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I was having a little too much fun shopping with mom yesterday, and I came across this little package:



um...eew. Nothing else could describe that.

Today she thought that it would be a great idea to wake me up at 7:30 AM (!!!!!) to go to church. She said that it's a holy obligation to go every first Sunday of the month; it's considered "Good Friday". Of all these years that I have been a Catholic, I have never heard of that. I turned on my laptop to attempt to get myself awake, but I lay back down on my bed. My uncle messaged me before i left facebook, asking if I got his email about the 4th of July plans to go to Kings Dominion. I flatly told him that I am working on the 4th. He asked if my parents were free, and I said that they were working as well. Besides, the wouldn't go without me. I wasn't trying to make that sound like a "I'm a brat, they can't leave without me" tone, I mean they seriously wouldn't go without me. Their reasoning is, "what are we going to do there?" He said "All work, no play...aye." I didn't know what else to say to him, so I typed an obligatory laugh. He then replied, "Some things may seem funny, but they're not"; something along the lines of that. I don't know what that means, or what he was trying to say, or where he was getting at. At that point I turned off my laptop and went back to sleep for another half hour. I succumbed to dragging my ass out of bed when my mom kept doing something on my forehead. She told me that she would take me shopping afterwords. I was hoping that there wouldn't be a mass; does that make me a bad person? Sorry God! Alas there was mass, and I wasn't too thrilled to be awake at such an early hour. The mass was short, there was a new priest. At the end there was breakfast, so that sort of made up for my being sleep deprived. She drove to church, so the only stipulation afterwords was that I drive to Rockville, since she still can't manage to maneuver around 355. She bought me hot chocolate at McDonald's, because she was so curious to try one of their new coffees. We both agreed that Starbucks is better; my hot chocolate was weak, while her mocha tasted way too much like regular coffee.

We get to Old Navy and I go pretty much go nuts in that store. I had to remind myself that I shouldn't really go crazy on the clothes, considering the generous amount that I had donated last month. Upon browsing I came across these aluminum water bottles. I found a big one that had that skull and cross bones on in. It was black and it reminded me so much of how I would always draw that on my water bottles so no one else would drink it. I decided that I really didn't need such a big water bottle, so I looked through the smaller ones. I found a few that were meh looking, so I picked up one with hearts on it. I walked over to the sale section, and found another small water bottle; it's a sky blue with flowers, clouds, butterflies, multicolor sky, and the best part *wait for it* AN OWL! It's such a cute looking owl, I don't know why I've had such a discreet owl obsession for years! It was the last one, so I was thrilled about that. I also found those air freshener things with the reeds. They were also on clearance, so I grabbed one. My room is currently circulating the sweet aroma of island lime.

After Old Navy, we stopped in this new Filipino store across the street from MC. The owner was telling us about how she wants to open a cafe, as stated on the store sign, but is still waiting for the permit to come through. She straight up said that she doesn't know how to cook. Damn lady, if you don't know how to cook then how are you going to open a cafe? I have to admit that she did have a few more items that the other stores didn't have; there were fans from the Philippines, the traditional dress shirts that men would wear to formal occasions, coffee mugs from the Philippines (the touristy kinds), and figurines. She even sold these straw purses that everyone uses back in the Philippines; they were simple but pretty. Up front she was selling the dessert egg rolls that I'm "famous" for in my family and friends. I was hesitant to buy one, after her whole spiel about not knowing how to cook. Another customer came in and asked her about them. She had missed the story, so the lady told her her price. I was in one of the aisles when she said "I sell them 3 for $2.50". Uh huh....before I move on, I have to explain this. I've been on a covert opt mission to find out how much those dessert egg rolls are being sold in the area Filipino shops and restaurants. I haven't gone back to the Pampanguena restaurant yet to check how much they sell them for again. I'm trying to work up a deal with this other store to sell mine, but it's hard to estimate how much I would need a day. I would talk about this with my parents, especially when it came to pricing. The ones she sold were the same size that I would make them, and I thought the price was ridiculous. I would always remind my parents that we can't charge an arm and a leg, because they're small. The price she was selling for three small egg rolls could practically pay for another pack of egg roll wrappers. The ingredients aren't even expensive. My mom told me that this is the typical Filipino shop owner; they jack up the price and give you VERY small proportions. This other lady came in and gave the shop owner a business card; she's from Williamsburg, VA, but has experience working in restaurants and cafes. Basically she wants a chef position. I feel like I should go back and ask her if she's willing to hire me.

I came home, had a late lunch, and went to my room and had a really long nap. I didn't wake up until how late. I feel like I need to prep myself, because work is going to be insane tomorrow. I should really say later today, because it's technically the 4th. I find it strange that we celebrate the independence on the 4th, when historically it really happened on the 3rd. To get into the festive spirit, I should watch Independence Day. Nothing screams patriotism like aliens blowing up your planet. Brittany finally put up her "professional" pictures of her wedding. I sat there nit-picking for a good half hour about the errors of her pictures. I haven't even taken photography, but I wasn't too thrilled about her wedding photos. There were a few that were supposed to be pictures of the couple and each family; the photographer clearly didn't take multiples for security, because the one of Brittany's family wasn't great. They didn't look prepared for the picture, and her little brother's eyes were closed. There was another one where the entire picture was black and white, but Brit and her husband made a heart with both their hands combine while kissing. Instead of making the heart the focal point in color, there is an entire bar of color going vertically where the heart is made. Instead of making the color option a small circular, the person made it large. A few of the black and whites were washed out with the flash; the person didn't contrast the colors well before and after converting in to "gray scale". There was one of Brittany facing the camera, and there was a random arm holding a purse coming out from her chest. Another picture of the bridesmaids before the wedding was off center and crooked. This other picture of Brittany standing next to a open patio door (re-enacting an Audrey Hepburn photo) made her face WAY too dark. The only black and white with a color focal point that the photographer got right was the one of the wedding rings. The rest of the pictures consist of strange angles, weird faces, and more questionable editing and lighting, and how much they paid for the pictures. If you think that was critical, just wait until I take photography in the fall. Then I'll have much more to say.

About two hours ago, I finished looking through my Mirko Ilic book, and I got inspired to make a coloring book based on dissidence. I also got inspired when I saw a same sex marriage pamphlet at church. I feel like everyone should have a right to be married. They way I see it, everyone has just as much of a right to be miserable as the next. People don't realize that this is this century's civil rights movement. Hello, Afro American rights? Women's rights? I'll just stand back and continue to be inspired by stupidity. I'll also add on to my coloring book to make it "The Big *Coloring* Book of Dissidence" © ™ Giselle Palma 2009.