Today I went to Carl's Jr. for a Western Bacon Cheeseburger and Fried Zucchinni w/Ranch Dressing. No wonder I'm not losing any weight! But as I was driving home, I saw The White Chocolate Grill restaurant. I heard from a guest at work that this place has good fish. I'll have to try it out sometime.


After lunch, I went to Star Nursery to look at some plants and get weed killer and some burlap to wrap the palms with.

I'm looking for plants to go in our entry way and block the windows on the side of the door. I saw a couple that might work. Jasmine and, I think, Honeysuckle. I was also thinking that maybe some rose bushes might work.

I also went to Big Lots! for the first time. It's one of Miriam's favorite stores and I've been meaning to check it out. It's not really that big...I guess the like the size of a 99 cent store. Anyway, I saw some curtain rods for a lot less than at Home Depot and Lowe's. And eventually, I want to get something like this lounge chair in my room...after I get a smaller bed and put some shelving up.

This is the first time I'm using the feature to upload video directly from my camera to this site. It's a short clip of me showing what I was cooking for dinner last week.

More "Fearless" quotes

Fearless About the Body

When we feel strong, when our bodies are healthy, we don't feel as vulnerable as when we are weak and out of shape.

In my personal experience, there is no question that it's much harder to be fearless when you're sleep deprived.

I love those quotes that support more sleep! =)

A 2005 poll by the National Sleep Foundation reports that 75% of Americans experience sleep problems.

Ultimately, true fearlessness comes from loving the body you were born with, which is inseperable from your individuality.

Miranda Spencer, a writer and editor in her late forties, told me, "I'm fully aware of my bodily imperfections, but I have an odd affection for them...I'd like to see an imporved me, but not anyone other than me."

We all come to our own version of acceptance about our bodies and our appearance. But the sooner we realize that our happiness and the meaning of our life are not by-products of how we look, the sooner we can move to fearlessness.

Mom and I had a quiet Christmas. I woke up late, but we went to breakfast down the street at the IHOP. It was crowded, but there wasn't a wait for us since a lot of people were just leaving. So I guess it worked out that we didn't get there until after 9. After we ordered, Mom told me that she realized Dad was the one who liked to celebrate the holidays and that she relied on him to push her to get things done. She said she's been using his passing as an excuse to not do anything around Christmas time, but not anymore.

We had a good talk. Last Sunday's sermon spoke to her. The pastor talked about how the angels were always reminding those they approached, "Do not be afraid!". When God enters our lives, there's often change and, in our eyes, disruption. But there's no need to be afraid. My mom knows that she's in a good position in life: no responsibilities, good health and mental condition, she can do whatever she wants. I'm leaving her two books to read. The book I just finished "On Becoming Fearless...in Love, Work and Life" and "Left to Tell - Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust". Both about strength, courage and faith from a woman's point of view.

As a woman who hasn't depended on any man for very much or for very long (except as a kid), it comes natural for me to rely on myself and push myself through unknowns. Of course, I need other people as resources and to help me do things, but I will try my best to do most things. It's a contrast to my mom who now has to learn how to be independent after having been married for 48 years. I imagine it must be scarey. But there's a whole world out there and I'm glad to see her venturing out.

She started an aquatics class at the Multi-generational Center because one of the ladies she bowls with suggested it. So since Dec. she's been going and is already feeling stronger. Her bowling is getting better and she says her balance is better. A few months ago, she started practicing bowling with her left hand and last week she said she bowled a 140! That's better than me when I bowl right handed! I guess I'm impatient with her when I see her sitting around all day watching Korean DVD's, but she is getting out more and watching less these days. She's doing quite well for a 70-year old. She only is taking medication for high blood pressure now. And I think she'll be able to get off it with the extra exercise she's doing and if she watches what she eats.

I told her that I want to get a cat next year and she made that face, but is ok with the idea. As long as the cat doesn't go in her room. I may put in a little pet door going to the garage and put the catbox in there.

Hawaii vs. Georgia at the Sugar Bowl. My aunt and cousins are going to the game! They are hardcore fans. Even though UH did well this year, I don't hear much about them in the news here. But those HI folks bought up those tickets so quickly.

I'm doing ok with my football picks. So far, I've picked 116 wins and 114 loses (I'm trying for the Fiddle in the Middle - 50/50). Last year I won $250. I don't think it'll be as much if I get it this year.

The new LV slogan will be "Your Vegas is showing" ??...not replacing the "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", but just another campaign. I guess the idea behind it is bringing your experience in Vegas back to your home town. We'll see how popular that one becomes!

Okay, I can't stop myself =) This guy makes me laugh every time I watch him. I promise this will not go on forever since their project is coming to an end =( A sad day that will be. In this video, John talks about his moral principles of receiving and the names for his hypothetical puppy and other things "Stop looking at me!"



I've been thinking about getting a kitten =). Margaret from work keeps threatening to give me one for Christmas. I told her I don't want one right now, but maybe next year (and I don't mean next month!). Mom doesn't want one, but once I bring one home, she'll get used to it =). That's how we got our cats in the past - my sister just brought them home.

Hope you all enjoy your Christmas day and spend time with loved ones. I'll be working so it'll be a quiet day here.

Red Rock stay

I had a nice stay at Red Rock. I really felt like I was on vacation even though it's only 25 minutes away! Hallway to the room

Red Christmas tree in the lobby

I was looking for the Do Not Disturb sign but couldn't find it! There are buttons instead.

From my room, I could see the spa lap pool and cabanas.

More of my grays are showing...I'm looking forward to all of them coming out and going natural for a while

Some room views...

If I removed any of these items for 45 seconds, I would be charged for them

One of the first things I did when I got settled was soak in the tub. Just in time to watch Ellen! Although it's a nice feature, having that TV above the tub made me a wee bit nervous.

I don't know how they know when to come in for the turn down service, but when I got back into my room, I found a tray of stuff that included chocholate =).

I played Bingo for the first time in a casino. Chuen met me and we went in to play. I just told the lady at the counter that it was our first time and so she asked if we wanted paper or electronic device and how much we wanted to spend. So I said electronic (since it would do everything for me!) and $20. It was a little intimidating in that big room. You could tell there were people who were regulars there. I'm glad we did the electronic device. It was so easy. We just entered a code and it did the rest.

But next time I go, I think I'll try the paper. But only 6 cards at a time. The machine was handling over 20 cards at a time. But neither Chuen or I won anything =( Booooo.

I was surprised that my 2 days there I hardly spent any money. They were having a special in the cafe - Cheeseburger/fries for $2.99 and eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast for $3.99. I used my player's card points (you accumulate points when you gamble) so my meals were free - just left cash tips. I spent money on Rubios (shrimp burrito) and Ben and Jerry's (one scoop of mint chunk ice cream). I gambled - my usual penny keno machine and I stayed even.

I read, watched TV a little and really enjoyed soaking in the tub. It's a new favorite thing to do for me.

"Fearless" quotes

While I was at Border's, I picked up "On Becoming Fearless in Love, Work, and Life" by Arianna Huffington. Here are a few quotes...

To live in fear is the worst form of insult to our true selves. By having such a low regard for who we are - for our instincts and abilities and worth - we build a cage around ourselves.

Fearlessness is not the absence of fear. Rather, it's the mastery of fear.

Fearlessness is about getting up one more time than we fall down. The more comfortable we are with the possibility of falling down, the less worried we are of what people will think if and when we do, the less judgemental of ourselves we are every time we make a mistake, the more fearless we will be, and the easier our journey will become.


Fearless About the Body
...we can never really be fearless until we stop judging our looks and accept them.

Ultimately, the greatest beauty secret is to live out our passions and connect with our own spirit.

Bookstore, Massage and Spring Preserve

I think it might be impossible for me to go into a bookstore and come out without buying more than I intended. I haven't gone to a bookstore for a while and now I remember how much I like looking around. I could spend as much time in a bookstore as I can at a home improvement store. I saw this section on Manga and I couldn't believe how many books were there! If I were in Kinokuniya, I wouldn't have been so surprised, but there were 2 more sections on either side and the whole other side of the shelving full of manga!


But I got my secret santa gift...a couple of books on "how to make anyone to fall in love with you". I was looking for a book of pick-up lines, but didn't see any. I knew I should have just ordered it online. Oh well, what I got will have to do.

It's been a pretty busy week. Picking up my cousin's daughter from Harrah's after she finished with the convention for pharmacists. I dropped her friend off at the airport and then Kristi and I went to lunch. After lunch I dropped her off at the mall while mom was bowling. Mom picked her up after she finished and I was off to work.

Today I got a massage with Liz and Tahnee. It was good and I may have to make it a monthly thing. They have a pretty good rate for locals. They stayed around the spa but I had to leave because I had plans to go to the Spring Preserve with Lindsay. There are a lot of cowboys in town because of the NFR.

We walked in through the cafe (there's a Wolfgang Puck cafe there), the to the gift shop and ended up inside so we walked around some of the trails and I was thinking that we were supposed to pay admission somewhere. The first building we walked to had a sign that said "meeting in progress" so we kept walking around. Then we finally came to a building and I asked the guy how this place worked and he asked us if we got our hands stamped. I said, "No, we just wandered in and didn't see the main entrance" So he said he'd let us just look around since we were already inside =). But I guess normally, there's one admission fee to see everything - around $14 for locals and $18 for other adults. So it was a nice treat for us. Steven didn't end up coming with us, so maybe next time.

When I was getting my massage, I realized that I need more work on my forearms and hands. I really need to get back to yoga and get massages more frequently.

Went to visit a new church today and it ends up that the pastor is Randall Cunningham of football fame. I didn't realize it at first, but he did say he played for the Eagles and when I got home, I looked him up. I do remember a Cunningham that played for the Vikings and he's that guy. I enjoyed the service and so did my new friend Lindsay. My co-worker was manning the expresso machine behind the counter.

They have a little snack counter and we were talked into trying the waffles and fried chicken. I've never had that combination before! We'll be back to make use of the free coffee and donut coupon we got in our visitor gift (coffee mug w/a pen, skittles, tootsie roll and jolly rancher). It seems like this church gives the congregation a challenge every week. I felt comfortable worshipping there.

The people are friendly and we made a new friend who said he may join us when we go to the Desert Springs Preserve. I had mentioned wanting to visit there when Lindsay and I got together, and then today it came up in conversation and ends up Steven hasn't gone yet either. So I invited him to come with us on Fri.

Seems like the weekend went by so fast...=(