$97.45

That was the cost for this evening's entertainment. Coldplay concert in Oakland that is! It was cool. I had a great time considering I went by myself. I bought the ticket in November 2005 and at the time January 2006 seemed so far away to even remember with holiday festivities and all.

My seat was 20 feet away from the stage. What made the ticket worth it? At one point in the concert I was an arm's length away from lead singer Chris Martin. He left the stage and ran through the aisle with three (or four) bodyguards in tow. If I had reached out I would have touched him (or have the bodyguards slap my hand away), but it was enough to see him close up. There were two teenage girls who went crazy. I'm talking close to tears crazy for being that close to him. To be young again and excited in those ways again. (sigh) jejejejjeej

Fiona Apple opened the concert. I'm not a Fiona fan, but her set was alright.

I didn't think Coldplay would attract the pot-smoking crowd. Goes to show you what I know. They were into the second song when the people in front of me started smoking. Fourth to the last song and the people behind me were passing around a joint. It just so happens that I work with some of those people, it was a surprise to wind up sitting next to them. Now I know they 'smoke.'

I chatted with the person to my right. Nice guy. He will be going to tomorrow's concert in San Jose. The person to my left didn't talk.

I sang and danced to every song. For once I knew all the words. Well...except to the Johnny Cash song. I didn't know those words. Now I am not saying I'm a great dancer, but let it be known that some people cannot move. I couldn't tell if they were intoxicated or if they just plain had no rhythm whatsoever. It was kind of cute.

I'd definitely go see Coldplay again. Not tomorrow but rather when they are promoting their next album. It's my band. They, along with La Ley, got me through my last heartbreak.

Where's the sun?

Please let the rain stop. I don't want anymore rain, not even drizzles. I want warm days where I don't have to take a coat or jacket with me everytime I step out the door.

Went to see Chronicles of Narnia this evening. The book was better. I kept comparing it to the first Harry Potter movie and it could not compete.

Today on the way home I was overcome by a feeling which I'm trying to pinpoint. I'm not sure if it was sadness or loneliness. It was strange. If I had let myself, I think I would have been able to cry right then and there. It was short lived. As soon as I got home, I had things to take care of and the feeling was gone (or ignored) until now that I am writing about it.
I'll have to think about this and allow myself to feel whatever that feeling is when it happens again. Although part of me does not want it to happen again.

Losing my patience

It's hard to train someone when that person thinks they already know everything. This is what I am running into and I catch myself getting extremely frustrated. Frustrated because what that person needs to be doing is paying attention instead of interrupting me every 5 minutes with irrelevant questions.

How's that for venting.

I want to be a foodie

I'm slowly making my way back to reading blogs. I started sifting through some of the blogs in my favorites list and got hooked again. I've missed a lot.

I'm focusing on food blogs, because I want to start cooking atleast something every other day. I'm in the market for a kitchen mandolin. I can already see myself slicing away. ;)

Some people have tech gadgets, I want kitchen gadgets.

Investing

That is something I don't know how to do or don't have the confidence to do. As I'm writing this I'm viewing a show on the number of Hispanics in the States and the Spanish radio markets. Of course, Spanish radio stations often top the ranks list, we have the numbers behind us. I need to research companies that cater to Hispanics, because the purchasing power is too huge to ignore.
I've known this since high school when I entertained the idea of going into business. Grrr. Talk about dropping the ball.

I'm not starting from scratch, I have a brokerage account. I'm out to determine what I am going to do with it. I have time of my side, if I start now.

This all has to do with getting my financial house in order...one of the unwritten, unvocalized new year's resolutions.

I read Memoirs of a Geisha many years ago. I remember the story, somewhat. That is one of the my problems. I get all the books I've read mixed up. I don't have the greatest memory to recall these type of facts, or storylines. Yesterday I caught the movie, it was alright. I think I've stated this before, but it bugs me that Japanese actores were not used in this movie. In the end, it should not matter, but part of my thinks it does. I bet there are plenty of Japanese actors that could have played the roles. This is a new pet peeve of mine.
The cinematography was good. It made me want to travel back in time and be a fly on wall of some geisha house.

Did I mention I finally got my curtains up? Not without damaging the walls though. That part sucked.

Tomorrow I am going to start training a new person that has joined our team. I like her so I don't mind putting in the time. She's facing a huge learning curve. The only thing that worries me is the time it's going to take away from my own tasks. It's time to start working crazy hours again. I guess it was time, January has been pretty laxed..only 8 hour days. I almost feel guilty about that.

I'm reading the books for the Chronicles of Narnia so I can go watch the movie. I'm like that. I don't like to watch the movie, if I know there is a book out there somewhere. It's pretty good. I like deciphering the Christian undertones.

Body Art

I'm enjoying three shows this season. 'Dancing with the Stars' captures my attention from start to finish. Premise: You have 'stars' learning how to dance taught by professional dancers. I get a kick out of people trying something new. I like to see when they falter but more than anything when they succeed.

The two other shows are tattoo based shows. One of them is 'Miami Ink' about a tattoo shop in Miami. The other one is called 'Inked' set in Las Vegas. They have peaked my interest of getting a second tattoo. The work they do on these shows is really great stuff. I enjoy the stories of the people getting the tattoos. They give you a mini-background on why this person is going to get some art.
The shop members are seriously tattoed. This is terrible, but if I saw some of these people on a dark street, I'd be a little on edge. Maybe cross the street or grab my purse a little tighter. These shows show that lesson of always: never judge a book by its cover. Yeah they look a little weird if you are not used to seeing that, but they are just like you and me.

Broken everything

Yesterday was not my day. I broke the washing machine. I'm pretty sure I overloaded it. Three succesful loads and I got ambitious with the fourth one. When I went to the laundry room, it smelled like something was burning. I called it in fo repairs. Here's hoping they don't charge me. I mean...it could have happened to anybody.

Today was no my day. I gave the molly bolts a try when putting up the living room curtains. I followed directions to the letter. Now there are two nickel sized holes in the wall. I've plastered over them. All this and all I am trying to do is put up some simple curtains. In the end, I just used regular old screws. I can tell one set is not going to last very long. As sexist as this might sound, these are times when a boyfriend that is handy around the house would not hurt one little bit.

I have not been productive at work all this year. My schedule is changing everyday and that does not motivate me. So either I am going to sleep really late to give status tomorrow afternoon or wake up really early to have something to report. I don't know what my problem is, but I am not feeling the passion.

It's raining and it's cold. I only like this weather when I can lock myself up in my home with good books, great movies, easy music, hot chocolate and the heater on at full blast. Oh, and food, yummy food. My reality is getting up tomorrow. Dragging myself to work trying to avoid getting wet in the process.

I went out on a limb and invited some friends to Montreal. I've never been, they've never been. Hopefully, these plans will materialize.

It doesn't matter how old we get, we never seize to develop crushes. I need to find one for this month. jejejej It's fun seeing who has crushes on who and hearing the reasons why. Beauty (inner and outer) really is in the eye of the beholder.

My aunt has been diagnosed with the beginnings of cancer of the uterus. This is someone in my family, the first that I know of and I had no real reaction. Isn't lack of reaction shock?

Happy Belated New Year

To my neglected blog. I'm amazed at the speed at which time goes by. Part of me is scared too. I admit it. Will I look back and regret some of these years? I don't think so, but I really don't know. I need to live by that quote that goes something like "live as if it were the last day of your life." If I were to live that way, I would be living within driving distance of my family. I'd be close enough to drop by for dinner or have them drop by at a moments notice.

Let see, I was in OKC for Christmas and New Years. I loved it. I have not relaxed that beautifully in a very long time. I enjoyed my family more than I have in years past. The weather was nice, it was not cold. It didn't even rain. I contacted my handful of dear friends, chatted it up like on the old days.

Came back to CA and extended my vacation at the last minute because I was not ready to go back to work. Got a cold which led to a fever which prompted me to stay home and get better since I was not being productive. I'm still coughing and sneezing too frequently for my comfort level, but I'm almost back to my old 'healthy' self.

During my vacatation I found out I could not donate one of my kidneys to my mom. Both of our hopes were up, and it was depressing. She's a strong lady, my mom. I started crying immediately it felt like a personal failure...my hopes were that high. Instead of me comforting her, she was comforting me telling me everything was going to be okay. There is the possibility to donate another way, it will take serious commitment on my part. More on that later.

I can't wait to se what this year has in store. I want to appreciate the good and hangle the bad with grace. Is that too much to ask for? I don't think so.