Pumpkins!

So, this year instead of just carving pumpkins as usual, the bf and I decided to make a video of our thrilling, and exciting pumpkin excursion. Some may think that we have a lot of time on our hands, but this was done after 7pm and none of our favorite T.V. shows were on. Anyway, pumpkin carving has always been a tradition in my family, as it is in many, and my boyfriend has now come to love it ever since he carved his first pumpkin two years ago. No, he is not a Jehovah's Witness, he is just from India. So, you may be thinking, "Why in the world would I want to watch you, some random stranger who probably has no background in film making, carve pumpkins? Especially when I know how to carve a pumpkin already!" Or you could be thinking, "Wow! I have no idea how to carve a pumpkin at all and I am so happy that someone has provided this short video to show me how!" Well, if you are the latter-thanks for coming, you will not be disappointed! And if you are the first, just watch-it's fun!

Yes, this video is not perfect, exact, or professional, but it is real and honest! We aren't professionals, but we are trying.

Paranoia!

Recently us public people have been inundated with fear from the swine flu! I, myself am becoming increasingly paranoid about this phenomenon. Why I wonder? I blame the media! Yes, that evil, devilish thing rears its' ugly head again! When I have problems, I can just blame the media! Well, obviously I am being sarcastic, but in all honestly I think I can actually blame the media. Since flu season is now upon us, everywhere I go I see ads for flu shots. Via television, online, word of mouth, and pharmacies everywhere I have the fear of the flu inside of me! No, I do not have any symptoms, but does that stop me from popping vitamin c drops every five minutes? Of course not!

I am not an unreasonable woman, and I do realize that my personality might have something to do with this paranoia. Maybe I am slightly more worried than the next person, but then same old argument comes up: nature vs. nurture? Well, most people would agree that it is a mixture from both columns and that is a discussion for a different blog. Anyway, yes the swine flu is a horrible thing causing an epidemic in this country, but after reading more about it I have discovered that most people can get over it just like a regular flu. So why so paranoid? Well, its the word "most" in "most people" that worries me and the actual deaths that have occurred from it. Authorities say that we should not automatically run to the emergency room the moment we feel symptoms coming on. Well, sure! Now that you have instilled deep fear in us through repetitive and relentless media coverage, you are expecting us to NOT run right to the hospital? Balderdash, I say! Also, they say that 2 million H1N1 shots have been shipped today and that distribution has begun. But, yet again that ugly media monster has told me that the vaccine will be delayed here in Northern California! Whaaaa? And then that always wanting to help people thought hits me when that local news tells me that children, elderly, and health care workers should have it before anyone else. So now I am thinking that I shouldn't even get it! Ugh, so confusing!

This being said, being paranoid clearly is not going to help. If I keep thinking that I am sick or am going to be sick, I am sure I really will get sick So, while I am popping vitamin c constantly, and drinking glass upon glass of water, I know that I need to just to calm down and get a grip. So, have I listened to my own advice? Yes...for now! Thank you mass media for making me unable to watch the local news before bedtime. Cheers.

The Weekend

So, this past Saturday morning the boyfriend and I were looking for something to do.This is generally the same occurrence every weekend because we don't often plan much in advance. I, being unemployed at the moment, did not want to spend one more second inside our apartment for fear of cabin fever consuming me, forcing me to go on a murdering rampage of some sort like in those movies. So anywho, I was looking up events and stuff online, and discovered there was to be a Pumpkins In the Park festival that very day! Oooo what luck-haha! The festival was right here in downtown San Jose at the Guadalupe River Park Gardens (right outside the Children's Museum). We didn't know if it would be lame or not, but at least it got us out of the house and walking for a bit. It is about a 20 minute walk from our apartment to the Children's Museum, but lord knows we could use the exercise.

So, feeling very healthy and enjoying the fall crisp air, we ambled to the Guadalupe River Park to partake is some lovely Fall activities. As we arrived close to the event we could see that it was bustling with children everywhere! We kind of expected this, and thus confirmed our suspicions that it might just be hyperactive, sugared up kids with sticky hands running around the place and, well, it was. Buuuut, it was actually really fun too. There were tons of activities and it would be fun if we had children to entertain, but it fun to get out and about somewhere where everyone was enjoying themselves. This is definitely a great place to bring kids, but that doesn't mean us adults can't have a good time too-especially ones who haven't quite grown up yet.

So, we were very happy to find there was no admission fee because lets be honest, otherwise we would have turned around in a flash, and they gave out all sorts of stuff for free! We were planning on going to eat after we went there, but after all the free samples, we were honestly full and completely sugared up just like the kids. They gave out free bottles of Martinelli's apple juice-as much as you want! Some people were even taking a whole box full. They were also giving out little cups of fresh squeezed apple cider, and they had an apple tasting booth. The boyfriend also decided to purchase some honey sticks from the very nice honey lady at 5 sticks for $1, and so this did not help with the sugar consumption. There was also some sort of athletic company giving out free fruit snacks and snack bars as well, which were surprisingly delicious.

Enjoying our sugar

They had tons of activities for kids (some free and some not) and live entertainment, but he best part was the giant "pumpkin patch" though. A fenced in area with pumpkins of varying sizes scattered around. Of course, this was filled with kids and their embarrassing parents trying to pose them in different cutesy positions for some tacky Fall family photos. But this did not stop us from taking similar cheesy photos of each other sitting on pumpkins.

All in all, this was seriously one of the better festivals I have been to here. This whole festival was definitely created for kids, but it was great for us too. Now that I think about it though, it was a stupid thing to do considering swine flu is a deadly epidemic or something. Those pumpkins were probably covered in germs, and I touched them. Well, anywho it was fun and next time I will remember to bring my hand sanitizer.

Camping

On a recent camping trip, my boyfriend and I traveled to Valley Springs, CA to a campground called "Acorn Camp" on the the New Logan Lake (seen below). No, this place wasn't the most goregous and lucious campground I have ever been to, but this view of the lake as we stepped out of our tent early in the morning was just fantastic. It got super, super hot during the day, but quite cold in the evening and this time at the start of the day was the perfect temp with a perfect view.

New Hogan Lake, Acorn Campground, Valley Springs, CA

A reptile on our breakfast grill

A view of New Hogan Lake from our small hike

The sunset on the lake

Writer's Block

As I look into the computer screen with the sun shining in from behind me, I can see my fingers tapping quickly across the keyboard. I am watching them as each letter is hit, but they move too fast to see them as individuals. I can't stop watching them, mesmerized by the movement which I control. I control the movements, but I still wonder how am I doing this. I don't even realize that I am doing it, and before long I have written a paragraph, not evening knowing where it came from. My gold ring glimmers in the sun shining through the window, as I continue to stare at my hands gliding across the keys. The best thing about this blog is the way my fingers flew across the sun reflected on my computer screen.

What I See

Sweet, sweet tomatoes growing in the back of the apartment complex....

Stopped by the garden on the way out of the apartment complex this afternoon-they look like mini purple tarantulas!