Podcast obsession

yes, you read the right

i'm really into history. (when i was growing up, i wanted to be an archeologiest or palentologist as many of my friends did after we saw indiana jones and jurassic park) 

but seriously i do enjoy learning about history and sociology

so i'm totally addicted to the podcast "stuff you missed in history class" by howstuffworks.com

they vary in time (up to twenty five minutes long) and have a full range of interesting topics from the 1916 shark attacks on the jersey shore (close to my heart) to "who were the other two men on the ride with paul revere" anyway, i suggest you check it out. it makes my gym time go a lot faster.

i'm also listening to "money girl's quick and dirty tips for a richer life" which is a fun eight min. podcast dealing with everything from budgeting to 401ks. i have read numerous financial books over the past few years, so a lot of this is old hat to me but i find it very helpful to listen in anyway because it helps keep me focuses on it. 

Also, "stuff mom never told you" is pretty good too, though i like "stuff you missed in history class" more.

"grammar girl's quick and dirty tips for better writing" is also a very good podcast. sometimes it's nice to brush up on your grammar. they are not long, at the most ten minutes, and grammar girl isn't preachy.  and it's got a good theme song.

happy listening!

mini break- palm springs

it was 10 degrees cooler than 'normal'

so it only hit 105 degrees F during the day!

above is our hotel which was lovely.  it's a small hotel with only twelve rooms or so and adults are preferred so no screaming children!

friday night we went for chinese food at Wangs in the Desert (yup)

apparently friday night happy hour is THE place to be if you are a gay man in palm springs. it was awesome.  

i did get a couple of funny looks though, as i was one of three girls in the restaurant that evening. (and maybe they were checking out my husband as well)

below is palm springs main area at night

we ate some really good thin crust pizza at Matchbox, and sat on their balcony overlooking the main street

our days were filled with sunbathing and swimming. each room had a kitchenette so we were able to make our own breakfasts and lunches.

and at night, we watched movies in our room and went night swimming. here is the hotel at night... beautiful!

we had a wonderful time. but glad to be home!

bunny days

sometimes i wish my bunny could talk, though i may not like what he has to say

what would he, a close observer into my life, would say about me? my bad habits? my good deeds? and those things that i do on autopilot that don't give me a second thought? 

a message from the mayor of edgartown to YOU (that's right! YOU!)

eat more veggies. 

it's healthy and will make you feel better

take time out for yourself. sometimes you have to hide from the world for a little while to regroup and think about what you really want from life.

take care of yourself and get plenty of rest. 

there will be challenges. you must face them and overcome! don't doubt yourself!

and treat yourself. those orange lips are from a very delish carrot!

have a fun day. there are so many things you could be doing. what is it you really want to do?

vaca

my parents were visiting for a week.

it has been three years since they came out last and we had a lot of fun

it's always sort of odd to have them out at first, like a dream where they're suddenly there but you're not used to seeing them there

but then they stay a day and suddenly, it's normal to have them around 

so it's extra sad when they leave

we went to santa barbara for a couple of days

visited the mission (the sunflowers below were on the mission property)

and went to the santa barbara zoo (where i fed the giraffes)

dad also was kind enough to install some extra exterior lighting outside

and we spent a day at disneyland (finding nemo ride was cute, but the best is still indiana jones)

ate some good food 

and they were very excited to eat at in n out burger for the first time

let's hope they come back sooner than 3 years