SoCal Karine and the Shot of Doom

Hi everyone,

I know a ridiculous amount of time has passed since my last blog post and plenty of things have happened since then. I'll try to blog a bit more about everything soon, but I just wanted to give a shout out to my girlies at the club this past Friday.

I'm not a heavyweight drinker by any stretch of the imagination, but I can normally have a few, feel a little buzz, but still be OK. However, after a Malibu and pineapple (my new favorite drink), a friend had bought me and a few of the other girlies a shot. . . I don't know what it was but it didn't taste all that strong.

Initially, I was OK, but I sat down and, after a little bit, it just hit me! The world around me was spinning for awhile and I was feeling VERY unsteady and totally drowsy. Luckily, my girlies were nearby and stayed with me, protecting me from anyone who might try to take advantage of me in my weakened state.

Since I was in no condition to drive, my friend led me out to her car so that I could sleep it off. After awhile, the urge to redecorate her seats with the contents of my stomach passed and I felt much better (that's when she took the pic above of me). Eventually, our group went to grab a bite to eat at Toi on Sunset. . . there's nothing like a nice hot steaming bowl of Tom Kha Vegitofu Soup to make a girl feel better again.

Anyhow, thanks so much to everyone for being there for me . . . and, its looking like Diet Coke for this girl next time!

Love always!

Karine

Back from my Boston and Canada trip, eh?

Hi everyone,

Well, Ive been back from vacation for a few weeks and have finally gotten back into the swing of things. As a result, I have no excuse to slack off on this whole blogging thing. So here goes. . .

First and foremost was the vacation. I had a wonderful time up in New England as well as Toronto.

In the Boston area, I met up with my friend Karen. At dinner, I had an opportunity to meet up with so many new and wonderful people. Everyone was so incredibly nice and I really do hope to keep in touch with all of my new New England friends! A special thanks goes out to Jamie for all of the wonderful pictures, Karen for making sure I had a full social calendar . . . and a big hug to all of the girls I met, especially Victoria and Gina!

Toronto was also a total blast too! I had an opportunity to see and chat with many of my friends in town. I also made the most of my time and tried to sightsee as much as possible. One of my favorite outings was taking a day trip out to Niagara Falls. I mean, initially, I thought, its a waterfall . . . so what? However, as we drove up and I saw the falls for the first time, I was totally mesmerized by the majesty and power of the Falls. When I took the boat ride into the falls area, I learned why it was called The Maid of the Mist . . . but for the blue poncho they gave us to wear, I wouldve been soaked! Of course, the Asian Photo Gene set in and I took TONS of pix of the Falls!

Now, anyone who knows me knows Im a hockey chick. . . and it just happens that the Hockey Hall of Fame is also located in Toronto. It was SOOOO totally COOL to visit the Hall and see all of the historic memorabilia. However, the true treasure was on the second level, where they keep all of the post season award trophies as well as the STANLEY CUP! It was so totally wonderful just to see the Cup up close. . . to hold it. . . kiss it and, of course, take a bunch of pictures with it too!

Toronto was a totally fun city to visit . . . and I was so incredibly lucky to have such cool friends to hang out with too. Laurie and Valerie, Im totally grateful for both of you taking the time to show me around town. Whether we were out grabbing a yummy bite to eat and catching a show or wandering around town scratching that photography itch, I had a wonderful time! Thanks so much!

So, Ive been back for a few weeks now, but have been trying to get out as much as possible. Last weekend, I was lucky enough to go shopping with a few friends. . . and picked up the cutest purple top, a couple of pairs of jeans (including a pair of skinny jeans which, Im told, are going to be BIG!) and a new black corset (for when Im feeling both naughty and sexy). For a girl who has a big closet full of clothes, I had to stop and think. . . do I really need more stuff? Well, duh, the answer is of course. . . YES!!!!

So, the Fourth of July is coming up (or, as its known to my non-American friends, Tuesday). . . I dont have any big plans other than perhaps trying to meet up with a few girlfriends. . . and going to a few BBQs (but not too many or else I wont be able to fit those new skinny jeans).

Anyhow, thanks so much to you folks who actually made it to the end of this blog without falling asleep! Im hoping to rotate a few new pix into my myspace album sometime in the next few weeks. . . keep checking back, k?

Have a wonderful 4th of July (or Happy Tuesday if youre not American)!

Love,

Karine

I'm back. . . and didn't get tossed overboard!!

Hi everyone,

OK, I feel so bad that I haven't written sooner. I'm sure more than a few people probably thought that someone had tossed me overboard on the cruise . . . which would explain why I haven't updated this thing in a looooong while.

Well, I'm pleased to say (instead of gurgling from the bottom of the ocean) that I'm here and doing fine. The cruise was WONDERFUL! Sadly, the great tan I got back in February is probably fading. . . too bad the expanded waistline I got from all of the food hasn't (dont worry, Im sooooo not going to ask if these pants make my butt look big!). Seriously though, it was so nice to be able to visit so many different tropical places and eat, eat and eat some more. There's nothing more relaxing than sunbathing on the top deck of an ocean liner, docking at a port of call, getting off the boat and finding a nice quiet spot to sunbath on a beach! Thankfully, the trip only lasted a week. . . I don't wanna think how incredibly crispy I'd be if I was doing that for two weeks!

Since I've been back, work's been totally busy. . . however, I've been doing what I can to get out on the weekends with my friends. It is always kind of fun to spice things up by checking out new clubs and destinations (which Ive done) . . . I mean its a total downer to be stuck going to the same place every week, know what I mean? OK, back to vacations. . . yeah, I know, I just got back from one (well, sorta. . . back from one in February), but I always like to have a trip on the horizon, which brings me to my next point. . .

I'm taking a week off in June and am trying to figure out what to do. One idea is to pay a visit to friends in the Boston area and, on the way back, stop off for a few days to visit friends in Toronto. The downside is that its going to be tremendously expensive with airfare, hotels, food, etc.

Another idea is to go to Vegas, although, quite honestly, I don't know if I could gamble and gorge myself for a week . . . especially in the summer Vegas heat. Another idea is Palm Springs (which I did last year). The final idea would be to venture down to San Diego. . . while I have many wonderful friends down there to visit, Ive done it more than a few times. So, as always, I'm curious to see which of these ideas you folks like the best . . . or, if you want, hear your suggestions if you think of something cool not on the above list. Ok. . . . discuss amongst yourselves. . .

*hugs*

Karine

R.I.P. Piney

I guess I’m really not good at this ‘keeping up with the blog’ thing. Anyhow, I really do appreciate each and everyone of you who actually takes the time to read this thing.

So the RIP thing. . . I had the saddest experience yesterday. I took down my Christmas tree. . . my first ever Christmas tree. The guy at Home Depot said that if I watered her enough and added the little packet of stuff, the tree would last until March. . .

He lied.

I’m not naïve, I know it wouldn’t last until March, but I was hoping mid January. However, I noticed this past weekend that Piney (probably about as good as any name for a Christmas tree. . . better than Jerome at least!) was quickly becoming kindling. She was shedding and turning all shades of brown. . . and has this aura of 'spontaneous combustion' around her. . . I know that’s not a good thing.

So, yesterday, I took down all the ornaments (don’t even ask how I managed to untangle and retangle those strands of lights) . . . and then struggled to take her down to my garage, where I had to cut her up. Right now, she’s out on my curb, in pieces, waiting for the rubbish man tomorrow morning. I’m really really bummed out.

Luckily, I have my memories of Piney and how she brightened my holidays. Overall, the holidays were nice. Christmas was fun but long and exhausting as I joined my family at a string of family events. On the downside, at one of them, my cousin’s kid was rudely coughing up a storm at the dinner table. . . guess who got the flu! Yeah, the same girl who was bedridden for NYE and had Piney as her date (don't worry, even though Piney was my date, we didn't get intimate. . . it would be kinda pokey, I'd be vacuuming pine needles for a month and I was worried about that spontaneous combustion thing again). . . however, OTOH, it was perhaps for the better that I stayed in, considering the wet weather we had here in LA. Even today, I’m still struggling to feel 100% Anyhow, that was the holiday.

Have a wonderful ’06 everyone!