untitled...

missing mr. ralph-a-roo

2008-11-12T20:39:00.000-08:00

halloween...

2008-11-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

...better late than never

tiny basil heart

2008-11-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

2008-10-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

trick or treat!

2008-10-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

thanks for the beautiful halloween treats! boo!

2008-10-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

2008-10-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

though the weather is still pretty here in sunny california ( it is still in the eighties), i am itching to pull out my yarn and start crocheting some scarves. my first yarn choice is this beautiful rich red. i am attempting a new stitch (basket weave) that i have never done before...let's hope i can do this pretty yarn some justice.

echo lakes to lake aloha

2008-10-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

she always brightens my day...

2008-10-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

i was feeling a little down when i woke this morning until my frankie crawled up onto my chest and shoved her fuzzy little face in mine. she began to purr instantly. i scratched behind her ears until her purr was accompanied by happy little squeaks. i admired the way her black and white fur swirled in different directions in order to avoid her eyes, her mouth, her soft black nose. she has the most amazing markings. call me an obsessed cat owner (or does she own me?), but she always brightens my day.

She's back!

2007-01-09T14:52:00.000-08:00

quick update:
-loving my job
-losing my job
-just transfering my job to another location
-moved
-moved again
-kitties are getting big
-had some holidays and a birthday
-drank too much
-had fun

do's and don'ts

2006-05-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

i couldn't let my sister be right, so i had to hop on a computer and post my do's and don'ts...

i do love my kitties
i don't like that they wake me every night by chewing on my fingers

i do like online billpay
i don't like that i have no money left after i pay those bills

i do like conversing with others
i don't like when they are not really listening to my side of the conversation

i do like my job
i don't like when it's slow and i am tired of folding the same stack of t-shirts over and over again

i do like the house that we live in
i don't like that the shower water gets colder and colder as i rush to wash my hair

i do like the convenience of a cell phone
i don't like the huge bill that comes along with it

i do like my iced venti quad soy no whip light ice white mocha's
i don't like that they cost five bucks and are completely unhealthy

i do like driving
i don't like other drivers

i do like receiving mail (especially my netflix)
i don't like that the only other things i ever get are bills

i do like to watch overhaulin' and miami ink on tlc
i don't like that i always close on tuesday nights so i never get to watch them anymore

i do like meeting new people
i don't like that i'm so shy that it takes me a long time to open up to them

i do like trying new things and overcoming life's obstacles
i don't like that i'm lacking in confidence so it takes a long while for me to take the first step

i do like having fun and making myself the butt of the joke
i don't like that i turn bright red with embarrassment when i make to much of a butt out of myself

now for some embarrassment...i'm a loser and have no one to tag...and, since it has been so long since i have been on here, no one is going to check this site to see if i did this anyway...later...

ode to frankie...

2006-02-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

heidi would be so proud...a blog and a painting...all in one night...

since tracie and heidi and i are moving in together we decided to paint pictures of our kitties...this is my portrait of frankie...isn't she beautiful!?!

where have you been?

2006-02-27T20:36:00.000-08:00

oh my goodness...she is posting!!!

yeah, i know i have been non-existent here in the blogging world...you would think that i had dropped off of the face of the earth or something...but, i'm back....so here is a quick catch up...

- i've been staying with my sister, tracie, who is one of the coolest chicks in the world...she is a great person who is always there for me to help me out and force me back on my feet...if i ever need anyone to talk to she is there for me...
- tracie, heidi, and myself are moving into the most beautiful house ever! i am so excited to have my own space again...i cannot remember what it feels like...did i mention that the house is beautiful?
- i find myself talking to heidi a lot...she is another amazing woman who is beautiful and strong ( i'm not sure if she realizes how just how fabulous she is, though)...i always feel that she understands me...she has a great sense of people's needs and emotions...
- my family is awesome...more people who are kind and caring...and fun...did i mention fun? a lot of people don't have close relationships with their families and i feel quite lucky that i do...
- i love my job...i recently got a promotion at work and am really enjoying it...it is frustrating training someone else for my old position, but eventually i will be able to help mold them into a better stock person than i ever was...and hopefully my co-workers will help to mold me into something better as well...
- i find myself having more confidence than i ever have...i've never been to fond of myself or felt i've accomplished much, but it is something i am working on...i'm trying to learn to appreciate myself and to take leaps and do things i've never imagined myself doing...taking the promotion at work was part of this process...i'll keep you posted on how things are going in this department...yes, i'll try to keep up on my blog...

that's it for now...random quotes and images to follow...

sunshine

2006-02-04T12:02:00.000-08:00

self portrait tuesday

2006-01-31T06:17:00.000-08:00

my family...

2006-01-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

Fortune:

Your success

will astonish everyone.

Lucky Numbers 14, 19 ,25 ,27 ,34 ,39

you would think they were starving...

2006-01-30T19:04:00.000-08:00

i made the mistake of leaving some groceries out when i left the house this afternoon...i came home to find that the kittens had found their kitten chow and torn a hole in the bag...i felt guilty, thinking they were starving, but looked over to their bowl to find it full to the brim...they just like to make me feel guilty...

on another note...they went to the vet for the first time today...they were so calm and brave...i'm such a proud kitty mommy...they just sat there calmly as they were stuck...just wait 'til next week when they are fixed...there appointment is on the 8th...i guarantee i am more worried than they are...

self portrait tuesday

2006-01-24T06:07:00.000-08:00

2 peas

random quote...

2006-01-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

"the person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. he may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live."
-- leo f. buscaglia

heidi, thank you for the shaky-shaky mousy....

2006-01-22T18:42:00.000-08:00

...we love it!

"R" is for ralphie

2006-01-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

our dearest heidi made clay letters for each one of us...a "t" for tracie, and "f" for frankie, a "b" for me, and an "r" for ralphie...last week i witnessed ralphie pulling his letter off of the fridge for a little play time...i guess he knew it was his...

random quote

2006-01-17T16:48:00.000-08:00

"when choosing between two evils, i always try the one i've never tried before."
-- mae west

self portrait tuesday

2006-01-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

i was once a sweet little angel...i wonder what happened...

self portrait tuesday

2006-01-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

happy belated birthday to me ( a couple of weeks late)....and happy self portrait tuesday....

GUILTY!!!!!!

2006-01-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

i've been tagged by my sister to list five of my guilty pleasures...let's see what i've got...

1. long, and i mean long, scalding hot showers and shaving my legs...smmmmooooth...
2. iced, venti, quad, soy, no whip, light ice, white mocha from starbucks with my favorite caffeinaholic co-worker, alex.
3. alphabetizing and organization...i may be a bit ocd, but i love order...
4. french fries...they are the perfect pms food...
5. alone time...sometimes it is nice to forget the rest of the world...

now, i'm going to tag bill....what are your guilty pleasures?

random quote

2006-01-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

"beauty without intelligence is an illusion that is close to disenchantment. it is like a fairy that fascinates us, as long as we look at her through the enchanting prism of her beauty. however, it disappears as soon as the light of reason penetrates beyond the place where the eyes can see."

-- mercedes cabello de carbonera

yes, i'm a weirdo...

2006-01-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

i've been tagged to post five weird things about me....here we go...

1. i cannot eat meat off of a bone...i don't know why, but i refuse to. maybe it's because it is barbaric, maybe because it is messy, maybe it has something to do with now being able to when i had braces as a kid...i don't know when it started and i'm not sure where it came from, but i cannot do it.

2. i love driving alone...it gives me an opportunity to turn up the tunes and sing out loud...it is the only time i sing out loud, really, and when i do it, i truly am a rock star!

3. i silently acknowledge others by raising my eyebrows...i hate when i do this...i have been trying to quit...move on to the smiles, waves, and hellos...

4. i hate when people use the phrase "how are you doing?" in the place of "hello." "how are you?" is clearly a question...if you are going to use it, you are required to stick around for an answer.

5. i don't like being put on the spot...sometimes, when people ask me questions that i do not know how to answer right away, i will act like i didn't hear them and ask them to repeat themselves, giving myself a bit of time to prepare an answer.

happy (belated) new year!!!

2006-01-07T13:58:00.000-08:00

i had the pleasure of spending my new years with the two hottest ladies in sacramento...clearly, we had a blast...

happy holiday card game...

2005-12-25T16:38:00.000-08:00

...well, i'm happy...but i won...he he he...i love playing casino with my family!

random quote

2005-12-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

"blessed is the man, who having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact."
-- george eliot

bring your pet to blog day

2005-12-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

self portrait tuesday

2005-12-20T19:08:00.000-08:00

MISSING!

2005-12-19T18:53:00.000-08:00

missing...three plastic balls containing jingle bells...the disappearance is making my kittens quite unhappy...if found, please contact...

really...how can these things disappear in a one bedroom apartment?

art monday

2005-12-19T18:49:00.000-08:00

hmmm....

random quote

2005-12-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

"optimism. the doctrine or belief that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly."

-- ambrose bierce

bring your pet to blog day

2005-12-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

self portrait tuesday

2005-12-13T17:35:00.000-08:00

bring your pet to blog day

2005-12-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

after working thirteen hours today i came home to find two angry little kittens...there food dish was empty...i'm such a bad kitty-mamma...

random quote

2005-12-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

"you are the person who has to decide whether you'll do it or toss it aside; you are the person who makes up your mind. whether you'll lead or linger behind. whether you'll try for the goal that's afar. or just be contented to stay where you are."
-- edgar a. guest

self portrait tuesday

2005-12-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

art monday

2005-12-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

random photo...

in my purse...

2005-12-03T10:24:00.000-08:00

self portrait tuesday

2005-11-29T19:58:00.000-08:00

there is only one side of the camera that

i like to be on....

random quote

2005-11-29T19:56:00.000-08:00

"maybe this world is another planet's hell."
--aldous huxley

art monday ( a day late and a dollar short)

2005-11-29T19:50:00.000-08:00

(random photograph of my sister....)

when kittens attack...

2005-11-16T17:52:00.000-08:00

...a reality blogger special...

my sister has been nice enough to let me stay with her, and my crazy kittens have been keeping her up all night. i feel really guilty about this...please accept this public apology.

self portrait tuesday

2005-11-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

art monday

2005-11-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

tagger...

2005-11-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by tracie to do this quiz...hmmm...

Two names u Go by:
1. barbara, barb, babs
2. b, or bee

Two parts of your Heritage:
1.spanish basque and czech on fathers side
2.scottish, english...well, pretty much everything pasty european on my mothers side...

Two things that Scare u:
1. people
2. large groups of people

Two of your everyday essentials:
1. caffeine
2. mini ipod

Two things u are wearing right now:
1.black bra and panties
2.something green...i'm always wearing something green...

Two of your Fave bands or artists:
1. jeff buckley
2. bad religion (which my sister cannot stand)

Two of your favorite songs:
1.pretty, ugly before (elliot smith)
2.kissing the lipless (the shins)

Two truths:
1. i have a mild case of ocd (not much of a secret)
2. i have a fabulous family

Two physical traits in the opposite sex that appeal to you:
1.forearms
2.noses

Two Favorite hobbies:
1. beading
2. blogging :)

Two things you want really badly:
1. to be comfortable calling myself an artist
2. to be confident in general

Two places u want to go on vacation:
1. europe
2. africa

Two things you want to do before u die:
1. travel
2. make money as an artist

Two ways u are stereotypically a chick/dude:
1. i'm an emotional rollercoaster
2. I cry at commercials when i have pms

Two things u are thinking about right now:
1. how to answer these questions
2. eating a piece of baklava

Two people u would like to do this:
1. jeff
2. bill

X-mAs LiSt

2005-11-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

i was tagged by tracie to do a christmas list...sorry it took me so long to get to (i officially suck)...

1. scents: hanae mori, angel (refill)

2. movies: monsier ibrahim, crash, magnolia, united states of leland

3. books: cook books (i love cooking)

4. clothes: t-shirts from threadless.com

5. gift cards: target, safeway

okay, so now i am tagging jeff and bill (if he is still out there)

self portrait tuesday

2005-11-08T11:48:00.000-08:00

sorry that i am posting all of this stuff early...i am going out of town on a "business trip." it is my first time traveling for business...i'm a bit nervous, yet really excited...

art monday

2005-11-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

the glass is half full :)

art monday

2005-10-31T16:46:00.000-08:00

random quote

2005-10-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

"One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful."
- Sigmund freud

horrible fridge poetry...

2005-10-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

(i think i need some new words.)

random quote...

2005-10-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

"start every day off with a smile and get it over with."
-- w.c. fields

can we say "hilarious"

2005-10-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

maybe i am delirious, due to a lack of sleep, or this is the funniest thing i've seen in a while...i took my cue from heidi at "waiting" and threw the words "barbara needs" into a google search...here are the top 15 hits for what i am lacking in life...

1. barbara needs a good swift k@#$!
2. barbara needs to blog (hey, i'm trying).
3. barbara needs two overtimes to defeat uc davis.
4. barbara needs help and support.
5. barbara needs victory.
6. barbara needs help!
7. barbara needs to take this opportunity to take a long hard look at herself and see...
8. barbara needs a decent thai place (well, i am a bit hungry at the moment).
9. barbara needs a screen for a power point presentation.
10. barbara needs to know about the body.
11. barbara needs to lose weight and avoid potential cardiovascular complications (i'm hungry, but i should not eat in order to lose weight?).
12. barbara needs help all right, but not in being re-elected...
13. barbara needs conservation, but wearing sweaters just won't be enough.
14. barbara needs a real bbq joint (okay, i get it, i'll eat!).
15. barbara needs some meat in her system, then maybe she would be in a better mood (and all this time i thought i needed therapy).

that was way too much fun! try it and see what you need...

self portrait tuesday

2005-10-25T05:36:00.000-07:00

it is only tuesday....it has been such a long week already....i worked at five a.m. on sunday morning and pulled an overnighter last night, working from 7:30 p.m. until a quarter to four in the morning. tonight i must do it all over again...
i'm tired, i'm cranky, and i'm feeling a bit emotional...nothing a little bit of sleep can't cure
(i hope).

art monday

2005-10-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

i'm going to join in the "art monday" fun along with bill and tracie...this one is mine...

i've been tagged...

2005-10-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

i've been tagged by my dearest heidi, and in return, i am tagging bill and jeff (let's see if either of them do this)
i'm pretty sure that i cannot come up with 20 tidbits of information about myself, but here it goes:
1. i'm obsessed with the color green...everything in my closet is either green or black...it is an issue, but i cannot force myself to buy any other colors...no matter how ugly the garment, i will still love it if it is in green.
2. i love bad religion...i have a secret crush on greg gaffin...smart guys are sexy.
3. i'm a rock star when i'm driving alone. no, i don't just sing loudly, i front a band.
4. i really hate my voice and will not sing aloud in front of anyone...anyone.
5. i wished i had the courage to do everything i wanted to do.
6. i get really quiet when i'm angry...i have never yelled at anyone and i would like to keep it that way...when people piss me off i just get really quiet and try to cool myself off. i'll talk about it later when i am calm.
7. i really hate it when people ask me a question and do not wait for a response... "how are you" is a question. a person that i am working with asks that exact question every time i see him while he is just passing through. some day i will follow him to his little office and tell him exactly how i am.
8. i'm only funny to my sister, and i love her for enjoying my sense of humor.
9. i am funny to no one other than my sister...everyone else mistakes my sarcasm for rudeness.
10. i love wine, as long as it is not merlot.
11. i signed up for my own blog so that i could make comments on my friend heidi's blog without showing up annonymous...she tricked me into it without even knowing it, and i love her for it... blogging is relaxing and cathartic.
12. i am an artist with no faith in my artistic abilities.
13. well, that is not exactly true...i'm an okay artist, i just have really low self esteem.
14. notice how i said "okay"... so i have absolutely no self esteem...mostly i hate me...
15. i'm a big klutz...i can trip over air. i once hurt myself with a light bulb and had to get stitches....a light bulb. did i mention i hurt myself with this light bulb while i was taking out the trash?
16. i love color...it's pretty hard to imaging since i wear only black (and green on occasion) but i love color...i've painted the walls in my home different crazy colors like red, blue, yellow, green, brown, silver....i love color.
17. i love being a redhead...i know, i know...i'm not a true redhead...but i love it when my hair is red. i'm naturally a brunette, but i haven't seen my true hair color since i was a sophmore in high school. i tried to go back, but i was unhappy, so i colored my hair bright red again.
18. i loved being in college...i really love to learn new things, i loved the experience that i had and the people that i met. it is especially good when you are an artist...to come in contact with other artists...people just like you, trying to sort through new and crazy ideas...i would like to create a group that met and discussed the projects they were working on...maybe i should, but i do not know any other artists in the area...how do i find them?
19. i am drinking a bottle of chardonnay...dog house...charlie's chard...it is really tasty...probably the only reason i have been able to come up with so many tidbits about myself...
20. i really love my job...i know...i work in retail, i am a loser...but i really enjoy it...i know that i do a lot for my store and that the role i play is important. plus, i love the people that i work with... there are some really wonderful people with really great hearts working with me... they would never read this, but, if they stumble accross it...lesley and alex are phenominal human beings...they make my job a place worth showing up too. smooches to you....

and smooches to everyone...thank you heidi for tagging me...it has been fun...
i'm pretty sure this is the most i have ever written in my blog.

random quote

2005-10-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

"success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."
-winston churchill

...and that's a pretty nice haircut.

2005-10-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

i've had so many bad haircuts that i am now afraid to get my hair done...but, after months of scary hair days, i finally "bit the bullet" and had it done...

i totally hated it until today...today, i feel beautiful...

self portrait tuesday

2005-10-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

evening

random quote...

2005-10-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

"you must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-gandhi

it is official...i do not have a life....

2005-10-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

i've been a little sick lately....

2005-10-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

i haven't been able to drink my morning cup(s) of coffee lately since my tummy has been bothering me...it has been hell.

i was bored today....

2005-10-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

i made a mini purse for my mini ipod...

self portrait tuesday

2005-10-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

afternoon

random quote...

2005-10-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

"I photograph to find out what something will look like when photographed."
-- garry winogrand

art monday

2005-10-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

i'm copying my sister...i need to get some new art on my computer, but i've always loved this image, so i thought i'd share it anyway...

hanging with the family...

2005-10-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

i'm hanging out with my sister and father right now...they are watching me blog...i sure make funny faces when i type, don't i?

my sister is my inspiration

2005-10-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

i was inspired by my sister to pick up my yarn and prepare for the fall...this is my kitty cat soft skinny scarf...it is so cozy...i just can't wait for the cool weather to come along...

self portrait tuesday

2005-10-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

morning

while i'm posting random pictures of the two people i know...

2005-10-02T19:14:00.000-07:00

this is my sister...she is beautiful! i know, i know...it is obvious! but, i don't think she realizes exactly how wonderful she is...so, now, for the whole world to know... My sister is the best!

this is bill...

2005-10-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

bill totally rocks...i've known bill since i was in junior high when he used to follow my sister to my track meets...he is just like my older brother...he wanted a picture for his blog, so i threw this one up today so he could use it. doesn't he look lovely in infrared?

random photograph

2005-09-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

would you still think that i was cute....

2005-09-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

...if you knew that i just spent the last hour chasing my own tail?

self portrait tuesday

2005-09-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

i just worked my second overnight shift in a row...all i can think of is sleep.

aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!

2005-09-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

i'm exhausted...i didn't get home from work 'til almost six this morning (i started at six last night), and i could not manage to stay in bed past 9:30 this morning. i don't do well when i am lacking sleep. right now, i think that this is an artsy picture of a kitty attack...when i truly wake in a few days, i will realize that it is just a blur of fur.

i don't have anything interesting to say...

2005-09-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

i was reluctant to start this blog because i do not feel that i have anything interesting to say. it was actually a fluke that i did begin, i signed on only to make comments on my friends blog and ended up with one of my own.
well, i'm a photographer who has been in a bit of a creative rut lately, so i'm taking this as a reason to create. i need to make art, it is what i do to make myself happy.
i hope you enjoy the random images i throw on here.

they sound like little squeaky toys...

2005-09-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

okay, so with a little face like this how could you ever get mad?

when they attack your legs as you walk....

or poop all over the carpet...

or climb up your sweater to get at the lens cap as you try to take their pictures...they are adorable, but they are little monsters...it is a good thing that they get tired quickly...
today has been a crazy long day. i did so much at work to day that i totally wore myself out. i have all of these crazy scratches on my arms and a big cut on my finger...i forgot to take my rings off before i started working and got one stuck on a dumpster and it dug deep into my flesh...screwed up my finger and my ring. i just took the ring off and threw it in the dumpster. kind of funny, kind of sad. i probaby wouldn't feel alive if i didn't hurt myself. hmmm...glad i had those little monsters here to make me smile when i got home.

i wish i could sleep like that

2005-09-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

finally, she is calm...let us see how long this lasts.
this is stormy, the queen kitty of the house. with the little poo poo machines in there separate room, stormy has finally had a moment of peace to nap. she looks really stressed out about the new additions to our houshold, doesn't she. just wait until the kittens come out again.

pile of kitties...

2005-09-17T20:19:00.001-07:00

my boyfriend and i got two new kitties last night to add to our household. They are frankie (the white kitty with the black markings on the right) and ralphie (the black kitty with the white markings on the left). They are precious little bundles of fur. i feel quite guilty, though, as our other kitty, stormy, is really unhappy about the new addition. she kept us up all night screaming because she couldn't be in the room that they were in, and has been pretty standofish all day today. i know that she will adjust and that she just needs time, but, right now, i am sad. the new kitties, however are generally well behaved. frankie is having some issues finding the litter box, but, otherwise, they are adjusting to there new home quite well.

could you make one big enough to wipe the whole earth?

2005-09-17T07:31:00.000-07:00