OakMonster’s Den

Since Halloween, I have been getting some hits on my site about how to make a Nerd Herd ID.

Well, kids.  Here’s how I did it.

First, I bought the Badge Holder pocket protector online.  Many sites have them but I got mine from this one.

Second, I copied the “Buy More” logo from the Buy More store site and apply that to one of the shipping label template in word document.  Adjust the size to about 3-3/4″ wide and 1″ high.  It won’t be crisp but you don’t need it to be really.  Pens will obscure most of that.  If you’re really handy and have more time, you can probably recreate the Buy More logo here as well for better quality graphic.  Cut out the logo and stick that on the top part of the pocket protector.

Third, I used Photoshop to recreate the Nerd Herd logo.  On the Nerd Herd website, it’s black font on white back ground.  On the ID, it’s black on red.   I just picked out the running man icon from the site and recreate the text part.  Now, make that logo fit the size of the ID.  Don’t put it up too high on the badge though, the pens will cover too much of that.

Once that was done, just add the person’s picture, name and bar code.  I printed that on regular paper and folded it to fit so it gives you a bit more of the thickness of ID.  Hey, I’m lazy, so sue me.

Add some pens into the pocket and you’re all set! 

Greg–you know him on here as Cool Cat VP–passed away last night of pancreatic cancer. We were alerted to his conditions a few weeks ago, about as soon as he heard the news himself. It swooped in fast and took him away even faster.

Once again. I. Fucking. Hate. Cancer.

And just last week, the office put together a memory book for him and his wife. I bought a leather-bound album and all of us fill it to the brim with pictures with Greg and without Greg, pictures of our pets and kids, and note cards of messages.

I wrote something like this:

A man who can rock a pink shirt like nobody else’s business. A colleague who always there to listen and who can talk you in and out of doing anything. A friend who never says no to good company even when he would just sip seltzer. The person everyone wish they have the privilege to know and love like we have.

We miss you, Greg. We always will.

Finally.

A two-day ordeal of my birthday celebration has come to a close. And boy has it been FUN!!

Friday was my company’s Thanksgiving potluck and birthday party for November people. We are getting better at not bringing too much food, but still have a whole bunch of leftover in the end. Needless to say, after the turkey and fixings, ham, 4 different salads, massive amount of dessert and ice cream later, that afternoon was pretty much in a blissful food coma haze.

That evening right after work, Brandon came up to town and we headed over to the Library Bar. Everyone has her own favorite place and this one is mine. I have been bringing my friends and coworkers here since they opened. The owner knows me by name and so does the bartender. We had the private room reserved for our little group so we didn’t have to fight to find some space. That mad us look all VIP like and we were getting nasty stares from haters all over the crowded bar. LOL.

Good times was had by all…especially me with a free pass to “shots that will get this birthday girl drunk on the house” by the order of the owner. Fortunately for him, it only took one shot for me to get drunk. LOL.

Saturday came a day of errands, house cleaning and party preparation. I went to town with Giada’s recipes with Bollito Misto with gorgonzola sauce and salsa verde and a tray of balsamic barbecue baked chicken breasts. And seriously, the Bollito Misto is PERFECT as a no fuss meal for a big group of people. You brown the meat, then let it cook in liquid for 2 hours meanwhile you finish the really really easy sauces in minutes. When your guests show up, you carve and enjoy the company. Soooo painless! But I foodie-digress.

A dozen people showed up to wish me a happy birthday. Beer and wine were flowing every which directions. And then Karaoke Revolution for all…well most…to enjoy. The whole apartment was filled with music and laughter. That there is THE perfect party.

Brandon and James went to fetch me another USB microphone so we could do duets. In the meantime, one person was singing for scores and the rest of us were singing along with her/him. When Brandon came back, he said he could hear us all the way down in the alley.

“Oh well, it’s about time someone else calls the cops on us instead,” I told him.

“The thing is, if that somebody calls the cops, we might just get K-9 Steve over here,” Brandon said of our friend.

“Oh, good! All the foods I made tonight is gluten-free. He can have a bite when he comes up.”

No, we didn’t get quite THAT out of control. Hahah. And Brandon took care of the clean up for me. I love this man!

This party marked the first time we met Irena’s fiance Danny and Katie’s Justin. Irena got engaged about a month ago, and Katie last weekend. Actually, if Brenda and Jon could have come, they’d be the third newly engaged couple at my party.

Next year there will be three weddings and 5 babies (3 local, 2 East Coast). We’d better save up our money now. Haha.

And you think I would get to sleep in after a few shots of Limoncello and a few glasses of wine later. But nope. This morning, we dragged my still drunk butt out of bed to get help Shane’s dad move all the stuff out of his store. Pops finally retires from the beauty supply business after twenty some years.

Thank goodness for my typical late onset hangover, I was able to function most of the morning and finally dropped out as we drove around looking for a metal salvaging place all the way up in Compton. And oh yes, a big lesson of the day. Recycling centers like that are closed on Sunday. Doh!

Oh, and the boys also had some fun while working…

So, I am now recovering from all the activities with long naps and hanging out on the couch watching Brandon breaks into Assassin’s Creed. This game looks awesome.

Two more days until my Week of Bliss, kids. Two. More. Days!!!!!

Oh, and we’re not doing Thanksgiving here this year. At least I don’t think we are. Justin and Olaina will not be available and as Brandon and I learned in the past, even a 8-lb. turkey is way too much for 2 people to handle. We’ll see how this pans out.

A birthday message from my 5.5 month-old “nephew” Jett (my best friend Joy’s son):

More birthday pictures to come through out the day.

ETA - 9 p.m.: To quote Gridiron Goddess Amy, I am drunkity!  One beer, a few bites of fries and an Irish car bomb on the house later, I’m done for the night.  Will recap tomorrow but man, this birthday ranks up there with last year’s!  Fantastic!

El Heffe and I share the same birthday. So he wished me a happy birthday eve this morning.

“You’re way too damn happy about aging,” I wrote.

“I’m actually 15 in my head,” he wrote back.

“Well, in that case, you’re still older than me. I’m 7.”

It’s my outer child who keeps me going each day, I tell you. If I start acting my age, I wouldn’t like my life very much I don’t think. Heh.

Tomorrow is my 31st birthday. And I’ll be too busy to actually think about it all that much.

The Operation Jingle All the Way 2007 packages I have to pack up so Brandon can mail them tomorrow. The company Thanksgiving potluck during the day which I am now cooking for. And my happy hour gathering at night.

So I’m busy all the way through my the first year of the 30s. And I’m still alive, amazing isn’t it.

There have been a lot of firsts this past year.

The first time I pulled off managing a big event. And a first night in a nice hotel room in a very long time. (Have I told you I LOVE staying at nice hotels?)

The first time in our entire history that we have a room makeover in a sense.

The first night out partying in a legitimate LA club, and a late night partying in a very, very, very, VERY long time. (Thanks to Amy and my Girls!)

And the most significant first of all, this is the first birthday without my mom.

Let’s see what next year brings…

ETA: It’s 11 p.m. I’m tired as hell and I don’t want to go to bed yet. Perhaps I really don’t want to turn 31. Oh, and a shout out of happy birthday also to my twin sister from another life, Bua of the Island!

Thursday night, I walked out of my office building toward the intersection as usual. I spotted these two younguns in suits, a girl and a very effeminate boy, walking toward me. They were deeply engaged in some lively conversation. He was talking with his hands and neither one of them were really paying any attention to where they were going.

Seeing that, I started to make my way around them to my right so I could be out of their way. And I hoped that they would come to their senses once other pedestrians got closer to them.

Did I mention that they weren’t paying any attention to where they were going?

So of course, as I circled right, the pair started drifted the same way I was going. Anticipating their veering off course, I kept my path out wider to the right. But because they weren’t paying attention, they kept drifting.

Eventually, we were a few steps away from collision and I ran out of room to avoid them. I even stopped for a second to see if they would notice that I was now trapped between that boy and a newspaper dispenser thing. But nobody paid attention. At this point, there was no time left for me to go anywhere or do anything.

I was going to hit that boy, that was for sure. He was taller than me and probably going to knock me silly.

But why should I let him?

*I* already made my way to the right to avoid this. *I* already paid attention unlike these blathering fools. *I* already made my accommodation.  “This asshole doesn’t deserve nice” was my resolution.

So I channeled Brian Cushing, a USC leading linebacker. I tucked in my arm, lowered my head and shoulders, and braced for impact.

*WHAM!*

My left shoulder hit his arm. I felt his arm weaken at impact. I heard a sound of whatever he was holding in that hand hit the floor. And then this strange voice came roaring out of my throat as I continued on my way.

“Excuse *ME*!”

I kept on walking to the intersection and crossing the street without looking back.

And that felt great.

By the time I sat down to wait for my bus a few minutes later, I started to feel a bit guilty.

My usual logic would be to turn right around and say, “Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” And help the guy with picking his stuff up, and continue to apologize for a bit. Be nice and civil about it, you know.

But that day, it was like any human decency left me. I was pure rage. I was all “Fuck you, asshole”. Why should I be nice to you when you’re a jackass? Why should I continue to be civil and let you mow me over? People take advantage of you because you’re nice. I have been nice and I have been taken advantage of. I have always gotten out of the way. I have always said I’m sorry even if it wasn’t my fault. I have always shut up and let it go.

But that day, I wasn’t having any of it.

It was a “Falling Down” moment for me. Thank god nobody at the bus stop has a baseball bat.

This morning, I woke up at 9 a.m. and made breakfast skillet, caught up on Tivo and ran a few errands with Brandon.

It’s now 6 p.m. on a Saturday night. Greek beef roast is slowly cooking in the oven. USC is playing Cal on the television.

Alas, life has returned to normal.

Hello, friends. Welcome back to my life.

The Nhien and Oakley Show aka the Big Gala dinner went extremely well. At least that is what I’ve been told. Personally, I was stuck in the auction the entire time, missing the program altogether, and didn’t get a bite of dinner. Even when afterward the captain asked to bring me a plate along with the leftover bottles of wine to the after-party in my room, by that point a surf-and-turf dinner just wasn’t something I wanted.

But wine? Oh, hell yes please bring us a few bottles.

The captain did better than a few leftover bottles. He brought this.

The after party didn’t rage but lingered in my room for a good while. The hard working coworkers of that evening and some other who wish to congratulate us. Even Amy showed up and hung out a while.

Later on that night, I ordered a grilled cheese with sliced tomatoes and fries. It was the best food I’ve ever tasted in my life. And surprisingly delicious with a glass of cabernet sauvignon.

I did get to prance around in a pretty dress with my hair done up (thanks, Celeste!) for a while during reception though. I didn’t dare starting in on the wine when I had the auction to run. It surprised me how most of the people I know didn’t even recognize me at first wearing make up and no glasses. I can sort of understand how Superman got away with being Clark Kent.

My prettyness scared people. LOL.

But that is all behind me now, all 98% of it. Still a few following up to do. And my partner in crime is relaxing in Hawaii already. That bitch. Hehee.

My turn to claim my hard working overtime hours is coming up at Thanksgiving. One week of bliss awaits.

It was like returning home from a month abroad.

Last night when I walked through the apartment door, it felt like I haven’t been there in ages.  The Big Gala is 2 days behind me and I still am doing the follow up, but the stress and frenzy had gone.

The world is new to me again.

Now, the reintroduction to my regular life.  It’ll take a few days.

Tomorrow.

Is.

The.

Day!

Wish me luck, everyone!

My plan of going to the office on Saturday morning and hitting Homecoming at USC in the afternoon was brilliant.

Take the Disneyland bus in all the way to Downtown. Take a Dash to campus. Party and see old friends for a while, then off to pick up the Disneyland bus home directly from 37th Street.

Brilliant, right?

Well, except for the fact that I got so much to do that I couldn’t even get out of the building in time to get home for almost the first half of the game, that plan was absolutely brilliant.

Oh, and of course, of all days, yesterday was to be the day that the MTA missed a few buses on the route. No, the bus wasn’t late. We just missed one entire bus from the schedule completely. The lady who “rescued” me and another gentleman was on time. She didn’t know what happened to the bus before her. So I also missed most of USC kicking Oregon State’s butt.

That’s right, kids. I was at work almost a full day on Saturday, having survived by making a pit stop at Famima!! for sustenance in the morning. The preparation for our silent auction is a lot more extensive that I anticipated. As a matter of fact, I am still working on finishing up the paperwork tonight at some point.

Today so far has all be errand-licious. At least the work related ones were fun. I hit a party supply store and Target to buy stuff to decorate my silent auction signs. I mean, my signs are already delightful–took me all week to get 63 signs made up and all! But shopping for more stuff to make them pop was cool.

Tomorrow, I will be in early and leave whenever the work is done. Tuesday, go in early to wrap up at the office and head off to the event by 11 a.m. The rest of the day? Let’s not focus on that. Heh. And then follow-up Wednesday, a lighter day of the entire week but it may still be a bit crazy.

Almost done! ALMOST. DONE!!