Saw something weird on my driver's side mirror today as I was pulling away from work. Hahahaha. It made me get out of my car and inspect all around to see if there existed other evidence of Boy "tampering".

And so - I've been procrastinating on washing my car, but now I don't want to wash it because there is a Boy who is using the dirt on my car to show me affection. Hum.

Well, I HOPE it's Boy! Better not be some random stalky patient!

I absolutely hate calling up insurance companies. Each time I call up with like 2 simple questions, I get inundated with acronyms and contradictions. HMOs, PPOs, blah-blah-blahs, why I wouldn't get paid for this, why I might get paid for that. Their friendly demeanor almost makes it all the more aggravating because I can't yell at them - they're being nice to me. The urge to scream is there though.

Man, I just got a marketing phone call advertising web-building services. First off, there was loud music blasting in the background - annoying. Secondly, the marketer didn't have any smooth comebacks for my responses. Didn't help that this came hot on the heels after talking with the insurance company ...

Me: Is this a marketing call? Because you're calling me on my cell phone, and I don't want to waste my minutes.
Marketer With Loud Music Blasting in Background: What's that, ma'am? Do you have a website?
Me: Sorry, I am not interested.
MWLMBiB: Do you have a website ma'am? Just think, your very own website. It could be good for your business!
Me: Sorry, I am not interested.
MWLMBiB: But ... um ... hello ma'am? Just think ...
Me: Sorry, I am not interested. [click]

On a lighter note: Don't forget to leave me comments on my previous potty-related post! Love the comments so far! Keep 'em coming!

HEY EVERYBODY, WHAT TIME IS IT?

[cue music and people answering in chorus]

"IT'S SILLY SURVEY TIME!"

Yes, folks, it's that time again. Here at ihatepink.com, having nothing better to do, we have decided to ask our readers a VERY personal question. So personal, that I'm sure that most of you won't want to answer it. I will be very offended of course if you don't want to answer it, but shall pretend to understand.

Our question today [cue drum roll]:

Fully interpret the following 2 sentences in your own words. Interpret and explain what they mean to you, leaving no ambiguity whatsoever.

1. I need to go potty.
2. I need to go to the potty.

Your answers will be much appreciated. I have placed a sit-ups / push-ups wager on this. After oh, a week, the individual with whom I have placed the wager will settle our irreconcilable differences over our interpretations of the above 2 statements through the comments made in this post. I trust that *I* will not be the one to be sporting hurting abs / arms. Go!

With help from Boy, I just experienced such a huge personal victory that I have no words to describe it. Happiness is not the word; it's something more like relief. Vaguely put, a dark secret that I finally aired had a truly unexpected positive outcome, rather than eliciting the backlash that I had so deathly feared.

I almost cried. I didn't know it would mean this much to me.

My whirlwind tour of SoCal went something like this:

Thursday, Nov. 10:
3:30p - arrive at LAX
5:30p - finally pick up rental car after waiting for 2 hrs (Rent Rite is cheap but argh, it was frustrating)
6:30p - dinner with friend (Rowland Heights)
8:30p - meeting up with friends at friend's home (Anaheim)
1:00a - getting back to cousin's place to sleep (Aliso Viejo)

Friday, Nov. 11th:
8a - meet in Buena Park to run errands with bride-to-be
12p - casual lunch with bride-to-be's parents and relatives
2p - run errands for bride-to-be (Buena Park)
3p - meet up with friend for coffee (Garden Grove)
6:30p - spontaneous dinner with friend and his wife since they happened to be in the area
8:30p - salsa dance lesson at Cal State LA and free dancing (LA?)
11p - out for snacks and food with friends (San Gabriel)
2a - get to friend's house to sleep after missing the exit several times (Rowland Heights)

Saturday, Nov. 12th:
10:30a - breakfast with friend and his wife (Fullerton)
1:45p - meet in Buena Park to carpool to wedding reception location to help set up
3p - start help setting up at restaurant (San Gabriel)
5:40p - get dressed for wedding reception
6p - wedding reception begin
11p - clean-up; head back to Buena Park
1a - back at friend's place to sleep (Rowland Heights)

Sunday, Nov. 13th:
9a - breakfast with friends (Irvine)
1p - 9p - hang out with cousin's in-laws, witness her brother-in-law's daughter learn to ride a bike without training wheels for the very first time (Burbank?)
11p - 2a - hang out with cousins (Aliso Viejo)

Monday, Nov. 14th:
SLEEP IN UNTIL 10:00AM (MUCH NEEDED)
10:20a - breakfast at home with cousins while practicing Chinese together
11:20a - meet Mr. Syndromes for the first time and have boba (Laguna Hills, Irvine)
2:20p - check out friend's new apartment (Laguna Hills)
2:50p - leave for LAX
3:50p - majorly stressing in traffic on the 405 freeway
4:15p - return rental car; got one day free after talking with manager about pickup frustration
4:25p - shuttle arrives
4:35p - arrive at airport
4:40p - arrive at gate, all sweaty and gross
4:55p - depart LA

Next time I will leave earlier. Yes I know, I stressed myself out for no reason. Thank goodness it all worked out.

I really felt like I got a lot done during this trip. I got to see and spend time with loved ones (and meet some new people too!). Thanks to everyone who set aside time to hang out with me and/or provide accommodations! Feelin' da love ...

Oh, the pictures. Tons 'n tons of pictures. Ahhhhh ...

Oops. Passed out from exhaustion last night after a long day at work (yay, but tiring). I have 3 hours to pack and get my act together. Here goes!

With my new speakers (an upgrade to my laptop speakers on a budget!), I am now tuning in to Shoutcast (Digitally Imported's Deep House station, to be exact). Oh how nice it is to have bass. (A neighbor's unsecured wireless internet is definitely contributing to my happiness here too.)

Scored a sweet deal on 'em. After tax and rebates, $15. Thank you, bensbargains.net (again).

Any high-end brand speakers with high-end prices will easily blow these away, but ... for $15, I am super happy. [does the Caroline dance]

-------------

[back from doing the Caroline dance]

I'm having an early Christmas. A friend just dropped some gift cards on me (thank you thank you thank you!!!). Oh man, I am totally blown away. All of them were pretty straight forward, you know, "card has no value until activated by checker" and whatnot, except for the American Express gift card. I pulled that sucker out and there was this whole sheet full o' fine print. It's all good. Will read fine print for money.

Dude, I did it! I finished a 28-mile bike ride participating in the Tour De Doughnut!

I only ate 4 doughnuts. I think that's probably the upper limit at which they still taste good.

Ow, my arse.

I have been reminded that it is unwise to pick your nose after chopping up a bunch of hot chili peppers.

Feelin' the burn ...