cindy's world

After a lot more fruitless calls and research, I found my way to the WalMart at the Cerritos Towne Center, less than 5 miles away from work. I called, they were all set up, I flew down there, and got my photos taken and processed instantly. The lady was very nice. She showed me the digital photo and asked if I liked it. I didn’t, and she took another one, which I was happy to accept. In the next 7 minutes, I was out of there with photos in hand and on the way to the post office. I splurged on mail tracking (+$0.55), priority mail, and cushioned envelope, got the stuff out and am back at work. All I gave up was one lunch! It’s quite a relief.
(Hint hint, Jen S., you better get cracking on your passport renewal up there.)

I got my passport renewal forms all filled out, old passport ready to go. All I need are the 2 current passport photos.

I got online and did a search for locations around me, since I have to do this at lunchtime and mail out the forms today (I’m only giving myself 7 weeks for processing that they say usually takes 6 weeks). The store I was referred to online said they don’t actually have the camera equipment yet, and referred me to the local post office. The post office said they had just run out of film. I checked the local Walgreens; they’re just a pharmacy and had no photo studio. I jumped thru hoops to obtain the number for the local WalMart; the person who picked up didn’t know if they did passport photos and referred me to their photo studio. No one picked up the phone at the studio. I called the local Target; they don’t do passport photos. I called the local Rite Aid next to the post office; their passport photo camera equipment has been broken for the past month.

Is there some reason why I’m not meant to travel out of the country?

I’m taking a break from my Saturday catch-up-on-chores day, and found this! This is the one! Not as sweet as dessert wines, but for those of us who don’t like the tartness in chianti, either. Serve lightly chilled.

CAYMUS VINEYARDS CONUNDRUM CHARDONNAY SAUVIGNON BLANC 750ML
Stepping aside from tradition, our Conundrum combines a medley of varietals grown throughout California. This white wine embodies the pioneering aspects of the California wine industry-a wine that escapes definition., yet pleases the palate with lush and spicy characteristics. The wines of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier and Muscat are blended to produce this wine of floral and tropical flavors. Caymus Vineyards Conundrum USA, California, Napa Valley, white blend, Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Viognier & Muscat, 750ml

Okay, the enemy just left uneventfully with a “Have fun!” (re traveling to Spain). Whew, what a relief. I really don’t need to have an all-out battle at this point in my life. I’d like to remain as drama-free as possible. I’ve certainly earned it.

Looking very forward to this evening. I’m gonna see my cousins’ house in Irvine for the 1st time, we’re gonna have a girlie dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (okay, so the meal itself isn’t gonna be girlie, just us bovine-munchers are), then we’re gonna meet up with with a bunch of other chicks (friends of theirs) to see “Must Love Dogs.” I love Diane Lane. She and Jane Seymour are the most beautiful pentagenarians ever. Except for my mom. I’ve been waiting for this movie to come out, and today’s opening day. I hope I don’t feel the need to spew anti-romance, anti-male venomous comments at the silver screen.

Dude, you’re sitting at Starbucks with your wife and 3 kids. Stop staring at my ass! Seriously, what is wrong with married men?! I hope his wife gives it to him when they get home. This is why I’m scared of Latin men.

Here I am, all armed and dressed for battle. And the enemy doesn’t even step up to bat. (I know I just changed metaphors right in the middle.) It has only been half a day, and who knows what the second half holds. A part of me is relieved that everything’s calm and quiet on the Southeastern front. I’m not sure I’m recouped enough to deal with much right now.

Judge decided to change our lunch hour for today, and also took 15 minutes of it. The gym time is already so tight that there’s no point losing 15 minutes to be all in a rush and work out for only 25 minutes. So here I sit, in the quiet and coldness of this barren courtroom. An unsuspecting innocent, wide-eyed and naively vulnerable. Ha, right. More like a black widow weaving her web and laying in wait.

Hell, I’ve got 25 minutes of lunch left. Time to take a walk across the street, thaw out, maybe grab a Starbucks. I’ve been wanting to try that green tea frapp.

You know you’re not meant to pick up a phone call if, in 4 rings, you had tried to pick it up from the phone next to you and realize that it’s unplugged, so rather than fish around for the wiring, you dash down the hallway into your bedroom to get that phone, except since the hall light’s burnt out at that end of the hall, you can’t see and you don’t want to step on the cat that may or may not be lounging in between the doorway and the bed (one of his favorite spots), so you slow down, step carefully, finally leap onto the bed, and reach over to the nightstand at the far side of the bed for the phone, and your hand doesn’t find the phone because for whatever reason, you moved the phone closer to the wall that morning, and when you finally find and grab the phone and bring it to your ear, before you can gasp out the entire word “hello,” you hear the other end click a hang-up.

I can count on 2 hands how many people have my home #, and count on 1 hand who would call it. My cell didn’t ring after the house phone stopped ringing, so it’s not someone who really wants to get a hold of me, as much as someone just seeing if I’m home. And 10pm is too late for telemarketers.

YES!! Thank you, Karen! (Referring to the “Unfocused Picture” post from 7-25-05.)

TRUTH IS by Fantasia Barrino

Ah Oh Ah Oh

[Verse 1]
Ran into an old friend yesterday
Caught me by surprise when he called my name
He was a familiar face, from a chapter in my past
Talked for a while, asked him how it’s been
Said that he was seeing somebody and
Told me this was gonna last
Showing me her photograph

[Hook]
And all the feelings that I thought were gone
Came rushing back to me at once
Tried to smile and hide the way I felt
But I was thinking to myself

[Chorus]
(Truth is) I never got over you
(Truth is) Wish I was standing in her shoes
(Truth is) And when it’s all said and done
Guess I’m still in love with you
(Truth is) I never should have let you go
(Truth is) And it’s killing me cuz now I know
(Truth is) And when it’s all said and done
Guess I’m still in love with you

[Verse 2]
We reminisce on the way things used to be
Shared a couple laughs, shared some memories
Talked about the things that changed
Some for good and some for bad
Then he said good-bye and he paid for lunch
Promised that we’d always keep in touch
Grabbed my bags and grabbed my thoughts, walked away and that was that

[Hook]
And all the feelings that I thought were gone
Came rushing back to me at once
Tried to smile and hide the way I felt
But I was thinking to myself

[Chorus]
(Truth is) I never got over you
(Truth is) Wish I was standing in her shoes
(Truth is) And when it’s all said and done
Guess I’m still in love with you
(Truth is) I never should have let you go
(Truth is) And it’s killing me cuz now I know
(Truth is) And when it’s all said and done
Guess I’m still in love with you

[Bridge]
Now the truth is it hurts but I know that the fault is mine
‘Cuz I let him go
Tried to get over it but it’s messin’ with my mind (Because I know)

[Chorus (2x)]
(Truth is) I never got over you
(Truth is) Wish I was standing in her shoes
(Truth is) And when it’s all said and done
Guess I’m still in love with you
(Truth is) I never should have let you go
(Truth is) And it’s killing me cuz now I know
(Truth is) And when it’s all said and done
Guess I’m still in love with you

I just gotta be honest, I guess, I-I guess, I’m still in love, in love, in love

I was toying with a very enticing possibility staring me in the face, but I was on the fence about it. Everyone around me are giving me the thumbs-up about it, but since I overthink things anyway, I was already weighing the many possible negative outcomes should I choose that path. This is all very premature anyway, since I don’t even know that this offer will be made to me. And then I eat a Doves chocolate and the fortune in the wrapper says, “Hey, why not?”

Whoa, nelly.

Can’t wait till tomorrow.

Did you guys know that for travel to the Carribeans, you HAVE to have a passport now? Anyway, I just found out that passport renewals are done thru mail and I can download the form online, so I’m going to the gym to WORK OUT at lunch. I feel less lame now. Yay! Of course, this takes away the evening gym plans and replaces it with evening passport crap.