Hot date tonight (and tomorrow morning). Hee hee.

For this small moment in time, all is right with the world.

More about what (didn't) happen with the caique in my previous posts...some other time. Needless to say the situation crumbled in my hands. BUT! I'm getting a green cheek conure in 30 days or less. Eee!

Okay, we put the deposit on the caique yesterday. *squeal!*

We decided (well, Laura decided) on a black-headed caique...we get first pick of a clutch of three babies, born every other day, from the tail end of June to July 1. So they're about four weeks old - this is more or less what my baby looks like right now:



It's just so ugly and alien-looking that it's cute. :D

This is what the adult form looks like:



Love the puffy pants and the leg that hasn't been turned around yet. LOL

The breeder said they would be sexed next week - you can't tell males from females just by looking at them, you actually have to DNA test them (non-sexually dimorphic is the word!). We're hoping for a boy but we'll take a girl happily too. There's really no difference in personality as far as I know - but in females (as is the case with my cockatiel Irwin), they can get the wrong idea about you and claim you as their "mate." Some will even produce eggs for you. Oh joy. This in and of itself isn't a problem, but they can become egg-bound - unable to pass an egg out of their body - and become very sick or die. It's just a situation I'd like to avoid. I'm lucky that Irwin herself has never laid eggs. But she demands to be near me all the damn time and hollers her head off when I leave her line of sight. If I kiss her or even try to scratch her head she will do mating chuckles at me. Weird bird.

Still picking names.

I think we have decided where we are going to purchase the caique from!

Originally, the plan was Omar's Exotic Birds, a fantastic store that has a location in Placentia and Lake Forest. They almost always have caiques - but they also charge $1299 a pop...WITHOUT being DNA sexed or anything. I think they might do the initial polyoma vaccination but that's it.

I did not really feel good about the birds they had there. They are great to visit, but all of them were just...I dunno, they didn't give me that "vibe." Plus, the price factor is a big ouch. Laura has very, very, very generously offered to go halfers with me on it (paying for most or all of it up front, and I will repay her as I can), but still, I really don't want to push that!

One of the best private breeders out there is in Florida and specializes in caiques - Shady Pines Aviary. They come DNA sexed, vaccinated, socialized, with the carrier (obviously, as they must be flown out this way), a supply of food to transition the bird onto our diet of choice...all for much less than the "out the door" price at Omar's....I've been emailing back and forth with the breeder, Gloria, and I feel very, very comfortable with her.

I'm estimating (though this all depends on Laura) that we might have the baby here sometime in September. OMG. OMG. OMG. *flail*

Who couldn't love a face like this?? And what mischief! Taking a break in her water bowl!? LOL.

I feel like this icon is so appropriate right now. I am so happy.

Several months ago (it could have been as much as a year, I don't know) Laura and I were visiting Omar's, the world-class bird store we are lucky to have just a few miles away in Placentia. I saw a type of bird there that I had never seen before. There were three of them; they were rambunctiously playing with each other, rolling on their backs, tumbling around, hanging from anything and everything. They were joy embodied, with feathers on top. They were Caiques (the apricot-headed variety). I held one and it treated me like a jungle gym.

I have visited both locations of Omar's bird store countless time since and each caique I have handled has been goofy, affectionate, playful, and wonderful.

Definitely love at first sight if there ever was such a thing. I remember Laura commenting on my "OH MY GOD" expression when I saw the birds - she told me, "I have never seen that look on your face before! You must be really crazy about those birds!"

For my 21st birthday approaching in September, I told my mom that all I wanted was permission to own one of these birds. I did not want her to pitch in, just say yes. I never thought she would, but she has.

I'm totally on the verge of tears of joy right now.

I imagine I will be bringing home one sometime in the next couple of months. Be prepared for obsessive blogging. This bird is going to be my feathered child.

Edit: My location is "In heaven" - why does Google give me a map of Loveland, Ohio...? LMAO.

Whoa, I totally need to post in this thing more often.

To all the people on my f-list <333. I love you and I still read your posts. Religiously.

I started playing Maple Story. Very addictive. o_O

I got an A in my Japanese class and a B in my other classes this past spring. Right now I am taking online versions of Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, and Psychology of Aging.

I have been lucky enough to travel with Laura quite a few places lately. We went to Sedona in late May...Yellowstone in early June....

And yesterday we went snorkeling? (well, without snorkels...just kind of sightseeing?) in La Jolla marine preserve. Being merely 2 feet away from sting rays, calico bass, and leopard sharks = SO. COOL.

Plus her (horse) trainer is going to give us both a percentage in the horse of our choice. We looked at them yesterday - there is an Unusual Heat filly that looks SO good, but she got a tibia fracture recently and so she won't be racing anytime soon.

I like a gelding named Buddyandrowdy but mostly just because he's a love bug. They also have a bitch of a filly named Saracen's High Brite and she looks good too...just not very personable. I played mind checkers with her. She has one hell of a stink eye on her. It is HILARIOUS. She seems to think she's God's gift to horses. Every time I try to be friendly with her she tries to show me who's boss. She tries to nip me, and when I make a pinching motion back at her with my hand as she does it, she almost tries to stretch as far up as she can, opens her eyes insanely wide, puts her ears flat against her head and purses her mouth. I wish we had gotten a picture of it.

By the end of our visit she at least let me rub her forehead. Awww.

Let's see...what else is there to say?

Laura is awesome as always. :3

If you're on my friends list, I want to know 36 things about you. I don't care if we never talk, if you're more of a lurker, or if we already know everything about each other.

BE HONEST! Answer the questions in a comment, then repost on your own journal.



1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?

2) What was your dream growing up?

3) What talent do you wish you had?

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?

5) Favorite vegetable?

6) What was the last book you read?

7) What zodiac sign are you?

8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.

9) Worst Habit?

10) If you saw me walking down the street, would you offer me a ride?

11) What is your favorite sport?

12) Do you have a pessimistic or optimistic attitude?

13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?

15) Tell me one weird fact about you.

16) Do you have any pets?

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

18) What was your first impression of me?

19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?

20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?

21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

22) What color eyes do you have?

23) Ever been arrested?

24) White or red wine?

25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?

27) What's your favorite place to hang at?

28) Do you believe in ghosts?

29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

30) Do you swear a lot?

31) Biggest pet peeve?

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?

35) Do you believe in God?

36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?

Laura loaned me one of her cockatiels in hopes of teaching my girls some socialization skills, as they just kind of ignored or pecked at each other and generally didn't get along. The bird in question, Cookie, is an older male, very people-oriented but friendly.

All three are such happy birds today. It really brightened things for me.

I gave them a bath using a spray bottle and they looked absolutely ridiculous afterwards. Lookie! (may not be there at first - I think Youtube is still processing the video?)

I am looking to get a computer in February-Marchish, kids. (Hooray for Financial Aid.)

I am still deciding on whether I should go for a laptop (in the name of portability, as I have the old ancient laptop of my brother's I am using now and I LOVE that thing even though it's 11 years old XD) or a desktop, but if I go for a laptop...

Windows vs. Mac? Anyone with experience with both, what would you say? Are there any things you can do on Mac that you can't do with XP, and vice versa?

Thanks. :)

Today's update comes from my archaic laptop. It's a hard worker, just v. v. slow.

I don't really have much to report, I am just restless and bored. I got pretty sick about halfway through last week and yesterday, finally caved in to go visit the doctor. 2 1/2 hours and a trip to the pharmacy later, I get a 5-day course of azithromyacin. I've been on this before, and it didn't do me a damn bit of good, but it seems to be doing the trick this time. Whoo.

Today I had no school or anything, so it was a day of rest for me...sort of. I made my room somewhat presentable, played with my birds, wasted time on online games, and generally had an unproductive day. It's been awhile since I just sat around and did nothing so I guess this is good for me, but I can't get away from my stress and anxiety.

*sigh* Another storm cometh tonight.

Why do I say I'm fine when it's obvious I'm not?
why's it so hard to tell you what I want?
why can't you just read my mind?
why do I fear that the quieter I am, the less you will listen?
why do I care whether you like me or not?
why is it so hard for me to be angry?
why is it such work to stay conscious and so easy to get stuck and not the other way around?

Alanis Morrisette is good for you when you're brooding-ish.

Happy early birthday Saoo. Mr. saotome_ranma, you are one year older tomorrow. We haven't talked in forever and a half but I hope you are doing great!

A physical therapist at my work threw me for a loop the other day when he told me not to bother with kinesiology as a bachelor's because there are no jobs for it (which is in agreement with all the "research" on job prospects I've done so far). I've already applied, and he does have a point - I do need to be doing something better than CNA work in graduate school, that would be kinda hard. I have been wondering if I should get my Bachelor's in Nursing and go from there. Medical people (ahem, Noelle) - any opinion on this?

I find my personal life to be really baffling lately. In some ways I tackle things so much easier than some other people and in some ways there is stuff that seems to come so easily to other people that is so, so beyond me.

I'd write more, but it's approaching midnight - I'm not tired, but I don't really care to do too much more pondering. Saving more for next time :P

Everybody take care. <3

Hello everyone, I'm still alive.

I finally caved in and went to the dentist to have several fillings put in. The only cavity that bothered me was on my right jaw, and that is fine now. However, I think he did something incorrectly on my left jaw (either that or I am heading for a root canal) as it is quite painful. For some reason, it does not bother me in the morning/the first few hours I am awake - however, by afternoon, I am confined to mostly liquids and soft foods, and by evening, I am sipping gingerly through a straw and reaching for the extra-strength tylenol. On my lunch/dinnerbreak last night (worked 2:30-10:30) I went over to CVS and bought some of their maximum strength benzocaine 20% liquid for toothaches. It unfortunately did not do a bit of good. Shortly after applying it, that whole area hurt worse for the remainder of the night - so I am not really sure what to do. I go back to the dentist on Tuesday.

At long last, our house finally has a wireless network! Woo! I found a combination adsl modem/wireless router that my ISP company makes, so I used that. I was originally going to get one of those custom computers from Cyberpower, but since I got my brother's archaic laptop that he gave me last year sometime, I found a cardbus wireless adapter that will be supported with Windows 98SE, and got it to work. So I has internet in my bedroom. Woot! (I'll still get the Cyberpower computer, but probably not until February when I get my other financial aid.)

My anatomy and physiology class has me worried for my GPA. Okay, if you take a lab practical and the CLASS AVERAGE IS AN F, there is a problem.
I was among those Fs but was able to raise it to a low D with some extra credit. *whimper*

But I'm doing good in all my other classes. That's the thing. I have a high B, almost an A, in Statistics; I think I have a B+-ish in music, and I just got 100% on our second exam, so I am confident there. I am pretty sure I have an A in English. I have an A in my online counseling class and my political science class starts on Monday. (Half semester online course, ha.)

Lately I have been feeling kind of under the weather. Against my better judgment, I have kind of thrown in the towel here and there on my massive pile of homework. I am not too far behind so I am not overly concerned, but I am craving some personal time very badly. I just want to relax and focus on something other than school or work. (or doing schoolwork AT work.)

On that note, I believe I will take the laptop with me to work today. I will have a good amount of extra time so I will be able to work on my papers there. (One due by the end of the night tonight, one on Wednesday afternoon.)

This music class of mine (music appreciation) has reminded me how much I love really good classical music. My favorites so far (only having gone up to the Baroque era - we just started the Classical period) are Bach's "Ein feste burg ist unser gott" (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God) and the Spring movements from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. The Rondeau got on my nerves as did that one Beglia Nocchi (I think?) by Strozzi. LOL

Well, I also took a peek at my schedule for November when I went to go pick up my check. Granted, it is in progress, and I had to sit there and wait for my boss to get off the phone with a sales representative (she was buying...her makeup. She bought four things and it cost her $550. And you wonder why she doesn't get anything done, eh...yeah, I don't have a lot of respect for my boss, just for her authority) - I got the vacation time I requested. And I think I might get two other days off that month. Of course, that schedule is still under construction, but I hope I get those two days off. I need some kind of break. I'm worn pretty thin.

The vacation time...oh, I can't wait. Laura and I will go to Yellowstone - just the two of us, yeah! I just hope I will have something left energy-wise by that time. LOL. But really, I can't wait. We got this executive suite type thing near the west park entrance and we will spend one of our days there visiting the Grand Teton National Park also.

In other news, it is v. windy outside. The Santa Ana winds are at it again. Thankfully, I have escaped an allergy attack, but I can expect to feel lousy today. Yuck.

Fall is here! I'm really delighted...the tail end of summer was pretty rough.

Monday, I was walking to the library between classes and happened to feel a telltale chill in the breeze. I'm not talented enough to describe it in full, but the wind never blows that crisp and cool in summer.

Furthermore, today, as I left the house to go to school this morning, a drizzle of rain fell on my nose. The ground was moderately moist, as if it had sprinkled overnight. (No wonder I slept so well...I had my windows wide open and I always sleep soundly to rain!)

In other news, I get to see the doctor tomorrow afternoon because I had some sort of mole, sunspot, whatever you want to call it pop up on my back within the last month - pretty fast, considering I never get this kind of stuff. Not only that, but I want to ask her about my Achilles tendon on my right foot. It's hurt ever since Laura and I went horseback riding in late July and our horses freaked out because of unstable weather. Laura's is way worse, my pain is only minor, but the pulling at the base of my heel does impair my gait, and I hobble like a deformed crab when I first get up after relaxing sitting down for a long time. (Who am I kidding? Relaxing? Ha!) If I stretch the muscle and then touch/rub/put pressure on the back of my heel or even farther up into my calf, guess what? PAIN!!!! Lots of pain. It hurts.

I'm tired of my Statistics teacher.
He sez: "I'll give you all the formulas for the exam."
Test day: "Use your outlines that you wrote."

He sez: "The scantron portion will be less than 50 questions. Probably 30 or 40."
Test day: 50 questions + 10-15 written, I can't totally remember.

One of the other students told me that merely by the act of forgetting the syllabus on the first day of class, something like 3-5 students dropped the class. Just like that. (I envy their freedom of schedule.)

Speaking of school, I found out that no, I was wrong, CSUF doesn't have a physical therapy master's program. It does have a Kinesiology BS, but looking at various schools in the area, it is a weak program in that it doesn't offer a specialized kinesiotherapy option. Cal State Long Beach does. (2 hour bus ride each way, ugh........) If I end up there, that may just be what drives me to get a car. Yikes!

Currently I'm just chilling in the library waiting for my next class to start at 3:45. 3 hour break between classes = surprisingly good time for not only doing homework but stretching the proverbial legs a bit. I was up until something like 12:30am last night doing this dumb essay for English, and continued to work on it until the moment I had to hop in the shower this morning. Boo.

I guess that's it for now, just a general update. I know I haven't been attentive to your guys' LJ entries lately, but it's not because I don't love you. <3

That's it for now...hopefully things will ease up for me soon!

Hooray for random Azumanga Daioh icons. Laura, stop laughing!

She says my creepy Statistics teacher is like the perverted teacher Kimura. She always asks after I have my math class if the teacher made me wear shorts. *pout* LOL

She is coming to visit tonight and awesomely will pick me up from work at the bookstore. So she gets to meet my school, ha.

As a general rule I am okay. Got nasty cramps the past two days, worst in several months, but other than losing a night of sleep, I have nothing to complain about.

Anat&Phys lecture in 20 minutes. Just poppin' in to say hi to you all.

Why the HELL do I have that My Humps song stuck in my head?! Laura, this is your fault! Ugh...LMAO You and your little lady lumps! AAAAGH!

Okay, after a week and a half of school, here are my impressions...

Working at the bookstore
Actually very cool. Everyone is very nice there. Disagreements are rare. It's busy as hell, but we are all trying our best. The management is very flexible and I will definitely consider working another Rush with them if I have spare time.

School bureaucracy, financial aid, what have you
SCC has given me exactly 0% bullshit. I haven't met one unhelpful staff person. I've bothered about everyone in this entire school at least once and they have all done their best for me. If it continues this well for the rest of my studies here I would be delighted to come back and give something back once I get my master's and actually have income or time to give. The staff totally made this semester happen for me. (From a full tuition waiver, to an extra $200 supplemental scholarship for books...)

Okay, now my classes...done in order by scheduling.

Statistics - Nance
The subject? Great! Math for math-phobics. I think the content will both challenge me and give me confidence. I know I can do this stuff already.
The teacher? AUGHGGGGHGHGH! *Charlie Brown noises* This guy is going to drive me NUTS. Oh, he is very nice, very agreeable...but he is also extremely disorganized. He has come to both sessions so far significantly unprepared, is pretty scatterbrained, doesn't use our time effectively (An hour just to take roll and think about getting started? Yeesh!), and it is very possible that he will contribute to making this class harder than it has to be, completely by accident.

English 103 - Isbell
The subject? Hmmm. This will challenge me. It is more argumentation than anything. Pretty much public speaking on paper. It uses the same ideas. There's a lot of reading to it though...merf.
The teacher? Super cool guy. No complaints.

Music 101 - Ball
The subject? Oh, I am going to like this! The textbook came with a DVD and 4 supplemental CDs, one of which I am listening to right now (with headphones...in the library...which is also cool).
The teacher? I have to give the guy a lot of respect. He's conducted Riverdance, conducted at Carnegie Hall, done all sorts of stuff. So he can teach and do. He's a softspoken man (good thing I chose to sit in front), but is direct and to the point about the material, though he runs in circles in his conversation.

Bio 149, Anat & Phys - Smith
The subject? Ooooh, dissections. And medical terminology. I know this class will be hard, but I am interested in this stuff! I hope I can do as well as I want to! My one problem will be the other students in the class. Three of them I have helped already and one in particular is about to put herself in my backpack. LOL
The teacher? Also super cool guy. Direct, no BS.

Counseling 116, Life Planning, web class - Salazar Delatorre
The subject? Cool. Okay. I don't really want to take this class, but it fulfills a requirement. It doesn't seem like all that much work.
The teacher? I've never met her face to face, but in communication she's been very nice and informative.

And Political Science 101 doesn't start until halfway through the semester.

I think I can, I think I can...

This is as much for my benefit in keeping track of this as it is for venting purposes. xD

BIOL149 - Anatomy and Physiology
[X] Hole's Essentials of Human Anatomy and Phys - paid 80.89 via half.com, SCC wanted 128.75
[ ] Some manual written by one of the instructors here - 78.75 (I hate it when instructors write books themselves, overcharge for them, and then MAKE THEM MANDATORY. ASKFSSLDHGS.)
[X] Dissection Kit - oooh, dead stuff. xD 9.95 at SCC.

CNSL116 - Career Exploration (ugh, it's only for a transfer requirement)
[ ] Career Fitness Program Workbook - 46.00
[X] SCC Course Catalog - I seriously have to spend $5 on this??

ENGL103 - English/Critical Thinking
[ ] Elements of Argument, 8th Ed.
[ ] A Writer's Reference, 6th Ed.

MATH219 - Statistics
[X] Intro to Statistics: Informed Decisions Using Data - paid 47.50 via amazon, SCC wanted 127.00 
[X] Student Study Guide - $23.00 via amazon; SCC doesn't sell this separately

MUS101 - Music Appreciation
[X] Enjoyment of Music 10th Edition w/4 CDs and a DVD I will likely never use - $91.00 via publisher website, SCC wanted $108.00

POLT101 - Political Science
[ ] We The People - SCC wants 42.75 or 70.50 for this depending on whether or not you want outdated election bonus material
(PS: I have every intention of not buying this book if I can help it. It's a web class. I can Google the information. Srsly. Besides, I already took the equivalent class in high school, just didn't pass the AP test.)

My sister is getting married on Wednesday. EEEEEEEEEE! I get to go, too! I miss some school...about 15 points off my Comm 110 grade...and I have to make up my quiz in Bio but...I can't miss this.

Just as awesome is this: Saturday and Sunday are mine and Laura's. San Diego, woohoo!! It will take a trillion years to drive down there because of traffic and Del Mar opening weekend, but my dear Vulcan says the hotel is to die for, so I trust her judgment. Breakfast with Shamu on Sunday morning, possibly horseback riding, lots of other fun stuff...woot!

Picking classes for fall. Highly annoying.

So far:
-Statistics
-Anatomy & Physiology
-US Gov't
-English 103
-Music 101 or some other class I need

Scheduling all these is massively frustrating. I hope there are seats left in all these classes by the time I can register! Registration is staggered by completed units...and I have plenty but they don't have my AP scores on file, so no luck.

I need to get to bed. Reminder to self, get the stuff for that funky Old Bag assignment before leaving for school. For god's sake, don't forget that!

Okay, so lately I've actually been listening to the radio frequently, which is something I haven't done in 8-9 years.

My station of choice is star98.7, which is okay, but getting repetitive, haha. Anyway, there are a select few songs that I always enjoy hearing but that don't come up often.

In the past week or two I found out one of them was by Snow Patrol, so hooray, I downloaded it. Liked it so much I just downloaded their album from iTunes.

Lo and behold, all the songs I'd taken a liking to ARE BY THE SAME BAND.

Wow. Sounds good to me.

I just found out that there are 5, count 'em, 5, classes that I can get AP credit for at CSU Fullerton.

So many free units holy crap. I thought I was just going to get 3, maybe 6, for my two AP English scores of 4.

Some AP tests get more than one class of credit so all things considered, I get 24 free units NOT including a language credit I know I'll get for going through three years of Spanish in high school and two years in middle school. AHHH! (Doesn't 24 units mean automatic sophomore standing? Collegiates, advise me!)

Eeee!

I don't have to waste my time in Psychology 100...
Or English 101...
Or English 102...
Or Microeconomics...(I think it was micro, anyway - the truth is that we did both but only took one test)
Or US History...

...but I did somehow get a 2 on the AP Government test (huh???) so I get to take that class at SCC in the fall.

Srsly this rocks. <3

Oh and thank you mistiza for the handsome graffiti of Tidus on my Facebook wall. I envy your talents! :D

Much love to the Yankumi icon once again, too. Faitoooooo....OH!

I am increasingly iffy about doing registered nursing. I see how Rose (charge nurse and mother hen in my station at work; she is the AWESOMEST) and the other RNs function and I can't imagine enjoying their job. So much paperwork, so little hands-on work with the patients.

I am having reconsiderations about LVN work too. While it would be really awesome if I could do wound treatments and work exclusively as a treatment LVN, most LVNs have to do med passes and a ridiculous amount of overdocumentation no matter what, and I really hate that. I've had to do med passes over in the assisted living section and it's mind-numbing.

But I've taken up interest in the physical therapy department. I tag along and help out when I can, I love to see what they do, and I really admire the results they get in only a few weeks' time.

Am increasingly leaning towards a kinesiology degree. That would be super-cool. It is really something I know I would enjoy. Lots of documentation, sure, but the big chunk of your day is spent doing hands-on work with your charges.

Also gearing up to enroll in general ed classes at Rancho Santiago community college - can't do it until the 29th. 13 units over the summer will be a big help. By my estimation I only need to take 24 more units between fall 07, spring 08, and summer 08 (though I can't see why I wouldn't finish the classes by spring!) and I can continue on somewhere to pursue a bachelor's degree.

Here's looking at you, Cal State Fullerton.

Class of 2010, here I come? Maybe?

Way too early to talk master's degrees, but I think that is only...6 15-unit semesters on top of the bachelor's degree. If I pull off summer classes...

Okay, yeah, putting the cart before the horse.

But I want my future to get started...dammit!

By the way, last weekend was pure bliss. :D Here's how it actually happened:

Friday:

8 am: Jill  heads up to Pasadena via Metrolink to meet Laura-pox at work.
12 noon: Jill and Laura get rental car, head to her house, get stuff, leave, drive through crazy middle-of-nowhere freeways
3:40ish: Jill and Laura arrive at the Radisson, throw stuff in room, try sleep number bed, get bored and go to bird store
5-6ish?: Jill and Laura arrive in Seaport Village, buy cookies, feed pigeons, and then take a horsedrawn carriage ride through the area, driven by a chatty gentleman with an Irish accent (it should be noted that I could not tell if it was fake! LOL)
6-9ish?: Jill and Laura drive over Coronado Bridge and back again. Jill is fascinated and freaked out at the same time. Then we stop at Vons and Rite Aid to get some goodies and then return to the hotel, get dinner at their restaurant, and retire...

Saturday:

9:30am: HORSEBACK RIDING! WOOHOO! Oh my god that was so much fun. I got this big monster of a horse named Mac (e.g., "Big Mac") and he was a little clumsy but great fun to ride. Laura got mad at me for naturally trying to post and move with the horse when we trotted...apparently her legs are too short for this! Ha! But somebody complimented her on her riding, so I guess that is more than you can say for me. LOL
11am: SeaWorld! Eee! Photos of me doing the Beluga Interaction Program courtesy of Laura to come later...in any case, we saw all the major shows except for the Dolphin Show because they had a calf two days prior and were just giving the pod a break...we got to see the baby, eee! And we got to ride on the skybuckets and saw, of all things, moon jellyfish in the bay, which was creepy - they don't belong there! We went jetskiing in that same area last year at the same time and there were NO threatening critters in the bay. I would NOT go swimming there knowing there are jellies around. Stayed for the night show and the fireworks, in any case, and then went back.

Sunday:

We were planning to go to the San Diego Zoo today, but not only was I tired and saddlesore, I know Laura's ankle was hurting and walking that much was maybe not a good idea, so I said...CAN WE GO HORSEBACK RIDING AGAIN?!?! xD I bugged her enough so that we did it. And then we ate at KFC/A&W and decided to go to the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. That was really awesome! (Then we went around and looked at the architecture on the tops of the surrounding buildings...as Laura so eloquently puts it, one building in particular has "boobie statues"...yeah. LOL xD) Took a look at the Spreckels organ but didn't get to see it perform. Went to go see Shrek 3, which was cute, and not as deserving of those bad reviews as we thought. I honestly believe that it was just more plot movement and less funny. Big deal. There's a Shrek 4 in the works. After the movie, we went to go see the fireworks by the bay where we went jetskiing last year, and then went down to La Jolla, Wind and Sea Beach...hurrah! I know Laura dropped me off after 11 and got home around midnight...that was quite a day.

For one, it was fun because doing stuff with Laura-pox is always fun. But this is the first time she and I have taken an overnight trip without her sea slug of a boyfriend so being able to move at our own brisk pace and change course fluidly if need be (I notice we are both very flexible as far as plans go!) was great.

Oh, PS, my class schedule...midday classes are split because they are two different sessions, one in June/July, the other in July/August:
Monday: Bio 8-11, World Civ to 16th Century/Intro to Cultural Anthropology 11:30-2:30, Intro to Astronomy 2:30-5:30
Tuesday: Bio lab 8-11, World Civ to 16th Century/Intro to Cultural Anthropology 11:30-2:30
Wednesday: Bio 8-11, World Civ to 16th Century/Intro to Cultural Anthropology 11:30-2:30, Intro to Astronomy 2:30-5:30
Thursday: Bio lab 8-11, World Civ to 16th Century/Intro to Cultural Anthropology 11:30-2:30

Okay, that's enough for now. We return to our regularly scheduled Livejournal.

Okay, so I mentioned something about a trip...well, I did for those of you that had the clearance to see my last post, anyway. 8D

As we did last year, Miss Laura and I will be heading down to San Diego (read as: "heaven on earth") for a glorious weekend of overexerting ourselves!

I can't believe her...she has signed me up to do the new Beluga Whale Interaction Program (like the dolphin interaction program, just a lot colder! LOL), and not only that, she is taking me horseback riding! *delighted squeak* The last time I went horseback riding was before I had boobs. This will be interesting.

And Dine with Shamu...ooh, and skybuckets! I've never been on those! And maybe even the San Diego Zoo on Sunday depending on how her ankle feels. (Brhombus, remember to bring that Sombra stuff I got you, I guarantee that'll help!)

( Itinerary of DOOOOM )

And somewhere in there, we will meander down to La Jolla and visit Wind and Sea Beach...which is right about where it all started last year! :D

Amy - Sorry I bailed out on you tonight, I had a lot of stuff come up on me that I forgot to do, that I had to rush to finish. I will be around a lot of the day tomorrow so GOD knows I will heckle you for more NEWS/Tegomass stuff.

You would make an effective salesperson.

But I have to thank you. Hoshi wo Mezashite, even though you said it made you cry just about, well...something about it brings a great measure of joy to my heart. You have cheered me up greatly just in converting me to a new fandom.

I really really needed this. Mad props to you, my dear. <3 Thank you, again. You are a wonderful friend, even if your motive was more to just pimp NEWS fanworship to all the uneducated boys and girls of the world. xD

In other news, I am thinking of going to the gym very early tomorrow morning. I am not sure if the 9:00 water aerobics class will be going on since it is Sunday, but I imagine I might hang around for that if nothing goes wrong.

The other day when I was in the pool, I felt much stronger than the time before that - about a month or two ago, before my toe surgery. I felt more at ease and more "normal" in the water. I even felt strong enough to do 50m freestyle and 25m backstroke blowouts. (I am not sure on the timing of the 50m, but I believe it was under :40, which means I'm in much better shape than I first imagined; the 25m backstroke was about :20, which is about 3-4 seconds off my peak times, but still fit - and hell - my only concern at this point is conditioning. I can do these things in acceptable workout times, I just need to be able to do them in a set instead of individually. Good news.)

Okay, Jill go sleep now. Good night, Livejournal-world.

Happy birthday, Bridget! <3333 I'd wish you a happy birthday over AIM but, to my knowledge, you still change your screen names like..daily...so...LOL.

Computer upgrades of +512MB RAM (total 1GB) and a new 256MB ATI Radeon = love.

Congratulations to Laura on moving forward getting her car stuff squared away. Not too much longer and you'll be on the road...yay!

Being broke = bad. :( But payday is on Friday.

The (still unnamed) cockatiels are cuter every day. I still think I have a male and a female, but the one I suspect is female is awful chatty...I guess I'll have to wait until they molt to know for sure.

I feel really sick to my stomach, and was a bad houseguest the last two days at Laura's because I was too out of it to be of any entertainment to her. :( Sorry hon.

RIP to all the victims of the VA Tech shootings. I can't imagine the horror of that...:(

Still really feeling the effects of whatever depression has its hold on me. I keep trying to shake it off, but it gets worse when I am super-tired...and I am super-tired lately...like...a lot. Could be worse, though. I guess I shouldn't complain.

Oh, good news: I am going part-time at work and starting classes again at SCC starting in June. They just posted the summer 2007 schedule, so I will be sifting through that as I can.

Mmm...I guess I will leave it here for now. Take care, kids. I'll post again when I have something worthwhile to say!

Welcome home, pretty birds. <3333

I'm too tired (and a little too cranky-because-of-the-tired) to write a "regular" post, so...bullet points!

-Laura is feeling mostly better. Eee!
-My first two days at work got a lot easier.
-My second two days (on a four-day "week", followed by two days off, and then repeated) got a shitload harder.
-Computer frazzled out when I attempted to install the new RAM. Took it to the shop down the street and he only charged me $20 and 10 minutes of my time to get it working again. I threw up my hands because every time I fiddle around with one of these machines, something terrible happens, so I just swallowed my pride and let somebody else handle it. Best Buy wanted to charge $69 just to look at it.
-COCKATIELS!

I got the OK from the landlord and FINALLY, the OK from my mom to have small birds. (This lonely Jill desperately needs a pet or she will go nuts.) I originally thought finches, but instead settled on a pair of cockatiels. The bird store down the street has had a sign that the afternoon clerk put up advertising her cockatiels' babies for sale. Wouldn't you know it, there were two left. Most likely females (won't be able to tell until they molt, which should be happening within a month or two). It's better if they're female because they're much quieter and from what Laura says, less snooty. In any case, I am going to the girl's house Monday after work to view the birds. If they're healthy and anywhere near as friendly and handtame as the sign made them sound to be, they will be coming home with me. (The cost is also better than pet store 'tiels...$100 each for these handraised sweeties who by the way already know how to eat pellets and cooked food...the other pet store wanted $140 BEFORE TAX for a bird that was unsocialized, not hand tame, aggressive, AND unhealthy looking! Ew.)

One of Laura's clients donated a brand new cage for me when Laura told her about my evil plot to have 'tiels. (Must write thank-you note.) Laura herself went out to the pet store, even though she is still sickish and weakish, and got a whole BUTTLOAD of toys for my hopefully-soon-to-be new babies. I can't believe you, munchkin! Thank you so much. :D

I will hold off on naming them until they molt, most likely, until I can be sure they are male or female.

Unless something just strikes out to me, of course.

Going to bed now.

Oh, and by the way...upgrade to 1GB RAM + upgrade to 256 MB ATI video card = sweet. Everything runs so nice now. *hearts*

Happy easter to the bunny believers, too.