Filipino Housewarming Gifts...

Stolen directly from a gifts app that my brother created on Facebook. He wrote all the descriptions and put up all the pics. None of this is my handiwork. But as a good older sister, I'm here to pass off his creativity to my benefit.

If you guys don't understand the utter hilarity of some of this stuff, feel free to ask me or one of your filipino friends... Don't lie...everyone has at least one filipino friend...we are EVERYWHERE! Look behind you, there's one right now! ;)

Or not. It doesn't matter. I guffawed heartily while reading his descriptions and am continuing to guffaw heartily as I post them here. And...out of the 20 items, I or my parents have about 15 of them at any one time! ;)

For your consideration, I've included translations where needed. You're welcome.

Enjoy!

1) THE LAST SUPPER: Because you're not truly fed unless you're at the Lord's table.

2) WoW--MAGICMIC: Singing across the Philippines!

3) WOODEN SPOON AND FORK: It tells your dining room, "Hey! This is where the food goes!"

4) SKYFLAKES: The bottomless tin!

5) BACK SCRATCHER: Reach for the remote, "close" the light, or palo (spank) your kids! It's all good!

6) EXTRA LARGE DRYING RACK: I think it does some other stuff too.

7) PALM FRONDS: To remind you of arts and crafts day at church.

8) JESUS WALL HANGING [Level 1]: Entry level wall adornment. Wood frame, a nice glossy 8x10 of the redeemer himself!

9) JESUS WALL HANGING [Level 2]: Cross-stich Jesus! Hand made and oh so fabulous.

10) JESUS WALL HANGING [Level 3]: Pro status wall hanging! Is it Jesus? Is it Mary? Is it Jesus?...wait, It's BOTH! Twice the salvation for the price of one!

11) FISH TANK: What's a Filipino father to do in a maternal society? Have a fish tank of course! Until they learn about Facebook, the Filipino old timers need something to compulsively check.

12) WEEKLY CHURCH BULLETIN: Don't ever let anyone see you throw one away! It's your weekly receipt! Besides, without it, how else would you know what time to go to mass every Sunday?


13) WALIS (straw broom): Walis-walis kicks Swiffer's disposable arse times infinity! If I can rub my hands on my cleaning utensils without getting cuts and splinters, it's not worth my time!

14) WICKER FURNITURE: Can consist of wicker panels, or go the full monty and get a complete wicker set! Either way, the patterns on my arms, legs, and face don't make themselves!

15) BALIKBAYAN (going back home) BAG O' STUFF: It's so nice of us to save our old L.A. Lights rubber shoes, Breast Cancer Awareness walk t-shirts, and accidentally bleach splattered sweatshirts for our pamilya (family) back home!

16) HUGO BOSS MEN'S FRAGRANCE: Vintage 1985! It's ok that they don't make these anymore! Our dad's don't use more than a couple sprays a year. It's Burt Reynold's cologne of choice, and we're the only asians capable of growing his mustache...coincidence? I think not!

17) CORNED BEEF--AMERICAN STYLE: Ever heard this? "You don't appreciate corned beef because you haven't tasted corned beef in the Philippines! Here, it is so good that you don't even need mayo!"


18) JOHNSON'S BABY COLOGNE: Before CK1, before Nautica Competition, there was Johnson's baby cologne. For the person who's ever wondered what rubbing alcohol would smell like if it also tasted like sweet, sweet, candy.

19) WHITE FLOWER LINIMENT: Rub it on anything that ails ya! Unless what ails ya happens to be near any and all...uhm...orifices?

And last but definitely not least!

20) A FILIPINO: Filipinos kick it hardcore without forgetting about the family back home, their religion, or where they came from. Not to mention they can fix your car, build you a shed, take care of your nanay (mother), and cook you something sooo good you won't care where and what part of what animal it came from!

GET YOURS TODAY!!!

Random Hilarity

1) My mother is a Dentist. Not only that but she teaches Dental Anatomy and Histology. BUT, her nickname at work and at school?? "CANDY".



2) A coworker and I witness a speeding Corvette get pulled over by a cop in front of our work. The cop lets the guy go with a warning because he noticed that his cruiser, and the guy's Corvette is blocking the path of a gigantic Budweiser truck trying to get out of the parking lot. The quote of the day uttered by said coworker..."Getting saved by beer while you're driving rarely ever happens."



3) A lab technician in the place I used to work at came in with a cold one day. As he was looking over another lab tech's shoulder as she meticulously inoculated some petri dishes, he sneezed all over her counter. What came out of his mouth next?? "Dammit, I've gone and infected the virus"



4) A friend's mom (and yes, you know who you are!) adopted a Daschund from a local pound. When asked what made her choose that dog over all the others, she said (as she snuggled and kissed the pooch) "because he looks just like a sausage and Mommy loves her big brown sausages"



5) And finally, two quotes from the great Jack Handy...



"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did"



"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world because they'd never expect it."

It's gonna be one of those nights.

Do you ever have one of those days...or I guess in this case, one of those nights, where there isn't really anything wrong. Everything is calm, everything is for the most part as it should be. But for some reason you have the overwhelming need to just sit in a hot shower, or bury your head under your pillow and cry your guts out?

My therapist says it's like an emotional spring cleaning. That sometimes you have all of these thoughts or issues or niggly little doubts that you build up. Things that you set aside or shove in a random corner when it comes up so you can go about your day as normally as possible. After a while it backs up in your head or in your heart and you just have to clear it out. Analyze each piece and put it in it's proper place. Some people cry, some people run or work out till they're so tired they can't see straight, others take care of it in their own way. I guess I'm one of those people who cry.

I'm pretty sure I know what triggered this most recent cleaning jag, just as I know that I'll be fine once all my little thoughts are put away where they should be.

"I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken -- and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived."
--Margaret Mitchell

Another one bites the dust...

~Female friendships that work, are relationships where women help each other belong to themselves~ -- Louise Bernikow

I guess this post is a long time coming. But it's here now and that's what counts. It's all about different kinds of relationships and love and other sappy such things, so be forewarned!

When I was 18 and a freshman in college, I fell in love with 6 girls. No, this isn't that kind of post so you can quit your giggling now (lousy pervs). I was stuck in a dorm room with 6 wonderful girls who were to become my so far lifelong friends. It really is a miracle how we all got along so well since with the 7 of us came 7 different personalities, but get along we did. There was m~E, the Hoodrat, the PeePee Queen, Ange, the Renanator, Swimgirl, and Lindz. What better way to explore all the trials and new adventures that come with your "test-it out and see" years than with your best friends right? We learned from our mistakes and each other. Cried, laughed, and experimented. Fell down, helped each other back up, brushed each other off and egged each other on.

Fast Forward 8 years, 8 annual Christmas Cluster Dinners and we have all changed. All grown up and moved on and became women. Though we have spread apart a little we all know that we are there for each other when needed and with that knowledge comes a bond that will hopefully span for the rest of our lives. This year, 2 of them got married to two equally wonderful men. Of course they have to be pretty wonderfull to land such awesome chics right? Next year, another one bites the dust. And tonight, yet another announced that she is engaged. And I'm fine with that most of the time. Though I'm very very happy for them, I can't help but feeling a bit sad for the changes that are happening. Changes for the better, yes, but changes nonetheless. I know that what comes ahead in the future are new adventures but a part of me longs for the past and the hopes that we all had back then. And then again, a part of me wishes that I was embarking on the same adventures they are now. Out of the 7 of us, I'm the only one who is still single and I'm fine with that usually. But sometimes I do get envious of what they have and what I used to have (but that's a post for another day).

*sigh* Anyway, congratulations to Ange and Jason. So happy for you guys! :) Although it gives me another opportunity to shop for another wedding dress. Fun :(

"You are such dead meat you filthy face eating piranha" and other funny stuff that people say....

~from the mouth of my dearest friend Mr. Anderson [I presume]:

"Cuz I got game like that! I can pick up a sober person!"

~from the mouth of my dearest friend Josh (and don't you all be emailing me your politics!!! I don't care and won't read it):

"I'd rather crawl thru broken glass from here to Canada than placing my life in Sarah Palin's hands in the eventuality that McCain bites it! I mean, he's like...really...old!"

~from the mouth of some random person at work as she replies to my comment about how I hate being as short and small as I am:

"Short is such a dirty depressing word! You're just space efficient dear...very space efficient"

~from the mouth of Mitch Hedberg, may he rest in peace:

"My belt holds up my pants and my pants have belt loops that hold up the belt. What the fuck’s really goin on down there? Who is the real hero?"

~overheard from the check out lane at a RadioShack:

"you know what, on second thought just give me all the 14 gauge butt connectors you have. In my line of work you really can't have too many!"

~overheard from the check out lane at a Safeway:

"Mommy! I found leftover penis on the floor!"

Straight from the [proverbial] horses mouth...

Some random, yet poignant things I heard today...

~from the Delilah show on the radio...as I drove home from work:

"Love is a gift. No matter how true or how faithful or how wonderful the love is you give to someone, if they have their hands full with other baggages, then they just aren't able to receive it. It doesn't make your love any less wonderful. It just means that the other person must sort thru all the other stuff going on in their lives before they are able to accept the love you give them. But don't let that stop you from trying to give it anyway. All you can do is pray for that person that someday soon they will open their eyes and be in a position where they are able to welcome you into their lives" -- Delilah


~from last night's episode of Bones...as I watched it online a few hours ago:

"Look, this tension between us? I hate it! I mean I know that we broke up and everything but I've experienced loss before and lived thru it and you have too. And I'm not gonna pretend that this didn't happen because it might be easier to break up that way. I'm gonna re-live us...so I'm not gonna hide anymore and I'm not gonna walk on eggshells. I'm just gonna accept that this whole damn mess happened and pain or not, I'm glad it did." -- Angela from 'Bones: The Crank in the Shaft'

A Manifestation of Violent Tendencies...

I had a dream. Unfortunately it wasn't as lofty or grandiose as "other" dreams that you may have heard of. It was one of those dreams where you wake up simultaneously disturbed, curious, emotional, and confused as to whether it meant something or if it was just all the flu medicine I've been ingesting the last few days.

It was night. Shadowy and dark but I could see really well. I think it was a forest? Or maybe a field...and I'm running and running and running. At first I don't know why but I know I'm running for a reason, when suddenly I spot him. And now I know I'm not merely running but chasing him and he is running away from me. Finally I get him cornered against a bush or a wall or *shrug*. And he turns around and looks at me, and I can see those eyes of his. Even in the dark they are a warm golden brown and I almost melt. But instead I pull out a gun and I point it at him and he is staring at it. He says "if you're really gonna do this, then at least tell me you love me". I stop for a split second and I think, then I say "no". Simply that. And I pull the trigger. As I shoot, he turns suddenly so that I ended up shooting him in the back.

The sound of the gun shot was so loud in my dream that I woke myself up. It took me a second to convince my subconcious that I was just dreaming and when the fact finally clicked in my head I started to cry. I can't even begin to explain why...but it seemed like a good idea at the time. The whole thing so disturbed me that I called up a psychology doctorate friend of mine, as well as two other friends to ask them what they thought of it. They were all in accordance that it seemed my inner 'Id' was telling me that I still loved him and want him back but I know I shouldn't and I feel that the only way to stop feeling that way about him is to resort to drastic measures. Scary!

My doctor friend even suggested that maybe the reason it bugged me so much for so many days after is because he "died" without ever knowing how I really felt. So I texted him the next day and told him that "I had a disturbing dream and felt the need to say something to [him] but I would really appreciate it if he didn't say anything back to me...that I do love and miss [him]". I won't tell you what he said back but I did feel really good about my actions.

Regardless of what the dream meant, if it meant anything at all I'm glad that in the off-chance that he should die today (not as a result of anything I would do) that he knows how I feel.

It was all about closure maybe?

Or maybe I need to lay off the meds...

-----
Update: I just read this on one of the blogs I follow. I swear she is so smart about these things, and just manages to put words to all my thoughts. Here is an exerpt, but for the rest of the blog go check out her page.

"...We want to make sure we've left our mark. We don't want to be just one of many. We want to be the one that got away. The one that you still think about at night, regardless of who is lying next to you. We want to be the relationship that you compare all the others to.

And we want this (even though we know it's unrealistic because most guys don't think like that) because we need it to feel better about ourselves. And about how much you meant to us

Even if you want the best for someone, and you know in your heart the best isn't you? You still want them to remember. Even if you're happier now than you ever were with them, you want them to remember. And any time I see him, I want to look damn good. Because he'll remember.If you've been loved by me, you don't forget it"

by Tia, Clever Girl Goes Blog http://www.clevergirlgoesblog.blogspot.com

I couldn't have said it better myself...

No, it isn't exactly what I've been through...

Yes, there are some things in it I just can't relate to...

But I dare you not to nod your head in agreement, or cry a little bit at the end.

Clever Girl Goes Blog: http://www.clevergirlgoesblog.com/2008/09/gray-area.html

One of my favorite blogs...

To to all the girls who've had their heart broken or are lucky enough and have yet to experience that pain. To all of us who cried till there were no tears left, screamed even when no one can hear, and thought about punching something (or someone) hard...so that they will feel as bad as you felt. And to all of us who got up, brushed ourselves off and moved on...to become the strong-ass chicks we all aspire to be.

GO READ IT!!!

Exerpt 1: Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood

"Even though she was certain a lasting relationship was out of the question, she still ached to touch him. She loved him, God help her. How had she allowed herself to be so vulnerable? She should have seen it coming and done something, anything, to protect herself. It was too late now. When he left her, he was going to break her heart, and there wasn't anything she could do about it."

What's your "happy"?

I just finished emailing back and forth with a friend of mine and the last thing we discussed (kinda) was the subject of happiness. Basically, he said that he was glad I was happy and that he was "happy that [I am] happy". And you know what? I really appreciated that. I told him that the key to being happy is to find your own sunshine, as opposed to relying on others to create it for you.

After we stopped emailing (or rather after he stopped replying to me, I assume he fell asleep) I got to thinking what makes me happy on a daily basis. And the answer was quite surprising. You know how they always say that most people find pleasure in the simplest things? Well, the one thing that makes me happy everyday is to open up my computer, turn on my internet, and see the "Slideshow of Beaches" widget on my home page. That and to log onto my favorite webcomics "Cyanide and Happiness" and "XKCD" and laugh hysterically at whatever dry humored joke they come up with.

That's it. Simple but reliable...No matter how crappy I may be feeling at whatever lemon life has decided to chuck at me on any given day, I can always manage a smile by seeing those two things.

So I guess the purpose of this blog is to encourage everyone to think about what makes them happy. The simple pleasures in life if you will, and really learn to appreciate them for what they are.

~The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet. --James Openheim~

A Critical Error in Judgement...

~There are no mistakes, the events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn. Whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go~ --Richard Bach

I have made a critical error in my judgement of someone and in my trust in myself. I was so eager to find someone I'm compatible with that my normally strong holds on my...well, let's say "heart" for lack of a better term...were way too relaxed. Maybe I let the unusually strong mental connection get the better of me this time around. Wouldn't that be a refreshing change for once? To be smitten with someone because they were a great conversationalist way before I even saw them and realized they were *gasp* good looking too? I assumed one of three things were happening. Turns out I was right.

To be fair there was never any false pretenses on his part. His initial impression to me and everything he told me about himself and what he wanted was true and held true from the time I met him till today. He was charming, and sweet. Handsome and smart. It was I who changed. I told him I wasn't looking for a relationship, but I was the one who fell enamored. I wasn't used to a guy treating me well and being honest with me. Completely and utterly honest with me. I saw more than was there, put more worth on what I thought I saw. It's all my fault and I'm the only one to blame. I did scare him off probably. And just as well now than later.

I AM grateful to him however. For finally breaking me off the bonds that have held me to one person for so long. For once in more than a year, I thought of someone else everyday. Saw someone else in my dreams. Dared to let my heart heal like it has been trying to for so long. For that I will always appreciate the impact he made on my life regardless of how short it may have been or how strongly I let it affect me. Moving the person from "maybe/definitely" to "acquaintance"...the event to "lesson learned". Locking the padlocks around the wounded heart once again. Men beware...Jaded!

Love is in the air...

~Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible, it canot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possesion could--Barbara DeAngelis

~My brother is in town for summer break and I am glad! I haven't seen him since he flew up for my dad's birthday in March and having him around makes me happy. You never realize how much you miss someone till you don't see them for long stretches at a time. But the silver lining in all this is that we are closer now that we were when we lived together and saw each other everyday. He is thinking of transferring back up to Washington State for his last year of college and we've played with the idea of becoming roommates again.

~Jessica's wedding went beautifully! Kate and I braved the ferry system and traveled together to Port Orchard and not only was it lovely to see the Cluster girlies together again, but to see our good friend married off to a great guy! The day started off sweltering hot during the outdoor ceremony but not even the fact that my legs were sticking to the chair could dampen my happiness as Jess walked down the aisle. She looked gorgeous in her dress and you can tell she was incessantly happy! The reception afterward had great food and good company...what more could you ask for? Of course more pictures are in my other sites (I wouldnt be the photo ninja after all unless I came up with at least a hundred pics). Next up is Rena. And slowly one by one the single girls fall hahahaah...April is Lindsey. Anyone else want to claim dates now or what?

~ There is just something about a well-versed, charming, handsome guy who can sit in his living room and play the guitar and sing for you while rain is falling outside that gets me all fluttery inside. Not saying that my relationship status is gonna change anytime soon but I can be a big girl and admit that I'm slightly smitten with someone. That was all...I just wanted people to understand that if I walk around with a dazed dopey look on my face, it is not because I am simple...it's because parts of my head that haven't been in use in a while is occupied with thinking about someone else.

Wise Words...

...from the 'Wise One'...for you to chew on a bit:

~Remember, be careful what you wish for. Maybe you should think of what you want in life and in romance, then decide who. Maybe that person cannot be who you need, maybe they can. Most important is to figure out what truly makes you happy...then figure out how to get there. How can anyone fulfill you if you do not know what you want and need? The only WHO that matters in this regard is you. After you sort that out then determine if the path you are one will lead you there...~ --J. Pirelli

Something to be said about stepping out of your comfort zone...

~Adventure isn’t hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life -- facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown and in the process, discovering our own unique potential ~ --John Amatt

What started off as a fairly uneventful day definitely ended on a high note. I made plans to meet with a friend of mine to try out his motorcycle after work yesterday and due to one or more unforseen circumstances we ended up meeting an hour later than planned. But everything worked out since the timing made it possible to avoid the worst of the traffic.

We met up at Starbucks and then rode his Hayabusa across the water into the Lake Union area to see his friend who lived on a houseboat. Side note: R1's are nice but Hayabusa's are better. More comfortable if you're a passenger. Anyway we met his friend and borrowed his zodiac ( I call it a liferaft with a motor...but technically its a small boat) to ride around on the water. For those of you who have known me for a while you know I said Id never get into a boat where I can lean over the side and touch the water. Oh well, he convinced me to get in and it was actually really fun. We didnt go very fast and it was nice looking at all the mutli million dollar houseboats along the coast (including the Sleepless in Seattle house). Wind in my hair, sun in my face, good conversation. FUN :)

After we dropped the boat off and after I got a very nice crash course on how boats worked (torque and jet propulsion and weight ratios) we hopped back on the bike and had dinner at Eastlake Bar and Grill. After dinner, it was getting pretty dark and cold (the crosswind going back over the floating bridge was INTENSE) and his face shield was tinted so we rode up to his apartment in M.I. and grabbed his car ("JP" if you're reading this, you have a very nice collection of motor vehicles hahaha) Then he took me home.

Today I got off work earlier than expected so I decided to take advantage of the sun. Since I was just gonna be in my backyard anyway, I put on this black bikini I haven't worn since I was in college...and holy crap IT FIT!!! I remember telling myself: See?? this is why you run!!! LOL . Then I figured since its getting pretty late and it didnt seem too hot and since I saw a bunch of white people in boats yesterday DARKER than me...Id really take advantage of the sun and get tanned. I should have known better than to slather myself with baby oil and sit out for an hour and a half...45 minutes each side...I broiled like bacon :( No I'm not burned but I'm kinda pink around the edges and itchy. Oh well, after it itches some more it should turn into a really nice tan. :)

So...countdown of new stuff:
-be a passenger on a bike 300cc's bigger than Im used to? CHECK
-experience a houseboat neighborhood? CHECK
-ride a "boat" where I can touch the water without barely even leaning over the side? CHECK
-getting into a bikini I havent been able to fit into for almost 3 years? CHECK

Next up:
-going faster than 6mph in the said "boat"
-learning how to snowboard...maybe

Bring it on!

In my head...

There's a very thin line between love and hate. I find myself straddling that line many times...one foot on either side...not knowing where to turn or who to talk to. Confused and frustrated. Forgive and forget but it is so much easier to do one than the other. There are times when even my own head and my ability to logic things out on my own can't help me and all those times lead to insomnia with no one but my own thoughts for company. I am glad to say that more often than not, my own will to be happy drags me out of the muck and within a few days Im back to my bubbly old self. This time...well, let's just say Im still waiting.

Since apparently a few of my friends can understand french Im not gonna bother ranting en francais here...but...*sigh*

~When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive~ --Alan Paton

Quick Update and Haphazard Thoughts...

-I ran today, well more like I speed walked...just a couple miles, but since the last time I ran (oh, about 6 days ago) I've been ultra cautious. I barely even broke 3 miles that day and I woke up with a swollen knee again the next morning. Baby steps E...Baby steps. So far so good...

-Saw Wanted with Jay. He was in town for work and personal stuff. If any of you liked The Matrix or The Bourne Trilogies, then I strongly suggest going to see this movie. It's the wicked story line of Bourne coupled with Matrix worthy special effects...especially one scene about 15 minutes into the movie involving a red sports car and an interesting way to enter it *shivers* whew!!! Im still geeking-out about it! :P Got a little tanning in, a little exercise, sun and fun with friends...all in all a good way to spend the day.

-May not be able to go to Vancouver for a friend's bachelorette this month. Despite my usual tenacity in preplanning stuff and being organized, I neglected to check on my passport till a couple nights ago. Aparently it expired on my birthday. More bad luck = not being a US citizen so I have to send my stuff to San Francisco and the Philippine Embassy there along with a hefty $200 fee and a 2-4 week wait time. I checked to see if I could use just my permanent resident card and although that is proof enough to get back INTO the US from Canada, the Canadian Embassy "strongly suggests" I have a valid passport as well in order to enter it. I would just cross my fingers and head off to our northern neighbors with a green card and prayers but I'm too much of a wussy to risk being stuck at the border. I guess it's all a waiting game now.

-More fun coming this 4th of July weekend. Being out on the water...hopefully getting a little bit more of a tan to counteract my pasty-ness (for a filipina chick I've always been unusually pale). Last year we spent the independence day in the Philippines on vacation so needless to say there wasn't very much celebrating going on. Ok...there was NO celebrating going on. As far as people over there were concerned it was just another Tuesday. The American cousins and I were wishing each other a Happy 4th while our Filipino cousins were left to ponder whether they missed someone's birthday or anniversary. Fun stuff ;) Though to be honest with you if I had a choice Id rather spend my 4th back on Boracay beach, snorkeling with the fishes.

~Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time~ -- John Lubbock

Sunshine and an Iced Mocha makes an interesting day...

~Unfamiliarity is the initial step in the long process of creating a relationship. It is somebody you never knew that at long last through the process of knowing each other that becomes a friend~

Did anyone else notice the gorgeous sunshine today? I know I did! Im glad summer has finally FINALLY decided to grace us with it's prescence...I was starting to grow mold! The only thing that annoyed me all day were the random people I saw at work complaining at how hot it was. *sigh* Ten to one in another few months those same people will be complaining at how gray and rainy Seattle is. Oh well, forget them!

I met up with a new friend today for coffee at my not so local Starbucks. Never did I think I'd see the day when I become one of those people who schedule coffee dates LOL. Anyway, this person found me on Facebook a couple weeks ago (I still have yet to ask him how) and we got to e-mailing a few times. He wanted to meet up for drinks but since I didnt know this person from Adam I told him that Ill just meet him for coffee. It's a good out right? It's not dinner, not a date...and if it turns out that the person is a weird psycho stalker guy from one of those horror stories you read about meeting people online, you just have to smile and nod for an hour and chug your coffee (in the daytime) and that's that. Plus I did it on my lunch break from work so I really did only have an hour to spare. Guilt free and not lying :) And "S" if you're reading this...now ya know! :)

Turned out he was a pretty cool guy. Fairly normal, just enough quirks to be interesting. AND he feels the same way I do about camping!!! Brownie Points! So congratulations E for stepping out of your comfort zone. Courage for an unfamiliar situation + a lovely iced mocha on an equally lovely sunny day = interesting conversation and maybe a new friend!

After a VERY long day...

It has been a very very VERY long day at work. Inventory. Oh dread! But actually this day has not gone by in vain. Even before inventory started, a friend of mine called me out of the blue all excited to talk about her upcoming wedding. Now, keep in mind that it's that time of month for me so aside from feeling uncomfortable and cranky and annoyed at the long work day ahead of me, I really didnt feel like talking about love and weddings and such. Not to mention I have two other friends who are also getting married in a few months. Turns out talking to her did me good because her excitement leaked over the phone lines to me and it actually made me feel better to share in her engagement bliss.

Then during inventory, in a store full of guys and me being the only girl, the talk turned to relationship matters too. But keep in mind its a store full of GUYS after all so it wasn't "relationship" talk more so that it was "sex/pervy" thoughts said aloud. I chalk it up to the late hour. But anyway, it was actually cool to hear guy's perspectives about stuff like that especially when its from 5 different guys, 5 different age groups, and 3 different relationship status'. Im not going into detail about all the things that were said, since Im trying to keep this blog pg-13 but let's just say it was enlightening.

So as I rest and stretch out at 2am...finishing this non-blog that I felt obligated to write, Im gonna leave you with this dialogue from "Bones" that I felt fit this day perfectly:

~~
Booth: Here we are, all of us basically lone seperate creatures, circling each other. All searching for the slightest bit of a real connection. Some don't look in the right places. Some just give up hope because they're thinking "there's no one out there for me". But we all keep trying over and over again. Why? Because every once in a while two people meet and there's a spark. And yes...he is handsome...and she is beautiful, and maybe that's all they see at first. But making love? Making LOVE...that's when two people become one.

Bones: It is scientifically impossible for two objects to occupy the same space.

Booth: Yeah, but what's important is we try. And when we do it right, we get close.

Bones: To what? Breaking the laws of physics?

Booth: Yeah. It's a miracle.
~~

Hehe...I have the perfect quote or lyric or dialogue for anything!
Goodnight all!

Something to be said about being busy...

So the last...oh, 3 or 4 months or so, I have been busy up to my gills. I mean really busy. Work, work, work, more work, and it's gotten to the point where if I want to hang out with my friends or deviate the slightest bit from my routine, I literally need at least 2 weeks advance notice. Either to get that day off, switch shifts, or make sure I get enough sleep so I dont pass out while Im hanging out with friends. Im always always tired. I need to keep track of everything on my calendar on my computer, and the calendar on my phone....AND I FREAKIN LOVE IT!!!!!

It started out as making sure Im too busy to think about bad issues happening in my life at the moment and it evolved into something a lot cooler than that. Though its true I need to preplan everything in order to see my friends and whatnot but I find that the planning makes me appreciate the time I have with them that much more. And Im learning to better manage my money so I can afford all these events and the fact that Im tired and busy all the time keeps me from getting into trouble. And the great thing is the next few months (especially July and August) are looking to be my busiest time of all.

Another cool side effect of my hectic schedule is Im meeting new people without even meaning to. I met this guy at work today named Brian (his last name is unpronouncable so I wont even try) who just moved here from Oregon, there are two guys that I talk to often named Joe and Jordan who are turning out to be cool cool people...yes, I met them online so call me a hypocrite if you like. And just today I met a guy on facebook!

Its like that quote by Helen Keller:
~When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the window that was opened to us~

Well, I guess keeping myself occupied like I have been allowed me to see the window. Not only that, it allowed me to realize that the door that was closed wasn't locked shut. Just closed for the meantime. Think about that for a second!

Why Aspire?

~You have powers you never dreamed off. You can do things you never thought you could do. there are no limitations in what you can do except the ones in your own mind. --Darwin P. Kingsley~


My cousin Mike left me a comment on MySpace in response to a question I asked him about him selling his motorcycle. He said: ur really serious about riding.. what's the story?

I told him it was because Im sick and tired of being in the b**ch seat (passenger seat for those of you not up to the lingo)...which is true enough I suppose. But if I really think about it, these last 6 months or so, I've been on somewhat of a soul search. I just feel like my life is stuck in a standstill and not necessarily through any fault of my own. Have you ever felt sometimes that you just aren't "good enough" in any aspect of your life and that you have to change in order to impress someone? Yeah, that is me right now and since the beginning of the year. The hardest part of feeling that way however, is not that I'm trying to impress anyone else. The hardest part is that I'm trying to impress myself.

I think I'm on my way...I work out, I try to be a bastion of goodness for my church community, I have been a pretty good daughter and friend thus far, and Im pretty satisfied with my emotional and mental state. But somehow part of my soul still wants more. I need to change. And in that quest for change my efforts have been targeted towards changing the first impression I put out and my hobbies. Case in point: I curled my hair (which I am now sick off and will be straightening again as soon as I get time), Ive tried fishing and will be trying to go camping, I went to my first Mariners game, tried new foods, listened to new music, planned trips and events Ive wanted to do but never have, and etc etc etc...you get the picture.

I guess what it all comes down to is this: at some point or another, we all aspire to be something we are not. It's not a bad thing...in fact in some cases it could be good to try new things and see if you end up doing something you really like. To step out of your comfort zone and grow as a person. But in my case I'm guessing I'm in the middle. Between stepping out of my comfort zone and not liking who Im turning out to be. It's an interesting place to be, to really look inside yourself and realize what aspects of yourself you really really like, and to uncover insecurities you never thought you had. And apparently I have some pretty wicked insecurities...*shrug* Something to contemplate I guess.

In the meantime, I have been looking into getting a work/travel visa and going somewhere for a year. Ive found opportunities to work in Australia, Korea, and parts of Europe. Wish me luck.