Lost in LA

We had a great time this weekend at Knott's Berry Farm. More on that later. This post is dedicated to my wish for the admonishment of the programmers and/or code writers at Google Maps.

Before we left Arizona, Q printed out driving directions that took us from our house to the Knotts Berry Farm Resort Hotel. At least they were supposed to.

Let me preface this rant with another rant. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the Phoenix-area's properly marked and well-lit freeway system. But the freeways in SoCal are VERY poorly lit. The fact that it was pouring rain didn't help matters, either. Perhaps the highway department could divert a few dollars from the Call Box budget (does anyone really use those things?) to fund some much needed freeway lighting.

Anyway, I was driving while Q navigated (our car isn't new enough to have one of those newfangled in-dash GPS models). He read the directions by the light of his cell phone.

Q instructed me to exit the freeway at Carmenita Road, which I did. He also had me make a few other turns onto side streets that--according to the Google directions--should have led us to the hotel. Instead, we were driving in circles around a big-box shopping district.

We were clearly lost. Not only that, but we were in the wrong city (Cerritos) AND the wrong county (Los Angeles).

I pulled into a Mens Warehouse parking lot as Q called the hotel. After being kept on hold for eons, I got impatient and resumed driving. Q eventually got ahold of a live human, who told him we should "go back to Beach Boulevard". That's a fine suggestion, considering that WE WERE NEVER THERE!

Q decided to refer to a faintly printed map that came out with the instructions. Problem was, without the aid of the sun, we had both lost all sense of direction. Our Cloud Car doesn't have a digital compass either. Apparently dem things are fer da fancy people! :-P

I drove until we found a street that was on the map: Orangethorpe. I think I made a few other random turns before we began to see signs for Orange County, Buena Park, Knotts Berry Farm, and the hotel.

We eventually made it to the hotel safely, and everything was good in the world. Although, I can't help but wonder if Google's faltering stock value has less to do with the economy and more to do with the crappy driving directions they dispense.

Holiday Road

We're heading out to California for a weekend of Knott's Berry Farm entertainment. This trip is my reward for enduring such a grueling semester (I'm beginning to admit that I bit off more than I can chew with my courseload). Also, we got a great deal on an a package that includes hotel, parking, and 2 days of park passes for all four of us. We'll load up the Golden Cloud, and hit the road right when the last of us gets home from school.

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The boys are really looking forward to this trip. Especially Lucas, who is finally tall enough to ride all but two of the largest rollercoasters. I have a feeling he and I will be reenacting scenes from our favorite movie, National Lampoon's Vacation. As long as I don't come home and find that Q traded in the car in for a metallic pea-colored station wagon with wood paneling, I'll be happy.

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So to my friends and readers, Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your day is filled with friends, food, family, fun, fluff, folly, and all those other F-words that make life interesting.

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And to my family, I hope you're not too disappointed that you won't be enjoying Quinton's cooking this holiday. But I am taking the chef with ME.

Bedroom Remodel

Here is my latest drawing--a bedroom remodel. I wanted to take a picture before the teacher redlines it to within an inch of its life. Every item in this drawing was taken from my favorite housewares and home furnishings source--the Crate & Barrel catalog.

Thank you, Becky!

I was pleased to start my day as the recipient of a blog award--my very first--from Becky of Random Musings of a Deco Lady.

I would like to share this award with the following beautiful, inspiring and creative women:

Pat of Pat and Waldo

Menchie of TimeOuts

KJ of OPTIONS Associates: For a Better World

Please check my blogroll for many others who educate, inspire, and make people laugh. Men are great blog writers, too.

Rules: 1. Give it to one or 100 or any number in between ~ it's up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.

2. Remember the Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.

Sunday Dishes: Custom Fiesta Ornaments

As I mentioned two weeks ago, I have plans for my blank ornaments. The first batch is pictured below. Click on the pics to view them larger.

Friday Fill-Ins #99

1. The last band I saw live was ___Pete and the Shortcomings (local classic rock tribute band)___.

2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is ___creating a Fall tablescape with my Fiesta dishes___.

3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is ___best done online___.

4. Thoughts of ___post-semester down time___ fill my head.

5. I wish I could wear ___low-rise jeans single digit-sized jeans and pants___.

6. Bagpipes ___are fine in small doses___.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __maybe taking the family out to dinner__, tomorrow my plans include __homework, teaching myself to use Google Sketch-Up, running errands, and other boring stuff__. And Sunday, I want to __finish up anything that didn't get done on Saturday __!

Stuff I've Been Too Busy to Blog About

School, homework, errands, and family activities have put this blog on the back burner. Below is a brief synopsis of our lives during the past few weeks.
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--Kyle got his braces removed. Per his request, no photos will be posted. My son is in the midst of a feud with the mamarazzi. It's bitter, too.
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--I've lost nearly 10 pounds since we joined the gym in August. Q hasn't lost any weight (he doesn't really need to), but he his stamina is greatly increased. He also has greater muscle tone in his arms and legs. Pretty soon, he'll have a V-shaped torso! :-)
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--On Tuesday Lucas got a haircut. A REAL haircut. Not a courtesy cut where the child gets a quarter-inch bang trim just to placate his parents. Pics will be posted when I feel like it.

--I've been shopping for a new wardrobe for school. In my impending line of work, a professional appearance is highly recommended...even for students. Consistant attendance, quality work, and the ability to meet deadlines are important. But a stylish, put-together wardrobe will speak volumes whenever the instructors are approached by employers seeking students for internship and employment opportunities.

--About two weeks ago, I injured my right wrist when I fell while roller skating. About a week later, Q rolled his left ankle while playing baseball with Lucas. We were debating as to who was going to drive the Mustang this past week. My right hand is the one I use for shifting, and Q uses his left foot for pushing the clutch. Since my pain was less than Q's I lost won.

--Last Friday was very eventful. Q and I went to the Joel McHale show at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. It was damn funny stuff--I think. I was quite plastered. Q and I had dinner at Los Dos Molinos, where I had the strongest margarita ever. The service was slow, but we didn't care. Q was buzzing, but I was feeling NO PAIN.

But I do remember that CT is devoid of any acceptable bathroom facilities. Whoever space planned this facility really ought to be smacked! The ladies' room had only FIVE stalls to serve the entire 2,600 seat venue! FIVE!!!! Needless to say, there was a very long line. Even so, I let a pregnant lady cut in front in me because she was in a lot of pain. A fetus sitting on your bladder will do that.

Around 10:30 as we were leaving the theatre, my cell phone rang. It was Kyle yelling for us to get home NOW. "ALL THE SMOKE ALARMS ARE GOING OFF!" After he convinced me that there was no smoke or fire, I had Kyle go ask our next door neighbor for help.

"Alan" unplugged four of the seven alarms in the house and everything was good. I was so grateful for his help, and was relieved to hear that he and his family were still awake when Kyle rang their doorbell. The next morning, Q went to the store and bought a big multi-pack of 9-volt batteries.

Friday Fill-Ins #98

1. Please feel free to ___Come out of lurkdom and leave a comment___.

2. When I ___pull a towel out of the dryer___ I can't help sniffing it occasionally.

3. My favorite thing to cook is ___microwave popcorn (not much cooking on this end...that's Q's specialty)___.

4. ___Q's pizza___ is something I can't get enough of.

5. That's the thing I love most about ___Wednesday nights___.

6. ___A really cute, figure-flattering top at Banana Republic___ always makes me think to myself, "what the heck?"

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to __going to the Joel McHale show with Q__. Tomorrow my plans include __going my neice's birthday party__. Sunday, I want to __finish up anything I didn't get done on Friday or Saturday __!

Well Paid!

As I was driving home today, I spotted a black, late model Corvette zipping down the freeway. Not an unusual sight, per se, but it was the personalized license plate that caught my eye. It read JANITOR.

A janitor. Driving a Corvette. I wish I had taken a picture, but trying to fish the cell phone out of my purse at 70 miles per hour is not the safest driving maneuver. Besides, the Vette was merging onto another freeway.

I had no idea that cleaning schools, offices, and stores was such a lucrative profession. Perhaps I'm wasting my time with design school. It appears that janitors really do clean up!

The Spa

In my drawing class, we have been working on 2-point perspective for the last few weeks. Our project drawing is a residential spa. I spent all afternoon inking my drawing and wanted to get a picture before the instructor takes his red pen to it. My finished product is below. Click on the pic to see it bigger.

Sunday Dishes: Fiesta Ornaments

Last year, I started adding ornaments to my Fiesta collection. I had pick up a few pieces here and there from friends and fellow collectors at the Collectible Medium Green message board and from eBay (they're very hard to find locally). But my interest in ornaments reached a fever pitch last summer at the HLCCA conference when I acquired six of them.

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In all, my ornament collection has reached 32 pieces and it's still growing. The picture above only shows a few of my favorite decaled pieces, but I also have a dozen or so blank ornaments. I have big plans for those (hint: they won't stay blank for long!)

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During the off-season, I keep the ornaments on display in a presentation bowl. The one pictured here is a recent acquisition. Macy's has decided to quit carrying the Evergreen color so I got this one off the clearance table for less than half price.

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Within the next few weeks, the ornaments will be promoted to tree status. At which time, the presentation bowl will be filled with leftover decorations from yesterday's wreath building event.

Wreath Decorating

UPDATE: All photos in this post can now be enlarged by clicking on them. That wasn't the case until Q dickered with the code. Ultimately, I had to re-upload them. Apparently, moving pictures around renders them unclickable.

I have been very busy with school as of late. And not just busy, but CRAZY busy. Aside from my space planning and sketching projects, I had to write a paper on textile imports from southeast Asia to Europe in the 17th century. That sucker ended up being 12 pages long--single spaced, which wouldn't have been so bad if I'd had at least some prior knowledge on the subject. In this case, major research needed to be done.

Anyway, as if I didn't spend enough time at school, I spent today--a weekend day--at the college. The American Society of Interior Designers sponsored a wreath making event for student members. The wreaths will be sold and all proceeds will go to the Boys & Girls Club.

When choosing ribbons, ornaments, picks, and other items for my wreath, I knew I wanted to do one in all pink. But when I saw wreath dressings that Hobby Lobby had to offer, I fell in love with everything purple. My finished product is shown below. Unfortunately, the cell phone camera photo doesn't do my work justice.


Here's another picture of the wreath:


Ah, but I still got to do make a pink wreath! Out of the 30 spaces available, only 18 people RSVP'd. And of those, only 12 or so showed up. Since all 30 wreaths needed to be decorated, everyone had to got to make two or three each.

ASID had provided a bunch of decorations for us to use as well. And since I had only brought enough supplies for one wreath, I had to dig through their offerings to complete my second one. I hit the jackpot when I found a dozen of these pink and ivory silk roses that were ornamented with holly leaves and sprigs of gold glitter. After I made sure nobody else was going to use the roses, I took them all. Again, the wreath looks much nicer in person.

All the wreaths came out beautifully. One lady did one in all blue and white. I thought that looked stunning. Another lady created one with ribbons and ornaments in various shades of green. That one will look nice for St. Patrick's Day.

The drafting tables were covered in brown paper, but we still made the biggest mess. The classroom we used for the event is the same one I go to for my drawing class on Monday and Wednesday mornings. I have a feeling I'll be walking around with glitter on my ass for awhile.

October Wordle