Nicole Tasker Woods

Today, Southern California welcomes its newest resident to a quaint apartment complex in Burbank.

I’m happy to report that by day’s end, my big brother, Curt, will be moved in and in two day’s time, he will be employed full time.

It’s been a long time coming! If any of you know my family, then you know what a great accomplishment this is for him.  We’re all so glad that he can finally embark on the future that he was meant to have – as cool Uncle Curtis.

You wouldn’t think that three plastic birds and one dragonfly on long medal sticks would make a little man this happy, but I guess it’s the little things in life…

BREAKFAST: McDonald’s Egg McMuffin (without the egg), hash brown, orange juice, yogurt parfait.

LUNCH: Hamburger with mayonnaise, pickles, tomatoes – french fries smothers with Parmesan cheese & garlic aioli.

SNACK: Two (count ’em – 2!) chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Fields.

DINNER: Not for my fat @$$!

I’m convinced that I’m going to win it big playing Monopoly @ McDonald’s.  I’ve already started collecting those game pieces. You may be laughing at me now, but when I’m rollin’ in my new Fiat or speed boat, you won’t be laughing then, now will you?

I told you about my speed-demon ways last week and I finally took my Traffic School internet course a few days ago. It’s supposed to be an 8-hour course, but it’s really just a lot of reading and then some mini 5-question quizzes after each chapter. These quizzes are to prepare you for the final exam of 25 questions, which is timed for 60 minutes. You can review the chapters throughout the final test to make sure you answer every question correctly, but a lot of them are confusing or have multiple answers and ‘All of the Above’ is the most correct answer. I hate multiple choice. Always have. Always will.

In order to pass the mini quizzes, you need to get a score of 70% or better and then you are allowed to move on to the next chapter.  I only got a 60% on the first quiz and realized I couldn’t just skip the reading. So I went back and paid a little more attention, but still skipped some chunks along the way. I have a job to do! I’m a busy girl! Hence the speeding…

When all is said and done and passed at 70% or better, the site sends your completed course credit to the DMV and squashes the record of the ticket so your car insurance is not adversely affected. This would be good news for me after I got a score of 92%, but my 2nd speeding ticket WILL affect my car insurance so I’m screwed either way. That’s neither here nor there.

I just thought I’d mention that I sped through the final exam in about 27 seconds and still got well over the minimum score. Take that traffic school!

It’s official – Aidan & I are going to Aruba! It’s been years since I’ve felt the warm sunny rays of the Aruba sun and I can not wait to share this extraordinary beach experience with my son. Just me & the Big A. Yay!

We fly out on my birthday, January 24th and then fly back on February 1st. It’ll be a week of warm bliss, vacationing with my folks. I’ve wanted to visit them on their yearly Aruba trip for some time now and I finally get to go! Aidan will be such a fish, he’ll be one beautiful baby-prune for 8 straight days. We won’t be able to get him off the beach or out of the pool. He’ll be in little boy heaven.

I decided to surrender my usual travel plans during the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays and opt for a week in Aruba. I think I made a good decision!

Tonight, Aidan & I (along with friends of ours, Tim & Katie) will fly from Burbank to Sacramento. Ryan is going to meet us at the airport after driving up north from Los Angeles Thursday morning. He will pick us up and we will drive to Amador City where we will check into our hotel. We will not have any cell reception and very sketchy wi-fi so this weekend will be a true vacation away from work and all of our daily obligations. I’m looking forward to the inability to check my cell phone and reply to work emails.

Friday morning, we will get up at the crack of dawn, get rafting-ready in our swimsuits and sunblock and drive to the river. We will hopefully survive the white water rapids and surely be sore by the end of the day.

Saturday is a free day for everyone without any set plans. I intend to spend it with my son, exploring the town, shopping and eating ice cream. If that’s not the perfect way to spend a Saturday, I don’t know what is!

Then Sunday, the four of us will fly back to Burbank and then Aidan & I will load up into our car and drive home.

I’ll admit, I like to drive fast.

I’ve gotten two speeding tickets in the past two months. Insane, I KNOW!

I had no idea I was such a reckless driver until I got the 2nd ticket. After the 1st one, I was convinced the cop was being a jerk, but after the 2nd…well…maybe I should slow down?

Now, when I head to work and get on the freeway, I get cruising at 70mph and set it in cruise-control. I sit up straight, both hands on the wheel and both feet flat on the ground. My posture is much better since this new, slower me has emerged. And when I’m on the city streets with the limit of 35mph, I hover right around 30. I refuse to get another ticket! I think one more and they might suspend my license. No bueno!

I was excited to go back to work after the long holiday weekend last week, but now I’m ready for the weekend. I feel like I’ve paid my dues and now it’s time for some me – or shall I say – Aidan time.

I have to get my oil changed Saturday morning and then while Aidan is napping, I will NOT be napping as well (unfortunately). Instead, I’ll be doing my next favorite thing – getting my hair done! I’ve got a short cut rockin with some bleach blonde locks that I have to maintain every 4 weeks. And it’s actually been 5 weeks this past time because the July 4th holiday screwed up my schedule. But now my head will be fuzz free and super white, just in time for our white water rafting trip next weekend. Yay!

The clouds roll in so heavy these past few mornings that I’m starting to worry about Aidan’s birthday bash on June 15. It’s so dreary out these days that it even sprinkles a little. June-gloom better roll on out of here by the 13th with some hot hot sun to follow. How will everyone stay warm pool-side?

I will not let this bring me down. My mom and my older brother will be coming to Southern California to help us celebrate the A-man’s big day–and who doesn’t love free help–I mean–family!?

No matter what temperature it is outside (rain is the only exception), I still plan on wearing my new blue & white polka dot bathing suit & teal cover-up with flip flops. I will get a pedicure and I will look super cute. It’s my party–I mean–Aidan’s party!

And if the weather is REALLY bad, I’ll just drown my sorrows in a margarita. Tequila makes everything sunny and bright.