like I said before, I don't believe in the concept that dreams carry with them a precognitive quality...because mine are always so incredibly bizarre...here's another one I had last night...it might be a jumble of a group of dreams, or just a single one of epic proportions. And of course, to avoid being too meticulous, I will list here only the highlights:

-Me and about 20 friends(don't know them all) were flying to Europe on a whim...
-None of us called in vacation or sick time for it
-There was a hotel, and I was trying to clear it out because everyone left their stuff there before going to Europe
-There was a really really nice gold watch that belonged to Chris
-I running late because I forgot my passport, 2x
-People were at my house smoking the cheeba
-I kicked out some gangsters kickin it on the front porch
-I won $78,531.23 on something, I don't know what though...

Ha...dreams...I wish they DID have a pre-cognitive quality

Part of the gang again
So I got to Mitsuwa(this japanese foodcourt thang near work) and was going to my normal curry spot and some other coworkers(the programming group), called me out. They had an extra seat where they were eating and invited me to eat with them. And they asked if I ate out a lot and that they'd show me around. They made me feel totally included and all of them kept asking me questions...it was really cool. The initial plan was that I was just going to resign to eating alone and reading some more of my book, but I much rather enjoyed the company. I know my group didn't intentionally, well at least I hope not, leave me out, but at least I have more people to go to lunch with too...

Next, please
I got moved to another project...I was originally working on an aftermarket model, but now I am assigned for the next few weeks to help out the Honda OEM dudes. Man, switching platforms is tough...I got really accustomed to using the 871, so much that I could teach practically anyone how to use it...and now, I feel like it's my first day again, learning this new equipment...dang...the challenges of moving forward...a big part of it has to do w/ my Supervisor on this project, I'd have to say. He's really an expert on this system, but I think he assumes that I understand everything he says...he talks real fast too. But, they told me to ask questions when I didn't understand anything, so I'm asking questions all the time...and I think he's getting annoyed. But oh well, I'd rather annoy him and clarify uncertain issues than assume stuff and then look like an a**. The allergies seem to have taken a break...I hope it's a permanent one, but there seems to be a foreboding way in the back of my head that's saying, "this is ONLY the beginning, MUAH HA HA HA HA!!!" Ohhhhh, I loathe this season sometimes...

I officially feel left out today...I wanted to go with them(the coworkers) for lunch and I was asking them where they(the coworkers) were going, and they(the coworkers) said, some mexican restaurant...and as I was about to ask if I could join them, they(the coworkers) left... I guess I(me, by myself) will just have to find something on my own.. boohoo...

I am a nose-running maraton...

"E-D-U-C-A, you need more of it"
There are moments when I really wonder to myself what our elected gov't officials have in store for our future. Tonight, at midnight, if an agreement is not reached on the matters of the California budget, $400 million dollars will be lost for school funding, thus causing community colleges to drop classes, hike up tuition, and conversely, causing students, who might already be having a tough time paying for school, to decide that it is beyond their financial reach to still go to school. Education seems to really have been placed on the back-burner these days, and I just think it sucks, especially in an era with such a competitive job market where not having a degree sets you quite a bit behind those with one. It seems like education is not a focus for the future anymore...there is something seriously wrong w/ this picture...and I just hope that everyone gets some sense knocked into them and reprioritize..

What is the world coming to?
So Irvine, once dubbed as one of the safest cities in America, has had recent bouts with violence. Recently, some guy went ballistic at an Albertsons w/ a Samurai sword, yes...that is correct, a freakin SAMURAI sword. He practially beheaded someone...sheesh...sad sad sad

Somebody, shoot me, right in the nose...
Dangit, it's Monday, and I feel freakin miserable. And it's not because I have the case of the "Moondays" or because I know it's a short work week and I just can't wait, but because out of the stinkin blue, my allergies decided to rear its ugly head last night. And now, I'm a roller coaster of sneezing, watery eyes, and all that grand accompaniment. I wonder why God created allergies...he he he, probably another one of those trials and tribulations I so often read about. Anyway, it's just reminded me of what cicely wrote...how physicality and emotionality(is this even a word?) are so intertwined. This is the reverse of what Cic's point though, because she was talking about emotions playing into the physical, where as I'm talking about a physical ailment can cause such angst. I just wanna go home... Grrrrr...

Head Examinator Wanted
The events which have transpired over the past few minutes can only be classified as a complete and utter....BRAIN FART. Whilst on my most recent trip to the men's room, one of many throughout my usual day(I used to not go all that much, but ever since I started drinking this lil "wottle bater" thingy, I have...), I went pee and proceeded to the sink. I remembered that the one near my current urinal location didn't have any more paper towels, so I moved on to the sink on the other side of the bathroom. So I'm waiting there, with my hands underneath the faucet...for like 30 seconds, and then I think to myself, DUDE! Why isn't this thing turning on?!?!? I look down and remember that it isn't one of those sensor faucets...I've been here over a month now, and I didn't remember that? Anyway, I giggle to myself and reach for the soap, only to accidentaly grab a paper towel. I finally DO get to the soap, wash my hands, and afterward, I accidentally put MORE soap on my hands thinking I was getting a paper towel... My mind is in complete disarray...maybe it's because I was already drifting into the bliss that is the feeling of coming to the end of the workweek...or maybe I'm just a freak like that...

And on my way out...I crossed one of my coworkers in the hallway...who was headed towards the restroom...question... Dude, Isn't it GROSS to bring your coffee into the bathroom?!?!?!?

I am the veggies that won't go down...

Much as I try to, I cannot bring myself to liking celery. The stuff is just plain old gross... I mean, it's okay if I cake the ranch on it and pretty much snuff out the taste of the celery, but in all other cases...blech blech blech.

No more calls?
The National Do Not Call Registration List was put up today. It won't actually start to be enforced until October, but millions of people are trying to get in and register already. Pretty crazy, they are getting so inundated w/ registrators that their system is totally backed up and their servers keep goin down. I think it's pretty sweet to have a list like this, that would make it illegal for telemarketers to call. And of course, there are the loopholes, because political, survey and charity functions are still allowed to call...but those aren't so bad, because they don't try to sell you anything really...and I think these organizations are more "educatory" than they are annoying, he he he. But I guess the calls are quite annoying to most of the population, exhibited by the mass amounts of people signing up already...I guess I'll do it too, after all this mania dies down...

I am a clock behind schedule in the unceasing progress of time...

Man, I still don't think I have fully recovered from the Vegas trip...I've been tired forever...well, not as much today as I have been the previous 4 but still...man, I must be getting old. I found out today that this girl that used to live near me when me and the roomates lived in Stanford's boyfriend's mom works w/ my mom. How that came into perspective, the world may never know...but it is indeed a small world. I had to take one of our cars out today for a mini-drive and a carwash, and while I was waiting for the car to be finished, me and 2 other people(both girls, sadly), were reading the same book, Harry Potter. Well, I guess that shouldn't be soo much of a surprise, taking the HP mania currently taking place. But 3 of us, all at a carwash? Small world. And why is it the day I have to go a carwash, there's like a gabillion cars there? All deciding that, hey, the weather's nice...I'll wash my car! Not that I should be complaining, cuz I got paid to read harry potter...but it was just crazy, the amount of cars there. Is it just me, or am I always telling some kind of carwash story? May I did, and I just didn't write about it...Hmmm...

I either need to buy a small dayplanner to replace the one I lost recently, or get myself a PDA...because there is so much stuff happening over the next month or two, I'm bound to forget something and accidentally double book, it would only happen to me... Anyway, even as far as work is concerned, lotsa things...I have 2 be on 2 different test drives next week, and then there's bowling night and then the company picnic...all the while, I have to take my folks to a wedding in DB and go to a family party in Carson this weekend. There is a friend's b-day party on Friday to go to and my game on sunday. Next week, tentatively, I have dinner plans w/ my friend in Fullerton...maybe some $12 filet mignon(I should ask Chris to say that again), and then Bible study on next Thurs(none this week b/c Aaron's out of town)...man, I don't even believe I remembered all that right now...they just all flowed out...but still, there's a good possiblity that from now until then, something will be overlooked and thus, doublebooked...hey that rhymed. I would rather get a PDA because I can then be better @ balancing my checkbook, which I NEVER do, and keep track of things better. BUT...I'm scared about losing it...if I just got a lil dayplanner to write in, then it wouldn't be totally catastrophic if I did. Another con to getting a PDA, is that ever since Vegas, I've been really inclined towards getting my own digicam, and purchasing a PDA would pretty much negate getting the camera anytime soon...dilemnas dilemnas...I feel so torn...

Every Harry Potter fan needs on of these. Being one of them, I can go on...

I am a lil blue jay...

June gloom....lessness?
I couldn't count on one hand, even if I only had one finger, how many times this summer thus far I have woken up, peeked out my window, and thought, "Man, what a beautiful summer morning it is today!" Well, there's a first time for everything, because today was that type of day. I woke up @ 6:45AM because I decided to play a little basketball with some coworkers this morning before work. Man oh man was it warm already, the temperature was 65 on my way to work, and that was only 7:10AM! My goodness...these are the days that make you really want to take the day off and just spend it reading a book or playing in the waves at the beach. And it sucks cuz work is so close to the beach too....nonetheless, the weather has finally taken a turn for the better and summer is actually here. And while I was in the locker room at Bally's(of which I shall expand upon in a sec), I overheard this conversation:

Big dude #1 "Man, it's a beautiful day outside, the sun finally decided to show up early."
Big dude #2 "Hell yeah, and you know what this weather brings with it?"
Big dude #1 "Yeah man, tube tops and skirts, sundresses and bikinis...I love it."
Everyone, me included: "Ha ha ha ha......yeah"

I don't personally LOVE summer weather(I would rather be bundled up in 20 degree weather with a hot cup of coffee in my hand), except for the fact that I can spend a lot of time at the beach and get dark dark dark, and try to learn how to swim, but it's a good time. AND, girls show more skin...and more skin....NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE....

Unfamiliarity
Last night after I got back from Target and coffee, I decided that I was gonna play ball with the coworkers in the morning, so I packed up my work clothes. I thought about the last few times I played ball in the morning, there is only a single shower at work, so we all have to wait. And then my genius mind thought, Hey, why don't I just look up to see if there's a Bally's closeby? I looked it up, and sure enough, 3.1 miles away was a Bally's. I wrote down the directions, read a lil bit(FINALLY got my copy of "Harry Potter, Order of the Pheonix"), and headed off to LA LA land. So after playing ball this morning, I headed out to freshen up. Note to self, when writing down the directions, write down the approx. distances you have to travel on each road. Because one thing that sucks about this area, is that there are no BIG street signs, like the ones that hang from the streetlights. Rather, they have those tiny dinky ones on the corner and you don't know what street it is til you pass it already. So I passed this one street and it didn't have ANY name at all, so I kept driving...like 10 minutes later, I decided to turn around...of course, of all the damned luck in the world, the street I was supposed to take was that first one I passed way back earlier...if I was telling this story to my friends, I would be erupting with two very foul words, he he he. So I finally found it...stupid me, I should've realized that it was taking way longer than it should to go only 3.1 miles...but it was too early to think logically....good excuse, huh.... Well I just gotta say it again, it's an awesome day...

Appreciations
-Deep conversations with friends
-JK Rowling
-Being "collective" (I was trying to think of that word forever)
-Gettin your blood pumping early
-65 degree weather before 8AM

"Let the sun be the source of your warmth, and love, the source of your happiness"

They are fixing my desk right now, so I am at another computer...killing time...

Invites only...
Thinking more about the Vegas trip, I remembered something that we were talking about over dinner before we actually headed out on the road. We were talking about how people would ask what we were doing this weekend and how or why this certain group of people went to Vegas together and why other people were, "excluded," so to speak. I think a few of us said that they did feel weird when they were asked who they were going to vegas with, present company included. We were laughin it up and everyone was saying it was my fault because I set it up and stuff, but when I really started thinking about it, it's not that people were excluded more than it was that this is the same group of people that I was in Vegas with last time. I've been through experiences when there are just too many people and the whole trip becomes more of a hassle than it does a fun-filled experience. Too many people together never ALL want to do the same thing, and with this group, we haven't had any runins yet...And also, it's different circles of people, just like coworker hangouts and such. There are girls nights out and boys nights out, so what makes those outtings any different? I'm not saying that the circles can never cross one another or anything like that, but it IS difficult to blend them ALL in together. The goal of the trip is for everyone to have a good time, and in my personal opinion, that becomes difficult when there are people who don't know each other as well and who will most likely feel left out even if they DO go. People have different friends that they do different things with. I guess I'm getting a little defensive here, but that's just how I feel, and sometimes I wonder if some of my friends do get that snubbed feeling, even though that's not my intention at all. I guess all I can do is hope that they know me better than that. And then this topic got me thinking about wedding stuff(not mine of course, just in general), also brought up as a topic during dinner and how people feel snubbed when they don't get invited and whatever. And to a certain degree, I can say that in some cases I'd agree, like if you were really close friends or something, but even that's all a matter of perspective sometimes. But when the wedding is really small and stuff, I don't think a lot of people realize how much $$$ some people are putting out for a wedding and sometimes, that that $$$ that's being put out, is already a stretch and they can't afford inviting everyone. I'm sure they if it was possible, they'd invite way more people, but they just can't. I mean, it sucks, but what can you do? I'm just gonna have an RSVP with a deposit on my wedding invitaitons, that way, anyone can come, ha ha ha. But seriously, it sucks cuz I feel bad for the people who are getting married because they have to go through MAKING the list, and then the people that don't get invited...but I guess that's life.

This thought was a whole lot of nothing...and now my workstation is ergonomically correct, according to the "Ergo" lady, who's here for a few weeks. They're retrofitting everyone's desk so that they can make us more comfortable(thereby decreasing workman's comp filings and such...these people are smart...). But for some reason, it feels weird, I guess I'm used to putting my body through fatigue and incorrect typing or whatever positions...back to work...

I am a crabby crab...

Well after almost two hours of trying to sleep, operative word here being TRYING, I gave up...so I blogged...

I had lunch w/ my friend Jonathan today...little did I know he worked a block away from me this ENTIRE time, but now, it's his last week there before moving to a new position in LA.. So he showed me Mitsuwa today, of which I had absolutely no idea was nearby... Had some chicken curry, and there are hella other places I wanna eat at there now...thanks Jonathan. He also said he'd e-mail me where everything else was nearby, so that I can find my way around better. It's just a shame that I found out about him working nearby in his last week...of all the luck...speaking of which...

and now...the Weekend Report...
Well, quoting the words of a friend of a friend but not a friendster, I had an absolutely "FABULOUS" time in Vegas this weekend!!! I spent it w/ the roomie, and the same people I went to the strip club w/ in vegas the last time, the JAC crew...plus Aileen this time. Like I said, it was hella fun. I lost $$$ but I had the time of my life nonetheless... I think that group experiences like roadtrips to Vegas can generally be characterized by the amount of laughter throughout the duration of the trip. That said, this trip was awesome! We laughed so much, esp on the way home, I seriously think that we shuold have had the entire drive home recorded and made a movie out of it. It would've been numero uno at the box office...I'm tellin ya. So for the second time in a row, I had a blast in vegas. We pretty much did everything, from gambling to swimming to clubbing to "special treats," in the form of lapdances and drinks, and to meal(some free, THANKS Chris) after meal. But it wasn't those specific experiences that shaped the weekend, it was that no conflict on where we should go, let's all do the same thing, we're all having fun type of experience. Too bad we didn't pre-party w/ a more diversified alcohol list, but hey, Patron and Jack will always do the job...anyway, I did end up suffering for it all today because we all probably totalled less than a day of sleep(and that's 7 people), so that's not very much. My personal highlight of the trip would have to be the ride home though. We were joking around, taking pictures, and just laughing our asses off...I think I'm still tired because I'm actually not writing as much as I would like to write about this weekend....so I shall leave other perspectives in lieu of my own thoughts...

Cicely's take
Jon's Take
Joe's Take
Jevon's take
Ai's take

Well, I shall treat myself to an extra hour of sleep tonight...maybe I'll have more thoughts tomorrow

I am one of those dolls that have the open/close eyes thingy, stuck in the open position...

Words cannot describe my current state of exhaustion, but nonetheless here is a feeble endeavor to do so. Well, I am, for lack of a better word...utterly EXHAUSTED. I am running on a total of no more than 5 hours of sleep for this entire past weekend, and I am seriously just staring at the clock at the bottom right hand corner of my computer screen as I write...tick tock tick tock, 4:24 and I wanna go home...I really do, and not because I just don't want to work or anything, I just wanna get home to my bed and sleep...which is probably why I won't record my weekend recap until later on...tick tock...4:25, sheesh...somebody, please shoot me. THank goodness we have one of those first-aid station type thingies here, cuz I just took a couple tylenol to ease my headache and a cough drop to soothe my throat...tick tock, 4:26...maybe I'll just go to the bathroom and chill there til it's time to go home...vegas update to come...

I would've never thought 6 or 7 years ago, that I would be one of those people I used to see at restaurants having dinner w/ a friend and sharing a bottle of wine...that whole concept just seemed so farfetched. But last night, it happened. My, how life continues to move on and surprise me at every turn. Another one of my very close friends is leaving to pursue her life-long goals and moving away. It makes me sad whenever one of my close friends leave...and it's not forever...but it's still sad. I don't necessarily spend lots of time with them, nor do we talk all the time, but knowing that we could when we wanted to, more or less, was very comforting and a luxury I never took for granted...but now that comfort is being taken away. Of course, I think it's just a transitional state that I go experience, almost ritually, everytime a part of my life moves a little out of normal "hang out" distance. But deep down inside, I know that our friendship will continue to grow, regardless of distance. But yeah, dinner and wine...who would've thunk it?

I am a hand held remote control...

The countdown is 1...
-there are a few potential setbacks, but my fingers are crossed, sacrifices are being offerred, and prayers are being said.

Keepin it real
2 Teenagers died(God rest their souls) last night as a result of street racing. They police investigator said that their minimum speed, which was at impact, was 88mph. That's minimum! Now it was mentioned that the movie, "Too fast, too furious" may have had something to do with it and police merely said it adds on to what's already out there. Okay, it might not have been a direct cause, but I'm sure it played a big part of it. And it makes me think to myself, when are people gonna realize that movies are freakin movies for Christ's sake? I mean, okay, it's cute(But still kind of sad) when I heard about the rise in children flushing fish down the toilet because of the movie "Finding Nemo," but those are children, and we can teach them that that's wrong. This other stuff, the more serious stuff, that is, is happening with older people...people who should know better, who can make the distinction that what happens in real life is NOT what happens in the movies... It's kinda funny sometimes how people criticize that some movies are just unrealistic(present company sometimes included), and say things like, "That just wouldn't happen in real life." I mean, it's a move...hello...it doesn't HAVE to happen just like real life...and of course the closer it is to reality, the more a person can identify with a particular movie, but then again...it's JUST a movie...I say if people want to identify with things, stop watching the movie and continue on with their REAL lives....it just really bothers me because this extends far beyond just identifying, people's lives are on the line... Brains....let's use them folks, they HAVE to have some kind of purpose...

One is the loneliest number...
Sometimes I hear a conversation, not that I'm eavesdropping or anything, but I OVERhear an interesting conversation and I want to put in my two cents on things, or they're asking a question and I know the answer, or at least part of it...and consequently, I want to hop right in. But alas, I am not a part of the conversation, so I just sit there...and listen some more, he he he. That's how my typical lunch hour or actually, 1/2 hour is at work. And through that scenario, I realized that I'm kindof a loner when it comes to eating during lunch. The guys always ask me to come with them, but I decline, mainly because I already brought a lunch, but I think there's a part of me that likes to be alone during that time? I don't know, it was just weird to realize that...

Recent Thumbs ups...
-conversations with long lost friends
-blasts from the past
-Dodgers...tied for FIRST baby!!!

Recent Thumbs downs...
-employers who don't give fair notice
-pushovers

"To infinity, and beyond!!!"

The countdown is 3 days...

Woohoo, I can just feel the excitement welling up inside...

I've been having some really bizarre dreams...but the majority of them have had to deal with automobiles. One of them, I got in a really bad car accident, but survived. And the other 3 had to deal with OTHER people driving...they were all pretty crazy scenarios though...just so weird. But the weirdest part is that last night, while I was taking my usual exit off the 10W, La Brea South, I found out it was closed and, consequently, had to take the La Brea North exit. I instantly had a flashback from my dream at that point because the turn looked exactly as it did in my dream...the exact same thing happened!!! In my dream, I thought the exit was going straight longer, but it didn't and I had to take a sudden sharp right and couldn't get it in time, and I missed and fell backwards off the freeway. In real life, it wasn't exactly like that, but the initial conditions, physically or geographically speaking, were the same. Now I am not really a believer in the pre-cognitive aspect of dreams, at least not when it comes to me, but THAT was WEIRD. Maybe I'm exhibiting my anxieties through these things. Anxious about what? I have no clue...

I am a chess board with only 4 pawns...

Let me let my thoughts out first before all I do is get mad all over again...

The peculiarity of language....
It's reallly funny how one can hear something and totally take it into the wrong context. And I'm not even talking like taking it in a dirty way....I'm talking when it totally sounds weird and it makes you laugh...ummm...anyway, so I was listening to the radio this morning(yes, I listen to AM radio...what a geek) and they were describing the two girls that either ran away or got kidnapped from...shoot, the place is slipping my mind at the moment, anyhow...they were describing the girls. The newslady said that one of the girls was about 4'11", weighed about 120lbs(Man, I can't believe I remembered all this), and had brown hair and eyes. When I first heard it, I immediately thought to myself, "...Brown hair, and eyes?" He he he, it sounds like she said that the girl had brown hair and had eyes also... Well, I would think that we would naturally assume that she had eyes, but it just sounded funny the way she said it. Now, of course, it would be different if she only had one eye, cuz then it would've been, "....had brown hair and only 1 eye..." or something along those lines. Of course, she meant brown hair AND brown eyes, but it just sounded funny right off the bat... Yet another example of the enigma that is the English Language.

Speaking of the English language...another pet peeve. Why is it that people assume that just because one speaks broken English, he or she can only understand broken english? It's kind of an insult, in my personal opinion, to that person, and by "that person," I am referencing the person being spoken to. I heard someone talking like that on the phone this morning...let's just say it was someone between the hours of 8-5. First of all, I would think that the person being spoken to in broken english might(not for sure...but MIGHT) be offended, and second of all, the speaker just sounds ridiculous...I don't know why that bothered me so much, but it did...

Whistle while you work....
I found out recently that there are several FT openings at work and I don't know how internal applications work, but that's pretty much how it goes around here. One is a full-time position of what I am doing now...so I declared my interest in the position and am working towards completing the necessary steps to make myself a candidate for said opening. I had to submit an even more recent version of my resume, which includes my current position with the company. I am really hoping that things work out, so that my occupational dilemnas can finally be put to rest and no longer blogged about so incessantly. The other position I saw was a position that was in my field, but in Michigan. I have been thinking about this all day, about applying for the position and whetheror not I am ready, and willing, to make such a major move at this point in my life. When I look at my present situation with complete objectivity, I find that I should just give it a go and go out on my own. But as always, it's the non-objective part of me that's reluctant. I've already asked for some opinions and so far, it's pretty much split between going and not going. I mean, I like the company here, and it seems like a great opp...I think I may just apply for it, and THEN figure out things. I'm planning things that haven't yet come to be...but me? moving? that far? Hmmm.....

On a brighter note, I love the feeling of "Getting it" at work. I actually feel valuable. Today, I totally understood what one of our lead engineers were talking about when describing a certain specification we were all talking about. I even got the opportunity to try to make sense out of it to the others and man, it gave me such a natural high. I, Jay, actually understood what they were talking about and everyone else didn't. I mean there were only 4 of us, but still, that's a big step for me... Now I know what my other friends feel like when they're in command...

And now, the bad news...
It's not thaaaaat bad, but we freakin lost the championship game tonight. And in the worst way, a blowout because we only had 4 people. I was sooooo tired, and the loss made me even more exhausted. Matter of fact, I can't even believe I'm still up writing in this damn thing...but everyone needs their therapy...so I write. It eats me up more than I really let on, I guess that's the competitive side of me...I just hate that after all season we've played to get to this position and, BAM, it's as lopsided as pitting a kitten against Mike Tyson. ARGH...I'm getting mad again...write dammit write!

Appreciations for the day...
-Having support
-exercise
-being reminded that I have what it takes
-donuts
-6 piece chicken mcnugget tuesdays(Finally got me some...mcnuggets that is)
-Zankou chicken

"Open your mind, and all things are possible"

Jugglin thoughts...
So late...or early, or wahtever it is. My brain is barely functioning, so sense willl cease to be made throughout the following:

As if being a mild insomniac wasn't enough...I get into conversations with OTHERS of my kind and the night never ends. The 2nd hour approaches, and I see no end to it...he h ehe, just kidding I'm just being dramatic. But seriously, I think I love conversating too much that it will be my own demise... Played online monopoly again...and again I lost...damnit. That's waht I get for talking trash though...I just love board games... oooh, the championship game is today, and boy oh boy am I excited.

Okay bed time...or will attempt to close out ongoing conversation and just lay down til I'm so bored, sleep is the ONLY option...

"Cherish thy sleep..."

I am a one-hour time slot in my missing dayplanner...

[countdown is 5 days...]

Holdin me down...holdin me down
I am convince that we live in a world where people just want to make life harder for others...I was on my way to work this morning, not even in a real rush or anything, but on a usual basis, I drive a little above the speed limit. So I was behind this white van in the number 1 lane(Lanes are numbered 1 to whatever going from left to right, excluding the carpool lane) and he was totally driving slow...like 60mph. So naturally I chaned lanes to get in front of him, as he was slowing traffic down, because apparently, I am not the only one who drives 70 mph on the way to work. So when I get next to this guy, he starts speeding up! And of course, three words come to mind...W-T-F?!?!?! So I drive a little faster, and of course, so does he. What a bastard, I thought to myself, so I switched another lane to the right(which would now be the #3 lane) and speed to about 80, to get past the cars in the #2 lane and finally in front of the van that I had initially tried to pass up. Once I was ahead, the van slowed down again!!! I watched him from my rearview mirror and saw him to this same thing to another car. Man, some people...I mean, he could've just pulled over one lane, but instead he had to be a prick. I mean, I'd understand if I was driving like a maniac, cuz then, by all means, cut me off, box me in, do whatever, cuz I would probably do the same thing, but I mean, just being passed up when you're driving way slower than everyone? Come on....

Power of knowledge, or something like it...
Whenever I get the chance to talk with my friends, one of the usual topics of conversation is how we sometimes feel like we went to college and got a degree for nothing, and how people w/o degrees seem to get just as good jobs...well recently, I found out that well...that's not totally true. Unemployment has increased in two categories and pretty much stayed flat in the third. The first of these is those who don't have a high school diploma...I don't remember what the percentage was exactly, but I do remember that it was about a 1 1/2% unemployment rate increase. And the second was those WITH a high school diploma, but without a college degree. That one rose up I think about 3%. Now these percentages may seem to be quite small, but remember, we're talking about percentages of an entire population here. So 3% might be small when you're talking 3% of the dollar, but 3% of california can be close to upwards of about 30,000 people...and I'm sure it's more than that. So I guess having that degree actually DOES carry more weight than I had presumed. Kinda hard to see these kinda things through the cloudy mists of economic recession and overall unemployment I guess...

Efficiency
I wonder how much of the work day is ACTUALLY spent working. I mean, I know I've spoken with a plethora of my working class friends out there and everyone has the same response, "Not a lot." It's funny, we find so many different things to take away from the work day, AIM, blogs and other such blog-type sites, friendster, taking extra-long bathroom breaks, going in 5 min early, leaving 5 min late, and yet we still don't wanna be there as long. He he he, even me, without the comforts of the AIM world, I find my own outlets, drinking hella water so that I have to go to the bathroom every hour on the hour, talking to my coworkers all around me, e-mailing, and yes, the occasional jay special, the mini-nap at the desk...he he he. So I'm thinking that out of the usual 9 hour day at work(lunch hour included), probably about 5 is spent working working. That's just my opinion, and I know there are those out there that are total workaholics and would read this entry and want to seek me out just so that they can give me a nice lil backhand to the cheek, but I think even THEY take breaks...

Appreciations of the day...
-Finding out there are some really close fast food spots near work
-E-mail
-Being commended for a job well done
-Being invited to lunch, even if they know you usually bring it anyway

Appreciations?...not so much...
-People who don't like to be passed up on the freeway
-mind-numbing duties
-non-conversationalists
-only having 24 hours in a day
-having to wait a week before you go to Vegas...

"Take control of the driver's seat and set your path"

I am a pop-up picture book...

Happy Father's Day pop! Today is a day of celebration, where, as we should everyday, appreciate dads everywhere in the world. So today, I want to make an extra attempt to make pop feel loved and appreciated. Pop has really been really awesome when I think about growing up and stuff. He never wanted me and jos to wait, he was always there to pick us up. And I always knew he was one of the earliest people there because his car would be in the nearest parking spots. And he'd just be there waiting. When we had to get ready for school, he would make sure we were awake extra early, just so we wouldn't be late. And he was always firm w/ us, we never wanted to disobey when he raised his voice. Even know, that i live back at home, he wakes me up early for work, albeit a little too early. I mean, it gets a little bothersome sometimes, but it's all in the intent. I really love pop a lot...and sometimes it makes me pretty sad that he's not exactly the same as he was a year ago, but the important thing is that he's here right now, and I still love him the same. Plans? Well lunch(after my basketball game), and then perhaps a little shopping.

Went to TWO bars last night, all in the span of about 2 1/2 hours or so. First was w/ Jennie(back from the NYC), Raph, Cheryl, and Kyle...where we spent upwards of about an hour and a half or so just catching up and stuff. The second was w/ Ver, after he got home from work. Saw a friendster there....it was pretty funny, that all these friendsters are actually materializing into real people. Actually, I remember him from HS and he was cool. Plus I saw a movie and lost in a bowling bet this weekend as well. So all in all the weekend was pretty good.

It took over an hour to get home today...man I hate traffic...but here's what I saw on my way home...

-A guy blasting his music
-A guy in a tie blasting his music
-A girl smoking
-A girl blasting her music
-A guy smoking
-A guy in a tie, blasting his music...with a tambourine!

That's right...a tambourine...it was the funniest shit...I want to get me one of those...

I am a rollie pollie ollie...

Friday the 13th...
It's Friday the 13th today, he he he. Funny how back in the day I used to always think it was a total bad luck day...but not so much anymore. I can't even remember the last time this day came about...but I DID find something interesting. How this whole superstition came about...it was originally a feared day amongst Christians...There is actually a technical term for being afraid of Friday the 13th...it's called paraskevidekatriaphobia... check it out:

The history of Friday the 13th

It's crazy how many fears there are out there...I wonder what the official terminology is for fear of the internet! He he he

Wake up, Beuller...
Another school-related topic...I found out this morning that financial aid is going to be cut drastically, well, I'm not sure how drastically, but cuts are cuts...and people are bound to be affected by that in a major way. Elegibility and amounts allocated will be more difficult, that just sucks even more for an already deteriorating system as it is. It's funny cuz the news people were saying how the cuts got passed un-noticed...hmmm, un-noticed. That brought to mind how most people just don't care about politics very much. How the "only people in power," i.e, the richer, have any say in what's happening, seems the be the prevalent course of thought. And this course of thought leads to complacency, and then all of the sudden, when a cut like this gets passed, people like me react like, "What?" "How on earth did that happen?" Well, I point the finger at myself, for not educating myself on the current issues, and just being aware of the world around me. It really is sad to see that this is how a lot of the world is...and which is why everything is such a suprise...and then it just sucks...

And that's the bottom line...
Today, at work, we got an e-mail about getting these weekly quizzes and the winner of each quiz gets like a $50 gift-certificate to Tower Records. Pretty cool, I wonder what the quizzes will be about, there's a lot of stuff I could get w/ one of those certificates, let alone all five...he he he. That brought a smile to my face...which got me to thinking...again. I really like working here, the environment is so cool and the people are so so nice, it makes work an enjoyable atmosphere. Of course, I still get bored sometimes, because of the tedious type of work I do, but the people make it all worthwhile. And it's not only just the coworkers, but the company as a whole. They really make an effort to keep their people smiling...I mean, that quiz was sent by the "The Employee Activities Group." I mean, how cool is that? Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I don't care. So many people I know are just unhappy with their current work situations, and some aren't(power to those people!!!). I know some people who intentionally got themselves fired, and some, didn't even care when they were let go. There's a big reason for that. So one is either unhappy at work or happy at work. I don't know about everyone else, but I'd rather be the latter, and hopefully they do too. I am sooooooo crossing my fingers they'll decide to take me on as a permanent employee...I really think I make a good fit here and even though it's not exactly my field or anything like that...but the key word here is "Like." And I like it, and I'm happy.

Competitive Spirit
One of the things I laughed at myself about last night...he he he, that sounded kinda funny, paints a strange picture...anyway. I was laughing at how competive or determined I can get sometimes. I've been playing FFVIII again and trying to find like every lil secret the game offers, but I think at the point I am currently at, I am a lot stronger than I should be...and the game adapts so that your enemies consistently remain challenging as you power up, so naturally, they are stronger than normal at this point also. Anyway, so I was at this one part where this stupid soldier kept killing me...and I had three options: 1) Try again 2) Try again + 200 HP or 3) Game over. What did I choose? Game over baby! I was not about to be given pity chances, or even getting more power...I was determined to beat that soldier on one attempt...well, so to speak. So I had to freakin go through ALL the cinematic stuff that comes before that particular scene, which was about 6 minutes each time. I must've tried to fight that guy over 20 times before I FINALLY beat him. Determination? Competitive Spirit? Complete geekiness....most likely...sometimes, I'm embarassed to look in the mirror...HA HA HA

TGIF...
I am in such a good mood. That's the first time I wrote that...well, maybe not...actually, yeah, I remember writing it before, so nm, I take it back. But still, TGIF...there, i wrote it again. Ha ha ha...I am so looking forward to this weekend, probably not as much as I am looking forward to NEXT weekend(Why? One word....vegas), but yeah. What am I so looking forward to? To doing nothing...that's right N-O-T-H-I-N-G. I don't have anything specific planned, and I'm looking forward to just loungin around, doing some laundry, perhaps watching a few DVD's, play some FFVIII, and try to get to the beach...weather permitting, of course. I also wanna get some cheapie shades since I presume the sun will come out one of these weeks. So 1/2 an hour of work left and I'm out the door on my way to nothingdom...I wonder what spontaneous activity lies on the path...

Appreciations for the day...
-Fridays
-My work environment
-Doing nothing

"Life isn't about winning and losing...it's about learning and growing"

Dude...I love the new blogger basic setup page...he he he, I don't know why, but I do :)

I am a repairman's wrench...

Just a lil reminder to self...
After listening to the news lately, I've been thinking about how much I appreciate living here. In Israel, there was another suicide bombing and then a retaliation for the bombing by a missile attack on Palestine...which resulted in like 20 something casualties. Good gosh, I dont' think I could survive in such a place where the saying, "You never know what tomorrow will bring," is more prominent, because you never know when some suicidal maniac strapped to a bunch of explosives is gonna run into your bus. Living in in parts of the world where fear and chaos run rampant isn't the type of life I wanna live, I just don't think I could handle it. Which leads me to understand why so many people want to come to the US. Of course it's all a matter of perspective, to some of us the US sucks, the gov't sucks, and probably a hundred other things. To other poeple, America is their way out, their haven, their sanctuary. In some places people come from, the people's voice doesn't even exist, if you had anything to say against the ruling party, you could be executed, you could be captured simply because of certain beliefs you may carry. There is no recession in some places, the job market is just non-existent. And violence? Just pick up the paper, I'm sure there's a story or 12 in there. I guess I lose sight of all that sometimes when I complain about life...things could always be worse...and trust me, I am grateful for what I have.

You say toe-may-toe, I say toe-mah-toe...How is it that one word can be pronounced 2 different ways and both ways be accepted? Take for example, the word Caribbean. It can be pronounced, Care-rib-bee[accented syllable]-en, or Car-rib[accented syllable]-bee-en. Or route...(pronounced rowt or root). How is it that both ways are accepted and usable? Tis a strange language, English is... There is really no point to this segment, no epiphany to be made, no sudden realization, no "Eureka! I've got it!!!" feelings... I am obviously just trying to fill the void by thinking stupid thoughts...and boy, is this one of them... I need to find more interesting ways to stimulate my own mind...

On my tippy toes, twiddlin my thumbs...
I hate when I have something planned and it's not for like another week, but I simply can't wait for the event in question to come. This event in question is Vegas...my palms have been itchin for quite a while now since the last time I went. And even though I had the time of my life last time, I have to make sure to remember not to try to make it like last time, cuz then the whole thing will just be a let down. So I'm hopin for a semi-spontaneous trip, I mean, it's vegas...the options aren't all thaaaaaaat diverse. But it's all about the company too, so I can't wait...tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...

Losing battles...
Once again, I haven't been sleeping too well, and I think it's been showing. My friends told me at the game on tuesday that I totally looked like I couldn't breathe. I guess it's cuz I'm exhausted all of the time. Before I started working I had a regular workout schedule and was on my way to getting in better shape. Lately, I haven't been other than playing ball 2 or 3x a week...so naturally, I'd be a lil out of shape. But the sleep factor is playing a major role...some of my friends have been trying to encourage me to try different methods to get to sleep, but alas, I did them all to no avail...maybe after next week, when our WABL season ends, I'll start working out more often again...and get in a rhythm.

"Question not the how, but the why..."

Friendster sucks ass...I finally have time to get on, and I can't get in...

We won our game today, and the championship is next week. I'm gonna try to get a bunch of the friends to go and support...and hopefully we'll win.

I am a projection screen...

Finally, a chance to record my thoughts....
I love bookstores, because they have books, which I love. Me and Cic went there last night after Target and I bought myself a copy of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and I Know why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou...I read them back in the day when I didn't even appreciate reading as much as I do now and no longer have the copies...so I'm trying to build up a library of all my favorite literature, from novels, to playboys....reading is reading. But seriously, I think I could spend hours on end in a bookstore...and it's crazy, they have something for everyone...no joke. We saw books for witches, Chicken Soup for pretty much every soul possible...the strangest having to be Chicken Soup for the Prisoner's Soul.

I've been getting so sleepy at work lately that I've had to drink coffee to stay awake. Usually, the only time I drink coffee is when I go out w/ my friends, or even at night, just to have it. I don't need it to stay awake, til now. Anyway, people have told me over and over that coffee isn't bad for you, and they justify the coffee addiction, because I used to point out that they were addicted to coffee when they pointed out my smoking addiction. But here's my theory, something that suddenly makes you not-so-tired has to have some type of adverse effect on the body. And as with everything else, taking anything in excess of moderation is bad...except for a token few, such as sex...he he he, just kidding. Anyway, coffee has to be bad for you somehow, I'm still awaiting research results...

After working for 2 weeks at Alpine, and working on my third, I have really come to appreciate the diversity of street names in California and most of the places I visit on a regular basis. It's weird, cuz I was just talking about this w/ Cic last night. There are some really whack street names out there, for example, here are a few that I've come accross: 0.0(that's zero point zero), 3/4(yes, the fraction), and A-B street...I mean, goodness, that's just totally unimaginative in my opinion. So when we all complain about streets, remember, it could be worse.

Some people at work shorten words a lot, to the point where it just plain ol' sounds weird. The term "Previous Destination," to which we refer to a lot, was shortened to "Prev Des"(prounounced preve-dess)...BLECH. Some words are just not made to be shortened....other such examples...Laci(Lah-see) for La Cienega....double BLECH.

Today's thoughts...
So today, I had to go the bank for lunch...well not TO the bank for lunch, but I had to deposit some $$$ in my account, and THEN go to lunch. I went to the bank and that took about 10 minutes, so I figured, I'd just go find a MacDonald's(since it was $0.99 McNugget Tuesdays[thanks Chris]) and head back to the office...totalling no more than 1/2 hour for lunch. Word to the wise, never go venturing out for lunch in an area that is not familiar when you only have an hour. Every turn I took, it seemed that I got further a and further from the industrial and main areas and deeper and deeper into residential areas, until I finally gave up and started back towards the office. I saw a KFC and decided to just drop in and grab some chicken littles...1) they did not have any chicken littles 2) the freakin cashier chick had no idea how to use the damn register and the line was hella long. Sometimes, even the latest technology can't help people speed things up. It took so long there that I now only had 10 minutes to get back to the office...so I had to eat in the car...which totally sucks because it's just not enjoyable. So after a trip to the bank, some not-so-fruitful searching for McNuggets, and a mediocre KFC lunch on the go, I was back at the office, dissatisfied and craving MacDonald's...grrrrr

We had an employee meeting today, and the three new employees were welcomed to the company with a warm round of applause as each of us stood up...felt kinda cool. But meetings are meetings, and I found myself a lil distracted and sometimes not even understanding what was going on...and lookin around during the meeting, I think I am one of the youngest people in the company. And I also realized how many people's names I have yet to learn, so I've resorted to using nick names. There's the back-up receptionist lady that's there when Jackie's out to lunch, there's the always-in-a-hurry Irish guy, the super-serious ambitious guy that seems to be a hater...,the super-serious dude that doesn't seem to enjoy small-talk, nor responds when I say hello(maybe he just doesn't like me), the serious girl that also doesn't like saying hi, and the one girl that smiles everytime she walks by and says hello. Work is a funny place...

Ahhh, I feel so much better...

"Education comes in hundreds of different forms."

I am time winding down...

Lots to blog about, but not enough time...had jot down thoughts on a piece of paper...damn, I'm a nerd...

"Time is of the essence...Man, I need some essence"

I am a jack in the box....

(Note to self: Never underestimate the theraputic effects of "writing")

Man, I really hate those weekends when so much crazy shit happens, you just wish you could just have slept in the whole time. Lil drama things happenin here and there all weekend, driving to more or less the equivalent of a round-trip cross-country journey, and to top it all off, I freakin lost my glasses. Is there no end to the suffering? It's unbelievable man, the whole "snowball" effect. I guess weird and frustrating occurences are precursors to subsequent weird and frustrating events.

But as I wait for the smoke to clear on what was more or less a busted weekend, looking closely. there are semblances of highlights. That would be hanging out w/ friends: at my house, at Ai's BBQ, and @ Q's. So there'a always a silver ligning somewhere, sometimes you just gotta sift through a lot more than usual.

Going away bashes...
I've come to realize that, from a guest's point-of-view, going away parties are more ceremonial than anything. I've been to a few of them, and it seems that people talk more to the people they haven't seen in a while than the guest of honor. And the guest of honor is interacting with so many people, how can one really expect to have some good, quality time with the celebrant? I guess it's the same for weddings, that sharing in the celebration is more than nothing. So I haven't come to a resolve like boycotting all future going away get-togethers or anything, because I too enjoy talking to those people, and wishing "bon voyage" and "farewell" in the collective voice. I just know that if one really wants to say good-bye, a phone call would really make a big difference...cuz it's 1-1 and it's a really heartfelt gesture...at least that's how I see it.

Icing on the cake...
Man, I just saw Finding Nemo at the El Capitan, and I only have three words to describe my feelings about this movie...O-M-G. I absolutely loved that movie. And being one of those people that don't really like to over-hype movies for the sake of raising the expectaions bar too high, I don't care. I'm gonna tell my friends how much I liked it and how I've never been so into an animation, a Disney animation at that, EVER. Wow...I loved that movie so much that I completely forgot about the shitty weekend that was... Thank goodness for bright colors, amazing imagination, witty humor, and visual expression.

Also ate at The Loft in Hawthorne(correctly pronounced Haw - thorn), it was good, but pretty far from the freeway, which aided in making us run late for the showing...which ensued in a frantic drive towards Hollywood on what I thought was the fastest route(which has yet to be confirmed). But it was good, and food always gets better w/ good company...so that's that.

Thumbs up to...
-Great movies
-Knowing I am close w/ my friends
-Just doing nothing, even if for a little while

Thumbs down to...
-The comlexities of life
-Driving too much...over the past 2 weeks, I have driven over 1200 miles...
-Drama

"Life moves so much faster than you think..."

I am a deflated helium balloon...

I'm not as young as I used to be...
It's Saturday, and our plans to play basketball vs. Chris' brother and company are down the drain...darn lil tykes have to work...ha...work, if they only knew, we do it like everyday, 10 times longer than them. So we ahve to reschedule. Even if we were still "greenlight" for basketball, I don't know exactly how up to it I would've been. Drank at Weiland last night in lil Tokyo, and I had no more than 5 beers, yet I have such a headache right now...it sucks. Last night doesn't even seem like it really happened for some reason, like it was a crazy crazy dream that couldn't have happened...but it did. Sometimes, alcohol really has a crazy effect on people. Oh well... But I can't believe I even have a headache...well I think I may have fallen asleep while I was still a lil buzzed, because at about 7:00AM I woke up laying on my bed, not underneath the blanket or anything, but just laying on top of everything, kinda like when I'm just plopped on my bed chillin while talking to someone. Last thing I remember, V was on the computer and probably went to sleep sometime after he was made aware of my comatose state. I definitely cannot drink that much anymore, but who cares, that just means I have less to spend on drinking when I go out. It's funny how late nights are summarized through the amount of drinks one has..."Dude, i had like 10 shots of this and like 3 shots of that..." and dadadadadada, now it's like, "I drank too much," and "I'm not drinking anymore." Even ran into an old friend from college(sheesh, an old friend from college, did I really just say that?), and we were talking about how last night, we weren't even planning to go to a bar and drink, I had just planned to sit at home and watch some dvd's whilst doing my laundry. How we were all just getting old and a relaxing night at home was just as good as a night of going out. I guess those days are just memories now...ha ha ha

Nothing specific planned today, other than a bbq in LA and a friend's going away party...so looks like another chill day...thank goodness.

Thumbs up to...
-Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets
-A few beers w/ friends
-Vent sessions

Thumbs down to...
-Drinking too much
-unpleasant surprises
-headaches

"Look before you leap."

I am a center for ants...

Bad drivers
The world today is just full of bad drivers. People on cell phones, traffic maniacs, weavers, tailgaitors, rubbernecks, lookeyloos, and just plain idiot drivers...everywhere. And even more, recent research shows that there is a percentage increase per 100k drivers in women and elderly driver fatalities in regious where the speed limit has been increased. Meaning? Not to be mean or discriminatory or anything, but women and old people suck at driving, actually, that IS mean and discriminatory...but whatever, it's the truth, and the stats show, he he he.

Change
While I was driving to work this morning at 7AM(I played some ball w/ some coworkers before work), I was thinking about how all of my friends and I always complain about waking up early for work and stuff. But when we were kids, we used to wake up at like 6:45 in the morning to go to school and stuff. And we weren't even tired...it's amazing how things change as time passes. Things that once were are no longer, and things that were never imagined are just being realized...

"There's more to life than being really really good looking..."

I am an incomplete thought...

Yet another test
I scored a 39% on the "How UCI are you?" Quizie! What about you?

*Note-I hate pop-ups

Too tired to write tonight, it's been a long day, maybe tomorrow, i'll have more to write, and more thoughts too. PLUS, I'm waking up hella early to play ball w/ some coworkers tomorrow before the workday starts. If all goes well and it pumps up my blood for the duration of the day, I think I'll do it more often. MMmmmmm, breakfast at the office tomorrow...dang, I better get to sleep and help tomorrow get here already!!!

PS-Still goin out too much...not party-wise, but just being physically out too often on worknights, must put an end to such shenanigans...

"Sleep is the staging area for dreams."

I am the crest of the high tide...

(actually written at 1:19AM...something was wrong with blogger last night)
Long day today...got to go on my first official Road Evaluation and went all around town...from Redondo Beach all the way down to Newport and a bunch of places inbetween. Not too bad, as I didn't mind the driving as long as my parter was the one taking the notes. It's pretty fun to play with these systems...they offer lots of resources, of which I shant name at the moment out of sheer laziness...I have other things I'd rather write about. We got to stop off and take a break at Fashion Island for about 1/2 an hour. Good Lord there are some beautiful women there...the atmosphere is crazy though, I mean almost all of the consumers in that area were women, and some of course were of the totally pretentious and ostentatious type, and others were not. But $400 for velvet pumps? Come on...not even if I HAD a million dollars. I'd rather have like 10 different pairs of $40 regular shoes. Anyway, the test drive took the whole day, so I didn't really have to sit at my desk very much...which was cool. But before we went, I got another lil mini-orientation done, safetly explanations and the grand tour...man we got some cool ass stuff over there....and ironically, as my power of suggestion theory holds true...our next show car is a freakin MINI COOPER! That car is awesome...ahhhh...

After work, my original dinner schedule didn't go exactly according to plan, as my rendezvous-ee was swallowed up by the workmonster, yet again...but it's all good, what can you really do when your supervisor leaves and you're left w/ all the work? so we both concurred to a reschedule of event. In place of that dinner, I went out w/ Nam and Jen to get some eats, where we happened to meet up w/ Floyd. So it was actually a blessing in disguise, as I don't get the chance to see these people as often either. It was good times, and I haven't laughed this hard for a while...it's just fun to be goofy.

Expansion...
Things have been expanding since forever ago...today, my thoughts of expansion are aimed towards phone numbers, specifically, area codes. Back when I was younger, I remember LA only had 1 area code...it was all about the 213. Soon enough by about 4th or 5th grade, I remember 310 was introduced: and divided LA into two...right down the La Cienega(or as some people would say..."Laci") line. I think there was a break then as far as new area codes were concerned, because the next changes didn't appear until after high school. I moved to Irvine, which used to be 714, and by the end of the year I think, it became 949. 562 was also introduced to previously 310 areas...thus introducing another split. And yet another when 323 was introduced to the changed 213's leaving the only 213's in a donut type region around downtown. That's a lot of area codes, and that's not a lot of time spanned in between... Meaning from all this? I don't really know, just that there are a crapload of numbers out there...but what's the difference, because they don't really reuse the EXACT numbers for the diff area codes...it just kinda signifies where you're comin from...hence, the songs...which just so happen to be ALL ABOUT AREA CODES....funny how things like that arise...

Even a lil bit counts
Some bill got passed recently, I think it was about raising school taxes or something...not really sure, but that's not my point anyway. The point is it got passed, but only by about 12 votes...seems like a lot...but not when it's out of 17000. That's...(checking my calculator)...less than .001 PER CENT!!! (.00074something to be exact)!!! But holy goodness, that's crazy, just goes to show that every vote does matter. So it's funny to hear people talk about how votes don't really matter when, here is exhibit A...

From afar...
There are lots of things that come to my mind when I think about seeing things from a far...but perhaps the most prevalent thought is how people see my friends and myself from a third party POV. We are quite a loud bunch, regardless of who I'm with usually, laughin up a storm, acting dumb, and laughing more. Lots of good times, apparently, but I guess it can be a lil obnoxious(I don't really care though, it's just an observation). Whilst scarfing down some Pink's hot dogs this evening with a few friends, we got to talking about how weird we all are...and how funny and yet not-so-much our experiences have been. And Floyd brought up how our conversations seem to get funnier and funnier the older we get, and he said that if he was some stranger and heard our conversations, he'd think we were all crazy. Funny think is though, sometimes I do wonder about people hearing lil bits and pieces of our conversations, and I wonder if they would think some of us had hit our heads one too many times on the pavement or something. Really random.

Another things- from-afar-thought...We don't really notice it when we look in the sky, but there are tons of satellites out there, floating round and round the earth, in perpetual orbit, supplying us w/ the necessary signals we need for 1) our cell phones 2) computers 3) and tons of other stuff I can't even think about right now that we all just assume exists withough thinking about how and where certain things(technologically speaking) are being supplied to us. But in fact, invisible to the naked eye, well at least invisible from our relatively distant position from said satellites...there's just a bunch of stuff floatin around the earth. I mean think about it...there are at least 24 GPS satellites alone...with 6 that run as backup systems in case one or 6 others were to fail. And that's just GPS, there's all the other satellites out there...so that all adds up. And it's just floating there...round and round and round and round. From far away, it must look crazy. I mean, if I were an alien and I was about to invade the earth, the first thing I would ask is, "What the heck is all that crap floating around that planet?"

Appreciations for the day...
-Being out of the office
-Random conversation
-Similar thoughts
-Friends
-Debit Cards
-Hot dogs with bacon cheese and chili

"The destination can only be reached when you start moving towards it"

I am a cup of coffee, with room for half n half...

The friendster phenomenon...
I miss my friends on AIM...cuz of work, I read the corporate policy thing and it had a section dedicated to not being on "chat" sites. First thuoght in my head? "Damn, I'm not gonna last a month here!!!" But yesterday, during the pre-lunch hours, I finally found him. I had found the one...It almost brought a tear to my eye, and sounds of trumpets blared in my head truimphantly as I peeked over my shoulder whilst conversing with my manager. I had to take 3 glances, just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me...yes, it was......AN AIM CHAT WINDOW!!!! Man oh man, SCORE! Well, now, I just have to lay low and bide my time, and prove that I am a worthy employee...worthy of such benefits as AIM. Now, I have more motivation, ha ha ha. But as I thought about finally getting the chance to electronically converse with my comrades from all regions, I thought about this whole friendster rage that's been sweeping up pretty much all of my friends, well, those with computers, or internet access that is...anyway, how it seems everyone's time and focus has been redirected to friendster. It's crazy, people adding people by the second, networks growing from hundreds to thousands in a matter of days...small world, I always say. But let's face it...hundreds upon hundreds of FRIENDS? More than likely, this is not really the case. In fact, there are those out there using this network system as a competition to see who can get more "friends." Sometimes, I think it gets absolutely ridiculous...I mean, I add all the people I've met before that have asked to be my friend because you just never know who's connected to who, and you might get in touch with lil Susie one day, way back when you were still in 1st grade, I dont' know, that sounds a lil far-fetched, but hey, a little possibility is still a possibility, period. I mentioned to some of my other friends it should be renamed "Aquaintancester.com," or "Ikindaknowyou.com." Either of those would be far more fitting. But I do think it is cool...I like to see who knows who, and who has the cute friends. Hey, I'm single...why not? Avenues are avenues...n'est pas? But trying to get back to my original point...AIM and even blogs seem to have been left in the dust of this current whirlwind...but it seems to me that the dust will soon settle. And those things which have withstood the test of time will truly still be standing when all is said and done. So people, let's get back to blogging...cuz I how else am I gonna find out about you? ha ha ha...call? Nah...

Tidbits
Lost our game tonight...coming from 22 points down to send it into overtime, only to lose by 6? or was it 8? Damn, I hated that...the competitor(and perhaps, sore sport? he he he) in me, can't believe that we were even down by that many to begin with. Such is the way of the ball I guess...it just bounces on and on...ARGH man...ARGH

I get to go on my first test drive today...WOOHOO! Jeep Grand Cherokee, I think, and I'm excited. It'll be an all day road-eval, so at least I get to be out of the office. So since I'll be on the road for a while, maybe I should get some rest...

Thumbs up to...
-Company on the road
-Coffee(OJ) sessions w/ the wingmen
-Sales and shopping
-Pulling out your Matrix DVD when asked for your ID

Thumbs down to...
-Overtime losses
-Being tired
-Raisins(courtesy of Rex)
-Late-night construction on the freeway
-Only ONE detour sign...

"Don't let success define you, YOU define success."

I am a strip of beef jerky...

Shop til u drop...
Didn't get to sleep much from that late night, cuz I had to pick up mom from work this morning at 8...and by the time we got home, I could no longer go back to sleep. So I played a lil playstation2, and then proceeded to get ready for church. Ended up going by myself, but it was cool. Shopped afterwards and got me 2 pairs of pants and a new basketball...for outdoor use. It was good to spend a little time alone. Went back home and batted Jos on the Magic Mic for a bit before I had to get ready for my friend Phil's graduation from the nursing program at ELAC. I was disappointed that there arose no urge for me to say, "Hellooooooooooooo nurse," cuz there were none of that caliber present. But we were of course, one of the loudest support groups there, equipped with a foghorn and everything. Congratulations PHIL! You did it! And not that many people do. Ate a lil at his house and then went on to go hang out w/ my friend in Glendale. Saw "The Italian Job." I liked it. And now I want a freakin mini-cooper and I wanna rob stuff. I don't what it is about heist movies that turns me on so much...it's just cool like that. Anyway, thinking about those heist type movies...it's funny cuz I was thinking about it, and dude, we're supporting people do unethical things. And the justification in stealing in most of these movies is because...what else? The owner, or whoever has the goods is a dick. Like in "Ocean's Eleven." These guys were robbing a casino. Granted, casinos take all our money in the first place so the bastards deserve it anyway...but Andy Garcia's character? He was...a...dick...so it was okay to steal from him. Movies where we're cheering on the stealers is kinda amusing. We're condoning the wrong type of behavior. And we wonder where our kids get these ideas? We give those ideas to them. I must've seen like 20 kids in that movie theater...go figure. After the movie, we had some CPK and then called it a night...which brings me all the way back here, full circle, to my fake computer chair and typing on my desktop... I had a lot of fun and hopefully we can hang out again soon.

What I heard
Something the guest speaker(well she wasn't exactly the guest speaker, cuz the actual one coudn't make it) said something that really caught my ear today. The saddest part of it all is that most people did not get any of her speech cuz they were too busy talking to each other. And I'm not trying to slight people not paying attention at graduation speeches because I myself have been to many and have been guilty of talking and not paying attention as well. Rather, I'm just stating that they missed out on a really important message. Her name was Ms. Lurelean B. Gaines and she mentioned was the way we treat elders. How we kinda just shove them off to the side as we get older...even after our promises of taking care of them when they're old and grey. Hence, the abundance of nursing homes, often understaffed and underpaid. The world would be so much better off if we kept to our promises and take care of them. I hope that my kids don't toss me into some home when I get older. I've been to one of those places. Pop was there for over a month, and I'll never forget the atmosphere I was in and the feelings that ran shivers up my spine almost everytime I went to see him there. I wanted him out as fast as it was humanly possible, cuz the place was just that bad to me. I guess if I had a wish this very instant, it would be that families took care of theirs and that there was a ready and available staff for the elderly. So she challenged this graduating class to make a change...to try to bring some of these concerns to a resolve and thus, "purifying" the system.

"I trust every man(woman), I just don't trust the devil inside him(her)."

I am a mocolate covered raisin...

Anchor away...
Today was quite a long day...helped Cic move out of her old place and into her new one. Wasn't too much work(Come to think of it, it was the easiest move ever) and got lunch for it. It was a nice hot day, and they allowed ME to drive the U-haul...man, I hate driving bulky rides when I can't see behind me. But nonetheless, it was cool. Went to V's brother's grad party at their house with Chris, after taking a mini-nap at the house and then showering up after the move. Ate hella food...man, I love pilipino house parties, their the bomb-ish. From there, we proceeded to Rain, out in Costa Mesa, to check out this new club thang that opened up over there. It was called "Stereo" and sponsored by Mixwell...good to see some old friends there... THe place was pretty cool, but truth be told, I wasn't feeling the club thang. To sum up a description of myself tonight in one word, I was a total...ANCHOR...and I don't mean like I was just a lil out of it. I was like a 1-ton anchor holding down a freakin aircraft carrier. I just wasn't in the mood...not really for drinking, not dancing, not talking, not for jokes, not for anything. Even when I was dancing w/ V's friend April, I wasn't into it...It really sucked and I felt kinda bad, but I guess sometime's the mind just drifts elsewhere and it just so happened that my elsewhere just wasn't at the club tonight. I was tired...plain and simple...at least that's what I've theorized so far, maybe upon further instrospection, I will stumble upon yet more reasons, but this will have to suffice for now... I think I may be suffering from over-exertion, going out-wise. Cuz I've been doing something like everyday, maybe not like partying or anything like that...but it's still tiring...plus it was my first week of work...maybe I just over-extended just a bit. So time to rest up a lil...

Other things plaguing my so-called brain...
I can't believe that insurance companies can set different rates according to zip code. There is currently a bill that is being passed to attempt to stop this nonsense. It's not fair that two people, whe same age, with the same car and same driving record, and one recieve a lower insurance premium because he or she lives in Orange County and the other in South Central(I'm actually not exactly sure which one gets the lower rate, but I'm assuming that this is how it would be). Insurance premiums should be based on driving record...period. Better yet, the insurance company should make you take like a crazy ass driving test w/ like simulations of events that'll test your ability to handle stress on the road(i.e. accident, quick maneuvering, etc.). THEN, they can figure out how much of a liability the insuree will be and thus set the rate accordingly...oh well, that's why THEY make the big bucks, and I'm here blogging about it.

There is ANOTHER bill trying to be passed that'll place a ban on selling soda in schools. What the heck is THAT all about? It is an attempt to reduce the obesity problem that is currently plaguing our great nation. So, it's ILLEGAL to freakin be obese? What kind of control are they trying to get here? We can't drink soda...WTF is that...again...nonsense. There are bigger fish to fry and we're worrying about keeping our kids from drinking soda. Why not educate them on the effects of all this nasty stuff they like to take in so much...well, actually, I know that kids that age don't really give a rat's ass about it, but come on...BANNING soda? What's next? Make video games illegal because they supposedly waste time? Actually, there should be like a minimum playing OUTSIDE requirement for kids. They are never out there playing anymore...what happened, to dodgeball...teatherball, freeze tag...THAT is a big contributor to the obesity issue. It's not the intake, it's the physical activity level of these kids. Shoot, I remember when I was a kid(actually, I still am), we would eat whatevers, but we'd burn all that off cuz we'd spend like a million hours outside chasing each other around in that chaos called recess...sometimes, I think the world is being swirled down into the toilet.

There is this thing I heard about recently called SMOKE AWAY...I forget the number for this place, otherwise, I'd tell my friends to check it out for me and get me some information about them. Anyway, they GUARANTEE that they can stop people from smoking in a week, or else they get a full refund, which already makes me think..."Dude, this is gonna be a CHA CHING type of scenario." But okay, let's say it wasn't all that much to go through this program...I mean, wouldn't the word about their effeciency in helping the nicotine-addicted populace spread like a brush-fire straight out of hell? Come on...guaranteed? Puhleeeease...That's why I want my smoker friends to go...to check it out...cuz I find it kinda hard to swallow...er in this case, inhale(Man, how do I come up with these?). But I mean, I would rather that they did work instead of it being a big scam, cuz of all people...I know how hard it can be to quit such a deceivingly simple bad habit.
I know so many things are just plain disappointing, but being the optimist I am...I had to look for something to cheer me up about the world. I just found out recently about the Metro Freeway Service Patrol. Aparently, they are part of the Metro Service(Duh) and they drive around helping cars in need. They provide towing service, they fix flats, jumpstarts, you name it. When I heard about it, I thought, "Man, how freakin cool is that?!?" But that wasn't even the whole thing, there was icing on this cake. The service is....get this.....F-R-E-E!!! Man alive, there IS some good out there in this world. There may be hope for our civilization yet...

All of my friends lately have been getting totally addicted to Friendster.com. It's pretty crazy though, cuz I've been on it too, but I have yet to check it out for hours on end like some of my good friends. Not because I think I'm too cool for school, but because I simply have not had the time as of late. I've been going out and visiting and having meetings so often this week that I've barely sat down at my desktop to even blog, so even more, how would I have the time to check out this friendster phenomenon sweeping southern cali. I guess it's been around for a while, cuz some people told me they've been on for a while, but most of my friends have only just recently become a part of it. It's pretty cool though, you get to meet some old friends, and see how your friends are linked to other friends' friends' friends' friends. Maybe I'll check it out now...

Man, I swear I feel like I'm writing a newspaper column sometimes...

"The sounds of silence often mean the mind is at rest"