Sunday, July 31, 2005

We are such tourists

Caroline, Kelly and I went into SF again yesterday. We finally figured out MUNI (the bus system) so we didn't have to walk everywhere.

We went to Ocean Beach but it was freezing so we decided to go warm up at Hooters.




After Hooters we went for our Alcatraz tour.




The tour was nice. It was kind of cool walking up the long incline that so many famous prisoners walked before you. We touched the bars that prisoners hands had also touched. We went inside a solitary cell that was nothing but cold walls and a cold floor, imagining the door shutting behind us and being in there for up to 19 days.

This night tour was voted one of the best things to do while visiting SF and I highly recommend it as well.



Thats all...I'm going to take a nap now, I'm tired.

Friday, July 29, 2005

My inner thighs are talking to me

I started working out again this week after a month and a half "vacation". I normally did 60 pounds on the inner-thigh machine and thought I could just start with that much weight again.

I. Was. Wrong.

I could not move my legs this morning. They hurt and still hurt really bad. This of course on the day which we were going to SF to walk around.

I walked around all right. I looked like I had a stick up my ass but I don't care, my damn inner thighs hurt!

Note to self...If you stop working out for more than a week ease back into your workout.

Have a great weekend!





Thursday, July 28, 2005

Somebodys a Ho-Ho

We went to a little crepe shop the other night and sat down next to these people who seemed to be on their first date. I couldn't help myself and listened in on their conversations. The lady did most/all of the talking. I was shocked by what she was telling this man. Most of it involved how many men she had slept with or her wild drunken parties. The guy just sat there with this cold look on his face. He didn't seem to impressed. She didn't stop though she just kept talking away about her Las Vegas trips and blah blah blah.

I really hope this wasn't there first date. When did people become so "open" with everything...sheesh.

Monday, July 25, 2005

Do you want me to pack for you too?

Raising other peoples children is a tough job. Especially when you disagree about the right way to go about teaching them responsibility.

Host parents and I talked last night about our upcoming trip to the East Coast. In the past I have packed for the kids, but asked them to pack their own toothbrushes since I have no clue who's is who's. Host Dad was talking to me about this and said I should just pack their toothbrushes for them because, MY GOD, they are only 7 and 10. I then opened my big mouth and said these kids need to start learning some responsibilities and asking them to grab their own toothbrush isn't that hard. He didn't seem to like that to much. So I guess I need to grab their toothbrushes for them, pack all their clothes, and pack all my shit too.

If you see these kids sometime in the future and they ask you to wipe their ass it's not my fault. They don't know how to do anything for themselves.

Sunday, July 24, 2005

Yes, even more pictures of SF

Caroline and I went to SF yesterday and walked all the way to the Golden Gate. My feet hurt now.

Heres the Exploratorium



And the Golden Gate



Looking up from the Golden Gate



Carolines also been teaching me Swedish, so I'll leave you with this

Du luktar illa

Friday, July 22, 2005

American Idiots

I asked my friend Caroline to tell me what she thought of Americans before she came over from Sweden and here the words she described us as: Arrogant, Rude, Snobby, and Cranky...Just to name a few.

Why are we (Americans) like this?

She said that everybody she's met so far in California only talks about themselves. Tis true..for most Californias anyways. They couldn't give two shits about anybody but there precious little state. Sad, if you ask me.

I've also noticed that a lot of people are very cranky these days. Yes, I know we all have busy, stressfull lives...but is it that hard to say please and thank you. Or SMILE once in awhile. I was in a grocery store last week buying deli meat and the lady who was helping me seemed rather frazzled and annoyed that I needed help. I talked to her politely and asked her how her day ways. By the time she rang me up I could tell she was in a much better mood. Now was that so hard?

So, for all you Americans out there, Listen up! Don't be a meany head. Be nice. Have a great weekend, be polite, and smile once in awhile. Toodles.


Wednesday, July 20, 2005

I don't know how she got up there

This is what happens when I leave the room. The dog magically appears on the counter top. Lovely.




Shes coming back Canada

Today was a rough day. One of my best friends ever is leaving tomorrow morning to go back home. I cried most of the day, knowing this time would come. I then started crying when the kids were eating dinner. Thats embarrassing.

Her and I went out for one last dinner at Chevys. After we finished eating we both just sat there, knowing that when we left we would have to say good-bye. So we sat there and talked. We sat in silence for what seemed like forever with her finally saying we better go so we could say good-bye. After getting to her house we took a few pictures and exchanged cards...both of us not opening them for fear of crying. We hugged and hugged and hugged and I started crying, so she started crying. I hate good-byes. I miss her already and I just said good-bye to her.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Time to break out the parkas

Marisa and I were talking today about the weather

Marisa: It feels so much nicer today than the past week

Me: Yeah, it's only like 93 degrees today.

I guess this is normal conversation for Californians

I was going to post a picture of a tan lines on my feet, but after looking at the picture I almost vomited at the site of my own feet...so, heres a tree...


Sunday, July 17, 2005

Adventures in SF

When I first moved here I used to spend a lot of time with another nanny, Marisa. Unfortunately, shes going back home on Wednesday...to Canada. I'm sad, really sad. We've had so much fun together since I've been here that I don't want to see her go. She wanted to go to San Francisco one last time before she left so yesterday we ventured in.

Our first stop: Forever 21




This store had three floors, THREE FLOORS. I was so lost I didn't know where to go first. Of course the day I have money and plan to spend it all, I only buy two tanktops for a total of $12.

We at lunch at
Lori's Diner

The new nanny that is taking over for Marisa, Carolyn, was also in the city and she wanted to meet us and go shopping. We waiting for her in front on Forever 21. While waiting we witnessed an African-American man on crunches going through the crowd screaming "White men are the devil". This pissed me off. It would've pissed me off it was the other way around as well. I hate racist people. Nobody seemed to care though that this man was walking around screaming this. Bastard.

After meeting Carolyn we walked over to this shoe store because in the basement they are supposed to have really good sales. I was shocked when we got into the basement. ALL the shoes down there were hideous. We had a lot of fun trying on shoes though, especially ones that had fake garlic, peas, and peppers on them for $150. Heres a picture of one pair...




Now, If you can't make out whats on the shoe, I'll tell you. There are little squares of colors with numbers in them. This shoe is selling for $399. Who in the hell would buy this shoe for that much money?!?

Our last stop was Union Square.



Then we came home and went to see Wedding Crashers. GREAT movie. NOT for kids. I saw like 5 kids in the theatre.... bad idea. Its rated R for a reason people.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Oprah made me think of this

I had "plastic" surgery at the age of 16.

I like to think of it as reconstructive/cosmetic surgery. I had my nose broken as a child, probably from the numerous basketballs my brother chucked at my face. This caused my nose to become bumpy in some parts and rather weird looking. Most people didn't notice it, but I did. I started having breathing problems and eventually went to the doctor. He said my nose was slowly collapsing onto itself causing one of my nostril passages to be closed off. He told me that I would have to have surgery or else I wouldn't be able to breathe.

My mom scheduled the surgery for the Summer of 2003. I couldn't sleep the night before. I kept thinking about all the plastic surgery shows I had watched and thinking about them chiseling my nose down. BARF.

The morning came and I was nervous. We got to the waiting room and I started crying. I cry when I'm nervous or scared. They took me into the back room and made me put on those ugly, huge hospital gowns. They got me situated on a rolly cart and put the I.V. in. I kept crying because I was still scared. As they wheeled me into the room I said I love you to Mom, wondering If I would ever see her again. They made me transfer to the "cutting table". The only thing I really remember is the head rest was extremely squishy. I so wanted to take it home. They put some happy juice into my I.V. and off I slowly went to LaLa land. I mumbled something before I went under...something like "Wow! This stuff is good."

I don't remember waking up. They asked me if I wanted pain medicine and I accepted (stupid me!) Apparently Lortab and I don't get along. It made me so nauseous. I couldn't have anybody come near me because I would throw-up on them. They handed me one of those plastic kidney shaped little bowls to puke in and I laughed at them. Hand me the trash can please, my puke will never make it into this tiny bowl. I hadn't figured out that the Lortab was causing me to be the sick, so when I got home a few hours later I took another one. The same thing happenend so I quit taking my pain meds.

The recovery wasn't that bad. The pain wasn't that bad. My eyes were just really puffy and bruised. I'm sooo happy I had it done.

Now for the people who go a little crazy with the whole plastic surgery stuff. STOP! Your lips are not supposed to look like fish lips...thats gross. Go get some help because changing your outside will not change your inside...believe me.

Off to shower

Oh my God, I cannot handle this heat.

Today it was over 100 and the rest of the week is going to be the same. UGHHH.

I asked Hostdad if this was the hottest part of the summer and he said that September was. I don't think I can survive until September.

I walk outside and I'm just one big pile of sweat, and it's not even humid here. It's disgusting. I feel the need to take a shower every five minutes.

I'm used to -20 degrees, not 120 degrees.

I don't know how the people survive in Southern California, Arizona or Mexico. Of course, I'd like to see them survive a Montana winter...HAH!

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Daily totals

I'm to worn out to actually say anything of value, so I'm going to do the lame ass credit card commercial numbers thingy...whatever it is.


*How many times I secretly said "Shut the hell up" to the kids today-426

*Or having to tell girl to get the telephone antenna out of her nostrils-3

*Number of times a lady sideswipes your car because shes trying to fit her huge ass minivan between two lanes of traffic..when in fact theres IS ONLY two lanes of traffic, NOT THREE LANES...DUMBASS-1

*Getting lost on your way home from the swim meet in your own town-Priceless

Hope you all had a great evening because I sure am. It's 9:50 at night and still 90 degrees outside...WHAT THE HELL!

Monday, July 11, 2005

Clean sweep

I hate cleaning my room. Always have, always will.

Yesterday I decided I better clean it...who knows what god awful things were probably growing in the heaps of clothes on my floor. I took me four hours to clean my room....4 HOURS.

When I was little I wasn't "motivated" to clean my room so my parents did it for me.

This wasn't your typical cleaning, this was-let's throw all of your toys into bags and donate them to Goodwill since you obviously don't know how to put them away-type of cleaning.

Twice they cleaned my room for me...yes I hated it that much.

Saturday, July 09, 2005

10 year olds are sooo much fun

This morning the kids had a swim meet. After the swim meet we were going to drive down to Santa Cruz and go to the Boardwalk down there. We needed to go home first so the kids could change out of their swimsuits.

After we got home girl decided that she didn't want to go down to Santa Cruz.

WHAT?? I really want to go, now get in the damn car. But...she wouldn't. Hostdad physically picked her up and moved her out of the house, but as soon as she got outside she started running down the street. We all got in the car and drove right along next to her...but she ran home. After realizing that we would not be going to Santa Cruz I went upstairs and went to bed. I can't deal with this shit, so I just slept.

Now I'm getting ready to go see The Fantastic Four with friends. I don't really want to see this movie but I need to get out of the house.

A walk in the clouds...and wind

We went up to a State Park today and went above the clouds. It was so freakin windy up there though, we decided to come back down. Heres some pretty pictures though.




The sunset

Friday, July 08, 2005

Torn

I don't know what to do. A couple of months ago my Host family asked if I would mind staying another year. I told them I probably wouldn't mind, but now that I've been here...I think I want to leave in January. The parenting styles are just not what I was expecting. Maybe I'm a bit more "conservative" in this department.

Right now the kids rule the house. Thats the total opposite of how I was raised (I'm only 18...it wasn't that long ago). When my parents asked me to do something, I did it. No questions asked. Right now the kids are talking back and not listening. They leave the house a total disaster and then tell me it's MY JOB to clean up after them. Yes, it is my job, but they also need to gain life skills. They are going to be 18 years old and not know how to do laundry or use a vaccuum.

I don't think I could handle another year of this. I'm an actually human being and sometimes I'm made to feel like I'm their own personal Cinderella. I havn't told the family yet that I plan on leaving, and I don't want to. I feel horrible for wanting to leave, but I know it's best for me. I'm going to try and find another nanny job close to the Seattle area which is where my sister lives. I need to be close to some family.

Now I just need to decide when the right time to tell them is.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Stop and smell the roses

This is one of my favorite pictures of my niece.



It was taken over Memorial Day weekend of this year. I had flown into Seattle to see my sister and two nieces and then we drove to Salem, OR to see my Mom. The trip was fast, and I wished I could've stayed longer...but I have a job.

On the last day I was there we went over to my Aunts house to have a "graduation" party for me. My niece, Kadence, was playing on this gardening step and fell smack down into the concrete. It was horrible to watch, her little nose was all scraped up and she was screaming like I've never heard a kid scream before. We left shortly there after.

It takes about 4 hours to get back to my sisters house. Our 4 hours were filled with crying, screaming, and that's about all. The. Whole. Way. Back. I had gotten a dozen roses and we set them in the backseat. Kadence started playing with them, so I asked my sister to let her have one but take the rest of the bunch away from her. This did not go over well. I finally just let her have the whole bunch and she mangled them to death, like I thought she would. We got a great picture though, and her smelling the flower for 10 seconds made 10 seconds of silence for us. That's what counts.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

I have a problem with food

I've never had problems with food up until now.

Two weeks ago I came downstairs for breakfast which is usually cereal. I went over to the cupboard and just the thought of eating made me sick...so I didn't eat. I ate some lunch, but that made me sick as well. This has been going on for two weeks and I don't know why.

I ate dinner last night and was sick the rest of the night. I didn't eat breakfast this morning and felt fine, but I just ate lunch and now I want to go throw it all up. Maybe I should go see a doctor because this isn't normal.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

J'aime les gars européens

A year ago this week I was in Europe. I miss Europe sooo much, I loved it there. The architecture, history, people, food, everything! I also got to see the Tour De France go through Braine-le-Alleud. That was an experience. We went to the little round-about and waited for an hour. All the bikes raced through that thing in less than 15 seconds. I'm assuming I saw Lance Armstrong, but I can't be sure. I saw that he was in the lead right now of this years race...Hooray! After all he's been through, he can still ride a bike up a freakin mountain. I'm going to try and go back to Europe one day. I don't care if the French hate us, they are putting up with me again.

Monday, July 04, 2005

I'm sleeping in tomorrow

Just got back from the "vacation" in Tahoe.

The ride up was fine, very hot. The kids slept pretty much the whole way...yay!

We did stop by Costco on the way. We also went to Costco on Friday and today. I'm beginning to hate Costco, and this family has an obsession with it. It's so bad, I was dreaming about Costco last night. Eek!

Anyways...We didn't get to Tahoe until late the first night. Here's the view of the sunset from the condo.



On Friday morning we drove to Virginia City, Nevada. What a boring town. It's great to go look around in the stores for an hour, but then, what else do you do? People actually live in this town because they want to. Bleck. Here's Main Street.



Friday night we went and saw War of the Worlds...Great movie. Y'all should go see it.

Saturday we went to the beach at Lake Tahoe. We climbed up on these huge massive rocks all day, and I didn't even break a nail. I'm good.




Some more pretty Tahoe



Saturday night we went out to eat at this Mexican place. Boy almost threw up because he ate to much salsa and then HostMom and I ate a jabenero (uhhh...I think thats how you spell that) pepper. Holy Shit! That burnt my mouth to a crisp. I was drinking water, eating french fries, drinking lemonade, eating tortillas...nothing got rid of the burning. I'm never eating jabenero peppers again. My throat was still burning an hour later.

Today we packed up and headed home. But first, we had to stop and hike up to a waterfall. Fun Fun for everyone. We thought it was going to be a short little hike, but No! We hiked forever. Heres a picture from up in the boon-dogs of Tahoe Valley, on the way up to the waterfall.



I'm going to bed now...my feet are tired.