Happy holidays 2009

Christmas card 2009

Cruising with the co-workers

Michael, Luis and I went over to Diane and John's house tonight. Cathy, Nina and Pete were also there. The food was great and we watched Terminator Salvation (yes, again). But I enjoyed the casual conversations the best. It's nice to hang out with the people you work with outside of the work environment. I hope we have many more outings like this in 2010!

By the way, after a slow start getting myself together and ready, my pineapple-coconut bread pudding was a success! It was ono!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Law Abiding Citizen DVD

G's third and final movie of 2009 Law Abiding Citizen is coming out on DVD on February 16th! My collection is growing fast!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Gamer Blu-Ray

Mr. B's second film of 2009 Gamer is coming out on DVD on January 19th. One more Blu-Ray to add to my collection!

Christmas 2009 A wintery night

Taken from our front door looking out to the street...

Blu Ray and PS3 night

Mike and Tina came over for the first time to have a few beers and watch a movie. Since Mike got a PS3 for Christmas the boys tried out some of Aaron's many games, including Uncharted 2. We finally watched Terminator Salvation. It was a nice relaxing evening with friends!

Christmas 2009 Dave & Nikki's party

Later we met up with Aaron's high school friends. Congratulations Dave and Nikki on your engagement! We are very happy for you!

At the top: Adam. Back row: Nehemiah, Dave, Nikki, Jay, Andy and Jessica. Bottom row: Big Al, Matthew, Tasha, Emily, Jen, me and Aaron. Missing: Tom.

Da young at heart!

Christmas 2009 Grandma's dinner

We went over to Grandma's for Christmas day dinner.

What you got there, Grandma?

Christmas 2009 Goodies

Santa was good to us this year! We got movies and PS3 games, a PS3 controller charger, clothes, makeup, perfume and makeup travel case (all for me), a much needed new digital camera, a Calphalon pot, spa and bike shop certificates, pajamas and gift cards. Oh and I got Hello Kitty...

...and Aaron got long sleeve Hawaiian shirts (muscles not included).

Christmas 2009 Cookie dinner

Michael and Luis showed up soon after I finished eating. Dad and Grandma left and Cookie and Ken showed up. Second shift!

Who's that new person in my house? Oh, it's Luis!

It's hard work guarding this house!

Christmas 2009 Doggy treats

Keala & Ikaika got bones from Grandpa B

Christmas 2009 Brlas dinner

Christmas dinner at our house! I made pulled pork in a chili-ginger-garlic-pineapple juice sauce and Aaron made a three cheese mac and cheese. We also had sweet potato fries and Parmesan-garlic chicken. I ran out of time to make my bread pudding. Hopefully Cookie will bring dessert like she said.

We had Dad and Grandma over for the first shift.

Kyle and Becky joined us too.

OPERA ALERT: Les Contes d'Hoffman

Jane and Ben joined me to watch Les Contes d'Hoffman, the Met's performance from Crocker Park's Regal Cinemas. I was not familiar with the storyline but enjoyed it anyway. It's my first Offenbach sung in French.

I was really impressed with Kathleen Kim's performance as Olympia, the mechanical doll singing the Doll Song, Les oiseaux dans la charmille.

I also liked Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre, the song sung by Antonia's butler. Bravo!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Avatar

Aaron and I really enjoyed Mr. Worthington's new movie Avatar. The 3-D effects are amazing and the storyline is original. I admit I got a bit of motion sickness so I took the glasses off periodically. But everyone should see it!

Sam's new look - Jake Sully's Avatar

He's still a kick-ass!

Winter's here!

Keala and Aaron walking on a nippy afternoon...

...while Ikaika dreamt of pig ears and milkbones by the tree; I was test cooking my Christmas recipes in the kitchen.

Finals week

It's my busy week at work. Wish me and my crew luck that we stay healthy and don't stress out too much! Four more nights, four more nights...

G understands me!

Blue and Silva

Aaron and I finally put up the ornaments and garland. If I just had silver feather boas lying around... ha, like it needs more spunk! IT SPARKLES!!

Shopping... its like riding a bike!

My weekend started off slow. After staying up late and making my lists of what shops to go and what gifts to buy, I only managed to get out of the house on Friday at dinnertime. I met Megan at Fat Head's Brewery in North Olmsted. It's been a long time since we've had a dinner night and we had a lot of fun catching up. Megan got to try a handful of beers -- the bitter ales is her preference. I stuck to my hot tea. We were stuffed to the gills with my Divine Swine and her Fat Italian headwiches but managed to have a tasty pineapple and coconut with buttered rum bread pudding. Ono! (I have to get the recipe and make it for my Christmas dinner!) We vowed to revive the once a month dinner nights! Next up, a martini joint!

We said our goodbyes and I commenced shopping... it all came back to me! I miss shopping a lot! The cold weather did not stop me this time. I stopped by an Asian market to buy rice, then headed to Crocker Park and bought one of Aaron and Grandma Brlas' gifts and tons of stuff for my house.

Today I got an early start, returning a couple of things for the house, bought paint to update our weathered mailbox, loaded up on more dog food, picked up an ingredient for my Christmas dinner, bought Kyle's gift and finished my grocery shopping. I would have continued on if my feet didn't start throbbing. The high heels did me in. I intended on taking a break at home and head out later, but I fell asleep in front of the TV and didn't make it out. I settled under the covers and watch Terminator Salvation again (Yep, Mr. Worthington is still hot!).

With a little illumination

Light snow outside

We have lift off!

The tree is standing again! And it has lights. Aaron did a great job replacing all the burnt out bulbs and stringing them on the tree. You don't need me to decorate! Oh, we didn't put our ornaments yet. I guess the tree is still a work in progress.

The red accents are coming down and the blues are taking over...

Twinkles and pine needles

Aaron and I attempted to put our tree lights on and succeeded. It looked pretty with just the white lights. As we cruised on the couch, the tree fell down, again. Flat on its side. What a mess. We ended up dragging it out to the back porch until Aaron can recut the bottom flat and retry setting it in the stand. Don't want it falling on my babies when we are at work.

We spent the early morning cleaning up. No holiday cheer in the house...

GIRLIE UPDATE: New Moon

Michael and I spent the day hanging out while Aaron went to work. We finally saw New Moon. Go Team Jacob!

Jacob -- his abs says it all

Edward -- his tragic look hits the spot
We also ate dinner at Minh Anh Vietnamese restaurant in Lakewood, did a bit of Christmas window shopping and watched Coraline at my house. A great time!

One relaxing week

Amazingly my work week was easy. That's because it's the calm before the storm -- the busy desk period will begin next week in full force.

I finally went back to aerobics yesterday, and so did Michael. Melody seem to have missed us.

Today Aaron and I took Keala and Ikaika for their annual vet visit. They were on their best behavior yet! They made friends with the humans in the waiting room and behaved when they got their shots and nails clipped. I was so proud of my babies!

When we got home we finish putting the lights on our front yard bushes. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Aaron and I continued our errands and went food shopping. Then we went out to eat at the Texas Roadhouse compliments of Rick and Grandma.

Ikaika inspecting the purchases, and finding da doggie treats
We also attempted to put lights on our tree tonight. I say attempted because the tree tipped and almost came crashing down on me. Water went on the carpet and floors, and needles everywhere. Aaron and I tried to reposition the tree in the stand and ran out of steam by then. What a day!

Before da lights...

Let's Twist and Shake!

We are getting our Christmas tree today! It's becoming a tradition to buy your tree from this local ice cream drive-in in Elyria. As usual, I'm looking for the best smelling tree!

[...and I found it!]

Aaron and I went out last night with Jay and Jen. We hung out at the Beer Keeper in North Ridgeville and had some drinks. Well, I had hot tea and appetizers. We enjoyed the relaxing evening!

I work tonight and am scheduled to work alone from midnight to 2 a.m. None of my desk attendants are available (or willing) to work during the last night of their holiday weekend. I hope it's not a busy night!

Musical alert... Wicked

Aaron and I went to see Wicked at the Playhouse Square, Cleveland.

We had good aisle seats and quiet adults around us in the Mezzanine section. I got nervous as we were walking to the theater -- a group of young females starting reciting the play and singing the songs -- that's all you need, a chatty audience who will act out the play to ruin the evening! It happened to us in Camelot, Oy! We were lucky tonight.

I enjoyed the clever storyline and classic Broadway-like music. I liked it, Aaron, not so much. I even cried a little at the end. OK OK so I cry at every movie or play I see!

GIRLIE UPDATE: 42 and still kickin' it!

I slept in today although I wanted to get up early and have breakfast with Aaron. When I finally did get up, I had spam and toast with the dogs. [Happy Hawaiian girl!] And look what's outside -- snow on my yard! Grweaaat! I hope it doesn't start snowing today because I'm driving into Cleveland tonight and I just LOVE driving in snow!

I thought long and hard about getting up and heading down to the stores and shopping for the good sales. But after 10 minutes under the covers I returned to my true love and talent -- and hibernated while Aaron played his PS3.

Amazingly I did get up in time to get ready for dinner at Players on Madison in Lakewood and to see a musical. Our dinner was excellent! We started off with mushroom pierogies and drinks. Aaron had the peppercorn steak special with mashed sweet potato and veggies. I had the shrimp pasta with a vodka cream sauce. We even had dessert, a triple chocolate torte. Ono!

It was a very nice date night-birthday for me! Aaron and I got dressed up (even though I froze my legs off in a dress), didn't have to wait for a table at the restaurant, loved our dinner choices, didn't get caught up in traffic into the city, lucked out with a great parking space close to the theater entrance, had great seats for being in the semi-cheap section, timed the bathroom breaks just perfectly so we didn't need to wait in line, and didn't catch traffic on the way home!

And if you're wondering, I got a manicure and pedicure earlier in the week, a new crocodile skinned purse, and new lucky brand jeans for my birthday gifts! Thank you Aaron! You're the best!

Hau`oli la hanau Anake!

Sorry you had to work today but am glad you went out to eat with the family and had someone serenade you! You should take tomorrow and Sunday off as your b-day present!

I'm always happy to share this day with you!

Happy Gobble Gobble!

I slept in since I didn't have to cook or bake anything. It's a tradition to go over to my brother-in-law Kyle's house for Thanksgiving, and Becky does all the cooking. We actually bring a dish each year and this time Aaron wanted to bake a shoofly pie (molasses).

The feast was great! I decided I wouldn't over stuff myself and had only one serving of everything. Maybe that's why I didn't fall asleep! Aaron's pie was tasty but it's not my favorite. We also did our yearly movie watching with the family -- Aaron picked Tropic Thunder last year. Cookie picked Bruno today -- Gawd!

[Dang, my camera finally broke so I couldn't take pictures!]

Four hours later we headed home and had a nice walk with our dogs. Brrrr, it's really chilly tonight! My face was frozen by the time I got home!

Now I'm back into my favorite flannel pj's!

Let's take a walk...

Walking the University Oaks route in the fall

Short work week

After nursing myself last week, I got a chance to go out and have some fun. On Friday, Holly and I finally got together to see Law Abiding Citizen starring our favorite actor, only to find out at the theater that they canceled the showing to add an extra screen to show Twilight. What! Augh! Since Holly wanted to see a movie real bad and we didn't want to join the stampede created by New Moon we went to see Men Who Stare At Goats.

On Saturday, Aaron and I headed out to Oberlin to get his hair cut and for me to get a manicure and pedicure. I was really bummed because I wanted to see OC's opera performance on Saturday with Sam, only to find out it was sold out before I could purchase a ticket. So she went without me.

I only had to work three days this week and although I wasn't back to my cheery ol' self I managed to get all my student evaluations done! You don't know how much energy it takes to write them up, especially when your mind is all mush. Hopefully my co-workers will proofread my reports just in case I didn't make sense.

I took today off since the library only opens business hours and they don't need me to come in for a couple hours. It's quite chilly outside. Hmmm... stay in my pj's or get ready to do some shopping? That is the question!

The weather finally got me!

I couldn't protect myself enough; the weather's got a hold of my sinuses and beat it up pretty bad this week. I stayed home on Tuesday and Wednesday and only went to work for 4-hours tonight. Hibernation was a good thing! At least I kept the congestion up in my nose and throat, and not in my chest. NO bronchitis! NO bronchitis!

I made some tentative plans tomorrow with Cookie and Aaron to go into Cleveland (good luck waking me up before noon!) and to see LAC for the third time with Holly later in the night. Aaron and I are getting a haircut and manicure/pedicure respectively on Saturday, and Sam and I wanted to do something over the weekend. Hopefully I'll be healthy enough to get out bed.

Something tells me I should lay low until the cough is completely gone...

No aerobics and a little bit of Christmas shopping

Because of a no-show on Tuesday and me feeling under the weather on Thursday, I didn't go to aerobics this week. I feel frumpy just thinking about it! All my plans to pamper myself and do some shopping on Friday while Aaron went out to the fights with his friends was foiled -- I stayed home and watched movies all night. OK the night wasn't bad at all!

On Saturday I did manage to spend a little time out in the chilly sun (for you Hawaiians that means the sun was out but it was still 50 degrees) and cleaned the yard and prepped more flower beds for the winter. I didn't last very long because my nose would clog up and I would get that chill in my bones (achy joint, boo!).

Saturday night was date night -- we stopped at Poncho Villa again for dinner then drove to Crocker Park to shop, maybe catch a movie and maybe hang out at Border's to read a book and enjoy dessert and a coffee. We ended up window shopping and grabbing a coffee to go.

GIRLIE UPDATE: Happy birthday Megan!

To one of my best friends in Ohio! May we live life and stay young!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Là breith sona dhuibh G!

Someone is 40-years old today! In your honor I will watch all your movies all day long!

My own veteran

GIRLIE UPDATE: Happy birthday Lureen!

To my best friend in the whole wide world! Stay young!

Me, Leneer and Lureen outside of the all-male revue Venus nightclub, Honolulu 1997

Sick-ola

Yep, I woke up with a fever and my throat hurts. Instead of enjoying the sunny weather and doing some fall cleaning in my garden, I stayed in under the covers and watched movies. I finally got to see The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and saw 17 Again. Matthew M. was hot as usual and Zac E. is a cutey-patuti!


Shoot, I gotta work tonight...

Warm, cold, chilly, warm, hot...

Can the weather make up its mind and stay cold? or stay warm? My body, hair and sinus can't take the temperature change! The day started off crummy -- I wanted to see the Met in HD's Turnadot opera but it was sold out! Bummer!

Then I found out I had a haircut appointment that I totally spaced out on. I managed to get there on time, and Aaron took the dogs out for a walk in Oberlin and Tappan Square park while I was there. It was Oberlin College's parents weekend so there were lots of people around to adore my fluffy babies!

Aaron and I squeezed in some food shopping before going to his aunt's house for her annual chili party. Michael joined us since he knows Aunt Sandy. An hour later Michael and I left to go see my desk workers Sam and Jo-Han sing in their Oberlin College Choir performance. Every time I hear Sam sing I imagine myself at church being blessed with goodness!

Michael walked home and Aaron and I ended up going home for the night instead of hanging out with his high school buddies. A blessing in disguise for me -- I think I'm coming down with something!

Brlas date night!

Aaron and I finally went to see Couples Retreat. That Vince V. and Jon F. are hilarious guys! OK the yoga guy had a body to die for but his long hair got on my nerves! Well well, he cleans up well...

Carlos Ponce as Salvadore
After we went to dinner at a new Mexican restaurant in Elyria, Poncho Villa. Ono!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Coriolanus announcement

G's next film is Shakespeare's Coriolanus where he will play Tullus Aufidius, commander of the Volscian army. It seems he will be out of the U.S. next spring. You think my hubby might want to take a vacation in Serbia then?

GIRLIE UPDATE: How To Train Your Dragon teaser

The trailer to How To Train Your Dragon, GB's new animated movie coming out in 2010, is now out. I wonder if I'll be able to drag my hubby to see it?

Daylight savings time

You Hawaiians... you're now 5 hours behind me! Instead of 6 hours.

GIRLIE UPDATE: I wanna go to Greece and Alaska

Since Aaron worked tonight, Michael came over to hang with me. First we watched "My Life in Ruins" with Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding). It was a light comedy I liked -- now I want to go to Greece! There was a hot guy in it too.
Alexis Georgoulis as Poupi Kakas
After Michael and I went to eat at Nino's. We had soup and salad, shared the pork special as well as the pumpkin bread pudding. Ono! Since we ate a lot we decided to hit the mall and walk it off. We ended buying me a handbag (my birthday gift from Aaron), and pants and a winter coat for Michael. Now that he's lost all that weight he needs a new wardrobe!

We headed back to my place and watched yet another chick flick, "The Proposal" with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. Really funny! I agree with Michael -- RR is hot!
RR as Andrew Paxton
Well I got to do all my favorite things today -- sleep, eat, watch movies and shop! What else does a girl need? Maybe one of these men above!

Trick or Treat 2009

Aaron, Ikaika, Keala and I went trick or treating tonight. They wore costumes -- they were the warrior bears from the book/movie "The Golden Compass". Ikaika was Ragnar Sturlusson and Keala was Iorek Byrnison. Yes, that's silver and gold lame armor. Aaron was a skater boy (well not really, he was dressed in everyday wear) and I was a University of Hawaii warrior fan!

We took an extra long walk -- 10 blocks to visit Kyle and Becky, and Jay and Jen. Keala and Ikaika were a big hit! They even got doggie treats and had their pictures taken. But even with their costumes, Keala will always be the polar bear and Ikaika will be Beethoven.

Cruisin', on a Thursday afternoon...

I was more relaxed at work this week. And it's about bloody time! My co-worker hired our newest desk attendant this week and will handle most of the training this time around. I will try my best to keep to my schedule, take my hour break, attend as much aerobics classes that I can, and not work from home anymore. I'll need all of my energy to start writing work evaluations for all my attendants this month!

I took off today so Aaron and I could finish our roof project, do some gardening, and start some other house errands. Soon it will be too cold for me to do any house work outside.

Tonight we walk the dogs around the neighborhood for Halloween...

Grandma Brlas' 80th birthday party

Aaron and I lent a hand in throwing a party for Grandma -- shopping and serving food, mingling with relatives and close friends, and clean up. I even made a short picture slide show of Grandma. We got to see cousins Megan and Jonathan too. Grandma had a nice time.

Cookie and Ken's reception

My mother-in-law Cookie and her new husband Ken had a wedding reception tonight at the Elyria Country Club. The food was great and the entertainment was fun and different. Aaron, Michael and I enjoyed ourselves!

GIRLIE UPDATE: LAC and Hannibal GB

Michael and I went to see Law Abiding Citizen today. I tried to close my eyes when I knew blood would be flying, but the the sounds were just as gory! I gave Michael the heads up to eat the popcorn before the movie started. And I actually missed Aaron -- I needed an arm to hold and squeeze and pull at times! The raincoat didn't make me feel safe at all!

I might actually go see it one more time... with Holly, another GB fan, when she returns to campus after the fall break. Did YOU see it yet?

Circulation desk outing

Lauren, Jane, Tiesha, Margaret and I drove out to Cleveland Heights to eat Japanese and Malaysian food at the Pacific East Restaurant, Coventry.


It was a nice trip out of Oberlin, great food and fun company! I ate pork ramen and California Roll sushi.

Tiesha had bubble tea!

GIRLIE UPDATE: The Five Love Languages

I did it! I finally finished reading the first (and probably only) book of my book club list. It took 3 long months to finish the 274-page large-print book written by Gary Chapman. It usually takes me 2 days to read a 400+page romance novel. The book wasn't boring or anything. I think the timing was bad for me. Work has been the craziest its ever been in the 9 years I've been here, and I just didn't have extra time to read any book.

The theory of people have different love languages/needs is interesting. If a couple knows each other's language, they can give the appropriate "love" to each one another. The this knowledge could also help when parenting their own children. According to this theory, I am an "acts of service" person, where little tasks or chores done by my spouse makes me happy, more than "words of affirmation", having "quality time", receiving "gifts" or sharing "physical touch". Aaron is a "words of affirmation" man, where praise and appreciation makes him happy.

I think it will be a great tool to refer to but I still like my "buddha" way of life instead, be balanced in all aspects of life -- self, work, play, health, couple time, family and community. Right now work is taking over my life and I need to get some self, health and couple time back!

The rest of my club is finishing up and we are chatting on our finds. I am currently debating if I should force my club to retire. A long distance book club is hard to commit to...

[Thank you Mom for taking me to see the Buddhist priest before I headed off to college!]

[And a shout out to my book club -- Michael, Lureen, Carrie and Jen!]

Tender, lovin gardens

I got up a little earlier than usual and made it out of the house and into some sunshine to clean out some of my garden beds in my front yard. With work being crazy I'm guessing I won't have much time to prep my beds before W-I-N-T-E-R. No, no! Don't say it yet!

The sad thing is, after 3 hours of bending over and cutting down dying bushes and pulling weeds, my back was killing me! And my horse pill ibuprofen didn't help.

[10/21 - I can't move today! Every joint, muscle, fat pocket hurts like a mutha! My plan to garden and go aerobics for the rest of the week is foiled!]

GIRLIE UPDATE: Law Abiding Citizen

We got a slow start but Aaron and I finally made it to an afternoon showing of GB's latest movie that opens today! It is not the type of movie I would pick (violent and bloody) but I seen it anyway... must maintain the #1 fan status. Add angry psycho dude to GB's list of characters. Go see it! OK so he shows SOME skin...