Tech: Are netbooks worth the money?

Are netbooks worth the dough? I was thinking in investing in one for easy blogging on the road and long bus rides to Philly. I am saving up for a MacBook Pro for professional reasons but I don’t think I would want to take that on the road with me.

There is a Dell netbook for about $350.00. And an HP one for about $400.00. What do you think?

Dell Inspiron Mini 9 vs. HP Mini 1000

P.S. And coincidently, here is an article from CNET on the dilemma I am facing.

Life: Going storage.

Extreme environmentalism? Tired of polluting? Why not take the ULTIMATE plunge, America and go STORAGE!

Some go green but I have made the firm decision to go storage. I will be putting all of my belongings—my life basically—into storage for a year. In other words, I am going to be a gypsy. I have talked to my family and they are going to help me out. Crashing on couches and investing in a good sleeping bag never hurt anyone right?

I am going to go from paying $975 a month to $300 a month (storage included as well as $200 to the pertaining family member’s household), which saves me $675.00. My goal in 2009 is to have absolutely no credit card debt and have a steady savings to go toward paying off half of my college loans or use as a down payment for a condo/loft. That is the dream. That is the goal.

I have never used storage before. I’m actually going to use it as a huge closet by investing in storage bins and garment racks to facilitate my wardrobe needs. My best guess is that I will be going through my stash about once a month to trade in clothes and organize my ongoing collection of magazines—a habit I hope to break in the New Year.

P.S. If anyone has any tips on storage for a unit or car PLEASE let me know. I am also investing in a trunk organizer since I will need the necessities with me at all times. I know it may sound warped but I like my stuff to be as organized as possible; even in a trunk. I will do my best to blog about this lifestyle I have decided to take on. Wish me luck!

Familia: My mother got high.

My mother, ah. My mother. She never, ever listens to me.

About three years ago she went to visit me in Australia while I was studying abroad. I took her on a weekend trip to Byron Bay.

I had no idea there was a section on Byron Bay for the herbal aficionado or else you better be sure I wouldn’t have taken my MOTHER there. Our bus had to make a pit stop there before heading to the watering hole we were so anxiously looking forward to.

As soon as I made eye contact with someone rolling a joint I knew I had to keep my mother in the bus. All along hoping she would not notice the Marijuana Museum on her left or the café with a huge marijuana leaf on the glass window. I did everything to distract her. I offered her some tunes and even started confessing some behind-my-mother’s-back teenage stories but of course that didn’t work.

See, the thing with my mother is that she eats every two hours and does not gain one ounce. Still somehow, she is the most petite woman. Arms slender and short enough to get lost in a New York crowd all jam packed into her white Reebok sneakers.

So she turns and interrupts me by saying, “Ay, yo quiero un snack.” (translation: “Oh, I want a snack.”)

I say, “Mami, let’s wait until we get to the watering hole and eat our sandwiches.”

“No, ya vengo. Esperame aqui, quedate con las bolsas,” she says. (translation: No, I’ll be back, you wait for me here, watch the bags.”)

I saw her step into what looked like a supermarket and felt almost relieved. There certainly couldn’t be anything fishy in there. However, my mother must have strayed because when I turned around she was coming out of the marijuana café! All I kept thinking, was ‘holy crap, what did she get in there, I hope she didn’t buy a brownie.’

When I asked her why she went in there she said the supermarket didn’t have anything small to just carry in her purse. So she thought the café might have a pastry or something. We got back in the bus and on the road towards the watering hole.

When I looked at what she was eating it seemed okay, until a few moments later she said she felt funny.

“Ay, Yulissa, yo me sentio rara. Hehe,” my mom giggled. (translation: “Oh no, I feel strange.”)

“Hehe? Mami, what’s wrong?” I said.

She looked outside as if she were in a daze. Her eyes seemed cloudy. Then, she giggled again. But I didn’t say anything. Oh my god! My mother was HIGH! There must have been something in the trail mix. There had to be something in the trail mix. There was not a scenic route in the world that could make this woman that relaxed.

I immediately took the trail mix from her and asked the driver if the cafés put marijuana in the trail mix and he smirked and said, “They put a lil’ mary jane in everything around here, ha! Don’t tell me your mother bought something here!?”

Now, came the difficult part-actually telling my mother that she was feeling rara (translation: strange) because she was high. Oh god. Why me.

I reluctantly say to her, “Mami, yo creo que habia marijuana en el trail mix.” (translation: Mom, I think there was marijuana in the trail mix.”)

“Como!? Ay, Yulissa no me digas eso. Oh my god!” she responded. (translation: What!? Oh, Yulissa, don’t tell me that. Oh my god!”)

Moments later there was an awkward silence in the air and then I couldn’t help it. I had to. I burst out laughing! My mother turned red with embarrassment and slapped my arm. She didn’t want anyone to find out. Two hours went by and when we arrived the watering hole my mother seemed like she was back to normal. But whenever I bring up that trail mix she shoots me the look. You know what look I’m talking about. The “you better not saying anything look or I’m gonna lose it look.” Ah, denial.

My mother made me promise not to tell anyone on the bus what had happened-technically I kept my promise. It’s times like these I am glad my mother has no idea I have this blog. Ha!

How to Stay Gym Motivated

me: do u still hit the gym everyday you freak

Jessie: yes I do

me: omg how do u do it

me: how do you stay motivated?

Jessie: right after work

me: what do you do

Jessie: I look at myself everyday and call my self a FAT BASTARD!

lol

me: LMAO!!!!

Life: Thank You Craigslist!

I started to blog in hopes of writing about my crazy familia, quirky friends and my silly boyfriend. I started off right but strayed as I needed help finding a place. So I shamelessly, put my Craigslist ad as my last blog post. Sorry, I had to.

I pride myself in being resilient in times of trouble. Where there’s a will there’s a way right? Yes, that has always been my motto, and I’m stickin’ to it. Thankfully, I kept this frame of mind in tact during my apartment hunting this past month.

Apartment hunting is tedious and draining but when you have a dog, the process becomes even more frustrating. All you see are fantastic apartments and then “NO PETS” at the bottom of the ad. Then, you compromise and say to yourself, “Okay, I have to let go of the dream of living on my own, and just find a roommate willing to share an apartment with a dog!?” Now emailing potential roommates turns into job hunting. You send in a description of yourself hoping it sounds personable yet responsible and when you check your e-mail and see nothing. Ouch! It hurts. So many thoughts run through your mind.

“Did I say something wrong? Was it the dog? Did I sound like I had O.C.D.?”

Even though my last blog post didn’t bring in much roommate traffic I did find a place. Thanks to Craiglist, I have found myself a roomie that loves dogs (yes!), has a backyard (score!) and my new room is able to fit my bedroom set (hallelujah!).

Thank you Craig Newmark!

Life: Cindy needs Craigslist Magic!

So I’m in need of a room my faithful friends! Read below and let me know what you think…

Ad:

Hi there,

Right now I work in New York right now as an Online Producer for Travel & Leisure/ Food& Wine magazine. I work hard and just want a chill, clean apartment to call home for the next year. I would need the room by September 1st but if it’s fantastic I might move in August 1st.

I need a one bedroom, decent sized (master bedroom with a bathroom would be ideal), for me and my small, well-trained, very friendly dog…He’s about 10 lbs, potty-trained, and doesn’t bark unless you are coming at him in attack mode. I’m looking for a 2/3 bedroom share in an apartment/duplex/house where I have access to a kitchen. Ideally my rent wouldn’t be more than 750.00 with utilities included…in the Blvd East area. I’m talking about Cliffside Park, North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Weehawken.

About me:

I love to go out to dinners or a good movie, not really a party girl since I work a lot but I like to have a good time. I prefer to live with a female who is clean and dog friendly but a male would be cool too. I’ll wash my dishes, help clean the apartment and cook some tasty Peruvian food whenever I get the chance. I’m clean and considerate, if you have any questions please let me know.

I’m definitely clean and expect the same from my roommate. Sample Scenario: I clean the bathroom every two weeks, at least. Every time I cook, I clean up after myself and wipe up the stove. I Swifer (hardwood floors) every week and try to mop at least twice a month. I work during the week and come home, go to the gym or for a run on Blvd East, read or watch a movie. I just want a relaxing, chill, clean place for a year. Credit check and meeting the owner are not a problem.

P.S. Below is a link to where I contribute some editing/writing to… if you want to know a little more about me.

http://www.tangodiva.com/index.php?page=features&j=1&cat=3&story_id=805

And if you want to check out my blog, I’m a freelance writer on the side and just decided to start a blog about just anything and everything.

Can you please send me pictures of the apartment and give me the dimensions of the room as well?

As for references, that’s not a problem. I have old roommates from college and co-workers, let me know what works for you.

Familia: “Help! I Lost My Mami!”

My mother is like any other mother in that she is caring, overbearing at times and manages to call me at least five times a day. But I think today’s entry should be dedicated to her because without her I probably wouldn’t be who I am today. And I sure do love me.

Everyone has his or her faults; unfortunately my mom’s has always been being quite forgetful.

When I was about ten years old she took me to the mall, one of our weekly rituals (this explains my shopaholicism). We were in the now extinct Stern’s of Newport Centre Mall and of course without notice I decided to wander off. Five minutes went by and I had her in sight. Ten minutes went by and I was sure she was right down the aisle still shopping. Fifthteen minutes go by and then I realized she wasn’t around. So I started trekking through Stern’s looking for her but I couldn’t find her. She couldn’t have gone too far since I came with her, right? Wrong! She left.

I waited and waited and finally about a half and hour later she comes back screaming my name, “Yulissa! Yulissa! Donde estas?” and I come running down the aisle crying my little eyes out.

“Mami, where did you go? Why did you leave without me?” was all I managed to mumble. And she responded, “Ay dios mio, I forgot you came with me, I left the mall thinking you were at home and then half way there I realized I left you! I’m so sorry! It will never happen again.”

My mother actually left the mall and forgot I came with her. You can only imagine the repercussions this event has had on my life. I was traumatized. Anytime after that, I would walk right next to my mother and continuously remind her that she came with me and that she couldn’t leave without me. Her eyes rolled as if she were saying, “I know, I know.” But I know deep down inside she wished I would have forgotten about the whole thing. I didn’t. But at least now I can laugh about it.

25 Confessions about Cindy

Before I begin diving into the blog world I thought you should know some things about me.

1. I’m pretty sure I have A.D.D. although I have never been tested for it. I’m sure I do because a sentence longer than 30 seconds bores me to almighty death.

2. It takes me FOREVER to finish a book these days, again I blame this on the A.D.D.

3. I hate when people put the toilet roll facing under instead of over. What kind of human being does that!?

4. I’m really hard on myself. Like insanely hard. I wish I could let up and just relax, which is also something that is difficult for me to do.

5. I wish I had enough money to pay everything off and take all of my friends and family on amazing trips around the world.

6. I’m scared to call anyone my best friend.

7. I have serious O.C.D. I can’t go to bed without taking a shower beforehand and cannot stand the sight of dust.

8. Folding laundry and washing dishes relaxes my racing mind.

9. I love my dog to bits and pieces. I cry when the thought of him passing crosses my mind.

10. I used to smoke, like a lot in high school. Maybe I thought it was “cool” or maybe it was for some other reason. But I’ve always thought I was cool, hm. (Note: I have quit smoking)

11. According to my mother, I ran away/got kicked out of 13 day care centers. I know I know, insane, but I thought she was leaving me there forever!

12. I can’t believe I’m 25! That’s a quarter of a century people!!

13. My favorite number is 8. And the combination of 518. And much to my surprise I was born at 5:18am and my grandparents street address was 518. Weird. ::cue the scary music::

14. My earliest childhood memory is being in Peru with my family. One day I hope to live there for at least a year.

15. I want to adopt at least one child. I feel selfish having children when so many out there are in need of a home.

16. I hate chocolate. It’s just too damn sweet. Someone water that bad boy down!

17. I hate Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Again, way too sweet. My mom never ever had soda in the house, it was just unheard of.

18. I have the worst nightmares ever. I’m not sure this confession list is NOT ready for the disturbing details.

19. I like drinking water at room temperature. (That’s right I said it!) It’s not gross and I love it.

20. I think of 10 ideas for blogs like everyday. I’m jam packed full of ideas.

21. I secretly wish I was deserted on an island somewhere so I could really test myself. I’ve always wanted to see if I could survive out in the wild. Any takers?

22. I am lactose intolerate but I LOVE milk and cheese.

23. I love to motivate my friends to take whatever they are doing with their lives just a step further. It really makes me happy.

24. I’m so scared to get married.

25. And last but not least, I want to be Tina Fey when I grow up.