There aren’t too many things about Starbucks that I like.. personally, I think the coffee and teas are disgusting. The coffee is always burnt. The mixed concoctions are always too sweet with syrup stuck at the bottom… So tonight, I decided to visit the Starbucks on Southpark and Newhope: the only Starbucks in my part of Orange County that isn’t overcrowded or loud, to study. I tried this milk tea thing called London Fog and it wasn’t so bad! It was like a Chai latte with less of a spice kick and no aftertaste. I thought it was absolutely devine! Starbucks redeemed themselves!

Yesterday, Jon and I ventured out to Famima! for the first time. After hearing all of those really annoying advertisements on the radio commericials for this convenience store, I just had to check it out. [ Damn advertising execs got me to go! ] This place is located on the corner of Warner Avenue and Magnolia… I walk in, it’s well lit.. I’m trying to find all of these things that would make it stand out from a 7-11. There wasn’t much. Everything is pretty much the same, but they sell Japanese sodas, food and snacks… but NO ICEE MACHINE.

I was rather disappointed… and to make up for the trip, I bought a bottle of Ramune soda (there’s an accented e, but I don’t remember how to type that out). We drive home, and I take off the cap… realizing that there is a glass marble coming between myself and the soda. How on earth am I supposed to get to the soda? I look at the plastic cap that i took off, and it had instructions, and you have to pop the glass out with your hand using this thing it came with. I follow the instructions, and it was by far the most fun I had trying to get to a 6 ounces of soda.

Someone Opening Ramune Soda

It’s new year’s eve, and I am sitting on a wet patio chair waiting for the new year to ring in.

In retrospect. 2008 has been great: some great things, some really shitty things. Let’s make a list!

1. This day last year was my first date with James, and we are sitting next to each other as we speak. Its been a roller coaster, but I love that mofo – even after 4 breakups and him being a total asshole to me when he is manic. The one thing I can take away from this relationship is that I am in it because I love him and I want this. I’ve never been in a relationship that I’ve wanted 100%. More importantly, I’ve never been in a relationship where it wasn’t always about me. Even with the momentary rockiness, I love what I have and everything I’ve learned from this relationship.

2. I started and I work for one of the greatest managers I’ve ever had, and I love that I’m working with competent people who have the same desire to work hard. It helps that they pay me way better than LandAmerica Default.

2. I’ve seen Gus consistently for the whole year. He is my best friend and I don’t know what life could be like if I didn’t steal half his gay.

4. Nacho is the best thing that could possibly happen to me. I saved him from dying, and I learned recently, I will probably do so for the rest of his life. He’s diabetic and if I don’t care for him, he’ll die. I love that something truly needs me.

Happy new years!

<3 lea

December has been nothing but extremely hectic for me. I personally already HATE Christmas and holiday music, but I keep this to myself. I’m not a huge Grinch that needs to rain on everyone’s parade. However, everyone seems to find this need to remind me that I shouldn’t be a Grinch, and feel the holiday spirit. Eff that!

Where to start? I hate being in a crowded mall trying to find gifts. I hate the long lines. I hate having my feet trampled on by toddlers and strollers. I hate that everyone is in my personal bubble, breathing MY air. I hate that there are only 10 Christmas songs, all dating circa 1952 or earlier. I hate that everything is red and green… I hate it all!

To add fuel to the fire, something always happens to me on Christmas eve. This year, on my way to work, I back out of my parking space only to bump some ladies SUV. There is no damage on my car, but 2005 Toyota Highlander has this huge, caved-in bumper. She’s screaming in Vietnamese to her husband on the cell phone, and they devise this evil scheme to get a lawyer involved and everything else… not realizing, I understand that disgustingly-horrendous sounding language fluently.

Then, after calling the insurance company, I drive to my last day of work with LandAmerica Default. I put in my notice a week prior, and quite honestly, I’m glad I left that cestpool of ignorant and incompetent staff members that hold absolutely no accountability for their work. I get there… and the FedEx guy comes, but my final paycheck is no where to be found. I call HR – this snippy lady named Allison answers the phone. She tells me that they JUST mailed my check that day, and I should receive it by Friday. WTF!

I am a stickler about employment law, especially with the fiasco with Wachovia, and them delaying my final check for over a month! I told Allison that my final check with all of my overtime and PTO was to be in my possession on my final day. I then quote verbatim the Calfornia Labor Code to her,

202. (a) If an employee not having a written contract for a
definite period quits his or her employment, his or her wages shall
become due and payable not later than 72 hours thereafter, unless the
employee has given 72 hours previous notice of his or her intention
to quit, in which case the employee is entitled to his or her wages
at the time of quitting. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
an employee who quits without providing a 72-hour notice shall be
entitled to receive payment by mail if he or she so requests and
designates a mailing address. The date of the mailing shall
constitute the date of payment for purposes of the requirement to
provide payment within 72 hours of the notice of quitting.

The last time I checked, there were 168 hours in a week, not less than 72!! Allison has the audacity to tell me that I’m pulling all of this information out of my ass, then tells me,

I’m well aware of the laws in Calfornia, and LandAmerica has done everything within their power to be compliant with the law.

Argh! Then I receive my check Friday, and it’s short 13 hours of overtime. They did not calculate overtime from 12/13 to 12/24. I call my former boss, and of course, no answer there… but in accordance to Labor Code 203 – I am entitled to a full day’s wage until I receive all monies owed to me. I know that the dipshits at LandAmerica will not be able to figure this one out on their own, so I’m filing a claim with the labor board. Stupid morons!

On a brighter note, I had a wonderful time with James and his family for the holiday. It was pretty typical, Brady Bunch-esque gathering at his brother’s house with lots and lots of food. James also got me some really cool kicks and a very cute tee The only downside is, I’m not flat-chested like the girl in the photo. So my monster only has upper teeth Anyhow, <3 it.

I rescued this fattie from being eat alive from a feed store. His previous owner didn’t want him anymore, so instead of surrending him to a rescue, he was going to be a giant albino boa constrictors dinner.

He is still very nervous, but he loves his new gigantic cage I built for him, and he loves all the treats and toys I buy him. He was living in a wire bottom cage the size of a shoe box and he was being force fed (he’s about 5 pounds, he should only be 2-3!).

I always told myself, I wouldn’t be one of those annoying pet parents, but I am! I like to dress Nacho up, and he really likes his shark outfit. He tries to put it on when he’s not wearing it. He’s the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, and I love him very much!

Anyhow, more Nacho stories and pictures to come. I promise

I told myself, 2008 is going to be my year. I’m going to make changes that positively effect my life. It took me until late October, but I’m finally doing it – and for the first time in a very long time, I am very happy.

(more…)

So, I went to the gym after hanging out with James.

I walk into the locker room, getting dressed, and I hear a man’s voice! I totally thought maybe I walked into men’s room, but nope it was a tranny!

She was in full garb, bright fuschia dress with matching heels, poorly stuffed DD bra… it was nuts. Then I remembered her from Wells Fargo, and she used to asked us where to get cute shoes in bigger sizes, and I recommended Zappos.com.

Anyhow, she was talking to other women in the locker room about her reassignment surgery, and how she is so happy and blessed that she is truly a woman now.

Hooray for her!

Night!

So I got my G1 Phone a day early.. was at my door on 10/21 7PM sharp.

The good things… it’s everything I thought it would be.

The bad things: It doesn’t import your contacts from your SIM card.. they have to be in your GMail contacts already. Not enough apps are currently available. I made a mini-review for y’all to see – check it out!

I’ll write more later… I have a date with the dance floor.

In twelve days (Oct. 22, 2008) I’m  going to be receiving my G1 Google Android phone. I’m so excited!

Yesterday (Sunday), I washed my own car for the very first time, EVER without any help. It was by far the most relaxing thing I’ve done all week. I must say, I feel very accomplished.

I’ve always paid for someone to wash my car at $30 bucks a pop.. until I realized how expensive and an unnecessary expense… then just a few months ago, I finally drove into one of those drive-thru gas station car washes… at $10 bucks a pop.. but no interior.. and my first time doing that was disastrous! Alot of the reason why I’ve never washed my car was because I’m super girly, and had no idea where to even start with the washing… and it was just easier to go to lunch and drop off my car while I ate at the restaurant, and have my car super clean when I was done with my meal… or I would convince my mom or one of my friends to get it washed for me.

Anyhow, I’m glad James introduced me to the world of quarter car washes… I got the interior and exterior done for $5 bucks. I admit, it was hard work considering I’m so short, but I did it, and I can’t believe my lazy ass didn’t do it before… considering at one point I was paying $30 every 2 weeks for 2 years… that’s $1560 dollars I’ve spent.. If I’ve only done it this way back then, I could have saved $1300 and probably wouldn’t have skimped on washing my car like I have been because I thought it was an unnecessary expense.

Anyways, just a random blurb since I can’t sleep. Go Me!