Happy Birthday Dad!

"What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind"

-William Wordsworth "Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood"

Life is GRAND- although I miss my dad terribly.
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MEEN Girl's Day at Disneyland

So, yesterday, the gals and I headed down to Anaheim!

We started off at California Adventure
It's a Bug's Life!


Our weird hologram pic

Erika- which character are you?

I was Jane from Tarzan. Megan was Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Nicole was Dot from A Bug's Life, and Emila was Nala from The Lion King!

After California Adventure, we then headed over to Disneyland.

Our first ride was Pirates of the Caribbean and then we were off to Splash Mountain in Critter Country!

Zip A Dee Do Dah, Zip A Dee Yay

After this ride, we then went to the Haunted Mansion where we had fastpasses.





After the Haunted Mansion, we then tried our luck at Indiana Jones... too long of a wait so we didn't get on it. So we ventured over to Tomorrowland and went on the Finding Nemo ride. After that, we went to Space Mountain.
After the ride, guess who we found!

After seeing Minnie and Mickey, we thought we'd try the line for It's A Small World. We had a few delays, but eventually made it there!



Look what we saw inside- erikaisapanda!

and this is totes mine and Nicole's kind- Filipinos.


and so with this Holiday Season, I say...

and

which very roughly translated means this...

but really it means- MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The girls and I are def looking forward to the many adventures we'll share in


We are also hoping for

The gals and I know that many things are not guaranteed in this world. However, we are extremely sure that no matter what- we will all LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!


Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

Weekend line up

Friday:

- Hunter's Stand Up Comedy show at the Verity Room.
Yay Hunter!

Saturday:

-Weights and spinning at the gym.
-Twilight (again!) with my niece, newphew and Emila. There's a Q&A with the director afterwards at the Arclight in Sherman Oaks.

Sunday:

-Disneyland with the MEEN girls and a few guys. HA! MEEN girls= Megan, Emila, Erika, Nicole. Get it?

*I totally need to figure out when to get a mani andd pedi, when to get my eyebrows done, and when to make dough for Thanksgiving rolls as well as dessert.
I feel like I'm running out of time since Thanksgiving is next Thursday.
I might be baking for sure Wednesday afternoon since I get off work early that day- but that's also the night of the Hubby's end of season party. Then I need to pack for Cabo. Wow! Time is flying by!

Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

LA Kings vs. Washington Capitals

We won. 5-2.

We got great seats! Thanks Nikki!
Oh- we also took public transportation. We took the subway. Confusing, but fun and speedy.

Here's the puck drop






Nikki and I


We won!


Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

A Dream About My Dad

It's been a while since I've had one of these dreams.
When he first passed away in January, I had dreams about him much more frequently.
The dream about him, plus the message really put me at ease.
It definitely speaks volumes to me.

In my dream, my dad was sitting behind a large desk looking over some paperwork.
He then looked up and said to me "I am proud of you."
He then proceeded to say "This is a good deal."

I'm going to assume that the last line is for the house we're putting an offer on.
I've never heard my dad tell me that he was proud of me, so hearing it (even though I was dreaming) meant a lot- so much more than I could have ever imagined.
I feel like I spent my whole life growing up trying to compensate for the fact that I grew up without him, or that I was trying to get his approval. To hear him say he's proud of me definitely makes a world of difference in my life.

Life is GRAND!
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Today's Daily Om: Libra Horoscope

Anxiety Over Expectations
Libra Daily Horoscope

A feeling of uncertainty could cloud your mood today, tingeing your expectations with anxiety. You may find yourself struggling between high hopes and doubtfulness. Remembering that you create both your experience and your reality with your thoughts may help you decide to banish all doubts. Keep your focus on the positive and move toward it with confidence. By doing this you focus all of your energy on only one outcome, feeding it with positivity while starving your worries. It is more fun to spend your time and energy enjoying hope than it is to wallow in worry anyway, so let yourself enjoy the possibilities today.

Sometimes we need to balance our expectations with trust in the workings of the universe. We know that the universe supports our thoughts and that it works to harmonize and balance everything for the greatest good. So while we keep our thoughts positive to give the universe direction to create form from energy, we also leave room for the universe’s wisdom. We must trust that there is a reason if things don’t look exactly as we’d hoped. Perhaps it is a matter of timing or of refining our thoughts, but it all works to the good. Remembering this helps us go with the flow of energy in our lives rather than fight against it, which makes life a much more pleasant journey. Take a deep breath and blow away the clouds of anxiety today to let your positive outlook shine like the sun on everything around you.

TWILIGHT PREMIERE

So, last night Nicole and I had the chance to go to the Twilight Premiere.
My dear friend, Andi, hooked us up with tickets.

Here's the 3 of us at will- call


While waiting for will- call to open, Nicole and I went to CPK for a snack, and a photoshoot with our exclusive Twilight invite.






Here's a view of the crowds- somewhat...






On the red carpet...




So, we were on the red carpet with Andea as she waited for her talent (Ashley Greene-Alice). As Nikki Reed arrived, the paparazzi started taking pictures.
Here's mine and Andrea's few minutes of fame- look to the right in the background, that's where we are.


Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

Just to clarify...

Nikki and I did NOT win our Twilight Premiere tickets through the radio.
I know a few stations have been giving them out as prizes.

We actually know people who got us in to the premiere- Thanks Andi :)
And that's how we roll!

Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

Medieval Times

Here are some pics... way late, I know.

Nikki and I before the show...


Emila and Meg before the show...


The beginning parade...


Our blue knight- Andrew- he lost.


Some jousting...


more action...


The girls and I during the show...


Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

Expressing my disappointment...

So this blog serves as an outlet for my thoughts- disappointments and heartbreaks are the topics of the day.

The Santa Ana winds brought forth a handful of fires, and of course, the hubby isn't home.
I'm slightly bummed since I thought the season was over. We were def just counting down the days til the season was over- which would be Saturday, the 22nd. Unfortunately, the universe had other plans, or at least that's the way it seems for now- which is unfortunate because we had made plans to go to the happiest place on Earth on the 23rd (Disneyland), and then our Cabo trip, the day after Thanksgiving. I am still holding on to hope that it will all fall into place. After all, what could it hurt, right?

On a great note- I totally had a lucky day! While walking the dogs, this morning, I found a $20 bill.
Yay me!

Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

Random conversation between Mike and I

E (4:49:06 PM): when are you planning on moving back to CA?
M(4:49:26 PM): San Jose is part of CA home slice
E(4:49:33 PM): hahah
M(4:49:35 PM): HAHAHAHAHA
E(4:49:36 PM): i mean to the valley
M(4:49:40 PM): is your hair blonde?
E4:50:01 PM): HAHAHAHAH
E (4:50:04 PM): not anymore!!!

and this is why my friend's love me... because I'm a total blonde- at <3.

Stroke of Luck!

We didn't get the first house we put an offer on.

Sniff, sniff.
Oh, well. Such is life.
It just wasn't meant to be. Someone had a better offer.

There definitely is a reason we didn't get the house.
I don't know yet what that reason is, but everything will fall into place soon.

And we will find/ get the house that is right for us.

Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

random conversation between Nikki and I

totally taken out of context... however, it's very amusing to me.

N (3:48:41 PM): you just think everyone is exactly like you
E(3:48:42 PM): hahahahaha
N (3:49:03 PM): hahahha
E(3:49:05 PM): that's true
E(3:49:09 PM): but i know it's not true
E (3:49:13 PM): cause I'm so quirky
E(3:49:14 PM): hahahah
E (3:49:19 PM): quirkiness is rare
E (3:49:21 PM): look at us
N (3:49:31 PM): hahha
E(3:49:43 PM): we're like diamonds in the rough
N (3:50:21 PM): exactly!
E (3:50:35 PM): yes and people should totally cherish us
E (3:50:42 PM): we come once in a lifetime
N(3:50:47 PM): LOL!!!
N (3:50:49 PM): I agree
N(3:50:55 PM): we need biz cards that say that

Life is GRAND!
Super Panda

TWILIGHT PREMIERE

Ok, this totally needed its own post. Not sure why I added it to the quick updates section.

Yes, Twilight Premiere on the 17th. Nikki and I have tickets.
Yes, that's right. I bet you're jealous. We'll be right next to gorgeous vampires.
Somebody bite me!

We are stoked. It's def the hottest news of the weekend- maybe the week. Maybe, even the month.
YAY!!!

Life is GRAND!
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Quick Updates!

*Last Saturday, the gals and I went to Medieval Times.
Tons of fun even though our knight lost. Boo Andrew!
Pictures to come sometime this week.

*Fire season is coming to an end. Yay!

*We are headed to Disneyland on the 23rd. Can't wait.
A few of us are going so it should be tons of fun!

*BIGGEST UPDATE: Nikki and I are going to the Twilight Premiere! Thanks Andi!!!

Life is GRAND!
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Proud to be an American

I am extremely grateful, excited, and hopeful about our new president!



However, I am sad about the passing of Prop 8.
Equality for all!

Life is GRAND- although bittersweet at times.
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Happy Election Day!

I voted.

Yay!

Life is GRAND!
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On Heartbreaks and Disappointments

"Its just a lesson that we really cannot put expectations on people... because ultimately, even if it's not on purpose they will let us down"

(Said by the lovely Nikki)

Thank goodness for great girlfriends (and my bestest friend ever, my husband), because you all were there when I really needed some love and support this weekend.

Life is GRAND!
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