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June 29, 2008

Saturday, 6/28/08: Greece


Saturday, 6/28/08: Greece
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Saturday was Elaina and Danny's wedding reception. Because they'd gotten married on Santorini Island in Greece, this was their wedding cake. Is it not the most awesome cake ever?? Everything was edible! Including the cinnamon sand, chocolate-filled-pretzel fence, and sugar trees. WOW.


Theme: Inspired By

Friday, 6/27/08: Mr. Roboto


Friday, 6/27/08: Mr. Roboto
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Somebody pointed out that this espresso machine looked like a robot, and holy cow, were they right! I couldn't see anything but a robot after that. I'm not even sure how it worked as an espresso maker.

Coincidentally, we went to see WALL-E Friday. LOVED IT! I think I sat through the entire movie with a huge grin on my face over the utter adorableness of it. I just want to take WALL-E home with me! Squee!


Theme: Inspired By

Thursday, 6/26/08: Oceanfront


Thursday, 6/26/08: Oceanfront
Originally uploaded by kayay5
One of the things I love most about this state is views like this. It's hard to tell in the picture, but there's beautiful ocean peeking out there! There were sailboats out, too. I wish I could see this every day.


Theme: Inspired By

Wednesday, 6/25/08: Inspection


Wednesday, 6/25/08: Inspection
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Wednesday was the home inspection for the condo. It was only the second time I'd seen the place (the first being the time we originally went to look at it, amidst the many condos I'd visited). Being there made me want desperately to: A) CLEAN, OMG, and B) Decorate. Holy cow, I want to decorate! Can't I start? Please??


Theme: Inspired By

Tuesday, 6/24/08: I feel pretty!


Tuesday, 6/24/08: I feel pretty!
Originally uploaded by kayay5
California's Hands Free law starts Tuesday. I'd be interested to see what, exactly, the law states, and if it might extend to other driving activities. I've heard stories of men shaving with electric razors while going 70 mph down the freeway, women putting on full make-up in rush hour traffic, and even a girl plucking her eyebrows in her rear view mirror. I'm all for hands-free cell phones, but really. Shouldn't the law extend to other, possibly more dangerous activities? (Gen was, obviously, not driving while she prettified herself here, but it made me think of all the crazy things people do in the car.)


Theme: Inspired By

Monday, 6/23/08: Toilet, anyone?


Monday, 6/23/08: Toilet, anyone?
Originally uploaded by kayay5
One of my biggest complaints at work is the lack of a bathroom in our office. Do you know of a bank that does not have a bathroom? There's one in the building, of course, but we have to take the long hike down the hallway and around. It's even farther for customers, who have to physically exit the branch and walk around the entire building to the main entrance, and back in. I was mightily amused when I opened our back door and found this toilet sitting there. Maybe it will inspire the building management to install a bathroom for us!


Theme: Inspired By

Sunday, 6/22/08: Midori


Sunday, 6/22/08: Midori
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Gen had been craving sushi for a while, and as she talked about it, I started to crave sushi. We finally went for dinner with Sean, and boy was it good! This is our usual sushi place, Midori. (I'm pretty sure that's what it says there.) It used to be kind of a hole-in-the-wall place, delicious but un-fancy. They always had random music on; one night it was gangster rap. Hilarious! They have been getting progressively more hip, with mood lighting and snazzy decorations and a definite design theme throughout, and lately there's been a decent wait for a table. And the prices have increased accordingly. *sigh* I kind of want my old Midori back! It looks nice, but I don't need a fancy-pants restaurant. Just good sushi.


Theme: Inspired By

June 25, 2008

Condo pictures, yay!

I had the physical inspection for the condo today. There were a few things they found that I was ready for, but hadn't known about (a problem with some leaking having to do with the dishwasher, something lodged in the garbage disposal, a broken thermostat preventing us from finding out of the heat and AC work), and a few things I was very much expecting (holes in the walls and doors, dirty carpets, duh). I was prepared for having to do some fixing, being that this is a foreclosure, so I just hope it doesn't prevent the mortgage from going through. *crosses fingers*

Anyway, I was firmly instructed by my mom to take lots of pictures, so I did. You can see some of the damage, so these will be a nice "before" record. I already have big plans! *g*




Originally uploaded by kayay5
The front door



Originally uploaded by kayay5
The view as you walk in, the kitchen


Originally uploaded by kayay5
Close-up of the kitchen. There's a dishwasher to the right of the sink, and the refrigerator will go on the left side of the picture.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
View from the kitchen into the living area. The sliding glass doors open onto a small patio.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The front door. That unit next to the door is filled with drawers, which will soon be filled with *stuff*.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
Closet next to the kitchen, Gen, and the stairway up.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The little half-bath is up one stair from the living room, on the left.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The stairway from the top, with the sky light. LOVE the sky light!


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The full bathroom. There are two entrances; the picture was taken from the door into the bedroom, rather than the one into the hallway.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The first bedroom, complete with evidence that an anger management class might well be in the prior owners' futures. The sliding glass door opens onto a small patio here, too. There are also two closets in this room, one for clothes and one for things (no clothes bar in that one).


Originally uploaded by kayay5
One of my favorite features, LAUNDRY! There is also a common laundry room available in the complex, not far from the unit, for times of more demanding laundry needs than a little stackable can handle.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The second bedroom.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The closet in the second bedroom... BIG!


Originally uploaded by kayay5
Out the front door, looking to the left.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
Some of the greenery around the complex.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
One of the many paths, this one leading past the pool toward parking.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
The pool. There are also two jacuzzis (one here with the pool, and the second on the other side of the complex closer to my unit), a barbecue area, tennis courts, and a rec room with a sauna.


Originally uploaded by kayay5
A little section with benches. And a Gen. ;)

June 24, 2008

Saturday, 6/21/08: Bowl-a-Thon


Saturday, 6/21/08: Bowl-a-Thon
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Saturday was our Bowl-a-Thon for work, benefiting Junior Achievement. Our office came in third place in fundraising, which was kind of cool. We have some generous customers.

I was reminded that my bowling skillz are... meager, to say the least. I fell short of breaking 100 by a few points each game. *sigh* I do enjoy bowling! I should go more often. Maybe I'd improve some. Hee.


Theme: Wishful Thinking

Friday, 6/20/08: The Heat is On


Friday, 6/20/08: The Heat is On
Originally uploaded by kayay5
The focus of this picture is the 111*F temperature displayed in the middle there. I was certainly wishing it wasn't quite this warm out! It's only June! I don't expect to see these numbers for another few months yet. It was 92* when left for work at 7:00 in the morning. I was thankfully able to hide out in the office's air conditioning all day long and miss the brunt of the afternoon heat, but it was still this hot on my way home. *sweats*

Lucky for me, I'd rather it be this hot than below zero.


Theme: Wishful Thinking

Thursday, 6/19/08: Tropical


Thursday, 6/19/08: Tropical
Originally uploaded by kayay5
When I was a kid, I was enamored with palm trees. I always said that someday, I'd live someplace warm enough to have them. And I have! I've lived two places over a span of almost five years (total) with palm trees, and I haven't gotten tired of them yet. A single palm tree can cheer up almost any landscape, don't you think?


Theme: Wishful Thinking

Wednesday, 6/19/08: Poolside


Wednesday, 6/19/08: Poolside
Originally uploaded by kayay5
There are mornings when I would like nothing more than to sit myself at one of these tables in the shade with my book to read the day away, instead of going to work. Somehow, I manage to fill my days off with lots of Very Important Things, too, so it's been ages since I just had a day to lounge by the pool.


Theme: Wishful Thinking

Tuesday, 6/17/08: World Travel


Tuesday, 6/17/08: World Travel
Originally uploaded by kayay5
My renewed passport came! I received it back in just over a week from the day I mailed it in. Much better than the anticipated five weeks! At first, I was concerned that they hadn't returned my old passport -- most of the places I've used it for haven't even stamped it, le poo, but it did have a stamp for London that I didn't want to lose -- but it showed up a few days after this one.

My list of future travel destinations is ever growing, and if I had unlimited time off work and unlimited money, I'd start checking them off right away.


Theme: Wishful Thinking

Monday, 6/16/08: Modern Stone Age


Monday, 6/16/08: Modern Stone Age
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Didn't you wish you could've been part of a Modern Stone Age Family as a kid? I sure did. This bedroom was in one of the several model homes I looked at. Fred and Wilma's outfits were even hanging in the closet. It was pretty darn cool!


Theme: Wishful Thinking

June 15, 2008

Sunday, 6/15/08: Neighborhoody


Sunday, 6/15/08: Neighborhoody
Originally uploaded by kayay5
It seemed appropriate for Father's Day to post a picture that reminds me a little bit of someplace family would be. I don't spend a lot of time in places that look like suburbia, amidst the apartment- and condo-filled world I live in. There are several new homes for sale in this neighborhood, advertised as 'Starting in the low $1 Millions'. HA! Someday, maybe. They were very nice, I will say that.


Theme: Wishful Thinking

June 14, 2008

Saturday, 6/14/08: Ride 'em


Saturday, 6/14/08: Ride 'em
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Sandra and I went looking at model homes this afternoon. None of them were anywhere near my price range (several were over a million dollars!!), but a few of them were within hers (um, not the million-dollar ones, sadly). This particular townhouse had the most enjoyable bar stools, and a spectacular view of the entire Valley. Something to aim for as my ten year upgrade home. *g*

Friday, 6/13/08: Eyeball


Friday, 6/13/08: Eyeball
Originally uploaded by kayay5
It was Friday the 13th, and it was a bit of an unusual day. This is my little JB, after she found a leftover bouncy ball from Halloween.

After work, we went to Hoagies and Wings for dinner, which was actually really tasty! The boneless wings were actually very similar to what I'd get at the Orlando Ale House (best wings ever), which made me all nostalgic. Then back to C's for black cherry and red raspberry pie. Mmmm. I'm making myself hungry again!


Theme: Senses (Sight)

Thursday, 6/12/08: Sounds Spooky


Thursday, 6/12/08: Sounds Spooky
Originally uploaded by kayay5
My friend C was working with a lot of film and television composers, and she'd occasionally get free soundtracks. And she'd occasionally pass them on to people who might appreciate them more than she would. *g* I thought this was fitting to the theme in more ways than one; not only is it a soundtrack, but it's a soundtrack to something kind of involving the sixth sense. Or so I justified it. *laugh*


Theme: Senses (Hearing)

Wednesday, 6/11/08: Touching.


Wednesday, 6/11/08: Touching.
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This reminds me of E.T. "Elliott..."


Theme: Senses (Touch)

Tuesday, 6/10/08: Do you see...


Tuesday, 6/10/08: Do you see...
Originally uploaded by kayay5
How can you do a theme on senses without the obligatory eye picture? Ha.


Theme: Senses (Sight)

Monday, 6/9/08: *Sniff*


Monday, 6/9/08: *Sniff*
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Every time I come at her with the camera, Monet tries to sniff it. I can't tell you how many pictures of cat noses I have on my camera! This time, it worked for the theme.


Theme: Senses (Smell)

Sunday, 6/8/08: Baby Shower


Sunday, 6/8/08: Baby Shower
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Sunday was Jenelle's baby shower. There were over eighty people there! The table of gifts just went on and on and ON. Even so, it was very nice. It was in a beautiful park, the weather was absolutely perfect, the food was delicious (especially the cake), and the party activities were fun. Well done! And judging by the guests, Baby Ayden is going to be very well loved.


Theme: Senses (Taste)

June 07, 2008

Saturday, 6/7/08: Oscars


Saturday, 6/7/08: Oscars
Originally uploaded by kayay5
I had a picture all taken for our 'Favorites' theme, but decided to go with this one, instead. Gen's cousin was in a film nominated for a Student Academy Award, so we went to the ceremony. It was very neat! There were four categories: Alternative, Animated, Documentary, and Narrative, and then a Foreign winner. We saw clips from all the films, and then the winning films were screened in their entirety at the end.

There was one documentary, If a Body Meet a Body, that I very much want to see. It was all about the Los Angeles Coroner's Office, and it just looked so interesting! I have no idea if there's any possibility of finding it somewhere, but I'm on the lookout.

All the films were very good. There wasn't one that I didn't want to see the rest of after the clip! The amusing thing was that, of the four films screened at the end, three had subtitles (we had German, Rwandan, and Spanish), and the least comprehensible one (to me, anyway) didn't actually have dialogue, but was narrated in English. It was the Alternative winner, and similar to a lot of modern art, it was pleasing, but made me think there was something very deep and meaningful that I was missing. And maybe there was!

Caleb Deschanel, Todd Holland, and Jason Reitman presented the awards, which was the other kind of fun bit of the evening. Jason Reitman was by far my favorite, as he was quite entertaining.

Anyway. It was something different to do on a Saturday evening!

June 06, 2008

Friday, 6/6/08: Clueless!


Friday, 6/6/08: Clueless!
Originally uploaded by kayay5
I took the afternoon off work today, in exchange for unexpectedly having to work tomorrow. It was beautiful out, in the mid 80's and sunny, the perfect afternoon for frozen yogurt! There happened to be a DSW that I'd forgotten about in the same area as the yogurt place, so I was able to return a pair of shoes I've had riding around in my trunk. And on the windows of the DSW, quotes about shoes. This one, in case you can't read it, says: I mean, you know how picky I am about my shoes, and they only go on my feet! Which is, of course, from one of my favorite movies, Clueless.

Tonight, I'm going to see Sex and the City. I'm kind of torn about it, because while I've seen probably most of the episodes (not on HBO, so cleaned up a bit, I'd guess), I haven't seen *any* of them in order. And while I enjoy the show, I hope I have enough of the back story together to enjoy the movie!


Theme: Favorites

Thursday, 6/5/08: A girl and her zebear

I asked Gen what her favorite ("Favorite what?" "Favorite anything!") was, and Soujiro is her favorite stuffed animal.

I invited Cousin Phil up for dinner. I told him I had turkey burgers to grill, and he said, "Turkey burgers? What, are those like hamburgers, but healthy?" Hee. Sean came, too, although Caitlin and Ryan couldn't make it. It was an enjoyable evening. We should do it more often, actually.


Theme: Favorites

Wednesday, 6/4/08: Lunchtime


Wednesday, 6/4/08: Lunchtime
Originally uploaded by kayay5
My new favorite way to spend my lunch hour is in my car with the windows rolled down and the sunroof open, reading. This particular day I was reading Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult, who happens to be my current favorite author.

I started going out to the car because I found that everyone would find a million things to ask me while I was on lunch. "I know you're on lunch, but..." or "I don't meant to bother you, but..." NO! I had to put a stop to it. I have my cell phone in case something really urgent pops up, but I enjoy my true break from work. :)

I also went down to Santa Monica Wednesday night to meet my cousin Phil for dinner. He just moved to Los Angeles on Sunday, so I finally have family in this great state! It was nice to see him, and I'm sure I'll be visiting with him a lot more now.


Theme: Favorites

June 03, 2008

Tuesday, 6/3/08: Half 'n Half


Tuesday, 6/3/08: Half 'n Half
Originally uploaded by kayay5
I've had a lot of cat pictures lately. Sorry. I apologize also for the photo quality, which is a little weird. I'm not sure what happened. Anyway.

This is Cymbeline's most favorite spot for resting. She has a favorite spot for hiding, too (currently under my bed, behind all my shoes), but that's more difficult to get a picture of, because she's, well, hiding. This half in the hallway, half in the bathroom spot doesn't look all that comfortable to me, and it also causes me to nudge her back end out of the way and onto the carpet with my toes whenever I need to shut the bathroom door, but she's been doing this for her entire life, so. It must not be too terrible!


Theme: Favorites

Monday, 6/2/08: Snow White


Monday, 6/2/08: Snow White
Originally uploaded by kayay5
Snow White is my favorite Disney movie. It was the first; how could I not love it? I bought this at the SPN convention, actually, and just framed it. It's temporarily chillin' on top of my desk until I find a good place for it.


Theme: Favorites

Sunday, 6/1/08: At the Circus


Sunday, 6/1/08: At the circus
Originally uploaded by kayay5
This is probably my favorite picture of my mom and me, taken somewhere around 1983, would be my guess. We were at the circus and I was dressed in my clown costume from the previous Halloween. Sucking my thumb and with my Blankie. *g* I like the picture so much that I painted it in Photoshop for my mom for Christmas.


Theme: Favorites