ladies, hold onto your hat...

gotta love SNL!

i'm mad about march...

This is definitely the best time of year...for sports' junkies at least -- when we go mad for the best sports event -- PERIOD -- the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. So crazy that I smuggle in a small hand-held t.v. into work and watch games on my break, I check scores on the internet or on my phone. And now to fuel the fire, I now have a job that understands the importance and gives me a whole week off to be home and actually watch the games. (Well, not really -- I'm on Spring Break but I'll use it to watch the games!)

The best part about it is being able to compete yourself which is really what all us "has-beens" want to do -- COMPETE! Not in the actual games but in the brackets in the office pools and against your friends and family and sometimes strangers online. And it's for high stakes this year -- my husband and I bet two weeks of house chores! GO TARHEELS!

Wonder Twin Power....Activate!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful twins I know and my life-long friends aka "my cousins but not really my cousins" - Jenni & Chrissi

You could say our relationship is an arranged one -- our families long time friends and raised us to be family. But it is far from forced and now blossomed into true friendship. I adore and admire these women for different reason -- one for her cool and collectiveness (you'll never see her sweat at the craps table) and her big heart. And the other for her quirkiness and sense of humor and always having my back.

Birthday wishes and blessings to the both of you...I love you!

Happy Birthday Bo!

To my favorite brother-in-law and to a writer that is much more talented than I... Happy 30th Birthday! Although you are now representing far away in the ATL, you will always be close in our hearts. We love you (and miss you)!

15 minutes of fame...

This weekend Trae's 10U Team (CenCal from Oakdale) was caught on camera making some ESPN highlights and subsequent interviews. They took 4th place in their first tournament of the season.

http://www.cbs13.com/video/?id=30964@kovr.dayport.com

to all my married friends...

Happy Late Valentine's Day! Here's to the romance of married life...

rage against the machine...

My first assault to my new car "Subu" (Subaru Tribeca) happened yesterday when I was so rudely interrupted during my workout to find my car window had been smashed in and my purse stolen. Yeah, I know -- bad move to leave it in there. But as fate would have it, the locker rooms were closed that day (something the criminals may have known). Anyway, the Subu took a big hit -- the window repair cost almost $400 and another $300 in scratched on the paint and leather seats!! All for a purse that had only $30 cash! I would've gladly given them more money than that. But since they didn't take me up on my offer, I canceled my cards (in time before they tried to pay-at-the-pump and fill up the getaway car in Livermore). Sadly, it was things that only I value that are probably sitting in the dumpster as we speak: our honeymoon photo, the first note from Sam, my bible, my journal, a book we read during our honeymooon with notes among other priceless items to me.

So, the moral of the story: Trust your instincts (I thought those people looked suspicious).... or just hire a chauffer...

Happy Birthday Jaelen!

Our baby is growing up... Jaelen is now 4 years-old going on 14 -- wants to do everything on his own and wanting to help do everything from yard work to dishes. We've cut the fro-hawk off now and he has a big boy haircut like daddy's.

SHOGATSU!

Happy New Year to all my friends and family! 2008 is off to a busy start. Trae and Jaelen are both wrestling. Yes - Jaelen, too! They had their first tournament last weekend where Trae took first place in his weight class, 70 lbs. Jaelen wrestled in his first-ever tournament and did really well considering he wrestled boys 2 years older. Before he started, I had butterflies like I was the one playing. I said if he didn't quit or cry during the match I'd consider it a success. And he did better than that - smiling while he was wrestling, having the time of his life.

After a brief stint with commuting to Oakland for Trae to play with a travel basketball team, we decided to stay local and play with Modesto Slam-n-Jam and the YMCA. The competition is not nearly as tough but he is still improving his game.