Moro Rock

Wow, 105 windy miles and 400 steps later, we reached the top of Moro Rock, getting a birds-eye view of the Sequoias.

It was gorgeous, minus the pollution. The mountains behind us in this picture looked completely stunning with the clouds hovering so low, it was hard to separate the snow-capped mountains from the clouds. Absolutely heavenly.

On the way up, we also saw 1 doe that was shy, but curious, lots of lizards looking for mates, and free-roaming birds soaring in the wind.

It was a moment of freedom and appreciation for all things living.

This is J's son, proposing. We went on a "photo shoot" today. He wanted me to pay him a quarter per picture. When I told him "no deal", he asked if he could still be my model anyway. I'll sure miss it when he grows out of this sweet, innocent age.

Wolverine

I went to this movie as a second choice. We were planning to watch Star Trek at the Imax, but since the lil guy was with us, we couldn't (or at least I couldn't) justify spending $37.50 on theater tickets. So we went, instead, to the regular theater and saw Wolverine.

Oh, I was loathing the choice we'd had to make, but I was actually quite pleasantly surpised. Aside from all the good-looking people in the movie, it was action-packed, emotionally-charged, and fun to follow.

Go watch it - you won't regret it.

Good morning!

Darn it! so my new 'do just looks waaay cooler in person, but here it is anyway!

New 'do

Got my hair cut, colored, and styled today! It's been about 6+ months since I've seen my stylist because I've been trying to grow my hair out, but it was time to say goodbye to all the split-ends and damaged hair. I'll debut a pic soon, I promise!

whoaaa.....

Okay, so it's been about a full month since I've posted.

LoTs have happened in the interim. Let's see...in chronological order (to the best of my memory) I finally filed my taxes on the 15th and to my surprise, I got quite the return! (Thank you, School!).

So since my GPS & digicam were stolen, (I told you about that, right?) I decided to take 200 bucks of my return and replace my stolen items. J & I considered filing an insurance claim, but with a $500 deductible, decided against it for obvious reasons.

The weekend of the 25th, J & son & I went up to Sacramento/Yuba City to see family. It was Taylor's 6th birthday that Sunday - and she was just so precious, that darling girl! She's got curls that are just simply angelic. But before we went to her birthday bash, we went to see my parents and finalized the whole bride price thing and got officially "Hmong-married". Whatever that means.

I guess what I mean by that is that J & I both feel that the whole Hmong-style wedding just so un-special to us. There's no symbol of love At All. I think (...no, I'm pretty sure) I still harbor some degree of resentment over the whole ordeal, but ultimately, It's Just Money...right?

Anyway, without saying too much, it was a pretty dramatic weekend. But seeing Taylor and Nicholas and my family balanced it out alright.

Onto May...wow, this month was pretty much penniless. I remember being totally Ba-Roke with a wiped-out savings account and family demands coming left & right for gift contributions. Then there was Mother's day to consider and upcoming birthdays - all at least 120 miles out of town. On top of that, there were snags in receiving my unemployment check and - whewwww...I need to take a breath. I can't believe how documenting this is making my heart race in a heart-attack kind of way.

Then last Saturday, J & I drove back up to Sac to see my family in honor of my mother. We spent the day at an island and the weather was hot yet cool. Both J & I got mildly sunburnt (I know, I'm an esthetician and I didn't have any sunscreen on me). Although I didn't have a gift for her in hand, I ended up ordering a skin lightening cream for her from Amazon and she should be receiving it some time this week or early next. Asians and hyperpigmentation - sucks!

This week some time, a couple of nights ago, in fact, J & I got into a HUGE blow up. It was the worst one yet. We'd just been so stressed out, so unhappy, so far from God that things between us were just spiraling quickly down the road of no return. It was full of tears, fears, truths...so revealing, so honest, so hurtful, yet so absolutely necessary. But ultimately, as the night turned into early morning, we just ended up where we started - and that's a place of love and forgiveness. We love each other and know and believe that we are not only better together, but we are soul mates.

After a day of recovery from the emotional storm, he suggested we each take 10 bucks up to Chukchansi and bet it penny slot machines. And though my eyes were dried out and burning, I decided it'd be a good idea and we went. It turned out to be so much fun! After months and months of focusing on everything but us, being together last night with just the two of us ~ ah, now that's what's makes it all so very worth it.

Wallyworld Woes

Oh my Gosh - What a day! I was so stressed out dealing with car insurance today! I finally went and got my car rental - without the official "ok" from Nationwide. I just couldn't stand not having a car anymore! And Nationwide deals only with Enterprise, so I was stuck having to rent with them again

I have reason to be sour because the last time I went through Enterprise, I used my debit card to leave my deposit - and that proved to be a big mistake. I mean huge. They ended up charging my card upfront for the rental, deducting hundreds from my checking account without my approval (they said I signed my authority away when I got the car). So I decided that this time, to be sure that wasn't gonna happen again, I'd get a temporary VISA card.

& OMG, what a hassle that turned out to be! Just activating it alone took an absurd 15 minutes of talking to a robot! Totally unbeknownst to me, I had actually purchased a money card with a VISA logo that had a revolving three-dollar monthly fee! FAIL - not what I was looking for! I just needed an VISA card that would hold a specific dollar amount - y'know, like a universal gift card - one that was not going to be linked to my checking or charge accounts. I did not want to get gyp'd again.

After all that nonsense with Wallyworld, I get to Enterprise only to find out that the deposit would actually only be $50 - not $250 (which is what I paid last time & what the adjuster and insurance agent was hinting at). I felt better and worse at the same time because I didn't even have to go through all that Wallyworld money VISA card mumbo jumbo at all. *sigh*

But the good news is: I've got a car again. Sweet independence.

And Oh yeah, one more thing: someone stole my GPS some time this or last week - right out of my car. Yup - it's GONE. And my camera is missing too.

Sisters

So fun!  3 of my sisters came over last night and it was really cool to catch up!  The 2 from Sacramento (B & Y) are twins at 16, and still so sweet!  C is from Clovis, 21, and so stressed out already!  I got to show them my dedicated spa room and it was a total hit.  I waxed all three of them and this morning, did Y's makeup.

Unfortunately, V (older sis) came by this morning in an irregular mood and swooped 'em right outta here, but I'll see them again this afternoon at my other sis (S's) easter egg get-together.  

My family didn't celebrate Easter together this year, which is a bit odd, but doesn't surprise me all that much.  Luckily, S is in town with her adorable son & hubby and I'll at least get to see some family!

Spring Cleaning

While J was sick this week, we let the house turn to sh*t.  I'm talking major chaos in the house.  So we deep-cleaned the place out and once again, I can be proud to call it home.  We were talking about how it's so easy to just pick up after ourselves on a regular basis, and yet practicing what we preach still takes to much effort and discipline!  But the abode has really come together - clutter-free - just the way we like it.

These Boots Were Made for Walkin'

So this morning, I had an appt at the spa for a facial (and I still don't have a means of transportation - boo Nationwide!) so I had J drop me off.  I knew it was going to at least take a hour and a half, so I specifically told him to expect my call.  Anyway, I totally finished my appointment and gave him a call so he'd be there by the time I got through tidying up.  Nope.  No answer.  That's strange - cause he's pretty reliable.  

But ok, fine, no answer.  So I went ahead and finished cleaning my facial room then tried him again - this time from the reception area.  Still no answer!  I told him I'd be calling!  I hung out with C, the receptionist, for about...1 minute then decided to just walk.  Yes, I have little patience.  

I only live about 1.5 miles from the spa, so it wasn't a big deal, but - I was in boots!  And we're not talking' walking boots either - nonetheless, I'd walked at least a 3/4 of a mile before J finally called me back.  Then, by the time he swung around, I was already a half-mile from home.  WhatEv.

His excuse?  He was in the shower.  *sigh* Typical.