Adding to the family...

Our larger snake hasn't been interested in eating his mice. After a day in the tank with the snake, I felt these mice have earned their "freedom". Well, freedom of sorts. They aren't destined to be food anymore at least.

I bought a cage for them, and it's pretty cool. It's like part cage, part space station for mice. So, the two of them are in there running wild, with no fear of being struck by the snake.

We'll give the snake another week or so, and see if he's hungry then...

Drinking hot lemon...

Drinking hot lemon and hoping to fight off the worst of the cold that Hans had. I can expect at least another 4 or 5 days of feeling bleary, coughing a lot, and otherwise being sick.

I have applied for work at the Old Navy in Palmdale. I hope to at least get part-time work there. I enjoyed working at Old Navy in the past, and was glad to find there was a location in Palmdale.

I was so bored the other night, I made a Facebook page for my cat Remy. So far, his updates mostly consist of pouncing on mosquitos in the house and chasing his sister Rocky.

I think I'm going to go close my eyes for a little while...

Made a blog for my cousin!

Set up a blog for my cousin, who is currently in jail. Since he doesn't have internet access, he doesn't have the pleasure of writing a blog! :) So, I thought I'd help him out. He's going to write me letters, and I'll type them up on his blog! His site is here:

http://chrismondroski.blogspot.com

He is currently not allowed contact with his daughter, but if he could tell her what he's feeling, this is what he would say, it's his first blog entry:

"If I had the chance to talk to my daughter again, this is what I'd say:

I'd tell her how much I dearly love her and that I miss her more than words can say. That I am so terribly sorry for what has happened, and why we haven't been able to be together.

I promise her that when I get out, I will make things better like they used to be. I will spend the rest of my days making up to her for what all she has had to go through since we've been apart.

I'd want her to know that I have thought about her constantly, every single day, since the last time I've seen her. What has kept me going has been my memories of her and I together when she was younger, and the chance for us to be together and make new memories again someday.

I would ask her not to listen to or believe all the terrible things she has heard about me, but to trust in what she remembers of us together and what she feels in her heart: and to not let anyone change that. Remember the times we spent together, like the Chicago concert, when she got her guitar pick from the bass player. Or how much fun we used to have playing with and chasing around those nutty kittens of hers. Remember our daddy-daughter dates we would have on my days off, when I'd come have lunch with her at school, then pick her up afterward and go get ice cream and go to the park.

Remember how close we were, and how quickly she would always fall asleep in my arms, and how much she enjoyed me scratching her back and rubbing her feet.

I'd want her to know that I've never forgotten about her or abandoned her.

I would ask her to stay strong, keep smiling and like she told me years ago "not to think about the bad stuff".

To keep doing good in school, church and music, and that I am so proud of her for her hard work and being awarded "Student of the Year!".

I'd want her to always remember that I love her more than anything in this world, that I miss her so very much and that I am always thinking of her.

I'd ask her to never forget how close we were, the strong bond we had together, and to know it can and will be that way again.

Always remember that she still is, and always weill be my little girl, and I will always be her "Dee, Aye, Dee": nobody can change that.

Remember to always say her prayers; keep her faith and to stick to her nature by staying sweet, especially when those around her are sour.

I promise to make things better, and to be in her life again as soon as I can.

Remember how she felt when we were together when she was little. I still love her like that, just hang in there Sweetheart, your daddy is coming, and we will be happy again together, someday soon!

I Love You More

-Yes Way! "

Had a nice day!

I had such a nice day today!

First I got up early and went to Stacey's for the garage sale. It was fun to just hang out and chat, and make money at the same time! I got rid of a few odds-and-ends that I didn't need.

After that, I picked up some thread to finish the "fairy godmother" dress I'm working on.

Then I drove to Goodwill and donated the rest of the stuff from the garage sale that didn't sell. I have to admit, my "hoarding" tendencies are always just under the surface, and I couldn't help wondering if I should hang on to the stuff, or try to find another way to make sure it got to the "right person" who "really needed it". The reality is, when I decide to let something out of my life, I just need to let it go. I can't put conditions on where it goes. So, I dropped the stuff off at Goodwill, and felt all the lighter for it.

Then I went to Charo Chicken and had a Thai chicken burrito. It was pretty good!

Then I went to the Quartz Hill Library and got a few books to read this week. I checked out a couple CDs to add to my iTunes (and eventually!) to the iPod I'm giving to Holly.

Then I went to CVS and picked up some new nail polish, base coat and top coat. Doing my nails is a cheap and easy way to perk myself up, and "splurging" for a bottle of polish now and again isn't going to make or break me.

Then I went to Midsummer Fairies for the women's discussion group. As always it was so nice and refreshing to be out and about, talking with people. We talked about "letting go", as the "freeing of the garage sale leftovers" was still somewhat on my mind.

One of the women there had a sense of our personalities, and was telling us about what she "felt" coming from us. I think everyone likes to hear about themselves, certainly I do. She said that I had an earthy feel about me, that like the earth I had many layers, and there was the chaotic core thrashing around inside, but on the outside I radiated a certain strength and welcoming. She really hit on it when she said that it seemed like there was a little person inside of me just needing a hug, but when she said that, she crossed her arms in front of herself like she was hugging herself and rocking back and forth. That's so what's inside me.

I don't know if I like hearing about myself more than other people, but I know I definitely do like hearing about myself. I try to send out a positive, welcoming energy as much as I can, because I'm always seeking out input from others, like if I connect with enough other people, I'll meet the people who have the keys to open the secrets inside myself.

Then, as I was leaving, one of the guys that works at the store said that with my hair done the way it was (in like pigtail knots) that I looked like this one fairy statue they have (that I have too, because I like it so much)! Who doesn't like a compliment!

It was great to enjoy time with others today, and get out and talk with people.

end of the night wrap up.

Got Hans to go to the Thursday Night on the Square in Palmdale. We didn't stay too long, because he doesn't really like people that much. Did a quick walk through, got a mini-pie for each of us (sweet potato for me, strawberry cheesecake for him), and walked back to the car.

Smelled some wicked, wicked good BBQ while we were there. Should have gotten some, but instead went to Panda Express and had the most overcooked Orange Chicken ever.

Suggested a quick swing behind Trader Joes for some dumpster diving, but Hans is still avoiding that. I've just got to drive down to Palmdale on my own and do some dumpster diving.

Took a picture of someone's '78 Datsun for my album on Facebook: "Cars You Don't See in the Midwest". That's not rust on that car, it's the shadow of a shrub next to it. Cars like this one are too old to still be running in the Midwest, but too young to be collected and restored. They're the "lost generation" of cars.

Back home for our usual night: Watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

Tomorrow is Friday, but since I haven't had a job in 6 months, it really doesn't hold any special excitement for me.

Haven't thought about this in a while...

Just got a spam email complimenting me on my "Danica's Laid Off" blog and suggesting I sign up for a this website, http://happier.com/

For just $4.99 a month they can help me be happier. Indeed.

I breezed over the website, and one of the testimonials mentions listing 3 positive things a day. I figure I can at least do that. So, what's been positive today:
1.) Got up early and pulled weeds at a non-profit organic peach farm.
2.) Made a delicious sandwich for lunch. Yum!
3.) Got in touch with my roommate from college!

And the day isn't even over...

Friday 4/17: $50 to spend the day...

Because we're going to a car show early tomorrow morning, we're just going to stay at Hans' folks' house tonight.

So, I went into work with Hans, and took the car from there to bum around for the day and he said I should go shopping; enjoy some retail therapy. He said I should spend no less than $50 on stuff. I didn't think I'd be able to spend $50, but with some encouragement, I did.

Here's how the day broke down:

Took the car from Hans, drove from Sylmar back to The Old Road and went to Walmart. Bought a pink shirt on clearance for $3, some blank greeting cards to embellish and sell for $5 and some quotes on vellum to use for crafting for about $2.

Went on to Old Navy where I bought a denim skirt for $4, a pair of brown capri pants for $3 and a reusable tote bag for $1, but got 10% off the order so that pretty much made the tote bag free.

From there, I walked to Michael's where I bought 5 stamps for $1 a piece.

I drove down to Lyons Ave. and went to the dollar store. I bought 6 packets of veggie/rice dinner sides for $3 (I served them once for dinner, and Hans mentioned he liked them.) I also got 2 jars of minced garlic (I go through it like crazy while cooking!) and a Harry Potter 20 Questions game for my sister Holly.

I was a big spender at Rite-Aid where I bought the stuff to do my nails. I got a nail file, nail clippers, a pack of 48 nails, a bottle of brush-on nail glue for my nails, and a tube of mascara for $12.

I drove back to Sylmar, and did my nails in the car before calling him to tell him I was there for lunch.

We went to lunch and I gave him the receipts for all my purchases! He was teasing me that he would want to see receipts to prove I spent at least $50. I was only up to $40 though by lunch time.

We went to a Mexican restaurant in Library Plaza in San Fernando. Afterwards, I just hung out at the library, checked out some books and sat in the courtyard and read my books while he went back to finish out the day. I went to a little coffeeshop in the Plaza and got a blended iced chai tea to drink.

Right before Hans came to get me, I spent my remaining money on some cookies from a nearby Mexican bakery so we'd have something for dessert after dinner with his parents.

We picked up KFC for dinner and went to his parent's house. We cleaned up his truck, and got it finished up for the show the next day.

We had a firepit fire in the back yard and roasted marshmallows. It was a nice night!