ThirtyTwoFlavors

Old Brand New Me

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:42:00 +0000

To say it's been a while would be understating it a tad. I believe it's been a year. Pfft. Well, as they say, there is no time like the present. And presently I will commence detailing the things that annoy, anger, inspire, and soothe me.

I am in a state of weirdness. Life feels stagnate in many ways but it's also in flux. I am living alone for the very first time in my entire life. The kids are all grown up and have ~~abandoned me~~ left home. My husband is working out of state and I only see him once a month or so. It's just me and my two cats. I am trying to enjoy this and for the most part I am. It's nice to know where everything is and it's nice to do laundry for one. My nights are sprawling, glorious times spent snore-free. If I feel like playing Angry Birds for 8 hours straight there is no one there to complain that I don't love them.

But it's boring and lonely at times. There is no one there to laugh when I fart. No one to tell me that the neighbors aren't being THAT loud and to just chill out. I have to make the coffee every day and take out the trash when I get home. If the fridge is empty, that's on me. And I have no one to scratch my back or rub my head when I am feeling tense.

Also, I have a huge apartment. It's really really large and I could easily get by with half the space. The emptiness is magnified by all the space (although, said space is really clean since no one is around to mess it up). So, I am in the process of finding a new place. I'd like a house the same size, or a much smaller apartment. That probably makes no sense. But now that I am no longer legally responsible for anyone, I can do whatever I want.

The long-distance thing is indefinite. I don't know how long it will be. I love my job and have something resembling a career for once, so I am not eager to leave it behind. I like Austin a lot, too, so I am not eager to go back to Southern California. I am sure the house I love here for $1700 a month would be double that in So Cal. We'll see what happens. I'm trying the one-day-at-a-time approach but that's not really my style. I like looking forward to things. Ahem. I mean I like looking forward to things that make me happy. I don't like looking forward to uncertainly or undesirable things. Duh.

I suppose this is growth - being on my own and learning to like it. I think I am mostly afraid that I am starting to like it! As a former Navy wife, I know the drill. After six months, I have now adapted to life without my significant other. Naturally, that is when they come back and fuck everything up. Sigh.

More to come. I hope. I think I am much better at this than just about everything else right now.

It's been such a long time

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:18:00 +0000

My, oh my. It has been so long. I must fill you in on all the incredibly exciting things that I'm doing. But first, let me bookmark the dashboard of this here blog and try to remember checking in on it more than three times per year.

OK. Done. Unfortunately, I don't have the free time to really even get started at this moment but rest assured that I will update you later.

Until then, bises.

Wonsaponatime

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:45:00 +0000

Once upon a time I wanted to be a teacher and then I grew up and wanted to be a professor. And then life happened. Kids, marriages, houses, jobs, bills, et cetera et cetera. You know the drill.

A while back though I decided to go to college. It took me 8 years to get my bachelor's degree. I'm okay with that because I was also working full-time + in a job that paid actual real money and actual real bonuses and also provided other cool perks like health insurance and 401(k) and all that great grown-up stuff. I made some of my best friends through my job too, so there's that! But wait, there's more... the job I was doing is typically done by people with at least a bachelor's degree already so I feel fairly accomplished that way, too.

I am in a whole new career now (communications) and I love it. But I can't stop thinking and dreaming of the profession that fulfills almost every single desire I have in life (career, or otherwise). I wanna teach, people. I want to read and think and write and talk to other people about reading and thinking and writing. I want to share my enthusiasm for culture and history, especially of the American sort and be around people who geek out on it as much as I do.

So, now that brings us to my current endeavor which is getting into grad school. I took the GRE, I'm writing my personal statement and compiling my package and hoping strongly that I am accepted into my first school of choice. If any one reading this has any experience and words of wisdom please comment or email me! I really, really want a "Dr." in front of my name.

Should I stay or should I go now?

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:26:00 +0000

Can you believe I actually forgot that I had a blog? Sad.

I think I am bored enough to actually start writing again.

Famous last (blog) words.

Jail Break!

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:26:00 +0000

I am free!

I have broken out from behind the Orange Curtain.

I have escaped the land of too many people, too much traffic, way too expensive houses, and far far far too many breast implants.

I have moved to what is quite possibly one of the coolest cities I've ever seen. In America, at least.

My whole life has changed in major ways. I mean MAH WHOLE LIFE! The whole enchilada, as they say. Like, I am talking every single thing has changed. I will bore you with the details now! If you care, and you know you do, clicky the "read more" button thingy!

First I must state for context that I have been insanely busy for, well, most of my life actually, but the last 3 months in particular.

I am proud to say that I have done less the last 3 weeks than I used to do before lunch! You read that right.

It all started with Paris. In November when Mr Rice took me to Paris for my 40th birthday, we fell deeply and madly in love... with each other, I hope; with life; with the city; but most importantly, perhaps, we fell in love with the philosophy that Parisians seem to hold which is "Work to Live" rather than what we are used to which is "Live to Work". They take pleasure in food, wine, coffee, a cigarette, and good conversations with friends. They talk passionately and they take a lot of time off of work! They walk places. Everywhere in fact. I know that is not unique to Paris, but it struck us more there than anywhere else we have been.

As soon as we got back from eight wonderful days, two things happened. We decided then and there that it was time that the talk about moving to Austin, TX became action. We started plotting our move.

The second thing that happened is we found out my daughter was pregnant. More on that later.

We had discussed moving to a number of different places throughout the world, actually but we settled on Austin for a lot of reasons: lifestyle, affordability, proximity to my family (not too far, not too close), and I will say it again - Lifestyle. Austinites live well, most of them. They are friendly, politically engaged, outdoor-loving, and a whole bunch of other things that we are. The philosophy here in my experience is much more aligned with "Work to Live" than anywhere else I've lived in the past 20 years. A lot of cool people we know or have met, are content if they have beer in their fridge. I am not subjected to the same boorish conversations I was often subjected to in the OC about stock portfolios, problems with nannies, the latest kitchen remodel, their mortgage, or their trip to Tuscany. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those things. But, you know, just not my bag, baby.

Greg started sending out resumes and in February lined up several interviews in Austin. He flew out here and interviewed. He flew back out in March for a second and a great place offered him a job. He packed up his car and moved on April 13th. He started his new job on April 20th.

I was sort of stuck in California however because I was finally in my last semester at Cal State Fullerton where I had been working on my bachelors degree for 8 embarrassingly long years. I wasn't quitting now!

So, long story short, I gave notice at work (3 months!) and finished up my last excruciating semester of school. April 1 to June 1 were probably the hardest 8 or so weeks of my life! Greg was away, I was home, working 8+ hours a day in a busy, stressful, demanding job, managing the apartment building where we lived in San Clemente and finishing up that pesky school.

I know I am leaving out a lot of details but you should still get the gist.

I hired movers on May 20th who took all of our furniture to Austin. I graduated with my BA on May 24th - Greg flew out for the ceremony and caught a plane right after back to Austin. I worked a few more days, cleaned out my place, packed some stuff up. On Thursday night, Jordan, the two cats and me loaded the car and took off. We drove straight through and landed here 23 hours later at exactly midnight Friday night.

That was three weeks ago tonight. I have been working for the same company as in California but the work is much easier. The traffic is non-existent, for my commute at least, and our apartment is one million times better than where we lived in San Clemente. It's gorgeous, quiet and private. I L O V E it. I have never been more relaxed ever.

In the last month, I have quit being an executive assistant, I have left my job as property manager of an apartment building in San Clemente, I have finished school. I am looking at a position that could be very challenging and fun and lucrative and I am also toying very seriously with not working at all. As Tom Petty sang, the future is wide open. From this point on I am not settling for anything that I don't want to do. I am not wasting time on anything that isn't part of my dreams. And I am not living a life that I only partially like. It's all or nothing, baby.

I will have to tell you more about the impending grand-child soon. I am about to take off and go get a (cheap) happy hour drink with my man and start my weekend.

These Boots Rock

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Ariat Heritage Western, Women's 8.5 B/Med
Bought at Boot Barn, Lake Forest CA

The first thing I bought with my bonus was this pair of righteous new boots. I can't wait to live in a place where people know and appreciate boots!

(I am moving back to Texas with my hot, hunky husband for those of you who don't know. We will be in Austin very, very soon!)

Things I love

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:02:00 +0000

I discovered three things of excellence last night. We already loved the newish cheese market and wine bar in downtown San Clemente, with its sophisticated but cozy and comfortable atmosphere and its great wine and beer selection. But we've added three new things to love about the Cellar.

1. Sasha Evans. A blues/jazz singer from San Juan Capistrano. If you live in Orange County or even LA or San Diego, I highly recommend you check her out. She is loverly with a capital L. (Her MySpace is here: www.myspace.com/sashamoon)

2. Creme brulee bread pudding from the Cellar in San Clemente. I already loved their mac and cheese, and usually make a point to get some about once a week or so. Now I think I may be going there just for dessert on alternating days! This delicious, decadent dessert is made on premises and served with Brown Sugar & Buttermilk ice cream, also made on site. Utterly orgasmic.

3. Pinot grigio, alto-adige, italy, tiefenbrunner ‘07 - delicious!
The wine was on sale for $27 a bottle.

The Cellar
E: info@thecellarsite.com
P: 949.492.3663
F: 949.545.6273

156 Del Mar San Clemente CA.
92672

Open Tues - Sun, at 6 pm

Flashback Friday [College Radio Edition]

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:04:00 +0000

Baby's First Photo Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:22:00 +0000

After the jump, ultrasound pictures of the cutest grandbaby in the world. Yes, I am going to be one of those grandmothers. The kind you dread sitting next to on a plane. Deal with it. I might even get a license plate holder that says "My grandkid is cuter than your grandkid".

Does this mean I have to start driving down the freeway with my turn signal on?

I actually forgot about this part - the boy part!! It is a boy.

Flash fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:18:00 +0000

She poked her head through our slightly cracked bedroom door. "Um, there is a Dave Westphall on the couch?" said Amelia, questioningly.

"Yeah, there was a huge bar fight last night at Goody's and he needed a place to crash," Laurent replied from the bed next to me.

"Oh. Ok. I was just wondering," she said, laughing, as if it were a perfectly normal to find a strange man on the sofa on a Monday morning.

I thought she was going to say "there's a Dave Westphall on the phone" so I was surprised to hear her say "on the couch". I always zoom ahead in conversations, filling in the words way before they leave someone's lips and often before they even leave someone's posterior parietal cortex. Most people speak too slowly for my hyperactive brain.

I was even more surprised to hear Laurent say there was a bar fight last night. How did he know this and where was I when he was knowing it? He wasn't the kind of guy that would associate with bar-fighters or patrons of Goody's for that matter.

Sleepily, she sipped her coffee and wondered what to wear to work today.

_____

This flash fiction is based off of a misheard conversation that took place this morning.
The actual conversation was: "There is a big wet spot on the couch." "Yeah, there was a big pool of (cat) barf there last night, so I cleaned it."

Long Distance Dedication

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:44:00 +0000

Teh Good, Teh Bad, and Teh Ugly

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:03:00 +0000

This is the one case where I can honestly say that this edition of GB&U is all related to one thing. Don't be confused. It's super simple, really.

The Good:

I, Anita Rice, am going to be Grandmommy. Duh-du-duhnnn! (Cue Dramatic Prarie-Dog!)

Grand Mother. Granny. Gran. Grammy. Gigi. Nanna. Nonna. MowMow. Une Grand-mere. I don't know how the baby will address me besides "Hey you, Cranky Woman! Feed me. I'm hungry!".

But there you have it (in case my last post was too esoteric). My offspring is having offspring! w00t! The world at large will be much relieved to know that my genetic material is being replicated (in part) and thus my legacy of charm, brilliance, and good looks will live on long after I am gone. Also, since my daughter, the dumbass pregnant one (I love you!), is living with us this means we will be subject to the sleepless nights and the stinky diapers. However, it will also entail the consumption of large quantities of cute and the nibbling of precious little baby toes as often as our hearts desire!

The Bad:

ME! A grandmommy. Eeep. I am way too young and cute to be a grandmommy. Waaahhhh! I may have to recategorize this one. I am young and cute! This will create a huge problem though because, see, my grandbaby is going to think all grandparents are young and cute. For fuck's sake, even the great-grandparents in this case are kind of young-ish and cute. He or she is gonna be hella confused and will most likely go around asking all young and cute people about their grandchildren! This may lead to depression on the part of the general public who will misinterpret this. I can only presume that they will presume that my adorable and precocious young grandchild thinks they look old. You see the dilemma!

The UGLY:

My obsession with all things baby. This is gonna get costly. I am knitting an absolutely amazing baby blanket from Sublime (see picture, right). What's that you say? That's not ugly? I can hear you all shouting at your computer monitors right now. Of course I know it's not ugly. What is ugly is that a new yarn store opened two blocks from my frakin house and that cashmere, baby merino wool and silk yarn is not cheap, yo! But, only the best for my kid's kid. That's how I roll. And see all that other adorable stuff in the catalog. I am planning to knit all that and more. I am going to need a bigger paycheck!

For the record, we do not know what kind of baby we're having yet but ultrasound is scheduled for two weeks and we're hoping to find out which side of the patriarchy this kid's gonna have to rebel against.

So.What do you think of this development? Shocking? Alarming? Exciting beyond belief? Tell me! I am curious.

Long Distance Dedication

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:23:00 +0000

For Gregory,

Those were the days, huh?

Dick and Jane at the DMV

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:10:00 +0000

See Dick.
See Jane.
See lines at the DMV.
See Dick and Jane stand in line after line after line at the @#$%ing DMV.

I spent over 2 hours at the Department of Motor Vehicles today. I exceeded my recommended daily allowance of idiots, stupidity, chaos, and state sponsored laziness.

If you want to feel good about yourself, might I suggest a visit to the California DMV located in Laguna Hills, CA. All stereotypes were well represented including one real housewife of Orange County with over-processed blonde hair, overly plump lips and a Botox addiction that would make Teri Hatcher jealous, as well as a few people who literally defied categorization. I thought that a twenty-something woman in pajamas and slippers was a caregiver for a developmentally delayed young adult. He looked about 12 but had a weird Brad Pitt-esque mustache(you know, the one he's been sporting lately). I was a bit taken aback when I overheard them saying I love you to each other and talking about the baby in her belly. They were married. And taking care of a 12-year old who I learned was grounded and since he was not in school I can only surmise that he was grounded for being expelled from school.

I felt completely out of place, mostly by virtue of having bathed this morning. But it was interesting to people watch and I did get out of the office for a while and caught up on some knitting that I'm doing.

Anyway. Lesson learned. Look at your driver's license every year around your birthday. Or you may end up like me, having a bouncer tell you three months after the fact.

Side note: I recently got a speeding ticket. I was going 85 in a 65 but I was only cited for going 80 because the cop wanted to ~~make out with me~~ give me a break. Did he really not notice that my license was expired over 2 months? Or did he overlook that too?

On disappointment

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Note to my future self: It's okay. You didn't really want to apply for that writing job in Paris.

You can write anywhere. You can go to Paris later. It will still be there in a few years after Jordy and the baby are established. They only need you for a little while. And just think, taking care of a baby will be like a do-over. All those things you couldn't do or couldn't provide for Josh or Jordan, you can provide for the grandbaby.

Oh my god, you are going to have a grandbaby. You didn't plan that, but how could you? I know you tried. Honest to god, no one tried harder than you.

It wasn't part of The Plan. But I know you know that nothing has ever gone according to plan.

Plans, schmans. Plans are silly. They deceive you into thinking you have some control over your life. They are useless. Ok, you know that's not true. Plans are an exceptionally helpful tool for guiding you through life and navigating life's biggest decisions. Semantically, though, you would prefer to call them "road maps". They are not directives. They only provide direction.

You have always been terrific at making the plans, but you have never been too adept at following the plan.

I know life is going to be weird and challenging for a while. But your daughter is completely dependent on you at the moment. She needs you. And that tiny little life needs her. It's not an obstacle to what you want; it's one more of an opportunity to get things right.

Disappointment is nothing new to you. Disappointment is like an old friend, always there when you don't expect it. Actually, disappointment is more like an annoying relative who drops by unannounced and overstays their welcome. Subtle hints don't work. There is no amount of passive-aggressive notes or comments that will do the trick. Disappointment just won't leave. The more you fight it, the more it clings to you like a piece of cellophane stuck to your finger. Direct confrontation sometimes works, but then Disappointment comes back only this time with a vendetta.

I know you are tempted to retreat into old habits. Compartmentalization works well, as does denial. Acceptance is nothing more than a Jedi mind trick. You are very persuasive. You can convince yourself of anything. Now is the time to use your powers of persuasion to convince yourself that not only is this an unexpected opportunity to provide even more unconditional love, but also that you can use your gifts, talents, insight, wisdom, and generosity to give your daughter and her baby the things you never had - namely a place where they can be exactly who they want and need to be.

Face facts. You've never been conventional and you've always done things on an accelerated timeline. Let’s review: talking and walking by one; reading at age three; mother and wife at 17; and now grandmother at 40.

None of those were planned. But they are the facts and you’ve got to deal with it. It’s simply the random nature of life. As usual, you will deal with it and you’ll do so with style, grace and aplomb.

One door opens and another closes. Every silver lining has a touch of grey. Opportunity never knocks, it barges right in. The early bird gets the defective worm. The glass is not half empty; it’s half full of contaminated water. You get it. You really get it. And you love it. It’s the flaws in life, the plot twists, and the unexpected occurrences that pique your interest.

Life does not go according to plan, and I don’t suppose it would be terribly interesting if it did. This is your new motto. Learn it, love it, live it. You’re doing fine. Embrace your funky circumstances as you would embrace the latest funky fad. It is so you. Being a young grandparent is the new black. You are rockin' 40. You can rock being the mom to a mom.

It’s your life. It’s no one else’s. You’ve never been one to follow the mainstream anyway. Why would your dreams for your kids be so… so, mundane and mediocre? College, marriage, career, house in the suburbs, children? BOOOO-RIIIIING! Doing things in order isn’t your style even if you are given the choice, silly girl.

Your unwillingness to go off plan is what invites disappointment. Once you understand and accept that, you are golden.

With all the love in the world,
Me

Hella Good

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:31:00 +0000

For all the complaining I do, my life is, in reality, remarkably good. I am extremely fortunate to be where I am, doing what I'm doing, and knowing who I'm knowing. That is actually a huge exaggeration but you dig, I'm sure. See why I think I am hella lucky after the jump.

Greg, G-Love, the man I'm currently sleeping with.

He wakes me up in the morning with soft,loving caresses on my back, a cup of hot coffee on my nightstand waiting for me. For the complete picture, you have to know that my coffee cup says "Fuck Morning People". Greg bought this for me and it brilliantly illustrates why he is so goddamn amazing and why we are the perfect complement to one another. He does anything and everything I ask and more. Even when I don't ask. This is a man who went to the store and bought me tampons, in a foreign country no less (yay Monoprix!), and who bought me plane tickets to Chicago so I could attend a writer's conference. He is extraordinarily generous with his time and his energy. I do not deserve him.

Traveling to Chicago.

I am attending AWP in February with my friend and neighbor, OC, who is an English professor and writer. I am hyperventilating with excitement and glee. I am also thinking I need to stock up on some heavy duty warm clothes for the trip. I'm thinking something like this for my head:

Incidentally, why is she not wearing anything but a hat in this picture? She'll freeze her ass off.

If you are in Chicago or if you are attending this conference, let me know!

Other Upcoming Travels

I am also going to Lake Tahoe for a week in March, and in April I may be presenting a paper as part of a panel at an academic conference in Santa Barbara.

Pretty kick-ass job

I get to play video games. 'Nuff said.

Bitchin' Beach House

Yeah, I get to see this whenever I get off my lazy bum and walk a block. Fuck, I'm spoiled.

Modern Pharmaceuticals

Sadly, despite all this greatness, I still need happy pills to cope.

But thank Maude, because without these I would not be here to boast about anything at all.

The aforementioned items are significant but they're really the tip of the iceberg. I don't know why I get so disappointed sometimes. I really need to document this and review daily because there is not a single reason I should ever be disappointed in myself or in my accomplishments or in my circumstances.

I can't take all the credit, but I'd say in summary... not bad for a poor white girl from Texas who got knocked up at 16 and dropped out of high school.

What lies ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:16:00 +0000

Writing. Writing is what brings us together today. So, yeah. Uh, this is my old website where I used to write all kinds of LOLZ and ZOMGP0NIES!!!one!eleventy!! But I think I have grown up a little. Hence, the new-ish site.

I know of no better way to begin than at the beginning. You know me, but now you know my real name. Anita. Why the hell not, right? We're all adults. We're all on Facebook. OK, I might have lol'd a little as I wrote that. Anyhoo, you know my name and I most likely know your name. At first, I was a little anxious about everyone knowing my whole name and - gasp! - where I work, but it turns out no one cares that much. I was disappointed for a while that no one was stalking me but it turns out that there are a lot of other activities to keep me busy besides signing autographs and filing restraining orders, and I have adapted really well.

For example, I write now. Everywhere! In a Moleskine, on the computer at home, the computer at work, on napkins at Starbucks, on tablecloths of fancy restaurants! I write while taking a break, while waiting on food to come, while sitting at red lights even. Where ever I have pen and paper or a keyboard, I write. I am writing so many things that I need to consolidate a little more. Where is this going? Hopefully somewhere. I can write. I need more practice and that's what this space is for. If people read it, huzzah. If not, oh well. This is currently just a project for me.

I am rediscovering my voice and trying to pinpoint exactly what I want to focus on most - fiction, short fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction, etc, etc. Travel? Food? Architecture and Design? Pop Culture? I'll probably write about them all. And I am sure I'll simply write about what I ate for lunch too since that is really what an audience is dying to know most of all. (For the record, today I had salami and provolone panini with spicy brown mustard on sourdough, with house-made potato chips on the side, and nothing to drink.)

I have dreams, people. Big dreams! I won't be standing in my way (as much) any more so as I fling myself head-first into the great big unknown abyss of writing full-time, I ask you to join me. You can hold my hand and go with me, mock me from a distance, or just videotape the train wreck and post it to YouTube. I guess I have to learn to let you be you and focus more on me being me. We will laugh together, cry together, bitch and moan together. I will tell you all my secrets, and cry about Microsoft Outlook is ruining my life. Other days, I will tell you why I think I'm the most awesome person to ever walk the face of the earth. Those are the best days of all because when I feel awesome, I think everyone is awesome. It's like an orgy of awesomeness. Some may call it a manic phase, but I just call it Awesome!

I will fix the joint up soon, so stay tuned. Or maybe I'll just say fuck it and hope you add me to your RSS feeder.

Ciao.

A title would be nice

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:55:00 +0000

But I have no title yet. I haven't even figured out my template, or my "about me" section yet. Have patience.

New Year, New Website

noreply@blogger.com (Anita) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Welcome to the first post of the new iteration of my old blog.