Thinking About a Background Here

So even though this is kind of a shock to my black-loving self, I'm thinking I want to spruce up this blog a touch, since, you know, I haven't done a single thing to it since I started it over two years ago, and I want something new.

I haven't looked around a ton, and I really don't know much about this stuff, but I found a few backgrounds at that Cutest Blog on the Block site, and these are some of my favorites. Which do you think fit me best? Or do you know of one not here that you think would be better?

I can't believe I have two options with pink. I shouldn't be surprised that I have a black-and-white background--I think it's so classy! But there are so many options and I have no idea how it's all going to work.

(Read: Heather - help! =))

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

I flew up to San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon for a quick work trip. I flew in early enough so I could walk around and grab dinner before it got dark. The mall there was HUGE. I had a fantastic encounter with an extremely flamboyant gay man at the skin-care counter; he wouldn't tell me where the restrooms were until I promised to come back and let him do a quick demo. I told him I'd be back in less than five minutes, and he was floored when I came back and said, "Okay, show me what you've got!" We talked about natural products, had a hoot chatting, and he gave me a hug as I left. I fully supported the passing of Prop 8, but I do love the fun gays.

Here's a cool GAP building.



Here's an even cooler GAP building, GAP HQ:



Yep, we met with GAP. G has actually had several meetings with them at their HQ, so this wasn't an intro by any means, but it was pretty dang cool, for me, at least, to be meeting with them at their headquarters.

The conference we attended wasn't as great as we were hoping it would be, but I met with a gentleman at one company with which we're talking, so that was productive. Several folks commented on how mellow and subdued this show was, especially when compared to previous years; I still thought the "beer garden" hangout was a little crazy, but maybe that's just me. =)

I've been to S.F. several times before, but I really want to go back! Considering we have several really large clients who are based there, and several tech shows are there every year, I'm hopeful I'll be back soon. Hey, it was a good excuse to pull out my suit, strap on some new shoes (which turned out to be VERY painful--I've got three juicy blisters to prove it!), and learn from the best: my genius boss. Can't wait till I can go back!

Doggie Fun

I was working outside on my laptop one day, went inside for a minute to get some water, and looked outside and saw that Kobe took my place.

Mango is Kobe's friend from two doors up, and I bring her down sometimes to play while Alcene's at work during the day. I guess she liked Kobe's dogloo. =)



And then, PUPPIES!

Nicknames

I love nicknames. Christina gave me a couple a while back and I've got to say, I've kind of fallen in love with them. I called her "Gonzaga" (which, it has to be said, is where John Stockton played college ball), and she hesitated, trying to decide which nickname she was formulating for me would be the least offensive. She settled on, "HOMESCHOOL!"

While I didn't really home school, she said it was between that and "G.E.D." Really, they're both fantastic nicknames and I will totally answer to either of them.

I Love Birthdays!

Especially when it's my own. =) (but I also love them when it's a friend's birthday)

Yesterday was my 27th birthday, so my mom, sister and I picked up some food from this yummy place across from the Montage, then hit the Montage's picnic tables on the cliff overlooking the ocean for one of the most awesome birthday celebrations ever. We were there for a couple of hours and, of course, never ran out of topics of conversation! We're such Jergensens! =)

(please excuse the skankiness of my wind-swept jacket exposing a bit more than I'm used to . . .)

It's Official

I *heart* Criminal Minds. Completely and totally hooked. Got Mom hooked. Now we're both spooked and probably shouldn't watch them late at night. But it seriously rocks. I started in the middle of Season 2, went through Season 3, have seen a few eps of Season 4 (thanks to TiVo!), and am now going back to Season 1 on DVD. Loving it! I wanna be a profiler!

(and yes, the gal in the back with the dark hair is Kathy from FRIENDS, the one who dated Joey and then Chandler)

Classic Quote

My sister is queen of hilarious one liners. I just remembered one classic Nicole quote whilst talking to Fred today:

"I hate birthdays, unless it's my own."

Classic.

Sandy Eggo and Elevator Fun

For decades, we've made the mini-trek down to Sandy Eggo to my aunt and uncle's timeshare condo on the beach in Pacific Beach. It's one of those fantastic locations where, literally, it's water, sand, cliff, boardwalk, grass, sidewalk, CONDO. I have pictures of me at said condo and on said beach in diapers; I have fond memories of jumping in the elevator with my cousins, Jocee and Jeff, trying to hit the numbers on the elevator. The condo's on the fourth floor and we were little ones, so the jumping to the 4 button was always fun and always necessary. (condo's the top left in the picture)

There are so many stories in Sandy Eggo about which we reminisce, but one of the classics--and it happened several times--is that Jo would somehow, someway, lose the car and condo keys down the elevator crack. (is there a better term for that? I have no idea) Either Lyle would toss the keys to her as she was getting in the elevator and they'd miss . . . something. So we have these hilarious memories of getting the elevator shut off so my uncle can find a wire hanger and spend a good chunk of time on his stomach in the elevator in the garage, trying to find and hook the keys onto the hanger. Hilarious, classic memories.



Yesterday, the four of us (Mom, Nicole, Jack, and me) trekked down to Sandy Eggo to spend time with my awesome cousin, Jocee, her husband, and their two kids. The great thing about this whole Sandy Eggo tradition is that these stories don't stop now that we're adults: they keep going! We got a new story!

On the way back from Blockbuster, Sage, who's 2.5, apparently became familiar with the elevator crack just as Jo was: the DVD they rented ended up in said crack. Sadly, no hangers were harmed during this episode.

Marley & Me

Mom and I watched Marley & Me tonight whilst eating whole-grain pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream for dinner (awesome). It was such a cute, great movie, and something I appreciate so much more having had an awesome Lab for the last 10 years. There were some absolutely hilarious scenes that we could relate incredibly well to--the movie was so cute!

HOWEVER, I was a complete and total puddle for the last 30 minutes of the movie. I think that's the hardest I've cried. Ever. I'm such a wimp, but Kobe's got me wrapped around his little big paw, and I am going to be a wreck when I have to put him down.

Okay, gotta stop thinking about that. On to happy thoughts. Lab puppies? Cutest things ever in my world.