Lisa Fox's Blog

2005-09-03T09:24:00.001-07:00

Monday night, Sassy Little Pumkin and I ventured out to Santa Monica to experience The Lincoln's Jazz night. You see Sassy is the food editor for LAist and that automatically makes us special. The atmosphere was pleasent and the staff friendly. Due to a little mix-up, Sassy and I were treated like royalty. I ordered us a special bottle of Zinfindale to get us in the gormet eating mood, Next came the appetizer which proved to be delicious: Seared ahi tuna topped with cucumber sorbet. Yummy. I orderd the lobster and Sassy a Cowboy steak. Both excellent!! For sides, we indulged ourselves in asparagus, macoroni and chesse, grits, and something else that was very tasty. A meal of this type would be unheard of without dessert. They brought us out bananas foster and a huge peanut butter cookie. I really enjoyed myself at The Lincoln Steakhouse and would definately go back for a special dinner. To read Sassy's review of the place click here.

2005-08-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile. We are in the tenth week of school and things are in full swing. I have two papers to work on and a take home final. I finished up with my Summer Bridge kids, but have not had a chance to rest. I am beat. I honestly don't remember the last time I have worked this hard. During the break, however, Mike and I plan on taking a scentic trip to Santa Maria for some wine and gormet food tasting. Arg, all this work has been making me impatient and grumpy. Ohhhh, I did manage to sneak away and indulge myself in the Farmer's Market in La Canada. What a treat. I bought jewlery, soap, strawberries, asparagus, virgin olive oil, and honey sticks. I am especially pleased with my new freshwater pearl braclet and earings. I know I say this every quarter, but I will be glad when this is all over.

2005-06-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

I am excited about the Anime Expo. I bought a skirt and t-shirt at Urban Outfitters. The skirt is totally 80's. It is very short with a built in wide belt. Fun!!! The t-shirt is a peach color that I apprear to be fond of because I noticed I just bought the same tone lipgloss last week at Sephora. Tickets have been puchased and I am ready to go! That weekend is going to be a busy weekend with the 4th of July and all.

2005-06-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

School starts again today. I am actually feeling a bizarre mixture of dread and excitement. Dread cause I have 10 weeks of hard work ahead of me, but excited that 2 classes will be taken care of simultaneously. Whoo Hoo. After Fall, I will be done with the all of the classes to complete my MA program, which I am also happy about. Sadly, I feel like I am coming down with some sort of illess. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just feel really tired and fatigued. I have been drinking lots of water, taking vitamins, and taking both DayQuil and NyQuil. I am gong to milk these last fews hours of freedom before heading off to class.

2005-06-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

We are moving right along in terms of our housecleansing. Ikea is the bomb for getting things organized. It is best to go in the morning otherwise you will be stuck in a pit of people. Those of you who are planning on coming to my BBQ on the 4th will be pleasently suprised that we are making an attempt to clean our home. If you want to come to my BBQ, but have not recieved an evite please email me. We can work something out. Life is good cause things are moving along. Oh, I forgot to mention that we are going to the Anime expo this year. Yup, I am not planning on dressing up as a anime charactor because I am not really a huge fan of any particular series. I just want to chill geek style. You see my dear friend McCrady is a Cosplayer. She enjoys dressing up in silly, wacky outfits and getting lots of attention.

2005-06-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

Tommorow is housecleaning day. Mike and I are finally commiting ourselves to cleaning up our house in preperation for our 4th of July BBQ. Anyone who has been to out home knows that we have quite a challenge to face tommorow. There are just piles of stuff everywhere. Now there is no excuse! The kid gloves are coming off!!! I will let you know how all this goes manana!!!! Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

2005-06-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

I checked my grades online and was pleasently surprised to see an A-. I decided this quarter break was going to be inexpensive. Therefore, I have been eating frozen potpies, organizing binders for next quarter, and chatting with buddies on AIM. Yesterday, we did splurge by going out for sushi. Yum, yum. I don't think I ever blogged about this place and if I did forgive me as I tend to be plauged with short term memory problems and rampant typos. Ok, well Sushi Zawa is one of the best sushi places this side of town. Sadly, yesterday was a bit slow. :(. Mike and I had a delightful time chowing down on lobster rolls, spicy tuna rolls, California rolls, tuna, albacore, and yellow tail scallion rolls. The damage was pretty insignificant considering the tasty treats we consumed. Sushi Zawa is a cool place to go if you have some extra money burning a hole in your pocket. If that is the case, AIM me. I am Cornsilver. I will help you fix that problem. You can take me and Sassy out for sushi. This post is dedicated to Sassy, my best sushi buddy. Here is a shout out to all the sushi lovers out there!!! You know who you are!

2005-05-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hey people out in cyberspace!!!!!! I had a wonderfully relaxing day. I ate Mediterranean food, got a pedicure and manicure, and a haircut. I just realized that I never told you folks about Significations. Well, it recieved many positive reviews. Significations is Cal State L.A's graduate conference put on by three of my favorite people. Sassy, Pisces, and I had a blast at the flower mart downtown. If you have never been there it is the most amazing expereince. You can purchase many different types of flowers for really cheap. They are nice flowers too. We decided that we had so much fun with this years conference that we would be in charge next year. Arg, it is off to bed for me now.

2005-05-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

I had a very productive weekend. Spent all day Friday grading papers and hitting up Gordon Biersh in Bubank, which is one of my fav places by the way. Yesterday, Mike and I stood in line with the masses to see Star Wars at the AMC. Although the acting was bad, I didn't mind the movie. I felt entertained throughout the film and munched away on mini Bon Bons and popcorn. I came home and recieved a call fromm Sassy Little Punkin. She is the editor of a literary magazine at Cal State L.A. Her and her roomates were having an after party at where else but Gorden Biersh. Mike and I joined them where I munched on ravioli for the second time this weekend. Overall, it was a work filled weekend with some fun and a mojito in between.

2005-05-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

A very productive day! Cruised around some expensive areas looking at driveways. I think we know what we want! You see there is going to be some renovation taking place here over the summer. We are going to be building a rather large structure in our front yard. I am very excited because our house is filled with clutter all over the place and this will remedy that problem. The houses we looked at were absolutely gorgeous and inspired me to really get into home improvement projects like finishing the garden we started last year. Lunch was spent at Ernie Jr's Taco House where I ate delicious shrip fajitas with rice and beans. After dinner, we headed down to Lowe's and bought two books called Landscaping With Stone and Complete Guide To Watergardens. These books will help us with our home improvement projects. Don't forget that tommorow is Mother's Day!!!!!! I already sent my mom a gift!!

2005-04-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

I registered for two classes today: Victorian Sexualities and Textualities and D.H Lawrence. I am really looking forward to these lit classes because of the professors.

2005-04-17T20:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend consisted of the following activities: a trip to Amadeus for a European facial, a field trip to Twin Dragon for some delicious Chinese food, falling asleep while watching the Incredables, cleaning out the spare bedroom, and a 1/3 lb specialty burger at Fudruckers. Mike gave me his sore throat and I am not a happy blogger. Kudos to Sassy who spiced up her blog with cute caracitures of herself and pink!!

2005-04-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

Had a productive day. I went to a meeting at school where we actually got stuff taken care of. Planning a graduate conference involves so many details that are very similar to a wedding. I enjoyed the pasta primavera at Charlie's Trio in Alhambra. At home reading selctions for my class tommorrow night. Oh, and I ran into Sissi Dinh at school. She is an old friend from the credential program, who hooked us up with my engagement ring. I actually got a compliment on it from a waitress at Gorden Bierch last night. I think I am going to take 2 classes this summer! It seems like these days my life revolves around school. I guess that is a good thing.

2005-04-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day to remember. Sassy, Pisces, and co spent the day at Dr. Elkins' home in downtown Los Angeles. She had quite the spread which included B.B.Q ribs, wine, eggplant, and corn muffins. We laughted about various happenings in the English Department as I admired her vast collection of world art and smiled at her cats. Apparently, Blossom had bitten Bessy and left quite a mark. Ouch. This quarter is about more war. I have not actually been to class yet thanks to Caesar Chavez's b-day.

2005-03-24T12:29:00.000-08:00

I have been doing a little bit of work a day to get ready for next quarter. I did the following: bought a faculty parking permit, ordered my books, put together the beginnings of a 101 notebook, made copies of various assignments for 101, and bought new socks and underware. I believe in being prepared for all situations. In May, I will be presenting a paper at Cal State L.A's grad conference Significations. I am very excited about this prospect of being the authority on Nella Larsen's Passing. Yesterday, I had the most fun trying all different types of sushi including sweet shrimp, tuna, salmon, California roll, and eel, which is my personal fav. The damage was quite significant because I went to a place in Old Town called Sushi Rocu. I don't think I will be doing that again any time soon. After lunch, I headed out to Urban Outfitters where I bought a shirt that says F is for Fox. Ha, it is a funky 70's shirt! All but 2 of my kids passed English 096 and that is a good thing. This entry is all over the place.

2005-03-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

I am on quarter break and loving life right now. I managed to get all but three of my kids to pass English 96 and then I am off to 101 next quarter. In addition, I pulled off an A- in my Vietnam narratives class, which was no easy feat. In that class, we read Dispatches, A Rumor of War, In Country, Machine Dreams, The Things They Carried, They Marched into Sunlight, The Sorrow of War, and When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. That class was no joke. Ahhh, but this week I can do the things I enjoy such as read comics, drink wine, eat cold pizza, and rest up for next quarter. Lately, I have been into reading Sandman thanks to Pisces, who let me borrow Volume 1. Vegas was a blast expecially since I went outlet shopping at Sketchers, Jockey, and Anne Taylor. Getting good deals is another thing I live for.

2005-03-08T19:47:00.000-08:00

I am so freaking tired. I am working on a 15+ paper for my Vietnam Narratives class. Between teaching and reading for my own classes this poor girl has no time for fun and that my friends is very sad:(. Right now the biggest luxory for me would be a day where I just got to rest and do nothing. I am will be very glad when this quarter comes to a final close. Just one more week left and I am done with Winter of 2005.

2005-01-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

Spent the day being a nerd. I put together some worksheets for this class I am teaching and sipped on some Black Swan Merlot. On Saturday I went shopping at Nordstrom at the Santa Anita mall. I had a blast trying on jeans and colorful t-shirts that go with everything. I purchased the following items: a pair of 7 jeans, 4 shirts, hot pink lounging pants, and a lacy tank top. Shopping is definately a release for me. Haha tell that to my husband who asked me if I was going to need any other new clothes for this teaching position. Ha men just don't understand us!

2005-01-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

I went to eat lunch at Sam Woo's today for some delicious honey glazed shrimp. Although they don't offer a lunch special or an inviting atmosphere, I thought the experience was worth the drive to Alhambra. I did have one problem which is that they don't accept check cards or cash at this Cantonese eating establishment. So, I left my credit card with the manager lady and ran off to take out money from the local Wells Fargo ATM. I rushed back and took care of the damage. The woman pointed to the sign about that stated: NO CREDIT CARDS. I have heard from trustworthy friends that this is a authentic Chinese resteraunt and I appreciate that about it. However, I still like P.F Chang's. I guess there is no hope for me.

2005-01-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

Today consisted of the following: playing the role of a happy student for a writing center skit, watching too much Simpsons, organizing my T.A materials, walking in the rain, making French Bread, eating pizza, finding Mike at home when he should be at work, and drinking a beer. Winter quarter has begun folks. So far, my English 96 class has been going well. Only a few students did not turn in the first assignment. Vietnam Narratives got off to a gory start, but at least I have Sassy and Pisces to soften the blow.

2005-01-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

Went to lunch at Akbar today for some delicious Indian cuisine. I tried the coco lamb for the first time and Mike had the tika masala. Mmmm, the lamb was kinda spicy, but I enjoyed it anyways. Akbar is a fine eating establishment located in Old Town Pasadena on Fair Oaks and Union. They have some interesting prints on the wall which add to the atmosphere. In addition, the service is pretty good. I have read some bad reviews online; however, I have not experienced these problems metioned myself. You can get free parking for an hour and a half at the Schoolhouse lot located on Fair Oaks and Green. The lunch specials are the best bargin cause you don't have to order each item seperately. Dinner will add up in cost due to the cost of each individual item. If you like good Indian food at a decent price then lunch at Akbar is for you.

2005-01-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Went out to a party yesterday. This party was an ideal situation although I did not know anyone there but a few friends Melinda and Ray. The host Gavin danced and proved to be an interesting topic of conversation among his high school friends. Apparently, Gavin is known for his Final Fantasy costumes, trips to the pricipal's office, and now for being a gracious host. The picture are here: http://www.thefoxesden.org/yappa-ng/index.php?album=%2FLisa%2FNew_Years_and_other_stuff Gavin's mom even showed up and stated, "Gavin loves Final Fantasy." At the end of the night, I was glad that I had not gone out to a club. The reasons I do not like clubs are: 1. You don't even met anyone interesting 2. The music is too loud 3. It is expensive 4. I am an introvert who does not really get a kick out of a. spaking people b. watching people being spacked or c. doing E. It is just not really my thing. I would much rather spend time with friends eating delicious food. Tommorow night Mike is going to take to Chinese seafood. I will let you know how it goes. Have a happy new year all!!!!

2004-12-29T19:54:00.000-08:00

I took this quiz. Here are the results:
You're Jack Tripper!

Which Three's Company Roomate Are You?
brought to you by

2004-12-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

O.K I am reading Sin and Syntax. This book is an awesome writer's companion because it instructs you on how to craft "wickedly effective prose" without following all the rules. I never thought I would be engrossed in a book about writing. If you are interesting in writing and want a rule-free guidebook I strongly recommend Sin and Syntax. Thanks Pisces for the recommendation! I sat around the house and endulged myself in my lastest Netflicks pick: Election. I just love the acting in this film. Reese Witherspoon plays Tracy Flick an ambitious high schooler devoted to winning the upcoming election. The scenes in the film will definately take you back to your own high school experiences. In addition, there is someone for just about everyone to identify with in this film. There you have it folks two reccomendations from Cornsilver. I am on this fish for dinner kick. I'll let you know how the ahi turns out tomorrow. Bye for now. The ahi tasted yummy! I just need to pick up some wasabe to add a bit of flavor.

2004-12-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

I think you people out in cyberspace would enjoy Lemony Snickets. Jim Carey was not all spastic running around all over the place acting crazy. The movie proved to be surprising relaxing. The setting was so unusual and the storyline interesting enough to hold your attention. I also recommend Finding Neverland despite the tearjerking ending. I am going to make a salmon dinner using this special salmon I bought from Britol Farms.

2004-12-23T19:37:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, I am going to hang out with my mother manana. She is going to take me to lunch and perhaps a movie. It seems like everytime I hang out with her it feels like we just hung out. That is a really bad sign that I am not fond of your company. Mike experienced Kaiser when he had surgery for an ingrown toenail. He has been limping around like a gimp and cannot walk like a normal person. I had this whole fiasco with UPS regarding this package I had sent to my dad and stepmother. Here is what happened: I went to my father's office and attempted to deliever some gifts I bought him and his wife. I realized that this was going to be a huge pain in the ass because the place was closed off. Then I went to The UPS store to have it delievered. The next day a woman called me explaining that the package had been delieved to her her house. This was not the right address. I was very annoyed and promptly called the UPS Store to have them remedy the problem. I left a message and recieved a phone call the next day. The worked made sure that the package was delievered to the correct address. I called my father to tell him what had happened. He said that the package would be sent to Puerto Rico cause he would not be there to sign for it. I ended up picking up the package and just being in a plain bad mood. This is a gripe entry! Ha! Two people asked me when I was planning on having kids today! Weird. Me no like nosy people.

2004-12-21T11:39:00.000-08:00

I am talking Vietnam Narratives with one of my favorite professors. I love her! Therefore, I have been reading Dispatches by Michael Herr. I am looking forward to this class due to the interesting subject matter and the awesome professor. I have been getting so much out of being in grad school. The experience is so much better than teaching high school. I am only taking one class next quarter and teaching my basic writing class, which I am really looking forward to. Then I have to pick up the pace and take two classes. At least now I have fellow nerd friends like Sassy Little Pumkin. Check out her site by clicking on her link:). Bye for now.

2004-12-19T21:16:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, finally got to party at Melinda's dads retirement party. Other than that not much happened this weekend. Back in out quite home with nothing but the purr of the fridge to keep me company. Hmmmm, wondering what I am going to do this week. I know on Tuesday I am going to see Finding Neverland in Pasadena. Other than that mmmmm rest and getting ready for my classes next quarter.

2004-12-17T13:56:00.000-08:00

Shopping like a fiend. I have been shopping like crazy lately. The past week I have purchased the following: 8 pairs of pants, a pair of shoes, 4 sweaters, 3 button down tops, 2 scarves, 3 calenders, 2 books, and dvds. The clothes are for work since I need to look professional. I am teaching a Basic Writing class next quarter and need to look teacherly. Ahhh, today I went to Sushi Afloat for deep fried spicy crab, rainbow, California Roll. The food was delicious, however, if you go there at 11:00 it seems as if the food takes alot longer. Next, I stopped at Vroman's where I purchased a girlie book about ettiqute and some tissues with an F on them. That stands for my last name. I have been having so much fun in grad school. Last quarter I wrote a paper on Maus that earned me a A. Good grades make me happy O.K. Ha. In addition, we have been housesitting at Mike's parents house in Pasadena. It is cool cause I am within walking distance to great stores and places to eat. I found a awesome place on Lake that hemmed my new pants for work. I can now buy size 6 Regular pants from Express and just get them altered. Sometimes I love life.

2004-12-14T18:50:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh back to living like a real person. Finals are over. I can't describe to you how I get when I am in working mode. I am very focused and don't want to do anthing but finish what needs to be done. In addition, to finals being over I am starting the T.A Program at Cal State L.A. This means I will be instructing twenty poor unfortunate souls in a basic writing class. I went to a delightful meeting today where I got to do teacherly like things such as order book and develop lesson plans. All fun stuff for a nerd like myself. I had an awesome quarter due to some really inspiring people I met at the Writing Center. Here is a shout out to the following peeps: Sassy Little Pumpkin for making me laugh, Triple Pisces for answering my endless questions, all those students who I helped and gave me all A's on my evaluations, even those I didn't help, Alphie for just being there, and Michelle Hawley for making Children's Literature a more than enjoyable experience. I felt like the quarter provided me with as many challanges as rewards. I have finally come to understand that writing is a definate part of me. I don't know which direction I am going to go, but I know it will be a significant part of my future.

2004-12-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

All I do is study. The life of a nerd is not easy. Awg. Must finish paper for Conemportary Fiction. Will have more to say after finals.

2004-11-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

I have been sick with a cold so I don't have much to report. This weekend I will be reading The Hours and Persepolis. Today I went to Sizzler and the casher undercharged me for my steak and shrimp. Things could be worse!!!! Finals are approaching soon!!!!

2004-09-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Ok so we had a very interesting weekend because this weekend was Yom Kippur. I fasted for 24 hours which was quite an experience. Finally, after what seemed like forever, we went out to dinner with our good friends Jason and Leah. We went to Petrillo's for some Italian food from the old school. It was yummy. Today, we took the metro all over L.A. That thing makes life so smooth and you can relax on the train as it zippes you all over town. We went to China Town where there was not much going on. Then we took the Gold Line all the way to Pasadena where I shopped at Bed Bath and Beyond. Then back to Union Station and finally home. What an exciting day it had been.

2004-09-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Burning Man or bust. Ok, so I completely wussed out on Burning Man this year. We get about 1/2 an hour outside the gate and realize that we forgot our tickets. Whoops! Not a problem we just call my mother-in-law and mention selling them on Craig's List. To make a long story short there were too many dust storms and we decided just to head into Reno for some rest and relaxation. We stayed at The Nugget for 60 dollars a night. True we were one of the few people under 80, but I was just glad not to be approached by extroverted freaks and dust storms. If you ever get a chance have dinner at a place called Trader Dick's. They have the best drinks there. Mike offeres his opinion about the Navy Grog he had, "I don't usually drink things that are flammable." Pretty high alchohol level. The mai tai will give you a pretty decent buzz without making you pass out. Huh! The food is also excellent.

2004-08-27T21:16:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to head out to Burning Man on Saturday. This whole thing is really testing the boundries of my marriage. The other night I actually spent the night at Mike's parents to avoid beoing at home. It really is making me loca. Mike is taking me to one of my favorite places The Northwoods Inn to make up for all the madness around this place. Ahhh, this whole being married thing requires much patience. I am planning on taking a whole lot of pictures once I hit th playa. With this new photo gallory software I can put up my pictures all by myself. I look forward to sharing my expereinces with everyone once I get back.

2004-08-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Hello friends out in cyberspace. We are heading out to Black Rock Dessert on Sunday. That is where the location of Burning Man takes place every year. The preperations are quite extensive and include buying various camping items. I had a blast when I went last year, but it was alot of work. Life is going well. The speed reading class I took did help me improve my speed and I am sure this skill will come in handy during fall when I am back in school. I got a position at the University Writing Center where I will tutor students of all disciplines. I am actually very excitied about this and can't wait to start. It seems like what I have always wanted to do with my life. I just didn't know it. It feels so good to be in an environement where other people who think like me work.

2004-08-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

O.K the sauce was not very good. I mean I didn't like it very much at all. It wasn't that I made it wrong. It just tasted kinda bad. Made me unhappy that I spent so much time and energy on something that I did not enjoy. The shallots made the house smell for days. Oh the recipe BTW is on the Gelson's supermarket website under seafood. Make the fish, but ditch the sauce.

2004-08-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

The past couple of days I have been sick with something that kicked my ass like a demon staight from hell. Now Mike has the beginning stages of it. I feel bad cause I know how it feels and it sucks the big one. On a more positive note, we went out last night to The Yard House for some delicious beer and food. I had one of those gormet salads you know the kind with bleu cheese crumbles, blasamic viniger, and candies walnuts we met up with some friends I have not seen in a long time. Friends from High School. Tonight I am planning on making ahi with a cherry sauce I found on the Gelson's website. The pics are at http://www.thefoxesden.org/yappa-ng/index.php. I just learned how to use this photo gallory software and am having fun putting my pictures on the internet for others to enjoy. I used to be a tecnophobic, but am realizing that there is not that much to it. Ha! It is even fun. I'll let you know how the ahi turns out tomorow.

2004-08-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

Burning Man preparations are starting up again. That means dudes over at the house using their manpower to get things happening in our front yard. Much work to be done including making sure the dome is in working order. You see people out in cyberspace I am a private person so having people over really affects my mood. I was raised an only child and prefer to keep to myself. I expect other people to do the same. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks the same way I do:(. Therefore, these preperations sessions can result in some unwanted visitors that stay way past dinner time. Oh the horror! The horror! Wow, now that I got that out of my system. Ok, so well today I went to Brital Farms a.k.a the Bougouis Market. I really enjoy B.F up until the moment you have to pay. The place is fully stocked with gormet goodies, but you have to pay premium prices. Ouch! I made salmon from the same recipe Melinda brought over last weekend and it was yummy! Thanks Melinda and Ray. You two know how to make a girl feel special.

2004-08-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an interesting day. I tutored my two pupils and headed over to Mike's parents to meet Mike as we were planning to head over to the Ice House to see Menegay's comedy show. First we stopped off at Magarita Jone's for some delicious dinner. I had a chicken enchilada along with rice and beans. The place was a notch below El Cholo on my list of Mexican joints in L.A. I was not into the guacamole at all due to its extreme lemony flavor. It just was not working out for me and that green stuff. The show was fun. It was 8 comedians competing for a 500 dollar cash prize, a 50 dollar gift certificate to a local Italian resteraunt, and third place was a side of fries. Geoff Menegay had won in the 8th week leading up to this competition. I was suprised at how racist some of these comedians were. I mean haven't we moved beyond the days of The Jefferson's?? I found the comedians I liked best were ones that did not rely on classic crowd pleasers like ghetto black people jokes. At the end of the show we were to make our favorite comedians on a ballet. I had a virgin Pina Colada and Bahama Mama cause I had to drive home. The whole excursion was kinda expensive--around 50 dollars. I hope Geoff at least ends up with a side of fries.

2004-08-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hi people out there in cyberspace. I am going to see Geoff Menegay perform at the Ice House tomorrow. This is the second time Geoff will be performing there and I am really looking forward to it. I try and support my friends when they are giving a public performance because I like seeing them in a new perspective. Tonight we had leftovers for dinner. Salmon, baked beans, a small salad, and for desert cheesecake. YUM:). Have a nice day.

2004-08-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

My mom took me out to lunch for my birthday. You see, friends out in cyberspace, I don't really get along with my mother. I know she is never going to read this so don't be thinking anything bad about me. I am just being honest. So we went to Mimi's Cafe in Monrovia where I had Shimp pasta along with a small salad. The food was good, but the company was not. I feel bad, but I am always just so glad to leave. Like elated when I get to leave her presence. It is difficult to describe her behavior. Let me give you one example. O.K at my wedding she got really frusterated because the photographers were interupting too often to take pictures. She yelled at them rudely in the presence of my maid of honar and her parents. She wanted to chase me down to get them to stop while I was talking to people I had not seen in years. This was at the Altadena Country Club on MY wedding day. Arg, just thinging about her gives me a headache. So when she asks me to do stuff I am reluctant to say yes. Turning down a free meal is not something I usually do. Do you guys like your parents? Is it normal to really not like the woman who made you? I just don't want to have anything to do with her.

2004-07-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

Kicking it at home today while Mike works on some stuff for work. Hmmmmm, sounds like it is going to be just another weekend of relaxation. Did I tell you guys out there in cyberspace about the structure that will be built in our front yard. Yeah, well Mike's parents are going to fund a garage that is similar to a barn with a loft. You see, they will need a place to stay once they move to Vegas in about four years. I am pretty excited and if you saw our house you would be excited for us. We have piles and piles of Tupperware like containers filled with various stuff sitting all over the house. There is no room in our garage because that is where Mike stores his tools and the liquor for Burning Man. We basicly run a daytime bar out there in Black Rock Desert. It was a whole lot of fun, but due to time constraints I am afraid I will not be able to attend next year. Huh, well I will let you know how BM goes when I get back. I will be attending a wedding after a night of sleeping in Mike's Suberu.

2004-07-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

Had my first speed reading class last night. It seems like it is going to be an interesting experience to say the least. Just a random day. I got a new purse I had been wanting. It is two tone and looks really cool due to its detail. Still drinking the vanilla fraps at Starbucks purchased with my gift card. I think I got a weak one today. Either that or I am needing more of a fix than your average Joe. I am just beat because I woke up too early.

2004-07-28T21:24:00.000-07:00

Just another blah! day. You know one of those days where nothing really exciting happens but nothing horrible happens either. So I went and tutored the two kids I normally tutor on Wendsdays. I go from one end of the spectrum to another. First, I drive into South Pasadena where I tutor Evan McCarthy. Evan is a sixth grade vegetarian who donates his own money to charatable causes. I really like Evan because he is usually motivated and quite pleasant. He never whines, complains, or doles out any attitude. He also travels around the country with his water polo team. I get along with everyone in his family as they are wonderful people. From there I go to San Gabrial. I tutor another sixth grader named Jessica. Now Jessica takes a while to get motivated for our tutoring sessions. She is a whinner!!! She loves to gripe, moan, and complain about everything under the sun. She frusterates me with her bad attitude. Mike had too much work to do so we decided not to go to Menegay's show after all. We decided this while eating pizza at Tarintino's in Pasadena. Sausage and peperroni. YUM!

2004-07-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

Wow I am so glad that Melinda linked to me on her blog. That was really cool of her. Today was an interesting day. Woke up around 6 and registered for Contemporary Fiction and Childrens Literature. Both classes sound extremely interesting to me. Then I went off on a fun filled bike ride to Burbank. I parked my bike at a really nice rec center like I did last time I cycled to Burbank. Walked up and down San Fernando looking for some yummy Thai food, but was disappointed to find a place that did not give me the best vibe. Talked to a really sweet girl named Kristen about her piercings outside of Fudruckers. Ate a decent lunch consisting of a burger and a cherry coke. I had been eying this braclet at Macy's that was on sale for 30% off of 10.00. I bought it and quickly placed it on my wrist. When I picked up my bike I noticed the tire was flat. Fuck!!!! This was only my third ride and I didn't know what to do. I decided on walking home even though it was going to be a pain in the ass cause I didn't want to pester Mike at work. After a while, I realized this just was not going to work. The tire did not want to be pushed all the way back to Sunland. Both the tire and tube were flopping around as I pushed the bike home. I called Mike and he came to get me. I took the bike back to the Montose bike shop where they put a liner on the tire as a protector of both my tire and tube. It was a tiny freaking thorn that caused this damage. Going to see Geoff Menegay, a friend of ours, at the Ice House manana.

2004-07-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Ok I just took this online quiz and the results are in:
Athena

?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by

2004-07-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

Went to Rubio's Baja Grill for a delightful chicken salad. Yummy!!!! I am attempting to maintain my shape by not eating high calorie foods and riding my new bike around the local area. Anyways, I would definately reccomend Rubios if you are looking for a decent selection of low calorie Mexican food.

2004-07-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

Ahhh used a small portion of my Starbucks gift card today ahhhhh Vanilla Bean fraps. Just kinda a blah day. Got kinda a late start so I was not able to ride my new bike around town. Ahh there is always manana. Reading Straight Man by Richard Russo which was a b-day gift from my friend Anise. Anise is great. She teaches compostion classes at the local community colleges where she is an adjunct professor. It is always benificial to have comrades who are in the same field as you. Tommorow I am registering for Contemporary Fiction and Childrens Literature. I am looking forward to experiencing both those classes in Fall. It is freaking hot!! Hope all you folks out there in cyberspace are having a funfilled summer. Let me know.

2004-07-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

So it was my birthday yesterday. I completely enjoyed my dinner at Cafe Bizeu in Old Town Pasadena. I ordered the ahi as an appetizer which was delish. Mike ordered the Caesar salad which he enjoyed considereably more than his tequilla chicken pasta. He claimed his dinner choice was not an entree he would order again. I had the Maine lobster linguine which was excellent as well as moderetly priced. We skipped desert and had some very rich cake at Jason and Leah's during an intermission of Planet of the Apes. We also had homemade margaritas made with this really cool William Sonoma margarita mix given to me as a gift by Robby. In addition, Mike picked up a braclet I special ordered at Brighton collectables. O.K so just for the record this guy gets some major good husband points. This weekend he did the following: 1. took me to sushi 2. took me to a birthday dinner at Cafe Bizeu 3. planted all the plants I bought and 4. bought me the braclet I had special ordered. If for any reason I complain about him in the future refer me back to this blog entry. Oh yeah, his parents took me and others out to dinner for my birthday at the Panda Inn in Pasadena. The buffet there is absolutely amazing. I reccomend it with no hesitation.

2004-07-22T17:04:00.000-07:00

Ok a nine mile bike ride today. Rode to Sherman Gardens Nursery in Sun Valley. Ahhh, I decided on the plants I want for the other planter: a ficus, a philodendrum, and begonias. I love just wandering arround the nursery and looking at all the flowers. Just a chill day. I am reading The Sun Always Rises by Ernast Hemmingway. Looking forward to some gardening this weeking. In addition, yummy food.

2004-07-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

O.K . So I took this online quiz and here are the results:
Your NOT a catgirlGive up the dream. Your nothing but a human, try
being yourself for once. Youll never be
anything but a wanabe.

What Anime Cat-girl are you?
brought to you by

2004-07-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

A relatively boring day. I went to Brighton to pick up my birthday braclet. You see I collect braclets, kalieidoscopes, perfume, and incense holders. The lady who special ordered my braclet seemed spazzy and I didn't trust her at all when she dealt with me the first time. I called to see if it were ready and she said sure come and pick it up. It seemed to good to be true. I went it and another salesgirl helped me. She showed me the braclet that was put on hold. It was the wrong one. I became visably upset. Then I started feeling very silly. Like the worst of my problems is that I cannot have the braclet I want for my birthday. It still just annoyed me. I had her reorder it and made comments about the woman who had made the mistake. A man who looked upper middle class walked into the store looking to buy a birthday present for his wife. It seemed as if he was a regular of the store because he got special treatment. He was refered to by his first name and the manager came out and offered to get the valise he wanted from another store. Huh!! It is times like these that I can really reate to my amiga Melinda McCrady who wrote about a similar issue on her blog. WTF. Next time I will wear Benjamines taped onto my clothing and see if that works. Next, I went to Cal State L.A where I picked up a schedule of classes for Fall quarter. I am hot and tired.

2004-07-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Went to Wax Poetic in Burbank to get my eyebrows waxed. About a year ago, I went there to and must have wrote down my b-day cause I recieved a card in the mail inviting me to come pick up my birthday gift. The waxer, Meridith, did a mediocre job of shaping my brows. I can't exactly say what she didn't do perfectly as I am no cosmotologist. All I know is that I have had better at various places. This Wax Poetic was not cheap either is the part that sucks. I paid nineteen dollars to have my brows waxed today! Another never again. Huh! Oh well! What are you going to do? I mean maintaining your brows is a MUST. Seriously, I get annoyed when my eyebrows get overgrown. We will save that discussion for another time. Oh yeah, the gift was a lemongrass candle. Not worth the trip down there:(.

2004-07-19T19:23:00.000-07:00

Test drove my bike today. I rode a whole 16 miles to Burbank through Sun Valley and Glendale via dirt roads, bike lanes, and the sidewalk. The pedal slammed into my ankle several times so I have the bruises to show for my maiden ride. I had a nice, expensive, lunch at Gordon Biersh on San Fernando. Lunch consisted of a summer beer and a Goat chesse salad with hummos and chicken. The salad was huge and mighty tasty. I am very tired and wish to just chill!!

2004-07-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

I finally have a new bike thanks to my Mike and The Montrose Bike Shop. On Saturday I bought a helmet, an odomenter, and of course a new bike. My experience at this particular bike shop was good as I was attended to fine. In addition, one of the workers, Brian, gave me an awesome discount on a sophisticated odometer. You see I had to wait a bit longer than was expected because the bike had not been built due to a minor mishap. Overall, I would reccomend them for several reasons. They are good people who care about cycling as a sport and they seem to want to develop a good relationship with you. After purchasing the bike, I came home and made a Ceasar salad for dinner guests I was having over for lasagne. Mike's ex-boss, Justin, and his family were coming over for some entertainment and food. They brought with them a Trader Joes chesseckae, chocolate covered rasberries, and a bottle of red wine. I like guests like these. If you haven't guessed already guests that bring me booze are sure to win a special place in my heart. We watched Kiki's Delievery Service which was fun for the whole family. The anime is done by Miyazaki and I think one of the best. The kids seemed to enjoy Gigi's commentary throught the anime. On Sunday we continued to work in our gardening project.

2004-07-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

I went to see Farenheit 9/11 today in Monrovia today. To tell you the truth, I found the movie to be both educational and entertaining at the same time. Some people dislike Michael Moore, but I thought he called to attention many interesting points about the aftermath of September 11. His use of imagery and music to strength his points worked well for me along with his sense of humor. So the guy gets a little carried away with himself sometimes. At least he is out there doing something productive insead of just complaining about the injustices of the world. I also recieved Bowling for Columbine from Netflicks. Ahhh, I love Netflicks cause it makes your life so much easier. Getting my bike manana.

2004-07-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

This week has been dragging. Why? Well, because I want my new bike NOW. I guess I have waited for other things in life so well hey this bike is no exception. It has also been freaking hot out here in Sunland and I don't deal too well with the heat. Not much happened today other than me going to Ralph's to pick up some groceries. I found you can save by not giving into those impulse temptations like hmmmm a Loreal lipgloss I deserve that don't I and ohhh how about that bottle of wine that would hit the spot right now. I am on this spirtual journey that requires me to not give into temptaion. I am becoming addicted to these Vanilla Beal fraps at Starbucks. I don't know how many calories they are, but they sure are tasty.

2004-07-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been watching Cowboy Bebop. It has some interesting characters like Faye and Spike. I don't know if I would go as far as dressing up as the people and attending the Anime Expo like my friend Melinda did. Putting the disk in your Netflicks file and having it arrive in a matter of days does not require that kind of serious commitment. I took the Cowboy Bebop quiz and here are the results:Take the quiz: "Which Cowboy Bebop Character are you?"

Spike
You're Spike! Wahey. You're the cool guy with some very cool gun skills and a cool drink. Cool! Huh, Melinda's boyfriend, Ray, is supposed to be Spike. I am not so sure I like the results of this quiz. I don't want to be Spike!!!!! Huh! Oh well. Better luck next time.

2004-07-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

Yipeeee!!! I went to The Montrose Bike Shop and placed a deposit on an awesome little red and silver number. It is a small Specialized that looks snazzy. I am going to pick it up on Saturday along with a helmet and odomenter. Fitneess for Dummies says you can burn a significant amout of calories by cycling. My plan is to cycle around town and buy some free weights for some muscle conditioning. Take that L.A Fitness!!!! I can stay in shape by working out in my own way and watching what I eat without having to pay 350 dollars for a trainer and gym membership. Ha I had this huge falling out with L.A Fitness for those of you who don't know. After that I went to Paseo Colorado for some yummy Kung Pow Shrimp at P.F Changs. I can't wait to pick up my bike on Saturday and ride around town with my new helmet on. In the meantime I must watch calorie intake.

2004-07-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

I went to Beantown in Monrovia and Sierra Madre to check on my tutoring fliers. Occasionaly, I get these weird calls that originate from these fliers. They go something like this. Caller: Hi is this Lisa Fox? Me: Yes, Hi. Caller: Oh hi. I met you at a party. Me: That is funny because I usually don't give my number out to people when I go to parties. The conversation goes on for awhile until the caller realizes that I am not at all interested in the conversation. I think it is men who see me putting up my flier because they can describe me roughly. Sometimes I bluntly call them desperate so they feel uncomfortable and lose interest. Huh! In addition, I borrowed The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cycling from Melinda. I hope to have a bike soon and some weights to do some weight training at home. Sounds like fun! Huh???

2004-07-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

Ahhh today Mike and I did some gardening. We planted a fern, 2 azalias, and 8 Impatias in the planter we made out of Castlewall stones. At about 5 a envelope came in the mail holding an invatation to a wedding and not just any old wedding either. It is a wedding at the Athenaeum in Pasadeana. I have been wanting to go there for years now, but never had the hook up. Ha! Next week I am gonna buy a new bike for my birthday which is July 24th.

2004-07-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

I got a horrible nights sleep last night. I just kept getting up and then lying down. Arg, it was very bad. It is not so much the lack of sleep that annoys me, but the fact that the whole day is a waste the day after. Today I took my car in to the Honda dealer to have it serviced. Thankfully, all it needed was an oil change. Other than that I could not seem to get much done. I have been making my way through Judiasm for Dummies and Shampoo Planet by Douglas Coupland. Hopefully, tommorow will be a better day. Oh yeah I hope to get a bike soon.:)

2004-07-05T21:58:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July BBQ went over rather well. I must say I am rather pleased to have recieved two bottles of tequilla. One silver and one gold. Hard stuff wasn't the only contribution to the BBQ due to the generous nature of our friends. Many of our guests brought food and drink such as a tri tip roast, a Gelson's fruit salad, watermellon, strawberries, veggie burgers, brownies,and different types of beer. Thank you A.J and Tim for bringing your loud fireworks. My eardrums also thank you. Griselda and D. got along rather well. An older sibling for D on the way???? I guess we will have to ask Ray. Ha. That was an inside joke for those of you that don't know my good friend Melinda and her boyfriend Ray. Anyways, everyone who showed up seemed to have a good time and if you would like to join us next year (I'm talking to you out there in cyberspace) just drop me an email at longtoelisa@hotmail.com. We always look forward to seeing new faces here at the Foxes Den. As long as you bring me some tequilla and aren't a COMPLETE asshole you are welcome. Thank you Melinda and Roman for the tequilla as you know I am half Mexican with a penchent for the drink. Other than that we have the gardening project which is coming along well. I'll post the pictures of the progress on Mike's website when more stuff has been done.

2004-07-03T18:01:00.000-07:00

I went and bought a 4th of July outfit from Anthropologie on South Lake Ave. today. I think it is very cute and am excited about wearing it tommorow. After I did a bit of shopping, I decided to get a pedicure and manicure at this place called La Belle nail and spa near my home. Bad fung shue!!! The place was crowded with raunchy women getting ready for the 4th of July like me. About every five minutes as I was trying to relax the young Asian girl giving me my pedicure tried to "upgrade me". She proceeded to tell me about the salt sea scrub I could pay five dollars for instead of lotion. I repeatedly told her no to the various things she tried to sell me. I felt like I was at a used car lot and was not able to relax due to this woman's insistant perstering. I have been there twice before and they did the same thing. These guys are really creative just like the pickpocketers in Europe. The decore of this place was dated in that the walls were pained this extremely bright yellow color. I will never go back there again.

2004-07-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for the 3rd Annual Forth of July BBQ this Sunday. Making mojitos, carrot cake, a salad, and guacomole. If your cool and you are willing to bring something email me at longtoelisa@hotmail.com. There will be a 50 dollar fireworks show at the end of the night. Do you have to pay fifty dollars to see it? No, I purchased 50 dollars worth of fireworks at an Alhambra fireworks stand. As of now we have 22 guests arriving and people are still responding. So get off the couch and come to my 4th of July BBQ already. Other than that nothing really new going on. Just planning on gardening this summer and trying out different recipes. Oh yeah and there is Burning Man the week before Labor Day.

2004-06-27T21:49:00.000-07:00

You are the Firefly Dancer thought to be a legend
and non-existent. You are the rarest creature
and the most beautiful. You are full of energy
and power. Destined to rule a large nation of
elves. Rate my quiz, it will help you rule
better.

What kind of element fey are you? (PRETTY PICS)
brought to you by Quizilla
I took this online quiz.

2004-06-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

Pirates of the Caribbean is a truly entertaining film. Parts of the movie are taken from the ride at Disneyland. In the theater, I saw The Stepford Wives, which I also really enjoyed. The movies absurdity kept me laughing through the entire film. Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, and Nicole Kidmen each gave a convincing performance. Mike and I ordered pizza for dinner from Papa John's. Other than that not much is new. Oh yeah, we are having a big Forth of July BBQ complete with fireworks. If you send me a pic and resume I'll send you an evite. If you are planning on having some sort of party or BBQ I highly reccomend using evite cause it saves you a heck of alot of work.

2004-06-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I figured out that this cold is really just my allergies. There is nothing I can really do. Neither over the counter or prescription medications work for me in times like these. I am feeling much better anyhow. Today Mike and I worked on our gardening project. Lowe's delievered the Castlewall stones and the garden bench I had picked out. I read Sunsets Guide to Western Gardening while Mike worked on the planters and assembling my bench. I plan on starting an herb garden in the front of the house eventually. When you have land there is just so much you can do. Having a husband who is handy with tools is really wonderful during times like these. Tonight we are going to Jason and Leah's to watch either Pirates of the Caribian or Planet of the Apes. So far my weekend has been going well because I have been feeling better. I hope things are going well with you.

2004-06-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Descanso Gardens in La Canada. If you have never been there it is a trip well worth taking. The gardens are beautiful and the various architecture impressive. My favorite part of the garden was the International Rosarium. The Boddy House was filled with various art pieces and pleasant people. As I walked around the garden deer nibbled gently on greenery. I saw a snake slither by as I walked though one of the smaller gardens. A little girl named Allison told me about a rabbit she had just seen. Unfortunately, the gift shop was way over priced(surprise, surprise). I decided to save gift buying for another day. Overall, I recommend Descaso Gardens to anyone enjoys wildlife, picnics in a gorgeous setting, and conversations with other friendly nature lovers. At four dollars for a students I would say it was a bargin.

2004-06-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ugh, I am sick with something that feels like a cold. I had to go to the dentist today too. There is a new staff at the dentist office I go to so everything took a bit longer than ususal. Unfortunately, I was not in the mood. I just wanted to get my cleaning out of the way. Due to some genetic problem I have had gum surgery which was no barrel of monkeys. I have to go to the dentist twice as often as a regular person without my problem. My gums are extremely sensative, therefore a regular a cleaning takes two visits for me and costs twice as much as your average Joe. Fun. The new hygenist proceeded to tell me all about the problems I already knew I had. I tried to tell her in my most polite voice that I already knew I had these periodontal issues. She seemed to get the hint that it was unnecessary for her to rehash my deep pocket situation. Now I at home drinking shots of Dayquil.

2004-06-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

The gardening project has taken on a new form. I am planning a tea garden in my backyard. I ordered some books off Amazon.com and borrowed a few from my friend Erik. You can get some great deals on Amazon if you buy enough to qualify for the Super Saver shipping. The books I ordered from Amazon are called Tea Gardens: Places to Make and Take Tea, and Sunset's Western Gardening. The pictures in the books Erik lent me are breathtakingly beautiful. I can't wait for the ones from Amazon to arrive sometime in about the middle of next week. In the meantime I am reading about flowers in an attempt to decide what gets to go in my garden. In addition, I am taking a speed reading course this summer at Barnes Park in Monterey Park. I need to pick up speed if I am planning on finishing this Master's any time in the near future. Hah, new projects are always fun!

2004-06-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

Huh, went to Gordon Biersh for some tasty ravioli and Martzen beer. The waiter, Jeff, was so hot. I gave him an extra dollar for smiling at me:). Before that, I went to Ikea to look for some outdoor patio furniture for my tea garden. Fun! I can't wait to have it up and running. They didn't really have anything there that I liked. But, I hope to look at other places for what I need. Let me know how your summer is going!

2004-06-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

Went to South Pasadena Hair and Nails to get my eyebrows waxed and a pedicure. Apparently, I am going to start tutoring Ahn's (the owner of South Pasadena Hair and Nails) son. I put up fliers all across LA marketing myself as a tutor several months ago. This summer I have three clients who are in middle school. I enjoy the experience and it keeps my brain working like is should be. I also went to Armstrong nursery where a saleslady gave me some advice on a low maintance flowers and the number of a reputable landscaper. I am really looking forward to reinventing my front yard this summer. Do you like to garden?

2004-06-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

The end of the quarter is a cause for a celebration!! Today I went to Amadeus Spa for a one hour massage. My friend from school, Anise Stevens, accompanied me. The massage was awesome! The hour slipped by as Jennifer vigourously rubbed my troubles away. Then we went to Islands for a juicy Hawaiian burger. Yummy. You thought the afternoon was over? WRONG!!! Next, I stopped off at Vendome for some wine tasting. I tried various wines, but did not purchase any there today. Ahhhhh! I love Saturday afternoons like these.

2004-06-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

Whew, it is the end of the quarter again. I pumped out six pages today and now I am very tired. I am taking the summer off to fix up my frat house. Seriously, I moved into my house about two years ago and there are still boxes and boxes of various stuff around the whole place. To make matters worse we had all the preperations for the day time bar we transported out to Burning Man here. I want to feel like a 28 year old married woman not a beer bong drinking bimbo.

2004-05-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Friday night Mike and I went to dinner at a place called The Kitchen in Old Town Pasadena. The place ranked low on my scale of Italian resteraunts. The food took awhile and it was NOT worth the wait. I ordered the ravioli dish that I sometimes make at home in about 20 min. I buy the Contadina raviolis and boil them. I use the Knorrs powdered packets for the sauce. My homemade version, I think is about as good as what I had on Friday. I honestly don't know how this place survives in Old Town due to the competition they must encounter. They probably make a significant amount of money based on take out orders. Who knows????? I just know I am never going back to that place in the near future. On a more positive note, I saw Shreik 2 the same night at the Pasadena Paseo. The movie was extemely entertaining and if you like kids movies that appeal to adults than this is a good one. My husband and I enjoyed ourselves and it was an excellent way to start off a three day weekend. Ditch The Kitchen. If you like Italian food I recommend either Manny's. Petrillo's, or Tarentinno's. Not expensive, decent atmosphere, and great pasta selections.

2004-05-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

Arg! I am looking forward to fixing up my home this summer, but in the meantime I must focus of writing papers and reading endless amounts of literature. I am taking a graduate level course that is very similar to a philosophy class. The professor does nothing to make the class easier on his students, who are struggling. I dread going to class as his lectures do not provide a clearer understanding of what we are studying. I seem to fall into this pattern of having one class that I enjoy and another I do not. I went back to school to stay productive. I am hoping this struggle amounts to something. What, I don't know. At the very least I am improving my writing. These classes demand long papers so you can't help but improve.

2004-05-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

What would you say if you wanted to get engaged and your boyfriend said, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" Let me know how you woud react to that question.

2004-05-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

A decent weekend to be had by me. Went to a conference at Cal State L.A called Significations. Saw several classmates read their papers. Wow!! They were pretty amazing!!!!Lot's of work ahead of me I forsee. In the middle of papers and lots of reading but in the summer I will have time to straighten out my house. I am looking forward to eating ice cream, wine tasting, and enjoying this California sunshine. Do you have plans for the summer? Leave me a comment!

2004-04-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, I went to a street fair in South Pasadena today. I bought some really brightly colored soaps from a married couple and a kaleidoscope. Although i didn't stay long, I had fun strolling along looking at handbags,jewlery, and art. I love being in the outdoors when the weather looks like it did today!!!! Buying things for myself can be so addicting. I have to use self-control when I am exposed to so many beautiful things. When I got home Mike and I made a lemon sorbet. I can't wait to see how it tastes. I am happy today:).

2004-04-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

Woke up at 6 am to work out at L.A Fitness. My new school schedule allows me to go to the gym three days a week. My personal trainers sets up specific workouts in order to meet my fitness goals. Today I focused on shoulders by using freeweights. At the end of each session we concentrate on abs by doing crunches and other painful excersises. Must stay skinny!!!!

2004-04-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

A productive day! Woke up early to make lasagne and a cheeseball. Having Melinda and Ray over for dinner tonight. In addition, I met a child I will be tutoring in reading. Oh, I tutor kids privately in their own home. I decided I did not want to teach, but needed intellectually stimulating activities besides school. I put up flier advertising my services in upscale coffee shops kinda near my home and it worked! This family seemed stable and reliable which is good. Wasting time with people who are not considerate is no fun.

2004-04-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

The reading load seems somewhat lighter this quarter. Many novels to read like House of Mirth, My Antonia, and Bread Givers. Time to take a course in speed reading if I want to finish this Masters in the next few years. My classes are filled with so many people who are thirsty for knowledge! Such a change from teaching high school where the kids just didn't care at all. I went to the gym this morning and worked out my legs ouch! I have not done a leg routine in a long time. I felt it! Then I went to the store to buy groceries for the week. Right now I am sipping a Daiquire made from the following: 4 ounces limeade concentrate thawed, 2 ounces light run, and 2 cups of ice cubes. Liquify it in a blender and presto instant alchoholic slushy!! Fun for the whole family.

2004-03-28T18:37:00.000-08:00

Just got back from Europe a few nights ago. The goal of the tour company was to keep you as dependent on them as possible, stuff you with as many crossaints as you could take, and show you every cathedral within driving distance. It was always go, go, go. I am know the tour director moonlighted as a personal trainer cause I am sure I lost 5 pounds. London was my least favorite city although I felt safe there. Once you saw Big Ben, toured the Tower of London, and ate a fantastic platter of fish and chips you had experienced all the city had to offer. Not to mention the cost! London is expensive due to the exchange rate. One could survive Paris with a sense of style and a French book. The trip up the Eiffel Tower was chock full of pick pocketers as most tourist places in France and Italy were. In Italy I developed an unhealthy obsession with gelato-very similar to ice cream. I'll let you know when the pictures are up. Glad to say the hard work I put into my classes last quarter payed off cause I earned decent grades last quarter.

2004-03-15T23:08:00.000-08:00

So close, but yet so far. I am leaving the day after tommorow for London. In the meantime, there is much work to be done. I have a final for my Modern Woman Writers class tommorow--an in class essay. Should be all good as I have read all the texts which included a novel called First Confession. The author, Montserrat Fontes, spoke at our class and autographed our books. This impressed me! Writing does not always come naturally to me. In fact lately my level of frustration has been high in the articulation department. Punctuation, parallel construction, sentance fragments, arg!! And I used to be an English teacher. At least I now have a blog to complain to. This is my idea of freewriting! I have had this dream to write a graphic novel about various people who enter my world at random points in my life. I'll let you know how this goes. Montserrat Fontes explained how she used people she knew in real life and trasformed them into characters for her novel. Hmmm, I wonder how common this is? Europe will be my muse for this creative endeaver!

2004-03-13T19:34:00.000-08:00

Nothing says Saturday night like dinner at an authetic Italian resteraunt in Los Angeles. Ceasar salad, White Zinfendale, meat raveoli, peperonni pizza- now your talking. The old Italian crooners added to the old school environment at Petrillo's in San Gabrial. It's one of my favorite places cause it's not pretentious, but the food is delicious. Established in 1954 and still packing the house on a Saturday night says alot. Most these popular places get trendy then suck, but not this pizza palace. Dinner for two will cost about thirty dollars plus you have leftovers! It hit the spot after a long day of writing! I hope the food in Rome is just as tasty.

2004-03-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

I am leaving for my trip to Europe next Wendesday. My friend Sissi Dinh who teaches English at Franklin High School in Highland Park is taking three of her students on this eduactional tour. I will be visiting London, Paris, and Rome in ten days. I spent Sunday at Target buying essential items for the trip like Advil. I ran into an old friend yesterday at Cal State L.A. I used to "kick it" with him in Monterey Park back in the day. It is such a good feeling when you run into an old friend and they seem happy as if life has been treating them well. Currently, Ulysess is subbing in Alhambra at various school including his alma mater Mark Kepel. He told me about his adventures as a substitute teacher, silkscreening, the credential program at Cal State L.A, and the lastest and greatest love of his life. I also used to sub so I could strongly relate to his descriptions of work. I subbed for Pasadena Unified School District where you would come across pregnant teenagers, gangsta wanna-be's, nerds, and tattletales. I have experienced all walks of life through teaching and substitute teaching. Today I am going to read a collection of short stories called Interesting Women. My professor claims it is like Sex in the City set in Europe. We shall see.

2004-03-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

Whew, I just finshed a fifteen page paper for my Modern Women Writer's class. I calculated it takes me two days to write a paper of that length. Boy, was I tired. Mike and I decided to hit up California Pizza Kitchen for some California cuisine and hummus. I ordered the Feticcuni Alfredo with shrimp which was pretty good. Mike said the humas and pizza was excellent was always-"a parade of flavors dancing across the palate." I needed to pump my body full of caffine to get more work done today. Thank god for Venti Mocas at Starbucks!

2004-03-06T11:48:00.000-08:00

Top Dog /Underdog at the Mark Taper proved to be a very enjoyable experience. My professor, Dr. Elkins, got students in the class tickets for twelve dollars. There are no bad seats at the Taper. The actors who played brothers in the play performed with feeling and were very convincing. You left the theater feeling as if you just told someone your deepest, darkest, secrets. Mike gave me his impression of the performence "Entertained and captivated by each act having a moment that was both fall down funny and a moment that grabs your heart." He also enjoyed the structure of the play because it followed Chekov's formula for playwriting. "Chekov's first rule of playwriting is if you see the gun on the mantle in Act 1, it has to be used by the end of act 3."

2004-03-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

Getting the hang of things in terms of jazzing up my blog. Tomorrow night I am going to the Taper to see Top Dog Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks. We read another play by her in my Modern Women Writers class and it was very in the genera of Theatre of the Absurd. Strange stuff! I'll let you know how it was on Thursday. Thank you Mike and Haloscan for allowing people to comment on my blog.

2004-03-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

Alrighty, let me take this space to tell you a little about myself in case you were wondering who the hell this Lisa Fox person is. Currently, I live with my husband in Sunland, CA. We were married at the Altadena Country Club on December 7, 2002. You can see pictures of my husband and I at www.thefoxesden.org. Click on Michael to see our adventures at Burning Man, our honeymoon in Cancun, and our home. I was born July 24, 1075. I am an agressive Leo*roar*

2004-03-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

Hi there. This is one of my first attempts at blogging. My friend Melinda recommended this to me since I like to write and have fun doing it. I enjoy eating at various L.A joints and documenting them in a sparkly red and pink notebook I carry around with me in my purse.