Is it OK to Kick an 11 Year-Old's Ass? Is it OK to Kick an 11 Year-Old's Ass? Is it OK to Kick an 11 Year-Old's Ass? So my cousin David is here from Florida. He's the greatest! He's an all round great kid, though sometimes quite a handful. But he's such a sweetie, you'll forgive him for anything he does. He's only 11, and he's an inch taller than me. When I was in Floriday last year, he was seriously at my shoulder. Man, it sucks having to look up to him. So...as some of you might now, I KICK ASS at Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3. I have not yet found anyone that can beat me. So I need to find some way to entertain David...and he says that he loves to play Playstation. So I ask him, 'Have you played Tony Hawk?' and he says 'YEAH!!! I'm awesome!' And I said 'Yeah, sure you are. I can kick your ass.' And he says 'Nooooooooo....I'm really good, Ate Christine!' So we play....and I kick his ass. 1,253,687 to 30,263. Of course, he complained throughout the whole game that I didn't have the cheats turned on...'How can I play without moon physics?' to which I replied, 'There's no cheating in this house, buddy! You gotta EARN your win!' So I gave him about 20 chances to take away my crown. Nope. He's got all week to practice. After that I was wondering, 'Should I have thrown a game, give him his eleven year-old pride back?' Then I thought 'Nah......he's already taller than me! It'll put him in his place!' I'm so mean. - Yano, 4:47 PM |

Friday, September 6 Friday, September 6

My Tummy's Alive, With the Sound of Music My Tummy's Alive, With the Sound of Music My Tummy's Alive, With the Sound of Music I got a wonderful surprise at work today. Orlando's mom cooked us up some KICK ASS Puerto Rican Steak and Rice. Glory Be! My belly was singing! Hot damn that lady knows how to cook! WOW! Yum! DELISHHHHHHHHH!!! But then, to counter that, I probably had the worst slice of tiramisu over. Take note, people, never have tiramisu at McDonald's! The new Mickey D's opened up at our food court, and they have a little dessert area, and they had tiramisu. It was terrible. It was dry, and the coffee was too strong. Eeew. But to counter THAT, I came back to work with a lovely macadamian nut cookie on my desk. Hello heaven! Why are most of my posts about food? Anyway, I had a great talk with one of my manager's today, and it felt really good to get some of my stresses off my chest, even if he was just listening to me. And it's good to know that someone notices that I haven't been the same. But on the flip side, it was sad to get the information that my suspicions were true - there are certain forces at work that are definitely against me. Oh well, there's nothing I can do but work my hardest. It was a MUCH better day today, despite that information, and I feel like I got a lot accomplished. I'm feeling much more like my old self. Not completely, but close. After work, we went out for drinks and just relaxed. I even played some pool, which was really good, because I haven't played in a while. I need the practice! - Yano, 8:46 PM |

Bally's Can Kiss My Big Fat JLo Ass Bally's Can Kiss My Big Fat JLo Ass Bally's Can Kiss My Big Fat JLo Ass Well, the workout was much better than I had thought it would be. I was reluctant to go (as I am with any physical activity) but as soon as I changed into my tee, shorts and gym shoes, I was a changed woman. It was like Superman stepping out of the phone booth. I was Super WOrkout Girl, ready for a full workout, jumping around like nobody's business. It was a good workout, and I really enjoy the music there - a lot of old school dance and hip hop songs. It's like Club Gorilla Sports. I'm waiting for the disco ball to come down and the go-go dancers to come out in their cages. I'm also really intrigued with the belly dancing class that I saw taking place in the aerobics room. It looked really low impact, and I'm always willing to learn new forms of dance. Makes the whole thing fun. AND...they get to dance with scarves! Ohh...just imagining myself wiggling and hopping around with my frilly sparkly scarf of many colors. Whoo hoo! And if only I could find myself a hip hop dance class there. My life would be complete. But then...(throw in the Law and Order music here (*dut* *dun*)) I had gone to the main desk when I came in and asked for a new membership card. I've lost mine, and I've been getting in by using my license. When I went to go pick it up afterwards, they said that my level of Bally's membership didn't include a membership to Gorilla Sports. Then they checked Dan's, and said the same thing. Although Gorilla is owned by Bally's, you need a super special membership to go to Gorilla, too. I asked him how much it was, and he said $70 a month. WHAT THE---!!! Grr... So, my main issue isn't this shady 'special membership' deal, it's the fact that Dan's been going there for the past 3 months, and they've scanned his card and let him in, same thing for me. They've been looking up our accounts, and we were none the wiser. It would have been ok if the first time we went there they turned us away because we didn't have the right memberships, but we've gotten a taste of the place. I want to take bellydancing lessons! So we're switching our workout days to Mondays and Wednesdays. They didn't stop us from coming in before. Chances are, they won't if we come in again. I'm going keep on going til they have my picture on the wall - 'DO NOT LET THIS GIRL IN THE BUILDING'. Damn....Bally's sucks! Just when I wanted to start getting healthy again, they try bringing me down. I might have to start looking for a Bally's that's in my area. It sucks, because Gorilla Sports is just around the corner. So it was a nice surprise to come home and see Dave sitting on the couch. What a sweetheart. He came to surprise me and I wasn't even home. But it was a nice surprise, nonetheless! I made him watch ER with me, and I know I was being really annoying because I kept on asking questions. I wanted to see if he would break, but he was pretty cool and informative about everything. 'Have you ever had to intubate?' 'Does the ER get all their X-Rays and test results before everyone else?' 'How often is apropine used?' He answered all these questions and more. Pretty interesting stuff. It's good to have a doctor-to-be sitting with you when you watch ER. It's like pop-up ER. So today, I've treated myself with the first Iced White Chocolate Mocha with soy from Starbucks that I've had in a month. Mmm...how I've missed it! But I can't really justify four bucks a day on coffee. So it's my treat for a good workout, and for not buying Starbucks in a month. Yum! Damn....I talk a lot. - Yano, 10:02 AM |

Thursday, September 5 Thursday, September 5

A Moment Like This A Moment Like This A Moment Like This Well, after the cheesey two hour finally, the lovely and talented Kelly Clarkson wins and becomes our American Idol. GO KELLY!!! YAY! I admit, I got a little misty eyed at the end when she sang 'A Moment Like This' and got all choked up. That girl kicks ass. Though I don't know how far she'll go. She's got a lot going for her, but I don't know how the general public will take it. I mean, where's Eden's Crush right now? Exactly. But I'm happy that she at least had her 15 minutes of fame. I'm still a little salty that Tamyra got booted. Anyway, me and Dan are working out today. Yay, fun. I'm bringing my free American Idol radio to the gym with me. I'm such a dork. But I'm in touch with my dorkiness. I revel in it. I AM A DORK! Work today was much better than it has been in a long while. I'm still a little out of it, but I think things are getting better. I'm just trying to make a little attitude adjustment, trying to fit into this newly molded group, and it seems to be working a little. I knew it was getting bad before when a coworker called me and said that he had noticed that I had lost my 'spark' and that I've looked pretty down at work. I don't want to lose my 'spark'! I want it back. So we're gonna see how Yano gets her groove back. I'm working on it. I'm just SO resistant to change. But I've got a master plan. I always do! I just have to zone out all the ass kissing that goes on here. Ack....enough to make me gag. - Yano, 4:58 PM |

Wednesday, September 4 Wednesday, September 4

Guilty Pleasures Guilty Pleasures Guilty Pleasures So yeah, I'm watching American Idol right now. The finale is kinda cheesey....I don't know yet who's won, but it better be Kelly, because she's been whoopin' Justin's ass. This is one of those shows that you really don't want to watch, but once you start watching you're hooked, as much as you try not to be. Kinda like 'Dawson's Creek'. Though I actually don't watch that anymore. Once Joey and Dawson hooked up again I got tired of it. Watching commercials right now. This John Doe show that FOX is gonna have on next season seems really interesting. A man who knows everything, except for his own identity. OK..commercial over...must watch more... - Yano, 8:28 PM |

Free Radios on the Street Free Radios on the Street Free Radios on the Street I'm SO incredibly sleepy right now. My belly is full of Chicken Bowl. Anyway, on the way to lunch, I got a free 'American Idol' wristwatch and mini-radio. The watch is pretty cheap - it's velcro and one size fits all. But the radio seems pretty cool. I'll keep it here in case there's some disaster where I need a radio. It comes with batteries too! Hmm...I feel like finding me some chocolate!!! - Yano, 3:12 PM |

Tuesday, September 3 Tuesday, September 3

That's the Sound of the Man, Working on the Chain, Ga-iang That's the Sound of the Man, Working on the Chain, Ga-iang That's the Sound of the Man, Working on the Chain, Ga-iang Back to work today. It's always hard to get back in the groove after a long weekend. I tried to get a lot of work done, but I didn't really have a structure to my day. I tried just calling random clients that were having problems, but it looked like there were a lot of people on vacation this week. CD for the Work Commute: ABBA Gold - Ahh, I love these songs. These are the songs that I remember growing up to, having my parents play on the record player/8 track. Great songs to sing along to, to dance stupid to, to just sit and listen to. So it was so nice to listen to in the car. It's one of those CDs that you can listen to every track without skipping over any. Still got the slightly bum leg, but I promised Dan that I would work out with him on Thursday. I gotta stretch out the leg tomorrow. And no more donuts for me! Not that I'm going on a diet, but the donuts really aren't helping my arteries any. Stupid Question of the Day - You know when you need someone's phone number, you call 411, right? But what if you need someone's cell phone number? Is there directory assistance for cell phone numbers? Because the only directory assistance I know is for home numbers. - Yano, 10:57 PM |

Monday, September 2 Monday, September 2

Bring out the Gimp Bring out the Gimp Bring out the Gimp Well, I was supposed to go to a picnic today, so it rained, so I decided not to go. Anyway, I can't walk too much anyway. My calf is still sore, and it's still pretty hard for me to go down stairs. I have NO idea what I did to make this happen. I guess jumping around for several hours on a hard floor with no shoes on is not a good idea. Well, tomorrow's gonna be a 'drive into work' day. It'll take me hours to take the bus! So I just stayed at home and vegged out. Ahh, one of my favorite past times. - Yano, 10:43 PM |

Sunday, September 1 Sunday, September 1

Years Go By, But Things Never Change Years Go By, But Things Never Change Years Go By, But Things Never Change Well, I'm back from my weekend at Jen's wedding. I don't know what I thought it was going to be like. Maybe I thought it would be uncomfortable, or maybe I thought we wouldn't have anything to talk about, or that maybe our lives would have changed so much that we wouldn't be able to connect. Well, even though it's been almost 10 years since the last time we really hung out together, when we saw each other last weekend, it was as if no time had passed. We laughed, talked about old stories, old friends, highschool, life. It was a really great time. And although our lives have taken us to different places, we're still the same Res girls inside. Jenni, one of my best friends from gradeschool, was also part of the wedding party. It was great to see her as well. I really need to keep in touch with these people! Anyway, the wedding was beautiful. However, my partner and Cheryl's partner got mixed up, and when I was supposed to put my arm in his, but our arms just got tangled up and he ended up walking down the aisle with me with his arm around my waist. It was pretty funny. Jenny looked beautiful as she was coming down the aisle. I have to admit that I got a little misty eyed. Who would have believed that the girl who told people that she was Ozzy Osbourne's love child would not only be the first one of us married, but that she would become a pillar of the community and a Catholic school religion teacher? Crazy! The reception was probably the longest reception I've ever been at. Open bar started at 4pm. By the time they did the announcement of the wedding court, we had all had a couple drinks in us by then. And since Jen's new husband, Dennis, is a DJ, the music was REALLY good. I danced the whole night. They played a lot of the tunes that we loved when we were in school, like Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and 'Brown Eyed Girl'. My wedding partner was a hoot. Midway during the reception he had his shirt unbuttoned, and he kept on taking it off. About 5 women asked him if he was exotic dancer. (that's his pic on the left) A woman came up to us later and told us that we were the best wedding party that she had ever seen, because we were out there dancing all the time, we were all drunk, and we looked like we all got along and that we were having a great time. Many thanks to Dave, for coming along and being my picture boy, taking pictures of this and that for me. Also, he had to sit through the rehearsal dinner, where me and the rest of the girls just laughed, screamed and gossiped about our highschool adventures. And YES...the term 'One time, at bandcamp' DID come up more than once. Me, Cheryl and Jen (right) were chock full of band stories. Poor Dave saw a window into my geeky gradeschool and highschool life. Also, thanks to him for not leaving my drunk ass at the reception. What patience!!! He's gonna make some lucky gal a great husband someday. Hey wait...that's me! That's another funny thing, being engaged, you see weddings in a whole new way. Everything is that much more romantic and emotional, but you're also thinking 'Hmm...I could do that at my wedding', or 'Oh yeah, that will save us some money if we do that at the wedding...' All in all, it was an awesome weekend. I had a lot of fun. Actually, my calves keep on cramping up because I danced and jumped around for about 5 hours yesterday. My poor body isn't used to so much exercise. hopefully I'll get the rest of the pictures up here soon. I would have taken more pictures, but everything was just so busy and hectic. But it was a great time!!! - Yano, 10:23 PM |