Dinosaur Train Guest Stars

Sometime last year (not sure when since everyday is a blur but I can say with certainty it was last year), I took the kids to the Jim Henson studios to a promotion for mommy bloggers. I thought we were going to preview their new show Dinosaur Train and the kids would sit in the audience. But it turns out, they actually wanted to use our kids for a brief explanation clip after the animated segments. I brought Sam into the recording studio as well but the director took one look at him and asked me how old he was. I said, "almost two," which the director repeated back in a mocking tone. "Does he talk?" he asked. "Not that well, but he can talk," I replied. The director turned to Sam. "Sam, can you say Tyrannosaurus Rex?" Sam looked at him blankly with drool coming down his chin. I immediately picked up Sam and said, "Never mind."

Anyhow, the girls almost didn't pull it off. It was really intimidating being in that big room with all these hot lights on them and a stranger asking them to say words that weren't part of their everyday vocabulary. The director almost kicked out our whole group but decided to give them one last shot. Here are the results (if you just want to watch the girls' segment, move the timeline to 3:50).

Back on Track

Sorry for being so bad about missing out on the blogging world these last couple of months. I don't even remember what made the summer so crazy except that the girls were home for about a month. Yeah, I guess that would make my life pretty crazy having three kids home with me 24/7...

I completely quit Savvy now that I helped them transition over to their new format. It's strange not having anything other to do except just the normal household stuff. I feel like I have so much time on my hands now.



We've had to wake up earlier so that we can get Joey to school on time. I don't know if it is due to lack of sleep but we have all been really cranky. By the time the kids go to sleep, I am so tired that I just completely veg in front of the TV while eating ice cream. I have discovered the CW shows and I am officially in love with America's Top Model. I find it completely fascinating but I'm not sure why. Maybe it is because I enjoy hating these vapid pretty girls and their petty catfights...but that doesn't explain the tears of sympathy I shed for the girls who get kicked off, and why I am so looking forward to watching the new episode tonight!

Sam had a verbal explosion and he talks like crazy. It's really cute and a huge relief that he can communicate his needs instead of pointing his fingers and grunting. But he also says things like, "That's funny Mommy!" or "Stop it, Daddy!" or "I want ice cream."



We ran out of formula and I decided it's time to say good-bye to the bottle. I thought it would be a difficult transition since the moment he sees his little 4 oz bottle of formula at night, he would grab it, open the cap, start drinking it, go to his sisters and say good-night (and give them a big formula-tasting kiss), and then grab his blankie and a book, climb up the glider and get ready for bed. He loved his bottle and honestly, I loved giving it to him. It was my way of hindering his development and keeping him my little baby. Obviously, he was ready to move on because he hasn't had any problems with the adjustment. Now it is just the thin but super-absorbent line of diapers that keeps Sam in babyland. But that is something I would be more than happy to be done with so we'll start working on potty training. I have no idea how to potty train a boy so this will be a challenge I'm sure.



Joey has a loose tooth! She is so excited. "I'm going to get A LOT of money from the tooth fairy!" she exclaimed. Without looking at her I said, "Mmmm, maybe not a lot of money. Maybe just a quarter which you can put in your piggy bank and put towards your college savings."



We have also been working on Joey not sucking her thumb since August. For the last few years, she has said that she wanted to stop but it was hard for her to commit to it. I finally broke down a bought a thumb guard and it worked really well. Within a week, she didn't need it during the days. At nights, however, she pulls it off and sucks her thumb. But since her tooth came loose, she said that she stopped sucking at nights too because we told her that it might make her tooth come out too early and it will hurt. So Joey might have finally stopped with her thumb sucking which is a major achievement. She found her thumb at three months and has sucked it non-stop since then.

Why Preschool is a Safe Place for Parents to Grow Up

Also posted on Savvy Source:

Last week my oldest daughter started kindergarten camp at her new school. It is hard to believe she has hit this milestone already but here she is. I don't quite understand why she is so excited to start kindergarten. Maybe she got a secret memo that all students will be assigned a unicorn and a fairy godmother. In any case, when we got to the campus which appeared to be as large as a college campus, my daughter proudly walked through the gates. As I walked her to her class, we passed by ten foot boys and girls, and I wondered silently what high school students were doing on the campus. Then I realized that fifth graders are literally twice my daughter's age. I wrapped both of my arms around her as we walked, afraid of the moment that I would have to leave her for the day. We entered her classroom and were welcomed by a dozen students and a friendly teacher. My daughter gave me a kiss goodbye and tried to send me on my way. I left extremely reluctantly. When I found out there was a field trip at the end of the week, I asked if they needed any chaperons. "Nope, we're all set. It's time to let your little birdie leave the nest." Okay, maybe she didn't say that "leaving the nest" comment but that was the look she gave me when I asked to tag along on the field trip. I got back into the car and sobbed. I called my mom for comfort but all she could hear on the other end was high-pitched wailing.

As I smothered my toddler son the rest of that day (I refuse to let my baby grow up in warp speed like my oldest has), I realized how wonderful preschool is. It is a small, safe environment for parents to learn how to slowly let go of our children. I'm sure you probably think I am one of those parents who coddles her children and whose life revolves around them. Believe it or not, I am not...which is why I was so shocked by how emotional I got the day of kindergarten camp (I'm already prepared to completely lose it on the real first day of kindergarten). But I just felt like I was dropping a guppy into a tank full of sharks and hoping she survives the day.

I admit that I cried on the first day of preschool too. But that was for totally different reasons. She's my first born and I felt like it was the first big leap towards her imminent departure from my home...you know...for college. But it wasn't a sense of panic that brought on the tears. It was just the understanding that I had to let go. Preschool is wonderful for that (I realize that I am speaking from a full-time mom's perspective so I apologize). It is the first time that we learn to entrust our children into the hands of others, and also learn to trust our children. It is a place where all the little things we hope we are teaching them are practiced without us hovering over them--like washing hands after using the potty, not snatching toys away from others, and taking turns. It is the first time that they choose their own friends. We can't tell them to stay away from the boy who likes to say poo-poo too much or the girl who eats her boogers. It is a G-rated world where the S word is s-t-u-p-i-d.

Preschool is where parents take that first step towards not being the eyes, ears, and brain for your little ones. You are eased into it. Sometimes just twice a week for three hours at a time. And even then, when your kid picks up a bad habit from another kid in class, that sense of dread washes over you like a shot of Nyquil. It's not pleasant at first, but after a while, you feel warm and tingly. If it wasn't for that girl with the older brother who has been teaching my child how to making farting noises with her armpits, my child would still be perfect! But you realize that the trade-off is kind of nice. During that time away from your child, you could go to the gym, the grocery store, clean the house, and read the first ten chapters of War and Peace--wow, was I always this efficient with an extra two hours of time? Or you actually spend some one on one time with your baby who you never noticed had blue eyes because all those months you were breastfeeding, you were holding your baby in one arm, and wiping your newly potty-trained son's butt with the other. In any case, you get used to it pretty darn quickly. You embrace the idea of your child attending preschool and feel like this is going to be it. For two years, you are surrounded by the same twelve kids, you know all the moms, dads, nannies, siblings, grandparents, second cousins twice removed. It is a safe world. Then the world as you know it is ripped from you like a band-aid on a hairy arm. It hurts. A lot.

I know that I will get used to kindergarten and elementary school. I can't help but feel all the more grateful for preschool--the safety and comfort it provided me, as a parent, to let go of my child slowly, before entering the big world of grade school. And with that, I bid you adieu, Savvy readers. This is my last week. I am enjoyed my tenure but it is time for me to move on. I leave you in the capable hands of Elise Crane Derby, a former preschool teacher and blogger extraordinaire!

And With That I Bid You Farewell...

I will be calling it quits with Savvy Source at the end of this month. It was more of a time drain than I expected it to be. Plus, once you get paid to do something, the joy of doing it gets lost completely. I was hoping that this would force me to be more adventurous with Sam. But I am still lazy as heck. Oh well.

It looks like one of my posts was highlighted again nationally on the main website. Always a cool feeling, but not enough to keep me going.

Read Your Sillies Out!

Interesting in Writing for Savvy Source?

I have been thinking about the million things that I am juggling and realize that I need to remove some of the balls from the routine. Savvy Source is one of them. I need my evenings back to focus on more important things.

So if you know anyone who is a parent of a preschooler (or close enough in age to a preschooler) and lives in West LA and would like to write for the Savvy Source, please let me know!

Thanks!

Hanging in There

All the kids and the hubby have been sick with the hand/foot/mouth virus. It was pretty mild, all things considered. Only Elysha had sores in her mouth which prevented her from eating. But Joey, Sam and Chang just had fevers.

Today was the first normal day I have had in a while. Kids at school, hubby at work, just me and Sam hanging out, goofing around and gardening. He really is just at the most adorable/most challenging stage. So sweet, so stubborn, so pig-headed, so curious.

I'll be leaving for Boston next week to help out my BFF with her new baby (stubbornly waiting until the last minute to be born) so I am scrambling to write as many blogs as possible for Savvy Source. My mind has been on getting ready to go and also recovering from everyone being sick.

I'm excited about spending time with my friend and having some alone time too. I want to read Wuthering Heights again (already started it and am really enjoying it the third time around) and The Notebook, about 20 magazines that I need to go through (already sent to Boston via media mail). But I am really going to miss everyone. I haven't been away from everyone this long ever. I think Sam is going to suffer the most from my absence. He loves his daddy but I know that I have a special place in his heart. =)

Making New Friends

Also posted on Savvy Source...I thought it was a fun article to write so I thought I would share...

When my older daughter was four-months old, we moved from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. Back in the Bay Area, I had so many friends who had children so I would have been very comfortable with a support group already established. Moving to a new city with a new baby and no friends was terrifying. We first moved into an apartment near Roxbury Park so I walked there almost daily in the hopes of meeting new people. That's when I realized how much I sucked at being outgoing, friendly, vivacious. There was a reason I was in yearbook and not in cheerleading in high school. So I would sit on the park bench with my daughter whose physical activity was limited to drooling and wondered why it was hard to make friends for my daughter and me. Five years later and two more kids later, I am going through a similar process with my one year old son. But this time around, it is so much easier. Here is what I have learned along the way to making friends for my children and me:

No mom (or dad) is an island. Whether you are a working parent or a full-time parent, you need to find a support group beyond your family. Fellow moms and dads are great at empathizing, being a sounding board, or giving advice for situations that only we could understand. Also, being a first-time parent is scary. It is very helpful to hang out with other parents so you realize that you're not the only one who feels like you're drowning in diapers, onesies and the occasional self-pity.

Can't we all just get along? I love being in LA for many reasons. One of them is the diversity of people you'll meet. And as many different parenting philosophies there are out there, you will meet the parents who follow them, from Dr. Sears to Dr. Dobson to everything in between. For the most part, everyone is accepting of each other and we learn from each other. From family beds to breastfeeding toddlers to disciplining, I feel like I seen it all and it is great because my kids have seen it all too. What we have learned is that we're all different but we're all okay. It has lead to some interesting questions from a two year old like, "Why does John have two moms?" but like a beauty pageant contestant, I manage to answer the questions with grace and poise, and wrap it all up with world peace.

The Dating Game. When I first moved down and was trying to meet people, it was like I was out in the dating scene again. I was going to mommy and me classes and moms group, scoping out the landscape. After talking to a mom a few times, the class time ends with the mental game: should I get her number or ask if she wants to hang out after class? I remember the first time I got asked out to playdate, I called my husband so excited. "She asked me for my number and wants to go out together on Thursday!" These days I am less desperate to meet people, but I am also more outgoing. I don't hesitate to get a phone number and schedule a playdate. I figured there is nothing to lose and who knows? I might end up meeting a new lifelong friend for me and my children.

Here, There, Everywhere. Wondering where to start meeting other parents? They're everywhere! Classes, parks, and recreation centers. I have met my friends through mommy and me classes, my daughters' preschool, church, this blogsite, and trying on maternity clothes at Old Navy. It's amazing how much people are seeking community and how many cool parents you can meet. I keep thinking of the profound song that is sung during an Elmo's World episode on friends. I'll leave you with the words (doing this from memory since I've seen it oh, 547 times, but if some of the words of off, please forgive me):

Stretch out your hand and say hello
You might meet someone just like you who's really good to know
It's really fun to see how friendships grow
when you stretch out your hand and say
ain't life just grand and say hello!

In Celebration of Earth Day...

Here is a post I wrote for Savvy. I really feel strongly about this so I thought I would share with y'all too.

This week we are going to continue to focus on Earth Day. I am excited that we can raise a generation of eco-conscience people whose personal mantra is "reduce, reuse, recycle." I remember growing up with water shortages, and smog so terrible that it hurt my lungs. Now, thanks to major efforts to clean up our air and reduce our water usage, we can literally breath easier. Today, I wanted to share some things that I have been doing in our home to do our part to save mother earth.

1) No ziplock bags--We pack lunch for our daughters almost every school day and we used to go through boxes and boxes of ziplock bags. According to salon.com, "every year, Americans throw away some 100 billion plastic bags after they've been used to transport a prescription home from the drugstore or a quart of milk from the grocery store. It's equivalent to dumping nearly 12 million barrels of oil." It is causing an epidemic so I felt that we needed to be part of the solution. We bought containers that can accommodate sandwiches, cut veggies and fruit, and other lunch favorites. It is more dishes every night to clean, but so worth it.

I also take reusable tote bags with me to the store so that I don't bring home 20 plastic bags from my weekly grocery store trips. If I go shopping for other items and I forget to bring a tote bag with me, I'll either throw it into the bottom of my stroller or stick it inside my purse or diaper bag.

2) Cloth napkins--I just made the switch recently and it has been easier than I expected it to be. At first, I thought I would be doing more laundry (but is it possible to do more than 5-6 loads of laundry a week? I hope not...). Just don't expect my linens to be pressed and spotless when you come over for dinner. It is a bit of an investment but I bought four at a time and now, I have enough to get us through the week. Plus, my daughters love using them. It makes them feel fancy.

3) No paper towels--I bought some microfiber cloths to use in place of paper towels. I have two big ones designated for the floor and the rest for the counters. I also have hand towels for the kitchen and dish cloths. Again, an easier transition that I initially expected. If you are not ready to make the switch, consider buying recycled paper products. According to Ideal Bite, for every ton of 100% recycled paper that is bought, about 4000kWh of energy and 7,000 gallons of water are saved. It also avoids releasing 60 lbs of pollutants into the air.

4) Green cleansers--This switch was probably the easiest of all. I did have to try out a couple different brands to get the same results that I was getting with petroleum-based cleaners, but I think I found the best ones for our family. I like Method products for dish soap, hand soap, and all-purpose cleaners, Mrs Meyer's for biodegradable dryer sheets, and Costco's Kirkland brand for laundry detergent and dishwashing detergent. Unexpected perks from using green cleaners: my dishwashing sponge doesn't smell after a few weeks of use, my hands don't dry out as much from countless hand washing throughout the day, and the laundry detergent is gentler on our skin (thus less eczema problems). Another important reason to getting toxic cleaners out of your home? According to worldwatch.org, cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10 percent of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers in 2000, accounting for 206,636 calls. Of these, nearly two-thirds involved children under six, who swallowed or spilled cleaners stored or left open inside the home.

5) Energy efficient light bulbs/appliances--When my husband and I bought our first home, we were finally able to get our own washer and dryer (hallelujah!). I made sure we purchased a front-loading washer and energy efficient dryer. We haven't purchased too many more appliances but whenever we do have to buy one, we always make sure it is an energy star appliance. A great plus to being green are the rebates and tax credits. If you have to purchase an appliance in the near future or have bought one this year, be sure to look into the rebates offered by either the federal government or the electric company. We were able to get a $200 tax credit for the installation of our tankless water heater (wohoo!). Whatever bulbs could be replaced by compact fluorescent bulbs (CFBs), we have done that in our house. I really think it makes a difference since our gas and DWP bill is very low.

Almost Famous (Again!)

I was looking at the Savvy Source newsletter that gets blasted out to everyone registered at the website and lo and behold, they featured my "How Dancing Saved My Day" blog on the newsletter.

BeingSavvy
Give me the beat, boys & girls

» A vintage gem takes your little one on an unforgettable world music tour

» Our best musical activities, songs and dances to get your little ones learning

» A Savvy inspiration: Use music to open up your child's world

» These toe-tapping musicals are sure to be your family's faves

» One mom's story of how dancing saved an upside-down day

» From Being Savvy St. Louis: 25 ways to say "good job"

It is nice to know that the powers-that-be are reading the local content and felt that my writing was good enough to feature nationally. Okay, enough with the false humility. I am one blog away from the Pulitzer prize (do they have one for bloggers?).

99 Things to Do in LA with your Kids

Okay, I worked way too hard and got paid way too little for me to not duplicate this post.

So if you live in LA, check out the list.
If you don't live in LA but plan on visiting with your little in the near future, check out the list.
If you don't live in LA and have no plans on visiting anytime soon and have no kids, check out the list (just humor me please).
*******************************************************************

We are very fortunate that here in LA, there are probably a gabazillion things to do (my daughters are into making up numbers to one up each other and it is rubbing off on me). There will never be a shortage of activities thanks to beautiful weather year-round, great playgrounds, innovative businesses that cater to kids, and awesome nature just a few steps or short car drive away. Of course we are paying an enormously high cost of living to be here, but the perks make up for it, right? Believe it or not, I really had to limit myself to 99. Maybe one day, I will post 999 things to do...you know...when I have all this extra time on my hands.

I included hyperlinks for each activity/location for addresses, directions, and more information.

Here are just 99 things to do, in no particular order, broken down by categories:

Neighborhood Parks--These are my kids' favorites and each are unique in their own way. (9)
Douglas Park in Santa Monica
Aidan's Place in West LA
Holmby Park in Westwood
Virginia Avenue Park in Santa Monica
Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey
Griffith Park in Los Feliz
Veteran's Park in Culver City
Roxbury Park in Beverly Hills
Stoner Park Pool in West LA

Hiking Trails--We've hiked most of these trails with the kids, some with a stroller. (6)
Solstice Canyon in Malibu
Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills
Point Dume in Malibu
Temescal Canyon Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades
Coldwater Canyon Park in Beverly Hills
Will Rogers State Park in Pacific Palisades

Amusement Parks--Do I need to say more? (6)
Disneyland in Anaheim
Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park
Adventure City in Anaheim
Knott's Soak City in Buena Park
Universal Studios in Universal City
Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia

Indoor Play Area--These are our favorites and all of them can be rented out for birthday parties. (6)
Under the Sea (many locations)
Giggles n Hugs in West LA
Treehouse Social Club in Los Angeles (Robertson Blvd)
Adventure Plex in Manhattan Beach
Child's Play in Westwood
Play in Mid-Wilshire
Naya's Garden in Silverlake

Beaches--I included the beaches that were more kid-friendly (bathrooms, nearby food vendors in the summer). (10)
Santa Monica Beach
Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Zuma Beach in Malibu
Venice Beach
Leo Carillo State Beach in Malibu (tidepools)
Redondo Beach
Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach
Paradise Beach in Malibu
Jalama Beach in Lompoc (beach camping)
Marina "Mother's" Beach in Marina Del Rey

Mountain Resorts--Most of these resorts have recreational activities all year long. (7)
Mt Baldy
Mt High
Lake Arrowhead
Big Bear Lake
El Capitan Canyon
Mammoth Mountain
Yosemite National Park

Theatres--El Capitan and Santa Monica Playhouse are geared more for children. The others occasionally have programs that preschoolers would be interested in. Check the schedule for upcoming shows. (5)
El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood
Santa Monica Playhouse in Santa Monica
Mark Taper Forum in Downtown LA
Pantages Theatre in Hollywood
Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown LA

Sports Teams--My husband and I are big sports fan. We've taken the kids to Dodgers games a couple times and they had a great time. (5)
LA Galaxy at Home Depot Center in Carson
Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium in LA
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium in Anaheim
Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center in Downtown LA
Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Downtown LA

Gardens--All of these gardens are a bit of a drive but absolutely worth it. (3)
The Huntington in San Marino
Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge
LA County Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcardia

Aquariums--Big and small, all lots of fun! (3)
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro

Local Attractions--An array of local venues that the kids are sure to love. (11)
The Grove in Mid-Wilshire
Santa Monica Airport
Los Angeles Zoo
Santa Monica Pier/Carousel/Paradise Park
3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica
Griffith Park--Travel town
Star Eco in Culver City
Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana
Culver Ice Arena in Culver City

Museums--All of these museums are kid-friendly and even have programs/exhibits specifically for kids! (11)
Getty Center in Bel Air
LA County Museum of Art in Mid-Wilshire
Museum of Contemporary Art in Downtown LA
Autry National Center of the American West (across from the LA Zoo)
Zimmer Children's Museum in Mid-Wilshire
Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits in Mid-Wilshire
Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena
Skirball Cultural Center in Bel Air
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County near USC
California Science Center near USC
Petersen Automotive Museum in Mid-Wilshire

Historic LA--Make it a really fun day trip and take the Metro! You can take a bus to a station, or drive into Koreatown and park at the Denny's off Western. (6)
Olvera Street
Chinatown
Union Station
Grauman's Chinese Theater
Venice Canals
Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels


Farmer's Markets--These are my favorites. We have a ton in the LA area but these farmer's markets really stand out. (5)
Culver City (Main Street, Tuesdays, 3 pm to 7 pm)
Brentwood (Gretna Green Way, Sundays, 9 am to 2 pm)
Santa Monica (three locations, four days, check schedule)
The Original Farmer's Market at Third Street and Fairfax (adjacent to the Grove, everyday, all day)
Larchmont Village (Larchmont Blvd, Sundays, 10 am to 2 pm)

Farms--Most of these farms have seasonal activities year round. (3)
Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark
Willowbrook Apple Farm in Oak Glen
Greenspot Farms in Mentone

Weekend Excursions--Just an hour or two away by car, a great family vacation awaits! (3)
San Diego

Legoland/Sea Life Park Aquarium
Sea World
San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park

Santa Barbara

Consider taking Amtrak Train
Santa Barbara Zoo
Solvang

Catalina Island

More Activity Ideas

Day Two: The natives are getting restless but so is their fearless (and highly caffeinated) leader. Fortunately, my SOS was answered and reinforcements came in the form of my aunt. Looks like we will survive one more day.

In between the last minute errands before the holidays, doing stuff for my mom, and general housekeeping, I want to figure out some activities for the girls. The weather outside makes it an indoor day, but the girls can only stay inside for some time without bouncing off the walls and making me feel like I was in a padded cell.

I looked through the family fun website and just thought it was so-so. I just discovered that one of my many employers has a great activities website--Savvy Source activities.

Joey and Elysha are really into math right now so the M&M math seems like a great idea. And the crayon resist painting would be a good activity while Sam is napping.

Yesterday, we made New Year's chains. I had the girls cut out strips of paper. I showed Joey a December calendar and told her to write the remaining days on each strip of paper (i.e. 23 on one strip, 24 on the next, and so on). Joey made dots on Elysha's paper strips so that Elysha could practice writing her numbers too. Then I folded each paper strip into an interlocking ring, letting the girls staple each ring together. I also saved the empty wrapping paper tubes so that the girls could make magic wands.

These activities lasted about two seconds, so the other 43,198 seconds of the day, I was hurting. I was relieved when I spoke to two other moms who were also suffering as much as I was. Not that I want other moms to suffer, but it just helped me to feel like I wasn't alone. Though I'm sure they didn't pound on the locked doors of their preschool, wailing, "Why, God, why?" The saga to continue tomorrow...

First Post is Live--Yipee!

My first post is live on the Being Savvy website. I am still waiting for my bio and pic to be up but that is okay...millions of people (give or take a million) will be reading my thoughtfully written, astute post about Christmas trees.

I have always wanted to be a writer or be involved in a publication. I tried to do the whole publishing career route but my few feeble attempts to get my foot in the door were squashed. I was one of two finalist to be an editorial assistant for Stanford magazine--a job with a meager wage and a ton of grunt work. I was lost it to a Stanford Law graduate. One of the guys who interviewed me loved me so much he tried to get me a different job very distantly related to the magazine. But it was too late. I became so embittered by the whole experience, I went 180 degree different route with my career and went to school in the evenings to become a systems administrator. I sold myself out for the money and shelved my dreams of writing.

Flash forward nine years later, I am going back to my first love. And it feels good.

Stripping Away My Identity

I have been spending the evening removing any traces of my complete identity from this site. It is a little strange...I started blogging in February of this year. I just removed my profile from this site but the last hit count was almost 250. 250 random and not-so-random people. And now, even more random people when I get up and running with Savvy Source. So now, hopefully, there is no more evidence of our real last name.

I am excited about the opportunity but wonder how I will deal with the paparazzi and constantly being bombarded by strangers telling me how much they adore me. I hope I don't let it get to my head. If it gets too big, then my tiara won't fit anymore.

Another Part-time Job

Well, it looks like I will become a City Editor for The Savvy Source blogsite. I'm very excited but nervous about how I am going to juggle yet another ball. I just got off a five hour shift at PB and boy, oh boy, the holiday spirit was NOT oozing out of the customers today.

In any case, I fancy being able to call myself a professional blogger now. Yup, I'm moving up in the blogging world.

Just wanted to share the good news...though this will definitely cut into my personal blogging time. Sorry folks, but it is nice that I can get paid (a meager wage) for something that was/is a hobby. Besides, I need another job to support my PB habit.

Oh, and also shameless self-promotion (he he), please click on the link for Savvy Source DAILY for local activities ideas and information on preschools all over the country. There should be new posts coming soon for the West LA site.