Just call me Tambra

Apparently I mumble, I have discovered over the years that no matter what name I use or how I say my name, the Starbucks Employees almost always get it wrong.
Today I am Tambra. No, I am pretty sure that is not a name.
Other Starbucks names of the past include, but are not limited to:
Amber
Pam
Tamber (yes, also not a name, or if it is your name...that's cool)
Tamera
Tamra
Tama
Tamar
Tammy (oh no they didn't!)
Someday I will have the guts to use a completely false name that they could not possibly misunderstand. Like Jennifer or Barbara OR even better when I was a kid I wanted to be named Felicity.

Lovely Night

When I was a kid I wanted Teddy Ruxpin, because what kid doesn't want a bear who actually talks to them? Lucky me I got him for Christmas and loved him for years. My Mom even made him a new little outfit so he would match my room. My favorite book/tape combo was the Lullabies. Jenni can probably vouch for the fact that I fell asleep to it practically every night, when I wasn't making her sing me to sleep.
Last night I was trying to remember the words to one of the songs for Jenni when I found this:



Awesome.
And then Lisa found one too...Love it.

Baba BaBo Sister

My spelling may be wrong but that is Crazy in Thai.
Letter to my crazy sister:

Dear Jenni Penni Pumpkin Head,
Viewing this video solidifies my decision to ban you from ever conducting the Trans Siberian Orchestra in my car ever again. There is also a new ban on dancing.
Your very concerned sister,
Tamara Dawn

And One more Birthday!

November is full of Birthdays!
Happy Birthday Grandma!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mommy's Birthday! Even though she doesn't do the online thing (way too techy for her) I just wanted to give her a shout out.
Love you Mom!

(here is a pic I took of her and my nephews a few years ago. Love it)

Wait it out

People are so sneaky. Imogen Heap is my favorite singer ever. She was supposed to release her new album this fall but as luck would have it she just had too much to do so sadly she pushed it back to July or something.
Anyway, back to sneaky people...She appeared at Pop!tech this year and sang one of the songs she has been working on for her new album and some sneaky (genius) person recorded it. I can't get enough of it! She is so amazing!
Since her last vBlog talked about the sneaky person putting it on youtube I feel like I can put a link here since she kinda did...here is the song
Its called Wait It Out.

I...Nevermind.

I feel like I am being crushed and compacted into an unemotional puppet. Everything I say can and will be invalidated.
I tread with caution.

On My Playlist Right now...

ROLFL-Haha ;)

You've Got Mail is one of my fave movies. I love the quotes. Its one of those movies you can pop in and only half pay attention to while you clean or knit or whatever you do.
Today I was trying to explain that to someone and came across this little gem where someone edited the movie and put in all the stupid internet lingo that no one actually understands:
I was seriously crying it was so funny.

Autumnal

Happy Fall!
My favorite time of year. Too bad the trees don't change in SD but the weather knows! This I woke up and I could just tell it was fall. It was so dark outside that I thought someone must have reset my alarm as a joke.

How to scare the crap out of your Massage Therapist

Last night I had an appointment scheduled with Wendy for 6pm. I usually try to show up a couple minutes early to set up my table ect. so I arrived at her house around 5:55.
I can tell she is home because her car is in the drive and I can hear her TV in the room. Ginger the Schnoodle dog starts barking up a storm at me (I am pretty sure I am actually one of her favorite human beings even though I have to trick her to pick her up) but no Wendy. I knocked, rang the doorbell, called out, called her house and cell, waited for a while and still no Wendy. So I repeat, knocked rang the doorbell called out and even knocked on her window.
By this time ten minutes have passed and my over-imaginative brain kicks into overdrive and I start imagining that Wendy has somehow fallen and knocked herself unconscious so I call her phone again this time leaving a message that sounded something like this:
"Hi Wendy, its Tam again. You are really starting to freak me out so I just wanted to let you know I am going to break into your house now. So, sorry if you are in the bathroom or something. Ummmm, okay bye!"
Luckily her back door was unlocked so I stuck my head in her house and called out to her...No answer. "Great" I think, "She is unconscious"
I head toward her room and lo and behold there she is, and in a manner of speaking she was unconscious. If by unconscious you mean sound asleep in her bed.
I thought about letting her to sleep and just leaving a message for her saying I would reschedule but that just seemed awkward so I decided to wake her. The best part is she didn't even freak out when I woke her. She turned over and said "Oh hi, I knew I forgot something."
Thanks Wendy for being so calm when I was freaking out inside. You seriously scared the crap out of me! Haha

Fall is coming- I can tell

This morning I woke up and was actually too cold to get out of bed! Not that this summer in SD was especially hot, it was actually really mild compared to the last couple years.
My hope is that this means there will actually be a cooler fall and a cold winter (and by cold I mean for SD of course). Also, rain. I would like some rain this year.
And although fall does not actually begin until the 22nd it is already fall in my house! That's right folks, Tamara pulled out the fall decorations! Her apartment may not be full of many leather bound books and or smell of rich mahogany but it is full of leaves and smells of pumpkin spice!

A blog about a blog about a blog about Michael

My friend Laura posted a blog referring to another blog so of course I had to check it out. In a way I guess you could say I am now posting a blog about someone else posting a blog about someone else's blog...ect.
While pursuing the latter's blog I can across this little gem with this video: (real tears followed)

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

A post for Erin

Erin practically threatened me with a cruel and unusual death involving ROUS's if I didn't jump back on the blog train and post something. So here you go Erin...
Random thoughts pertaining to recent happenings in the life of Tam/TamTam/ Tamara/ Tamtamkabam:

1. I discovered recently that I get really annoyed with plumbers who feel the need to point out to you that the reason the shower drain is draining slowly is because it is clogged with hair. I know this. It is one of those things that no one ever really talks about but we all deal with it. Humans have hair, and we loose it, maybe some not as much as others but it is inevitable that it will happen. There are two girls with long hair in my house and hair is going to clog the drain every once in a while, so please Mr. PlumberMcPlumberson don't feel like you have to go into detail about what you took out of the pipes.
2. Looking at my sad excuse for a garden yesterday I found one of these on my tomato plant. I was not pleased. That sucker was HUGE!
   
3. While buying plane tickets usually means something fun in the future, I have come to the conclusion that it stresses me out to no end. There is something about pressing that confirm button that makes me feel like I just trapped myself in a large cage. Even when I was just buying a ticket for my Grandma with her money.
4. The rudeness of some people astounds me.
   
5. Sometimes I want to just kick myself for forgetting to put food away. There is nothing like the feeling of walking into your kitchen in the morning and realizing you left what you were going to pack for lunch today on the counter all night long and it now resembles something you wouldn't let your worst enemy touch.
   

Believe it or not

I have a strong suspicion that there are little elves that come into my office after work and tangle my phone cord until it is an unrecognizable mangled mess (say that ten times fast). No matter how many times (at least three times a day) I untangle the cord it is always a mess in the morning. I don't get it...

Wendy is my Hero

Wendy is a computer genius. After almost having a meltdown last night because I somehow managed to make the sound on my computer stop working, I called my wonderful, brilliant, marvelous friend Wendy and went super sonic with my whining level.
She invited me over and although she claimed I had stumped her, I installed the driver she downloaded for me and SHABAM! my computer has sound again. Its like God's sweet blessing of manna in a friend.
Thanks Wendy!

Garden Garden garden

What has been going on with Tamara lately you ask? Well here you go (be warned- a long explanation of my garden to follow):
Many months ago I convinced Tina to help me start redesigning the yard behind my apartment. I don't really call it a backyard because there is no direct route to get there except swinging through my window (and don't think I don't do that- that's the most use my hammock swing gets, is to propel me through my window).
A year ago it was barren and looked like a big waste of space. No one was doing anything with it and there was junk everywhere. I decided I needed a space and after Carrie started gardening I caught the gardening bug. It took me a while but Tina helped me take the first big step back in February and it has been slow going since.
We dug out and leveled an area, added some "walls" (which the gardeners promptly stepped on and toppled along with taking the weed whacker to the only thing I had planted at that point - my onions. Bitter? yes) Added a bit of river stones and called it a day.
The next day I took it upon myself to move the shed, much to Carrie's amusement I did this by of course crawling inside, lifting the sides, strongman style, and walking it to the top level of the yard. It was like a whole new world! The yard was so big!
So I planted the onions in the ground and put out the herbs, built a little planter box and cleaned up a lot of junk.
Today I finally got out there for longer than an hour and worked on my yard. I toiled some more dirt and added Peet Moss and Garden Soil to offset the nasty sandy soil that is back there and then planted tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, sweet peppers and one tomato plant I grew from seed. I can't wait to see how they do and if they will actually like where I planted them!
Here are a couple before (well midpoint really- after Tina and I got back there) and after, as in today's work. I am standing on opposite sides of the yard. (in the second the shed is behind me). I am sure I will post pictures when I am finally done with the whole yard.
I still plan to finish putting pavers all along the bottom level, add a fire pit, BBQ and patio furniture. That all of course costs money, which I don't have at the moment. So for now it is just the beginning.






More pics here

Found a picture of the begining... (and posted more pics)

Andy's #1

For the last two years I have had the pleasure of spending an evening every month with four of the most amazing women ever. We cook together, sip amazing drinks and talk about everything from scandalous shoes to dogs to what ever crazy things have occurred in our lives in the last month.

Last night was our night and somehow the night turned into something I think none of us expected, a "makeunder" for Erin. I don't know how it happened, perhaps a little margarita and a bit of pure genius, but Erin ended up with definite Polygamist hairstyle. Of course she was very humble in taking the role and graciously let me take pictures. I took it upon myself to un-groom her brows to make her Wife #1 material. I really think it works for her...The earrings are so unholy though.

You know you watch too many DVRed programs

When you see a truck pass on the street with something weird in the truck bed but your friend misses it and your first thought is, "oh that's okay I will just rewind it". You only then realize your mistake when you actually lift your hand with your invisible remote control to "rewind", that this is real life, and it does not come with a remote control.
Lucky for me I have recently finished my current DVR obsessed show and will have a more moderate collection of DVRed shows. What will I do with all my extra time?

We have a blog

Jenni and I have a photo blog for our project....You can find us here.

Just for Lisa's clarification

The sister picture are now being posted on my flickr page here

Seen in this morning's headlines

"Vatican: It's okay to believe in aliens"

Didn't read the article but the title was awesome. Thanks for the permission dear Vatican.

Day 3

Our Jungles, Day 2

A Day in the Life of...

Jenni and I decided to try and take picture of our lives for each other everyday and then post them together. We got the idea here and thought it might be interesting. Hopefully we can post everyday...We will try!
Here is our first...

Poem

HAha! Lisa wrote me a poem. I do believe she gets a little bored at work sometimes. How fortunate for me!

Two Sisters

Two Memories:
Once Jenni and I were in opposite rooms of the apartment. Our TV was blaring and that stupid Six Flags commercial came on the TV. You know the one I am talking about. The one with the masked "old" man and the house music? So the music starts and I am overcome with this need to dance like an idiot, so why not dance into the living room? And I did only to find that Jenni was doing the exact same dance coming from the other side of the house. We both gave the "what are you doing?" look and then fell into fits of laughter.

Sheryl, Jenni and I went to Party City to buy some things for, well, for a party of course! While we were pursuing through the aisles I came across these awesome Harry Potter wands that light up. So naturally, as any Harry Potter fan would do, I picked up the wand and did my best wand wave saying "Alohamora!" Of course, since Jenni is almost me and I am almost her, standing on the other side of Sheryl, Jenni had found a wand too and was also doing her best "alohamora" wand wave out loud and at the same time. Poor Sheryl! I think she vowed never to go to Party City with us again.

Sometimes we are so alike it is scary. I miss you my Jenni Penni, more than Sirius misses James.

Thanks Erin, I wish you would have told me.

I was wrong

Its not just a bruise. Its a whole rainbow of colors. And overnight I have developed a few more bruises and some very sore ribs. I can't even laugh!
Don't think that's a problem? You try conducting the Tamara train to Giggle Town without laughing. It's just not possible people, trust me.

Um, Ouch

Today I was working on my garden, slipped on a loose brick landed on my butt and then fell off a four foot wall, did some weird twisty thing in the air and then almost did a face plant onto half concrete pavers and half dirt. Before I moved I thought to myself:

1. ouch (and a few cuss words, oopsy!)
2. that probably looked really stupid
3. Hmm, you know Tamara most accidents happen post fall from people getting up to fast and playing it off. You learned that in Massage School and if you are going to give people that advise you should probably take it yourself

My dog thought I had died or something because she came running over to check on me, sniffed me and then walked away. Thanks Sam.
Luckly, only a few scrapes and one large bruise on my butt shaped like the corner of a brick. Sweet.

I got tagged- Meme

It’s another 5 things meme and it has rules:

1. Each player answers the five questions about themselves.
2. At the end of the post, the player tags five more people, posts their names and then goes to their respective blogs where they must leave a comment letting them know that they have been tagged to play along.

What was I doing ten years ago?

• I was worrying about fitting in to a normal high school instead of independent studies.
• Dyeing my hair for the first time and cutting it about 5+ inches.
• Trying to figure out what this life thing is.
• Loving my nephew Andrew and like Jenni waiting for Joshy to arrive
  
• Wondering why Tiffany and Michael were living at our house and having a teenage attitude with them.

Five things currently on my to-do list

• Go camping.
• Get a new camera.
• Finish my garden/ backyard oasis.
• Drag Katie to Best Buy to get them to fix my computer without me being a girl and crying.
• Clean my room.

Five snacks I enjoy

• Strawberries
• rice cakes and peanut butter
• skittles
• anything Wendy makes
• watermelon
  

Five things I would do if I was a billionaire (I am cheating on the first FOUR and stealing them from Jenni)

• Buy my parents a house, cars and set them up for life.
• Buy my sister a house, car and set her up for life.
• Take care of my nephews for the rest of their lives.
  
• Travel the world.
• Get my license and create a foundation that takes care of Senior Citizens by utilizing Holistic Health and Healing through massage and building relationships (obviously not in a dirty way, get you mind out of the gutter people!)
  

Five of my bad habits

• Bitting my nails
  
• sleeping too late in the morning to work out
• throwing my clothes on my floor
• swearing while driving (Its those other drivers!)
• Loosing my temper too quickly (took that one from Laura, Me Too!)
  

Five places I have lived

• Castro Valley, CA
• Napa Valley, CA
• Castro Valley, CA (lived here twice...)
  
• San Jose, CA
• San Diego, CA
  

Five jobs that I have had

• Sales Associate for Berean Christian Stores in the Curriculum Department
• janitor (me too Laura!)
• Nanny for a summer for two little girls
• Massage Therapist (on the side...)
  
• Accounting Department at an Architecture Firm (still here...)
  

my five tags:

• Lisa
• Carrie
• Aaryn
• Ryan (even though I don't think he will do it...)
• Susan (you have to do it on flickr tehehehehe)
  

Tehehehe

How can my sister NOT love me when I do things like this?

Oh the Terror

Watched this today and I am totally laughing! Didn't they learn anything from Harry Potter? They are supposed to swing it over their head and toss it out of the garden!

The kind of deliciousness that is not good for me...

I made scones this week. Chocolate with walnuts and Apricot. They taste like sugar heaven and I feel the consequences.
Good thing I shared them at work otherwise I would have gained 15lbs just looking at them.

Steven Segal is Creepy

And when I say creepy, I mean creepy

Lifesode #2-23-08 Learning to pay attention

Last night I went to the Souplantation with Sheryl and Laura for dinner. I had finished my salad and Sheryl and I decided to go refill our drinks and grab some pasta. Now mind you I was feeling pretty tired last night, however that does not give me a excuse to be a complete space cadet.
So we head back to our table and I put my stuff down and notice I forgot a fork and so I exclaim to "Laura" "Ahhh man! I need to go get a fork" only then did I turn and to my utter horror realize that it was indeed NOT Laura, but some lady who is looking at me like I have lost my marbles and I ain't gonna find them at that table. I finally see Sheryl out of the corner of my eye who has frozen in her spot and looks completely bewildered about what the heck I am doing and hear Laura behind me say "Uh, Tam? I am back here..."
"Right, Um sorry about that." I turn around and sit down at the right table but really want to just crawl under it instead. Another day in the life of Tamara.

On the verge of Hilarity

Mint is not my favorite thing. I don't hate it, but the smell is weird to me.
THIS had me in tears laughing though. Sick.

Confessions

I watch American Idol. There I said it. I am one of those people.
I like to bury my head in a pillow when someone is singing so off key that it is painful to watch.
I like the looks Simon gives when he actually appreciates someone's voice.
And I love watching Paula do that clap over her head that proves she has indeed descended from the Family of Otariidae as I have alway suspected.
And then like tonight when you hear a finalist hopeful say something they will forever be made fun of by their friends for:
"I am going to Hollywood and I am gonna prove to Simon that I am America's Next Top Model."
Uh, wrong show, that's embarrassing.

Ewwy!

Things you never think of as a kid: Lucky Rabbit foot
Who ever thought this was a good idea? Katie and I had a discussion about it last night and I am amazed and appalled that I never thought it was gross when I was a kid. They were so popular, why didn't anyone think about the fact that they were number one, either real rabbit feet, or number two, something made to look like a rabbit foot. Chop chop. Sick.
Read this for more info and a laugh. Poor cross eyed, cemetery dwelling bunnies...

I just don't love it.

One of the things I hate most are those stupid ads on sidebars and headers on websites with the dancing animated people. I want to rip their friggin' arms off. They are so annoying and does anyone really ever click on them? I mean do those ads really work?
The worst part is they are usually on the News sites and I can't even read the articles because of the constant repetitive movement. What I want to know is do people actually dance like that?
Please say no.