Since I got back I’ve been watching a lot of DVDs and movies. I just got back from Pirates of the Caribbean 3. Just so you know I really enjoyed the first one but I thought the 2nd one was sort of weak so take my opinion with a grain of salt if you enjoyed the 2nd one. I barely even remember what happened in 1 and 2 so I was really lost watching 3. If you haven’t seen it yet I suggest watching 1 and 2 again as a refresher. The whole time I was like ???? The movie was also very long at 2 hours and 45 minutes. I ended up falling asleep a few times during the movie as well! (Maybe that’s why I was so confused? hehe). Anyways, overall I thought the movie sucked. If they come out with a 4 which they hinted at at the end, I will probably wait for DVD. Also, fyi if you wait til the very end of the movie there’s a tiny clip. I wouldn’t say it’s worth it to stay all the way through the credits but if you are like me, I hate finding out that I missed one of those!

On dvd, I saw World Trade Center. Of course, it was very sad but at the same time it was a bit slow. There was not much more to the story than what I already knew about it. It did offer a personal look at a few of the families of 2 police officers stuck in the rubble.

Also saw Alpha Dog, the movie with Justin Timberlake. I didn’t know til afterwards that the movie was based on a true story. It’s about a drug dealer and his posse who kidnap a guy’s brother because he owes them money. The whole movie you’re thinking, “wow these kids are the stupidest kids on earth”. It was actually kind of annoying how lame they were. This is a good movie to show your kids if you want to teach them to not do drugs heheh. I was a bit disappointed in Justin’s character in the movie. He was such a loser in the movie! Oh well.

So last friday I got a CAT scan. I thought it was going to be super easy: you just lie on a table and it goes in and out of a tube right? NOPE! I had no idea that you would need an IV during the whole process and that they would be shooting iodine inside of your body and what that felt like. So if anybody needs to get a CAT scan, I’m going to share my experience so you won’t be surprised like I was!

For most people, an IV is not a big deal but for me it is because I HATE needles! So that was already freaking me out even though it shouldn’t considering I’ve had about 10+ needles stuck in me in the last month. Also, for some reason my veins don’t show very well on my arm so the nurses always have the hardest time sticking the needle in me. They always stick it in and miss and have to keep doing it. All the while, they have that tight rubberband on my arm cutting off all circulation. UGH! So after missing the vein on my right arm she decides to try my left arm and finally gets it in.

Next, everybody leaves the room so you’re all alone and they start talking to you through an intercom. The table you are on will start moving in and out of the tube. My tube was more of a donut shape though but I think there are different kinds. The nurse tells me to take a deep breath and hold it while he moves me in and out of the tube. After they do that a few times, they tell me they are ready to shoot the iodine in me.

This part sucks. I don’t know how it feels for a guy but this is how it feels for a girl. Before they did it, they told me my arm would feel tingly, I would taste metal in my mouth as if there was a coin in there, and also that my vagina would feel tingly! So when it actually happened, my arm was tingly and very cold. It felt like ice was being shot through my arm. Very weird feeling. The taste in my mouth was very intense and gross. Tasting metal in your mouth is not fun either. And of course the weirdest feeling was definitely the whole tingly vagina thing. I felt like I was peeing in my pants!! Also, as I felt the iodine going through the rest of my body it was harder and harder to breathe. I felt like I was drowning. It’s a good thing I am not claustrophobic or else I would definitely be freaking out more than I was. After about a minute, it finally stopped and it felt better. They had me walk around the room to get the iodine around my body.

They had me go in and out of the tube a few more times after that and then it was finally done! Anyways, it was not a simple and easy procedure. But then again, I’m a wuss when it comes to hospital/doctor related things! heheh.

Wow, is it friday already? I almost forgot about today’s friday links!!

Real life snakes on a plane – hilarious
passive-aggressive notes from roommates, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers
Avis to begin offering wireless internet service to travelers – my internet addicted self really likes this!
Zagat rates the best fast food – I’m not surprised Wendy’s got 1st.
Long Beach teen is youngest ever to climb Mt. Everest – what an inspiring story and she’s only 18!

Saw this gadget on little jenny c’s page where you can add your own and your friends’ status onto your google homepage:

So if you use google homepage, add me! If you create one, invite me and I’ll add you too.

Lost was crazy!!! I love this show. If you haven’t been watching you really need to start. Best show ever!

Random trivia – The name of the funeral parlor that Jack visits was “Hoffs/Drawlar” which is an anagram for “flash forward”. What an interesting episode. When Kate meets Jack at the end I was like OH EM GEEEEEEEEE! haha. I can’t wait for the next season. What’s going to happen?????

So Charlie was not my favorite character but his ending was very touching to me. RIP Charlie:

PS. I put up part 2 of my Peru pics!

As promised I posted up some pictures on my photolog webpage. Unfortunately, I did not get very far. Hopefully, I’ll have my Machu Picchu pics up by the end of this week which are the most exciting.

I experimented with online scrapbooking. There is Scrapbooking web 2.0 now at scrapblog.com

I started my Peru scrapbook, check it out here. It only has 4 pages so far. I’m not sure if I will add more because despite it being very easy to do, it is still pretty time consuming. The website itself is pretty cool though for anyone interested in scrapbooking online I highly recommend the site.

By the way, all of the pictures from my photolog and the scrapbook are linked to bigger versions of the picture if you want to see them in full size.

I can’t wait to share my Machu Picchu pictures with you!

For the ones who haven’t heard, I found out I had kidney stones while I was travelling in Peru!! It wasn’t fun. I’ve been doing a lot of research on kidney stones. I’ve read a lot of people saying drinking olive oil + lemon works. That sounds gross. Maybe I will try that after I get my CT scan this week. Until then:

How to cope with kidney stones

Anybody has/had kidney stones or know someone who does? Any tricks?

Tonight is my first free night since I got back…I will definitely be posting up pictures with a recap of my trip to Peru!

Sorry I haven’t posted since I got back from Peru. I’ve been SUPER BUSY! Lots of stories and pictures to share though….stay tuned!

As many of you know, I’ve been hiking a lot in the past few months. My uncle just informed me of this cool variation of hiking called “night hiking”!! He tells me there are many groups around Los Angeles that do these night hikes weekly. What is night hiking? Well it’s basically what it sounds like…hiking in the dark.

From Hiking HQ:

Hiking at night can be a totally new experience for many. As humans we are not nocturnal creatures. Our eyes are our primary sense, and they are made for color vision using lots of light. To hike at night, is to intentionally allow yourself to slip out of your comfort zone and connect with the forest in a new and interesting way.

The one my uncle partakes in is the Griffith night hike that is organized by the Sierra Club:

Griffith Park: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7 p.m. Hikers take off on a variety of two-hour hikes, from easy to difficult. Fabulous views of the city and Valley. Meet at the upper merry-go-round parking lot.

Here is a great article about hiking at night.

I googled night hiking and discovered there are lots of organized night hikes around the country so if you’re interested you should partake in one! Or if you have a favorite trail that you know pretty well, you can try just doing it on your own for a different experience.

I’ve never been a constant crafter especially when it comes to knitting, crocheting, or even looming (the lazy man’s knitting!) but these projects are making me want to pick up crocheting again!!!

Pacman

Fried Egg

cutest owl purse ever!