Saturday, February 28, 2009

Nice Night

Tonight we hung out with some people Mario used to work with when the cartoon industry was in it's hayday. I guess these three couples get together Friday evenings to have a few drinks and talk. We were invited tonight and had a great time. The hostess reminds me so much of my cousin. I just wanted to hug her! I obviously miss my cousin a bunch. We ended up staying for quite a few hours, sitting around their bar, talking and bullshitting.

But hello...I felt like it was the 60s with the men sitting around chain smoking, while us little ladies sip our wine. Don't get me wrong, it was a great time. I just didn't know people smoke like that still. My lungs are KILLING me! My lungs still haven't recovered from my cold last week, and now I feel like I'm coughing all over the place. Of course I was trying not to be all dramatic and coughing in front of them, but I was so happy to make it out to the car.

I know I'm totally sheltered living in california with our no smoking laws, but I have to admit I prefer it...not that I'm living that much healthier in Los Angeles with all the smog, but still!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Etsy

I've finally decided to put some of my travel photography up for sale. So I've opened up an Etsy shop! I'm pretty excited. So far all of the photography on there is from traveling...most of which many people have never even seen.

So keep an eye out because I'll be adding more and more photographs on there. There are even a few on there that I might order...cause I'm vain like that and I actually like some of my own work!

Spread the word people!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Cha cha changes

Mario and I have decided to stay in our little apartment for a while longer to save money. I'll definitely still keep my eye out for an awesome apartment that can't be passed up, but in the mean time we'll stay put. So, we've been mulling over what needs to be done to this little place to make it a better fit for us. Luckily we have a cool landlord that lets us paint and adjust things. So of course when we first moved in, we painted all the rooms. That being said, I hate our bedroom color. Pretty much as soon as we finished painting, I was questioning it. It's a very dull chocolate milk color. Normally I would like a beige color, but it's just not right. Plus we just never finished putting the bedroom together, so I've just not been happy with it. So finally we're going to repaint the bedroom....CAN NOT WAIT! I'm trying to talk mario into a crazy color. Although I haven't totally decided yet. Some where in the green or blue family for sure. Next we want to sell our dresser and night stands and get two taller dressers for each side of the bed. It would create more storage but there would be less furnature in the room.

To start getting things going, I measured and photographed some things that we can sell. The dresser and night stands, and our big portable air conditioner that just takes up too much space. I posted everything on craigslist and waited. I wouldn't have thought, but I got calls and emails immediately for the air conditioner. I was a little surprised. So I called the first person and set up an appointment for 4:30 the next day.

4:30 comes around we were waiting. Then 5 rolls aroiund and we're still waiting. Then the guy calls and says that he's finally leaving to come pick it up. Even though we've already discussed and agreed on a price, now he's decided to try to get the price down some more. No sir. 6pm rolls around and we are waiting for him to show. We have plans for dinner with friends as soon as this guy shows. 7pm rolls around and we have now invited 3 more poeple to dinner and are waiting to see if they show up first or the looser who wants the air conditioner. 7:30 comes and I start calling this guy wondering where the crap he is. He finally calls back and decides he wants to pay less that what we agreed on. I tell him no. So he says he's finally leaving. 8 pm and he's still not here. By this time there are 6 hungry people sitting around. I call him and he tells me that he can leave right then. No thanks I tell him. We're leaving for dinner. He can pick it up the next day if he really wants it. We finally got to the restaurant a half hour before the kitchen closed...what a jerk.

So he called me this morning and said he could stop by today sometime. He says "I just want to check that you'll be around all day today and I'll try to stop by some time" Are you kidding me! I told him that I wouldn't be around today and that he could tell me a time that he'd like to stop by and I'll be here then. Of course last night everyone decided that this guy was bad news and that I needed protection in case this guy was a nut job. Mario was meeting a friend today, so I called in the second husband, Tadao, to come over and meet this guy with me. An hour after our meet time, he finally shows up. That man searched high and low for some mark on this air conditioner, so that I would drop the price. That shit was clean though. So he decides that I should drop the price because he had to drive so far. Come on. You decided to drive out here yourself. Not only that but we have waited around for you for 5 hours! You should be paying me more!

What is it with people on craigslist!?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Such a Pain

It's such a pain in the ass when your trying to work and you start getting an optical aura. So, I'm slowly going to start loosing my eyesite for a while...or at least it will get blurry and wiggly and then all of a sudden it will go away and a migraine will be there. I was having such a nice productive day too! I went ahead and took my migraine medicine and now I'll just sit and wait for it to happen. Of course, I had a shoot today and am trying to work on the photos...I can't get shit done if I can't see! Pain in the ass headache!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Couple Meme

What are your middle names?
My middle name is Meredith and Mario's is Joseph

How long have you been together?
We've been married for 6 months and together for 2.5 years

How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We had met online and talked for a month before we went on a date

Who asked whom out?
Mario asked me out for coffee when I was having a really bad day

How old are each of you?
I am 32 and Mario is 37

Whose siblings do you see the most?
We see his mother and sister most. They live ten minutes away, while my sister and mother live 6 hours away.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
The student loan situation is hardest for us. We both have substantial student loans. Our government loans payments are the same price as our rent, with no end in site. It is easier tacking it as a couple but puts off purchasing a home for a long time!

Did you go to the same school?
No

Are you from the same home town?
Mario was raised in Los Angeles and I was raised in Northern California around San Fransisco

Who is smarter?
Mario definitely is. I'm a dingbat. The man has a memory like a steel trap. He'll see a movie once and quote 10 minute sections from it the next day.

Who is the most sensitive?
He's really taught me to be mushy. I dated more like a guy and he was the one dropping the "L" bomb after two weeks of dating...I made him take it back

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
We'll try anywhere once but our favorite is this old diner where we had our first date...Harry's

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

Hawaii

Who has the craziest exes?
Man I dated a lot of weirdos...I mean crazy but Mario's Ex takes the cake...she's a nutjob

Who has the worst temper?

Sad to say, we haven't ever really fought....bicker yes. Mario told me he had a temper in the past but I've only seen it peak it's head a few times with people who mess with his family.

Who does the cooking?
Both of us

Who is the neat-freak?
He's OCD and needs things lined up but I need things organized. It's a toss up

Who is more stubborn?
Our sister's are more stubborn than us...we're both pretty laid back but I might be a tiny bit more stubborn than him

Who hogs the bed?
He takes the covers but apparently I take over the bed

Who wakes up earlier?
Mario does. He never sets an alarm, but will just wake up at 7 and take a shower. I stay up later

Where was your first date?
Our first date was at Harry's Diner. Been around for a long time and open all night. The same waitresses since forever.

Who is more jealous?
I'd say I am more jealous. The man is totally unfazed by any men around me and is flattered when a man hits on me.

How long did it take to get serious?
Like I said he dropped the "Love" about two weeks in but I made him take it back. However, we had moved in together after 4 months of dating.

Who eats more?
I kinda think I do

Who does the laundry?

I love to do the laundry

Who’s better with the computer?
It's a toss up. I know my way around a computer but he understands how it works way better

Who drives when you are together?
He mostly drives. I like to be chauffeured around but if he's even remotely tired I drive.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

I'm Alive!

Yes, I have been to the pits of hell and back. I have been drugged up and mostly comatose but have awaken in time for the weekend. I feel way way better even if I do sound like a chipmunk. Waking up every day is exciting wondering what I'm going to sound like that day, because every day is different. Generally somewhere between a chipmunk and sucking on a helium balloon. Although, I am really over this cough.

Because I'm feeling better and because Mario took care of me all week, I've totally been the domestic goddess today. I did a bunch of laundry last night and organized our closet. Today I planted herbs and tomatoes, washed dishes, made the yummiest chicken and leek soup, and even finished it off with some sugar cookies. I'm so happy to be feeling better. That cold was the poops!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Back So Soon

Ok I know I just posted but I'm still wide awake. So I'm watching some
show on DIY called "Throwing Clay"...not exciting really. However,
Mario is a freaking chatterbox in his sleep! The man won't shut up!
Well he does when it gets to the good part, of course...

"I'm not really in the mood"
Mumbling
"Anyway"...mumble
"Are you in the mood?"
Snoring mumbling
"you should put that up there..."
Then he just yelled out "Whatever!"

Sometimes I wonder what the hell he dreams about!

Better

Ive been pretty much passed out for three days now. I think I caught
something going around because my mom, sister, and sister-in-law have
all had this. Here I thought I was having wicked withdrawls from nose
spray addiction! Right.

I'm finally feeling a little more myself and a little less drugged up
snot machine. However, now that I'm feeling better, I can't help but
notice that it's 2am and I'm wide awake! I think Mario got me daytime
medicine and I was too out of my mind to notice before.

And you want to know what else is annoying? As soon as I fall asleep I
get woken up...by my own moaning in my sleep! Not by the snoring bear
next to me. I wear ear plugs to sleep with him. I'm waking myself up
with my self-pitying moans. I feel like I would have been better by
now if I would have just let myself sleep!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Got the Sickies

Maybe it's coincidence but two or three days after quitting the nose
spray, I have a wicked cold.

After a night of chocolate covered strawberries, a litlle chamagne,
and renting a movie, Death Race... I know, romantical! I started a
little coughing. Then woke up with the sore throat and more coughing.
Now I've got the fever and the chills and the ackies!

My whole head is draining. That miracle spray was holding back a flood
gate! The good thing is my nose has been clear, it's just everything
else that's all jacked up. But still I have not used the spray!

Dr F said it would be horrible but I had no idea I would actually get
sick by stopping the spray. Yuck. Maybe I should start a foundation
for stopping the nose spray...who would have known there was
withdrawling!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Can I have a side of tension headaches?

After two months of no headaches, they came back. Pretty much as soon as I bragged here on the ol' bloggy, they came back daily. Nothing I can't handle, but what a distracting pain in the butt! I finally called up yesterday because no over the counter meds were even making a dent in my headache...of course this didn't stop me and Mario from running away and going to Disneyland for the evening. However, the fact that meds weren't working started concerning me. Luckily I have an awesome doctor willing to spend time with me and talk out my issues. We talked migraines, headaches, allergies, blood pressure and addictions.

We'll start out with the headaches. I explained my different head pains. Most of my headaches felt like a really dull throbbing in the back of my head from ear to ear. It feels like someone has the back of my head in a vise and my neck eventually completely tenses up. Dr F decided that my daily headaches sounded more like tension headaches. Totally logical. My others are migraines. So I need to keep a headache diary...I'm thinking pink with a little lock on it.

Next we discussed my blood pressure being a little high. This isn't the first time this has happened. Last time, I was very stressed out with my new business, I was living in a tiny apartment that I hated, I had been sick, and someone had emptied my bank account via a Walmart in Texas. I was stressed. Well, they wanted me to come back in two weeks to check my blood pressure again. After getting over my cold, having my money replaced, dealing with my tiny apartment and job stresses, and a really good massage; my blood pressure went back to text book perfect. They're not sure how I did it. The doctor made them check my blood pressure a few times. Perfect every time. He was amazed that I could bring it back down so quickly.

This brings me to my allergies. If you live in LA you have allergies...have you seen the smog!? Well, after trying anti-histamines and decongestants, I found the miracle nasil spray. A quick spray and I can breath all day long. Well, This made me think about a friend of my sister. He was in his early 20s and had really high blood pressure. They couldn't figure it out. Well turned out he used Visine...a lot. He used it to get rid of the red in his eyes. Daily. Well, the directions say to only use it temporarily. If you continue to use it, it will actually make your eyes red. Then he would use it to get the red out again. It was a vicious circle. Well, as an added bonus, it also makes your blood pressure rise. Took him off the Visine and he was better.

So, I asked Dr F if the nasil spray could be making my blood pressure rise. Her response was hell yes! She said that nasil spray is amazing. It lets you breath, but it's so addictive. She said we have to check for sure that it's affecting my BP, but I need to stop using the spray. She said it would be hell. She told me I'd be miserable. It would get way worse before it got better.

When I put it together even more... I was sick when my BP too high last time. When I went back to get checked I wasn't taking anything and my BP was miraculously normal. So we're thinking that I'm sensitive to medications resulting in high blood pressure. So, we're gonna see how this goes. I last used the spray this morning. No more spray! High Blood pressure scares the crap out of me! Wish me luck...nothing like a good scare!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

My Mother Sends me This...

"No woman will ever be truly satisfied, because no man will ever have a chocolate penis that ejaculates money."

Monday, February 09, 2009

Things I learned at the DMV

Pegging your pants is back in

Remember all your paper work the first time

Bring a lunch...you could be there a very long time

Your place number can't come soon enough

People wear the strangest things in public

I can't figure out how to blog from my iphone...which was killing me!

The homeless guy talking to his invisible friend looks normal at the DMV

An old woman without teeth will pick the cutest youngest man to flirt shamelessly with...and actually pull it off

It doesn't matter how old you are...you are never safe from the written test

Flirting with the DMV worker will get you into the test area after they are closed...but they expect you not to waste their time and pass the test...and they'll let you know

I almost yelled bingo when they called B264 because I was so excited it was my turn

The sounds of the DMV aren't soothing to a migraine

Official capacity posting doesn't apply to the DMV building, they pack
em in like sardines

And most importantly...Go with your gut...if you feel like you shouldn't go to a certain DMV office...don't go it's going to be lousy with people

Mario better appreciate all that I went through to change my last name to D'Anna!

Not sure what's going on...

I don't know what happened this weekend, but I was able to be totally lazy and still get a ton of work finished. Maybe it was the rain keeping zen or maybe just keeping me at home. I got tax stuff finished, organized my financial stuff, listed all my shoots for the year, organized photos...I mean shit got done!

So now I'm off to the DMV to finally finish with the name change...six months later isn't so bad right? I even have the papers filled out already, due to the getting shit done this weekend.

Wish me luck...I've never been to this DMV and I'm feeling a little hesitant. The thing is there is a uber awesome DMV up the road half an hour. I know that one's relaxed and runs smoothly, you get a number then sit and read until you're called. For some reason I'm dreading this one...at least I have my iphone to keep me busy.

Then back home to take advantage of getting shit done faze...I even cleaned the microwave, I'm on such a good run!

Friday, February 06, 2009

The Bestest Movie

My sister-in-law made me watch a movie tonight. Can I say it's so bad it's good! It's a movie made for drinking games. If you took a drink every time you saw bad acting, you'd be drunk in the first 10 minutes. If you took a drink every time you heard a really bad line, you'd be drink in 20 minutes. If you took a drink every time you saw a Mexican flag, you'd have alcohol poisoning. We counted 69 Mexican flags.

The movie is "Shark Attack 3: Megladon". It is a piece of work! We spent most of the movie trying to figure out who the crap filmed this. The main actor is from a BBC show. However, judging by the other actors names, we assume most of them are Russian. The entire movie is dubbed. There are lots of weird sounds and the voices are terrible. The dubbed voices of the people who were supposed to be Mexican, were Americans with really fake Mexican accents. I think they assumed if they put Mexican flags all over the place, we'd believe it was Mexico and the people were Mexican.

All of that just keeps you going between the really bad shark attack scenes. They are so, so funny. However, there is one line in this whole movie that shuts the rest of it down. This line comes out of no where and kills. That's all I'll tell you. You'll know it when you hear it! I believe it originally a Sci-fi channel movie. However, you'll need to rent the directors cut to get all the good stuff. It's totally worth it!

In the mean time, watch this...

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Storm Watch 2009!

Yeah it's raining in LA...so all hell is breaking loose! But I LOVE it! Of course I'm happy because I haven't stepped foot outside, therefor, not having to deal with all the assholes who've forgotten how to drive in the rain. Target beckons though...I'll just have to deal with all those losers.

This morning started out beautiful. So I decided to finish the laundry that I didn't get to last night. I never realized until today that I love the sound of the washer and dryer going....love it. There's a comfort to it. Our washer and dryer are in the backyard, so I leave the back door open so I can hear it while I work. It got even better though, when it started raining. I love the sound of rain even more. Add in my newly realized love of laundry sounds...happiness.

Mario and I have been more than happy campers, working with all the doors open so we can hear the rain. I'm freezing but it's worth it. Like I have mentioned before, we just don't get much rain around here.

This is as exciting as it's gotten around here...although I realized today that it's amazing my husband does the sexy time with me at all. Some of the stuff that I say is ridiculous. Today while I was laying on the couch, Mario came over and laid on me. And what do I say..."watch out you're gonna make me poop". Yeah that's gonna keep our marriage hot!

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Today the Laziest Day of Them All!

And I blame the Superbowl!

First, we spent the weekend cleaning, preparing and cooking instead of relaxing and being lazy. Then there's all of the left-over food. Thankfully, Colleen's husband killed off most of the ribs and part of the tri-tip for us, with the help of Rob. So there wasn't much left. However, there seems to be a lot of chili left...where it all came from I don't know but, a girl can only eat so much chili. I'm throwing the rest of the chili out though, because Mario sure as hell doesn't need any more chili either! Then there is half a ton of couscous left, but that's not so bad at least it's got all kinds of veggies in it. What's really getting to me is the diet coke. We haven't been buying soda lately and haven't really even had any in the house for a while now. So, with all this left over soda, I'm on soda overload. I feel bloated and tired, between the chili and soda. It's pretty gross. Mario's feeling it too. We've both been chugging water all evening and the normalcy is starting to come back.

Despite the crappy lazy feeling, I did get some things done today. Amazing! I wasn't sure anything would get done by me at all. However, tomorrow I have a whole lot more shit to do. I'm actually pretty excited. The photography for Big Bear was canceled for tomorrow(I know I shouldn't be that excited) and it's expected to rain for the next few days. So I'll just take the next few days for clean up and getting lots of shit done. I have a whole bunch of sales tax, business taxes, and income tax waiting for me. Woo hoo!

We all know that means that I'll be blogging and trying to avoid it really....ehhh. Someone distract me!

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

4 and 4

I stole this from another blog. There really is no purpose, beside curiosity. You are supposed to post the fourth photo from the fourth folder in you photo folder. Here we go...

My 4runner looks so tiny compared to all the other cars



The year before last, my family came down for my birthday weekend. The day my mom was set to leave, we decided to drive by this coffee shop where a couple of my photos were being shown. On the way there, a lady decided to make a left turn into my car. Man it sucked. The lady was a little nutty. She was sitting in her car talking on the phone before, during, and after the accident. I actually went up to her car to make sure she was ok, because she was just sitting there for so long. I guess she wanted to finish her conversation on the phone. She refused to even acknowledge me. She'd only talk to the firemen. When the ambulance came her blood pressure was very low, they were trying to take her to the hospital. She kept telling them it was normal. They were telling her it was impossible for someone's blood pressure to be that low after an accident and they couldn't imagine what it is like on a regular day.

Anyway, she ruined a good couple of months for me. Between the car rental company telling me they were reporting the car I was driving as stolen...because they couldn't figure out their paper work. Can I point out they did call me to tell me. So they did actually have information that I was renting their car. I was trying to get her company to realize that she was at fault and not me. I was going straight on a green. She was coming from the opposite direction and made a left turn on an unprotected green. I lucked out because I had another photographer in the car. He jumped out and took a bunch of photos for me. They had a problem disputing anything after they saw the photos.

I think it took well over 6 months to get this accident cleared all up. Between my insurance, her insurance and the rental company, it was a pain in the ass.

I kinda liked this. I should pull random photos and do this again.
Mario just told me that he's bringing back paper plate and gold macaroni art.

Beards



Before I met Mario, I had no idea that I liked men with beards. Turns out Mario can grow a wicked beard...I really like it. So much so that when Mario wanted to shave before the wedding...I told him he couldn't. I wanted the beard in the wedding photos (I know, I'm weird)

Once every three months or so Mario shaves his beard. For some reason for the last month he's been wanting shaving it off, but somehow I've talked him out of it for now. I know shaving was long overdue. But when the beard is gone...he looks like Ben Franklin. So the deal was that he would get a hair cut if he shaved it. His hair gets pretty long quickly and I think the beard helps even it out....making it less Franklin-like

However, I couldn't stop him this time. He knew I was on the phone and he made his move. Jerk. It's ok, I'll live. His beard was getting a pretty 'fro like.


So meet Ben Franklin...




I get my smooth faced husband for about a day. Then it gets all stubbly. Of course this is when he likes to sleep with his head on my back. That stubble is like a million tiny daggers in my back!

At least in a week I'll have my bearded husband back.

PS...who has a job where you have to watch "The Family Guy" as research for a job? Mario that's who. He's testing for the show and has to watch some of the shows to get the feel...right

Monday, February 02, 2009

25 Things About Me

Ok This has been going around Facebook a million times over. So why not use it as a post also!

1. I love tomatoes...really love. Mario gets mad at me because if we buy tomatoes, they are gone within 24 hours and he doesn't get to use them for what he bought them for.

2. I really enjoy doing laundry but don't like putting them away

3. My husband is my best friend, makes me laugh all the time, and I love him more and more everyday...plus he puts the laundry away...didn't know I'd get so lucky.

4. There is a ghost in my bathroom

5. I inherited an addiction to chapstick from my father. I have three sticks within reach of me right now. My sister(also inherited this addiction) made me a "wedding cake" out of chapstick tubes all glued together...it was very sweet

6. I love watching shows like "ghost hunters" and "I survived" even though they scare the shit out of me. Then I make Mario turn on all the lights for me around the house.

7. I'm addicted to "Lost" but really don't know why...it's a ridiculous show.

8. I'm a klutz. I'm sure many people have stories about me. The last time I fell was a few weeks ago in Target. Went to sit down and went ass over head backwards out of the chair...laughed my but off laying on the floor.

9.I love my job...I never thought I could make a living at photography. I've never been a real go getter. That changed when I started my own business and realized the only way I get work is if I go get it myself. Now I have a job I love and get to be proud of myself at the same time

10. I have eye lid shampoo. My optometrist told me I'd need it and I fell over laughing. Then realized he was serious.

11. When I decided to travel for 4 months, I put everything I owned in storage. Only to come back and find out that someone had broken in and stolen half of my things. The thing I miss the most is the old box of family negatives that my grandmother let me have. I feel very guilty that I didn't take care of that like I should have.

12. I named one of my cats Dexter. People think I named him after the television show. I actually named him after Martin Luther King Jr.'s son. I met him in a restaurant. He was the nicest, most humble person and so thankful to have his parents recognized. When he told us his name, it stuck with me. I really loved his name...so I named my cat after him...hehehe

13. I hate brushing my teeth...although I do many times a day or I couldn't live with myself

14. I love reading.

15. Last year for new years, I decided not to purchase any books for a year. I didn't think it was possible but I'm proud to say I didn't buy any books for a year. Still haven't

16. I hate spiders...so much so that I get gaggy

17. I love camping and don't get to go often enough

18. I hate flannel sheets

19. There is a guitar in our living room and no one who lives here knows how to play it

20. I love getting packages in the mail

21. I have relearned how to knit three times in the last three years...I feel like the universe is telling me I shouldn't knit

22. I make rad guacamole

23. I hate putting on lotion also. However, I know I need it. I think it's like chapstick, once you use it, you'll always have to use it

24. I met one of Mario's friends tonight from high school. We were both in the same area of Germany in 2005 at the same time...small world

25. I love taking a nice nap on the weekend, while laying on the couch with some lame movie going in the background


Now it's your turn! All of you....even the lurkers...I know you're there!

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Come On Over!

The backyard is all clean and arranged
The meat marinating
The sides are all ready to go
Drinks are in the coolers
The fire pit is ready to go

We're ready for our Anti-Superbowl Party!

ok we are taping the game...but only to fast forward through to see the commercials