I HATE PACKING!

Do I even have to mention how much moving sucks? I have attempted that pre-cleaning prior to packing the last couple of days - the kind of cleaning where you try to throw away as much as possible so that you reduce the amount of stuff you move. Let's just say I haven't been very successful. Tuesday, I fell guilty of becoming one with the couch after only an hour of going through the kitchen throwing things out of the junk drawers and surveying what I can take over to Boyfriend's house. Yesterday, I had a quick dinner with Ghurrrl and then attempted to start the cleaning process again. I quickly realized that I still was not "feeling it." What the hell is wrong with me? Do I really think I will ever feel like packing?!?! I need to get with it!

I think partly I'm unmotivated because I will be doing it all by my lonesome. Boyfriend left directly from Tampa after the Thanksgiving holidays to Jamaica again for a week of working and will head back to Florida for the weekend for upcoming meetings in Sarasota through Wednesday. I won't see him until Thursday when we leave for Job# 1's holiday party in New York next week. Jeez! My mother and sister are suffering from strep throat, so there goes my extra set of packing hands. Grrr!!! Sadly, this is the only actual weekend that I will have between now and the move. We are gone next weekend, and then I move the following weekend. What a hectic month! I plan to take everything that I plan on taking over to Boyfriend's this weekend... if all goes well.

I have to work tonight at Job# 2 so accomplishing anything for the move is so not going to happen today. It looks like I'll be one crazy packing lady all day Saturday and Sunday...ugh!

Anyone bored this weekend and want to help a sista pack some boxes???? I'm sensing I won't be getting any takers on that...

Thanksgiving Recap

I'm guessing that everyone has eaten themselves virtually into a comatose state over the holiday weekend. I certainly did. Boyfriend's family had an overwhelming abundance of baked turkey, fried turkey, and all the (as we say in the South) "fixins". Boyfriend has quite the extended family. He may very well put my family to the test...no, I still think the extended Spice Family can annex its population to become the newest U.S. Territory.

As for the Godiva cookie situation, we decided that there would be way too much food at the party we were attending already that we kept the boxes at Boyfriend's parents' house just for them to enjoy...which is really all I cared about anyway. And as we suspected, there were so many sweet snacks and desserts that good ole Godiva would've been lost in the mix and not fully appreciated. By the time I left, Boyfriend's mom had already "fully appreciated" an entire box of them though.

We decided to stick our heads in Macy's and a couple other stores on Black Friday. Disasterous to find parking at noon - can you tell we aren't devoted Black Friday shoppers like Single Girl and her family (i.e., waking up at 3:30am to get a jumpstart)? At least I was able to find a phenomenal dress to wear to my company holiday party in New York. Granted, I still have to get it altered in length since I'm hair-shy of being a dwarf, but I have a dress! Maybe I can buy those shoes by Chinese Laundry to complete the ensemble *note the gratuitous justification*.

As usual, I'm blogging from the plane on my way home to kill time. I'm sitting next to a woman that just wants to know all my business. Did you visit family in Tampa? Are you from Houston? When did you fly out? That must be something important you're working on because you've been typing away on that thing. Am as annoying as a three-year-old child? Do you want to kick my ass? Ok, I made up those last two. I'm sure she'd die if she knew what I just typed about her on this blackberry. I should leave it in plain view and get up to go to the restroom so her snoopy butt will read it. I know, I'm mean.

I have to work at Job#2 tonight. Seeing as it is for an airline, it was a given that time off would not be in the cards for me on one of, if not, THE busiest travel day for returning home for a holiday. I'm mentally preparing myself for all the unhappy passengers I will have to deal with who have either missed their flights, had delays or cancellations, lost their bags, lost their children (yes, you read that correctly), or just unhappy with the service in general. Wish me luck on my upcoming four hours of torture...

Well that's it. I hope you all had a great holiday!

Bizarre results to a "Happy Thanksgiving" search

Since I will be traveling and then stuffing my face for most of the long weekend starting tomorrow, I decided to wish you all a HAPPY TURKEY DAY a little early!!! In order to make this post more festive, I went to Photobucket in order to find a whimsical/witty/comedic Thanksgiving image to post. Strangely, when I put "happy thanksgiving" in the search box, one of the first few images was this guy...

I actually shrunk the picture a bit from the website because it was HUGE when I used the blog code

WTF?!?! I have no idea what this naked, tattoo-covered guy on the toilet has to do with Thanksgiving, but there he is! Thanks, Photobucket search engine...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, FOLKS!!!

Thanks to Single Girl and Single Girl's Mom

I decided to walk over to Macy's downtown during my lunch hour. As Single Girl's Mom suspected, they carried a selection of Godiva chocolates. Sadly, they did not carry the specific assorted box of cookies and biscuits that I discussed in the previous post because it is a new specialty item that can only be purchased online (which I don't have time for) and in a Godiva store. Macy's only carried the individual boxes of specific flavored one, but I went ahead and bought the three different kinds they had because I REFUSE to go to the Galleria just for friggin' cookies. The ones they had were the Godiva Signature Biscuit, Hazelnut Praline Biscuit, and the Raspberry Premiere Biscuit. I'm not a big dessert or chocolate fan, but I'm guessing that's good...especially since it is sheeshy Godiva, right? I'm not all too fond that they come in long boxes versus the pretty box that the chocolates come in because I'm all about presentation. Luckily, the Macy's gift bag she put them in looks nice enough...even more so since she put in a couple of fluffy pieces of tissue paper. I know...I'm ridiculous about how things look. It's the Martha Stewart in me.

The whole time I was looking at the Godiva cookies, I thought to myself, "I should really get the coffee, too." Then somehow I talked myself out of it. Not sure how that happened, but I guess it had a bit to do with thinking it might be overkill and little to do with that I got distracted by this beautiful pair of silver heels by Chinese Laundry across the way from the Godiva stand. I pretty much kicked myself all the way to the office thinking I should have bought the coffee. And of course, Single Girl's Mom suggested that very thing when I checked my blog comments upon my return. Drats! I guess I know where I'll be walking again for lunch tomorrow...

Thanks for the input, ladies!

How about this for a gift?

I figure if I can't bring something homemade for Thanksgiving that will showcase my inner Betty Crocker, I can at least bring something Boyfriend's choc-aholic mom would enjoy. This is the 36-Piece Biscuit Assortment Gift Box from Godiva. It's got a little of all their cookies and biscuits. I suppose they can nibble on them throughout the day or even have it with coffee after the big lunch/dinner. I feel so generic though...but at least it's high-class genericism, right? *I think I just created a new word*. Now to find a place that carries Godiva that's not at the Galleria - I detest going to the Galleria...especially around the holidays!

Gift Ideas?

So I'm going to the general public to get ideas of something to bring to Boyfriend's family in Florida for Thanksgiving. I feel lame enough as it is that I'm arriving on Thanksgiving day around 11:30am and won't be able to cook/bake something to take to the holiday feast. Once I am picked up from the airport, we are heading straight to Boyfriend's great uncle's house for Thanksgiving Lunch that will progress into Thanksgiving Dinner - apparently it is an all day affair with all the extended family. Since I'll have some constraints due to travel, I need some good gift ideas. I prefer not checking in a bag when I fly, so I won't be able to bring a bottle of wine since that is more than the alloted amount of liquids allowed on your carry-on baggage. All the websites I scoured suggested either the wine, flowers, or some type of centerpiece decoration if you weren't making something to eat. I'm seeing none of those are practical with my travel plans. I could stop and buy flowers, but I think flowers are pretty damn cheesey, if you ask me. I guess I could suck it up and check my bag in and bring a bottle of wine, but I was trying for something more original.

I need your suggestions, my readers...even those of you who I know read my blog but don't normally comment. If you are unfamiliar of how to comment, I will tell you. You can either log in if you have a blogger account or you can choose the "Other" option and fill out your name and comment. You don't need a website address to include unless you actually have one. It will work with or without one. OR, you can remain anonymous. I need help!!!

*Insert Rocky theme music/Eye of The Tiger*

I was actually going to include an excerpt of the lyrics to the song, but realized...I really don't like the lyrics all that much. I find the musical intro is what really gets the blood pumping, but writing out, "Dun, Dun, Dun, Dun, Dun, Dun, Duuuuuuun..." doesn't have quite the same effect. I even thought about adding a music player on my blog, but didn't want to bust any of my adoring fans who are reading this on the clock - which is just about all of you!

As of today, I have completed four weeks of Houston Adventure Bootcamp. I did the 3-day a week session. Can you believe I got up at 4:15am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays just to have a quick breakfast, get dressed, and to be at the park for my 5am butt-kicking?!?! It was actually a lot of fun! I enjoyed it thoroughly and found out that I'm definitely tougher than I thought I was physically. I've been saying that I wanted to do this type of thing forever. Blondie and I decided to sign up so that she get in shape before her Jamaica trip this week, and me just because I wanted the physical challenge and was curious if I could actually stick to it.

Weight-wise, I don't think I lost any specific amount of pounds because I generally fluctuate anyway. But, I do have more muscle...and as Boyfriend pointed out, my keister is quite firmer. Woot! With the fear of my big arse eventually drooping to the back of my knees, that was reward enough hearing him say that! Oh, and you can feel the muscles in my biceps now. Sadly, you still can't really SEE them because I'm just not genetically inclined to have that type of definition - thanks, mom and dad! I guess I will always resemble a somewhat cheap piece of steak...lean meat with a layer of gristle. *he he he*

After a month of working out with this program, I have accomplished and learned a few things from the first class:

• I have shaved off about a minute from my mile run time


• I have increased my 40 push-ups in 2 minutes to 60 push-ups - strong like bull


• I have increased my full-situps to 40 - I know, it doesn't sound like much...but for this chica with back injury history, it's AMAZING!


• I crunch and plank longer than just about anyone in my class...because I'm badass like that. Did I mention how badass I was?


• I no longer want to curl up in the fetal position crying for someone to saw off my legs a day after doing lunges for the length of a basketball court


• I still hate crawling/running/running backwards up steep hills


• I can now run with 6lbs. weights in each hand held at 90 degree angles for about a mile while stopping at several circuit stations along the way to do curls, front raises, flies, triceps, etc. without wanting to die...ok, I still want to die, but I learned I can push through it anyway.

Initially, I was going to celebrate by negating everything I’ve worked out for by stuffing myself full of queso and margaritas at a Mexican restaurant before going to a comedy show with Noodle and Grove. However, I just got a call from Papa Spice that even though he arrived just this morning from Iraq and is worn out, he really wants to see the whole Spice family together tonight. So I did a last-minute flakey cancel on the guys and am off to eat dinner at Yao Restaurant & Bar. Yes, the infamous Rockets’ basketball player Yao Ming’s parents own a restaurant on the southwest side of Houston. We’re sticking to an Asian theme...because, you know, all Asians are alike. Just look at the Yaos and the Spices. Ok, maybe we don’t have EVERYTHING in common. They are millionaires, we are not. They are giants in stature while some adult Spice family members get raised eyebrows as they pass the measuring stick at amusement park rides. So all in all, we have absolutely nothing in common. Whatever. We still plan to eat at their restaurant. My dad has never been and is looking forward to sitting on some of the furniture in a room specifically tailored for Yao and people who obviously are not vertically challenged.

Hope you all have a fun-filled weekend…

Update

I know, I know...I OBVIOUSLY suck at keeping promises - note my asterik two posts ago. And, I followed up with another failed attempt after saying I would repost a second time yesterday. For a while I was doing really well about blogging at least a couple times a week. I've been slacking again though. I don't know what it is... it's not like I have a lack of content because I really have had a lot of stuff going on that I could blog about, but I just haven't had the will to type it all down. What's up with that?!?!? I normally jump at the chance to proclaim to the world all that is nuts in my life. I've been equal parts uninspired, lazy, and downright just blah as of late. Oh, well... I plan to recap a few things, so bear with me that this be yet another long-winded post rather than smaller daily doses of Rice Spice-isms.

I was able to get together with Weenie before she left for Japan. Her little boy is adorable! He loved the Thomas the Train learning laptop I bought him (See pic below). As for the other high school peeps that some of you may recognize, I sadly have no pictures of them but only their children. It appears there must be something in the water though because it seems like EVERYONE is pregnant! Not Weenie though as she has already stated that she draws the line at one.

That's Weenie and her little one who had stripped down to his skivvies so that he could smother his face in chocolate cake - can you imagine how much more entertaining it would be if I did that at one of my parties?!?! Note the taller, blonde tyke behind him. He is also 3-years old and the son of one of my dear friends from high school as well who I will refer to as SA - her initials prior to marriage. (Hint: She was very tall, blonde, was the only girl who wore her hair in a short hairstyle, and won "Biggest Flirt" at prom - I'm sure my readers who went to "Da View" should recall).

What else is going on???? I didn't get to dress up this year for Halloween. I was a bit saddened seeing as I was the Hostess with the Mostest who threw "THE PARTY OF THE YEAR" on Halloween four years in a row. Although I did get Boyfriend to TiVo football and the World Series game to watch a scary movie the Saturday night prior to Halloween. If you ever get a chance to watch The Abandoned, you should. It's freaky scary. It was on the list for After Dark Horror Fest in 2006 which picks the top 8 scary movies each year. This weekend they premiere their 2007 picks. Maybe I can convince Boyfriend to go to one of the movies...although he almost didn't make it through The Abandoned.

As you read in my post yesterday, I had quite the car dilemma. Which in turn creates a living situation dilemma. I spoke to my landlord over the phone last night and stated my case. My strong points being the following two:

• With the schedule I keep of getting up early/before daylight to workout and often times not coming home from Job# 2 until about 11:30pm or midnight, I don't feel safe living at my apartment. Although the apartment itself is gated, walking to my car on the street can be very dangerous. If they can break in my car, who is to say they can't follow or attack me. Although I'd fight back like nobody's business and have 3 years of kung-fu under my belt (Thanks, Papa Spice, for MAKING me do that when I was a kid!), but it won't stop idiots from thinking I look like an easy target being of a smaller, petite stature.
• Two car break-ins in less than two months is unacceptable. Per the landlord himself, break-ins have the tendency to happen more around November and December (holiday times) in the past. If that is the case, I've been broken into twice already and will probably happen again because I don't have a car alarm. That extra expense is wearing thin on my pocketbook, and to consider I might have to shell out for a new window in another month is just preposterous.

My landlord said to give him a day to think about it and that he'd discuss it with his wife. I hope this all pans out because I really don't want to have to be on bad terms over the next two months until my lease ends should they not let me out of it. Seriously, my place is cute and an awesome price. I'm sure they can find some guy that wouldn't be concerned about the safety issues that I face to snap that place up in a heartbeat. I will keep you posted on that outcome.

Also, I cut my hair last week. I chopped off six whopping inches. It's about shoulder-length now with layers in the front. I love the look, hate the prep time. My hair is so stick-straight that if I don't use a rolling brush and hair dryer to fix it, it looks like caca. Maybe I can get a good picture of it this weekend so that I can show you. Boyfriend was a little taken aback by the shorter hair, but he still liked it. He better if he knows what's good for him!

I am also considering making a fancy, schmancy dinner tomorrow night. Not sure if I want it to be just for me and Boyfriend or if I want to invite the whole gang. Although I want my Date Night with Boyfriend, I really miss cooking for a group of people. I blame my mother for my hostessing/IMustFeedEveryone addiction. Regardless, I know I have something going on Saturday that I could swear I've committed to, but can't remember what it is. Horrible, huh? The clock is ticking, so I better remember soon!

My dad will be in some time next week from Iraq for the holidays!!! Next Friday or maybe Saturday, we plan on having our immediate family all get together for dinner and hit up some karaoke. I'm not kidding you guys...your read correctly...KARAOKE. How Asian is THAT?!?! My friends caught wind of it and know that the Spice Family never disappoints for entertainment and downright hilarity, so they are all crashing our dinner and karaoke evening. I love that my friends find my bizzaro, crazy, loud family so amusing!

Also, I really miss Diana Banana! Is your hiatus over yet?

Be on the lookout for a crackhead with toned arms!

I usually try not to swear on here, but all I can say is that this morning was MotherFuckin'Bullshit! I got up before it was even light outside to workout this morning. When I get to my car...low and behold...this is what I see...

This picture was taken a couple of hours later before I headed to work

It has been one month and 12 days since my poor car was broken into by another (or the same) a-hole. Unlike last time of which they took nothing because I keep nothing of value in my car, they did take two 5lb. dumbbells that I use for working out...granted, they left the yoga mat. Guess the crackhead wanted to do bicep curls and tricep lifts but wasn't a big fan of the lotus position.

My landlord is aware of this complete and utter bullshit since he saw me coming back into my apartment right after I had walked out the first time. I plan to discuss with him tonight the option for this to be my last month at my apartment rather than waiting until the end of January. He has not cashed my rent check for the month of November yet, so I was thinking that since I paid my first and last month when I moved in, he can tear up my check and just consider me paid in full. I wonder if he'll go for it. I hope so because if I have to tack on an extra $140 a month to replace a car window on top of my rent, I might as well have stayed at my last apartment which was 10 times nicer. Also, I really need to be concerned about the whole safety factor. I think that is grounds for fair termination of contract don't you think?!?!

Now that I've vented about this craptastic morning, I will go back and finish the post I started yesterday full of the witty Rice Spice-isms that Single Girl loves so much. I know, I know... I'm obviously a liar seeing as I promised to post more the next day on my previous post. But I really did attempt yesterday afternoon, but just never got done. I shall post again this afternoon before I head to the auto glass repair place.