Getting jiggy

The last email I got from Theroun Patterson he wrote...

"since you're all west coast now, I guess I have to rep my 'hood whenever I talk to you, so here goes . . . A-town down shawty. East sIDE!"

Okay, just try and say that. You know I did. More than once. And yes, it sounded just as silly coming out of my mouth on try 1 as try 15.

For those of you who don't know, I signed up for a class with the Experimental College, since I have a little time to kill before Fall Quarter. I had many options -- Vietnamese Cooking, Meditation, Sound Mixing. But I decided to keep a good thing going and registered for...

Intermediate Hip Hop

There should not be any laughing here, since I have to say that I am pretty good. I have danced with Melvina at LA Fitness, for what Steve? A year? I know that I am a petite, white girl. However, I was a little taken aback in the Experimental College office being asked, "Um, can you handle an intermediate class??"

Damn straight.

I mean Q (yeah, his name is Q) kicks our asses and I am the oldest person in the class. And did I mention this class is from 9:00-10:00? PM!!? But I am definitely hippin' and a-hoppin' and for the first time...poppin'!

At the end of class, we get kudos from Q and he walks around and we touch sweaty fists, ala the Wonder Twins turning themselves into the form of water and something else random.

It would be great if I had an appropriate verbal response. And I'm not talking some old Randy Jackson "what up, dawg" kinda thing. I need something current.

Can anyone help a home girl out?

Whew -- close call

So I got home tonight and with wishful thinking I tried to get online. I am not sure what happened, but my old connection worked!!

So, I am sitting on my couch with a glass of local wine, watching Wheel of Fortune.

Second day at the Fair was just as interesting as the first. The Splasher suit is indeed a tad warm, but I did find a space to stash my ice packs. Thankfully it is the California Food Expo two doors down, so when I am in there switching out the pack, I sometimes can grab a little snack of leftovers from the food demos. Yippee!

Out in the fair grounds, I did have a delicious frozen banana and know that I will certainly have a funnel cake before all is said and done.

I do have to say that the reactions I get in the big frog suit are AMAZING. Adults smiling and waving, kids running up and giving me hugs. There have been a few uncomfortable adults and kids crying when I approach, but for the most part everyone is great.

A short list of memorable exchanges or "close calls" as you will:
-- When the handler was not looking, a young guy literally ran into me and grabbed me. He may or may not have been drunk. It was a little frightening, but finally she came back and shooed him away.
-- A woman asked to take a photo and I motioned her to come next to me. She grabbed my head and yanked it towards her and put my "mouth" next to her cigarette smoked lips. She also said, "I don't care if you are a man or a woman...I love frogs!"
-- A little girl followed me around the Expo saying, "Bring it on!" before she punched me in the arm.
-- At least 4 people coming up to me to tell me to clean up a beer spill by the surf boards.
-- The numerous people (adults & kids) who I sneak up on and surprise as they view the exhibit. Man, can people jump!

I'm sure I will have more and I promise photos soon.

Takin' it on the road

Okay, folks after a year of being on a laptop I finally have the misfortune of not getting free wifi from home. I know I have been scamming for that entire time and have been oh so lucky that my neighbors have not passworded their connection.

When I got home from my first day at the CA State Fair last night, I was welcomed with the news that I could no longer connect to the Internet. I went through all levels of healing until I finally reached Acceptance and put my laptop away and went to sleep. Bummer.

I am now having coffee and a really dry scone at Ciocolat, a little cafe around the corner from my cottage apartment. I see the Saturday morning Farmer's Market in the distance and the weather is fantastic. I am able to get my emails here and surf the web, but for some reason my emails will not SEND.

The big move-out is in 2 weeks, so my fingers are crossed that a NEW neighbor will have their wifi unlocked. There is also free wifi on campus. However, the thought of not being able to watch Grey's Anatomy from bed -- streaming on my laptop, is a very sad thing.

I may have to break down and BUY it. Oh my gosh, what!!?? No way.

Um, yeah.

The Adventures of Splasher the Frog

Okay, I tried the costume on yesterday and whoa, man it is HOT and the head is HEAVY!

I did my normal dancing around as I put on the padding harness and what looks like green footie pajamas. The web feet that I wear over my shoes are a little awkward and then came the giant life-preserver.

Still dancin'!

Until the head.

The thing is a little large and it is uncomfortable.

I stopped dancing.

There is this elaborate, yet low tech cooling system of little ice packs in this boustiere lookin' thing. Hopefully that will keep my sweating to a minimum.

Only 16 days, folks.

And a chance to get my photo with the Governator...

...as a giant frog!

Do you, do you, like my HAT?

I have my fitting tomorrow of the Splasher, the Frog costume. Wish me luck.

Look I'm a Simpson

Okay, I am just a hair behind the times. But look at my dorkiness...

a tight SQUEEZE

I have to say that it's very comforting for me and the cats to have my "stuff" here in California. But renting an apartment sight unseen makes it very difficult to know if all of your "stuff" will fit. Erin, Steve, Angela and Michele can vouch for the amount of stuff I gave away, but apparently it was not enough.

My mother, father and I tripped over ourselves and I had to sell the large chair and ottoman that matches my couch up on craigslist. The wire bakers rack is next, I just need to find a smaller replacement to hold my microwave and barware.

When we unloaded the relocubes we had to place all boxes right outside my front door since there was not be enough room to move around. It took my mother and I the full day to put things away and at the end of the day just pulled the final 5 boxes inside.

Good news is that there is a decent amount of storage space. Little cubbie holes here and there for me to place my office stuff, extra kitchen things and linens.

Today I will work on the final boxes and hopefully find my glass pitcher.