| 2006 |
[18 Feb 2007|09:05pm] |
To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.
- Henri Bergson
Dear Journal,
2006 was an amazing year, one of the best years I can remember for various reasons. Nothing I could say or describe in words could capture or convey my experiences or feelings. A simple recap of a few things will be nice for memories sake though.
Finished the latter half of 2005 with fun. Hip hop dance classes with Qiu and began looking forward to clubbing almost every weekend because Tammie moved to the city.
Met new wonderful people.
Rang in 2006 with a bang.
Met more new wonderful people.
February through July: Trained for a full marathon together with Eric (and Tammie, but she had to drop out of training for personal reasons). ( + )
February sometime: Tammie left.
March 4: *Was proposed to. I'M ENGAGED TO PATRICK NOW.*
Celebrated St. Patrick's Day for the first time.
Started kickin' it with Erika and Laura and Eric.
April: Got a raise, Vegas with Patrick's friends.
May 21: Ran Bay to Breakers for the first time (7.46 miles) and made it to the Examiner's first 10,000 runners list, even after having ran 20 miles the day before.
May: My parents met my fiance's parents.
June: Went on a cruise to the Caribbeans with 12 family members and my fiance.
Had physical therapist sessions for leg injuries from running 23 miles. Did water running and got smoked by the elderly in water sprinting.
July 30: Completed 26.2 miles in 5 hours, 1 minute, 3 seconds. Raised nearly $1,900 for the SF AIDS Foundation. Eric raised $2,000+ and Tammie is suppose to do a full marathon in 2007.
   
August: Got surprised by my fiance to my first ever full spa treatment (mud massage, chocolate facial, aromatherapy) after he gave me a Juicy jacket and pants set to wear for the day and my first surprise birthday dinner with friends followed by clubbing.
Experimented with my hair multiple times. ( Hair Dairy. Caution: Don't look unless you want to see my face everywhere. )
October, Vegas with my friends.
Halloween.
Hung out more often with Laura, Branden, Maui and friends.
Emotional ups and downs - mostly ups.
Thanksgiving.
Christmas to New Year's - Mini San Diego trip with friends.
Started hanging out with the cousins near my age throughout the year.
Went clubbing too much with good friends throughout the year, to the point we had to start game nights with Cranium and Pictionary.
Joined 24 hour fitness since I basically stopped exercise post marathon. Got a personal trainer.
As 2007 is running its course, I am looking back at 2006 with fondness. With the realization that I will be 25 in less than half a year, for the first time, I am feeling an unwillingness to be a year older as life continues its natural progression. I don't want to add a year to my age, and I find it ridiculous and strange. For some reason I feel that 25 marks a new phase of life that I don't want to enter into and I want to remain in that below 25 category.
What's happened in 2007 so far? A little wedding planning and I went to Vegas last weekend, again, this time for one of my cousin's bachelorette/birthday party. For those of you who have not watched the Chippendales show, I recommend it - something about it just makes you hot for some loving, not necessarily for one of the dancers, but just in general. Started a semester course for work and Chinese New Year's weekend was wonderful.
25 will be a year of serious change. I'm reassessing career goals, preparing for more change, easing up on clubbing/drinking, and doing wedding planning. I have to grow up.
(Hey, let me know if any of you use Facebook. That's where I do occassionally make updates. Hope you are all doing well.)
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| Home sweet home fom the eastern Caribbean |
[25 Jun 2006|11:25am] |
| [ |
mood |
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 relaxed |
] |
I am home sweet home from a 7 night cruise with family to the eastern Caribbean. There were 14 of us total.
The Royal Caribbean, Navigator of the Seas.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner - our choice of regular buffet on 11th Floor or fine dining buffet in the dining room on 3rd, 4th, or 5th floor. Service people from around the world kissed our asses left and right. Midnight buffet viewing and eating - ice sculptures, cheese sculptures, fruit sculptures. Ordering two and three appetitizers, entrees and desserts each to sample everything every time we chose to go to the dining room for a meal, which was at least once every day.
San Juan, Puero Rico. St. Thomas, USVI. St. Maarten/St. Martin, Netherland Antilles. Nassau, Bahamas.
Kettle One in water bottle.
Tropical weather. Sun. Rain. Sun. Humid.
Shopping. Duty Free.
Water Taxis.
Power snorkeling in St. Maarten/St. Martin. Banana boating. Feeding fish beneath us. Don't run into the coral, don't run into the coral. (Dad laughing at the group before us - watching 300+ lb woman unsuccessfully trying to jump onto the banana boat. Guide telling us he sometimes sees the Banana cry because of big people.)
Atlantis Paradise Islands.
Beautiful beaches. Tanning. Swimming.
Azure blue water. Swimming in azure blue water.
Sauna. Steam room. Shipshape gym. Running on elliptical with view of horizon in front of me.
Jacuzzis.
Rock climbing.
Ice skating shows, singing and dancing shows, comedy shows.
Salsa dancing, line dancing.
Drinking. Gambling.
Oragami towel animals in the room each night...
Things I will remember.
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| Physical. |
[22 May 2006|10:40am] |
Over the weekend, I ran a total of 27.46 miles.
I ran 20 miles Saturday morning as part of my marathon traning and on Sunday, I ran 7.46 miles in the Bay to Breakers, and even after having run 20 miles on Saturday, I managed to finish in the top 10,000 among 40,000+ runners.
The Examiner lists names of the top 10,000 finishers so I picked up a copy this morning as a souvenir.
At this point in my life, I can honestly say that running has become an interest of mine, more than what it use to be as just a part of a workout routine; running is now part of training that is a means to the ability and goal to complete a 26.2 mile course in the San Francisco Marathon, rather than a means to stay fit/lose weight/have a better body although they may be the effects of running as much as I have - minus losing weight because I've gained 3-5 lbs since training, most likely in leg muscle because that's the only change I've noticed.
I may not feel like my body is in ultimate health, but knowing I ran 27.46 miles this past weekend and having finished with no more than an aching left foot and some soreness in my legs, I guess I must be in good shape.
July 30th marathon, 26.2 miles - I'm ready for ya.
And I'm only $92.60 away from my fundraising goal of $1,700 for the SF AIDS Foundation.
( Dear Body of mine - )
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| San Francisco Marathon |
[24 Jan 2006|10:15pm] |
Hi everyone. How have you been?
Hope things are well.
I've been fine.
I am exited to say that starting officially in February, I will begin training to run 26.2 miles in preparation for the 2006 San Francisco Marathon which will take place July 30, 2006. During a six month training program, I will run a little further each week, starting with 3 miles and gradually, hopefully, to 26.2. If all goes well and I don’t default to doing a half marathon, I expect to log nearly 500 miles!
Yes, I am going to train to run 26.2 miles! I've also committed to raise $1,700 for a worthy cause. "I can do it," I'm tellling myself, but I need some of your help. Please support me as I prepare to run in the marathon to raise money for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
$1, $5, $10, $25, $100, something in between or even more, I'll greatly appreciate anything. I do mean anything.
I need to raise $1,700 by April 28, 2006; I have about 13 weeks. $1,700/13 weeks means that I'll need to raise about $131 per week.
Current Fundraising Total: <$50 Yikes! :(
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| XBox 360 |
[22 Nov 2005|06:39pm] |
Last night I camped out with my brother in front of Target from 11pm to 6am for an XBox 360. He got ticket #24 for the Premium, the LAST Premium Target had, the rest being Core systems - So getting there at 11pm and waiting until 6am was not in vain. We froze while waiting. Good thing my dad told us to bring blankets, although the blankets did not help much.
Once we got the ticket we went home to be in a warm house for half an hour and then went back to pick it up at Target's opening time of 8am.
Never have I been in a line like that for an item. The only comparable time was about two years ago when I went with some friends to a Bebe warehouse sale at 4am, and it was raining, and even though we arrived at 4am we were the second group of 100 to get in, which wasn't bad when the rest of the line wrapped the block.
Tonight I'm going to sleep well...in a warm bed.
The end.
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| NYC Pictures |
[15 Oct 2005|10:30pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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In the mood to update... |
] |
Patrick and I had a wonderful time together in NYC. We indulged ourselves in the touristy thing and saw a lot of places - Times Square, Broadway/Theater District, Macy's, Madison Square Garden, Empire State Building, Flatiron Building, Union Square Shopping District, Greenwich Village, Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy, City Hall, Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park, Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Ferry, South Street Seaport, Lower East Side, East Village, United Nations, Astoria, Rockefeller Center, Central Park - The weather was perfect and we happened to unknowingly get there during tax free week on clothes and shoes. We dedicated our first day there to shopping, the first night to clubbing which at the end of, we took a horse and carriage ride at past 2am in the morning, and for the rest of our stay did a good job seeing and doing all of what we could in NYC with the help of a hop on/hop off double-decker sightseeing bus. NYC is great. All in all though, at the end of our trip both of us couldn't wait to get back home because nothing can compare to home in either of our cities in California.
 
 
 
 
 
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| Mimosas at 10am |
[13 Oct 2005|10:41am] |
The office had a bon voyage party for two people - for one moving to Louisville, KY for her home she bought for retirement coming up in 5 yrs and the other for time off from working. It's not even 11 yet and my face has that asian glow that I unfortunately possess with the consumption of alcohol. (It's a good thing I've discovered Zantac to prevent the redness on those evenings that I plan to drink.)
Mimosas are yummy.
It's my Friday! I have tomorrow off.
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| My mommy was stylish back in the day which makes me a lucky girl today |
[21 Aug 2005|04:35pm] |
Going through my mom's packed up old clothes is like the BEST kind of shopping. All these vintage clothes. I love it, minus how I can't fit into her old skirts that match her old blazers because her waist was like 22 inches.
I especially love her long creme colored coat with a rabbit fur collar that she had custom made for herself in downtown in the 1970's. She spent close to $500 on the jacket. It fits perfectly on my petite body - length, waist, and arms. For something similar today, I bet I'd have to pay more than $1,000, which is why I almost shit in my pants when my luggage was lost (and found two or three days later) in January on the way back home to SF from Louisville, KY. The only drawback to this jacket is it's more of a special occassion jacket.
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| Glad I walked into work today with GOOD news |
[16 Aug 2005|03:49pm] |
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mood |
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 surprised |
] |
The CEO just hand delivered me FLOWERS to congratulate me on pasing an important exam this morning. It's a GORGEOUS arrangement of - I'm not an expert of flowers, but they are GORGEOUS. The arrangement looks like a giant ball of sunshine with giant yellow, yellow-orange, and orange-red flowers with crisp yellow greens that look like a bunch of gathered bells puckered up together.
Flowers from anyone are nice at all times. Flowers from the CEO of this SF office of a global company are doubly nice.
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| Never been to NY before. |
[09 Aug 2005|08:59pm] |
I'd like to say I've travelled to many places, but I haven't. The most wow of the trips I've taken is a trip to Australia, which was too long ago.
I fly down to Southern Califronia quite a bit - I'd say on average maybe once a month. I've been in the surrounding states Nevada - was there this past wkend, where I got a beautiful honey brown colored tan - and Arizona. I've been in Hawaii and I've been to Hong Kong and Australia. I've never been to the east coast though. The closest I've been was to Kentucky for my bf's best friend's wedding.
This September, I'm flying first class to New York.
I'll be there from the 2nd to the 7th!
Because Patrick says, "a vacation isn't a vacation unless we travel together" meaning a vacation includes getting to the destination and leaving the destination together, I am flying into Santa Ana to meet him first, and then we'll be flying to NY the next day, together. First class because being so sweet, he insisted on us travelling together and on using his mileage points to get the only available tickets left that happened to be first class. I'm excited. I need to start planning things to do. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate it very much!
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| The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? |
[24 Jun 2005|08:35pm] |
This won the Tony Award for best play.
San Francisco Chronicle says, "As smart as it is deeply felt and as thought-provoking as it is outrageous...A.C.T.'s production beats Broadway's version...relentlessly so, in fact."
I watched the play last Friday night. I don't get any of the rave reviews. I couldn't find it plausible that a man would really be cheating on his wife with a goat, although I'm sure that's the thought provoking element of the play - what would you do if that situation occurred to you. I mean, it's not like bestiality has never occurred.
From the first revelation through the play that the cheating included bestiality, the man having not only emotionally loved the goat but had sex with it, I spent the rest of the play while watching, trying to imagine him and the goat doing the deed. I couldn't. My imagination decided to go on the fritz.
I want my money back for the ticket plus parking.
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| ...more than a lot, more than words can describe |
[21 Jun 2005|09:00pm] |
To: Baby
I love you too. Very much in fact.
You know what? In regards to our mannerisms towards each other in how we act to elicit certain reactions or imitate one another and just in general, I begin to forget which actions stem from whom. I am beginning to forget who really started the "Hmph" (me?) or "Puh-puh-puh-please" (you?). There are other things but I can't think of them right now; I wonder about the way we act towards each other or talk to each other, wondering if those ways come from ourselves as an individual without influence from the other.
Honestly, I think that the way we are with one another doesn't completely arise from our own selves as individuals anymore, but instead has become a mishmash of each other - like our personalities have molded together to be one while each personality has also retained its own kicks. Sounds dumb, but that's what I really think, that sometimes it feels like we're not two separate people together, but actually one couple - one couple, whose parts have fit together so well that...
it just works.
not like a well oiled machine, but one with just the right amount of friction.
( + )
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| Change / growing up |
[28 Feb 2005|11:17pm] |
Life has its ups and downs. The good thing is, providing there's constant attempts of change, there isn't anywhere else to go when at a low but back up. To be optimistic at the moment, let's not consider the adage what goes up, must come down. The point is that there are generally ups to match the downs when I'm feeling the most miserable.
And however trite these up and down sayings are, they are words describing my mood in a constant state of flux, changing as often as every few minutes or even as long in between as every few days or a week.
I smile for today because it was my first day of work, my first job out of college since graduating in December. (How sweet and thoughtful it was that my mom gave me two red envolopes in the morning to wish me good luck on my first day.) I got my desk set up, computer and email set up, and my phone and voicemail set up. I got my picture taken and my card made so I can scan into the building and my floor. I also received my name plate, and I got invited to a nice lunch at Palomino's, expensed and paid for by the company because it was my first day. I'll be going through some training from various people helping me to get started. The people there are wonderful - people outside and in my department, my boss, the CEO, and everyone else that I've had the pleasure to meet. I hope to learn a great deal and to advance, not just at work but as I live life. This day is an up.
While I concurrently still have thoughts of uncertainty about what the future holds for me, dragging me down, right now as I am transitioning into the working scene what stands to mention is I feel better today than I had a few weeks ago.
For everything that puts a high in my life and moves my spirit upwards - which are a lot of things, I am very appreciative.
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| Streaking tradition in the library |
[16 Dec 2004|12:05am] |
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mood |
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refreshed |
] |
So um, tradition is still alive.
I'm in the library and a group of, again, about 20 or so absolutely butt-naked people, gentlemen and ladies, just ran through this part of the library. They're making their rounds throughout the floors.
I just saw a lot of private parts =O And I'm awake again to continue studying.
I remember last year, so this time around, it's not as big of a shock. I didn't have a friend next to me this time though.
...I do wonder how they decide on which day of finals night to do it, cuz I highly doubt they do that every night of finals week.
Now that's a tradition here I hope remains forever. It's refreshing. How lucky am I to have seen the tradition last year and this during my last semester here. Haha - what I really wonder is what they do during the night - how they plan in getting together naked, where they start, and where their clothes are while they are running around without them.
[Wouldn't it be funny if I had children that came to Cal and saw the same things. We could share our Cal spirit.]
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| thank goodness for phone headsets. |
[07 Dec 2004|01:50am] |
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mood |
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 anxious |
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he stayed on the phone with me for at least a good 45 minutes while we both studied as though we were studying next to each other, but rather than studying he played his music and more so sang.
i asked if he really was able to sing and study at the same time. he said "yes." he's talented like that. i continued studying listening to Baby radio. before getting off, he told me he had only been singing to keep me entertained. it was time for him to go because he couldn't concentrate since he wanted to entertain me while on the phone.
wow. i'm so lucky. :)
love you, Baby.
almost done with school. almost. it is going to be hell until it is done. and then i'll REALLY get to enjoy the upcoming holidays with everything the holidays has to offer!
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| After A While |
[17 Nov 2004|12:36am] |
I stumbled upon this and thought I'd share. I like it.
After A While by Veronica A. Shoffstall
After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
With the grace of a woman,
Not the grief of a child
And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
In stead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth,
and you learn and learn...
With every good bye you learn.
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| A group of turkeys, what is that called? |
[10 Nov 2004|11:35am] |
| [ |
mood |
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 curious |
] |
The oddest thing I've seen today:
While I was walking home on the path by the Cal football stadium, I passed by about 15 to 20 or so TURKEYS gobbling away, one with his back feathers fanned in display and a whole lot of others running across the mulch in an attempt to fly into the trees. I did see one up in branches.
Normally that woodsy area by the path is nice and quiet and without a stir with the exception of a few squirrels.
I do think this is the first tiime I've even seen a live turkey. How lucky was I to see a whole gander/flock/? of turkeys! I stood there for a minute along with two other passer-bys in awe, wondering where the hell they came from. Someone's prank? I came home and shared my awe with Conrad. He told me he heard from one of his friends about some wild turkeys somewhere near us.
...but I am still pondering how they got to where I saw them.
Happy early Thanksgiving?
???
Addendum: If you wanted to know, I googled it - a group of turkeys is called a rafter of turkeys.
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| Too real |
[19 Oct 2004|07:06pm] |
And today I know it is real.
I received an email with Richard's memorial and funeral information.
Among a list of events spanning until Friday, tonight it says There will be a gathering of friends and family tonight at Cosmos at 4:30 and we will be filming a memorial documentary for Richard...
I seriously wish I could leave some words on the documentory too - even though I know I'd be crying and struggling to get out words. It's past seven now - too late. I know that documentary will be overflowing with good words.
I want to go to the funeral for viewing tomorrow but I have no way to get to Pittsberg. And plus I may continue balling like I am this very moment. not good.
I'll log into the link provided to the guestbook from the Costa County Times to sign, leave some words, and post a picture...when I calm down and collect myself.
I really didn't start hyperventilating and crying until my roommate asked if I was okay and walked up to me to see my email opened to the events going on this week, the gathering at Cosmos tonight, the viewing tomorrow, rosary vigil on Thursday, and mass service on Friday.
( My lil brother over aim, the funnyman making me feel a tiny bit better. )
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| Good people shouldn't have to die, especially so young. |
[18 Oct 2004|11:22am] |
I found out yesterday that a friend passed away. I met him during the summer at my internship. He was a good guy with an extremely good heart. Thirty years old. Died in the hospital from pneumonia.
I'm letting it sink in.
I'm still not beliving it's real.
When I think of him, tears begin to stream - it's hard catching glimpes of old emails from him in my inbox -
and although it is real, I'm still hoping to hear another call - telling me he hasn't passed away.
And I'd say, "What a cruel joke."
( Read more... )
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| Ride or Die |
[08 Oct 2004|08:48pm] |
What? AOII Invitational
Theme? Ride or Die
Where? Luna Lounge, in SF
When? October 7, 2004
 
 
 
Click HERE for more pictures.
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