MAN VS. MOTHER NATURE

Friday was a picturesque day in Southern California (see photos !) The air was blowing warm and sensuous, the waves calling their siren song to surfers and swimmers alike. I stood looking out over the Pacific and relished its beauty and power.

Early that morning tragedy had struck on this same stretch of beach. Retired veterinarian Dave Martin had gone for an early morning training swim, where he was attacked by a large shark. Later it was released that he had died and the shark was indeed a Great White.

Solana Beach was reeling and subdued as I strolled its quiet main street. Signs posted that the beach was closed. Make shift memorials had already started popping up. Shark attacks are unheard of here and thus Dave's death was doubly shocking. What is not shocking however, is the community wide response of support. All the small, upscale beach towns here are remarkably close knit. In one store 2 girls came in to share the news with their friend behind the register, and it turns out they had known his son in high school.

I am also happy to report that even with this great tragedy, we Californian's are maintaining perspective on the situation as a whole. So while the Coast Guard is looking to track the movements of the shark, they are not going to kill it. It was after all just a shark acting like a shark.

David Martin 1942 - 2008

FOOD AND LODGING

I just love beachy enclaves. They always have the best wee funky hotels and local watering holes! Not to mention loads of shops to explore and cute shoes to sport while walkin' it!!! Wooo woo!




matching travel bags!


they're big fans of all kinds of travel!!


lite reading...




all the good German gossip!


hiding in our wee freezer




perfect beach food

MINI VACAY!!

Sun, sand, sharks...24 hours in San Diego can do wonders for your psyche!


beach vacay prerequisites: shades and hot sandals!!

LOST IN THE SHUFFLINGS

1 -There are cute things in the pbteen catalog. Oy. I think I am drawn to this more out of the fact that the things in it are my size and price range, then the fact that there is something cute coming from mass production. This is what I tell myself.

And what is the deal with the hype around DORM FURNITURE? I remember my dorm being a cinder block, post war blemish of a building, in which I had 100 square feet to split with another human being. Where exactly does one put their cushy lounger chair thingie in that? Also I do believe that this spit of space came complete with 2 desks, a sink, and a set of bunk beds. For the first time in recorded history the top bunk was the losing end of that coin toss. Rules of bed bunk engagement preclude 2 precious things from one's frosh year of college: boys and booze. Beds were de-bunked illegally by October.

2 - What is up with MTV's obsession with a band called Gossip? The girl wears glow in the dark eyeshadow. What am I missing?

3 - This week a co-worker told me if I left the office, who would she be jealous of? (my design skills!! my design skills...I am digging a serious hole over here) It kind of made my week. It was a strange week.

4 - Lesson of the week: Give your opinion only when asked. Is this instinctive to everyone else?

5 - Family. I am off to San Diego tomorrow. There is a unisex, double baby shower taking place at the local Soup Plantation on Saturday for my 2 cousins who are most definitely beating me to the family making punch. In fact it is going to be like family soup...Beware when swimming with sharks.

Who am I? Gossip Girl? XOXO.

ALSO C/O 1985!!!

Whatever happened to this stuff? You can't think of the 80's and not include this fine powdered beverage in a can. All class, truly.


JP!

QWAH QWAH QWAH?!!

I thought I raised fat pets when I grew my rabbit up to 22 lbs. (mom was a dwarf lop!) I am apparently seriously out of game and only kidding myself. Get a load of this guy!

c/o cuteoverload!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY - HOT AND FLASHY!!

I am nearly laughing too hard to go through with posting this, imagining this coming on in my bedroom! Good Lord.


c/o 1985

IT MUST BE MONDAY!

hope you had a good weekend!!

TWO TONE

Meet Cat.

He strolled in and had himself a good look around. We bonded over watery cocktails and tuna fish. He was divine company! Sadly when the fish was gone so was he. Oh Cat, I miss you already.


tsk. your shoes are a mess.




hi.








yo. down here.






peace.

A TISSUE ISSUE

Factories can make 5 million roles of toilet paper a day!

You use 20,085 sheets of TP a year, on average.

Men walking on the left side of the woman is indeed chivalrous, it started when chamber pots flung their deposits on to the street. Those on the left had more of a chance of being, um, lambasted by flying poop.

One of the first bath tubs to be heated, was tin and warmed with an open flame underneath. The fact that it melted flesh was not advertised.

Romans invented the pay potty.

Toothbrushes were made of boar hair in the US until WWII, when the boar hair supply dried up. Dupont introduced the nylon toothbrush and saved our toofers.

The Ancient Egyptians invented toothpaste. It was made from ground pumice and fermented vinegar. Um!

The Romans invented mouthwash by recycling, after it was discovered that urine whitened your teeth. Ammonia whitens teeth, urine is full of ammonia and mouthwash is born.

* thanks modern marvels!

LIFE IS STRANGE

At 1am I finally drove home from the office. At home I discovered that the toilet that was acting a little strange this morning, was A LOT strange now. At the grocery store I purchased milk and a plunger. The guy ahead of me was buying diapers.

I guess it really is all about the ass.

xoxo, wee

I DREAMED OF DONUTS...

bunny baos!!








perfect japanese dessert, mochi and fruit!

* c/o taste spotting

FRIDAY FLASHBACK - NOTHING ELSE I COULD DO

After a week of hosting my neighbor's roving bait shop, playing Dr. Quinn Medicine Guru at the office, and doing my taxes, I needed a solid contestant that would fulfill my flashback requirements:

1. hails from my past
2. has a good audio/visual presentation
3. is one of the following; snide, snarky, or karaoke worthy
4. if inserted into the soundtrack of your bedroom would be embarrassing/hilarious

I found this, it was a perfect combination of all the rules and a little something I used to do, called Full Cheese Friday (from a time when life was much more humorous. Just kidding). Only the as*hole disabled embedding. !?

I now present with fervor:

YOU'RE...A DOUCHE.

Laughing too hard to type. I cannot decide which topic holds more fascination, Beatin' It, Back Door Business or Gym Class!? The presentation is priceless. Welcome The Midwest Teen Sex Show into your life.

Am I super late on the bandwagon here? Why have I only discovered this secret internet cache of goodness now!?

* c/o gawker

NOT SO GREAT THINGS ABOUT LIVING ON YOUR OWN

Chewed up fish flesh, the smell every girl is dying to come home to.

Tuesday evening I worked a bit late, hit the grocery store and was feeling, pretty good about myself. That all came to a halt when I opened the front door and was knocked over by the stench. What!? It was April Fools, had someone sneaked in and made me dinner? No, god I hope not, since that smell is foul!

It was then that I spied a pool of slimy water, peppered with bits of fish, all over the floor. A trail led up the cabinet, over the counter and into the sink. Oh the sink. Both sides of my kitchen sink were filled with gray, greasy food sludge. I nearly vomited. I looked haplessly around and found myself, alone. All this!? I get all this!? Ack!!

It took 2 hours, numerous phone calls, a tequila shot and an entire roll of paper towels, before I could stop cleaning. There was still sludge in the sink and a stink in the air, but I could walk and put away the groceries. The door is open, so I don't asphyxiate from bleach and fish. It's chilly in LA and my heater was red tagged by the gas co. so, I have the oven on and open. By the end I was praying that I didn't die of CO2 poisoning or some strange fish fungus.

How did all this occur? MY EFFING UPSTAIRS NEIGHBOR, SHOVED A WHOLE FISH DOWN HIS GARBAGE DISPOSAL!!!!! BONES AND ALL!!!!!

Obviously having a rollicking good time on the westside.