Misadventures of Meghan

Welcome to the Family!

2008-07-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

A week ago today, we adopted a new member of our family- Sarah Tedesco Perez! Our little Madeleine had been quite sad and in need of a new guinea pig friend. So, after some exhaustive searching and planning, we drove down to the Cavy House rescue in La Honda with Madeleine so she could pick out a friend. We were hoping she'd be a match with Ernie, but alas no.

Madeleine and Sarah seemed to take to each other at the rescue- Maddie would follow Sarah and they sat in a little hiding spot together and ate some lettuce. However, things went sour when we got home. Since both piggies were used to being by themselves, there was some disagreement as to the hierarchy. It was a total guinea pig throwdown. A lesser person would've filmed it and put it on YouTube.

Long story short, the pigs spent a bunch of time in side by side cages but are now in one big (divided) open air pen. They are together during floor time and get along alot better, although there still is chattering and it is our hope that they will get used to each other and be buddies soon.

I must admit, the picture is misleading. Politely put, Sarah is not that petite in person. She's big. I mean Biiiiiig. She has been nicknamed "Chubs" and "Fatty". She is however super sweet and easy to handle and just chill about everything.

Madeleine seems happy to have friend and Sarah, well, Sarah likes to eat. Jen and I however, are quite happy and feel our little pig family is complete.

Scratch that!

2008-07-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

When I said that I didn't have a big problem with McCain, I hadn't yet read this. So........ Yep, it's a problem. A big one. Definitely. A biiiiiiiig problem. Huge.

Quote:

"Q:President Bush believes that gay couples should not be permitted to adopt children. Do you agree with that?
Mr. McCain: I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no I don’t believe in gay adoption.

later in the interview........

Mr. McCain: I encourage adoption and I encourage the opportunities for people to adopt children I encourage the process being less complicated so they can adopt as quickly as possible. And Cindy and I are proud of being adoptive parents.
Q: But your concern would be that the couple should a traditional couple
Mr. McCain: Yes. "

Well, I'm going to go and give Madeleine some treats. That is, unlike John McCain doesn't feel that I am good enough to have guinea pigs either.

@#$!!%$!

2008-07-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

Overall, I don't have that big of a problem with John McCain. There are of course some issues that were we disagree and I liked him a whole lot more when he was metaphorically giving Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell the finger. I also find it really unfair that while Obama was nearly derailed by the whole Rev. Wright thing, McCain sucking up to John Hagee (a nutball the-world-is-ending pastor who claims that the Catholic church is the literal anti-Christ) received relatively little attention.

But now, I'm pissed.

It was reported this week that despite on/off sanctions on Iran, we are still selling them a bunch of stuff-including cigarettes, which I oppose. I do not believe it is in any way right to subsidize tobacco farmers because fewer Americans are smoking (yay!) and dump cigarettes overseas because they aren't American so who cares, right?

So, when asked about this report, John McCain replied that it may be "a way of killing 'em".

Needless to say, I find the remark cruel and tasteless and in the spirit of my Dad (Bob from Glendale!), I wrote him to tell him so.

Bad Little White Girl!

2008-07-12T20:40:00.001-07:00

This is the official Olympic photo of diver Kelci Bryant. I don't know where to start to describe how inappropriate and offensive this is. Yeah, I'm trying to form a coherent argument but all I can say is this is a big ball of wrong.

My Prayers Have Been Answered!

2008-07-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

Words cannot express how happy this made me. Ever since that fabulous day that I had my first Reese's Peanut Butter Big Cup, I have longed for the day that a King Size version of it would come out. Everybody said that it would never happen, that it was just too much candy and that it was a horrible idea. Fools! At last I am vindicated!! Sigh. Nobody understands me the way the Reese's Peanut Butter Big Cup people do.

There's no E in Judgment.

2008-06-29T19:42:00.001-07:00

I'm just saying, if you're not the best speller, maybe you get someone to proofread your protest sign before you wander around telling people they are going to hell. Just a thought. Then again, I also wouldn't have my pre-tween kids walking around with me looking all kinds of freaked out. So, today Jen and I went to the pride parade and hung out. That's some good people watching right there. Now, it was far more family-friendly than Bill O'Reilly will have you believe (a good chunk of marchers were teachers, cops, firefighters, PFLAGers, synagogues and churches but I'll bet anybody $100 that the clip on Bill O'Reilly's show will be the two leather floats. Fair and balanced, my ass) but good people watching nonetheless.

In all of my people watching, I arrived at one conclusion: the lesbians are a fat, ghetto-y lot. I hate to generalize but the men keep themselves up. The ladies, not so much. Muscle tone was scarce. Now, I realize that I post a bit about my un-thinness and my attempts to turn it around and this makes me hypocritical but c'mon, if I'm feeling thin, then things have gotten out of hand. It seems the ladies are in dire need of some of this body fascism that I hear plagues the gay men.

I got to see Margaret Cho, Cyndi Lauper, Gus Van Sant and Peter Paige! I'm still crushed that we weren't here in 2006 so I could've seen Jennifer Beals so I could see if she looks awful in person . On teevee she looks better at 40 something than most people do at 21. I imagine she would say it is good genes and organic food but I think it is probably much closer to a pact with the devil or bathing in the blood of kittens.

WTF?!

2008-06-28T07:37:00.001-07:00

Jen and I had said that we were waiting on the marriage thing to see how it shakes out in November. I think there is going to be an ugly fight about the proposition here in California and I would rather it not be super personal. Now it appears that the Federal Marriage Amendment is making a comeback. I wasn't entirely surprised. After all, it might just be a ploy to get out the vote for McCain. What DID suprise me is who some of the co-sponsors are........ David Vitter and Larry Craig!

If you don't recall, David Vitter is the Senator from Louisiana who has been involved in scandals involving two different prostitution rings and Larry Craig is of course the Senator from Idaho who was discovered to be soliciting sex in airport mens' rooms

Defeated.

2008-06-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was my self-imposed deadline to get under 200 lbs. I started at 210 lbs and was doing pretty well. The day before I left for my Chicago trip, I weighed in at 203, which isn't bad since I still had two weeks to go. Then Chicago happened.......

There was alot of food- all free, all the time. I live with Jen, whose personal motto "Free is for me!" has really seemed to influence me more than I thought. So, I ate. and ate. and ate.

I came back to find that I reached 209 lbs, which in just a few days had shot up to 211!!

Yesterday, when I got to work, I officially weighed myself in........207 lbs.

I was defeated.

A Moment of Silence

2008-06-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

Today is the first anniversary of the death of my dog Bella. I don't have some lovely eulogy planned. She was the sweetest, friendliest dog who ever lived and was evil-genius-scary smart. I consider myself very fortunate that she chose us as her family and am glad that we had the opportunity to spoil her rotten as she deserved. Bella is the greatest dog that anyone could've ever asked for. I love and miss her to pieces and hope that she and my dad are playing fetch and sharing a meal.

I heart Chicago (plus, it doesn't smell like piss)

2008-06-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

So, I really liked Chicago. Honestly, I was a little surprised. I am a bit of a snob (shocking news to all, I'm sure) and have a strong anti-Midwestern bias. I had heard that Chicago was pretty fun but didn't think that I would like it SO much. It has beautiful architecture, plenty of parks, lots of stuff to do, affordable housing and well, it doesn't smell like piss. Also, shockingly, I spent nearly 5 days downtown in a major metropolitan city and no one asked me for money. I chalk this up to long, Arctic-like winters that make it an unattractive homeless destination spot.

I had a great time. I feel like I was so busy with work that I didn't have as much free time as I would've liked. Jen came up for a mini-vacation and that made it all the more fun. We hung out with my coworker Linh and went to the Field Museum (an awesome time for fellow bio-nerds and home to the coolest souvenir that $1.50 can buy), the Shedd Aquarium (where I mocked a 10 year old that can't tell the difference between a starfish and alligator) and we got a random mini-tour from an Obama-lovin' alderman. She helped us find the Field Museum and told us where he lives, but I forgot.

Chicago is a great city. I almost wanted to move there until I realized that it would mean living in the Midwest. I am hoping that I will soon be able to upload our pictures to my Picasa page which I can link here.

And She's OUT!

2008-06-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Well, sort of. She's not going anywhere. Hillary is the villain that keeps coming back at the end of a bad horror movie. She'll either wind up as Obama's running mate (as he grits his teeth) or she'll torpedo him. If Obama loses, she'll claim that if she were the nominee, the Democrats would've won and in 2012 she'll run again.

What are Obama's chances of losing? Well, it depends on who you talk to. I am reading time and time again that large numbers of her supporters are refusing to vote for Obama. Her Karl Rove-playbook tactics are working better than anyone could've hoped. The campaign has been super-successful in painting him as the Muslim Manchurian Candidate bent on helping out his terrorist friends and destroying America. Oh yeah, he doesn't wear a flag lapel pin. Yeah, well neither do I. They're stupid and ugly.

First of all, he is not Muslim. Didn't they hear about the REVEREND Wright controversy and the United Church of CHRIST?! Even if he was, WHO CARES?! One's religious beliefs or absence of should not be a litmus test for public office. Are these people seriously suggesting that the only people who are fit for public office are megachurch-loving Evangelical Christians? Please.

The flag lapel pin as evidence of patriotism is beyond dumb. Patriotism in general is hard to discuss because people often wind up sounding corny. How is one's patriotism reflected by wearing a little pin made in China? This is a non-issue. You may disagree with Barack Obama, John McCain or even Hillary Clinton but do you honestly believe that any of them hates this country?

All in all, Hillary ran a racist, bigoted, delusional, self-aggrandizing campaign that was both poorly planned and executed. She does not deserve to win- even without taking into account her record in the Senate or her husband's record which she took sole credit for. To make matters worse, she gave the most ungracious speech that I have ever heard of. She robbed Barack Obama of his night. She instantly turned all attention onto herself as she screeched about how the election was essentially stolen because SHE (not really) won the popular vote (Welcome to the Electoral College!) and asked her supporters to basically lobby on her behalf to get her the VP slot. The only thing more pathetic than Hillary tonight were the zombies behind her eating up everything that she had to say.

Fightin' The Fat: Round 1

2008-05-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

So, it seems that I have lost a pound or two since starting my new job. This is probably because I walk to work from BART, have no access to a vending machine or Lucky, am so busy I don't have much time to eat and am not drinking soda during the day. Not a bad head start...

I figure that the best way to reach a large goal (no longer being a fatty) is start reaching smaller goals (being a little less of a fatty). Using the scale in the lab at work, I discovered I have gone from being approximately 210 lbs to 205.5 all the while making hardly any conscious effort at all. So what will happen if I make an effort with a small, defined goal? Let's see!

I am setting the goal of weighing less than 200 lbs in 30 days. I'm not concerned about the number so long as it is under 200 (although I would prefer less than 199). I'm going to keep doing everything that I am doing but go a little farther- eat less crap outside of work and work out a little, etc.

I'll weigh myself at work on June18th and we'll see how it turns out!

Goats and Gay Marriage

2008-05-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Since I have to talk about goats as well as gay marriage and many people tend to equate the two, why not roll it into one tidy post?

Goats. They are pretty cool. They are cute, make fun sounds, wag their little tails and eat everything in sight with a laser-like focus. They also happen to be surrounding our condo at the moment. We live in a bit of a fire-prone area and there is a ton of of foliage to be cleared. So, someone wisely decided to hire some goats! I still find it funny that in the middle of Oakland, we are surrounded by farm animals. I've tried to get even more surrounded and hop the little temporary fence and hang out with them and play. I am being thwarted by Jen who maintains that the goat-herder-man-who-speaks-no-english will not understand that I am just trying to be friends and will shoot me. So, if anyone knows how to ask "Excuse me senor, may I please play with the goats?", I would love to know. Oh yeah, she won't let me play with the goat herder's dogs either. Boo.

So, onto gay marriage. The California Supreme Court handed down a pretty big ruling and in a month, gay people will be able to get married! We've gotten some lovely phone calls and emails from friends who are excited about this development and I think are awaiting some sort of announcement. Well, here it is...........

We are not getting married. No need to check your mailboxes or run out to Crate and Barrel (unless you want to get us this) cause it ain't happenin'. Yes, we are still very happy together and we still want to get married down the road, but we want to wait until it will, you know, stick. This issue is almost certain to be on the November ballot and there is a super-huge chance that the voters will revoke it and we both think that it would be incredibly painful. How would you feel if some redneck wonder from Fresno told you that you weren't married anymore? Besides, some sort of mass wedding thing at City Hall like damn Moonies isn't exactly what we had in mind. We really appreciate all of the love and support from our friends. We totally plan on getting married some day (although if you California residents want that to happen sooner rather than later make sure to vote in November and bully all of your friends and relatives into doing the same) and you will all definitely be the first to know!

Professional Meghan is going to Chicago!

2008-05-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

So, I've got a real job now- office, work clothes, voicemail and now....business trips! We are going to be taking on a new study and that means having to go to the sponsor's (drug company) conference/training to learn all about the protocol and details of the study. This isn't going to be my study. I'm only the backup coordinator, which is fine because my plate is full with my main study, but I still have to/get to go. So, the first week of June, I am heading to Chicago! Apparently, this traveling for training is par for the course and I will be expected to go on many more as a CRC. Ah, the glamour of business travel awaits.....

My office

2008-05-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that's my office. At the very bottom is a big, glass head with a model brain for me to play with. It wasn't mine, I'm just fortunate enough that it was in...yeah, that's right, my office.

My first day went well. I am super-psyched about my job. Well, I guess I'm not so much a Research Assistant as I am a Clinical Research Coordinator (albeit in training)- that's what my job description says, what my email signature says, how I've been introduced and what my business cards will say. Yeah, you heard me. I rule.

p.s. my office looks cheerier and better in person than the pictures and if you don't think so, who cares, you don't have glass heads and brains to play with.

Thank You!!

2008-04-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was my last day. It was a good last day- I ate alot, did very little work, played some foosball, etc. There are definitely people that I am going to miss, others hopefully I won't have to miss and of course people I hope never to encounter again (I'm talking to you, Captain Caveman). Everyone did a great job of making me feel loved and missed. Shannon brought in the badass dinosaur/dragon cake pictured above. I repulsed everyone by eating the entire frosting head (think several large, heaping forkfuls of frosting). Isaac went all out and made some gourmet cupcakes. The picture does not even do them justice. I tried convincing him to quit immediately and open up his own bakery. He really should. I'd be a fabulous customer. There was also another cake in the afternoon that I tried to eat. However, I think I really overdid it, even for me. I was nauseous for HOURS. I am going to miss people so much it almost makes me not want to leave- almost. I am excited about this great, new opportunity that awaits me and want the same for everyone else (even if that means I have to start job-hunting for them!).

Super Science Fun!

2008-04-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember Chris Hardwick? He co-hosted that MTV dating show "Singled Out" eons ago. Now he hosts some science show on PBS and is also one half of a musical comedy duo called Hard n Phirm. Now, usually comedians with "funny" sings are anything but. However, if you have something science-y, I'll give it a shot.

For the math inclined, here is a video for their song "Pi". Even better though is a little something for us bio-nerds.... "The Death of the King". It's a little animated video and song that teaches people about the biological changes the body experiences when it dies....using Elvis Presley as an example. It is beyond fun. The link takes you to their MySpace page, which I know nothing about. I tried to find the clip on YouTube but to no avail. When you get to the page, scroll down just a little and you'll see it on the right hand side. Enjoy!

25 Words or Less

2008-04-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

I can go on and on about my dislike for Hilary and why I think people are out of their minds to vote for her. I had been trying to articulate my thoughts into a single post and found it nearly impossible. So, I thought that I would bottom line it. This is no way represents everything I have to say and feel that I am leaving out vital bits that support my position but then again lost of other people do it and do it better than I could. Although, I still have to say that if you are gay and voted for Hilary, you are stupid and do not deserve to vote. Illegal gun toting child molesters with a kilo of heroin up their ass deserve to vote before you.

On Hilary:

running a bad and racist campaign, puts own ambition above all else, discards anyone politically inconvenient, paved the way for mortgage crisis, cold, calculating and condescending.

On Obama:

staying largely above the fray, thoughtful, realistic, refreshing, principled but not politically divisive, beyond Baby Boomer identity issues and entitlement, seems to handle pressure well.

I've been meaning to talk about the Rev. Wright comments (in a nutshell: not a big deal) but he was just on Bill Moyers and I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. Also, regarding the "bitter" comments: duh.

Madeleine Tedesco Perez

2008-04-28T06:34:00.001-07:00

There is no reason for this other than to just show off my super cute grief pig. Madeleine was adopted Thanksgiving weekend 2007. Currently, she is living alone but in a few weeks, the search may be on for a (neutered) boyfriend for her.

"You Have A Cool Mommy!"

2008-04-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

Just because.

"I'm Not As Bad As You Think I Am"

2008-04-23T18:28:00.000-07:00

I don't always know what to make of Chris Matthews. Sometimes we agree and sometimes I think he is a pompous blowhard bringing down the quaility of political debate. He was interviewed on one of my favorite shows "Real Time with Bill Maher" this past Friday. He had some great stuff to say about Hilary and her campaign which you can see here. It is about 7 minutes, which I realize is a bit long to check out on a lark so if you want to get to the good bits, skip ahead to 4:23.

Fightin' the Fat!

2008-04-22T23:23:00.001-07:00

This is me. I am fat. I haven't always been, it has been piling on for about 6 years. It started out as my metabolism slowing down as I got, er, older. I added more as I went back to school, ate my feelings, got stressed and then began grief eating.

I have had many false starts with losing weight. The most effective attempt in Aug/Sept '06. I was working with a nutritionist and doing pretty well. Then my life fell apart...

Since then I have gotten religion every few weeks and diet until I get hungry and then hunt down some Reese's Peanut Butter Big Cups. Maybe I tell Jen or some coworkers of my plans but then I sabotage myself and make excuses. Well, what if I put it on a blog, complete with weigh-ins and pictures? If I have to actually take pictures and measure myself and risk public humiliation, maybe that will be the swift kick in the ass that I need. So, here goes....

I currently weigh 210 lbs, which is about what I weighed in this picture May '07. My BMI is 30%, which officially puts me in the obese category. Yeah, it hurts to admit that, but not as much as this....... my waist measures 43.5" and my hips measure 46" and I am a size 16. DAMN! Even I didn't think it was that bad. Okay so you are probably horrified and repulsed. Join the club.

My plan is this: nothing crazy or starvation-y. I'm going to try and walk 10,000 steps a day, work out 2-3 times a week, keep my calorie intake between 1200 and 1600 a day and make sure that half of my plate is a vegetable. I am also trying to whittle down my soda consumption and general junk food intake. The magic words being sensible and moderate. I'll also try and keep my goals realistic- I always get disappointed when I don't look like Jessica Biel in a week.

Wish me luck!!

Sigh.

2008-04-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, she won. I knew it was coming but I was still holding out hope. I was hoping for a big upset where Obama won or at least loses by a teeny, tiny margin. Disappointed again.

I don't think that the Pennsylvania win gives her campaign a big, fat jolt. If anything I would liken her campaign to a piece of chicken that has been left out under a heat lamp too long. She's behind in pledged delegates and number of states won, her campaign is in debt and she's losing superdelegates. She can keep going to the convention, but barring any sort of major shake-up, the only way she could get the nomination is for the superdelegates to swoop in. However, given the likely backlash, that might not happen. Although, the Clintons are nothing if not ruthless, so I wouldn't count it out just yet.

Yup.

2008-04-18T06:28:00.001-07:00

Woo Hoo!!

2008-04-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I was starting to think this day would never come.... I got a new job. Yes, that is right- today I quit the blood bank. Starting May 1st I am going to the Bay Area Research Institute, a small clinical research firm specializing in psychiatric disorders, in Lafayette. I am starting out as a Clinical Research Assistant but am on a track to move up as a Clinical Research Coordinator. I am super excited about this new opportunity. Sure, there are a few coworkers that I will miss and I do still enjoy going into the city and seeing the free-range crazy but overall I am excited to not hate my job or myself for being at said job. Yay me!

FUCK CANCER!!

2008-04-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

I hate cancer. Alot. I hate smoking and smokers. Alot. I realize this makes me a hypocrite but this is just one of many such positions I take. So, in order to raise some money for badass lungs, honor my dad, hopefully lose some weight, etc. I signed up for the Genentech Climb California event benefiting the American Lung Association. I climbed the 52 stories to the top of the old Bank of America building in downtown San Francisco last month. Many of you were oh-so-generous in donating to show your support and I just have to thank all of you again. THANK YOU!!!!

I plan on participating again next year- as a volunteer. I'm going to hang out on floors and direct climbers to dixie cups filled with water and cheer people on in my own special way. I will work out and lose some weight so that way (to be later documented in posts titled "Fighting the Fat") I can easier complete the climb as well as to avoid donation fatigue from all of you lovely friends and family. Next year, if any of you will be in the area (if you aren't already), I would encourage you to climb. If you do, when you get to my floor, I'll give you water and candy....

Anyway, the picture is of me en route to the event because I looked better before rather than after.

5 Years and Counting.....

2008-04-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment and say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Jen- we have been together for 5 years as of today! I love you with all my heart. At times we may seem like the unlikeliest pair but there is nobody on this earth that I would rather spend my life with. Thank you for making these past five years more wonderful than I could have ever imagined. I LOVE YOU!!!

(note: This picture was taken in Florence in March 2006 in front of the greatest sculpture ever. Screw the David- it is all about FAT MAN! How could you not love a scultpure of a naked fat man riding a turtle?)

so, i've started a blog...

2008-04-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

After being encouraged by Jen and a coworker, I decided to start a blog. I had always been a bit hesitant but then I realized that there is no difference between posting my rants and musings on a little blog and holding loved ones and coworkers captive with my every thought and feeling. So, I thought that I could give my take on news, talk about the awesome-ness of some things and the suckiness of others and give updates as to our general well-being because I am lazy. After all, how many of you knew that my beloved grief gerbils, Dahlia and Penelope, passed away paving the way for the adoption of Madeleine the Anxiety Ridden Grief Pig? Yeah, exactly. BTW- if you haven't heard the tragicomic tale of their passing, give me a call because it is the thing that one-woman shows are made of.

In the next few days, I am hoping to post some stuff about why I heart Obama, what I did to help kick cancer's ass and a mental health break featuring putrefaction and yes, Elvis Presley.