on a boat, there are simply no living expenses. Help me out by crossing your fingers with me ok?

Its always sunny in San Diego. Trust me. It rained on the 4 days we were in Seattle. The time we spent there? Where it normally always rains? It was sunny, in Seattle, while it rained in San Diego.  How ironic. I'm an east-coaster. I miss the rain. I need rain...

I blew a speaker

I blew a speaker on the way here. He was a motivational speaker. I have a bad taste in my mouth but at least I feel good about myself.
-Doug Stanhope