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1. Climate controlled - air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter.
2. Constant supply of Mountain Dew.
3. Good food.
4. Free Wireless Internet
5. Comfy chairs & (usually) plenty of outlets to plug into.
   
6. No cats bugging me.
7. I get to people watch while working.
8. I seem to be more productive.
9. Jazzy music that's a good background noise for working... nothing too distracting and rather calming.
   

1. Leaving my laptop unattended while using the bathroom.
2. Hoping no one jacks my laptop while using the bathroom.
3. Hoping that, should someone make an attempt, the dozen people within view of my table will be honest enough to stop said person.
4. Small children yelling MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY I WANT SAMMICH MOMMY MOMMY
5. Cell phone service kinda blows.
6. People on the phone carrying on LONG, boring conversations :/
   

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I really focused on the living room and hallway today.  Tomorrow I have plans, so I think next weekend or sometime during the week is when I'll attempt to focus on hanging the few things in the bedroom and have Dominic hang the shelves.  He also needs to fix the hole in the wall in the kitchen that was created when I removed the shot glass shelves before the fair and rehang the one still down and the new one I bought.  I'm up to four shelves and I need to get them all back up.  The shelves I bought today at K-mart are nice black shelves to go in the bedroom to put all my dolphin stuff on and Dominic's dragon stuff on.  Then hanging the shadow box of wedding stuff, the wedding portrait, and the embroidered date thingy (hard to describe) in the bedroom will complete everything, pretty much. 

Back in August when we went to New York to go to Affiliate Summit, we bid on and won a digital picture frame in a silent auction benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City.  I just got around to messing with the frame today and it's pretty cool, though with the size of the photos I'm loading onto it I'm limited to around 400 (I'd originally picked out about 1300 to go on it).  I need to read the manual to check out the optimal size and do some resizing... or go buy an SD card to put photos on, either way.  We're not sure where to hang it since the cord has to be plugged in and we don't want the cats messing with it.  So it's sitting on top of my printer for the time being.  Of  course, messing with the photos for that got me remembering that I had a bunch of photos from the fair (and since) to go through, so I did that and I'm uploading the finished photos dutifully to Flickr and Kodak Gallery right now.

Without further ado, here's some photos of the decor.  Holy shit, our house actually looks like people live here and don't just crash somewhere lol.

The wall between the bathroom door and my desk.  The lower picture is a drawing Dominic's sister Noelle drew:

The wall above the couch... all painted by my late grandmother Jean:

Hard to photograph this, but the wall with the mirror behind the TV and DVD racks:

Between the front door and the front window, photo by Bryan Wilson:

The hall to our bedroom... family & some friend photos:

Some of this was here, but I found my grad caps and some other assorted memorabilia so rearranged this:

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I'm still in a crafting mood, and I had this small ornament sized kit that I've been putting off making for awhile, so I bust it out.  Now I know I got this from either Michael's or Beverly's - i.e. REAL craft stores at full price.  AGAIN, the list of colors is calling for a green and a dark green and there's only one color green in the thread the kit came with.  Also calls for a yellow and a bright yellow, and there's only one color of yellow in there.

What the fuck?!  The kits were two different manufacturers, and at least one, NeedleMagic, I've worked with a lot before and never had this problem.  It's really frustrating, and I guess I'll just use the one color for both colors called for.  At least it's a small kit and so using the same color yellow or green instead of the two variations won't be noticed that badly.  It just really irritates me that, not only did this happen but it happened twice in one day and I've never had this problem before.

Also, Posterous finally has different designs.  Swell!

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97th Annual Alameda County Fair Breaks Attendance Records!

July 14, 2009, Pleasanton, CA – During the first 11 days of this year’s run, the Alameda County Fair has broken attendance records in their 20+ years of record keeping.  To date, an outstanding 288,502 patrons have attended this year’s fair, according to Rick K. Pickering, CEO.  “The fair is on track to see well over 400K attendees by the end of fair,” he states.

Fully able to accommodate the average 30K daily visitors, the fair encompasses some 267 acres, making it one of the largest fairs in California, numbering 84, statewide.  Nationally, the Alameda County Fair ranks 50 in attendance among all fairs in the US.

And yes, ladies and germs, I won 4th place for my shot glass collection in the hobby competition there.  BOOYA!  I haven't yet taken the pictures of me with the case and the award ribbon inside, but for your reference here's the picture I took before the case was closed the day I set it up.  This is only about 2/3 of my collection, by the way.  Next year I'm going to submit my dolphins!

AWARD WINNING, bitches!

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It's very fitting that my Quote of the Day widget on iGoogle showed this quote today, the 10 year anniversary of my graduation from Encinal High School.

"How my achievements mock me!" - William Shakespeare.

Fitting knowing me, no?

It's been a weird 10 years, and hot DAMN how time flies!  I managed to graduate from college, get married, and get settled in a career.  No kids yet, but I can easily see that happening in a year or two.  We down own this house, but we live in it.  I do love my two cats, Lunchbox and Muse, very dearly.  It's strange to think it's been so long.  I don't know where I thought I'd be at this point. I can imagine it probably had something to do with living in LA writing movies or acting.  I'm sure it didn't involve being married as I hadn't had a boyfriend yet and didn't know what I was doing wrong trying to get one, let alone find one and fall in love and get married.  I know I envisioned myself working at Camp Deer Lake throughout college, but that didn't happen either thanks to some ghetto bitchy girls that summer I did work there after high school that tried my patience.  I think that's why they didn't hire me again, but it worked out for the better...I got in working at the company my dad worked for and learned professionalism, work ethic, multitasking, and generally how to be successful in an office.  Something I use to this day.

Times were tough for awhile when I first graduated college while looking for a job, and a few months later when I lost that job and got a new one, and in the last month-ish while transitioning to this new job, but all that's really to be expected.  College was socially hard (not the classes, most were easy).  But moving back down here I've been able to keep the same friends I've had since 6th grade (and in Rachel's case, 4th).  I'm working with two of my fellow senior class officers to plan our 10 year reunion happening in August and it's really coming together. 

My change in direction from theatrical goals to affiliate marketing goals has afforded me the opportunity to visit Miami, Boston, Santa Barbara, Anaheim, Dallas, and Las Vegas SEVERAL times.  I'll also be going to Denver next week and New York City in August, which Dominic will be coming with me!  And along the way I was able to afford a great cruise to the Bahamas, a great 5th anniversary trip to Lake Tahoe, and several ventures back to Oregon to visit the in-laws. 

I can't say that things have worked out according to plan, since like I said my plans involved acting and writing, but it has turned out well.

Wow... 10 years ago....

As an embarrassment to them, I'm going to type out VERBATIM what a few peeps wrote in my yearbook...I see a distinct pattern in that no one remembered the 'd' in Humboldt and " always" was all the rage in signing, even with guys!  And how is it that I just realized they spelled my last name wrong in the Senior Best section?!

Ladies and gentlemen,
May we please award Trisha Flodye for two awards.  One award for best leading actress and best produce.  Now can we have a warm welcome to Trisha Flodye!!!!
May you get many awards in your future career, whatever it maybe.
Rachel Nuckols
go class of 99!

Trisha
Hey this year has been great.  I've known you for 6 yrs, even though it feels longer.  I'm going to miss you next year, so we better kick it this summer, a whole lot. 
always
Lorenza

They will EAT us!
They will EAT us!
What can I say?  You're now immortal because of that line and... POOR ELIZA!  Anyway when you're some big director or something, call me.  That is, if you're not to High from Humbolt.  Don't stop talking to me, and have fun next year.
always,
Jennifer Acosta
"There is a happy land far, far away.  Where saints in glory stand, bright bright as day."

There's no bizz like show bizz is right.  you and me are destined to get & make it in Hollywood.  I'll see you there in 4 years.
friends 4 ever,
Katie Shaw
P.S. You'll have to give me your # @ colledge

Hello Trisha,
how are you today?  I hope you are well and all, ready to live in reality for a bit, not going insane with the fact that we aren't Encinal people anymore.  I'm not taking that too well yet!
See ya around,
Much love,
Andrew

Hey Trisha!
Its been nice knowing you since 3rd grade.  We are finally done and over with this year!  Aren't you so proud?!  Well, have a nice summer & take care!
Bye!
Bonnie Cartwright

~Trisha~
So hey we now move on... To better things?  To worse things?  To new things!  I have known you hella long, and it's been a blast...Hope you do well in Humbolt!  I know you'll K.I.T...cuz yeah you're good like that...You my dawg Trisha...You my dawg! Always 'n forever
Tiffany (Fisher crossed out) Harrington (heehee!)

Trisha,
Have a cool summer.  Congradulations on graduating.  Have a nice future.
c/o 99 Your friend,
& c/o 2000 Veronica Munoz

87 I'm okay, you're okay, we're all okay! 91
Hey now.  So yeah.  It was fun.  I doubt I'll see you in Hollywood, because I'll be such a great actor that I'll be on location all the time and living in New York.  And screw the Academy Aware -> I'm too good to go!  See ya around!
w/
Eric

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I really wish I could get to a place like this and take it with caution but optimism like most people.  People face greater challenges than this every day and handle it with far more ability than I can handle average tough situations.

So Dominic's almost done with DeVry.  The estimate is that he'll be done in October and have his bachelor's in project management.  This means so much to him and I'm so proud of him that he's stuck with this for the last three or four years to finish is degree in the evenings over the 'net.  I can't even express it.  We always knew that his financial aid would run out towards the end and that we'd have to get a loan from our bank for the rest.  Without going into an enormous amount of personal financial details, we're having issues with the bank securing the loan.  I was denied as a cosigner due to my unstable recent work history (2 mo. self-employed, 8 mo. at NEM).  Of course Dominic was all kinds of pissed off about the problems and concerned he wouldn't be able to finish school when he's so close, and had many angry choice words about the bank and my former employer and  other stuff that, while mostly not directed at ME, I took like this:

This is my fault.  I should never have left PsPrint.  I should have stayed and been miserable, but miserable with a steady job and paycheck and employment history.  Had I not taken the risk to work for NEM and subsequently been let go, he'd have no problem getting the loan.  If I'd taken perhaps another job instead of the current contractor stuff I'm doing, with better up-front pay, maybe that would override the history thing.  This is my fault.

A more rational or emotionally stable person might look at that and not understand how I could think this was solely my fault.  How could I have known NEM would fold - I was assured it was stable.  PMG, the firm I work with now, assured me they had clients days away from signing contracts, and I don't touch those initial deals so how's it my fault they haven't been able to give me another contract.  How can I be blamed for wanting out of a job that, while stable, was making me even more depressed and miserable.

But this is what I do... I internalize.  At first, after getting off the phone with the bank about the loan, I suggested that we could ask my dad to co-sign instead.  I started to call him, but then realized that with the time difference it was 11pm in SC and he was probably headed to bed, so I hung up and sent him an email instead.  Of course, after that, and more angry words about the situation from Dominic... panic attack was in full swing.  Turns out my dad was still up, just in a different room than his cell phone, so he called me to see what I'd called about, and by that time I was crying and hyperventilating to the point where I could barely talk and tried to spit out something like "Dominic applied for a loan..." and all that came out was "Dom... D... Dominic..." sniffle cry wheeze... he had to ask me if everyone was OK.  (Which later made me think that if I get this worked up over something that supremely sucks but isn't the absolute end of the world, I think I'd immediately throw up and have to be sedated if anything ever DID happen to Dominic...).  Dad assured me that he had no problem at all helping and to chin up and tried to help me calm down.  By this point Dominic had found me in the bedroom putting clothes away and trying to breathe and was trying to calm me down too.  So at this point things are still sticky with the bank, but after another talk with my dad and Dominic talking to the financial aid people at DeVry, it's not looking as bleak.

I still can't help but internalize this and try to fix it, and feel like it's my fault it's not fixed.  I put this enormous pressure on myself.  PMG has more leads for contracts but still nothing signed yet, so I actually applied for some part-time receptionist jobs to help supplement my income until they can land another client for me.  I know there's a lot of potential here to work with them and to make even double what I was making before, and it's not necessarily her fault that these clients are passing on the proposals given the economic climate we're in.  It's just taking longer to get back up to what I was making before than I anticipated.  We're not suffering and haven't had to make any serious sacrifices like cutting the fun stuff we pay for monthly like XM Radio, Netflix, etc, and haven't had any trouble paying bills thanks to savings and the little bit of Unemployment benefits I did receive in those few weeks between being let go from NEM and actually starting my contract with PMG.  I was starting, as well, to worry about my prescriptions and health.  I've cut myself back on how often I've been taking my pills when I lost my health insurance.  We tried to add me to Dominic's but hadn't heard anything back.  One positive note this week has been that we received the new health insurance cards adding me to his insurance, so I can go back to taking the number of pills per day I should have been taking and go back to the doctor soon to start getting my diabetes more in-check.

Back to why I'm writing this... because I don't have a therapist and unfortunately feel like I don't really have anyone to tell this to that will honestly just listen in person... or that I'd start to blubber again and not be able to get it all out.  I feel like a failure.  My marketing blog has been around for 2 years come August and still gets low traffic.  The Google Page Rank was PR0 for the longest time to a PR2 in January... then mysteriously back to PR0 in March without me making any big changes to it, so I don't know what I'm doing wrong.  I'm speaking on a panel at a convention this month and at a convention in August, so I must be doing something right in terms of my career, but I still feel like I'm doing something fatally wrong.  Like there's something I should be doing to make the bigger bloggers in the affiliate marketing space - who mostly know me and are friendly with me - want to link to my blog in their links area.  None do.  I feel like maybe they think I'm a hack or something, I don't know.  I know there are things I could be doing, topics I could be writing about, I could be writing more often, but finding the energy to craft good stuff isn't always easy.  This, this is easy.  This is just pouring what I'm thinking out through my fingers into a blog that I don't expect anyone to give two shits about.  This is more for me, I know. 

I've always been told I'm a great asset for any company to have.  My work is excellent.  I have good ideas and work efficiently and produce results.  I have potential.  I just don't know why I don't believe that and can't help but think that I have no business aspiring to anything.  That I'm not good enough to have aspirations and should have just relegated myself to an average job at an average company long ago.  Who the fuck did I think I was, getting a degree in theatre arts?  Anything else at the time just felt too average for me.  I've always felt like I could be really great at something and known for something.  Do something notable.  I feel a lot like I can't help if that I'm above average... I've always been above average, but I feel like I'm not far enough above average to be special or remarkable.  I've always felt like I was better than average and that I'd never be happy just being average, and it terrifies me that maybe that's all I am - average.  Nothing special.  I don't know what I can do to not feel this way...all the Paxil or Lexapro in the world won't help.  And I don't say this, about being better than average, to be superior or better than anyone.  Maybe that's why I have such problems with depression and self-image, because it evens out my ego. 

Sometimes I don't know if I'm trying too hard to achieve recognition, or not hard enough.  I wish I could get more out of this turmoil than insomnia, like crazy good art or something, but unfortunately I'm not better than average in that way.

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The San Leandro Historical Railway Society presents their June 2009 Open House and Model Railroad Train Show!

June 6th & 7th, Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sunday 12pm - 5pm.

Railroaders of all ages are welcome!  Raffle prizes and a bake sale.  Win a HO Model Train set or other prizes.  The SLHRS is in Thrasher Park at the 111 year old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot.  1302 Orchard, San Leandro, CA 94577.

Visit them on the web at www.slhrs.org and support my hubby's latest passion!  Donations are welcome.  On Saturday there will also be a small yard sale beginning at 10am. 

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I just started reading Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid by Dr. Denis Leary.  Yes, that Denis Leary.  Here's a good quote I just read that I want to share:

"We live in a country where the first pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's baby were sold for over four million dollars.  Shit - for THREE million dollars I'd sell you the pictures AND the kid.

We live in a country where Rosa Parks had the courage and conviction to sit down long enough to start a revolution that led to Al Sharpton screaming racism every time Barry Bonds gets indicted for taking performance-enhancing drugs in order to break a home-run record set by a black man who didn't even have the benefit of Advil.

A country where - once upon a time - the Presidential Medal of Freedom was given to people who fought for civil rights and equal rights and other matters that made a genuine difference and real contributions to a better future for everyone on the planet.  Now it goes to guys who so botched the War on Terror that the president had to accept their resignations before they squirm off into the shadows to lick their wounds.

We used to honor our living war veterans with respect and bury the dead heroes with dignity.

George Bush The Second avoided Vietnam through privileged connections, shot down the brave deeds of another privileged son - John Kerry - who volunteered to serve, came home with medals on his chest and made the mistake of thinking the best man might win when he ran against a guy whose administration was caught cremating dead American soldiers from Iraq in a pet cemetery incinerator.

Because it was cheaper.

Open ass - insert Oval Office."

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