cindy's world

Aside from the silver Dove wrapper from last Thursday still staring at me from my desk, telling me “Hey, why not?”, I now get this from the universe:

Today’s Forecast
Why return to junior high and spend endless hours puzzling over what someone really meant when you can do the grown-up thing and flat-out ask them what’s going on? It’ll be so much quicker that way.
The Bottom Line
Feeling like a martini — shaken or stirred? Don’t worry. This, too, shall pass.
In Detail
It’s a fine time to voice your real needs, because they’ll be met in one way or another. The universe is quick to respond when you identify your genuine desires, so make sure you have a clear idea about what it is you need. Then go ahead and speak up to all and sundry — after all, you never know who might be the supplier for your particular list, and it wouldn’t do to have them heard by the wrong person (or not at all).

My money, love and attitude meters are also 5 for 5 on all of them. So is today supposed to be a good, hedonistic day?

A fellow classmate gave me a CD-ROM of jujitsu photos. I didn’t even know when some of these photos were taken. I figure since I write so much about jujitsu, I may as well share some of these images with you. Please keep in mind that these photos appear to have been taken the 2nd week of class, and I had just gotten my gi and hadn’t washed/preshrunk it yet, so it’s oversized. Or maybe there’s a reason why my class nickname is “the little one.”

“Josh, you’re doing the arm-bar shoulder throw,” said the instructor. “Cindy, slap him.” Oh, how nice.

There’s me. Being shoulder-thrown after a blocked slap.

This entry is going to be TMI for people who are related to me, or don’t want to see me in a certain vomit-inducing light, so if you don’t want to see me in any capacity but a pristine and innocent one, don’t read on.

(more…)

Yesterday, we were waiting for all the criminal trial attorneys to arrive so that we can address a written question the deliberating jurors had sent out. I started to tell the DA the gist of the question, and the judge (who was sitting on the bench) stopped me and said, “Actually, Mr. [Private Defense Counsel] hasn’t heard the question yet, so let’s hold off until he gets here. Just in the parody of fairness.”

Parody of fairness, I mused. How interesting that the judge would mock himself like that.

The judge glanced at me silently from the bench, then said, “Cindy, that’s P-A-R-I-T-Y, not P-A-R-O-D-Y.”

Oh! That changes everything! To the exact opposite meaning. “I was actually thinking P-A-R-O-D-Y,” I said, laughing.

“I know you were,” the judge said. Man, I’m not sure if it’s a good thing that people can read me that easily.

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?

One of the merchandise booths sold a bumper sticker with the slogan “Down Syndrome People: A Little Different, A Lot the Same.” No kidding. Even they couldn’t escape romantic drama.

Bryan and Kerry
Kerry is a lovely, independent Down girl. Bryan is an average-looking independent Down guy. Kerry is sweet, sensitive and thoughtful. Bryan is excitable, sensitive and ADHD-governed. Bryan was the last to get seated at our table. He could not stop saying, “Gosh, Kerry, you look so nice!” She smiled at him and said, “Thank you.” Kerry is engaged and showed us her ring. We all raved and congratulated her. Somehow Bryan ended up seated next to Kerry. When she cried during a performance of “My Heart Will Go On,” he hugged her and cried with her. Then he privately sang to her to cheer her up. She dealt with all of this maturely, trying not to lead him on but also not rebuffing him too hard. He meanwhile grew very sullen at her lack of interest in him. An older experienced volunteer woman at our table told him, “Bryan, this is a happy place. You need to put on your happy face.” Bryan said, “I’m sorry, it’s just personal things on my mind, that’s all. I’m just going thru some sad thoughts.” Kerry told him, “No you’re not. You’re on cloud 9, because I’m on cloud 9, and you’re here with me.” Wow. I gotta remember that line for use with my future kids. A volunteer as equally inexperienced as me, one of my cousin’s friends, leaned into me and said, “Bryan likes Kerry but Kerry’s engaged.” I said, “And he has a girlfriend! He was just talking about her earlier. AND, his ex-girlfriend is here somewhere.” “WHAT?!” she exclaimed, “I missed all that.” I didn’t. I’m finely attuned to relationship drama.

Ballsy Guy and Blondie Volunteer
These people were not at my table so I don’t have names. Ballsy Guy is a burly, tough guy looking Down guy in a trendy checkered button-down shirt with a buzz cut. Blondie Volunteer’s got a pretty enough face with all her makeup, but she could stand to lose about 15 lbs. (Sorry, it’s the girl in me.) Ballsy guy was not a guy from Blondie’s table, but he came by to say hi to her. She greeted him and he pulled up a chair right next to her and put his arms around her shoulders, hugging her close. She patted his hands, but it became embarassingly apparent that he did not plan to let go. There was a romantic song playing, some couple was doing an interpretive dance routine onstage, and most of the Down people were swaying to the music. Ballsy Guy had half his face buried in Blondie’s hair. She kept patting his hand, more to ensure that his hands stayed at her shoulder height than for any friendly gesture. She pulled his hand down after another few seconds, and he left his face close to hers, staring intently at her; she refused to make eye contact. He started stroking her upper arm with his chubby undersized hand. She tried a few more tactics to get him to stop and he wouldn’t, so she told him, “I’ll be right back,” grabbed her purse, and walked out. I said to my cousin’s friend volunteer, “She’s not coming back.” Sure enough. She came back in after presumably visiting the restroom outside the ballroom and seeing Ballsy Guy still at her table, stood at the back of the ballroom. The Keanu Reeves Down guy engaged her in conversation. Seeing this, Ballsy Guy got up and started making his way across the ballroom toward them. She turned and went out another back door. Ballsy Guy isn’t permitted to follow; they’re not allowed to leave the area w/o an attendant. So he went back to his own table. He would cran his neck every few minutes to see if she came back to her table. Then eventually he just came back and sat at her table to wait for her, often popping his buzzed head above the crowd like a meerkat to see if she was coming in the door. I went out to the restroom and saw her just sitting in a chair outside the ballroom. I’d feel sorry for her if she weren’t flirting with a cute Bank of America volunteer. She was well taken-care of.

The 33rd Annual National Down Syndrome Congress Convention was held this weekend at the Hyatt Hotel a block from Disneyland. (Man, that is a niiice hotel. I had no idea.) Today is the talent show, held in a large ballroom. We volunteers were designated 2-3 per banquet table of about 8 Down-affected attendees, and our purpose was to keep an eye on the Down attendees at our table, be their friend, make sure they don’t wander off, make sure they get onstage when it’s their turn to perform.

N’Sync and Titanic…really big in the Down Syndrome community. Didn’t know that. Anytime N’Sync is performed, the room would be a riot with cheering and dancing Down people. Titanic musical performances would make most of the Down people cry.

To add to the list of things I didn’t know until today: You make one audible comment about how one of the Down men in a nice dark suit, had he not had Down, would’ve gotten women left and right, and about how he looks like Keanu Reeves with a touch of Down, and suddenly you’re the butt of all the jokes among the volunteers. “Oh, there’s your man in line for open mike!” “Hey, your man’s about to go up for his dance routine, you gonna scream and cheer?” “Hey, your man’s crying!”

All in all, I had a great time. After the conference, my cousin Jennifer, her “pal” David, and I went to Downtown Disney and had a late lunch and drinks at Restaurant Catal’s outdoor circular UVA Bar. Their caramel apple martini? AMAZING.

Having vacuumed (I hate vacuuming my stairs), windexed, thrown out the trash, organized the CDs between my car and my rotating CD shelf, and with my load of whites agitating in the washer, I decided to see if I can pre-register online for next semester’s jujitsu class.

I just discovered that the last day of jujitsu is August 3, and the next semester doesn’t start until September 12. I’m not looking at a calendar, but isn’t that like 5 weeks of nothingness? OMG, am I ready for that much free time? *hyperventilating*

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