New Years Eve Party Invite

This is an invite going out to everyone who reads this and anyone they invite.

My friend Erika and I are throwing a New Years Eve Party...yes I know it is last minute, but that is how we roll. HAHA If you are looking for a place to go let me know and I'll give you the details. We would love to hang out with old friends and love to meet new ones. Email me at terri_perkins@yahoo.com for info.

It's BYOB! Some food will be provided but all food donations will be greatly appreciated.

(optional key drop box will be provided for those who would like to be sure they take a taxi home)

Denise is also pictured in the photo...no promises that she will show...sorry. LOL

Simple Pleasures and other funny things

So it is Wednesday Christmas Eve and I am leaving work at 1pm. Well only an hour after everyone else. I had brought a bag of food for my friend, but she was not there. I was upset, but moved on thinking maybe I could find someone else to give it too. When I got on the Subway there was a couple that looked homeless. Medium size built black man and a very large white woman in their late 30's or 40's. I was not able to hear what they were talking about on the red line, but they ended up in front of me on the blue line. I was going to hand them the food but they never stopped talking. Yes that is where my story starts. She was talking to him about getting a checking account...sounded like someone was offering some kind of money if they signed up for the account. Then she started to tell him if he got an account and some checks it could really help them get better lives. I started to really appreciate my life no matter how messed up I've made it at times. I also really came to admire this couple's tenacity, strength, and love for each other. In our ride i was able to catch that she had a child from another marriage and that she was no better off than they were. They lived simple and 9 cent top ramen was a luxury. Her dream was to have a refrigerator and stove of her own. She told her husband that all she ever wanted was black appliances. She said with her next check she was going to purchase a set from her friend even though they were not black. Then she told her husband maybe he could spray paint them black for her. He commented on how great it would be to have a refrigerator. Then the funny commentary began. When she told him maybe he could spray paint them for her, he was like maybe. Then she said well if you don't want to drag them back outside you can just put a tarp down and spray them. He just laughed and said you know how to do it why dont you do it. I almost laughed. Then she did it..she pulled the husband card. She said because your my husband. He said no you did not pull the husband card. She said yep sure did. He said that is not ok, you want my to pull the wife card? You never pull the husband card. She said I'll pull the husband card every time I want. So then he said ok then wife, why did I have to make my own dinner last night? (At this point this guy was starting to sound like someone I knew but I could not put my fingers on it.)

The conversation turned to getting back on their feet and having extra money to get tattoos. She talked about the things she wanted and he talked about a few things. I was trying to not listen any more and get to reading my book when I heard it. The guy said he wants to get a tattoo where he can win money. Sit down this may make you fall over laughing..I almost burst out loud. He said he was going to walk around town and at bars and bet people and say "I'll bet you that I have your name tattooed on my penis" Then when people said no way, he'd bet them money drop his drawers and on his penis it would say "your name" OMG LOL! Then the best part is that it took about 5 minutes for him to explain the joke to his lady friend. She did not think it was funny. She said private parts are only for us to see. No one else will see his parts except for her. He then said that he would get "kitty's stick" or "Kitty's mouse" or let's just said that is kept coming and coming with Kitty and mouse jokes. Of course there were kids next to us. But the couple was clueless.

It was just about then that I notice that their playful banter and their strange relationship reminded me of Casey. HAHAHAHA The guy sounded like him in voice tone and personality. How funny is that. Of course I am not saying that is how we would have ended up, but it reminded me of the fun times we had bugging each other. Yes, of course there were a zillion reasons we broke up but ahh the memories.

Then at the green line transfer, I had to wait in the COLD for about 8 minutes. The train got there doors open I walked in and WOW!!!!!!!!! It was like a hot house...someone was either blazing in the train car or the two guys in there took a bath in pot smoke and bong water. HAHA I think I got a contact high. What a great way to start the Holdidays. :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL AND MAY GOD BLESS YOUR 2009!

I know what a heartattack feels like!

On both Monday and Tuesday my sister drove me to the train station and picked me up. Isn't she nice!

Monday not much happened but after I got home we all went to see the new Adam Sandler movie. The Marine families were invited to a special presentation of the movie. All we had to do is show up in our jammies. So FUN. We all got dressed up in our PJ's, took a picture with Santa and watched a very cute movie. Oh I forgot to mention that KP was so tired in the morning when she took me that she just kept driving on the way home all the way until she got on the 805 and then woke up and was like what the heck, I missed my exit. Poor Baby. Today I saw the homeless lady that I have befriended outside my work and since I never have money on me I totally forgot to give her some. She understand and is so nice.

Tuesday again was a very quite day. So I had planned to take the 4:10 train home today instead of the 5:10 so that I could get some stuff done. So I turned of my computer at 3:30 plenty of enough time to walk to the train. The it happened, before I knew it my computer decided to install upstates! So I sat and sat and sat. Oh my body was cringing. I was going to throw the computer across the room. It was soooooooooo slow. I kept mumbling "hurry the @$##^%$# up." I dug my finger nails into the palm of my hands and I just waited. Finally with only 8 minutes until my train leaves I grabbed the computer shoved it into my bags and RAN! I grabbed some food for my friend and kept going. On the exit of the building I just started sprinting. I ran right up to my friend shoved the food into her hands and yelled back I can talk today I am sooooooooooo late! She yelled back thank you so much you're an angel I love you! Now it was uphill with a 20 lb back pack. I ran on my tippy toes thinking it would help my up the hill. Ok the last time I ran up a hill was probably college or high school. I get winded even walking up this hill. I kept running and by the middle of the hill I thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest, my brain was going to explode, my throat feel like I was breathing glass. I made it to the subway and had a 3 minute breather. Yeah right like I was able to catch my breath. Now that I was at unions station I had 2.5 minutes to get up 3 flights of stairs and onto the train before the doors closed. I made it up the first one, still about to die. I made it 1/2 way up the second and then had to walk. My brian could not get the message to my legs anymore that they had to move. There was no oxygen coming in anymore. I made it up and solid ground for two seconds then up again another flight of stairs, jumped on to the train and almost collapsed. I huffed and puffed and tried to catch my breath when I realized that I still had one more set of steps to go up! I hobbled up and planted myself in the first seat I found. I then proceeded for the next 2 hours to catch my breath and stop breathing in glass. Or was that blood from my brain, who knows. I was rewarded for my excercise on the way home from the train...we had McDonalds! Ok I can't even tell you the last time I had McDonalds before that. I had the angus burger and it was yummy! I as kind of bummed by the sauce though...it was just mayo. I really think they could have dressed is up more with some sort of spices. That night was a night of crazy wrapping, packing and making Nacho not feel abandoned as he was about to be alone in the house for 2 days. Poor guy.

Week of 12/15- 12/19 - wow what a week

Monday 12/15 - went to work...came home
Tuesday 12/16 - went to work...stayed in LA. Well since I was staying on LA of course I get the chance to ride the Metroline! Bring on the Red/Blue and Green lines. So as soon as I get on the blue line I am looking for a seat. I find one near this guy who's cologne smelled a little like old vodka. You know the way you smell after a real good party...yes usually the night before. HAHA He smelled though as if the party was still going. About 2 minutes after I sit down we became BFF's. He looked at all my bags and said did you just get into town. Opps forgot to tell you as you are reading this part be sure you read it with your best wasted mexicano male voice. Really he was a very nice guy, but he really was drunk. Back to our conversation. I said no I am not from out of town. He shock his head slowly and said oh I thought I saw a train ticket so I thought you were from or going out of town. I said I just got in from San Diego. He said where are you from. I said San Diego. He said he was from Lincoln Nebraska. I told him I was born in Omaha. He told me that Omaha was the big city but Lincoln was the capital. (in case I did not know). Cornhuskers...Cornhuskers. Ebbybody listens to da football cornhuskers all the time. Everybody. I just shook my head. My family lives in fo fo ne hmm i can't remember. Iowa iss near Iowa, small town nor ah I can't think of it name. (silence...I almost start reading) Norfolk...yeah norfolk, you know where that is. Yes, I do. My kids live there. I came her for my peeps, my moms and dads live here. I go back one awhile. As the conversation continued I was asked if I was single, where I was going and if I am happy. He asked me about things and we got on the topic of his kids. He got emotional and talked about how much he misses them. I told him I bet they miss him a lot. Kids need their daddies. He said you think? I said of course. More conversation and then right before he left Hector shook my hand and wished me a merry Christmas and said he was going to go by a ticket to see his kids. I really hope he does.

Wednesday 12/17 - Cold, rainy and cold. Commuting in the rain from LA to San Diego no big deal. Commuting from LA to Manhattan Beach very very cold. Sadly I also finished my book so I did not have much to read. BTW - the book was AWESOME. Don't be surprised if you get it for Christmas.

Thursday 12/18 - This big black guy got on the blue line and sat next to me and in most cases people would say he looked pretty scary. However, He sat down next to this other man dressed like an upscale cowboy...is that an oxymoron? Either way this guy kind of scared me (even more than the other guy) He kind of had this creepy cereal killer look. What? What's wrong? No that is not a type I did not mean serial killer but cereal killer. He looked like Frankenberry! All of a sudden the big black guy became this sweet tough guy smiling and waving at this little baby in the front of the car. HAHA The Frankenberry Tex said "Kids like big tough guys. I don't mean mean guys but tough guys they know they can count on. We make them feel safe." He then began to ramble on and on for the rest of the trip. He talked about war, horses, the Philippines. Best thing he said was that CATS are smarter than Dogs!

Friday 12/19 - I won a baking contest at work!!!! $100 bucks! Yeah me.

One thing I have learned on the last three months, but mostly just this month is that we spend too much time just running around. We rush rush rush around and never stop and stare at the world around us. Tuesday morning the mountains were covered in Snow. I was just an amazing and beautiful scene. In the rain while I was waiting for the train I was staring out in the distance and realized that the lights downtown in the distance look like twinkling diamonds, rubies and emeralds. In the pitch black there were gems and diamonds dazzling the sky. Cars race by back and forth on the freeway past me...each one just trying to get to another place. Me, I have become much more patience with life and all it brings. God has a plan for each one of us and most of us just need to slow down and open our eyes to his plan. In the past, I've been so busy running around jumping from career to career, apartment to apartment and life situation to situation that I feel like I've missed a lot of life. The kids I start my teaching career with are now 7 or 8 years old and the ones I just started working with are already 3 years old. Playing with these kids or getting all the Christmas cards from them lately has really shown me that I have just sailed through the years.

Time to take the patience I have learned from commuting and having people drive me around now needs to be incorporated into the rest of my life. I want to slow down appreciate my life. I want to break out of my shell and become more comfortable in my own body. I want to make good decisions but not beat myself up for the bad ones. I want to be a better me...your help will be needed. No one can do it alone.

Thanks in advance.

p.s. NO this is not my year end letter...I have some more to say I am sure.

I'm singing in the rain, just singing in the rain

And it is not a glorious feeling...I'm cold, wet, cold, tired, did I mention cold? I'm sure you've guessed it, there was lots of rain this morning. I don't mind so much because we need the rain...but I did make for a cold commute. I was wondering if anyone thinks cold weather makes people rude? I swear that at every station someone got in and out from either the seats in front of me or the seats behind me. They of course did not notice that I was SLEEPING! Slamming bags, throwing down table trays, shoving their seats back and forth. AS you guessed it the sleeping car was not on the train today. Boo Hoo. Needless to say it was not a great napping day...ho hum. The lady next to me from Fullerton to Union Station was reading "The Shack" as well. I think it is so great to see so many people interested in this book.

As we were pulling into Union Station I noticed that the LA reservoir or the LA River (not sure which it is) was rushing with water. The level was up to almost 7 feet. It usually has lest than a few inches in it. As we passed by I was wondering, what happens to the people who live in the Water tunnels when it rains like this? What do they do when all of their possessions are swept out of the tunnel and down the river? Just as I started to get sad, the guy in front of me says loudly...because you know everyone on the train needs to hear him. "Boy, I know I am back in America, look of all the graffiti." I just giggled. Oh did I forget to mention we got in 30 minutes late today?

Ok I hopped on the subway and rushed to work. I had a meeting at 9:45am and it was 9:35am and I still needed to walk down the hill in the snow. hail, blizzard and sleet to the office. Did I say down hill? I meant up hill, yeah up hill. Then the elevator was out so I had to walk up 5 flights of stairs with my big bag. HAHA, just kidding I would have found one of the many elevators that worked.

Cut to the end of the day commute. I thing the drive of the metro subway just learned to drive or he had a steal foot that would not get off of the break. It was like fast....stop....fast....stop. I swear there were like 5 people around me that were about to fall on their bottoms. I got up to the platform for the train and nope the train is not there. It is late...30 minutes late. And of course it is FREEZING. No seriously...yes Connie FREEZING just like back east! HAHA just kidding. It was cold and my hands felt like they were going to fall off, but hey it's LA not NY.

I ended my conversation with my friend Brittany tonight just in time to hear the scariest conversation on earth. This very normal looking girl started talking to a girlfriend on the phone. It started out normal and then she said "OMG you're never going to guess what I ate! No not Reindeer, but Reindeer heart! Yes can you believe it? I was in Switzerland and I met this chef and it was his birthday and he asked his team to make him it for his birthday. Now I want to try other things. Oh yes, I've had deer. But how about squirrel, goose or even cat. Yeah how about cat? You name the time and place and I'll eat whatever you order. I'm heading home to San Diego for the first time in a year, I'm going to tell my mom what I want to try. She'll probably look at me funny." AHHH YEAH! WHO WOULD NOT LOOK AT YOU FUNNY YOU PSYCHO! Now she is on another call, but is seems boring. HAHA

In case anyone reading this would like to spend time with me...I'll be in LA a lot the rest of this month and part of January. :-) Of course you have to chauffeur me around.

What an interesting day

Ok so today started out like any old day. Train station at 6:35 am, train at 6:45 am, pick a seat and get settled in. Last month there was a conductor that was so nice to me every day and he remembered where I was going and never asked for my ticket, so introduced myself to him. His name is Javier. He's a real nice guy. Every morning he says Hi Teresa, how are you today. I say I'm great thanks and how are you today Javier? It's nice to have a friend on the train. So the same thing happened this morning and then it was time to sleep. Then just as I was about to nod off I hear something sounding like my cell phone ring..opps forgot to put on vibrate. Well it was Kristi calling about something of Bryans. End of conversation and back to sleep. Before in know it we are pulling into Fullerton and it is time for me to get up and go make myself look pretty. I get up and turn around towards the bathroom and I see this:

How awesome is this? This young lady must to the trip from ? to santa barbara a lot! (she had an UCSB sweatshirt one). She brought a fitted bed sheet and placed over both of the sleeper chairs, reclined them and then laid across them like a bed. She even had a pillow and a blanket. I was so impressed I decided that she was picture worthy.

Fast Forward to the subway - I got on the subway today with my book still in my hand. I had one more page to read before the next chapter so I wanted to finish it. When this very handsome, slightly more mature man looked up at me and said I just finished that book...what do you think of it? I told him I love it. It is very amazing, intriguing and actually sort of funny. He said wait to you get to the end you'll love it. When then proceeded to have an intellectual conversation about the book, its meaning and the affect it may or may not have on society. I almost fell in love with this man. Handsome, Christian, Smart...then only problem was that my exit only take 4 minutes to get to and I never had a chance to look to see if he was married (which I am sure he was) or even to ask him his man. Oh HECK, I need to move faster. Maybe Denise is right I should speed date...then when i am on the subway I can know how to size up a man with in 90 seconds. HAHA

Everyone knows I love Law and Order (any series). Well today I found myself in an episode. Ok not really but I sort of felt like it. So I get off the subway and jump on the first escalator and just as I am walking off I see this younger lady stumbling or maybe limping towards the stairs. She is moaning, holding her stomach and she has either a cut over her eye or she has stitches that are bleeding. My heart sank. I did not know what to do. I looked at her and wrestled with my thoughts. As a Christian I should walk over to her to see if she is ok or needs anything. Then my imagination kicked in and I thought what if she is crazy and she trys to harm me too or take my purse. I am still walking away from her somewhat looking back, when I start thinking maybe she was raped or mugged. Maybe she needed the police. But I am STILL walking away. I get to the top of the huge escalator and again my heart sinks. I claim to be a strong Christian woman and i turned my head away from someone because of my irrational fears. That hurt me most of the day and now of course. I'm not sure how I would have dealt with things if she had done something crazy like commit suicide with the metro. Thanks to to God she did not. I really hope she is ok. Yes, i prayed for her the whole walk to work.

At work I found out that my harsh side is coming out again. I found out that one of my artist thinks my boss hates her. I found out that one of the guys at work that I think of as a friend hated me for the first 2 weeks I was here. There are many unhappy people in our department right now.

On the way home the train was kind of crowed so I sat downstairs. It was the first time in 3 months that I did that. Kind of weird experience...dont think I liked it too much. The quiet was nice and so was the space, but I think I am safer on top. HAHAHAHA

Andy walked me to my car today. Stopped and wished me a good trip and day at work tomorrow as he was lucky enough to be working from home tomorrow. I asked him how his day was today and again he wasn't real thrilled. I told him he doesn't seem to have a lot of fun or happiness in his life. He just smiled and said I just don't like what I am doing and I need to find something else. I asked him if his dad knew he was unhappy and he said no he is pretty clueless. That is sad.

My gums hurt right now so I think I will go to bed so I don't think about them anymore. Besides Nacho is already asleep on my legs and they are getting warm. Good night all and happy trails to you!

He's Back!

After a few weeks of not seeing him, I finally saw Andy this morning, he pulled up right next to my car. I grabbed my stuff and then waited for him. We talked about his rental car and some other chit chat. We both flirted too. HAHA Do you know what is so great about this blog, my family gets to hear about my dating life, because God knows I never tell them anything face to face. This blog is sort of like reading my diary if I had a diary. We talked a lot on the platform before the train got there. We parted ways on the train, I went one way and he went the other. boo hoo.

Today on the train home guess who I sat by? APPLE GYUY! Of course I did. I think I'm going to start using my earphone as soon as I get on the train in the evening. Crunch Crunch Crunch! Save me now!

So the two men that sat next to me on the train were very chatty today. People say that women talk a lot never meet these guys. Guy one is taking time off in April/May to travel Europe with his family. They are going on a trip for a whole month. Let's just stop there...a trip for a whole month! I thought we were in a recession. Who the heck can afford to take a whole month off work? Any way, he was talking about what they were going to be doing. The guy next to him had already done this trip years ago so he decided to give his buddy a whole bunch of unsolicited advise. We bought a train pass but you really have to plan out your whole trip. Driving on the other side of the road is so stressful you need a vacation after it. He even told his wife to stop talking to him, while he is driving. HAHA (I should mention I was actually working at the same time as listening to them) They were on their honeymoon and went every where. From there they talked about their weekends. Guy one said a few things and then Guy two went from there. He drove back and forth all weekend from his old house to his new house and yadda yadda yadda. Then guess what happened. They fell ASLEEP. I am not kidding, I swear! They talked themselves to sleep. They were so tired they were snoring! How awesome is that.

Then to end the trip, Andy walked past me on his way out of the train. SOOO I of course packed up and started to walk off too. When we got to the stairs, I almost lost my balance and he just smiled and laughed at me. He got off the train first and he waited for me on the platform. We walked to our cars and started to put our stuff away. We were talking about my company news and the LAtimes in general. We both put our stuff away and then we just kept talking. At one point I thought we were done but then he walked around his car to the passenger side and we talked some more. We stood there talking for 20 minutes. It was so fun. We've never talked that much before. He was very into the conversation and seemed to want to continue talking. Only thing that did not happen was he did not ask me to dinner or for my number. Oh well, it was a nice way to end my day.

He looks similar to this guy...but cuter in my opinion:

A must read...

Well I think that everyday is a must read day of course, but I am bias i guess. I think my life is always a good read. Well I of course only share with you all the stuff I find worth mentioning and today is one of those days.

December 5, 2008

Today started like just another day...ok not really. Today started off like a mess. I broke Kristi's really good travel coffee mug that I used everyday. Yesterday I thought it would be smart to put it in boiling water to sanitize it, it just did not seem clean as I wanted it. Needless to say, it was not a smart idea. So then I got another cup to put the coffee I had already put in the no broken cup into (did you follow that?) The new cup holds less coffee then the first cup and I really did not think that was possible. Regradless, now I had extra coffee that I had to slurp down or hey why not just spill it all over the counter? I choose the latter. Yep spilled it all over the counter. So fun!

So I get to the train on time, find my seat in the sleepy car and get ready for lala land. I try to eat my breakfast - single serving box of cheereos and my lukewarm coffee, while I wait for the conductor to take my ticket. Yeah, the cheereos were stale and the coffee just wasn't cutting it. Ticket checked and unsatisfactory breakfast trashed. Good Night. It was another pretty good nap. So the train pulls into Fullerton and I grab my stuff and head to the dressing room to put my make up on and fix my hair. A low and behold there was another girl in MY DRESSING ROOM! Worse thing she was HOT! What did she need to do in my dressing room. I mean she did not need to put more make up on or even fix her hair. Why was she there messing up my routine? Some people just don't understand that I need my dressing room and the time it takes to look have a good as she did. Well, instead I did my makeup in a dimly light bathroom. Then back up to my seat. To which I found a handsome gentleman sitting in the seat right next to mine. He stood up and let me pass by, then as I was getting settled he just stood there. I finally looked up and smiled and said you can sit down if you'd like. He said oh thanks I just wanted to sure you were all settled in. I said oh thank you so much, but i am fine. I started to read my book and got through a chapter when he looked at me and asked my if Chapman University was affiliated with any church. I said yes it was founded on Christianity. But I just cant think of the affiliation. He said he and his mom were talking about it just last night and it was strange that he ran into me. Then it came to me..the Disciples of Christ. He thanked me and went back to his music. As we approached union station he stood up pulled on his jacket and said have a Happy Day. I said you as well. Yeah that was it. boo hoo

Ok so I am walking down the hill to my office and this lady is standing on the corner of 1st and Hill street. Ok what is so strange about a lady standing on the corner you may ask? Well this lady had a bandage around her ankle. Oh this was not just any old bandage...it was a seeping nasty drippy try to cover up my nasty some how sliced up kankle. SOOOOOO gross. It was d-r-i-p-p-i-n-g. So glad I did not eat my breakfast, because it would have been all over the street.

Work is done and I rush out to the train, late again of course. I hit the subway and jammed into the train. This one lady was standing near the door and leaned a little on the half wall next to her and all of the sudden this lady sitting in the chair next to the half wall says "You're leaning on me" I almost started to laugh, just because we are on a crowed train GET OVER IT. Seriously i wanted to laugh. She looked so insulted.

Train 20 minutes late...as much as I hate the train being late, when it is late the metrolink peeps take other trains home and leave mine nice and available with seats.

Have you ever notice that sometime people look better with their sunglasses or even hats on? Like Kenny Chesney...now he is a hottie, but take that cowboy hat off and he is just another guy. Then there is those guys who work construction and they are all tan and they have their sunglasses on but they take their glasses off and UGGH. So there was this HOT guy on the train with my friday friends and he always has his sunglasses on. Today someone made fun of his so he took them off and my head was screaming nooo put them back on.

Lastly and the BEST...a HOTTIE WITH A BODY walked into my life today. He was talk, dark and handsome! As he was standing in line we caught eyes and I smiled at him. After he purchased his sandwich and beer he stood in the back of the cafe car and ate. I waited for him to kind of look my way and then I DID IT! Would you like to sit down? There is room next to me. DEEP BREATH...he said yes! So he walked his rico suave body over to the table and sat next to me. He had jeans and a green shirt on. He was in town to hang out with his buddies. He is a music producer and he just moved to Ventura from Florida. Great smile and nice teeth. And then it happened...he walked out of my life just like that. Yep, he used me for my seat. Boys!

And just like that I was getting married and then I was hanging out with Bryan watching a movie in "our" room while he CHOMPS on popcorn. Back to the drawing board people

Who needs a cube mate when you have...

Well not a lot to talk about train wise so far this week. Tuesday I stayed home from work to get some personal things done. Wednesday I had the absolute best nap on the train on the way to work. I don't think I really feel asleep but the I was so rested when I hit Fullerton Station. Oh I forgot to tell you it seems that ALL if the trains now have the sleepy car. I'm so excited. I have managed to make it there at night to, but I don't sleep. There is a group of people that all sit together everyday in that car. They are pretty funny. They are the same people that I was stuck with the other day when the train's air break went out. Then it started...crunch crunch crunch! What do you think it was? Yep..AN APPLE. Don't get me wrong I love eating apples, but there is a time and a place for them. HAHA.

Today I have some more things to take care of and I worked from home and from my blackberry. I visited my last school and played with my girls. Josie and Emily loved seeing me so much. Josie would not let me go. Miss her a lot, even though she drove me crazy at times. Then I went to KinderCare to return Ms. Danielle's books I borrowed like a million years ago. It was so nice to see the ladies and the kids. I can't believe how much older they are all. So many of the kids that started in the baby room with me when I started there are all in the 3 year old room. Ahhh it was so cute. So sad too, many of my wonderful teachers were gone. But it was so nice to see the ones that are still going strong. I really missed them. It was fun to see them but it mad me sad too, because Brittany and I had such great fun and memories at that place. I really loved working there. Miss all the good friends I made there. I just hope I can make as good friends at my new place.

So today my boss told me when I get back tomorrow 2 of our team members will be gone. They were let go today due to restructuring in the Chicago office. They were employed by the Tribune Company not the LATimes. Here's the kicker...she was the only girl that I ate lunch with and had a friendship growing. NICE! I got a lot of work done today, but I'd like for you to meet the best cube mate in the world. He helped me type emails - ok really he deleted a lot of the stuff I typed. He if he wasn't laying on the keyboard he was walking across it. That poor cat loves me more than his catnip.



Look forward to our Christmas pics!

Bah hum bug already? That's too bad

Well it is official the start of the holiday's is here and it is only the week of Thanksgiving. How can a time where you are supposed to show how Thankful you are for the things in your life can people become so unthankful and rude. I was walking to the train on Wednesday - quickly of course because I was late and I cut of someone on accident. I turned around and said I was sorry and she must not have heard me because she kicked my suitcase. I think turned and looked at the older lady - who should know better= and said " I said I was sorry." Then continued on to the train. I of course made sure I sat no where near her.

Then on the train there was a very bitchy conductor. She took my ticket and then gave me a look and said you will probably have to stand up. These seats are reserved for ticket holders. I told her I have a ticket and she said no you have a monthly pass. I was a little upset that someone who paid $30 buck gets a seat and I pay 100X that amount and I have to stand! Ok well I did not have to stand after all. Also she was not only mean to me I heard her being a meanie to other people too.

I don't think I'll ever understand how the holidays bring out so much bad in people, when it should be a time of love and happiness. When did the Thanks leave Thanksgiving and the Christ leave Christmas?

Today the train engine died and the train was an hour late. Que Sera Sera....you shoud have seen the other people that were all freaked out. I just sat down and got on the computer and worked. I also sat there and watched the Moon, Jupiter and Venus...it was so BEAUTIFUL!

and all through a train not a creature was stiring

So we pulled into San Juan Capistrano and the whole entire train went BLACK. No air condition, no lights, no train noises. Only the most discussing sound of the man next to me EATING AN APPLE! So annoying! You know how much I hate people chewing. We have an air break leak. I'll never complain about how cold it gets in here...because it is HOT now.

So we all sat around talking about pies. Some lady in front of me was talking about the pies at costco and walmart. Then some other guy asked where he could get a Julian pie other than Julian. Wow, isn't this the most amazing conversations you've ever heard.

And God said let there be air conditioning...ok maybe he did not say that but I'm pretty happy to feel it up and running. We're moving again.

Remember that girl I told you about like the first week. The lady from Oceanside who asked me what I thought about prop 8. So I have seen her on the train a few times and today she is sitting like a row ahead of me and did not even want to sit with me. Hmmm now that is not very nice. Oh well, it just gives me more to write about.

I'm very hungry...anyone suprised? Ok my arm hurts and my computer is dying.

I'm not boring you are...

This week blazed by me and it seems a blur. I had to stayed in LA on Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday - nada. Tuesday - Nada. Wednesday - I thought that the lady sitting next to me was the mom of a friend. But she never talked to me so I never talked to her. HAHA Just kidding it turned out that it was not her. I finished my last book in ONE week! Record time! HAHA Today I started the book called "The Shack". I've had a lot of people say it was an amazing book and it really touched them. So stay tuned...I may have a book recommendation for you. Thursday - I got to go home and it was so nice to sleep in my own bed. Friday - I lugged an extra heavy bag to the station. I had to pack to go out for Denise's birthday. A long with the extra clothes, were gifts, and bears. I made it through the day almost like a breeze. Then at 4pm we ran into a snag at work. This admail that we need to go out by 5pm was not working. What ever could go wrong did. Well since I did not have my computer with me I had to rely on my blackberry. I was signed on to AIM and checking my email everytime it vibrated. All the while reading the last two chapters of my book. Then at around 6pm I turned into that girl you see driving or out at a restaurant with 2 cell phones! I hate those girls and now I was one. I felt so corporate. Texting on one phone and talking to the designer on the other phone. It was soooo LA. And so not me. :-) Oh well, the stupid thing got sent out and of course it did not go out completely correct. But by the time I sat down that Cowboy I did not care anymore. HAHA.

Ok so this weekend I learned that I am WAY to old to party two nights in a row. Do you know how sad that is for me to say. Not because I want to party like a rock star,but becacuse I dont want to be old. Then this morning on the train when I was getting ready for work and guess what kept coming out! The single gray hair that I have which I named Ray. Yeah Ray just did not want to step in line with the other curls on my head. NOOOOOOOOOO he wanted to show how nice and GRAY he is. Some of you might say how come you don't just pluck it? Well to tell you the truth I did pluck him once and he grew back in the same stupid spot. Some of you might ask why don't you just color your hair. Well I did do that a while back and let's just say that hair is as stuborn as the man he is named after. :-)

Today I slept with a really cute guy for and hour and half! You will only truly understand what i mean if you read my previous posts. And if you have not read my previous posts - WHY NOT? Stop right here and close this window and start off where you stopped reading. I'll wait. I'll just hang out here. Let me know when you're done.

Bugs me soo much thinking that people hate me

Ok so I really like my new job, but lately I feel like the people I work with hate me. Ok maybe they don't hate me but they don't like me very much. They talk loudly and I hear it. They complain to others but never come to me. I feel like they would throw me under a bus at any chance they get. The old person did this, the old person did that. So and so never told me that. Why does Teresa always have to do this or that. It makes me so sad. I am trying so hard and I really like it there but can figure out how to make them happy. Is it just new person syndrome? Uggh at least I know (or think) my boss likes me.

No train tales today..sorry I'm not in the mood and nothing really happened.

There was a what on the tracks?????

Well I ran from work today (friday) all the way to the train station because I left so late and we all know what friday is like on the train. I ran up many many stairs and through the station to platform 12. What do I find? An empty platform and a whole lot of people standing around. Once I caught my breath - like 20 minutes later - I hear that the train is delayed. Oh great, there go my dinner plans. I stand around for a bit then someone comes over and says we do not know when the train will be making it back to LA and you'll need to head back into the station and wait. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, YES.
We waited for another 15 minutes when then finally said that it looks to be leaving Van Nuys in like 30 minutes. Bring it into LA at 6:15 pm and hour late. Top it off there is no bar in Union Station! Well finally it gets here and I head for my normal spot in the cafe car and to my surprise I have figured out that the reason my train is always packed is the metrolink pass holders. Damn them. Well the usual group of guys was in the cafe, of course a lot more "happy" then usually. They were stuck on the train for an hour. After a little small talk, I finally ask the question that was burning on my mind. "Why was the train late?" Wait for it, you may want to take a seat. There was a dead body on the tracks. No the train did not hit them but they either died there or was dumped. Uggh so sad.

Good news I found out about the Amtrak monthly pass holder Christmas Party. Seriously! We are all meeting at Union Station on 12/10 at 4pm. We meet at Trax the restaurant in the station and then we all head to the 5:10 pm train and all party in the last train car upstairs. I guess it is invite only! Damn I'm cool. I just have to bring a bottle of wine or appetizer. Oh yeah and call KP to pick me up from the station. :-)

Is anyone still reading this? I'm going to keep writing a few times a week. Since I sleep in the AM there is not much to write...but fridays seem to bring fun.

p.s. today I stood by some chick on the purple line and she chewed her gum like a cow. Heck I am not even sure a cow is that loud. Seriously I gave her the look twice and she did not get it. Hello!

Ever wonder how my mind works? Me too!

So if I am sleeping on the train and the person next to me is sleeping...can I say that I slept with someone?

When I fall asleep and do that wonderful jerking move, do other people really see it? Do laugh as hard at me as I would if they were the one doing it?

Why do they only teach dogs to sniff out drugs? I've never seen a guard cat? Why? Because no matter how cute dogs are they really can't think for themselves and cats they only think of themselves. So unless you are smuggling in Catnip...they could care less. Oh yeah I guess I should have said there was a drug dog on the train yesterday.

You know how great it feels when someone recognizes you. Well there is a conductor now that know exactly where I am going every morning and is very nice to me. Then there is this other one that sees me everyday and he wont even smile at me. What an ASS! I mean maybe he is having a bad month.

Do you think I am too young for a Hip and Knee replacement?

Do you think that it is OK to blow your nose while riding on public transportation?

Do you think that there is a gene that causes people to have or not have common courtesy? Like those people that who talk on their cell phones like we all want to hear about their life...cause I DONT CARE. Or maybe it is a gene that gives us good hearing and these people cant hear at all.

Is it OK to pretend you are someone else when a person asks you about you, but you don't want them to know about you or you don't want to find them attractive? But what happens if you see them again and now you can't remember who you said you are or what you did. Is it ok to write a whole new life for yourself that you use when you don't want to connect with someone? No I dont do that, but I was just thinking.

You know that I can sit at home and watch pretty much anything and cry or laugh. So today I was reading my book on the metro and I must have been laughing or smiling big because the guy next to me asked me if it was a good book. It was. Then on the train home I was finishing the book and tears started to build up in my eyes and then rolling down my cheeks. Oh my goodness I'M CRYING IN PUBLIC...OVER A BOOK! I'm such a sap for a feel good story.

Potty Conversation to follow: BEWARE
When you have to use a public restroom that has more than one stall do you
ever feel uncomfortable pooping? What if someone else walks in? What do you do?
Hold it until everyone leaves.. then go? But what if you walk in and someone else is just sitting there trying to poo, then what? You walk back out and wait? You then just go pee? but you have to poo.. I guess you could just sit on the toilet and hold it until you see no feet. But guess what - that is what they are doing too. So then it is like a shoot out at the ok chorale to see who will go first or give up. God forbid you breath hard or make a sound. Let me tell you it is so hard for me not to laugh when someone farts. HAHA Wow I can get a side ache trying to hold my laughter in. Because you can't laugh, what if they recognize your shoes or peek through the crack in the doors to see who was there laughing at them.

Sidenote:
Oh today I saw Andy. He is still soooooo cute. We just said Hi at first, but then I ended up walking in front of him on our way back to our cars. No really it just happened, I didn't plan it at all. Ok maybe I did walk a lot faster today then I normally do, but heck it's been like a week and a half since I saw his cute face and smile. I pretended I did not see him behind me and he said Hey, how did you get in front of me? I said I just walk fast or maybe you had a lot of people in front of you on the stairs. He said maybe. I then said, well it could be that I just push people out of my way on the ramp. He laughed said (in his best mobster voice) Hey I'm walking here! Then is said that I just dont remember where I parked. Hmm, he said I know where i should have parked on the dirt, but instead I parked out there. I said oh out there in timbuktu by the bridge. Yep he said. Well look at that there is my car, hmm I'm already home. He kept walking and smile and said I hate you. I said no you don't, come on admit it. HAHA He smiled back at me and I said have a good night.

Ouch my foot and other rambling

Can I just say OUCH!!! I have a huge blister on the side of my big toe. You'd think that I got it from soccer yesterday, but no. I got it from those real expensive shoes I bought at Walmart. :-) Well I guess it is good that my last soccer game was yesterday, for my foot that is but not for the rest of me. I understand why they end the season when they do, but seriously what about those lazy people like me who can't make themselves go out and exercise on their own. What am I supposed to do for the next two months. DON'T EVEN SAY IT! How about stairs? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I told you not to say it.

So the other day on the way home I was hanging out in the cafe car and this guy asked me if the conductor had taken my ticket yet. I told him no, but that was normal for a Friday. He then got very inquisitive. "So how far from LA can a person go usually without their ticket being taken?" I of course answered that question and like 3 more before I realized he was just trying to figure out how to get free rides. Not that I care too much about that, but heck there are already WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH people on Fridays.

Today on my way back from the bathroom where I was getting ready for work, I noticed a little kids sleeping. Yes I've seen tons of kids sleeping over the years, but this one was so cute. He laid the sleeper car chair all the way back, put the foot rest up and laid down. He had his head on the foot rest and the rest of he body was curled up and bundled up in a big fluffy jacket. So Cute!

Oh yeah, forgot to tell you about the most amazing turn out at the Los Angeles times building this past week. From Wednesday through Sunday we sold over 400,000 additional issues of the day after election morning paper. There were lines wrapping around the building to buy 3,5, 10 or more copies of the newspaper. They just kept coming and coming. Buying papers, magnets, posters and plates. You would have thought we were just giving stuff away for free the way they just kept coming around. Take a look at these pictures:




p.s. I just work at the LATimes, they do not speak for me nor do I necessarily agree with their political views. :-) That is my legal out. HAHA

I hate stairs, I really hate stairs

An ode to stairs...

One, two, three, four it's the up up up I hate
because that is followed by five, six, seven, and eight

You'd think after two months of stairs great legs it would make
but in reality all they do is really ache

My thighs burn and my knee pops
sometimes I think I'd like to dim the pain with peppermint schnapps

I understand why you are there
But boy do you make me cuss and swear

I hate you, I hate you is all I mutter
but then I almost fall and I start to flutter

I love your friend the elevator
but when she's down boy how much I hate her

I don't think I will ever get used to you
Nor do I think I'll make it up you with our losing or tripping on my shoe

Someday I'll own and nice big house, I know this and there is no doubt,
But rest assured STAIRS it will be without!

(I know, I am the greatest poet you have ever read. Seriously I know. I totally chose the wrong field to get into)

Sorry I have not posted since 10/30. I promise to do better this week.

p.s. Why are all the cute men I meet on the train MARRIED? Do I have written on my face - looking to get married and have children? I must, because we all know that would scare away any true single men from even looking in my direction.

Rabble-Rousers at the Los Angeles Times...and they look familar

So apparently the paper I work for is openly supports Obama. If you know me, you know that I am not a political person at all. SO of course I had no idea what was going on. I just kept hearing there are protesters down stairs. Lots of people were going down to take pictures. I laughed and kept working. About 11am I got a call from my Aunt Nora. She asked me where I worked and I said the LAtimes.com and she was like where? I said 1st and Spring st. She laughed and said we are here come down and have lunch with us. I said sure, what the heck are you doing here? We're down stairs protesting your paper. HAHA. I AM SOOOO SERIOUS They really were. Here are the pictures to prove it:











Isn't that the funniest thing you have ever heard. The LAtimes just pay my bills and they do not speak for me. I keep my opinions to myself. But it was nice to see them. They even took some time to have lunch with me. We had an hour and half lunch got to catch up and talk about things. Oh I got my picture taken too - that way Erika cannot say I never did anything political in my life. I even spoke up for my ancestors. LOL


On the train home there was a man who sounded like Beetlejuice. I swear! I just wanted to get up and see what he looked like but I couldn't. I kept shaking my head, there is no way he sounds like that. I kept thinking he was messing around. I am sure there was a reason, but it made me smile.

Hey today I read that Mother Teresa can from a very wealthy family and turned from the money to become the saint she was. That is true faith. Also what would you do if you failed at the one thing you knew you were meant for over and over again year after year? Would you give up? Well I for one am happy the President Lincoln didn't. He has an amazing sorry of losing at everything he wanted and the winning the big one! I read that today too. Sorry, the story grabbed me so I had to share.

No Anthrax scare at the LAT - just fun!

I'm not sure if you heard - The FBI on Wednesday arrested a Sacramento activist on suspicion of mailing more than 120 anthrax hoax packages to addresses around the country, primarily to news organizations. We did not get a mailing that I am aware of. Instead we had this big Sale Rally. It was my first event at the LAtimes.com. It was in the auditorium and it was packed! They had a DJ, balloons, beer/wine, and pizza. Are you kidding me...BEER AND PIZZA! Let's just stop and soak that in. Does anyone else think maybe I chose to work at the right place? You'll be happy or shocked to hear that I refrained from having a beer. However, I did not refrain from the pizza - of course not. I love pizza, if they had a muppet I guess instead of cookie monster is would be pizza monster (or nacho monster).

Yesterday on the way home I met Tom and Chris. They were very fun men. Tom did the greatest impression of the cafe attendant - you know the one I posted a picture of. I laughed a lot. They know all of the conductors by name. He also said that on monday he fell asleep on his way home and one of the conductors has to wake him up. He said Jerry asked him if he was gonna give off. Tom said there was not another single person on train. Andy stopped and said Hi to me. He asked me how I was and about my day. He stood there looking at me, he was waiting for me to pack up. BUT my stupid computer would not turn off. Ugg. I asked him how he was doing and he said good but he is hungry, but just realized that he has not food at home and he did not want to go shopping. Was that a hint? Did he want me to have dinner with him? Damn I have been out of the dating game for a long time. Have I mentioned how cute he is?

Today that man on the loud speaker was saying his normal speech when I realized that I start each day on the negative. "The speech: This is your first boarding call for train 586 bound for Goleta and making all stops in between. For business class ticket holders boarding is at stop G. For all other you can board at any car." Interpretation if you are special you can load a gate G but the rest of you get on any where. We could careless. Just get the heck on. WOW what a way to start my day. I wake up trying to be positive and look forward to a great day. Then I get this, what am I up for? HAHA Funny how it takes this long for me to even hear his words. I guess that is what they call going through the motions.

Did you know that when Leonardo Da Vinci was painting the Last Supper he wanted to make sure that the painting was as realistic as it could be. So he spent days and weeks looking for the right person to pose for each disciple and Jesus. One day he found a man that he really felt embodied Jesus. He had the man come and sit for him. Then he found person after person to sit for the disciples. That last disciple he had not been able to find someone to pose for Judas. He looked for weeks ( or a long time) every where, but then he sat and decided where would a person who would have the life style of Judas be? Then he started to visit jails. After visiting many jails he finally found the one person he felted embodied Judas to a T. After arranging for many guards to bring the man to his studio he finally started to paint the final scene of his painting. As the hours passed away while he was painting he started to notice that the man looked downhearted almost in pain. After a few visits Leonardo started to really notice that the man looked uncomfortable and he looked from the painted to the painter and back again several times. Finally Leonardo asked the man if he was ok. No answer. Are you sure you ok, you look like you are in pain. No answer. Do you not like how the painting is coming out? The man answered master you don't recognize me? Leonardo said no, did he know him. He said you look at me and dont know me and it pains me. I am the man you painted long ago - I sat for Jesus. Isn't that crazy. God really showed me today that we all have a part in us that strives to be holy and good, but we can all fall into the bad and ugly. I really am aware of that in my own life, but I now I feel a little better. That was a summary of the story I read today. Embrace your strengths and weaknesses, don't try to bury them under the carpet. Walking away from them does not make them go away...they will come back up and probably in a way that you'd never want them to. Man I have been there. Love yourself for all you are.

If your happy and you know clap your hands...

If your happy and you know it then your face will surely show it, if your happy and you know it clap your hands. I had to throw back to the preschool days. I just have to say though my life is far from perfect, I am happy about the life that God has given me. The ups and downs. Guess who forgot to bring her (anthony's) ipod. Boo Hoo. I went to sleep any way. Small pet peeve...Ok so it is Anaheim and I am pretending to sleep. My legs are crossed and I am taking up both chairs and then the guy just sits down. NO he did not even ask me. Just sat on down. Who does that? I was so pist. No I do not have right to be made at all, but heck I had some extra energy to waste.

Ok since the PM trip was kind of boring, I am going to tell you about my weekend.

I took Anthony and Bryan on the train to see my Mom and Dad in Los Angeles. It was Bryan's first time on the train and he was excited. We all sat together and all did our own thing. Bryan played his DS, Anthony and Kaitlyn ( his girlfriend) did their school work and I looked at the paper and did a soduku book. When we got almost to Fullerton, we grabbed our stuff and went down stairs. As soon as we got down there the conductor said we were gonna stop here until another train passes by. It took a long time and Bryan started to get nervous. He started asking all sorts of questions. Why is the track sort of tilted? If we are stopped so that another train can go by, does that mean they are gonna run into us? How long does this take? But we made it to the station in one piece.

We had to grab the 5:40 pm train home so we left my parents house at 5:05 pm. We were gonna grab some food for us but there really wasn't a restaurant on our side of the street and it was 5:28 already. The station had a cafe so we all went in. Bryan and I ordered grilled cheese sandwiches and Anthony ordered nachos. The lady said it will only take 5 minutes, but of course that is 5 minutes after she putts around. 5:38 pm and I am getting frustrated. (personal note: stress does not affect me but frustration could kill me. If I am not able to control a situation my heart starts to beat out of my chest and my emotions are uncontrollable). I tell the kids to get over to the other platform and I'd meet them there even if I had to run up and over the bridge and down again. The food was not coming and I started to get nervous and then I told my parents how sorry I was that they just wasted 18 dollars on food for us that we will never eat. My Dad said don't worry about it, just go. I kissed them goodbye and ran. As soon as I stepped off the stairs the train door opened up and we got on. No food and no seats. Standing room only. It took a bit for everyone to get off of the train and get on. Then just as my mom comes running down the stairs and is only feet away from the door it closes. Then someone pulls the emergency cord because their friends did not get on, I yell run!!! and I grab the food. Yipee. Then the doors close again. Then open again because the an elderly couple could not get off of the train quick enough because of all of the people. I yell thank you so much love you...to my very out of breath parents. Anthony said he could not remember ever seeing my mom run that quick. We stood up for so long and Bryan did not like that. It was not until we got to San Juan Capistrano...ugg. Bryan said that he thought it was quicker than driving. I said it was nicer than driving, because I get to listen to my own music and if they bug me I can get up and walk away. LOL

Cox Communication

SLEEEPER CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the end.


Ride home was very uneventful. I managed to find a seat in the cafe car and met a couple of really nice people. We talked about my careers and family. They we talked about their careers and family. One guy has a 15 year old daughter and he said that every single Thursday is his night with her. This started when she was 2 and he said he has never missed a Thursday in the last 13 years. So awesome. Then this lady stared talking about her sister and her new job. She is a customer satisfaction consultant for Cox Communication. Essentially she talked to people who are upset about their cable all day long. On her first day of work she got a call from this guy. She said he was so upset and sounded very gay. She said he was crying and very distraught. He could not believe his bill was so high and on and on. She just let him get it all of his chest. She could not believe someone could be so upset. Then when she had a chance to speak she said the most priceless thing in the world. "I am sorry that COX has left a bad taste in your mouth" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH She then had to put him on hold as she could compose herself. She said it just slipped out and it did not totally hit her for a few seconds. Isn't that the greatest story! Gets better then the same lady told us that a friend of hers hand another great story. Ok so this guy was at work and he said he never "goes to the bathroom" (you know what I mean) at work. But this day he had to go so bad. BTW, it was his birthday that day. He told her that he could not believe how long he was in the bathroom for (MEN!) He was laughing to himself that they had all probably gone home for the day it had been so long. Finally he was done doing business and washed his hand and walked out the bathroom to a large group of people waiting outside the door singing Happy Birthday! HAHA Too great.

Then I sat alone for awhile and was joined by two YOUNG marines. They were so funny. They shared a car of beer because they did not have any money. The poured half in each plastic cup and drank happily. One of them kept trying to convince me that his friend was gay. Be part about it, this guy had pictures of other guy body builders on his phone! I'm not sure he was gay, but hmmmmm. We talked about a lot of things on the 30 ride from Oceanside to Solana Beach. As my stop came close I started to say good bye and they tried to beg me to stay the rest of the trip with them. They even offered to buy my ticket back. HAHA I said sure when? Right after you share that one beer because all you have is $4.25.

Mental telepathy?

So do you believe in mental telepathy? The other day when I was commuting with my mom and dad, I had a conversation with a fly. Bear with me...so on Thursday the metro was pretty empty. The doors open and closed with no one getting in. Then at Crenshaw the door opened and in flew a fly. I just looked at him and told him well now your stuck. You can keep flying around all you want but you can't get out. Sorry, there are no windows, but if you hang by the door you will get out for sure. But he was not listening to me. He just kept flying around. At one point he landed on the handle next to the door and I said yeah that is a good place to be. But of course he left that place and flew around again. I mean seriously? What the heck? I'm trying to help the guy. We slowly approach our next stop and I said ok here is your chance, get ready. The door open, he flew around and slam he just made it out. As he was leaving he said thanks lady! No of course I never actually used my voice to talk to the fly...we had our conversation through mental telepathy. He was a pretty nice guy.

That evening was my last training class and we had a test to take. I was so antsy, because I wanted to be able to catch my usual train home and not stay in LA again. No offense mom and dad, but I wanted to sleep in my own bed, see my cat and wear my own clothes. We got the tests and I rushed through it. I did not want to give myself any time to think about the answers, that is when I mess up. First one done, I know I missed one for sure. Seems like years before everyone else was done. At like 4:40pm (I usually leave at 4:30 pm, they finally hand our tests back and say we can only miss 4 points. We are now going to review that test question by question...noooooooooooooooo! I look down -1 1/2! AWESOME. Ahh excuse me, but may I leave I only missed 1 1/2 points. Thanks! Bye!!!!!!! I ran to the station and hoped on the metro. I'm sorry but there are two trains ahead of us to leave, and we will be stuck here for a few minutes. NOOOOOOO Say it ain't so. It was so. I finally got to the amtrak at 5:05 with the train leaving at 5:10pm. WOOHOO I get to go home. The rest of the trip was boring.

The door reopens/one month

Zippy do dah zippy dee ah...the sleeper car is back!!!!! Sleep glorious sleep I got to sleep sooooooooo well today. Really not much more to say.

I took the red to the blue to the green line home today. I am going to have dinner with Denise tonight. Hmmm this is pretty boring isnt it. So I'll combine tues and wednesday.


Today we all commuted to work, Mom, Dad and myself. For some reason every time we line up to leave the house together I always here that song from Snow White. Speaking of Snow White, Bob is gonna be snow white for halloween. Snow White is my favorite princess, so it is only right that she be her. Right? Oh umm Bob is my niece Alyssa. It's a long story, but feel free to email me and I'll tell you it all. In fact, if any of you would like to email me it is terri_perkins@yahoo.com. Bob is such a cutie, I miss her. I have even got to meet little H.R. either. My parents are going to see them all in a bit. Wow, is anyone else noticing from my blog that I have A.D.D. Today's commute was how can I put it...annoying! So as we pull up to the Redondo Station at 7:30 am bye bye train it pulls away. I jump on the next one and head to the hood. Get off the green and head to the blue. I walk down the stairs train is there and I get a few inches away (running) and bye bye train leaves. ARE YOU SERIOUS! Oh yeah I was trying to get to work by 8:30am so I could to the AM training at work...yeah did not get there in time oh well. The day was slow, but my training was worse. I'd already been through this class at AOL and used the program for about a year. But you got to do what you got to do. PM commute, rush to the red line and hope on. Get to the blue line and I have to stand the whole way. Uggh it was so crowded. Get to the green line rushing and guess what? Yep doors close...but I push the open door button anyway and it works! I get in find a seat and then it happens "we have a broken down train on the tracks and we will be here for awhile" Yippeee.

AM drive I saw someone with a silver plated cassette tape belt buckle. I swear. Then the girl that sat next to me was writing her own excuse note for school. It was so fake. She needs to practice her mom's signature better. On the way home today this family came in next to me. The mom "rested her eyes" and the little brother bugged his sister and she totally socked him. I almost peep my pants laughing. She had a lot of patience, I would have hit him sooner. Then later she was telling her mom about how a friend at school got stabbed today. She said her friend got punched in the neck by some chick with a big ass "diamond" ring. She said it was so bloody. Then she said she was stuck in the office until 4 period. Her mom was like good then they can't blame you for the fight. She said I mean it, one more thing and you are out of the school. She said I know I know and then she continued to explain the gory details. Oh the things you see and hear on the Metro.

p.s. I have been at my job for one month now!

Monday Monday

Well it is Monday. My ride to work looked like this: (minus the bear)


On my ride home I met the most colorful man. He is a surfer and he had just spent time in Oxnard surfing. He's got three kids and they are all of very different ages. He saw Matthew McConaughey eating scallops at a bar in Malibu. He said he seemed pretty cool, and there were not paparazzi bothering him. He said he'd rather be flying than taking the train. Every single time a train passed us by, he totally freaked out. He kept saying he felt like he was at Disneyland. He totally reminded my of any "typical" surfer you'd see in a movie. He was very nice. He complimented my on my cross like 3 times, yes part of me thought he was complimenting me on my breasts. HAHA He kept saying "where was I his whole trip, I am so fun". I just said I was at work sitting behind a desk while he was surfing the world. He has not worked for 6 months because he is about to have knee surgery #3. How the heck is he still surfing! He said he thinks next month he is gonna go to Spain to surf. I did not even know you could surf there. Dang what a life. I wonder if he truly has not cares in the world. I wonder if he knows how if feels to wake up in complete peace every day. Minus the pain in his knees. It makes me think, can you still live the life you live today and feel so peaceful or relaxed?

For now, I think I am going to try to get to that place in my life.

And the magic door to Narnia closed...

Well I guess all good things have to end. But why do they have to end the day after it began. Yes, you've guessed it the magic train car was just an illusion. Apparently not every one of the surfliner's has the car. BOO HOO. I was so happy on Friday to get to catch a little more sleep (i've been staying up at night sewing my halloween costume). The train pulls up, I'm so excited and then POP! My balloon bursts as the mystery car is not attached! All I could hear in my head was..waw waw wawww. Oh well, I mean If I got to ride in style everyday, then I would start expecting to be treated like a princess every day. Telling people to make me dinner, wash my clothes and pick up my mail. Oh opps! Yeah you're right Kristi I already do do that to you. If I have not told you lately I LOVE YOU!. Seriously, she is the best. Unless she is bed ridden, then it is give me this, I want some of that and hey take my kids to schoool, give them their meds...I can go on. HAHAHAHA Just kidding. She was not so bad at all. Where was I? Oh yes I had to sit in a regular everyday not so special blue train seat. Oh sure it reclines, but no foot rest and curtains. Sleep was so so, yet it was sleep.

My ride home was more crowded than usual. As the train approached the platform, they were already announcing that the train was going to be standing room only. UGGH. Oh well I got on and squished my way into a corner of the Cafe car. It was the same old crew there, all squished. But then in walked this horrible, nauseating smelling man. I mean he smelled so bad that it did not matter where you were in distance from him in the car, you smelled him. SERIOUSLY!!!! How can you smell that bad and not know or care? Promise me that if I ever smell that you will all tell me. Worse thing is he decided he wanted to sit down where we all were. There are NOOOOOOOOO windows. No seats any where else. NOOOOO escape. Wait is get better....he is going from LA to Oceanside! Say it ain't so. There also was this lady who had been on the train since Oxnard and she was trashed. She smelled like cigarettes! She was comedy. She said she ran some fishing boats and was gonna bring us all some huge tunas. What a great 2 hour ride that would be with huge ass fishes stuck in the car too. There was this guy who was going to San Diego to spend the weekend with his kids. Nice, guy but really not my type. Yes, Alicia he is breathing - shut it. Then we met this really drunk girl who thought we were together and she offered us her last 4 trips on her 10 day pass. She said all she wants to do if help two people who are in love..she believes in helping long distance relationships. Too Funny! Well that is where the trip ended.

The Doorway to Heaven...

Yes of course I know that the song is Stairway to Heaven...but you see I have already walked up the stairs before I enter Heaven through the "doorway". You know that feeling when you find a place where you feel so comfortable. Like a sleep number bed, where you get to make the mattress exactly the way you want it. Or that pair of pj's you live in. What only I do that? Well anyway I think you get my point. With how busy everyone's life is now a days, sometimes you just need to slow down and relax. But where? Sure you could go grab a beer with your friends, but seriously are you really relaxed and slowing down? I don't. I start dancing and then talking and going miles a minute. You all know that! Shit where was I going with all of this? Oh yeah, today I found my new oasis. There is a train car that has lazy boy chairs, curtains on the window, lots of leg room and most of all everyone thinks it is business class and IT IS NOT! Ok, so they are not really lazy boys but the recline and have foot rests. The seats are bigger and it is nice and dark. I slept like a BABY. Why do we say that? Not all babies sleep well. Some wake up in the middle of the night, some toss and turn, others have coughing fits. Or maybe I slept like a log. But seriously, what the heck does that mean? Like a log..do they really sleep? I mean they are not alive. If this is the definition of sleep: Sleep is a natural state of bodily rest observed throughout the animal kingdom. Then how could a log sleep. But I digress. This new (new to me) train car rocks. Oh it also has it's own bathrooms. Yes I said bathrooms. Downstairs there are 4 big bathrooms and even a dressing room. It is soooooo awesome. This is my new best friend.

p.s. Bachelor #1 said hi to me tonight and asked me how I was doing. Nope this wasn't a Hi and you are on the train...this was a hi in the dark (ok dimly lit) parking lot as I was getting into my car. YES, I know he is married, but a girl like attention so sue me!

We slept and he spoke gibberish

Today was not a extraordinary day, but i guess you can expect to have those every day. Today I was pretty tired and I woke up late and got to the platform with one minute to spare. Did you know that trains don't wait for you? I mean you can't even wave and say stop. No really, they just keep riding along. I got on, found a seat and went to sleep. I was joined in Oceanside by an older man. He read his paper and then he slept. We were like two peas in a pod. Well then again maybe not two peas in a pod, but well whatever, you get my point. We both slept until Fullerton, ok well maybe it was about 15 minutes from LA. Now how is that for excitement? You're probably saying gee Terri I logged on to read this! No pictures, no funny stories, no cool people? GEEZ

Ok on my way home I sat at the table upstair near the cafe cart. I was joined by two gentlemen and a older lady. Let me just say that one of the gentlemen was very handsome,the other was not too bad either. Both of these gentlemen without one of those little gold rings on their fingers. Yes, I know that this happens to be a theme in my conversations with you...but hey this girl is single and I would like that to STOP! ;-)

Bachelor #1 Cute guy my age, works for a legal office (how do I know I saw what the was working on), lives in San Diego and hails from Colorado. He very much misses skiing but would not want to go back to living there. Travels to Los Angeles twice a week Tuesday and Thursdays.


Bachelor #2 Kind of cute, like his hair. He is also my age and currently is working for the American Film Institute. He hails all the way from New Jersey with a stop in Rochester, and Portland before settling down in North Hollywood.

Question #1 Do you like living in San Diego:
Bachelor #1 - Yes, I love San Diego how can you not love all the sun and beautiful days we have here.
Bachelor #2 - No, I hate Los Angeles, make that southern California. You have no seasons here, it is always hot and dry. If I did not have to be here for work I would not be here.

We will pause for a few comments - Bachelor #2 and I both got the microbrew beer. Bachelor #1 drinks mexican beer and small bottles. He said he is really not a beer drinker and it would go to waste. WHAT! BEER TO WASTE? SAY IT AINT SO. Bachelor #1 and I both had our Ipods out and we were both working. We both seem to have good jobs. Bachelor #2's job is a bunch of gibberish. No Seriously, here is what was coming out of his mouth (while he talked on the phone for and hour and half) "Well I muliplied the chormatisity by the vector and cross referenced that with the xyz factor line...I realize that but I'm not trying to cover my mistakes I am just saying that is how i calculated the chormatisity..chromatisity like 10 more times. He said it so much I almost started a drinking game out of it. But I shortly realized I'd be out of beer real quick and that would be a bummer. Oh yeah forgot the iso zen curve.

Question#2 Why are you in San Diego?
Bachelor #1 - I live here
Bachelor #2 - I am visiting my GIRLFRIEND
- "You are the weakest link. Goodbye."

Questions #3 - where would you live if you could chose a place?
Bachelor #1 - I'd stay here
Bachelor #2 - I'd move back to Portland where I could ski from Novemember to June.
Bachelor #1 - I love Portland, but I'd never want to live there.
Why asks the moderator?
- My in laws live there
Your ex in laws asks the moderator?
- no my wife's parents
- "Survey says!" XXX

And well GOOD NIGHT GRACIE, GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY....until we meet again.

- moral of the story...just because they don't have a ring on doesn't mean they are not married! Damnit

Grandma P and Preschool Teaching pays??? (AM commute posted earlier today)

Well after such a wonderful morning and a pretty good day at work. The ride home started to look bleak when I heard on the internet radio that there is a pretty big fire on Camp Pendleton. Why? The Amtrak train goes through this area. Mostly the northbound more than the southbound, but there as still concern. I got the the train station and found out that the train from San Diego that does the turn around trip was not able to come get us. However, the train headed northbound from Chatsworth could not go any further north because of the fires up there, so it because the southbound to us to take home. I asked the conductor what were the chances we were not going to be able to make it all the way home and he could not answer me. So I made a call to my Mom and Dad to let them know I just might need them to pick me up some where on the route if we got stuck. Needless to say, I made it all the way home.

My trip home was pretty calm. I got some work done and watched a close eye on the fires and I sent a couple text to my friend who lives by base. She's OK as of now. I was pretty much just working the whole way home. Then when we were almost to Oceanside the coolest thing happened. This older lady came walking by me and was about to go down the stairs (which is very hard for me when the train is moving) so I asked her if she's like any help. She looked at me and smiled and said she was just gonna head downstairs before we get to Oceanside. Then she looked back at me and said, well maybe I'll just sit here for a bit if you don't mind. Did you know that tomorrow is my Grandma Perkins's birthday? Did you know that the lady sitting next to me looked like my Grandma? Yes...not 100% but very close. She talked to me about spending time with her son on Chatsworth and that the fires were very close to the house. She said the actually put the firefighter lines in front of their property. When they asked if they could leave to take their mother to the train station, they said if you leave you wont be let back in. So they walked to the end of their road and asked one of the news reporters if they would drop her off...and they did. How sweet is that. She said she brought a book on board but had so much fun talking to people she never read it. She said she doesn't know why but when she packed she forgot to pack a sweater. He son gave her an very large flannel shirt to wear but after a day or two wearing it she told her daughter in law that she needed to get something that looked nicer. She said the mall they went to was the biggest mall she had ever seen. She also said that she told her daughter in law that if they had an earthquake right now no one would ever find their bodies (it was an underground mall). She asked me about my commute and told me that I need to be careful. She was so sweet and cute. Then we heard a child crying a lot downstairs and I said oh that child is not happy. She said no not at all, and she was glad she sat with me instead of going down there. HAHA We pulled up into the station and we said our goodbyes, and with a beautiful smile Grandma P's look a like walked away.


We had a brief stop at Oceanside so I got up and walked around. The child downstairs was crying so much. Then I heard a baby cry. I just kept thinking oh that poor mom, they must have been traveling for hours. Those children sound so sad. Went back upstairs and finished a few more pages in my book, but I just could not help but listen to that poor child cry. I also heard the mom say she had to wait till they got home. So of course the preschool teacher in my starts to think that maybe I could help this lady who is stuck on a train with two little ones. So I reached into my travel bag and pulled out a pink highlighter and some lined paper that I had with my work stuff. I walked downstairs to find the crying child. I walked up to the mom and said would it be ok if I gave her this to keep her entertained, she looked so sad? The mom just smiled and looked very surprised, like what the heck is going on. I got down on the little girls level and asked her if she'd like to draw. Her face light up like a candle. She quickly grabbed the paper and pen and started drawing. She was smiling and talking up a storm. The mom just seemed like she had no idea what to say. I said I used to teach preschool, I come prepared for everything. I even had a snack pack of cookies for her in case the drawing did not work. I sat with the little one for about 5 minutes then I told the mom she could keep the pen and paper and to have a pleasant rest of her trip. She said thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I just smiled and said your welcome. From that point on the child seemed very content...no more crying fits. See all things past and present happen for a reason.

Who would have ever know that when I woke up this morning I would have such an AWESOME day.

p.s. I also saw one of the guys from my first friday in the cafe car. :-) I think his name is Dan or maybe Dave. He lives in PB and his girlfriend lives in Poway. Pretty much all I remember him saying.

p.s.s I saw some girl REALY sleeping on the train tonight and let's just say WOW! I truly hope I don't look like that. (I felt to ashamed to take the picture...sorry) I am 100% sure I do but OMG. I wonder how many people have taken pictures of me? Am I an ugly sleeper? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Tranquility on a train? - Monday AM post

Imagine this if you will...
It was a very chilly 47 degrees, winds blowing from the east and the only thing to break the peace was the sound of a locomotion heading my way. After a brief period of settling in noises (zipping bags, leaning back chairs and opening breakfast bags) the only thing to be heard was the rumble of the train on the tracks. I've leaned my chair back and I have turned on my ipod (Anthony's ipod to be exact) and closed my eyes. Every morning I take the 2 hours train ride as a time to take in the beauty of the sunrise, pray, listen to Christian music and let myself rest or sleep. However, today was so different. I leaned back closed my eyes and started to listen to my music and I was transformed to a place that was so tranquil I felt like I was the only one on the train. I'd wake up to a certain song and just feel as if God was singing straight to me. You know like when you are driving around and you don't hear every song on the radio but they all of a sudden one comes on and it totally talkes to you. I have been wrestling with some things lately and worring too much. The music lifted me up so much and helped me remember the when you dont know what else to do lift it up in prayer. I can't even begin to explain how I felt, but I am very glad no one sat next to me today. I was ready to face what ever came my way.

"When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and appreciates them, one is free of fear."- Buddha