25 Random Things...

So, On Facebook there is this thing going around - 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. Here's my list of 25.

1) I love road trips. I always feel like I'm me in an alternate universe, where my real life has melted away, and I have nothing to think about but what's around the next turn.

2) Really, I love any and all kinds of travel. I am currently planning to take a year off to go around the world. I'm not sure when that year will be, and I'm afraid if I don't do it in the next few years, I'll never do it.

3) I was in a small plane crash, my dad was piloting, with my parents, my twin sister, my brother and my aunt. We all survived. You have a greater chance of winning the lotto than surviving a small plane crash...so I guess I won't be winning the lotto.

4) I love animals but I'm in love with boxers. I hope to have boxers for the rest of my life.

5) I hardly ever cry. Except while watching sad movies, commercials and reading books. I couldn't stop crying while reading the Time Traveler's Wife. Right?

6) I've been a feminist my entire life. When I was little I thought it was unfair that only boys got to pass the sacrament. I thought it was unfair that all the pictures of missionaries, that were held up in primary while we sang "I hope they call me on a mission" were boys. I thought it was unfair my brother got to be outside to mow the lawn while I had to be inside to wash the dishes. That being said, I had a huge crush on a neighbor that was a polygamist, and thought that one day I would marry him.

7) I'm all about fairness. My mom used to tell me Life's not Fair. Hearing that still gets me irritated - I don't care if it's true.

8) My three favorite things to talk about are three things you never speak about in polite company: Religion, Politics and Sex. That is why I love Anthropology. Its a free pass.

9) I don't believe honesty is always the best policy. Sometimes honesty isn't necessary. I would never tell a friend that I dislike their +1/kids. This is just an example - I like everyone's +1 & kids.

10) The first time I truly understood I have brown skin was during my 15th Birthday Pool Party, when I wore a white swimsuit and discovered, even though the swimsuit had lining, once it was wet all my bits were going to show. All of my girlfriends wearing white swimsuits didn't have this problem. I learned this lesson the hard way.

11) Unfortunately, flashing the entire pool at my 15th Birthday Party, is no-where near my most embarrassing moment.

12) I LOVE Lake Powell. It is one of my favorite places in the world and most of the really great memories I have about my extended family, take place on a couple of houseboats on Lake Powell.

13) I hardly ever get mad enough to yell. I usually shut down or throw a little tantrum. When I do get mad enough to yell, watch out. When April and I, or Richard and I are fighting, run for cover!

14) When I have an argument, I never call names, as it undermines the entire argument, signals the fact that an argument could not be made on the merits, thus losing the argument. I find it really unappealing when other people resort to name calling - in any argument - not just those I'm involved in. Especially because "how low can you go" isn't an argument I care to win.

15) If I could have any job in the world it would be writing and shooting photos for National Geographic.

16) My parents didn't believe in TV when I was growing up. We didn't have a TV until I was 12. As a result I LOVE TV! I LOVE my DVR even more.

17) I love reading. I read every night. I will stay up all night reading a really good book. Because I'm such a fast reader, I do end up forgetting the finer details, and some major plot points a few weeks, and sometime a few days after reading a book. I have been half way through a book before I realized I've already read it.

18) In August 2007 I started taking a picture of myself everyday, thanks to Flickr's 365 Group. After a year and a 1/2, I took a bit of a break but I'm back on the photo a day wagon, and I think I'll do this for the rest of my life. (You should too! http://www.flickr.com/groups/365days/)

19) I moved to NY to be a nanny so I could get away from my family, when I was 19. It was that or teach English in China. It never occurred to me I'd be taking care of actual kids until I met them at Laguardia. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and one of the best experiences.

20) One time a group of friends and I went up to Palmyra in upstate New York. I went because I wanted to see Niagara Falls. They went because there is a Mormon Pageant there. We got a place right in the front row so we could lay down and watch the entire pageant comfortably. I ended up falling asleep and was shaken awake by a friend who said "Wake Up, Sandy! Jesus Is Here!" I thought she meant the real Jesus Christ not the actor PLAYING Jesus Christ. I freaked out and told her "But I'm NOT ready to meet Jesus!" I'm still not ready.

21) When I was younger, Tina and I celebrated two birthdays at girls camp. Both times my dad flew the plane over the camp and bombed us with bags of candy, keeping us flush for our candy gambling habit!

22) I am constantly being told that I have said something heavily laden with sexual innuendo - and I don't even know it. Sometimes I'll finish saying something and I'll look around and see everyone staring, eyes dilated, and I'll know I've said something wildly inappropriate - but even after review I rarely get it. I don't like to ask anyone to explain.

23) I totally speak with a Valley accent like All the time. I've tried to eliminate the word "Like" from my vocabulary and it's like, totally impossible. When I speak Spanish I also speak in a total valley accent.

24) I'm really close to all my siblings. We've been through a lot together. When we all get together it is pandemonium. Most of the time we are laughing so hard we are crying.

25) 2008 was the worst year of my life. Even though I knew everything is about the attitude you have, I couldn't help it. Knowing and Feeling aren't always in sync. Looking back, I think if 2008 was the worst, I've had a pretty great life. And 2009 is shaping up to be the best year yet. I just KNOW and FEEL it!

1000 Miles in a Day

Yesterday was the craziest day of 2009 so far. We are leaving next week for two weeks in the southern cone, and that means finding an appropriate and loving dog sitter for our precious Beanie and Bruno. We don't like to disrupt their lives too much - they are rescues and do have anxiety when we leave for days at a time. They LOVE UTAH and family there, so what better place than a winter wonderland vacation for them too? Mom was nice enough to say yes when we asked. And they will be there for three weeks!

We drove to St. George, UT from Santa Monica, to meet Tina & Dad. We got to St. George in 5 1/2 hours. We had a lovely lunch in town, and ran to the Costco for an all white shopping experience, for dog food, and left Bruno and Beanie in Tina's car, with the feeling of a job well done.

Until Dad called for a chat, oh, and to tell us he had my car keys. So we had to return to Utah, meeting back up in Toquerville, UT a couple hours after our initial departure, to get my keys that had left in the opposite direction.

And seriously - it was really funny once we got over the anger and accepted it - and on the hour drive back to reunite with my keys, we thought of all sorts of funny scenarios, so that by the time we rolled up on Dad & Tina, we were laughing hysterically!

Tina was pretty angry - she looked like a bear, an angry bear, a very angry bear, with her arms folded and a deep scowl on her face. And dad was standing in the clear, keeping clear of Tina for sure, with a look of worry and warning on his face! That image will be seared in my brain forever, and just made me laugh all the harder.

Our favorite scenario we thought up on our hour drive back, was a drive by key passing, where we just rolled by each other really slowly, gangsta rap on the radio, and the keys were tossed into my car and we speed away. So coming down off that exit ramp, we had rolled down all the windows and we were yelling "Throw the Keys! Drive By Key Passing!" Of course Tina is so smart and went from Angry Bear to joke participator in seconds, running to meet the car and throw the keys! I'm sure no one else gets it, but I'm writing it here so I won't forget.

Finally, we left Toquerville around 5PM, stopped at the outlets in Primm and made it to Ray & Zenida's - LOOK SO GOOD Party by 11PM. We had a lovely time feeling good, taking pics, drinking cocktails and being tired drunk - you know that kind of drunk from being tired, and finally made it back home by 2AM.

Traveling over 1OOO miles in a day, just to end up at the exact spot we started from - a testament to all you can do in 24 hours.

Party Like A Barack Star!

Today is a historic occasion!

Jenny, April and I wanted to take some time to mark the occasion with a celebration. A celebration many, even in this day and age, didn't think was possible.

40 years after the assassination of Martin Luther King and Malcom X, we stand here today, having elected the first African American man to the highest office in the land.

This election has also served to mark another shift in consciousness. It was a peaceful revolution - and it was a REVOLUTION and an INDICTMENT of the administration of the last 8 years

Today is the first day of Obama's presidency. But the work is not over it is just beginning - Yes, we have a new president but politics remain the same.

Unless we become actively involved , unless we hold our representatives accountable we will find ourselves in much the same place four years from now. Where governments act slowly individuals have the ability to bring about change quickly and the momentum and desire to do so are on our side.

This election shows one man can be the catalyst for a peaceful revolution, and the energy toward personal responsibility to make change happen - that comes from the energy President Obama created during this past election.

Best of luck to us all and to the 44th President of the United States of America, President Barack Obama. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

1/2 way thru Jan

1/2 way through January and I couldn't be happier. This year promises to be a big one. January has been a lovely, warm month so far, with visit is with old friends and family and celebrations.

Everything Changes on New Years Day - I went to lunch with Karen and Laura, where I met Karen's darling dog, duke on New Years day. It was great catching up with my pro-women!



Mason turned one years old. Mom came into town to visit and celebrate his birthday. Ray & Zenida were also there, rounding out the birthday celebration.



We escaped from West LA with a road trip up the cost with the dogs. There was such a beautiful, warm, January day in LA we had to take a drive up the coast. So we put the dogs in the car and drove up PCH through Malibu, to soak up the rays, the ocean, the freedom.



Mom & I went and got a mani-pedi during lunch, and then decided to make our way to Santa Monica Pier to soak up the warmer weather, watch the waves, take photos, while the sunset. Elida came over for dinner and to make empenadas for the party.



Julia, April & I went to the Viper room to watch her friend's band play. They were on stage for 1/2 an hour. We followed up with coffee patio side, at Mel's diner on Sunset for 2 hours.



Mom, Elida & Mason stopped by for a Thai lunch, and to say goodbye, since Mom departs tonight. So of course, out comes the camera.



We're in full party planning mode - with a few days until the big event. Lastly, I booked our trip to Uruguay & Argentina, and I'm so excited I feel high.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2008
Honestly 2008 has been a crap year. There have been some big and happy changes - Mason was born in January, April Graduated in May, I went to Montreal a few times, random reunions, our annual road trip, the election to shape a century - and there were smaller fabulous things too.

But all of the good stuff was overshadowed by sadness and repair. I'm so happy to say goodbye to this depressing, sad, man hating, pessimistic, hermit, emotional year. So long 2008! Farewell 2008

April and I decided to say a proper goodbye to 2008 with the finger. And then we headed to a New Years Eve party at Chris's place in the Hills where we danced and hung out and toasted in 2009, and were home by 1:30! I am really getting old!

Hello 2009!!!

So 2009 is already off to a great start! And it can only get better, right? The Utes beat former #1 Alabama at the sugar bowl in an amazing, save on Tivo forever worthy, blowout and should be #1 as the only non-losing team in the country... Right? RIGHT! 2009 is already awesome!

So, after taking a couple months off, I've decided to return to my 365 Days of Sandy - because I'm that self absorbed! LOL! And I'll be doing a random picture a day as well - which should stretch my photog boundaries a bit more.

So I'm busy planning the next couple months of my life. January 20th we are hosting an inauguration party. We got an amazing space that used to be an old speakeasy during prohibition.And we're in the middle of planning our trip to Argentina and Uruguay in February for a couple of weeks, where we hope to see family, stay on an estancia, tango in Buenos Aires and hang out on the beach. I can hardly wait for that trip! Hola 2009!

Happy Christmas 2008

April and I spent the last few days trying to perfect the French Macaroon. It's a very difficult cookie to master and mine turned out way too chewy. But still tasty. We ended up getting a few from the Little Next Door Cafe, which is where we had a French Christmas Eve dinner.
Christmas Day we made our way to the Tweedy's in Playa del Rey for a traditional English Christmas dinner, with crackers and pudding and trifle. May is a fantastic cook. We had a great time talking politics and presents and dogs.

Unfortunately we came home to disaster. Bruno found a way into the kitchen and ate all the Macaroons, bread and two bags of Chocolate Chips that were left out on the counter. You may recall that last Christmas Eve Bruno had to eat charcoal and get his stomach pumped for similar misdeeds. He pooped charcoal pallets for days.
We got him to throw up and he was sick all night, and we were up all night to supervise, clean up after him, take him out for walks. He is a very bad, bad, boy. But we can't help but love him!

We didn't send out Christmas Cards this year to reduce environmental impact but we did take Christmas photos.

Hope Everyone had a Very Happy Christmas!

Back to Montreal

I didn't think about the implications of traveling the day after the Thanksgiving break, so there I was, during the craziest, busiest time of year to fly, on my way to Montreal. Long lines, waiting and of course, delayed flights, made the trip a 15 hour ordeal. And when I landed in Montreal it was cold, cold, cold...but no snow.
Working back in the office was nice. Being reunited with my department was also nice. Even if the week was hijacked by a new client. It could be worse.
I had drinks followed by dinner with Phil at the Place de Armes one evening. But the big event of the week was the company holiday party.
There was gift exchange, plenty of drinking, speeches, awards, dancing, drunkenness...everything you expect at a Christmas Party.

Before leaving on Saturday, I realized I had to get back to the office to retrieve my AC adapter for my laptop. Oops. On the walk over I came across this homeless man, with 4 dogs keeping him warm, as he slept at the foot of the church stairs, in the freezing cold. It broke my heart to see that this man who had nothing, was caring for these stray dogs, and they in turn, were taking care of him.
I left right before a snow storm hit. Flying back was a breeze and it was nice to be back in warm LA with my own spoiled dogs.

Climbing Clouds While Wine Tasting

Jenny, Christian, Adrienne, her friend, April & I all woke up early and drove our hineys up the coast to Santa Barbara to spend the day wine tasting in the back countries of Santa Barbara County.

We got a Jeep and Driver from Cloud Climbers and headed out to the vineyards to taste the newest selections in wine. We hit five vineyards, with a break for lunch, which was provided, squeezed in between.

The best stop was at Artiste Impressionist Winery and Tasting Room, where you can play chess, paint, taste. I could hang out there all day.

Celebrating in November

November is always a busy month and this November was no exception.

Election Day Celebration
Everyone who knows me knows I'm very political. Throughout the primary and general election process I haven't posted anything here, mostly because I haven't had time. But don't think the absent of content here is an indication of my un-involvement in the daily toos and fros of this very exciting, energizing, crazy campaign. Huff Post has been my constant companion for the last year.
We decided to make Obama Hope cupcakes to celebrate this historic election. I'm sure we have propped our president elect up on a pedestal unfairly, just to tear him down, also unfairly, and although Obama doesn't go far enough for me, there is so much ground to make up in the next couple years, I'm so excited the country has participated in this peaceful revolution and indicted the regime of the last eight years.
I went to Brian & Tracey's to celebrate and when the election was called at exactly 8PM PT I couldn't help but cry for joy - a stark difference from four years ago when I cried out of frustration! I couldn't contain my excitement and texts were sent en mass.
There wasn't all celebration. Proposition 8 passed and it is clear we still have work to do to ensure the rights of all Californians and Americans. Where one person's rights are not guaranteed, none of our rights can be guaranteed. This, along with the economy, war, social security, the shrinking middle class, health care means there is a lot on all our plates. Off my soap box now!

Finley's First Birthday
Finley had a first birthday party at the park with friends and family. I can't believe she's already a year old. I met a lady who is the wife of Christian's co-worker, who is from Paysandu, Uruguay, just a few kilometers from my mother's hometown of Salto. It's time to plan another trip down tho South America!

Chris & Laura Announce their Engagement
April called a happy hour. We haven't had one for a while and so we made our way back to the SF Saloon where Chris & Laura announced the good news! Tabitha had just returned from India and we got a wonderful update from her as well...can't wait to see the photos!

Bingo for Choice
April & I made our way to Hollywood to participate and play Bingo for Choice for Planned Parenthood. This was the first time I played Bingo and it was a riot! I can't wait to do it again! Of course we didn't win, but the evening was a big success. And we made our way to the Astro Burger, which I've missed oh so much.

Sarah Came to San Diego
Sarah had a Communications conference in San Diego, so I made the trip down in terrible Friday traffic and of course it was worth it. We went to a party where I met her colleagues, we spent time on the coast, in Old Town and at Balboa Park.

Thanksgiving 2008
It was Mason's first Thanksgiving! We had a lovely dinner prepared by everyone. We have a lot to be grateful for. Not even family drama can make us forget that.

Halloween Horror 2008

It's another year ending and that is made clear with Halloween, marking the start of the season of celebrations.

Elida & Damon held their annual Halloween party and everyone dressed up to celebrate. And more kids are showing up year after year!



Mason Clapping in his darling lion cub costume! Darling!


What could be scarier? Miranda was freaked out by everyone's face paint and masks. She was NOT having it.



Its a Daddy Daughter costume. Ally took a bite out of the night!



My favorite mask of the night was Julia's newly acquired New Oreans Mask. It made the perfect finish to her mime costume!


Damon got tattooed out for his Slash costume and rocked it out!

Cats, Gypsies, a Jack the Ripper victim, Wizards and Witches rounded out the costumes. The lighting of spell candles for love and money rounded out the night.