Happy New Years

It's New Year's Eve and I first want to thank everyone reading this for being a part of my life. I'm grateful for all of you and your motivation and support. I know many people make resolutions this time of the year, so I'd like to suggest one if you haven't made one yet. Next year I plan to go more green. Yes, I said more green. It's so important for everyone to think more about the environment and the little things we can all do in our daily lives to make a change. Imagine if everyone changes a couple of their habits what an impact that could make. All change starts with one person. Shawn and I have always had a concern with the environment, especially since we both want to bring a child or two into this world, so we want to do whatever we can to provide our children with a safe environment. Since I've become obsessed with 30 Seconds to Mars lately, I found a link on their website to a section on mtv.com where you can read some easy steps on how to change your daily habits. Make it a goal of yours for the next year to adapt a couple of these into your life. Respond to this blog and share with us how you plan to help the environment. May this blog inspire you to take one step toward a greener life. Happy 2007 everyone.

http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/environment/#/thinkmtv/environment/indexFBML.jhtml

Wasting life?

I can't decide. You may ask why ask this question. Well, you see it's Friday. I'm home from work and had high hopes of being productive today. However, I watched half an hour of Miami Ink, then spent an hour on Yahoo videos checking out 30 Seconds to Mars. Now I'm blogging. Why am I such a media/pop culture whore? I can't get enough. This is my drug, so let me share my latest and greatest.

I highly recommend checking out the new 30 Seconds CD. I've been listening to it for a few months now and I'm hooked. I am proud to share that I've even got Shawn grooving to this one. The lyrics are simplistic and banal, but it found me in the right time of life that I just need something to scream to. Very cathartic in my opinion to find the perfect CD to blast in the car while screaming your heart out. You should try it. They have an awesomely cinematic video out for the song From Yesterday. Bonus: you get to see the Adonis-sculpted body of Jared Leto. If you don't know actor Leto is the leader singer. I have been a big fan of his for quite some time, dating back to his turn as Jordan Catalano on My So Called Life, which by the way I REALLY need to buy on DVD. I like Leto because he's an actor outside the mainstream of Hollywood, meaning he doesn't choose the obvious roles. He was great in Fight Club, especially once he gets pulzerized. My absolute favorite of his though is Requiem for a Dream, not something I recommend for everyone to check out but honestly one of my faves. I have never done drugs, yet after watching Requiem I felt battered from all the drug use in this movie. It's a definite mind fuck, excuse the cursing, but that's the only way to describe this film.

One way I had hoped to be productive today is to start book 7 of Y: The Last Man, the graphic novel I'm friggin' loving. Jason, you suck for getting me hooked on this. Again, why am I jonesing to read comics? Shouldn't I be reading about Darfur, Abu Ghraib, or something of social relevance? Why not pick up the new Obama Barack book? I guess I feel guilty for reading something entertaining and fun and not something educational. But to hell with it. I love comics now and I want more!!! If you are looking for a great story, please pick up Y. This story is so unbelievably convulted with unforeseen twists and turns. I mean it's about the state of the world after a plague has wiped out all the men on the planet except for one man, Yorick, and his money. It's got awesomeness written all over it.

On a more personal note, I had to confess to Shawn recently that I've cheated on him. Kind of. I had this insane dream where I started making out with somebody who was not Shawn. The funny part is the guy in my dream was Ami James from Miami Ink, a show on TLC about tattoo artists. Shawn thought it was funny that of all the guys I could hook up with in my dream it was Ami. Let's just say I wouldn't be complaining of Ami showed up on my doorstep tonight. That boy is hot, and all tatted up. He's so my kind of rockstar. I felt a bit of a sting after I told Shawn about my dream and he said not to worry that he has dreams like that every once in awhile. The jerks been cheating on me for awhile I guess. Ha ha. Just for that I should go get a new tat cuz we all know how much Shawn loves tattoos. Actually, I think I've figured out what I want to add to my fairy tat: I want her to be sitting on a stack of books. I saw an Amy Brown drawing of a dragon sitting on a stack of books and I thought that would add some cool details to my fairy who is in drastic need of a touch-up anyways. I DESPERATELY want another tat. Nothing too crazy like Ursula from Little Mermaid or anything like that. Had to get that one in there for my brother.

And the best story of the day. A group of us went to see The Pursuit of Happyness last night. Good flick. But the real story happened during the previews. We saw a trailer for Reign Over Me, a new Adam Sandler film, which looks like my kind of film, especially since Don Cheadle is in it and I love him. I was eager to get home once I saw this trailer to do some research online. At the end of the trailer, they play a song I had not heard before but I instantly knew the voice: none other than my hubbie Eddie Vedder. I was shocked because I had not heard anything about them doing a song for a new movie. Like I said, as soon as I got home, I did some googling and found out the song is a cover of the Who's Love, Reign O'er Me from Quadrophenia. I was giddy with glee last night. A new PJ song is on the horizon. I can never get enough PJ. I'm desperately in need of a new PJ fix anyways, so this should be perfect timing. Now let's hope the song becomes available for download soon.

Well enough doping up on media. I'm off to be productive.

Transformers movie

Shawn and I went to see Night at the Museum today. The movie was a fun family movie. Definitely a nice way to spend a couple hours this afternoon. But the reason I'm posting is because I was super stoked by the Transformer movie trailer. You can check it out at www.transformersmovie.com. I can't wait!! July 4th is going to be a great day at the movies. Yes, Michael Bay is directing but for some reason I tend to like his cheese-y movies. Plus, it's the damn Transformers. It's gotta be good!

A reason to watch the Rose Parade this year

E! News reported that this year's Rose Parade will officially be the coolest with George Lucas as the Grand Marshall, a 175-piece college marching band playing the "Imperial March", a parade of 200 Stormtrooopers, an Ewok float, and a planet Naboo float. Yes, finally a reason to watch the Rose Parade. For those of you party animals, you just might want to Tivo this one.

Golden Globe Nominees

I get so excited this time of year when awards season starts and nominees for the Golden Globes and Oscars are announced. Yes, I am that big of a film groupie. Today, the GG nominees were announced and there are a few I must comment on. Helen Mirren is my new Judi Dench. There was a time that Dench was nominated for everything she did, even if it only totalled 5 minutes screen time. This year Mirren has 3 acting nods. Yes, 3 and two of them are for playing Queen Elizabeth. Wow that shows range. (I kid.) I guess I'm going to have to break down and see The Queen since I always try to see all the big nominees each year. As for other acting categories, I love the fact that Leo is up against himself being nominated for The Departed and Blood Diamond, both films I highly enjoyed. Clint Eastwood is also up against himself for best director for Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima. I'm boycotting Eastwood winning though because he always seems to get it. I hope Martin Scorsese wins it this year. Again, I loved The Departed. Another multiple nominee is Chiwetel Ejiofor for Kinky Boots and Tsunami: The Aftermath. I love Ejiofor from Serenity and Love Actually. However, I have not seen either of his nominated performances. I look forward to seeing him in Children of Men soon though. And finally, the one I'll be rooting for the most this year is Masi Oka from Heroes, my favorite new show of the year. Oka plays Hiro, the most adorable character on TV. Go Masi!! Heroes is also up for the best drama. It better win since it's the best darn show on tv period! In case you want to watch, the Golden Globes will be on January 15th.

2 more reasons why you should go see The Holiday

1) Jack Black plays a romantic lead. Now that's what I call realistic cuz how realistic is it if the leading guys are always played by the Brad Pitts of Hollywood?

2) Elizabeth actually cried during the film. In case you don't know, I've seen a ton of sad movies and tv shows with Elizabeth and I'll be balling my eyes out and she'll be dry eyed. It's very Chandler-esque of her actually. Therefore, it has been a goal of mine to get her to cry in a film. I mean the girl didn't even cry in Finding Neverland. Who doesn't cry at that film? Kristi and I had soaked the collars of our blouses in that one with all the crying we did. Last night though, Elizabeth nudged my arm to show that she had a tear coming down her cheek. True, it was only one tear, but we must start small with her and work our way up. I can't set too high of an expectation for her afterall.

Why you should go see The Holiday

1) And perhaps the only reason you need, Kate Winslet. She is so damn good in everything she does. I'm at the point that I would have to say she is my favorite actress. Her character in The Holiday is so real and believable. I want her as a friend. She's got some really funny scenes that I could totally relate to.

2) I finally found a Jude Law performance I love. Two of the characters that are connected to him are scene stealers.

3) Cameron Diaz is not only beautiful but a hilarious actress. She had me laughing out loud and crying.

4) Arthur Abbott played by Eli Wallach is one of the most adorable old men in film history. I want to befriend somebody like him, especially someone with such Hollywood history.

5) The story is perfect--a little humor, a little romance, a little drama--which makes for a great night at the movies.

In case you haven't figured it out, I highly recommend this film and not just for the ladies. Guys, you will enjoy this one too.

Playing catch up

I've been neglecting my blog, so I've now got a lot to catch up on. First some good news: next year is officially the year of the wedding. I now have 4 weddings to attend in '07. Greg Saiki and Tracy Marchant start it off May 19th. CJ Martin follows on July 7th. My cousin Kim and her fiancee Danny get hitched in August, while Thien/Maximus and Brenda tie the knot in September. I can't believe I've already got plans for next Sept. That's insane. Another celebration next year is Mike Kobliska's graduation from USC dentistry school. I know there will be a lot of celebrating at that graduation. Way to go, Koby.

Other good news: my niece Kylie turns 1 this Friday. It's so hard to believe both Avery and Kylie are now a year old, especially since I remember their birth days as if they were last week. Man, times flying. Plus, it only makes me wonder if I'm ever going to get pregnant. Maybe it's not in the cards for me cuz at this point my eggs are going to start drying up.

For the holidays, I decided to go back to Barnes and Noble for 10 hours a week. I know Arbonne dies down with the holidays, so I figured why not earn some extra side money and get a discount on books for gift giving time. I actually set aside the books I'm going to buy for gifts yesterday only to realize most of the money I'm going to make there for the holiday season I'm simply going to hand right back to BN. Oh well, at least the purchases are for a good cause: literacy. Plus, I know my family will die if all I give is Arbonne.

As for my Arbonne business, I've hit a few road bumps, but nothing I can't work out. I've joined the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce to help me network for new clients and business prospects. Sometimes at these chamber events when I'm talking to people I wonder how the heck I ever got here. I mean, I am the girl who would get sick in high school if I ever had to do an oral presentation, the one who would drop a college course if I knew I had to talk in front of the class. Now, look at me: I'm going up to complete strangers pitching them on Arbonne. In a million years, I would have never guessed this is where I would end up at the age of 33. This only goes to show the future is unpredictable. A positive note is that I have met a ton of new people through all the networking events I've attended, and I've learned a ton about the value of networking, helping others with their businesses as they help me with mine. Now, if I could just get one lead that turns into a business builder I'll be golden.

And finally, I have to give a shout out to Jason, who has been an inspiration of sorts in my life for a couple of reasons. One, he's got me reading graphic novels. I used to love reading when I was a student, but once I became a teacher, the last thing I wanted to do after working and grading essays for 8 hours was to read for fun. Now, I'm reading again, and I love the new stuff I'm getting into. I finished the Hellboy and Watchmen books I borrowed from Jason, and I just finished book 3 of Y: The Last Man. (I will write a post all about Y because it deserves its own post it's that good.) The second reason Jason's influenced me is because he introduced me to Tony, who has lit a fire in me that has been dormant for awhile: the fire of creativity. I miss writing, and Tony has helped renew my interest in getting back into it. He's offered some great suggestions to help me get started. Now, I can't wait for the holiday hoopla to go away so I can have more time to myself to start writing again. I'm determined to have something published before I die, so I thank Jason and Tony for helping me rekindle my love for literature and writing. Now, I just need to take that leap and get started on my creative journey again.