Sunday, December 22, 2013

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Monday, September 23, 2013

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Monday, August 19, 2013

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Monday, August 12, 2013

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Little Hurricane


Great show at the Bellyup Tavern.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Monday, July 8, 2013

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Monday, June 17, 2013

Open Letter to Dog Owners at Kate Sessions Park

Dear Kate Sessions Park Goers,

I am aware that Kate Sessions park is regarded as an unofficial off leash dog park (despite the numerous signs stating dogs must be on leash at all times). However, if you are going flaunt the rules, don't be a jerk and ruin the park for everyone. I'm talking to you irresponsible dog owners.

One day I brought a blanket, a book, and my dog to the park and settled in far away from the off leash dogs. I was minding my own business when not one, not two, but three dogs came charging at my dog and I. I yelled No! No! No! at the oncoming dogs and tried to shoo them away while the dogs' owner just watched. The dogs' owner was a blond woman that looked like she came from the La Jolla side of Mt. Soledad.(Yes, what you are picturing in your head right now is what she looked like.)

After she failed to control her three small barking dogs, looked at me and accusingly said "What do you mean "no"? Is your dog not friendly?!?"

I responded “Not when 3 dogs come at her and she is on leash!”

Highlighting what an idiot dog owner she is, the blonde bitch had the nerve to say to me "Why would you bring an unfriendly dog to the park?"

At this time a woman walking by tells the blond bitch "You need to watch your dogs. Dogs are on leash for a reason."

Thank you, Ms. Dog Behavior Expert. She continued on loudly for all to hear that she's witnessed four dogs that were killed at a dog park. At which point the blond bitch looked directly at me with a horrified look as if my dog were a killer. As she walks away, she picks up her expensive purebred dogs and says loudly "I don't want you to get eaten" while throwing dirty looks at me.

As if I were the problem. As if I were not following the rules. As if my dog was the bad actor and as if I were intruding on her and not the other way around. Excuse me?? What the fuck??

Here's the thing, not everyone at the park loves your dog. Maybe they don't want your dogs around their babies. Maybe they are allergic to dogs. Maybe like myself, they are trying to read a book and don't appreciate being run over by your dog, or having their family picnic ruined. Maybe they are like the elderly couple I saw walking on the path that were almost taken out by a rambunctious pack of off leash dogs.

My point is this: Be respectful of the other people enjoying the public park. If you can't control your dog, don't let them off leash. It's as simple as that.

Sincerely,
Michelle

P.S. When the blond La Jolla bitch had to go running downhill into the bushes after her min-pin that was gleefully ignoring her, I was laughing my ass off.





Thursday, June 6, 2013

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Overcast Tuesday morning

The sun is trying to come out

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Monday, May 20, 2013

When I am old

When I am old I'm sure I will have mixed memories of my younger self. Some good, some bad, some sad, some glad. (Dr. Seuss, anyone?) But what I really want when I am old...what I really want is my grandkids to think I was some sort of graceful badass when I was young.I will burn all ugly photos and delete all evidence of weakness and failure guaranteeing that they will have no other option but to think I was awesome.

What?!?! I'll be be a senile old bag of bones in a mu'umu'u. Think I'll give a fuck about historical accuracy?? Hell no!!

I just want to leave a legacy like my grandmother's left for me. I want my grandkids to think I was as cool as I think my grandmothers were. My grandmothers lived through the depression, they worked hard, they raised families, they stayed married until death did them part. They were young once and had adventures. Then they were old and had a lifetime of experiences to be proud of.

The legacy I intend to perpetuate is not entirely unfounded. There are certain things in my life that I will look back on with pride. I'm proud of leaving home when I was 17. I worked, played sports and maintained a B+ average in college. I briefly had my own petsitting business. I earned everything I had and was dependent on no one. I ran a half marathon when I was 33. I travelled solo. I overcame debilitating depression. I became a competitive dancer. I loved and I lost.

And I'm sure the list will continue to grow with time.

It's interesting to find out what accomplishments people are proud of. Usually you are proud of things that you did that were really fucking hard or challenging, but you did it anyway… somehow. Sometimes you aren't even sure how. It wasn't planned. It just happened. Or it was planned and you worked really, really hard for it. But you did it. You. Because you set your mind to it, or,as Bill Cosby said, “you decided you wanted it more than you were afraid if it”.

I think I want to be proud of my younger self, and my life, when I am old. It's still a work in progress but I'm getting there...






Sunday, May 19, 2013

Mission Beach jetty

Taken Saturday May 19, 2013

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Fear

"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it"
Bill Cosby


Having courage does not mean we are unafraid
Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears
We are able to say,
"I have fallen, but I will get up."
Maya Angelou

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

On texting

[Warning: I drop a lot of F bombs below]

I've never been a big phone chat person. Never liked calling people and spending hours on the phone. I like to have stuff to talk about when we see each other in person. I've never had the gift of gab and also, I've always had friends that could go on and on and on and on in a one sided conversation about stuff I don't give a shit about.

So you would think I would prefer texting. Nope. I hate it. I hate having to get up to get my phone or dig it out of my purse to reply. I don't like keeping my phone next to me all the time either. It's distracting and I don't like the alerts beeping at me, demanding my attention. Fuck you. I don't have to read you right now. Leave me alone.

Don't even get me started on group texts. Do me a personal favor and turn that option OFF. I might be stoked that you are having a baby (and thankful that you texted instead of called me). But I do not, I repeat do not, want my phone blowing up with 50 different versions of "congrats" from all of your friends and family.

Friends, family members, random dudes I gave my number to, doctors offices, stores, phone companies- stop texting me! Unless you do not need or want me to respond right away and whatever that needs to be communicated is 12O characters or less. Call me, leave a voicemail, facetime me, email me, mail me a letter (preferably a pretty card from Papryus) or Facebook message me if what you need to communicate is longer than a tweet.

And for fucks sake don't ask me out on a date via text. I hate going back and forth over when and where to meet and what kind of food I like. You know all that back and forth could have been avoided by a 2 minute phone call and I wouldn't have to spend 35 fucking minutes thumb typing.

I know I am the anomaly here. I know most girls luuuuuuv texting and even guys like it because they can be a fuckwad coward and ask girls out or blow girls off without any cost to their ego, self respect, time or feelings. Shit, the only time I LIKE texting is when I'm blowing off some guy I'm not interested in and I'm the fuckwad coward.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not completely heartless. On those rare occasions when I have a boyfriend or am seeing someone I am excited about do I like a “good morning beautiful” text? Hell yeah I do! I love it. It's great to know someone you have the hots for is thinking about you and can tell you in a completely non intrusive way.

And of course there are situations where a text is the most rational form of communication. Here are examples of acceptable text messages:
"Please pick up milk on the way home"
“Be there in 10 minutes”
"Left your money on the nightstand"
"Made it home safe"
"I'm leaving you"
(Kidding. Just checking to see if you are actually still reading)

These situations (excluding the last one) do not require verbal interaction or lengthy explanation. Unless you are like me and need to clarify what type of milk. 2%? Nonfat? Organic? Gallon sized or quart? Please be specific. Too many options paralyze me with indecision and make my brain hurt. But I digress. What was I saying? Oh. Don't text me. Unless you are perfectly okay with me not responding at all (most people are not as it turns out) or at all quickly. Pretty much the only time you will get a timely response will be something like "YOU ARE $200 SHORT" or "WTF? I have been waiting for your ass forever".

Dial my phone number and let me hear your voice. It's beautiful. Okay maybe not. But if I like you enough to pick up and not hit the ignore button, I probably want to hear what you have to say. And I probably don't want to read what you have to say unless it's really funny and posted on facebook.

Laura Mvula - Green Garden


Monday, March 25, 2013

Monday, March 18, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013