Rusty the l'il kitty

My friend, James, was planning on coming over and watching the original "Footloose" movie because we were watching previews for the remake and he said he had never seen the original. The next words out of my mouth were, "We can't be friends if you haven't seen that movie." Soon, we made plans to rectify that.


Well, a coworker at James work discovered a feral kitty that was trapped in the building next to theirs. This coworker insisted on taking the kitty from the other company (they didn't seem very attentive to it). When she got back to the office, she asked James to take the kitten because she already had 3 cats at home. He agreed and then spent the afternoon learning about how to take care of them.


He came over with Rusty (what I have dubbed the kitty). He had to immediately feed it. Isn't that cute?Awwww...the little kitty was shaking and really having a feeding frenzy!

James estimated that the kitty is only 2 weeks old. So tiny!

Personal Bill of Rights

I had forgotten about a list I was given called "Personal Bill of Rights." They are:

1. I have the right to ask for what I want.
2. I have the right to say no to requests or demands I can't meet.
3. I have the right to express all of my feelings, positive or negative.
4. I have the right to change my mind.
5. I have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect.
6. I have the right to follow my own values and standards.
7. I have the right to say no to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe, or it violates my values.
8. I have the right to determine my own priorities.
9. I have the right not to be responsible for others' behavior, actions, feelings, or problems.
10. I have the right to expect honesty from others.
11. I have the right to be angry at someone I love.
12. I have the right to be uniquely myself.
13. I have the right to feel scared and say "I'm afraid."
14. I have the right to say "I don't know."
15. I have the right not to give excuses or reasons for my behavior.
16. I have the right to make decisions based on my feelings.
17. I have the right to my own needs for personal space and time.
18. I have the right to be playful and frivolous.
19. I have the right to be healthier than those around me.
20. I have the right to be in a nonabusive environment.
21. I have the right to make friends and be comfortable around people.
22. I have the right to change and grow.
23. I have the right to have my needs and wants respected by others.
24. I have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
25. I have the right to be happy.


When I got this listed I decided to circle the rights that I had a hard time accepting, mainly because it hasn't been my experience with others that is is my right.


An example of this would be number 3. I have the right to express all of my feelings, positive or negative. I have tried to live by this, but I have found that when I have expressed my negative feelings, the other person doesn't want to hear it or is offended that I feel this way about them. Instead of listening and trying to understand why I would feel that way, they look to blame me for having these feelings. I don't just create these negative feelings for the heck of it, so why is it my fault? Trust me when I say I'd rather have positive feelings!


Number 5 is another one that is difficult for me to accept. I have the right to make mistakes and not have to be perfect. I know that I do make mistakes and that I am not perfect, but I believe it's difficult for others to be grace givers, therefore making mistakes are not acceptable. I have also been told I am an unforgiveable person, which means there is no hope for me in relation to that person. I do make mistakes and I try to recognize them and apologize if those mistakes have wronged someone. But I still try to be perfect because I don't want to hurt anyone.


Number 6 is a really doozy and it goes along with number 7 as well. Number 6 is "I have the right to follow my own values and standards." I was raised to have very strong opinions, but due to that and the fact that I have a lot of siblings, I was also raised that it is acceptable to give your opinion to others on how they should live their lives. Problem is we all live different lives. I have the right to follow my values and standards for my life, but I do get comments from others on how I should lead it. I gladly listen, but it leads to number 7 which is "I have the right to say no to anything when I feel I am not ready, it is unsafe, or it violates my values. " Sometimes, what others think is right for me, maybe something I get to down the road. I may not be at that step in my life. Just because I say no, doesn't mean I don't respect the other person's opinion, I am just not going to blindly follow what they think is right when they don't live in my skin. They don't live my daily life.


Numbers 23 and 24 are also biggees for me. "I have the right to have my needs and wants respected by others" and "I have the right to be treated with dignity and respect." I think we have all felt that this has not been true for us at times. I have tended to see other needs above my own, which can be quite unhealthy and I am working towards sticking to my guns about my needs and wants, no matter the consequences (see number 9).


What rights do you have a hard time believing due to your past experiences?

Beautiful Bride

Here are all the accessories the bride had set out to put on/use. The accessories with the dress in the background.

The beautiful bride!

Wedding Prep

After the rehearsal, the bridesmaids and the bride went to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro to relax and get ready.

Here is Virginia, the matron of honor, preparing her toast. She asked me to help her translate it into English, since Spanish is her native language. She was Helen's roommate when Helen was a missionary in Sevilla, Spain. Here is Virginia, Helen and Yvonne relaxing on the couch in our suite.

Helen trying to relax/destress:

Me and Helen pre-make-up

Here's Virginia getting her hair done:

Chailling did my hair and makeup. Here she is putting on foundation.

Here is my end results (only picture I have of me before the wedding):

Chailling doing Helen's hair:

Helen's bouquet:

Helen getting the rest of her make-up applied:

Here are the earrings and necklace that Helen gave us. We also received a bracelet to wear that matches, I just didn't realize it until after I took the picture.

The bridesmaids, sans myself, just before we got into our dresses.

Wedding Rehearsal

I stayed at Shelley's Friday night as well. I had brought all of my wedding stuff with me so that I could leave for the wedding rehearsal from there.


Because it was an important day, I was afraid I wouldn't wake up on time so I got up earlier than expected. I was out the door at 8:15 (after packing my car). I had time to pick up breakfast and stop at CVS to pick up some last minute essentials.


I then drove to San Pedro to Angel's Gate Park for the wedding rehearsal. I wasn't the only early bird! The groom, a wedding coordinator assistant and two groomsmen, the best man and the best man's wife, were there waiting.


The weather was perfect! Very clear and not too breezy. We all hoped the weather would remain the same for the ceremony which was scheduled for 5pm.


Helen and her family (including the two flower girls and ring bearer) arrived. Steve (the groom) greets his bride-to-be:Helen, chatting with Diana, the best man's wife. Diana was nice enough to take most of the pictures of the rehearsal.
Here are all of the bridesmaids in line watching Helen and her dad walk down the aisle.I am missing from the below picture because I had to run to my car (in heals!) to get the practice bouquet. I forgot it in the car! Such a cute photo of the couple!!!The groomsmen and groom waiting to walk to the front.Helen and her dad about to rehearse their entrance.Everyone waiting for Helen and her dad's entrance:Exiting the ceremony:

Pre-Wedding Nails

Thursday night I stayed at Shelley's place. She had eye surgery earlier that day so on my way to her place, I picked up dinner for us and drove to south Redondo Beach to her apartment by the ocean.


When I arrived, our friend, Robyn was there for the first watch. :) Shelley was in bed sleeping off the anestesia. Robyn and I got caught up with each other and then Robyn left. Shelley got up eventually and we ate dinner. She went back to sleep and I got my bed ready (her couch). :) I actually had a comfy sleep. Much better than sleeping on my own couch for more than a nap. Too soft. :p


I took Friday off. I was happy to do it because I wanted to avoid the 405 freeway during "Carmeggedon" even though looking back now it wasn't a big deal. The thought of the driving stress was a lot for me. Besides that, I liked the vacation day! I woke up on my own and went to Jamba Juice to get steel cut oatmeal topped with berries. One of my favorite breakfasts and one I don't enjoy as often as I'd like. After that I had to go to the bank to get money out for the later that day and the following one.


I came back to Shelley's to check on her and officially get ready for the day! I was able to get some studying in before Robyn visited and we went to the Farmer's Market that is a few blocks away every Friday. Shelley had a list of things she wanted so we mainly got her items, although I couldn't resist getting Grandma Sally's preserves, which are low sugar and delicious! Robyn had never been to a Farmer's Market so it was fun seeing her enjoying herself.

Robyn left shortly after we arrived back at Shelley's apartment. I finished some auditing questions and checked up on Shelley before I left to meet Helen, the bride in the wedding I would be in that Saturday.


I met Helen at May Beauty Salon so that we could get our manicures and pedicures. When I arrived all of the workers must have been bored because I felt pressured to start the manis and pedis before Helen arrived. I had to explain to them that I was waiting for my friend.

Helen came in and they all remembered her from when she had gotten her nails done for her engagement pictures.

Here is the Bride-to-be:We chatted with eachother about the wedding plans and suddenly the new customers were adding their comments!

Rivera Village Summer Festival

My friend, Seona, was in town, so I picked her up in Whittier and we drove to Redondo Beach to attend the Riviera Village Summer festival. We met up with Shelley, Robyn and Robyn's friend, Diana. Here we are shopping 'til we drop:

Say cheese!After we ate and shopped some more we spent some time at Coffee Bean for a coffee before Seona insisted we go down to the water. She can't get enough and in Boston, although it's on the coast, the beaches just aren't the same. Seona and I near the water.

Sunset.Here we all are at the top of the ramp at Avenue I. From left to right: Shelley, Seona, Lexy, Robyn and Diana:Shelley and Seona playing in the water:

Robyn looking on: