Me Again

Today’s my birthday and there’s no rest for the wicked as I am off to my 14 hour day in just a few hours, if I can sleep that is. Work, then school. I’m getting sick again though. Bummer.

However, at least I feel like me again.

A recap: July 2008 found me living in Seattle, working for Ulta Beauty, and I wasn’t feeling very dynamic. I had just left the glitz and the glamour (ok, the hobby and not very glamorous hours) of working as an extra in Hollywood. I was adrift in the Pacific Northwest, in a new place and strange state of mind.

A hair appointment with a co-worker at the time resulted in the wrong level and tone. It wasn’t entirely flattering but it was a change, and I have always liked to change it up as much as possible. How else are you going to stumble upon something fun and charismatic?

My hair wasn’t in good shape at all and I was worried about putting more chemicals into it. I’ve had my hair break off before in the name of experimentation and I wasn’t ready for a big chop-chop.

August 2006. I was still in beauty school and my skin was nearly raw from all of the practice with massage.

August 2006. It was still pretty short and I was still in beauty school. Note that my skin was nearly raw from all of the practice with massage.

May 2007, the blurry hat wearing phase. Frizz city.

May 2007, the blurry hat wearing phase. Frizz city.

July 2007. Red=no. It also looks like I've got some variation of the "Rachel."

July 2007. Red=no. It also looks like I’ve got some variation of the “Rachel.”

Right before leaving for Seattle. I actually found a good stylist and then I moved.

Right before leaving for Seattle. I actually found a good stylist and then I moved.

July 2008, right before I went to mermaid.

July 2008, right before I went to mermaid.

September 2008

September 2008

December 2008, a short lived purple.

December 2008, a short lived purple.

At Crypticon 2009 with Ken Foree and Lloyd Kaufman.

At Crypticon 2009 with Ken Foree and Lloyd Kaufman.

September 2009, very light with baby bangs.

September 2009, very light with baby bangs.

February 2010

February 2010

June 2010 and I loved this color a lot.

June 2010 and I loved this color a lot.

September 2010

September 2010

December 2010, nearly 5 months pregnant with Coco.

December 2010, nearly 5 months pregnant with Coco.

March 2011

March 2011

May 2011, right before Coco was born.

May 2011, right before Coco was born.

September 2011

September 2011

January 2012

January 2012

May 2012

May 2012

September 2012

September 2012

January 2013

January 2013

April 2013

April 2013

I’m so glad that I went back to the mermaid hair and funny, I don’t feel 39. What a strange age to be, right? Maybe 40 will be a bigger deal.

Wear It #4

I haven’t done a “what I wore” type of post in a long time. Looking back at previous posts here, I realize that this might be only the third of its type on this site.

This pic was taken on Saturday and I’m not sure what to call the look. Perhaps the Bay Area is having its influence on me!

Wear It #4


Sweater, Forever 21 clearance section
Dress, Forever 21 by way of Goodwill
Shoes, Chelsea Crew ‘Malibu’ (similar in Mustard here)
Socks, a nice thin wool blend that I wish I had more pairs of
Glasses, the Thatcher (in Whiskey Tortoise) from Warby Parker
Headband, unknown
MAC lipstick in Hang-up


Since I work in a blue collar-y shop-like environment most of the time, I seem to overdress whenever I have a day off these days.

You should see the condition of some of my work clothes. Battery acid can eat holes in your sweaters and jeans, which is why you won’t find me wearing any of my fancy stuff there. Most work days find me in inexpensive and/or old jeans, random old Threadless shirts, wearing Doc Martens, Adidas, or inexpensive boots on my feet. Comfy and pricey insoles are a definite must!


I need to stop looking at hair pics from 2009-2010, for sure. Otherwise, I will be forced to go back to this, which I miss so much.

Teal hairs


It’s totally ok to go the grocery store in your Batman pajamas, wearing a faux fur stole and yellow headband from H&M. Skull shoes from Target.

Batman

Right?

Her birthday weekend shenanigans were delightful and fun and I can’t wait until next year.

Tired Car Birthday Hashtags Seagull

The title of this post is a merging of the topics on my mind right now.


I just remembered that I have a Vine account. Seven seconds is nothing, yet can be an eternity.

Also, Coco IS TWO YEARS OLD TODAY! As in right now. This instant. It’s amazing how much she’s been talking over the last couple of weeks. She tells me little stories and we laugh at a lot. She’s my light and I love seeing her blossom!


I’ve been feeling tired nearly all of the time, due to my schedule. I might be able to cut back on some stuff soon, but I need to make it for about another six months. Wish me luck.


I don’t think that I’ve ever owned a car that has such low miles. You either pay as you go or pay when something catastrophic happens. I’m thankful that I haven’t been on the side of the road anywhere for a long time. (My 1983 first Jetta, nicknamed Satan, I’m talking to YOU!)

Low mileage

Low mileage


One of my superpowers does NOT include having the patience to put together IKEA furniture, but this face was entirely worth it.

Coco and her new table

Coco and her new table


People I know have been moving, and have been choosing to move to New Orleans more often than not. I almost did the same thing once upon a time, pre-Katrina. It’s a bittersweet place for me and by that I mean that it reminds me of an alternate existence that I could have had, had I taken a leap of faith.

I had some beautiful yet sinister experiences while I was there.

Now that I found out through the grapevine that another friend is moving there, I think that would be a great impetus to give it another chance. For a visit or little vacation, for sure.


People like to complain about #hashtags that are used on the net, but you know what? You can find a lot of interesting stuff based on what people tag and can make new virtual friends in the process. Specifically I’m talking about Instagram and the #vintagemotorcycle hashtag as well as randomness on Twitter.

I’ve found some great accounts on Instagram that have nice pics of old bikes and amazing custom work. I recently revisited all of the bike pics that I’ve taken throughout the years and added the appropriate hashtags. #donthate


I’m running out of classes to take and don’t have a viable plan to tackle my Bachelor’s Degree situation.


My own birthday is coming up and I’m going through a little hair identity crisis. It’s taken so long to get it to look “normal” (whatever that is) but I don’t feel respectable nor interesting with this hair at the moment. SO. TEMPTED. TO. THROW. LEFTOVERS in it. I’ve still got some blue spectrum randomness in my stash drawers and it doesn’t help that Coco likes to look at them and say, “hair, hair” over and over. Although her version of saying hair kind of sounds like ear.

Edited to add: my friend and former co-worker Jody said the following on Facebook: “teal, where did the L go?”

Hair identity crisis

Hair identity crisis

That pretty much sums it up but I worry about my “hire-ability in the Silicon Valley” if I look “alternative” in any way. What do us creatives do?


Here’s a very good video that I had to watch for school and it’s James Bach. Besides being one of the world’s foremost experts on Software Quality Assurance and Testing, he happens to be the son of Richard Bach, who wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull” title=”Jonathan Livingston Seagull” target=”_blank”>Jonathan Livingston Seagull and other neat books.

When I had mentioned in my last post that I don’t think that software testing is brain surgery, I didn’t mean to offend anyone. It’s a field that can be very challenging but it can be tackled by people like me, and that’s what I meant the first time around.

I think of people that I used to know when I lived in Seattle and how self-important they would act about their job, as if it was some kind of sacred mystery. I am reminded of something that I heard in my meditation class. Elitist first world problems, as in “you wouldn’t understand my suffering.” Explains some people to a T.


This was posted elsewhere by my stylist, Nicole, and it’s about moving to San Francisco. I laughed.


Don’t miss this Smiths tribute!!

Smiths tribute

Have a nice everything,
Lisa

Links in Recap 5.10.13

From Hyperbole and a Half

From Hyperbole and a Half

Allie of Hyperbole and a Half is back. This post is perhaps one of the most important and significant pieces in existence about depression. I’m still rereading it. Depression, Part 2.


Meet the Kawasaki Eliminator 125 that I used to get my motorcycle license.

Meet the Kawasaki Eliminator 125 that I used to get my motorcycle license.

Bell Vortex helmet with Transition Shield

Bell Vortex helmet with Transition Shield

I cannot recommend my experience with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation enough. Their courses, in particular. Last weekend, I embarked upon finally getting my motorcycle license, and lo and behold, I did it. Yay me!

The Basic Rider course entailed one Thursday evening classroom session from 5:30pm-10:30pm, as well as two in person riding lessons (concluding with the skills test) the same weekend. You could choose 5 hours in the morning or in the afternoon/evening. Even though it was early, I chose the morning session from 7:30am-12:30pm.

It was extremely hot the first day and even though I reapplied my sunblock, the little bitty esthetician that still resides somewhere in here is horrified at the sun damage, I mean, “the color” that I acquired.

Here’s a picture that I found on Pinterest of a truck driver. One side of his face has been exposed to the sun, the other side, not so much. WEAR YOUR SPF ALWAYS AND FOREVER, peoples.

Sun Damage

Sun Damage

It was rainy and thunderous on the final day, which was some very good real world training.

What can I say in the end? It was fun and informative. I’m very realistic as to my limited skills at the moment and hope to change that soon.


I’m in my second week of going to school for SQA (Software Quality Assurance). Yeah, you read that right. Although I am still pursuing my BA in Psychology, I am realistic in that I know my timeline and that a degree is not a guarantee of a job, period.

The degree is to prove to myself that I can do it. As for QA, I’ve known quite a few people that have been QA Engineers and leads and all of those titles, in Seattle and beyond. It’s something that I’ve always been curious about.

It’s not brain surgery. There, I said it. With that, I know that I’m on my way of finding my niche in the tech industry here in Silicon Valley while combining my love of learning.

What is the difference between Software Testing and Software QA?

Testing is mainly an ‘error detection’ process focusing on improving the source code.

Software QA is ‘preventative’. It aims to ensure quality in the methods & processes at all the stages of SDLC. (“Quality Assurance” measures the quality of processes and is used to create a quality product.)

It took me awhile to completely understand this, and I think that this is a great explanation of the difference.


This is one of the best books that I’ve ever read. It’s also been handy as I complete my Compassionate Meditation course at Stanford School of Medicine. Ignore the hokey looking cover and the title, you’ll be glad that you did.


Parenting has been very challenging as of late, as Miss Coco gets bigger and actually is her own person. Instead of saying that she’s bossy, I’ve been saying “quite a leader.” Sometimes I wish that she would lead just a little less but I’d never say that out loud. Except maybe here.

She’s a great kid and I love the time that we spend together.

Me and Coco

Me and Coco

There’s lots more to say, of course. When I have time.

Have a great weekend,
Lisa