tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65003422011-10-08T07:21:53.287-07:00Cathy's random thoughts on lifeCathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.comBlogger4441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-14480289556104910842008-04-21T10:33:00.001-07:002008-11-13T01:30:15.994-08:00

With all the craziness that had been going on for the past couple of months, Marc and I planned a getaway, one of the few ones we've had in the past couple of weeks. I had tried the Mt Baldy hike before, but never made it to the top, so this was definitely a blissful moment.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-3438726445674681262008-02-14T12:35:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:16.492-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-59484067224878074442008-02-06T18:42:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:16.622-08:00

For Angela's birthday, we took a day trip out to Big Bear to celebrate with her sister and some of her friends. We got there a little late so we missed the 8am meet-up time - traffic was horrible and we had some unexpected delays. I was so excited, since I hadn't been skiing since Massachusetts. But when I got to the top and was preparing to ski down, I suddenly started getting nervous, and

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-66727654658417406862008-01-10T12:12:00.000-08:002008-01-10T14:08:14.873-08:00

Bonjour! C'est moi, et j'estudie francais. C'est tres interessant.And that's about the extent of what I can say for right now. I just started taking beginner French lessons at a local language school, and even though I was arguably the slowest learner during the first session, it's such a blast. C'est bonne surprise. If this goes well, I may actually see this through, and sign up for the more

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-80979003688637734812008-01-01T14:16:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:16.918-08:00

Instead of our usual dinner with friends, Marc and I decided to pack up our bags and take a road trip out to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah. People we told looked at us like we were crazy, driving from 60-degree weather to below freezing temperatures. And we probably were! But who says crazy people can't have fun?

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-71289737227694647722007-12-24T11:53:00.001-08:002008-11-13T01:30:17.169-08:00

Me and David at our office Christmas partyAnd what's in store (hopefully) for 2008?1. My green card2. Traveling back to the Philippines3. France! (and maybe Italy! and Spain!)4. Having an option to work at other companies, or even work for myself5. Patagonia?6. More climbing... and hiking... and skiing... and all kinds of adventures!7. Did I say travel?Decisions to be made, paths to take.... how

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-26027806169596139312007-12-19T20:21:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:17.311-08:00

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-33386716067264376772007-12-14T14:44:00.001-08:002008-11-13T01:30:17.436-08:00

Only a few weeks after taking a three-day training class in San Francisco, I once again found myself walking its hilly streets, this time with two of my co-workers , Adrienne and Ivette. We were there for a one-day training, but we still had time to see some of the sights, get lost among the shelves of the City Lights bookstore, enjoy good food and do a little shopping.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-40727927843507370182007-11-20T07:11:00.000-08:002007-11-20T07:27:28.565-08:00

My arms are sore. My back is aching. I woke up in the middle of the night with my left pinky numb beyond belief, I actually thought it had fallen off (cut to me groping around in panic to make sure I still had five digits to my hand). I always make it a point to still climb while traveling, and last night I went to the one Tony had recommended, Mission Cliffs in San Francisco. Boy, what a gym.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-45443159095762692512007-11-18T21:58:00.000-08:002007-11-18T22:13:35.442-08:00

There's much to be said about visiting another city or state or country. Well - there's much for me to say, that is. There I was, sighing about everything in sight, as Daisy drove me around downtown and Stanford and Berkeley. All I needed was a wistful soundtrack, and I would have been perfect for a sappy, sentimental tourist ad for this city. But so it goes for every other place I visit

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-12049101253043077542007-11-05T06:57:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:18.240-08:00

It's a good thing crystal meth isn't some type of climbing, or I would probably have been arrested for possession and being under the influence by now. This past Saturday solidified my addiction and increased my cravings all at the same time. I finally did my first on-sight trad lead. Granted, it was a juggy 5.7 route (thanks to the lady who refused to let me get on the gorgeous 5.7 crack I had

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-19123136279571900772007-10-29T14:51:00.001-07:002008-11-13T01:30:18.612-08:00

Before the runAfter the mud run Marc and me in the last mudpit

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-10334284771005643142007-10-25T14:54:00.000-07:002007-10-25T14:55:59.230-07:00

It's funny how the most random things can kick off such a torrent of emotions - and how it can happen at the most unexpected times. I'm sitting here in my cube at work, and wave after wave of excitement and elation is crashing over me. I can't even pinpoint what triggered it, I just know that it's there. I feel like running around screaming, "I love this life!" but I don't think that would go

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-14193051544446720712007-10-17T07:24:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:30:18.839-08:00

Part 1 of my race outfit has arrived! Now if I can only find some cheap clothing to wear so I won't feel bad about throwing it away after the race....

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-82115559274099824762007-10-14T21:58:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:30:18.946-08:00

It's not often that I simply stumble across a musician whose music I fall in love with right away. I was simply scanning iTunes, sampling music here and there, when I happened to play a segment of Sara Bareilles' Love Song. I was hooked. If my iPod had arms, it would be tearing its hair out - her songs are constantly on repeat at work, in the car, at home. I can't wait until she comes to Los

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-23811771407342431052007-10-12T10:23:00.001-07:002007-10-14T22:04:56.478-07:00

Sometimes familiarity can be taken to the extreme, and not in a good way. I guess that's where the saying comes from: Familiarity breeds contempt. But really, I think this can be avoided by instilling a conscious effort not to slack off in relationships (whether platonic or otherwise), not to take people for granted, not to be so conceited as to think that because someone is a good friend or an

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-85890914734281598202007-10-12T09:49:00.001-07:002008-11-13T01:30:19.091-08:00

This week has just been a really stressful one for me, but Friday is here! Whoopie?

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-18739649601895224912007-08-24T09:25:00.000-07:002007-08-24T09:34:15.917-07:00

My new "toys" that I can't wait to use:1. my fabulous JetBoil - I actually bought this right before our Half Dome hike in Yosemite, and being a girl, I couldn't wait to use it. I brought it on the hike but I just had my heart deadset on getting to the top that we didn't have time to stop and cook. On the way back, I just wanted to curl up in my sleeping bag and drift off to dreamland.... which

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-73480217385642123402007-05-15T21:08:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:30:19.655-08:00

Yep, that's right. This is April in Mammoth - full-on winter conditions: wind, a heck of a lot of snow and temperatures perfect for snuggling under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate. First morningMarc on cross-country skisMe on cross-country skisView on the way back

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-11107563305824063452007-05-15T20:39:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:30:20.224-08:00

I was feeling a little melancholy a couple of months back so I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to book a hotel in San Diego just for kicks. It was a really laid-back weekend, Marc and I had never really taken the time to see the sights around there, and I don't think we had time to see everything San Diego had to offer. We saw the Wild Animal Park, walked around the Gaslamp District, went to

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-68694015249896955582007-05-15T20:20:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:30:20.671-08:00

Did I spell that right? Who cares? Finally the pictures are here! This is February in Massachussetts, one of the first weekends that they got substantial snow, and we were lucky enough to be there to reap the benefits.Morning after the snowstormMorning after the snowstormNight hiking at Berkshire East

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-78009291487622945362007-04-20T08:16:00.000-07:002007-04-20T08:55:50.307-07:00

1. Marc just bought the fourth season DVD set of Scrubs, and for a couple of nights now, we have just looked like crazy loonies, knee-slapping, guffawing, laughing out loud, at scenes that we've seen so many times before. We even had pre-show entertainment clips of Scrubs from YouTube. Somehow the jokes never get old. I tell ya, we crack up now as much as we cracked up the first time. Whew.2

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-3647788982527468202007-04-04T09:32:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:30:20.795-08:00

The Honda FCX - photo taken from http://autos.yahoo.com. More pictures at http://world.honda.com/fcx/.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-45990126362752594142007-03-27T14:59:00.000-07:002008-11-13T01:30:20.964-08:00

I suppose I should be posting about the latest trips I've taken, but seeing as I still haven't downloaded the pictures from my overloaded camera, I'll take this opportunity to announce a new obsession: Last Friday, I hosted game night for my friends, anticipating that we would play the Wii for a little bit, and then move on to card games later on. Well when the night came, I couldn't tear my

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-84063463887851850242007-02-20T09:56:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:21.053-08:00

This is what I have to look forward to the next couple of days!

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-73778052337440426952007-02-08T08:53:00.000-08:002007-02-08T08:56:56.704-08:00

Bummer of all bummers, I feel like I'm coming down with a cold. So last night, I went to Ralph's to load up on all sorts of medication.This morning, I grabbed every sort of cold or flu pills I could find in my pantry and brought those with me to work. I just started popping pills and drinking liquids to rid me of this annoying sore throat and the beginnings of flu-like fatigue. As I was putting

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-38676712208112050242007-01-16T06:16:00.000-08:002007-01-16T06:23:17.016-08:00

Hello from Austin, Texas! Alas, all I've seen of it is a few buildings, the airport and the inside of my hotel. There's freezing rain and sleet outside, and the roads are too dangerous to drive on. So, instead of being able to mosy on around town, I'm stuck in the hotel room until further notice. Even the class that I came here for is moving to an online format (for now at least), so even

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-70173468834368601232006-12-19T14:12:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:21.226-08:00

I got the best Christmas gift ever today. After four years of waiting and waiting and waiting, my labor certification has finally been approved. I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, and I even told the paralegal that gave me the good news, "If you were here, I would kiss you right now!" I've told five people so far, and one person here at work kind of figured it out when she heard me

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-62078190428053481472006-12-14T08:38:00.000-08:002006-12-14T08:49:13.795-08:00

The Christmas spirit has been a little slow in coming this year, but I'm finally caught up in it. I have Christmas songs playing in my car (thank God I finally have a car that has a working audio system - reason enough to be joyful), my cubicle at work is decorated with blinking Christmas lights, a reindeer stocking, all sorts of trinkets from co-workers, wrapping paper, Christmas cards, gold

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-53394491626184113042006-12-03T15:40:00.000-08:002008-11-13T01:30:21.695-08:00

Okay, here it is finally - my new toy:

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-6094386389725989072006-11-30T10:07:00.000-08:002006-11-30T10:12:17.662-08:00

After serving me so consistently for the past 5 years, I have finally said goodbye to my trusty old Accord. Tito Caloy came by my office to pick up the car, and his in-laws are probably going to buy it. I hope the next owners take care of it.As for me, I'm on to my next toy! I'll post pictures of it when I can. It's a little bit of a splurge, but I'm lovin' it!

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1164308831446821332006-11-23T11:00:00.000-08:002006-11-23T11:07:41.223-08:00

For a change, Marc and I went up to visit Martin and Amy at their homestead in Paso Robles, in the middle of wine country. We drove to Cambria with them on Saturday, for a quick hike to appreciate the views. Did some windowshopping at an art store there, then went on to a bit of real shopping in the evening. Then it was off to see Casino Royale (which we all enjoyed). Here are some pictures

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1163602988484831812006-11-15T06:58:00.000-08:002006-11-15T07:04:32.360-08:00

Last night I wanted to die. No wait, I wanted to die, get resurrected and then die again, for good measure. I decided to go ahead and book a deep-tissue massage with Charlie for last night. He had warned me that it wasn't the usual relaxing, smell-this-aromatherapy-oil-and-think-dreamy-thoughts kind of massage, but nothing prepared me for what happened. Never have I sworn so much and called

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1163200148756912852006-11-10T15:04:00.000-08:002006-11-10T15:09:08.820-08:00

I was on my daily walk today, traipsing around Paseo and looking to see if anything was different in the stores (from yesterday haha), and I happened to walk into Bath and Body Works. Now I stopped going there since I was accumulating so many body washes and lotions that I don't really need, so I thought it was going to be a quick visit. But out of all the stores in Paseo, this was the only one

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1162875888473767642006-11-06T21:02:00.000-08:002006-11-06T21:04:48.473-08:00

Have I ever mentioned that I've never carved a pumpkin before? That is, before tonight. Trader Joe's was giving away their leftover pumpkins a couple of days ago, so we grabbed one just so I could see how it was done. And voila! Here is my first Jack O' Lantern.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1162875581631601122006-11-06T20:52:00.000-08:002006-11-06T21:00:31.826-08:00

At Marc's cajoling, I finally gave in and agreed to go on a hike up Mt. Whitney yesterday. I was apprehensive since the people I knew that actually climbed Whitney actually trained for it, so I made sure that expectations were set to the lowest. Tony allayed my worries more when he said all he wanted to do was hike, and it didn't matter how far we went.So early Sunday morning (and I really do

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1162240215049134222006-10-30T12:27:00.000-08:002006-10-30T12:30:15.076-08:00

I normally don't post too much about work, but there's just so much relief and a huge sense of accomplishment, that I can't help myself. Today is our Go-Live date, and it's looking good! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the rest of the day plays out well. There are some minor things that need to be addressed, but besides that, we're good to go. Woohoo!

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1161796540747928012006-10-25T09:04:00.000-07:002006-10-26T07:12:55.873-07:00

For something different, Angela came up with a friend to see a comedy show with us last Friday night. With traffic and what-not, Marc and I thought we weren't going to be able to make it, but Angela and Francis arrived just in time. We were a little late getting to the show, but we still made it.One drawback? We had to sit in front. Of course as soon as we made our way up front to take our

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1161053830155183052006-10-16T19:43:00.000-07:002006-10-16T21:08:42.386-07:00

Marc bonding with a prairie dogMike, Claude, Marc and me at The BoathouseGreat Falls in VirginiaMe at Great FallsMarc and me while waiting for Claude to drop off his dry cleaningClaude and me at the Roosevelt MemorialMarc at the World War II MemorialMe at the World War II MemorialHot and sexy at the Air and Space MuseumMarc and me with a view of the Potomac River

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1161018174893840962006-10-16T09:32:00.000-07:002006-10-16T11:40:04.890-07:00

It's Monday morning, and I have a big smile on my face just remembering the weekend. I was able to trade in Saturday work for a late night this week, so I had the full weekend to play. After a painful visit at the dentist on Friday, I refused to do my recovery time the old-fashioned way, so I armed myself with antibiotics and painkillers, and hopped in Marc's car for a trip out to the Mammoth

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1160588649987669442006-10-11T10:35:00.000-07:002006-10-11T10:47:19.583-07:00

Well, I think I've given myself enough time to organize the pictures from the trip, and again failed horribly, so a text-only play-by-play will have to suffice. And lazybones me, I'm just going to cut and paste an email that I sent Tintin soon after we got back (with some modifications thrown in). So here goes:====================================I'm still coming down from my vacation high. It

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1159024121968542752006-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:002006-09-23T08:08:42.016-07:00

So here I am, bright and early on a Saturday morning, pecking away at my keyboard, with six weeks left to finish the project. I go on a break next week, so there's even more pressure. It's a wonder I haven't started dreaming about work yet.Last weekend was great, albeit not exactly how we had thought it would be. Our main event was to drive up to Keller Peak for some climbing, and we were so

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1158247057529981282006-09-14T08:14:00.000-07:002006-09-14T08:18:12.726-07:00

So the cold's slowly setting in again, fall is almost here. I'm a little sad that I didn't get to spend too much time on the beach as I would have liked, but that's probably a good thing too, because I didn't come out of this season looking like a burned piece of toast. :P My mom would be proud. Haha!There's two weeks left before I go on vacation, so we're shifting into overdrive here at work.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1157646489283775862006-09-07T09:17:00.000-07:002006-09-07T09:28:09.320-07:00

The morning buzz yesterday here was Suri Cruise, who finally made her magazine debut (and on the cover too!) in Vanity Fair. Maral, Ivette and I pored over the picture, dissecting every little detail, and getting into a debate about who the baby looks like. The opinions are as follows:Me: I think Suri has Katie's eyes and nose. Lips, I'm not sure. She has Tom's hair and forehead.Maral: Yeah,

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1157484633048609792006-09-05T12:13:00.000-07:002006-09-05T12:30:33.110-07:00

Taking into account that it was the "Labor" Day weekend, Marc and I slaved away on Saturday to install the new vanity in my new apartment. I was hoping to be able to finish early so that we could kick back and relax, maybe go get a massage or catch a movie, but no such luck. We were so pooped that we simply had a quiet dinner, watched some DVDs and then called it a night.On Saturday, after

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1157064060520602922006-08-31T15:31:00.000-07:002006-08-31T15:41:48.216-07:00

There's so much wedding talk both at work and with other friends that it's hard not to get caught up in the frenzy. So during the course of the day, after consulting wedding websites for some ideas, and looking at wedding venues, and discussing ideas about how to alter a particular dress, I came across these cute proposal stories! So here's a mushy entry for all the blooming brides out there,

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1156883372903094632006-08-29T13:01:00.000-07:002006-08-29T13:29:34.326-07:00

Last night, Marc and I had an awesome time watching the Dave Matthews Band perform live at the Hollywood Bowl. What great musicians! I loved how they did extended versions of the songs, sometimes going on and on with a barrage of the most wonderful sounds. I'm so much in awe of that violinist, and watching him made me want to sign up for lessons right then and there. One notable thing was

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1156713084802816612006-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:002006-08-27T14:11:24.833-07:00

Finally, I'm able to get a moment to relax a little and post an entry here. I'm actually in the middle of laundry, but since the two dryers in my building are tied up right now, I can take a break and write.The apartment's shaping up, almost everything is in place, so I'm able to calm down a little more too. Things are so busy at all three jobs that I am glad that I don't go home to boxes and

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1156176446990501392006-08-21T09:01:00.000-07:002006-08-21T09:07:27.040-07:00

So my uncle finally has moved into the apartment. Gone is the emptiness, the space. It seems like every nook and cranny has been filled with something. I was actually at the amount of stuff that was crammed in - boxes, furniture, etc., etc., but we all worked doggedly the whole weekend, and I think, save for the installation of a vanity and the purchase of a TV and microwave, we'll be done by

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1155576872202578642006-08-14T10:26:00.000-07:002006-08-14T10:34:32.236-07:00

I can't get into too much detail here, but I'm too overwhelmed not to write about it at all. My space has been invaded, and because of it, things have happened and I'm now feeling unanchored and lost, still trying to figure out the next move, still trying to make sense of things. Maybe I'm being punished for things I've done in the past, and that's fine. Maybe I'm being punished for sheer

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1155226837239281922006-08-10T09:14:00.000-07:002006-08-10T09:22:16.356-07:00

With my uncle's move-in date looming in the near future, we were both getting stressed out with all the things that we needed to finish. I want certain things done before he comes to live in the apartment, and he needs to get all his stuff packed - some to move to the apartment, some to keep in storage. And here is when my parents step in to the rescue (they arrived last night). Since my mom

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1154978911686221202006-08-07T11:52:00.000-07:002006-08-07T14:14:24.570-07:00

For the first time in a few weeks, I had a really relaxing weekend. Instead of waking early in the morning to work on the new place, I was able to sleep in and move at a more leisurely pace. Marc and I had finished some additions/changes that we had been wanting to do last week, so we weren't pressured to work on anything just yet. There is still quite a bit to be done, but I think the worst

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1154629097566829892006-08-03T11:15:00.000-07:002006-08-03T11:19:36.936-07:00

Remember when I blogged about getting a ton of makeup in return for doing a photo shoot for a photographer I met at the gym? Well, I got the results in the mail yesterday! He seems like an amazingly talented guy, given the other stuff he has on his website. Check it out!

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1154377939460884782006-07-31T13:26:00.000-07:002006-07-31T13:32:19.496-07:00

After two frenzied days of chores, I've finally succeeded in getting my kitchen clean. Well, cleaner, I should say, since I'm not completely satisfied yet. I think I've used up a bottle and a half of Clorox cleaner with bleach, and I don't predict that this is the end of it. It must be some rite of passage - getting your own place means you fly into this anal state, and don't want to stop

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1154104748472450692006-07-28T09:29:00.000-07:002006-07-28T09:40:07.603-07:00

Marc, Martin, Amy and I might have witnessed the budding of true love last night. :) Really, it was only us introducing two friends to each other. One of Marc's friends and one of mine. We wanted to make it as casual as possible so when Martin and Amy decided to stay one more day, we asked if they wanted to tag along. The scene of the crime was Literati Cafe, as casual as you can get as far

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1153776013733588822006-07-24T14:06:00.000-07:002006-07-24T14:20:13.770-07:00

Contrary to what I thought this weekend was going to be for me, I actually accomplished a lot of things, and was able to take some time to relax with friends. On Saturday, I helped my uncle pack up his stuff as he had sold the condo. Since he hasn't found a place yet, and he wants to wait until the market goes down, we decided that he'd move in with me first. We had planned to pack until way

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1153150124503871172006-07-17T08:13:00.000-07:002006-07-17T08:41:24.226-07:00

I tried to hold off on posting here until I was able to download the pictures that would go with the posts, but seeing as I'm still without pictures and it's been a couple of weeks since the last entry, I suppose I should just do without. Score 1 for procrastination!It's been a busy time for me. I moved to a new place. And I'm still in the process of settling down. It's slow, but I see it

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1151818415425271452006-07-01T22:20:00.000-07:002006-07-01T22:52:57.890-07:00

Ever since seeing A River Runs Through It, I'd always been curious about fly fishing. They presented it so romantically in the film, that how could I not? So it was inevitable that I ask Mike, another routesetter at the gym who just happens to be an avid fly fisherman as well, to take us out with him on one of his regular trips.Today was the day. In preparation, Marc, Martin and I watched the

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1151807130118189172006-07-01T19:14:00.000-07:002006-07-01T22:12:47.850-07:00

Here I am to make good on my promise to post pictures from that weekend!Our campsite, after waking up, with our stuff all over the car and me sleepy-eyed in itBefore breakfastView from our campsiteAfter breakfastClark CanyonOne of our first climbsMarc chalking up and shaking outRe-learning skiingWhoops!Marc at the top of Mammoth Mountain

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1151680956046365242006-06-30T08:16:00.000-07:002006-06-30T08:22:36.046-07:00

I decided to forego my regular workout routine and instead walked down with Marc to the Santa Monica Pier for the 22nd Annual Twilight Dance Series, which we haven't been to in the last 21 years. We weren't sure what to expect, and (ignoramus!) didn't even know who was playing. Me (on tiptoes, looking at the stage): Who's Poncho Sanchez? That old guy?Marc: I don't know, that guy is playing

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1151351051614689702006-06-26T12:36:00.000-07:002006-06-26T12:44:25.540-07:00

I had a very preppy time this past weekend, feeling very much like I was living the J. Crew spirit. Too bad I didn't have clothes to match. On Saturday, Marc and I drove to Will Rogers State Park to see a polo match, something that I'd never experienced before. We were late, so we only caught the tail end of it, but it was fascinating to watch these polo players sitting so high up on their

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1151336347873374562006-06-26T07:53:00.000-07:002006-06-30T08:06:19.593-07:00

Okay, since I've been delinquent with posting here, I'll have to do multiple posts in one day. This is really for last weekend (Jun 16-18), which was Marc's birthday weekend. I've been delinquent about preparing the pictures as well, so those will have to come at a later time.After work on Friday, I drove to Chatsworth to meet Marc and get ready for our trip. It didn't make sense for me to go

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1150400424789580042006-06-15T12:31:00.000-07:002006-06-15T12:40:24.813-07:00

Newsflash: Chris Wilson is the new head route setter at the gym.You know how I've always written that Jean-Michel feels wary about letting me set at the gym? Well, that issue's gone. And while that isn't exactly what I'm celebrating, the effect of it is that I get what I want: I am now on the official roster of route setters in Rockreation.So Chris talked with me and Marc last Monday, asking

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1150217380478728202006-06-13T09:24:00.000-07:002006-06-13T09:49:40.510-07:00

On Friday after work, for the first time ever, I set about and baked a cake. It was my first attempt at something this major, and I was planning to bring it to a birthday party for Douglas the next night. So I was a little apprehensive at what the results would be.But the cake turned out really well, and I'm pretty happy with the feedback I got. One guy went back for a 2nd and then a 3rd

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1149779624619771122006-06-08T08:04:00.000-07:002006-06-08T09:55:25.453-07:00

Olivier (the French photographer) dropped off my "payment" at the gym last night, and when I got there and claimed it, Angela, Von and I immediately tore the package open and examined the contents. We looked like such girls there in the middle of the rock gym (i.e. a gym with so much testosterone), oohing and aahing over the little tubes and bottles and commenting on the makeup colors. I didn't

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1149521038472701492006-06-05T08:17:00.000-07:002006-06-05T08:23:58.503-07:00

This past Sunday, I finally put my bike to use again and went on my first off-road experience. We drove up to a campground on the hills by the beaches just north of Malibu, and rode up one of the easier trails. Considering that I only learned how to do a push-off start right before we started, I think I did alright. I choked on some of the dips on the trail, and the rocks on the ground kept

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1149272317804605532006-06-02T11:12:00.000-07:002006-06-02T11:18:37.826-07:00

Cecile and David came over to Marc's last night for a game night that we had scheduled a week ago. I had Taboo ready, and we had a deck of cards we were ready to bring out if the need arose.I was actually concerned about playing games way into the night, since I had had only four hours of sleep the night before. So I was dragging my feet a little, wishing I could just knock out in the bedroom

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1149055484348598312006-05-30T22:58:00.000-07:002006-05-31T07:55:07.630-07:00

Until recently, Jean-Michel had refused to let me set at the gym. His excuse was that it would take a lot of time to teach me how to rig the ropes so that I can belay myself while setting. So I took it into my own hands and asked Tad to teach me. A few weeks ago, I approached Jean-Michel again, and proposed that he let me and Marc set a couple of routes together. And he agreed! I was so

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1148968823163145702006-05-29T22:50:00.000-07:002006-05-30T16:18:14.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I met this French photographer at Rockreation while I was putzing around the gym, bouldering and traversing. It turned out that he was a photographer at SmashBox Studios, and that he was currently working on a project that he said I might be able to help him with. It was a sport portfolio that he was building, and he wanted to include climbing as one of the featured

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1148586352961091062006-05-25T12:26:00.000-07:002006-05-25T12:45:52.993-07:00

Since I started taking walks during my lunch hour, I've felt more adventurous and have walked farther and farther into areas I'm unfamiliar with. Well, during one of these walks, I stumbled upon a Target that was relatively close by. When I used to live in Glendale, Target was one of my number one places to shop at, but when we moved to Brentwood, there was no Target close enough that I could

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1148335283387406932006-05-22T14:52:00.000-07:002006-05-22T15:01:23.413-07:00

Daisy came down for a quick weekend visit, so Angela and I blocked out this past weekend to hang out with her. It was a good time to recharge (although not physically, since we stayed up till 5am talking) and reconnect with one another. Being so far apart from each other makes it hard to stay in touch sometimes because, at least in my case, I get so caught up in the day-to-day activities that I

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1147928155755359942006-05-17T21:45:00.000-07:002006-05-17T21:55:55.776-07:00

I've discovered the not-so-secret secret: traversing. How have I not known this sooner? I know, I know, I've been told time and again that traversing at the gym will help my climbing, but I suppose I've always seen it as pointless and boring - you're really not getting any height. Man, was I wrong! After two back-and-forths, I was perspiring like crazy and refusing to let anyone hug me hello.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1147461854204624462006-05-12T12:14:00.000-07:002006-05-12T12:26:04.423-07:00

I got the best surprise today.There I was, pecking away at my keyboard, oblivious to the things going on around me. It's Friday, so there's a lot less people since they implement alternate day-offs here, and things were relatively quiet. Marianne suddenly hurried into my cube, looking a little serious, and said, "Cathy, can you come with me for a second? We were presenting the site, and they

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1147193487972640422006-05-09T09:34:00.000-07:002006-05-09T09:51:28.003-07:00

After lunch on Sunday, Marc and I decided to go back to Temescal Canyon for a workout. I wanted to finish the hike that we got a taste of last week. We started slow, since a good part of the beginning of the hike was a steep ascent, but we'd break into runs when the trail evened out enough for me to be able to run it.We were passing a lot of people hiking on the trail, and we eventually caught

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1146761667930798452006-05-04T09:41:00.000-07:002006-05-04T09:55:11.680-07:00

Since Marc was in the area yesterday, we decided to forego our usual climbing schedule and hang out in Old Town Pasadena instead. There was a cute little Brazilian-Italian restaurant I remember eating at a couple of times when I still lived in Glendale, and I wanted to revisit it, to see if the food was still as good as I remember it. It was called Chiara then, but when we got there, we found

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1146581644198599762006-05-02T07:49:00.000-07:002006-05-02T07:55:17.710-07:00

No, not that kind of woody. I haven't crossed that line and gotten a sex change - God knows how wrong I would be as a man. What I did do is finish the wood problem at the gym, the one that goes all the way across the roof, rendering the climber into a horizontal position for a good 3/4 of the climb. Yay! I've been working on that problem for the past couple of weeks, so it's definitely a

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1146520116697540632006-05-01T14:40:00.000-07:002006-05-01T14:48:36.720-07:00

What a fun, effort-filled weekend!Finally, all those cookbooks I bought and the recipes I clipped from magazines are being put to good use. And I'm really pleased with how things turned out. I was able to cook a good baked cod dish, I made lemon bars that tasted a lot better than it looked (I think I cut them into bars too soon), and the best one of all was a chicken dish that I cooked on

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1146245182627045922006-04-28T10:16:00.000-07:002006-04-28T10:35:34.130-07:00

Cecile, David, Tony and his brother and sister are heading out to Yosemite tonight. Meanwhile, I still have work left to do, and Marc needs to do some reviewing. I kind of feel the beginnings of some stircraziness again, as our Santa Barbara trip was only for one day, and we didn't do any climbing. So I expect the effects of that trip should be wearing off soon.It took all of my willpower not

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1145824244950611382006-04-23T13:25:00.000-07:002006-04-23T13:30:44.963-07:00

To cure my cabin fever, Marc and I spent a day in Santa Barbara, walking around downtown and doing the tourist route. We stopped off at the botanic gardens after shopping and lunch, then capped off the day with more shopping and a quick truck stop at In N Out (yum!). It was exactly what I needed: a mellow day in a completely new place. Here are some of our pictures:

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1145552560901634662006-04-20T09:58:00.000-07:002006-04-20T10:03:42.476-07:00

This is an update to my post entitled "Deflowered". I had talked about setting a route for the very first time, so I thought it would be appropriate to name it that. Well, I guess it was still too racy for the rock gym gods, so when I went in last night and checked on the final verdict on my route (the final rating was to be determined by these gods), I saw that the title on the rating sheet

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1145403495369077062006-04-18T16:30:00.000-07:002006-04-18T16:38:15.390-07:00

I never used to like wearing makeup, and consequently never knew exactly what to do with all the myriad of brushes and what-not that I would see at my aunt's or at Angela's, and I used to do such a horrible job at putting it on when the occasion demanded it.But for some reason, since I started working at Kaiser, I've slowly become obsessed with it - foundation, eye makeup, blush, highlighter, you

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1145313453072205562006-04-17T15:26:00.000-07:002006-04-17T15:38:35.253-07:00

Because of a frantic eating binge that resulted in a tummyache that I knew meant I was about to burst through my clothes, I decided to *gasp* take a break this lunchtime and head out to enjoy the sun a little bit. Paseo Colorado is pretty close by, so I decided to walk over and browse for a little bit.Man, was that the best decision I made today. It was beautiful outside, and I realized that

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1144769329229797972006-04-11T08:26:00.000-07:002006-04-11T08:31:59.613-07:00

Congratulations are in order for my cousins David and Christine. Look at this cute little addition to our family! What a cutie! Welcome to the world, little one!Image pulled from Christine's blog

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1144711837281087422006-04-10T16:21:00.000-07:002006-04-10T16:33:15.530-07:00

I've repeatedly said to different people at different occasions how I would love to learn how to set routes at Rockreation, just for the heck of it. I could imagine just how fulfilling it would be to see people try your route, and have fun on it. I asked Jean-Michel more than a month ago if I could learn how to set, since he was the route god there. He answered with a blunt, accented, "No,"

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1143820666520116572006-03-31T07:51:00.000-08:002006-03-31T07:57:46.566-08:00

Cecile and David invited us for a round of card games last night. I had assumed that we were going to play poker or Hearts or something, but we ended up playing Uno, a pretty entertaining card game that I know I've played before - I couldn't remember any of the rules though, so we had to play a couple of refresher rounds just to get everyone up to speed.Cut to after the games - I was the "Uno

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1143491235645947612006-03-27T12:24:00.000-08:002006-03-27T13:19:42.306-08:00

During my lunchbreak today, I was browsing the Yahoo! news website, and I came across this article:================================IKEA billionaire founder proud to be frugal at 80 By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, ranked 4th richest man in the world, drives a 15-year-old car and always flies economy class, in part to inspire his 90,000 employees worldwide to

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1143483437365150292006-03-27T10:00:00.000-08:002006-03-27T10:18:43.163-08:00

After a long morning at the salon (a post for another time!), I drove my grandmother and aunt to Orange County to visit relatives. I thought it was going to be a pretty tame afternoon but after sharing a meal, my aunt suddenly suggested going to the vacation home of the family we were visiting. So we piled into their van and drove to Pechanga, across which the house was located. We toured the

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1143136703106253822006-03-23T09:46:00.000-08:002006-03-23T09:58:23.183-08:00

I know the cop told me, "Next time don't buy a Honda," but it might be hard to resist this when it finally comes out. Is this my next car? I really should hold off, especially when I'm about to get into some serious investing. It's definitely really cute though, and it's a four-door, which is my top-priority feature now, since I've been driving my two-door for over four years now and I've

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1142958692772875842006-03-21T08:25:00.000-08:002006-03-21T08:31:32.786-08:00

We're finally done! Last Sunday, Marc and I (with the help of Charlie as well) finally finished the paint job at his new apartment. It took almost the afternoon but it was well worth the sacrifice because now the apartment looks clean and bright, and we can start looking for furniture, which is my favorite part. We actually spent part of our Saturday visit with Angela wandering around Ikea.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1142632519348137102006-03-17T13:43:00.000-08:002006-03-17T14:00:57.450-08:00

It's either because I'm losing my Christmas pounds, or my long hours at the rock gym are finally paying off -- I've finished two orange problems in a week's time at the gym. No going home and coming back another day to try them, I simply had to back off for a few minutes, and I finally sent them, fair and square, with a nod to Tad's 3-second top-off rule.I suppose two problems in one week is not

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1142273987439170282006-03-13T10:13:00.000-08:002006-03-13T10:20:43.156-08:00

Just a week after seeing one of the Wayans brothers, I walked into the climbing gym this past Saturday and immediately recognized a tall woman climbing in the easier top-rope area. I called out to Charlie and asked him if he knew that there was a famous person in there. And of course he didn't. Good old Charlie! Apparently, he had shut them down a few minutes before because Rosario didn't

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1142030482377248872006-03-10T14:33:00.000-08:002006-03-10T14:41:22.400-08:00

My iPod's gone.My work laptop is gone.Two or three nights ago, my car got broken into inside a locked garage and they took my iPod that I had left in the center compartment. Then they proceeded to pick the lock of the closet we had in the same garage, and they took my laptop. I didn't realize it until the afternoon of the next day. I started crying when I found out. My iPod! The one I was so

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1141668854229403432006-03-06T10:00:00.000-08:002006-03-06T10:17:14.473-08:00

In no particular order....1. Best Picture, Crash? Where did that come from? I thought the movie was really good though, so no complaints here. I was just expecting Brokeback Mountain to win. Other people were not so happy though, as I soon found out when I was standing outside our building. There was an elderly woman with her husband loudly expressing so much disgust over this upset. I had

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1141355220529501642006-03-02T19:02:00.000-08:002006-03-05T20:19:29.956-08:00

Here are the pictures from our visit to the Getty Villa in Malibu, CA. Besides the most interesting Roman, Etruscan and Greek antiquities, it boasted beautiful fountains and gardens that were so relaxing to just walk around in.My parents in front of the Getty VillaThe Getty Villa's great fountainMy dad and me in one of the little inlets in the garden.A shot of one the hallways flanking the

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1141004064185467712006-02-26T17:31:00.000-08:002006-02-26T17:38:15.666-08:00

I was walking down Third Street with my parents when this tall white-capped fellow with a shopping bag slung casually over his shoulder walked by and made me stop abruptly.

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1140736105151932712006-02-23T15:08:00.000-08:002006-02-23T15:09:50.280-08:00

My parents are here on a two-week visit from the Philippines. Like three excited little kids, my uncle, Marc and I piled into the car to pick them up. It helped a lot that they only had so much luggage so that we could all crowd into the car without having to worry about where to put their stuff. Marc and I jumped out of the car to fetch them, and it was probably the easiest airport pickup I'd

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1140462173166021532006-02-20T11:02:00.000-08:002006-02-20T15:08:22.806-08:00

Starting off the weekend with a high-energy night did not bode well for the rest of the weekend. On Friday, a bunch of people met at a secluded little nook in Century Club for some salsa dancing and loads of drinking to celebrate Apinya's birthday. For some reason, Tony took it upon himself to force me to drink two of the humungous "shots" of tequila (yeah right, they were more like double

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1139960302614559022006-02-14T14:57:00.000-08:002006-02-14T15:39:13.056-08:00

It seems that more and more people are getting engaged these days. It's the sign of the times - I really am getting old. ;) I just attended a wedding not too long ago in December, and then there are two more weddings coming up in the springtime. And I thought that was that.But today there was a commotion just outside of my cubicle - it was like all the girls in our aisle had converged right

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1139859616863314772006-02-13T11:23:00.000-08:002006-02-13T12:56:13.803-08:00

Up to the last minute, I hadn't decided if I really wanted to go to New Jack with Marc and the rest of the gang, but when I woke up Saturday morning, I finally caved in and packed up my stuff for the day trip. New Jack is about 2.5 hours from LA, and we wanted to get an early start, so Marc and I rendezvoused at 8am, had the car's oil changed, then started the sleepy-eyed drive to Barstow. Our

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6500342.post-1139602760563003662006-02-10T12:11:00.000-08:002006-02-10T12:21:35.750-08:00

I came across this article in Yahoo! news, and a little detail in it caught my attention:Catholics aren't short on rules, but they couldn't care less if non-Catholics use birth control. Conservative Jews have no interest in forbidding other people from mixing meat and dairy. Protestants don't make a peep about other people eating food off one another's plates. (Just stay away from our plates --

Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15157152517346450140noreply@blogger.com1