I have been neglecting this blog! But never fear, there’s a new blog in town and it’s bigger and better than ever. Check it out!
I didn’t realize this blog had gained such a following after I’d started a new one!
http://www.mydogisagangster.blogspot.com
Please follow my new blog, it would love to have you as a friend.
XO
Alie
I love UPS, it brings me all my fun gadgets and gizmos which usually include some sort of camera equipment. Tomorrow, I will be so lucky as to receive TWO amazing items in the 10:00 UPS delivery. First, my new Tamron lens (28-75 f/2.8) which I have been looking forward to buying and owning for a while and a brand new Crumpler 8 Million Dollar Home. I am stoked. I am feeling a little more OK with these big spends because every dollar I put towards my camera equipment I also put towards school. I consider it my reward for providing myself with and excelling in my own education. It helps keep me motivated. Call it crazy… but it brings me much joy.
After these two wonderful things arrive I’m going to cool it on purchasing equipment for a little bit (or at least cool it down).
I was pleasantly shocked with wonderful news tonight, my dear friend Melissa is expecting her first child. I am overjoyed for her and her boyfriend Chris. It’s crazy to see so many friends have children because I always thought I would be the first to have children. I can’t wait to meet the little muffin.
The Zombie Crawl is progressing and I seem to be in more shock every day with the amount of attention it has gotten. I’ve said it before but it’s so true… we never expected it to be this big. Ads are being put in major Bay area news papers and the main flyer is being designed as I type. I am overjoyed with the amount of support we’ve received from strangers and how many people are as excited as we are. Next year we’ll have a better idea of what we’re doing and will be more prepared. Irene and I are stoked.
You create amazingly brilliant and pointless diagrams, of course.
Earlier this year I signed contracts to have one of my photos published in a coffee table book about doors. It will go to print in 2010. This is the photo, although it’s not one of my favorites I am still very flattered. It was taken on Alcatraz island:
Today I received an email from a website called Schmap, asking my permission to use one of my photos. Again, not a favorite of mine, but exciting. They want it on the website and also publish it in the ninth edition of the Schmap San Francisco Guide, to be published mid-December 2009. Again, it’s probably not THAT big of a deal, but it’s flattering that my images are being selected! It’s a start! Here is the photo they are publishing:
I’m pretty excited and just want to get out and shoot even more.
I have some intriguing and wonderful friends with many different interests. One of my more interesting friends is Irene. She is a blast and always has the best ideas and interests. We seem to mesh quite well and I am always intrigued by her and the things she’s interested in.
Irene suggested we do a Zombie Crawl here in our wee little hometown, Alameda. We had seen similar crawls in San Jose, but we found out about them last-minute and they were not only 45 minutes away, but they were on week-nights. I don’t know if Alameda has ever seen such an event and part of me wonders if we Alameda can even handle it. The plan is to basically bar hop dressed as zombies. We are starting on the West End of Alameda. We will be taking the bus (for fun) across town (in full zombie garb) to Park Street where we will roam around groaning. I can’t WAIT to see the bus driver’s face and shoot photos of zombies on the 51 bus line.
I am STOKED.
I have had someone who runs the Zombie Prom in San Francisco contact me and tell me they are interested in participating and helping put the crawl together. I have two people working on flyers and we are already getting zombie drink specials at one of the stops.
I was giggling to myself when I saw the list of people who politely declined the event, I wondered how many of them clicked no right away, thinking “oh hell no”. I remember years ago hearing about clown parades in Portland and thinking “what the fuck are they thinking, are you kidding me?”.
And now? I can’t think of a more fun way to spend my birthday weekend (besides Disneyland, which ironically is the exact opposite of a zombie-filled birthday). So save the date. Saturday, February 13th, 2009. I will post the flyers as soon as they’re finished.
Here are a couple pictures from the Rock Star party
Me and Stephanie:
Rock Star mania:
My weeks have been flying by lately. My Mondays fly by super fast, since I am catching up from the weekend and setting up the work week. Tuesdays are dreadful. My position at my company is Accounts Payable. I basically pay all the bills and cut all the company’s checks. When I’m not paying bills, I’m entering in hundreds of invoices a week for me to pay later. (We use a paleolithic accounting computer system that is 20 years old. My computer at work operates on Windows 98. Seriously.) Tuesday are especially painful. I’ve already rushed all day Monday to catch up and I am bored as hell come Tuesday. I’m the kind of person that always has to be busy at work. I’ll find something to do if my duties are done. I can’t stand twiddling my thumbs and I don’t like my boss to see me bored. I find that on these super-slow days I dream about Friday. I feel like the week will never start moving again and then BAM… here comes Wednesday and before I know it the week is over.
On weeknights I am so burnt out from the day I take it super easy and usually rest while doing school work. I don’t go out on weeknights and try to get to bed by 10, sometimes I’m asleep by 9. I try to go out on weekends, but after a 40 hour week I tend to be very sore and/or tired. On Saturdays I overdose on the lattes to keep me moving. I like to get out on Saturdays to walk around Piedmont or College and window shop. Sometimes, I like lying in bed all day, but that’s only if I’m in a lot of pain. I can function regularly while in a high degree of pain, I’m used to it and the pain seems to be put on the back burner. I can feel my abdomen freaking out just about every second of the day. I can feel it now. No cause for alarm, it’s just how it is. I kinda think of it like a tattoo. The first minute is rough and then it becomes just annoying. It’s tolerable so you just lay there, waiting for it to be done. Occasionally I have to stop what I’m doing completely and have a seat or take a rest.
This Saturday night is packed with plans. I have to go to a going away party for an hour, then meet the ladies for our bi-weekly Alameda Ladies Drinking Club. This group is super fun and the other members of the group are great. We only meet for about an hour for cocktails (I usually have a Diet Coke) and then are on our merry way. Later that night I will be attending a rock star themed party, which I am super excited for. I haven’t made my costume but will end up throwing one together last-minute, as always. I have a wig. I will post photos. unfortunately, I can’t exactly let loose, being a perma-gimp and all. Nnekay (who is one of my oldest, dearest friends since Kindergarden) is throwing the aforementioned rock star party and lives across the street (literally). I can have a beer or two and walk home Saturday night.
This weekend, when I’m not dressed as multi-talented rock star, I’ll be finishing up my research paper on “Reproductive Behaviors of Gorillas”. They’re not as interesting as I thought they’d be. They have boring sex lives and I’ve found my research to be bland. I should have chosen another non-human primate, but oh well. Time to crank out 1,000 more words and be done with it.
I was thinking about all the nicknames Jory and I have given Bucko and I was cracking up this morning while emailing them to my sister Megan (aka Beast, Mega Beast and Pegan). Here are a few as I bid you adieu: Buckins. Buck Nasty. Buck skin. Buster. Buddy. Buckorama. Chappy. Buckoloatapus. Muffin. Buckmaster Flash. Bucko Baggins. Buck Rogers.
Current constant listen: Band of Horses, Everything All the Time
This album is amazing. Dig it.
This is Bucko. He is my dog and he is absolutely amazing. I have never met a cooler, sweeter, smarter pooch. Bucko is spoiled-fucking-rotton and has it better than any human child I know. I took this photo of him in Point Reyes a few weeks ago.
Bucko snuggles on command, which especially comes in handy when I’m not feeling well or feeling blue. He is the best.
Sometimes his top lip gets stuck in his underbite:
In light of yesterdays news, it seems I need to be even more diligent with my diet. I have been slipping lately and it’s time to get strict again.
I am going back to organic fruits and vegetables, and eliminating meat from my diet again. Although organic produce is more expensive, it’s made a significant difference in many women’s treatment and management of endometiosis. I have to do everything I possibly can to manage this disease, even if that means cutting out my beloved steak tacos. This disease is out of control. As I type, I have two huge steak tacos sitting next to me, waiting to be devoured for one last hoo-rah. I am going to eat them slowly and savor them. And then cry when they’re gone.
Now that I know there’s a new growth/problem, I know not to push myself with exercising. Next week I start weekly yoga classes and I’m sticking to them. Hopefully this will eliminate stress, which has proven to play a dramatic role in my condition.
Wish me luck. And if I’m a cranky bitch, don’t take it personal. I just want steak.
I’m pleased to announce that my little blog had 50 views yesterday, which is my new record.
I suppose I have more than one reader now!
Alie's Blog 
