Fight for the Zucchini
Mood:  surprised

It's probably not what you think...

Remember how my weird kids fight over who gets to go first at the dentist?  So now they're fighting over who gets to eat more zucchini.  I have to admit it's pretty good.  I sauteed it in garlic and olive oil, then Fluffy dumped about half a block of grated parmesan onto the hot zucchini so it became a huge, gooey, cheesy mess.  Usually, they try to fill up on the other stuff so they can avoid the veggies, but this time they said, screw the salmon and pasta, we want more zucchini.

Busy Times Ahead

Since I still don't have a full-time job, it's a challenge to find things for Fluffy that I can afford.  That's the down side.  The up side is that I can sign her up for things she never could take before.  She's got a week of tennis lessons before summer school starts.  Then it's four weeks of GATE summer school in the morning and swimming classes in the afternoon, possibly more tennis lessons, and maybe I can finally teach her how to sew!  She's going away for a weeklong camp in the mountains in August.  Then it's off to Vegas for the HDLV tournament.

Scooter on the other hand is having his foot operated on and will be on crutches for most of the summer.  Poor Scooter Bunny.

And before we know it, fall will be here and both kids will be starting new schools!

Tiger Tournament 2008

This is always an extreme weekend for us since both kids play in the tournament every year, AND it's on the east side.

On Friday night, Fluffy had her usual 7-9:00 practice (no break or time to rest up for the big weekend like the other teams), and it was her first day back since she broke her arm seven weeks earlier.  Scooter went to the movies with his buddies.

Saturday morning we had to be at Alhambra H.S. for a 9:00 game against the Venice Dragons, which Scooter's team won fairly easily.  Then we had to rush over to Elder Park for a two-hour shift of gym monitoring and Fluffy's game against the Bruins Keiki Ohana, which we also won.

I didn't expect them to win their Sunday games, because (1) the Dolphins are really good and it seems like we always lose to them, and (2) the dad who scouted the San Fernando Magic the day before said they were really good.  And yes, both games were very exciting, and we managed to win both.  Fluffy went bingo night with Danielle and family.  She had a great time, but I know she didn't get enough sleep that night.

Monday was our annual shaved ice sale, in addition to games in the final round for first place.  We had to be at East L.A. College by 8:00 a.m.  No time to make spam musubis this year, because I baked a couple hundred cookies the night before and went to bed after midnight.  Yawn!

It wasn't a very hot day, and we didn't sell very many shaved ices, but we planned ahead and sold Nachos, and chex mix, and cookies (the couple hundred I baked the night before), and I even sold a few sodas out of my personal cooler.

Guido doesn't share, which means I stay back with a few other parents to staff the booth while he goes to the games (or whichever is the more exciting game).  When they returned, I saw that Scooter was wearing a BLACK T-SHIRT (first place)!!  We had a play-by-play of the girls' game against the Jama Jama Girls (who hopefully don't lick anymore) via cell phone.  And sure enough, the girls came back in gray shirts (second place).

Fluffy's team went out for dinner at a Japanese restaurant whose name no one will remember, and by the time we got home it was 9:00 and time to flop into bed.

Scooter Turns 14
Mood:  party time!
Wow!  Hard to believe Scooter is almost done with middle school and will be a high school guy in the fall.  He celebrated his birthday with five friends at a video game night/sleepover.  We had two TVs and two xBoxes going in the living room (thanks to Austin for bringing his xBox).  The guys (Austin, Keith, Justin, Matt & Stefan) started coming over around 6:00 and played games as soon as they arrived.  Dinner and breakfast were in the back yard under the EZ Up (thanks to Vickey for the folding tables).  We had pizza, chinese chicken salad, spam musubis, fruit, and chips.  After dinner, they all run over to the park to play hide-and-seek, and came back when some older guys in the bathroom scared them (they're still cute little boys, especially Austin).  I bought a cake from Kings Haw'n, and Austin's mom sent over a coconut cream pie, and all the guys wanted pie instead of cake.  At some point they watched a few movies.  They all call each other "Dude."  They're so funny.

Soccer Moms

Highlight of the Day

I bought a bottle of wine at Trader Joe's and got carded again!

And I realized it might not be because I look so young.  The only people who would buy a $1.99 bottle of wine are (a) drunks, (b) white trash, or (c) really young and broke.

Brain Spill
Mood:  spacey

I just feel like typing, but I have absolutely nothing to say.

Fluffy and I got Disneyland passes for Christmas.  From January 2 to February 1, we went THREE times!  Lots of school holidays in January & February.

Scooter is taller than me.  I haven't measured him, but I think he's about 5'4".  I still weigh more than him.  Auuuuughhhh!!!!

And speaking of food, I found a great recipe for chicken cacciatore in Rachael Ray.  I made orzo to go with it, and I swear our dinner looked JUST LIKE THE PICTURE IN THE MAGAZINE.  I even showed Fluffy the two side-by-side and she agreed.

I need some new shoes.

I love shopping at  Ross.  I bought an embroidered denim jacket for fourteen bucks.

Did I mention that Scooter got braces?  Right after we got back from Yosemite.  Oh, I didn't mention that either.  Time to write some entries and backdate them...

Pizza at Midnight?

I really need to write down things as soon as they happen.  I had this really bizarre dream.  I know it won't sound weird now, because I've forgotten most of it, but the ending had Michael J. Fox's mom on a talk show, talking about her teenaged son MJF (so it had to be in the 70s when we didn't even know he existed), when she suddenly got up and left the stage and returned a couple of minutes later with a basket full of laundry and continued the interview while she folded socks.

I have no idea what I did to dream something so weird.  Whatever it was, I've gotta do it again!

What Writer's Strike?
Mood:  cheeky

I love "Big Shots!"  I've never really watched "Desperate Housewives," but I'm thinking "Big Shots" must be the male equivalent.  But instead of "Desperate Housewives," it's "Horny Bastards."

And I think I've been channeling "Ugly" Betty Suarez lately in my nerdy zip-up vest and bright pink tote bag that usually doesn't match whatever I'm wearing.

Scooter and I watched the season premiere of "Lost" the other night.  We're both confused.  Or should I say lost.

Worst Soccer Day in History
Mood:  down

I haven't mentioned the fall soccer season at all.  And it's not just because I haven't blogged lately.  It was a sucky season. 

Scooter got onto a pretty nice team, but I hardly saw any of his games, because Guido made me take Fluffy to her games whenever there was a time conflict, which was nearly every weekend.

Fluffy's team sucked big time.  Talk about unbalanced teams again.  While one team was full of select and club players, our team had four girls who had never even played AYSO before.  But they were an amazing bunch of girls (and parents) who faithfully attended practice and every game.  Toward the end of the season, we actually won a couple of games, although it wasn't enough to get us out of last place.  Even though this was Fluffy's worst season in terms of wins & losses, it was her best season.  She had fun, met all new girls (she was the only one from her school), and she's turned into a great defender, too.

So why was today the worst day ever?  Because although Scooter's team made it to the playoffs and even advance to the final round, we had such ugly encounters with an opposing team and even worse officiating, that our team has called it quits.  There is a possiblity that we could take first place tomorrow and instead we are sitting out.  Today was possibly Scooter's last soccer game ever.  He scored two goals in the second quarter and I missed it.  For years I've asked Guido to set me up with the camcorder to record Scooter's games and he's refused.  I may never see Scooter play soccer again.

Reflections 2006-2007: My Favorite Place
Mood:  special

My favorite place is home because it is close to school and close to my friends' house to play at.  I like to go to school because that's where I learn and get smarter.

My favorite place is warm and cozy, and people are there to protect me when I get scared.  We support each other like a family should.  It's comfortable because I'm used to it being messy and untidy.  It's a happy place, where there's a lot of love in it.  It's where we have family game night and where I learn to cook.

My favorite place is home because I have my own room.  I know where everything is.  I've lived here my whole life.  I had my birthday parties here and sleepovers and friends over.  When I get sick my mom or dad will take care of me.  I fight with my brother here.  I get my shelter and food here.

This is why home is my favorite place.

No Fluff
This is the fourth day that Fluffy has been gone.  I asked, "Does anyone miss Fluffy?" and Scooter said no and Guido said, "Who?"  Am I the only one who cares about her?

Camp Round Meadow
Mood:  caffeinated

Both kids went to summer school this year.  Scooter went to Marymount again, but I think it was more fun for him than in the past, because in addition to the usual math and language arts classes we make him take, he took ceramics and cooking.  So he got to make stuff to bring home and stuff to eat.  We decided to try the GATE program for Fluffy.  It was a really neat idea; the kids created a city, board games, art, etc., by reusing recycled things.  I wish all kids could go to a program like that.  Not only smart kids can/should benefit by being inspired to be creative.  (I just found this great show in PBS called Design Squad.  Check it out!)

This week, Fluffy is at Camp Round Meadow.  It's her first residence camp.  I hope she's having fun.  Thea went with her, and we saw a lot of familiar faces from school and Indian Guides at orientation so she shouldn't feel alone.  I've been mailing her all kinds of notes and postcards everyday.  Like Scooter's first (and only) Round Meadow trip, I made some silly postcards using photos I took.  I hope she likes them.

I have to drive up to Big Bear on Thursday to pick her up since camp ends on Saturday, but we need to drive to Las Vegas on Friday for a basketball tournament. Oh boy, I get to make a six-hour round trip on Thursday, and another long drive on Friday.

Olvera Street Revisited
Mood:  happy

Fluffy and I enjoyed our field trip to Olvera Street so much that we decided to go again.  Janet and Thea met us at the Metro station in Redondo Beach, and we rode the green, blue and red lines to get to Olvera.  We went through some scary neighborhoods, but it was fun to see different parts of the city fairly up close.  Olvera Street wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be.  We ate at one of the little walk-in food stands.  Then we went to Chinatown in search of almond cookies.  We were told Chinatown was "right across the street," but I guess everyone's definition of "right across the street" is different.  We never found the cookies that we wanted and ended up buying cookies and rice noodles out of desperation at a little bakery that wasn't that great.

It as a fun trip, and we're trying to think of other "field trips" we can do by Metro.

Hiatus is Over
Mood:  bright

Yikes!  It's been a while since I updated.  This entry is mostly a Fluffy bragfest...

I probably bitched about Fluffy's soccer team in the fall, about the coach who knew nothing about soccer.  Well, her team took first overall for the season, they won the Commissioner's Cup tournament, and they took first place in the area playoffs (West, South, North, Central Torrance, San Pedro & PV)!  We had some good players on the team, but we still had incredible luck!

In February, I started working part-time at an agency that provides one on one therapy to autistic children.  I don't work with the kids; I'm the office person. The money isn't that great, but I have an extremely flexible schedule.  I've gradually taken on more and more responsibilities and I'm trying to figure out how to ask for more money, seeing as how I'm making almost $10/hr less than the previous person.  I'm still looking for a copywriting/marketing job, but I don't think I'm going to find one that meets all my criteria, so this autism job is going to have to be it until I find the right job.

In the spring, Fluffy took 2nd place in literature in her school's Reflections competition.  I think that got her a little jazzed about her writing ability, because lately her letters and thank you notes have been very "flowery."  Her conversational style has changed, too.  Sometimes it's like talking to an adult.

Fluffy also took first place in the biological category of her school's science fair competition.  Her project, "Germopolis," involved swabbing various school and home surfaces and culturing them in petri dishes.  Some of the results were disgusting and surprising; the school toilet seat was cleaner than the drinking fountain.  Visually, her project was impressive, but what I admired more were her observations and conclusions.  Her project went to the Torrance science fair and we got to see the winning projects from the other elementary, middle and high schools.

Scooter's project compared pens that claim their ink is "check-safe."  He didn't win any prizes, but the results were surprising and useful in everyday life.

At some point, Scooter commented that this is Fluffy's year, "because she's winning everything!"

During Spring Break, besides the usual visit to the monster-in-law, who by the way is getting meaner and bitchier by the day (she told Fluffy, "You don't need to listen to what your mom tells you to do"), we spent a few days in Sacramento at the railroad museum, Sutter's Fort, and the state capitol.

I went on a few field trips this year.  I accompanied Fluffy to the Hollywood Bowl, Banning Museum, and Olvera Street, and enjoyed Gold Rush Day at school.  I volunteered at a few events at Scooter's school and got to see a little bit of Renaissance Day.  I have missed so much by having to work all the time.

Fluffy got into GATE and Scooter made the honor roll every quarter.

That's all I can remember for the school year right now.

A Different Perspective
This morning Fluffy and I were discussing how some high school students don't take a full load of classes if they have enough credits to graduate, especially if they are planning to work instead of go to college, and feel they don't need to know things like calculus, physics or a foreign language.  But Fluffy thought the opposite, that if she knew she wasn't going to college she would want to learn as much as she could before she left high school and went to work, and instead she would take as many classes as she could.

Lisa

Today is my little sister's birthday.  But she's not that little.  Happy 42nd birthday, you old fart!

I am such a nice big sister!  I wonder if it's this same kind of stuff by Scooter that makes Fluffy not like being the youngest?

Younger
Fluffy declared that she doesn't like being the youngest in the family, but she likes being the baby.  Guido doesn't get it, but it makes perfect sense to me.

Frostbite

Last week we were running around in shorts.  We spent the weekend in S.F., where the weather was actually pretty nice except for rain the first night, and came back to freakin' cold weather.  Yahoo! says it's currently 52 deg.  I need to get me some flannel-lined jeans.  Make that flannel-lined everything. 

You Thought the Turkey Had Bad Luck

I almost forgot about the real highlight of the weekend.  On Thanksgiving day, we got rear-ended on the freeway on the way to Guido's sister's house in Orinda.  Nothing major, just a shock to the system and a few scratches on the bumper.

But the incident brought up an observation by Scooter - "Bad luck Thanksgiving."

A few years ago, on Thanksgiving weekend, Guido and Fluffy were driving home with a fresh Christmas tree in the trunk when Guido somehow rammed into a Mercedes.  Damage wasn't that bad, but the other driver worked for a lawyer and a few months later threw a lawsuit at us.  (It was just a threat, though, and the insurance took care of it.)

One year later, we were driving home after spending T'giving weekend in S.F. and Guido rear-ended a car and caused a four-car accident on I-5.  We were exactly halfway between S.F. and L.A., and our car was undrivable.  Do you know it costs $700 to have your car towed 200 miles?  Our minivan was so old that the insurance company wanted to total it, but Guido pleaded with them to fix it, and we were able to drive it around for a few more years.

Because the minivan was in the shop with near fatal injuries, we had to take the Accord to S.F. for Christmas that year.  Not the best time to be driving the little car when you have a pile of Christmas presents and two weeks' worth of clothes for four people.  When we got to S.F., the car died (it was just the beginning of a series of me-being-stranded-with-a-dead-car).

So although the turkey has it bad on Thanksgiving, at least he doesn't have to relive the event every year.