Stix on the Beach: Tales From The Happiest Hooker!

Cross Stitch, Crosswalk, and Cross Process

It has been so cool reading the comments here (and elsewhere) from fellow cross-stitchers! I love crocheting and knitting, but cross-stitching has a different vibe. It's almost like working a crossword puzzle ― you gotta figure out how to make the right letters (in this case, only an x!) fit horizontally and vertically. I love it 'cause it is like a crafty brain game.

Right now, I'm just playing around with different motifs and getting to know the ins & outs of cross-stitching, and having so much fun with it! In the photo above, you can see a black thread running down the center ― that's because I am about to start stitching an actual recognizable thing. The black basting stitch is to help me center the design...I think. I'll find out soon enough.

For those of you who are itchin' to learn cross-stitching, Alicia Paulson from Posy Gets Cozy has written an awesome no-one-is-looking-so-just-have-fun-with-it tutorial. And because I adore Alicia, I don't mind mentioning (on my own accord) that she has a walk-in-the-woods-inspired ABC cross-stitch sampler kit for sale! But if you're like me and don't have that kind of money to spend, relax and know you can enjoy cross-stitching on the super cheap! In fact, I will soon be sharing with you just how inexpensive it is (and truth be told, if it wasn't, I wouldn't be doing it).

Corner of Lincoln Avenue & Citron Street in Anaheim, California

I picked up mom's car from the repair shop on Tuesday — you know, the day I was feeling the most sick from my flu-like allergies. I didn't really mind, because the cloudy and cool weather was ideal and I had the opportunity to drive through a part of town that is a throwback to yesteryear.

A second after snapping a photo of the crosswalk with my phone, I sat staring at the green light against the clouds. Fortunately, there are still courteous drivers who have the willpower not to honk at you for not moving forward instantaneously as the light turns green. The UPS guy behind me may have been taking in the gorgeous sky ahead of us as well. But since I am a hypochondriac, I drove the remaining mile home convincing myself I wasn't stroking out for not reacting to the GO light quicker.

And speaking of things that are going, you all have heard the sad news about Picnik, right? Now before you all jump up suggesting"Photoshop!" — let me tell you this: I will open Photoshop with one photo to edit for a blog post, and ten hours later, have learned a dozen new techniques, manipulated three-hundred images, created a new blog header for a whole new blog, and designed an entire collection of scrapbook paper — and I don't even freakin' scrapbook.

No, I need an online photo-editing site where I simply click, click, click, upload to Flickr, and drop the HTML into my blog post. Thank you, though. So it was off to Google search "substitute for Picnik." I'm always afraid of linking to blogs I'm not familiar with, because, ohmygod, what if the blogger is a hate-mongering bitch, you know? But I found such a terrific and thorough review by Cheri from I Am Momma-Hear Me Roar of the totally free FotoFlexer. 

So last night I gave FotoFlexer a shot using the pic I took with my phone. What I wanted a substitute most of all for is the cross process option — it's my favorite image treatment. I was tickled pink with the result! I even like FotoFlexer's user control of the cross processing better than Picnik (and holy crap, there are even other options within the cross processing option)! I even did a side-by-side photo comparison today with a different picture, and again, I liked FotoFlexer better!

But ....

...if you are one of those people who still believes you can break your computer from pushing the wrong button, don't waste your time with FotoFlexer. It's kind of slow. I have to click on things a couple of times to make those things pop-up and work (I heard you gasp!). And some of the tools for fine-tuning within options aren't clear as day, so you have to feel comfortable looking like it's your first time on a computer after being raised by wolves all your life.

I'm hoping that if FotoFlexer catches on with Picnik refugees, the people behind the site will want to better "the world's most advanced online image editor." But for now, definitely don't cross FotoFlexer off the list as an alternative to our soon-t0-be dearly departed.

UPDATE: Use PicMonkey to go all apeshi...ah...do all kinds of cool things with your photos with!!!

Storm Watch

Me and Kali pretending we live in Forks, Washington.

It rained yesterday. During daylight hours. We could stare at  it. And walk in it. And finish decorating the Christmas tree to it. Now it's back to the same ol' Southern California suckass sunshine. But for a few glorious hours yesterday, it rained.

Not only did it rain, but it was also cold! Which meant I got to bundle up in the cute winter coat Marissa bought me this weekend when I walked with her partway to work. Our path takes us past the Anaheim Duck's training rink, where we often see a bunch of rich-looking white guys getting hockey sticks out of expensive SUVs, but I wouldn't know a Duck even if one came up and quacked in my face.

The stroll in the storm put me in a festive mood. So when I got home, I finally finished decorating the tree and did a bit of Martha Stewart (if she fell of her meds) improvisation around the living room. Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me to restrain myself from setting up the Nativity scene in some sort of inappropriate manner? Does anyone remember what I accidentally did to the sheep that one year? I have the photo on Flickr, which will be available again once I have my pro-account back up. Anyways, there are three adult females in the scene and I couldn't figure out which one was Mary. Then I had a flash of Big Love. But I stopped myself because as a Pagan-at-heart, I respect different religions. And I like being different from many religious people in that way.

Now the apartment looks and feels all wintery and Christmasy while I keep an eye out for the next chance of rain.

The Social Network

At the beginning of Downtown Anaheim's Veterans Day Ceremony, we were asked to rise. I respectfully placed my right hand over my heart. "Let us pray."  Oh God.

Next to me I felt a vibe rolling off Marissa. I didn't dare risk looking at her. We had just voiced our frustration about this on the walk over: Support for our Soldiers = Religious. Support for our Soldiers = Republican. Support for our Soldiers = Rah-Rah These Colors Don't Run.

I tuned out the prayer and thought of the reasons why we showed up. We were there to remember and give thanks to the soldiers who served because joining the military was their way of getting out of poverty. We were there to remember and give thanks to the soldiers who served not by choice, but who were drafted. We were there to remember and give thanks to the soldiers who served because of their commitment to high American morals, even if high American morons are the ones running the country.

And I was there to remember and give thanks to the man who said he joined the Army to better himself after he screwed things up with me.

"In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen." I looked up at the sky and thanked the Jewish-American soldiers, the Muslim-American soldiers, the Buddhist-American soldiers, the Hindu-American soldiers, the Native-American soldiers, the Pagan-American soldiers, the Wiccan-American soldiers, the Brujo-American soldiers, the Atheist-American soldiers, the Agnostic-American soldiers. And all the American soldiers who hold steadfast to their spiritual beliefs in war...and peace.

I overheard a woman exclaim that she hadn't expected such a large turnout. Which made two of us. I had this fear that very few civilians would be in attendance. But I should have known better: this is Anaheim, a community who cares. And I was so proud of my people ... not as Americans ... but as human beings.

When the classy and moving ceremony came to a close, I wanted to stick around to capture some candid moments on camera. I also wanted to get familiar with the faces of our city leaders. I did not know, however, I would have the chance to meet my political girl-crush! Here's the thing: I've been around celebs most of my life. I simply don't get star-struck (OK, so there was that time with Christian Slater. But I had been awake for, like, 24 hours straight. I will try to repost that someday). But I am a political groupie, er, junkie!

As a Latina-Trapped-in-a-White-Girl's-Body, my big ol' Cholita heart goes pitter-patter over Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)! She is my HOMEGIRL! And she was standing right behind me after the ceremony! And I was all, "Loretta?" And she was all, "Hi!" And I was all, "I've admired you for years!" AND I DID NOT CRY! (OK, so there was this one time I sobbed when I met Liesel from The Sound of Music. And then I hid behind a book display, kind of like how she hid behind the tombstones).

The three of us chatted for a few moments. Loretta made a comment about where we had previously lived before moving to Anaheim, and it made her that more awesome and proved I was totally correct about crushing on her! Suddenly the cutest-sounding woman was telling me to give her my camera. Maria T. Solis-Martinez, an Anaheim advocate with an awesome attitude, was making sure I didn't miss out on having a photograph of my moment with Loretta!

Maria was so much fun to be around! Marissa and I loved hearing all her stories, especially of how as a teenager working for a local radio station, she got to broadcast live from Disneyland on opening day! At one point, Maria told me she was happy to see me having the opportunity to network after the ceremony. At first, I wanted to clarify that wasn't my agenda for being there. Instead, I gave her just a hint of my idea of how I wanted to get involved with helping the residents of Anaheim. And she was all over it: telling me about people and upcoming events and giving me encouragement! I have a feeling I'll be seeing Maria again. At least I hope to see her again, 'cause she's so cool!

Having spent so much time on social media sites and being active in the online community, it feels really good to want to be part of the in-real-life community again. And after living in a Wonder BreadLand for so long, I am so happy to be back amongst a diverse neighborhood like Anaheim! I love how the leaders and residents of Anaheim resemble the United Nations and are respected, respectful and sociable. And that totally means more than how many "friends" you have on Facebook or how many "followers" you collect on Twitter when you have no intention to actually socialize with them.

Anaheim Veterans Day Ceremony at Center Street Promenade/Veterans Monument.
November 10, 2011.

Right Around The Corner

The Kroeger-Melrose District neighborhood of the Anaheim Historic Colony.

Had to cancel an appointment on Thursday that I've waited seven months for. Now I have to wait another six months. My family knew realistically that this wasn't the right time because of my health and pain and having a lot of actual good stuff to take care of, but I am still totally disappointed. Yet, I am one of those crazy peoples who believes fate occasionally steps in to screw-up your plans in order to make something better happen in the future.

So what to do while I wait for March to arrive? For starters, become better acquainted with my diamond-in-the-rough neighborhood of Anaheim. Marissa and I have both begun a love affair with our colony community. When we step out our front door, we can quite literally turn one corner and come face-to-face with the newer ultra-modern Anaheim West Tower (formerly City Hall West) OR turn the other corner and step back in time to national-registered historic homes of 1900. It is a trip. We've made it a goal to glean more of the history behind our little gem of a 'hood we call home. We think looking into the past will be a cool project to help time fly by. Afterall, the future is right around the corner.

Mito Garden and Pathway to Friendship/Anaheim West Tower

Turning Over a New Leaf

Life is going in a new direction. Even though the sudden flip from negative to positive is totally awesome, it's still causing me to have mild panic attacks. I am experiencing some degree of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome from nearly being homeless. Or maybe it's from being peri-menopausal. I'm betting it's both.

There's quite a bit to accomplish over the next few days: a potential life-changing decision to be made, a new transportation to learn, a new look to create, a schedule to keep, a mouth that needs to filter what the brain wants it to say. It's absolutely exciting, but it also makes me want to take a nap.