Mental Vomit

2010-11-22T14:35:00.001-08:00

i can haz blog?

2010-09-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

I forgot I had a blog! Haha! Yet another tool to help me avoid getting work done in advance for the upcoming school year (TWO DAYS BLAAAAARGH).

Games & Fun from this Summer:
WoW - PvP is few and far between.
SC2: Jason killed it for me. Surprise! -o-o-
Krav Maga is fun, but Uyen's work schedule is erratic, so I haven't been training for two weeks :(

My goal this year is to be super organized and ready in advance so I don't have to stress after I leave work. I'm off to a great start, I know, but you should always hold the bar high, right? Oh, and I am going to start running at 5 in the morning. I was okay going to the gym after work, but I find I'm so grouchy and tired, it's such a chore. I've been saying I was going to do this for months now, but I mean it this time! Except every time I do high impact stuff nowadays, my knee muscles or tendons or something start hurting. I'll report back as to whether I could make the 5am wake up call.

In the meantime, here's how I keep myself in a good mood:

Artistic?

2009-10-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

So, here is my first attempt at artwork in several years, and before I started taking my online class. I had a Hot Pocket as a snack, and the wrapper was still on my desk, hence... this beautiful piece of art. The proportions are off, and I couldn't quite capture the angle of one of the lines... but whatever! This piece was done before any of the lessons, so I have yet to create something through formal instruction. I still need to run out and get some art supplies.

I was supposed to get some work done this morning, but delving into my artistic side seemed much more interesting!

In other news, I had originally planned to visit France this Spring to visit Grandmama, and to visit Normandy, but of course, as soon as I started getting serious about the idea, my parents urged me not to, as the exchange rate is apparently quite high right now. I should wait until the rate goes down, they said. So the trip is postponed indefinitely, and my soiree in Europe will have to wait another year... or longer.

Which is okay with me, since I also planned to visit Hawaii this summer. Trip taking is expensive, and I seriously had to consider teaching summer school this year if I wanted to go on both trips. Since one is canceled, I don't have to work during the summer unless I want to (which I most likely won't, but the money would be a nice treat .... hrmmm), and I can go back to my current favorite place in the world... Kauaii! Warm weather and relaxation > smelly, cramped, old buildings (and 14 hour flight... ugh). This time, I figure we could scale it down a bit and stay at a condo instead of a ritzy hotel, since we won't use most of the amenities anyway.

But so far away... a stack of grading and a week's... nay, a full year's worth of grading and planning stands in my way. I'll keep thinking of those sunny warm beaches. *sigh* I must plan a mini holiday sometime soon or risk losing my sanity! Au Revoir/Aloha.

"Happy Mwerfday":

2009-09-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

what I said to Jason the morning of his birthday....
... and a picture of him with his spiked-watermelon cake at our All Purpose Party. No triple chocolate cake for him!

We had a lovely Saturday night with friends, and spent Sunday with family singing Karaoke.

I am slowly catching up with the insane pace of work.

I have also realized that I have never taken any kind of artistic class before -- no drawing, painting, or photography, even though I enjoy all of them, and this makes me very sad. I always have these pictures in my head, and I would love to be able to get them out onto paper! Where does one go to learn these skills?

My birthday is on Sunday. I had plans to go to Disneyland, but geez, it's so expensive. So many things I want to do and places I want to see. What should I do?

Back to Reality

2009-08-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Since last time, I...

Got married (yay!!!)
Went to Kauai
Moved into my new apartment
Leveled my rogue to 80
....

Yup, that's all I did this summer! Work is just around the corner, and I have barely gotten anything done for the year ahead. Buuuuut, I do enjoy the quiet, introvert that I am. Watched my kitties play and my garden grow (and get infested with spiders, see above), cooked lots of good food, played WoW with Jason.

Work is coming, and it's gonna be hellish. But I'll worry about that later. For today, I'll just enjoy that breeze blowing through my window and the pasta I'm going to cook for dinner. :)

RIP, compewterz

2009-06-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

So, after seeing Star Trek (twice, and once in IMAX!!), I think I am in love with Spock:

I kinda laughed when Stephanie told me, but now I totally get it. Insanely intelligent, spunky... and let's face it - who can resist the Vulcan Mind Meld & that enchanting Vulcan Death Grip?! Super duper hot... all I have to do is get Jason to get a bowl hair cut and bleed green blood, and I think I'm set for life.

But, on a more somber note... as if their fates were intertwined, both mine and Jason's computers died from the same problem: overworked video card. Luckily, we have my trusty love-laptop (thus called because I got it for our anniversary), and so Jason's WoWing has not only not been interrupted, but also improved since he hooked it up to our TV, so it looks super nice AND the image is huge. However, this does leave one of us without a working computer.... grumble grumble...

Wedding plans are almost over, thank god. Just one more month, and no more worries... or money.... :( But hey, at least the school year is almost over! I can't wait for the long awaited summer... it would be nice if it were sunny out; this weather is terrible.

Jason has agreed to journey across the Atlantic with me to visit my mom's family in France. To Normandy! To Bastogne, and Austria! Since it's insanely expensive to go during the summer, I'm planning on leaving for spring break next year. I am very excited about leaving the mainland for Hawaii, and next spring to see my family. Maybe, if I can save enough money, I'll go on another trip summer 2010 as well.

So many things to look forward to. I am still depressed about turning 25 this year, and having not done anything exciting yet, so the obvious solution is to drink and party it up before the babies come popping out! There are so many things I want to do before I settle down with kids... I should write my own Bucket List. :)

Things that suck.

2009-05-20T23:16:00.000-07:00

Planning weddings.
My 3/4 period class. YEAH, I SAID IT ON THE INTERNET --- ITS OFFICIAL!!!
Stabbing my hand with a knife.
Disappointment.

Today, the secretaries at work came up with the "I Don't Care" Club, also known as the DGAF club. I would reeeeeallly like to join that club right now.

20 more days of work. 51 more days till Jason and I get married. Until then, I hate all the orphans in the whole world and everyone can /DIAF.

rowr. i am ready for a 3 day weekend :(

Growing Pains

2009-04-28T23:52:00.000-07:00

So, apparently the hotel Jason and I were going to stay at will be done in July as scheduled, but they aren't allowing anyone to book there until October. My heart is broken!! There are no other hotels on that end of the island, so we had to book at the Kauai Marriot on the east shore instead, which is much more resort-ey... bleh. Oh well. However, I do love the travel agency we are working with, since for the same price as just sleeping at the St. Regis, we get to stay at the Marriot with breakfast every day, plus we get to go on a snorkeling tour of the Na Pali Coast...

... and horseback riding to a waterfall in the jungle, which might make up for the loss of the north shore.

I still prefer to be some place quiet and isolated, but I'm sure it'll work out. This particular hotel also boasts the biggest pool in the entire state of Hawaii:Which is neat. I guess. Rawr.

I will get used to the idea eventually. I heard its quite relaxing in any case, and the location is much better for most of the things we want to do. Still... I can't wait :) But between now and then is this stupid wedding... which is a serious drag. So many things I still need to do, but have no true desire to get done.

Open House on Thursday... bleh.

In anticipation for the honeymoon, and potential surfing fun with co workers in May, I have been practicing my swimming technique. This weekend, I mastered submerging my head for extended periods of time! Yeah yeah, I know I'll need a bit more than that to be comfortable in the water, but hey, I'm headed in the right direction. Small, but important steps, and it's really been rewarding going to the pool or jacuzzi and just hanging out. Water is so soothing!

I am also really excited because my plants have started to bloom! Most of them took about a month to start growing, but now little tiny shrubs are growing in the planters on Jason's patio:
Meet Mr. Morning Glory, world! He's about 3 inches tall, but growing bigger and stronger every day. I enjoy watching my garden thrive, though I'm not sure why. The idea to start growing things just struck me one day, and now here I am with cute little plants to care for. Now I can combine practicing photography with green-thumbing!

Engagement photos this month as well... busy busy days ahead!

Absolutely, I do!

2009-04-14T23:10:00.001-07:00

Signs that I love The Office too much:

When I disagree with people, I sometimes start my sentences with "False --", and then carry on with my point.
I am starting to respond and think about things with the suffix-words "That's what she said". This includes my conversations with students.
A student asked me if they could do something, and I responded with "Absolutely, you can."

My spring break:

Muy Thai Smackdown, LA

OkGo @ House of Blues, Downtown Disney

Cookie Monsters

Kittehs & SPROUTS (Cat Grass a Success!!!)

I had such a wonderful spring break, but it already seems like it was just a dream. I am having a great time playing with photography and growing my plants... sigh... apparently, there are only like 40 workdays or something like that left, but I'm not going to count; it'll just produce more angst for me.

Otherwise... wow, is it 80 something days till Jason & I get married? People still ask about the wedding, and... I still haven't done anything :) It will take care of itself!

Level 80, my first Naxxramas run, soon married to J... I cannot wait. <3

Eating + Zzzzz = Weight Gain: Reality or Myth?

2009-03-31T23:25:00.001-07:00

So every day since the end of Daylight Saving Time, I have:

had trouble sleeping/falling asleep
woken up later for work than I should have
missed eating anything for breakfast -- or even lunch
gotten home from work sometime between 4-6pm without having ingested anything other than a 8 ounces of water and students' germs
consumed a small meal on my couch, and then
promptly fallen asleep on the couch, only to be roused an hour or two later to run to the gym.

This has been the pattern since... the beginning of March? I have been extremely irritable since then, so obviously this lifestyle has been taking its toll. However, I've also been warned by well-meaning friends and family that I should break the habit, especially that of eating and then sleeping, because it will lead to weight gain and my adventures at the gym will all be for naught.

I am a notorious food coma victim, and in the last year I have also gained a significant amount of weight, relative to my average yearly weight gain (which, until last year, had been approximately 0 lbs./year). So I began to wonder -- does sleeping after you eat actually lead to weight gain? I conducted some very superficial research, and here is what I came up with:

"..it's safe to assume that one's weight reflects the balance between calories burned and calories consumed over time, regardless of when you choose to eat."

- Dr. Julie K. Silver, M.D., Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School; gather.com

"It does not matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat. "

-Dr. Rob Shmerling, Harvard Medical School; intelihealth.com

"Sleeping itself, however, is not the cause of weight gain. As we have seen above, the key is really energy balance over extended periods of time."

-Jeremy Barnes, professor of health promotion at Southeast Missouri State University; Scientific American.

A couple other sources also confirmed this information (answers.google.com).Apparently, the general consensus is that:

1. There isn't a substantial amount of evidence that suggests eat + sleep = weight gain
2. It doesn't matter so much when you eat, but how much you eat, and how much energy you burn a day
3. The most damage eating and then sleeping can do is give you stomach problems that lead to lack of sleep, which in turn leads to a higher likelihood of weight gain

Now the next time you fall victim to a food coma, you don't have to worry so much if you're watching your weight. Which is good, since worrying and stress are also significant factors in weight gain. :)

Quiet, Inspired Weekend

2009-03-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my dad, Giang, and Ken, I have spent my weekend reading and practicing photography. Certainly did work up a sweat. I need more subjects (and to apply everything I have been reading about... still shooting on complete auto focus... //fail). But! I did have fun. The fruits of my weaksauce labor...things I'm currently pondering: can't wait till spring break next week, can't wait for my boots to arrive, i wish i had more money, photography is fun; i must improve! let's dance, i need to go to the gym, i can't wait to for church, let's go to the spa, jason is my favorite purrito.

Yay for Springtime!

2009-03-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

Although my favorite season is actually summer, I'm glad that most of the rain is over with for now, and I could look forward to warmer weather and sunny skies to brighten my mood.

Everyone asks me how the wedding planning is going. Well, it's going, and frankly, I don't really care that much. I'd much rather just forgo the wedding and save up money for a house. Yes, I am also insanely jealous when I hear about the incentives for first time buyers, and the nice houses available, but the fact is, my job isn't exactly stable right now, and who knows what's going to happen to the economy in the near future. I'd rather bide my time and see what happens, even though my impatience and love for new toys wrings my guts every time I think of owning my own home.

Actually, the most exciting part of getting married (besides the registry; more on that later...) is the honeymoon. I am absolutely ecstatic about going to Kauai, where I will be immersed in my favorite things: good food, warm weather, hiking, beaches, luxury, quiet, and Jason. Every time I get anxious about work or the wedding, I think of the honeymoon and I feel better. I revel in the thought of how much fun is ahead of us, especially considering where we were staying.

I had to choose between the two best hotels on the island: one on the south shore, which is the resort/beachy area, and the hotel on the north shore, the quiet, lush green area. It was a tough call, because the south shore hotel had amazing grounds and pools and lots to do, whereas the north pretty much only had seclusion and an amazing view to offer. Between Jason and myself, we decided the north shore was what we preferred, and that hiking on the island and playing in the ocean, rivers, and waterfalls would be our "pools".

I think we're going to be well rewarded for our choice, since the hotel we chose was closed last year for a complete remodeling and is opening July 1st. ZOMG! That means, we will be staying at a basically 11-day old resort.... with the best view in like... all of Hawaii.

Exactly why I'm excited:

That is going to be me in a few months!! I love how the pool is right by the ocean... seems a bit redundant and pointless, but I'm not going to complain!

Ironically, there is all that water I'm going to be frittering about in, and I still don't know how to swim... grumble grumble. One more thing to get done before July!

I am very happy. I am ok with my work situation, as it seems I will still have a job (hopefully at Lake, but no one knows what's going on, bleh...), the wedding is like whatever, the honeymoon is completely paid for and planned out to the hour, and... I have a registry full of stuff, and I love presents, and, of course, my fiance is the bestest and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!! WOOOO Kauai, I mean, marriage. !!!!

Uncertainty

2009-02-26T22:53:00.000-08:00

I hate change. I understand it's a fact of life, but it still knocks the wind out of me whenever there is an unexpected turn of events.

Everyone has been talking about job cuts. For the last few months, I have felt like I have been staring out a glass window at the horrible economy, so I could see and hear about the effects, but not really feel them.

Today, that window was shattered.

At a meeting today, my ignorance about the situation of the district was purged. Though it is anticipated that I will still have a job for the 2009-2010 school year, there is, from my understanding, a 95% chance I will be working at another school.

I am devastated by that news. I work with the most amazing people. No matter what my mood, one of my co workers is always there to make me smile. We work together, we support each other, and at the end of the day, we can shrug off our woes and share a laugh. Work is often bearable because of the wonderful, caring people that I see Monday through Friday and have built relationships and friendships with. I consider myself the most fortunate probationary teacher in the district because of the people I work with, and the support I have always received at Lake. I love my job; it is perfect just as it is, and I just wish I didn't have to leave.

When I talked to my boss about it, I laughed it off. Really, it is laughable. How dare I be unsettled about moving locations when there are people out there who don't even have a job and have families and children to provide for? Also, no one anywhere really knows what's going to happen -- who is actually going to be moved, and where, or when.

Then, when I got home, I cried a little bit at the thought of leaving what is like a second home to me -- I spend sooo much time and energy at work, it's almost retarded. I know there is no sense in worrying about things that are beyond my control, and really, I'm not worried. Life always works itself out in the end. And as I said, nothing is definite.

I am just so thankful that I am still collecting a paycheck, and that for at least a few months next year, I will still be collecting a paycheck. I am so glad to have worked at Lake, and I hope and pray that I'll get to keep working there next year, even though the chances are slim to virtually nonexistent that that will be the case. Who knows, maybe I'll like my new school even more -- I know that I'll certainly grow and learn a lot more, as a professional. I'll try to keep thinking positively -- I learned, one Monday morning when I was in a particularly bad mood, that if you just try to fake being ecstatic, a little bit of it rubs off, and you feel better anyway.

Something so small as moving to another location is making me value my job so much more. I will continue to count my blessings, for I know there are so many in my life, many more than I could count and list here. I'll cherish most (if not all (grading essays)) of my time at work, and try not to be so sad or worrisome, and to enjoy whatever time I have left. And I'll keep smiling at work, because eventually, I will feel better about this.

Survey says....!!

2009-02-06T02:41:00.000-08:00

1. I do not want to turn 25, or continue to age, because I love being young, and 25 feels old to me. 21 is too young; 24 is on the brink right before 25, so 23 seems the perfect age to me. If I could have become a vampire last year, I think I could have been happy for the rest of eternity.
2. I want boys for children, and I only want three kids. I have never wanted girls. I don’t even like girls, as my best lady friends are not (stereo)typical girls at all. I would, however, settle for an oldest son, another son, and then a youngest daughter. But no older girls, and no girls if possible, please.
3. Ironically, though I want boys for children, I have, thus far, only come up with a good selection of girl names.
4. I like uniforms and the military, and being a part of a faction (For the Horde). When I was in college, I took an occupational affinity test, and my military affinity scores were literally off the charts in comparison to both men and women of my age group.
5. My favorite movies are horrors, epics, and war films. Someone once told me it’s because I need constant excitement. I think that’s true. I also think I have waaaay too much testosterone in my body.
6. I do not like being alone. I don’t necessarily like being in the same room with people, but it comforts me to know that there is someone within walking distance. Thus, I try not to work late, and avoid coming to work on weekends, since I feel lonely when I am there.
7. On that note, I love to party and have fun, but I need to follow “fun” with down, quiet time, or I get stressed. The time I need in a quiet house is dependent on how extreme the partying I’ve done, and how many consecutive days I have gone out.
8. After coming out of a damaging relationship, I developed the conditioned response of crying whenever talking about anything remotely serious. Sometimes talking to my bosses or coworkers makes me want to tear up, even though I might feel completely emotionally neutral, or even happy.
9. I was once meticulously neat in my youth. I am now a disgusting slob. I don’t know what caused the change, but I would like to be neat again.
10. I was once a self proclaimed elitist, and was also asked by my sister if I thought I was better than other people. I consider myself a person of good taste and high standards, and when it comes to thinking I’m better than others, frankly, in that respect, I no longer give enough of a damn about other people to engage in self comparison. Take it how you like.
11. Ever since I became a teacher, I have more deeply considered what it means to be “Gifted and Talented”. We often talk about signs of giftedness in our students, and I laugh when I think of the person who designated me as a gifted person. However, I will admit I take some pride in that title, even if it is meaningless.
12. People have jokingly told me I need an intervention when it comes to drinking, because I guzzle alcohol like water and I drink with the intent to get drunk. I think I have issues with stress, since the underlying reason for my drinking is that it relieves stress, I don’t worry about things, and I let go of grudges and embrace all of humanity. I like to think that’s how I really am, when I’m not clouded by biases (soberness). I don’t see how that’s a bad thing.
13. I hate the title “Christian” or people who say they want to be “good/better Christians”. I love God, and I feel that by focusing on those titles, the center of your attention is yourself, and not God. I figure if you focus more on loving and serving God, then your focus is on Him, and not superficial words and works to fit a title. To me, it’s a subtle but crucial difference.
14. I love writing and language. I find it interesting that when a teacher in another discipline makes a mistake, it’s forgivable, but anytime an English teacher makes a mistake about anything, it’s a cardinal sin. It’ s very strange how much reverence and authority we give to those who have a strong command of language.
15. I have always had a heart for the underdogs of the world.
16. I have always considered myself a blunt, straight to the point, “real” person. I try to present myself to others as I really am, without masking any of the flaws. What you see is what you get with me, and I admire and seek out people who share that quality.
17. I like being unique, and not cookie-cutter in any respect. I may like something mainstream, but I most often try to tweak it to become more personalized, and more Quyen-esque. To define my style, I’d have to say “nice, but rough around the edges”. This statement also probably makes no sense to anyone but me.
18. I have been told I come off as extremely intelligent, or extremely ditzy. I mostly get intelligent (yay). Therefore, it Is very surprising to me when , through random conversations, I discover how naive I am about the world in general. I just found out what “booty call” really means about 4 days ago.
19. It happened more often when I was younger , but sometimes when I heard or said certain things, it made me feel like I had a large die made of bone, with rounded edges, in my mouth. I don’t know why, and why the feeling was so specific. Apparently, this is very strange.
20. When I was younger, the closest thing I had to a favorite color was black. I think that lasted until college, and then my favorite color was green. In the last few months or so, I have really enjoyed baby/blushing pink. People used to think my favorite color was blood red, and then I noticed how much red I kept around me. Now, my favorite color are red and black. They were my high school colors, the colors of the Horde, my sweet 16 prom colors with Jason, the colors at my workplace, and now, the colors for my wedding. I find them bold and classy.
21. I had a horrible fear of zombies as a child. I would cry when forced to watch zombie horror films. Then I played a little game called “Resident Evil”. Killing zombies in the game was empowering and therapeutic for me, and now I love zombie movies. However, there is an illustration in a children’s book called “Scary Stories” that I still cannot look at to this day without feeling a little panicked. It’s of a dead woman. I am still afraid of dead women.
22. I like to think I have an acute sense of smell. I like being able to smell things well.
23. I took a personality quiz that told me the deadly sin that characterized me was Envy. It told me that when I died, I would probably be in a hospital bed next to someone dying of a rare, exotic disease, and that I would die a nice, quiet death, envying them. I have to say, this is probably right on the ball. If you got it, I probably want it. Unless it requires a lot of work, then I probably don’t care because I’m a lazy bastard.
24. I hate and love myself for being an enabler. I will probably have really intelligent, polite kids, who are also really spoiled.
25. I had a friend notice that when they talk to me, I don’t even look at them. If this is you at some point, just know that I am not ignoring you, and that I am in fact listening quite hard. I get distracted if my eyes focus on something. If my eyes aren’t focused, I can concentrate more on listening.

sleeping kitties and other random thoughts

2009-01-26T21:54:00.000-08:00

New layout! I was going to use something more austere like a sunset or candles... but the kitty was so cute, I had to have it! This should tide me over till I find something else that fits my fancy... which really won't be all that long, I'm guessing.

So like... I've come to the conclusion that some people are just amazing. There are very few things I am passionate about, so my life is quiet and simple, and I like it quiet and simple. However, I was reading Jason's friend's blog, and this young individual decided that her life wasn't what she wanted it to be. She wasn't and couldn't be content with the way things were, and then left everything that she knew and that was familiar to her to serve abroad. I am so tied down to my sheltered, OC life... I admire anyone who can let things go and start fresh somewhere else, especially if they leave to serve.

Also, I've been sticking to my goals so far, but talking to Jason, and going to Target inspired me even more!

I was saying how I wished that I had more artistic talent so I wouldn't have to pay exorbitant prices for artwork that I like, and Jason told me that he thought drawing and painting was pretty easy, if you just kept at it. I can attest to this, as at one point, I used to draw really cute chibi-ish characters that actually looked like what I wanted them to look like. Thus, I think at some point, I will take up... artistry!!
I want to play tennis. Or volleyball. Some kind of sport. Haven't decided which, or how much, or how often. But it could be fun and exciting!
Dad gave me a lesson on technique and composition the other day using my peers' photo albums on Facebook and Flickr. It was informative, and fun -- bonding time! He also shared some of his homemade cameras... dude, getting a nicer camera made my photos look better... but seeing the stuff Dad can do with a camera that cost him $100 to make is like... whoa. Talk about skills! So yeah, more on that hobby I started last summer.
I was walking around Target and I wandered into the seasonal aisle... I am so in love with paper lanterns and patio lighting; I can't wait till after my retarded wedding is over with so I can buy cool stuff like paper lanterns!! But really, I didn't notice there were packets of seeds, and I started looking... I want to eventually grow some herbs and stuff, but I figured I'd start small and start with some cat grass and see if I have a green thumb! I'm going to grow my very own garden (and then deck it out with PAPER LANTERNS!!!)!!!!!
I have been inspired by my co workers to learn to swim, and perhaps take up surfing. That's right.
And. Paint my furniture.
And. Get a small fish tank.
And.... something about books. I like reading :)

Things could get very interesting around here very fast. I wonder what this list will look like come year's end.

Pandora Radio is pretty Effing cool, btw!

Also, the subject of children's names has come up a couple of times. Needless to say, Jason and I have differing opinions about what we will name our children. I insist that mine are cool, but he says they are either snotty, or gay sounding. I think his names are nerdy. I wonder what that says about us.

If we have girls: Scarlett, Nadia, Elle, Mila, or Keira (the one name we could agree on).
Boys: Gavin, Seth, Westley (yeah, Westley is kinda gay... too much Princess Bride growing up, maybe).

Ironically, though I hope my first child is a masculine child, I have more female names than male ones. Argh. Will have to look for more masculine, less-gay names in the future.... waaaay future, hopefully. Being young and having fun has not gotten old yet. No pun intended. But that's another matter for another day.

Mmm... I look upon my list with satisfaction. Sleep time. Hiking this weekend, if weather permits.

24 Sucks.

2009-01-20T22:37:00.000-08:00

I thought of more practical goals, but they are chafing me awfully all at once.
___________
Post-Edit:

a. Learn to swim. EEK!
b. Sew something. Anything. Been dying for a practical skirt. You just take a big piece of cloth and cut the middle out, right??

_______________
1. I can buy anything I want, whenever I want -- but the total must not exceed $100 a week, including all necessities (gas, food, etc.). This sounded like a great way to monitor my spending habits and weed out things I don't really need... but as I am slowly putting it into practice, I realize this is a painful process and much harder than it sounded initially. However, it does force me to be more selective about my purchases.

2. Keep my car and room clean. This has been nice, but I fear, hard to maintain. I wanted to get my car detailed, but... maybe next week, when I get another $100. I did manage to clean out my closet and got rid of some things I don't/haven't really worn in years.

3. Keep going to the gym. 4+ weeks straight, and still going strong. This also helps with my time management. I'm happy with the results.

4. Keep detoxing from Hateorade. This is probably the hardest of my goals, since it's not really something I can measure... but it's so important, for so many reasons. I hate being negative, and want to burst with youthful exuberance. Being 24 sucks; I would have been content with being 23 forever!!

And of course, life wouldn't be complete without parents interfering with wedding plans. I am so over the wedding, I could hurl. Whatever; it'll be over before I know it.

But other than that, I find myself happier than I have ever been before. I feel healthier, oddly more positive, and more energetic than I can remember in my many many years. I have so many people to thank for it, too -- you know who you are.

I'm totally craving summer time, sunshine, and ocean. Hopefully I can find more of these things soon.

New Year

2009-01-04T23:33:00.000-08:00

The "holiday" season is officially over, and tomorrow I return to work. I can honestly say... I have no desire to return to work, but there are kids to discipline and a paycheck to be earned. I am glad to have a job in these uncertain times.

Spent a lot of time with family, new and old, over Christmas. Was glad to spend my New Year's Eve with Lisa and Annie. Have been working out consistently since slightly before vacation, and I'm hoping that returning to work won't drain me too much.

This year promises to be a big one for me. Aside from taking a new name, I hope to subtly reinvent myself. I had a pretty bland 2008, and would like 2009 to be more exciting.

Generally speaking, I usually don't write New Year's Resolutions, since I figure any time is as good as another to set goals. However, in the spirit of.... fun?... I decided why the hell not? I wrote some rough drafts, but wasn't all the crazy about what I wrote, so I'll just write whatever comes to mind and hope it works.

1. Stop drinking Hateorade. :)
2. Reign in my shopaholism. Shopaholicalism? Ehh, you get it. And. Be more selective & varied about what I purchase.
3. Speaking of which, reign in my alcoholism!
4. Continue on my path to Mr. Universe!! //flex.
5. Make Jason's kitchen my Smash Lab for new recipes at least once every month.

There are more things, but I'll have to add them later, as none come to mind right this minute. It's late, and I mourn the passing of vacation. Next event to look forward to: Hoang Christmas Exchange.

Parties and Neuters

2008-12-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

A stressful, emotional couple of weeks for me, and I'm glad they're over... and I can begin to enjoy the holidays.

Been engaged for 2 weeks, and I have my date, church, and wedding reception location, so I'm very happy about that. I'm also in touch with a fantastic and somewhat affordable photographer, and I'm hoping everything goes through.

Went to Jason's work party, and it was a lot of fun. Still pissed that I didn't win the things I wanted to win... need to do things Varimathras style: "I'm always on the winning side." But oh well, 'twas good fun!

Sho also got neutered, poor thing.

He was so groggy the first day or two, and he seems to be returning to normal, but I think he's calmed down a bit. Only time will tell.

Spoiler Alert!

2008-12-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

Crazy day yesterday.

10am- 5pm: Wedding dress shopping. I went to three different stores yesterday. Those dresses are... heavy. And seriously, after about an hour or two, they all start looking the same. Here are the kinds of things I looked at:

While I found them to be quite lovely, I did in the end pick something much simpler and, of course, much much less expensive. I am glad that part is over with!

My lovely ladies and I took a brief lunch at about 1:00, then headed off to the last store where I picked my dress. Stephanie was the only person who survived the whole day with me till 5. Jason and I were supposed to go see a possible venue for our reception at 5:30, but because we were in HB and it was in Fullerton, and I had only just eaten about an hour and a half ago, we decided to screw it. I dropped Steph off at her car and, exhausted after a long day, headed home to Jason's apartment.

We stepped in, and it was dark. Jason told me to close my eyes because he had a surprise for me. I did so, and listened as Sho meowed in the darkness. Jason turned the lights on, and I heard some shifting. He told me to open my eyes. When I did, I saw him holding a precious little cat in his arms, and around her neck was my ring!

At least, that was how it was supposed to happen. But, as we all know, I am a spoiler of epic proportions, and things didn't quite work out the way they were supposed to....

As we got back to Jason's apartment, I really needed to use the bathroom. Jason already seemed like he was in a mood, even though he had been playing games at home all day, and he told me I had to wait. It seemed an odd request, especially coming from him. I knew something was up, but held my tongue.

We got back to the apartment. I turned on the light, and called Sho, who is not allowed in the living quarters while we are away since he has a tendency to chew wires. He came to me, and Jason walked back towards the bedroom and shut the door -- which he never does. I heard some odd shuffling, and the opening and closing of doors. This went on for maybe three minutes. I knew something strange was going on, but I didn't dare to hope it was what I thought it was.

Finally, the bathroom was vacated. I rushed in and did my business, and then came back out to the hallway. Jason called me into the bedroom. I noticed the door to the living room was closed -- we usually only do that to keep Sho out when he's being extra crazy. When I walked into the bedroom, Jason was sitting on the floor with a young cat in his arms. She looked just like my old cat Kita, and I cooed at her.

The cat ran out of Jason's arms and dove under the bed. Jason grabbed it by the waist and dragged it out from underneath; it clawed in desperation, trying to get away.

"Do you like her?" Jason asked, trying to keep his grip on the cat. I quickly assured him I did, but she painfully reminded me of the cat I had lost a few years ago. She dove under the bed again, and Jason held onto her. "There's something on her neck," he said. I was instantly worried. Was she diseased? Did she have flea bites, and fleas that she would spread to Sho? I almost voiced my concerns out loud. Almost. But then I realized what he really meant. I stupidly asked, "Like what?"

He smiled softly, and took her collar off. She darted underneath the bed as a small shiny fell from the collar into the palm of his hand. We sat facing each other on the floor, and I couldn't believe it was finally happening. He took my hand and held the ring in front of it.

"That's my right hand," I said shyly. He laughed nervously and replied, "I know," and then switched to my left hand. From the living room, we heard the crash of porcelain and cardboard. Sho was going hysterical in the living room - he hates to be separated from us.

He popped the question, and I said yes. We hugged, kissed, and then went to go soothe two cats -- crazy Sho in the living room, and Bella under the bed.

It was crazy and unorthodox, and didn't quite go as intended, and I could not have asked for a more romantic proposal.

The Cleansing Power of Alcohol

2008-11-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

Alcohol cleans surfaces, cuts, and as I learned last night, emotional maladies!

I have been just a wreck lately. Even though I received two amazing review for my evaluations this week (yay me), there is always something else that needs to get done.

On top of that, Mom and Dad are meddling with the wedding plans... granted, I don't care all that much and would rather just throw like a house party, but it is still my wedding. I was hoping because I am so low on the totem pole, no one would care, but... yeah, that was an idiotic thought. I think we have come to a compromise about the reception, but I sense there is going to be more drama to come.

Add that to bickering with Jason and going to a wedding about which I had mixed feelings, and (to quote David Hasselhoff) ... /points to self : "This is a mess."

So, I went to the wedding and got smashed with the GGHS Class of 2002. Embarrassing, and ultimately trashy, but drinking really cleared my mind and kinda washed away all the insecurities I was dealing with at the time. We were a little loud, but we brought the party to the house, and everyone had a great time, including myself and Jason.

The great thing about alcohol is that it makes me honest and without inhibitions.

When I remember what I said and did last night... I'm glad that I only had nice things to tell David and Drexelle. After the wedding, I also cleared up stuff with Jason, and this morning, with Mom. I'm still a little woozy, but I hope this positive feeling lasts so that whenever I start feeling worn down, I can remember that everything has already been resolved.

Alcohol sanitized me. Thanks, alchy!

Green Light!

2008-11-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

Monkey slain. Mission accomplished.
Sho has grown so much in the last few weeks!

Anywho, Jason and I took Mom and Dad out to Black Angus tonight to declare our intentions, and surprisingly, they took it well. We had a nice conversation, some yummy steaks, and it was strangely uncomplicated. We did a little preliminary scheduling, and then decided to go home and watch Letters from Iwo Jima together. It was really such a small step towards marriage, but so important, and I'm glad it went over well (dinner and intentions, not Letters).

Also, my ring arrived on Thursday, and Jason has been keeping it out of my sight. I want to see the shiny!! Can't wait to see the ring -- I would pretty much put off planning a wedding indefinitely. Too much money and stress involved to make it worth it. Planning and cooking good eats is so much more fun!

Having spent so much more time at Jason's new house, I have begun experimenting with foods. We always have a supply of fish, beef, and chicken on hand, and then some. I'm proud that everything I've made so far has been edible and tasty!

Some of my recent creations:

Couscous w/ beef and spinach (featured here!)
Baked ziti-ish pasta
Chicken Alfredo w/ asparagus
Grilled sandwiches and croissants... mm....

I swear, there have been more, but they slip my mind right now. I am both proud and excited about venturing into the kitchen to see what I can whip up with what is on hand. Things will only get tastier, and I will feature the best stuff here! Woohoo, go food!

Ok. I've run out of energy, so till next time... who knows what will happen next!?

First time for... lots of things!

2008-11-16T03:35:00.000-08:00

OMG, I'm on blogger! I got tired of dealing with my wordpress site. Although it was neat and customizable, I think I'm too lazy for that kind of business these days. More push-button publishing, please!

Lots of new stuff going on, and it has nothing to do with work!

Jason has moved into a new apartment with our darling Sho kitten.
Sho has eaten or chewed up $100+ worth of merchandise.
I have realized that I should be even more selective about who I sacrifice my time and energy for, and...
Jason and I custom built my engagement ring this weekend! Of course, my surprise is sort of almost spoiled since I helped build it, but I will attempt to further ruin things by trying to find the thing when he stashes it at the apartment! I love surprises, and I hate waiting.
Quyen = spoiler.

Today was a great day. Jason and I have been meaning to find out how far he lives from the beach and go jogging, and today, we did it (it was also to make up for the fact that we skipped out on going hiking this morning due to the heat)!

At about 5, we left the apartment and hit every red light on the way to Huntington Beach-- 10 minutes, traffic and all, from home to the ocean waves. Supremely awesome! We're trying to be more active, and all summer I worked on endurance running, so today we decided to time ourselves and work on speed instead. We went out next to the ocean, and there was no moon, so it was pitch black for a bit before our eyes adjusted. It was rather scary at first, since there was no one else out there, but then it became a mini-adventure, like we were in WOW or something. Before we left the house, we had looked at a satellite map to decide how far we would run. Just a mile today, at a quicker pace than usual.

It was okay, and then it hurt, and then it was over in 9 minutes, 50 seconds.

I was kind of surprised, since I am primarily a long distance runner, but I know that I can do better than that. I did feel like throwing up when I was done on account of being out of shape, dehydrated, not knowing how to breathe properly, and having the taste of salty ocean in my mouth; my ears drums hurt something awful when we were done, but I'm glad that we went out nonetheless.

Jason was a little peeved at our time, so tomorrow, we're going to reduce distance and try to cut time... which should be easy, since we're running a shorter distance, but he wants us to go at a faster rate (i.e., ludicrous speed).

We drove home in 4 minutes. If running doesn't work out, I'm going to start biking to the beach instead.

I am super excited about the future, immediate and distant. And, I love blogger. This was easy, and novel, and thus, I think I shall do it again soon (with pictures of Sho eating a monkey).