1997-1998

Whenever I feel like I'm a loser and feel like my life is mundane and going nowhere, I sometimes look at this certificate to gain some perspective.

Hands down 1997-1998 was one of the best years of my life.

It marked the first time travelling abroad and travelling solo. I was shitting bricks on the 24 hr flight from LAX to Kotoka International Airport. Of all places why pick Ghana and why for a WHOLE year? Why couldn't I have gone to Spain or England or France, like normal people?

Living in Ghana was like a reality check. It was a slap in the face that I desperately needed to wake me from my sheltered western world coma. The physical environment was harsh, as well as dealing with the unsanitary conditions. Conveniences were taken for granted as the most basic necessities such as electricity and water were difficult to obtain. It was emotionally taxing seeing people who had absolutely nothing, yet they are the kindest most hospitable people you will ever meet. I got malaria, and it was the sickest I have ever been. I didn't think I was going to survive the year. But I did!

It was worth it though, the positive experiences outweighed the negative and how many people can say that they've been inducted in a secret society vodou ceremony?

Remembering this part of my life is like looking at the life of a stranger. Did I really do this or was this someone else? Sometimes I'm amazed and proud of this achievement but now and then sometimes I think I was a fried chicken short of a picnic.

Although, I am older and not as fool hardy as I used to be, I must have that adventurous spirit left in me somewhere. If I can do something like this back then, why not now?

The year 1997-1998 is evidence that I can do anything if I set my mind to it. As much as I belittle my life, it is far from mundane and boring as I sometimes falsely claim it to be. The truth is...If you want your life to change you're going to have to take some risks and have the courage to jump. That's the key.

Exam Day and Sushi

I gave my exam a good spanking today! I owe it all to the sushi!

(via Flippin' 365)

Can You Guess Our Wedding Theme?

Click pic to enlarge


«No Cheating!!!»

The tango!

From the leg work in the pics, it's the Argentine tango

Accordian (bandeneon) (a key instrument in the Argentine tango)

Red (color of passion and the tango is a passionate dance)

Pet Peeves and Good Deeds

I was very annoyed at people today. This is partly due to the fact I have been sleeping at 4am and getting up early to study for an upcoming exam. Also, because it has been pissing down rain this past week. I have been a grouch monster and it ain't pretty. The littlest things were setting me off today like...

1) People who stand at the BART ticket machine like a deer in headlights for like 20 minutes trying to figure out how to purchase a ticket and people totally unprepared when it's their turn and dig forever in their purse for change. Hello? There are a million people standing behind you waiting to purchase a ticket and will be late for their train hence late for work or school. Can you step aside and get yourself sorted? FUCK!!!!

2) Know-it-alls who spontaneously yell out during lecture. Who gives a fuck you that you read ahead, shut the fuck up and let the professor finish her damn sentences!

3) People who turn up their ipods way too loud so that you can hear their shitty taste in music filling up an otherwise silent and tranquil subway car. It was Swedish death metal by the way. Ugh!


4) People who have no regards for other people's personal space on the bus. Um hello? Your backpack is shoved into my face. Seriously, I got so fed up, I elbowed this person in the back and they fell forward.

Ending on a positive note, on my commute home on a very crowded bus again I noticed the lady sitting next to me was a bit uncomfortable. It was like looking at a mirror image of myself. She was squirming in her seat and could not sit still. She unbottoned the top of her shirt and she was grasping her neck struggling to breathe, I can tell she was breathing pretty heavy with the rise and fall of her chest. She was fiddling with the air vents for more air. This woman was on the verge of hyperventilating.

I asked her if she was ok and she said she didn't feel well. I asked her if she was feeling like she was having a panic attack. She said "YES!" I told her that I can empathize and that I suffer from them too. She was surprised and said it totally sucks. So I gave her some tips about how to calm down and relax which basically means don't fight the panick, just let happen. She miraculously felt much better, her panicky feelings disappeared, and thanked me.

Glad I was of good use to humanity today.

I'm Addicted

...to PUPPYCAM!!!

Live Streaming by Ustream.TV

People are Batshit Crazy

Yesterday, a man jumped from the ledge of the Forever 21 building at Powell and Market. Crowds of people were encouraging him to jump and he did. As he fell face on the cement, onlookers laughed and cheered. They then gathered around him taking pictures and videos?!?!? I bet most of those people were tourists! That's where crowds of them gather waiting for the cable car turnaround.

What the fuck is wrong with people? People are so sick!

HopAlong+Flippin' Yank = Flippin' Irish

Supposedly this is what our Flippin' Irish (half filipino/half irish) kid would look like. Kinda looks like a young Bill O'Reilly.

Thanks goodness he doesn't have my nose!

Flippin 365 Xpost: Eating Pho With One Hand Can Be Quite Challenging!

(repost via)

He Pays Attention

HopAlong remembered how much I enjoyed the Ikebana exhibition at the Cherry Blossom Festival last Spring. I love it, it's a work of art!

This is My Valentine

I woke up to a gorgeous arrangement of flowers this morning.

In Honor of Valentine's Day!

Sade is Like Fine Wine

she always gets better with time. I am digging her new album. I can't get over how beautiful she is...

This is What I'm Learning At the Moment...

OOPS! SCRATCH THAT LAST POST!

THE HOSPITAL CALLED BACK! I'M ON TO ROUND THREE! I HAVE AN INTERVIEW NEXT WEDNESDAY!!! *DOES THE HAPPY DANCE*

P.S. I CAN'T GET OUT OF CAPS MODE!

So the Hospital Called...

and left a message on the house phone this Monday. I did not learn of this message until today. So I called them back and left a message. I can't get a hold of anybody.

I hope I didn't fuck this up!!!!

p.s.- My health screening test is clear. So I'm assuming they're calling me in for Round Three which is the interview.

It's 4:38AM

and I'm still awake studying about the hepatic portal system and the function of hormones in digestion and absorption.

PAR-TAY!!!!

An Example of UK Customer Service

HopAlong actually took the time to type out a transcript of a customer service call with Sky TV. Just reading this frustrates me and makes me absolutely LIVID! I wouldn't stand for it, but then again UK customer service make American customer service reps look like saints.

Started getting letters from Sky a month or so ago about 1 of our boxes not being connected to a working telephone line. This happened around a year ago and an engineer came out and sorted it, apparently.
Anyway, I called them today and spoke with Jennifer.

Me: Hello Jennifer. I have a letter here saying that 1 or both our boxes are not connected to a telephone line.

J: Yes so i see. How is your box connected up?

Me: There's a box upstairs. A telephone line is coming from that, into the wall, comes out in the livingroom behind the main box. Both boxes are then plugged into a telephone extension line that was installed by your engineer. That runs along the wall and out into the hallway where it's plugged into the main phone socket.

J: There must be a problem with the line somewhere. You'll need to get on to BT to have them sort it out.

Me: I'm talking with you on the line now. The line is fine. The extension line your engineer fitted isn't exactly the best of jobs though. He basically got a length of telephone cable, badly fitted a double phone adapter at each end. He didn't even crimp 2 phone plugs at each end to plug into the adapters. He just stuck the wires into the bottom of each box.

J: You'll need to get on to BT to have that sorted out. It's their line.

Me: But BT didn't fit it. They're gonna tell me to call you.

J: We don't deal with lines here. There's nothing i can arrange at this end for that.

Me: But you're engineer fitted it.

J: He probably did it of his own bat.

Me: Well while he's in someones house working with a Sky t-shirt on, he's doing it of Skys bat.

J: You need to get on to BT to have a new extension fitted.

Me: So now i'm gonna have to pay to have a BT engineer come out to fix something your engineer installed?

J: Yes. And i notice you've had 2 letters sent out already. I should tell you that once you receive a 3rd letter it will be taken very seriously and you will be charged a fine so you better get it fixed.

Me: Thanks, bye.

I ripped the adapters off each end of the extension, went out to the garage and got my crimping tool and fitted the fuckin things properly. Sorted.

Is it me?

Body Rhythms and Pigging Out!

Oh my God!

After working out, I was so famished I went to taco bell (I usually don't eat fast food) and ordered 2 chicken soft tacos and a nacho supreme. I engulfed it. That didn't quite satisfy me so I went to McDonald's and ordered large fries.

I don't know what the hell came over me, I was craving fast food really bad. Maybe I'm not eating enough calories?

I also kept taking little breaks during Zumba class because I was knackered. I gave it my all again like last time but a bit tired. Just when I was doing so well. My body rhythm is pooh!

Belfast Made It Into the Wall Street Journal

I was browsing the WSJ and came across this article...

From The Wall Street Journal Roundup (February 5, 2010):

BELFAST-Northern Ireland's main Protestant party backed a compromise plan with the Catholic minority to transfer police and justice powers to Belfast from London a nd save their power-sharing government.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson, who leads the 2 1/2 year old coalition at the heart of Northern Ireland's 1998 peace accord, announced the breakthrough in the early hours of Friday. Terms of the deal would be announced later in the day, he said.

The DUP and its Catholic parter sinn Fein have been mired in a long-running dispute over delays in the transfer of justice power from the U.K. government to Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein sees the issue as crucial to the political process that was designed to end decades of sectarian violence.

Sinn Fein -- which precipitated the power-sharing crisis by threatening to withdraw from the coalition -- had already announced its backing for the plan. But the Democratic Unionists were divided over whether to cut a new deal with Sinn Fein.

Mr. Robinson said his party's lawmakers "have unanimously supported the way forward."

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams welcomed the Democratic Unionist approval, saying the deal would cledar the way form the crisis-prone coalition to "proceed on the basis of equality, fairness, and partnership."

The agreement charts a path for creating a new Justice Department in Belfast that will take control from Britain of the province's police and courts. The deal will give Northern Ireland its first justice minister and marks one of the boldest steps toward consolidating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Wishlist: Fierce Dansneaker - Capezio - Dancewear Solutions

Fierce Dansneaker - Capezio - Dancewear Solutions

The Capezio Fierce Dansneaker is a super lightweight shoe with a patented Arch Support System. Includes the new non-marking PU outsole with built-in flex points to prevent gapping. The breathable mesh and removable insole fight odors and continue good air circulation to the feet. Capezio’s Fierce also features heel pull on tabs for an easy shoe change.

This shoe would be perfect for zumba class. The sneakers I'm wearing now makes it difficult to pivot which in good time will eventually mess up my knees.

I'm Feeling This Right Now...

Weird video. Good Song.

Overwhelmed

I missed school today. I didn't sleep at all last night and have had this problem for two weeks. Everything is hitting me at once for some reason. I don't know why.I feel so overwhelmed with school and thinking about the future, and the long road of school, and the visa process which I haven't even begun yet because I'm still in SCHOOL and I NEED A JOB but how am I going to finish SCHOOL on schedule if I am WORKING FULLTIME because I need a steady paycheck so I can sign the affidavit of support. And how am I going to put in my VOLUNTEER HOURS AT THE HOSPITAL to get into PHARMACY SCHOOL if I'm WORKING FULLTIME. And how am I going to get a HIGH GPA and get into PHARMACY SCHOOL if I am WORKING FULLTIME?!?!?! Blah, blah, blah....This is the chatter in my head that keeps me awake.

When I am overwhelmed, I want to hide from the world. I want to stay in bed with the covers over my head hoping I could disappear. But this just makes it worse.

This is my second week of school and I'm already starting to burn out. I have a shitload of chapters from 5 books to read. I have to read The Wall Street Journal every day from front to back. I have to do a dietary assessment every day. It seems like the hours and hours and hours I spend studying, I feel like I'm never caught up. I'm about to go postal. And missing class today isn't helping my situation.

So, when things get really tough. I always call HopAlong. He always makes everything alright. He sang me a few songs to exorcise the "crazy chatter" out of my head. This is why I picked him.

And to end with another high note, I just came back from Zumba class tonight and discovered that my stamina has gotten better. I also danced like nobody's business. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like a dancer. Good 4 Me.

At this very moment....

HopAlong and I are talking via skype. Well, I'm talking and HopAlong is busy fondling his new 13" MacbookPro. *cough* bastard *cough*

My First Body Flow Class

I just came back from the gym after body flow class. Body flow is a mix of pilates, yoga, and tai chi. At first glance, it looks really easy and relaxing.

Boy, was I wrong! I was sweating like a racing snake. We did a lot of holding positions that were killer on the thighs and the abs. Ever since I quit dance 4 years ago my core has been very weak and my balance is way off. All throughout class I was wobbling and at one point almost fell flat on my face!

Really good class to strengthen your core, balance, and improve your flexibility! I'm thinking of going twice a week as I'm really weak in these areas, obviously.