I am a newsbreaking story...

HAPPY B-DAY!!!
to my lil sis Jos! Welcome to the quarter-life! 25 years ago, you were born into our lives and I am thankful for the wonderful person God blessed us with.

I talked to my Auntie from the PI last night and she was telling me how she wished pop a happy b-day when she was talking to him before I came home. And he said, no, it's Jos' b-day. She responded that it was his b-day because it was 2 years ago today that he was given his second chance, to which he responded, it was his 3rd chance. I often take for granted that my dad went through a heart attack and a massive stroke. He was fought through both of these major life-changing events and has come out on top. And i cannot believe that it has already been two years since it's happened. I thank God every day that he is still here with me, and although sometimes I get a little frustrated with various things that just aren't the same anymore, I am still thankful nonetheless. Yeah, it totally sucks that we can't talk how we used to, he can't do the same things he used to, but he's still here and I need to be more mindful of that sometimes. It's probably more frustrating for him than it is for me. But I digress,,, now back to my original point, happy "b-day" to you too pop!

Goodnes, this week has certainly been a week of WTF, OMG, holy **** type news messages, and this morning, of course I got another one. I usually like to just let it all out on my blogs, but in this particular case, to protect the parties involved, I cannot, MUST not write a word in reference to identity. So pursuant to this request, mum's the word. It's just amazing how truly clueless and kept in the dark we can be. And to people so close to you. Man....

Unexpressed feelings don't die. They are buried alive and come forth later in uglier ways."

I am a throbbing, aching, back...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Today is a big day, lots of celebrations, namely three of them in my own personal network. First of all, Happy 1 year anniversary!!! - to my sister and her husband Brian!!! Hope you guys had a great time in Miami and that you got me a lot of stuff! he he he. Secondly, Happy 26th b-day to Dorothy Cruz...hope all your b-day wishes come true and don't worry, I'll get you nice and drunk in Hawaii! WOOHOO! And last and definitely not least, Congratulations to one of my close and dear friends on your engagement!!!! To remain consistent with the rest of our social circle, I too shall not mention names(though I did initially, he he he) and let you guys pass along the wonderful news. I couldn't be happier for you. Both of you guys are awesome wonderful people and you deserve the best!!! I still am surprised as hell, for when I read my e-mail my eyes practically popped out of my head. And my jaw still hurts from when it hit the ground. Man oh man...CONGRATS!!!

Wow, things are poppin all over the place man. Even with all these things happenin already, and it's only Monday, there are a bunch of other things happening later this week. Jos' B-day(tomorrow), VIv's b-day(Friday), Hawaii(Thursday), Verwin leaving(on Monday)and I don't even know what else. Needless to say, I am quite busy over the next few days before my trip.
And to remain consistent with the type of week I'm GONNA have, the weekend was just as busy. Drove about 500 miles this weekend, saw a couple shows, went to a b-day party, and helped out with my retreat group. I am so tired but I need to work out. My thoughts are totally rambly and practially incomprehensible to any other than myself. I feel like I'm going 85 in a 55 and everything around me is just a blur. Oh how I long for the sounds of waves breaking on sand and the breeze blowing through my ha...um, over my head and just relaxation galore.

Funny how often times there are certain things I wanna write about and then other events occur that totally make me not wanna write about them anymore. I had wanted to write about adversity, challenges, tolerance, and patience, but the big events of today and yesterday have just put them completely out of my mind. Not in a manner which had me not knowing what to write about. Rather, I did not want to write about them anymore.

"Things change just like that. And in a blink of an eye, you're miles from where you've started."

My gf is an F-O-B...he he he
Check this out...

Me(4:45:59 PM): did you eat the chinois yet?
Cic(4:46:14 PM): yeah i ate it
Me(4:46:22 PM): nice
Cic(4:46:24 PM): you can pick me up, i can meet, don't matter
Cic(4:46:28 PM): din't feel me up at all
Cic(4:46:29 PM): hehe
Me(4:48:53 PM): didn't FEEL you up at all?
Me(4:48:54 PM): he he he
Me(4:48:56 PM): you FOB
Cic(4:49:03 PM): hhahha omg
Cic(4:49:04 PM): omg
Cic(4:49:07 PM): i din't even notice
Me(4:49:11 PM): you freakin even SPELLED IT
Me(4:49:12 PM): H AHA H AHA
Cic(4:49:18 PM): hahah i know =

I am a missing segment...

Man, has it been that long since I blogged? Wow...funny how much news and info people take from these things. I was chatting w/ Joe last night and then Tommy this morning and they JUST found out the news about Chris...

So for all those that are using our blogs as their window to their world of friends, here's the story, complete and uncut. Well, I don't know HOW complete because I'm not Chris...

On Sunday I got a phone call from Chris, telling me he was being loaded into an Ambulance. Why? Because he broke his leg. So of course we went to visit him that night. He broke it during one of his league games while trying to make a reverse layup. From what I'm assuming, all his weight came down on his one leg, moving in a semi lateral and downward force, thus exceeding it's ultimate yield strength, causing the bone to give way and break. And from the X-rays we saw, both bones above the ankle(kinda like how they are on a chicken wing, but not exactly) broke completely. His leg was crooked, like how it is in the movies and stuff, pretty greusome, and I get grossed out just thinking about it. Anyway, he went into surgery earlier in the week, where they placed a rod in his leg(not sure how). He was released yesterday and is doing A-OK. Pretty cool story though, cuz in Tommy or Joe's words(I forget now), he's bionic, he he he. So that's the deal. Oh yeah, a few of us moved all of his stuff from his old apt to his new one in Tustin Ranch since we knew he wouldn't have such an easy time of doing it on his own, as per his original plan. So I thought next time if I have to move, I shall break my own leg...just kiddin Chris, you know I love you mang!

Man, time flies, doesn't it? Yesterday was Cic and my 1 year anniversary. I know I know, most people have said, "Is that all?" and others, "Already?" Funny how people think different things. My cousin even thought we were together for 2 years already. But it hasn't...only one. But a great one it has been thus far. We celebrated by going to dinner at Chinois on Main, which is kinda like our special occasion restaurant. Dinner was great, and the night was awesome...and I'm glad that we got a chance to just sit and stare and smile at each other for a while. *disclaimer - if you do not like mush, cease reading immediately! * I love you beebs! MUAH!
Well, that's all for today I think...it's friday.

LESS THAN A WEEK TO HAWAII!!!! WOOOOHOOOOOO!

"To the degree that you impose your values on others, they are no longer values but judgements."

I am my 601st entry...

Overachievers
I wanted to blog about this the other night...but I was a little tired. And I didn't get a chance to do it at work the past couple of days cuz we've been really busy. Well, TGIF man. Anyways,

over·achiev·erPronunciation: "O-v&-r&-'chE-v&rFunction: noun: one who achieves success over and above the standard or expected level especially at an early age —over·achieve intransitive verb -achieved; -achiev·ing

I believe this term, "overachiever", can be used synonymously with, "cicely." Why? Because she and I were talking about her midterms last week and she thinks she did rather poorly. Her results come back and the one she thought she did the worst in, she got an A+(round of applause please...). Yes, an A+. And that's the one that she thought she did the worst in. So later on, we're talking again, this time, on the phone and she says, "I got my midterm results back for the other one. And the one I thought I did the best on, I did the worst." And I ask her what she got....A-. WTF....A - ? And that's the worst? He he he, I was teasing her for a while on that...so I invite you all to do the same. And away we go....

Grrrrrrrrrr
One thing I really hate about summer is that the ants always find someway to come into the house. So all summer, I've been tackling this problem, and whenever I see them, I spray them, along w/ the point of entry and I have to ventilate the area, because Raid is nasty. But the other day, they found a new place to go. The freakin MICROWAVE! There were tons in there! So I decided to teach them a little lesson and I fried them. But more and more kept going in. So I had to totally clean it out. And then yesterday, Cic and I found another trail....man, I hate ants, I really do. It's a wonder I used to be so damn fascinated by them and I kinda still am, when they're in their natural environment. Not when they're crawling all around my house and on me! Argh! It reminds me of this one story I read when I was really young, about this duck that sees this ant, and he's trying to kill it, and finds more. He ends up tearing up his entire house and still doesn't get the ants...how frustrating is that?

"With nothing more than an open mind and an open heart, can we achieve the greatest of goals."

I am my last ounce of restraint...

Man, these stupid things on my face are so damn irritating. It sucks when people are always pointing it out, like I didn't know it was there. And yeah, I know they could just be curious, or just concerned, but hey, I'm taking care of it, or trying to already. I kinda wish I could just disappear for a while, or hide it or something. But man, I hate these things. I dont' even know how they ever got on me, and the medication I'm putting on it, some acid compound, is totally burning my skin and it itches like crazy. It's taking every part of me not to scratch it all off w/ a white-hot knife. I can't really remember when I was a little kid, but this has to be what chicken pox must have been like.

Pete
I've talked about my neighbor Pete before. Old African American guy that lives next door to me. I always enjoyed running into him and chatting with him briefly when I was either getting home, about to go out, or just doing chores around the house. He had so many stories, about the war, about way back in the day, and always, he always attributed his blessings and life to God, which to me, was very admirable.

I found out recently that he was diagnosed with stage 1 Alzheimer's disease, and I got very very sad. I would have tosay that becoming a victim of Alzheimer's is probably one of my worst fears in life. I just don't deal well with the idea of the slow deterioration of memories and stuff like that, because I hold my memories so dear to me. All my loved ones are in there, and to know that there's a possiblity of losing them, well to say the least, it freaks me out. I have so many questions I wanna ask God, like what happens to those memories when they go to Heaven, do they get them back? I wonder how that all works out. He has a way, I suppose..and I'm just curious. Anway, back to Pete. He just got his license revoked because of his condition, so he won't be coming around as often as he used to. His wife is going to drive him. He down't really live next to us anymore. He owns the housing complex next door and drops by to do some chores around the place and check on his tenants and stuff. I know we'll probably still have the occassional chat, and I'll just have to make the most of all my interactions with him. Just sucks that things like this have to happen to such good people. Well, Thy will be done, not mine...there's a reason for everything, and I can't wait to find out what all those are.

woohoo hooters!
I just heard that some Japanese investors bought the old San Remo hotel off the strip and are going to turn it into a Hooters hotel. That's right, you heard it here first, errr...second or third maybe. There's gonna be a beyotch, miami style, 711 hotel rooms, and 400 Hooter girls, complete with restaurant. Hell yeah, let's go to hooters!

"If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, at least wait til they're out of the room to say it."

I am a photograph of the past...

Put in my place
We went to Caren's going away bonfire last night. There were hella people there, the regulars and a bunch of people I didn't know. So us, the class of '00 and '01 crew, and some younger than us, and even some that were STILL in school. So needless to say, I didn't feel as young as I am(cuz I'm only 21) over there. Us "workin folk" left a little early because of...well, work. Funny how going away things work. You mostly spend your time with the other people that are there too, and the guest of honor spends his/her time walking around saying good-bye to all the people there. Nonetheless, it was good to see old friends, as always...

triskaidekaphobia
So today is the infamous Friday the 13th. I don't really believe in the bad luck of this holiday myself, but if you read certain Dan Brown books, you'd be clued in to some of the original stories as to why it is a bad luck day. There are of course, other's that I have also heard about, but that's the one that sticks out most in my mind.

Did you know that there was a study done, I don't remember where, but it was a study of Friday the 13th and how it affected hospital visits and injuries. The study showed that there are in fact, significantly more people that are injured those days and have to go into the hospital and stuff. What a waste of freakin research money man, who the hell pays for all this crap. Of course there are more injuries, there's more people being totally paranoid and they think about it too much and get hurt because they were too busy looking at the ground cuz they didn't wanna step on any cracks and bumped their head on a signpost or something.

and now
...a moment of silence for the passing of Julia Child, the wild, warbly-speaking chef who was always entertaining to watch. She was 91 and passed away only 3 days before her 92nd b-day.

WTF
What is up with all those freakin e-mails asking if you're interested in claiming a butt-load of money from some acct overseas? Here is the latest one I've received:

DEAR SIR,
MY NAME IS MR. WILSON,AN ACCOUNTANT,WORKING WITH {ADB}HERE IN NIGERIA. I DISCOVERED A FORTUNE IN MY WORKING PLACE,IT WILL BE PROFITABLE TO BOTH PARTIES.A DORMANT ACCOUNT $15M US DOLLARS WAS DISCOVERED.NEED A FOREIGNER LIKE U TO CLAIM IT.I WILL GIVE YOU TWENTY PERCENT OF THE MONEY AFTER CLAIM. CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. THANKS.
A few thoughts cross my mind:

1) Hoax
2) Terrorist Funding

I'm sure there are other reasons, but I can't think of them right now. Sheesh, the world is going to the dogs man.

return of the video games
Freakin Jevon...On the way home from the bonfire last night, we got into talking about Final Fantasy. Almost ALL the way home we talked about that, and now, I'm totally amped to play again. Man, when I'd play video games, I would disappear for days at a time, ha ha ha...I can't wait! And then Final Fantasy 12 comes out next year and me and jevon found some sites on it... I just have two words.... HELL YEAH! So haven't done much work today...just been chatting and looking up FF12...he he he. Everyone's allowed times to veg out at work, and this was mine :)

Time for some partaying and some pokering! ha ha ha

TGIF - "Let's go STREAKING!!!!"

I am a few taps on the shoulder...

We went out to dinner for Boboy's 25th or 26th(whatever he decides, he he he) b-day last night. It's part of an ongoing fortnight of celebrations for him, he he he. We didn't go out on his actual b-day cuz a bunch of us had a basketball playoff game to play, which we won, thank goodness... Anyway, it was a lot of fun. Nice Italian dining at Vessia in Irvine, with a crazy funny waiter who sang this dessert song, he he he(you had to be there for that one, but I'll try to re-enact it, should you request it). But seeing old friends, people catching up, it was cool.

It's nice to see when you're friends dreams are realized. One of our friends that went to dinner last night is moving to Reno to be a field reporter for NBC Reno. Yeah, kinda sucks that it has to be in Reno but at least that's not too far. We'll have a place when we snowboard, ha ha ha. But yeah, it's pretty crazy cuz freshman year, we all rolled up north during spring break, and we did this video interview thing at my house. She said that she wanted to be a reporter, and look at her 8 years later. Pretty amazing how fast time can fly and how right on you can be. Hetty's always been a go-getter though, so I'm not surprised at all, just excited for her. I wonder what everyone else said in that interview, I gotta go find that tape...

"Minds are like parachutes -- they only function when open."
-Thomas Dewar

Here are pictures from my latest trips...

Nor Cal Trip

and

Montreal

I am Forrest Gump's flying feather...

Lately, I've been getting that unsettled feeling... It's so weird, it's like there's something but I can't place my finger on it. And there's like a hundred possibilities for why I am feeling this way. I've been constantly movin around, from camping, to montreal, to sf, and work and basketball...need I say more? And then, I haven't had the chance to spend time w/ my family as much either, along w/ the fact that I have to help my uncle(the one I used to complain about last year is coming back to stay for good) find an apartment. I guess I'm feeling unsettled because I am unsettled. Unless of course, there's something else in the air...which remains to be seen...

weekend antics
I am tired as hell. Boboy and I just got back in from SF last night. What could've possibly been a 5 hour drive turned into an almost 8 hour drive. Sheesh...but I guess traffic was to be expected, so of course we would've gotten back at that time. It was a grand ol trip. Simplistically put, as Chris said it, we, "...eat, drink, dance, play poker, sleep, watch poker, eat, play poker, eat, drink, dance, play poker, drink, sleep, watch pokemon, eat and drive..." is a summary of what we did. We stayed w/ our friend Nam's in San Jose the first day, and then we stayed at her sister's place "in the city" the next night. Got to see Jenntot and Jennie Kaz and Raph. We had dinner and went to a club w/ Jentot on Saturday and met up w/ Adrian there, and then met up w/ Jennie and Raph at Mama's in the city. That place was crazy, a 1 1/2 hour wait for brunch. We didn't eat til noon! But it was pretty good, I gotta go back there when I go up again. It was a good trip up north. I didn't realize I hadn't been there in about 4 years or so...that is a long long time. And I was glad to see some of my friends in their natural habitats, he he he, sounds so weird.

Being that I got home kinda late, didn't really sleep as much as I would have wanted to, it's hard to believe that I woke up hella early this morning and got to work @ 7:35AM! It's been a long day so far already. I just wanna go home and sleep. Tick tock tick tock...

WTF man, I guess all those time I ran into an error, it DID post...sheesh, I just had to delete the 3 entries from yesterday...stupid blog. Well, if anyone read it already, here it is again, he he he.

Happy huntin y'all!

Am a delayed entry...

I tried to post this yesterday, but nothin doin...so here it is, w/a f ew revisions to include some recent stuff...not much, but some...

I am a slice of time...

I haven't spent much time w/ London lately. I feel so bad. So I took a few minutes out of my morning routine the other day and spent time w/ her. I cooked breakfast(hot dogs for her and some for my lunch, and cup o'noodles for me), and we sang Old McDonald whilst we ate. Then, she proceeded to tell me she was making a library and that she was the librarian. Where she gets these ideas, I have absolutely no clue. What an imagination though. She only had one book to lend out, which was pretty funny, but she made me have to give a library card and everything so I could check it out. That girl is a riot man, she really is.

Blessings in disguise
Dude, I never realized that me studying french in high school would pay dividends at work. I guess if you study something long enough, it finds a way to ingrain itself in your brain somewhere. Plus I got a little practice thinking about pursuing it in College and talking w/ Verwin all those times and even from backpacking. I can't really believe I retained some of it, enough for people to refer to me constantly about all things french here at work, it makes me feel pretty cool, like I'm actually needed, he he he.

weekly routines
I haven't gotten my regular exercise this week, namely basketball. On monday, we got jacked because Aaron forgot to tell us that the gym would be closed. We were quite bummed about it, and after probably 1/2 hour of searching and thinking about other places to play in vain, ver and I retreated to eating at some Hawaii place near Tapioca Express in Monterrey Park. Then, it was an early retirement that evening.

Speaking of weekly routines, my regular cardio schedule is getting messed up for the next month. The gym's gonna be closed for the next couple of weeks, so my only regular workout will come from our Tuesday games, which also is coming to an end in the near future. So at least I get the chance to hit the gym more often w/ Cic for a few weeks. We just went last night and worked on the lower body...and man, I'm kinda sore today. Well, no pain, no gain. Only 4 weeks til hawaii, gotta get in emergency tone mode, he he he. Four weeks baby, FOUR WEEKS!