so much to catch up on...

august 14, 2010

i turned 30.

see how much i've matured.

it's so evident here.

august 19th, 2010

tim turned 34

he's still super handsome, and aging wonderfully!

Wow, it's been so long...

let's get caught up to date:

november, 2009 - devin learned to read.

december, 2009 - phyllis came to visit us and we had a delicious breakfast at our favorite breakfast spot, The Oakland Grill.

january, 2010

we adopted Donovan.

i fell in love in New Orleans!

tim and i managed to succeed at getting only one picture together on new years eve. we were along the mississippi river watching the fireworks.

we waited nearly 2 hours to meet this man, Mike the Champion Shucker, and this tray of oysters. and we'll be doing it again in january!

february, 2010 - road trips!

mt tamalpais

mt tamalpais amphitheatre

my bestest friends, paul and hillary.

driving along hwy 1

devin loves car rides!

march, 2010

mele took a break from her studies in Scotland to come visit me!

we had a spectacular lunch at Lake Chalet!

april, 2010

The Hot 8 Brass Band rules!

live at the New Parish

May, 2010 - we brushed devin.

july, 2010 - took a surprise, upsetting and very unpleasant trip to las vegas with my sister and my mom.

This was news:

"Cats lap water so fast that the human eye cannot follow what is happening" - duh.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/science/12cats.html

marshmallow fondant is good.

First you take the 'mallows and you melt them, you melt them.

Then you take the sugar and you mix it, you mix it.

Grease your surface, grease your hands - LIBERALLY! This mixture will stick to everything and anything that isn't greased very well.

Also apply elbow grease as you knead, knead, knead until it forms to a dough-like consistency. 

Coat your marshmallow formation with additional grease, then wrap tightly with saran wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

I couldn't help but lick my hands clean! Mmm, deliciousness.

Because it happened so fast, here's a reminder:

-Listen here to Manny Pacquiao's post-fight comments.

-Pacquiao wants TWELVE kids?!! 

ai nako, naman!

The first fireworks show of the season at the Oakland A's Coliseum was AWESOME!

... but painfully cold!

Lyuba, a baby mammoth found perfectly preserved after 40,000 years in the Russian Arctic. Fascinating story of her discovery, recovery and analysis on the air right now. Check it out or read the article in the current issue of National Geographic.

i know my resume word for word by now.

(list above courtesy of unemploymentality.com)

Here's what mine looks like:

1) Wake up panic-stricken at 4AM with an overwhelming sense of insignificance, but then fall back asleep because depression is exhausting.

2) Sleep in until 9:30AM, then stare at the ceiling for 20-30 minutes.

3) Let the dog outside to pee, poop and bark at passers-by.

4) Turn on KALX for eccentric, amazing and/or painfully annoying music while preparing breakfast: fried egg, black coffee with turbinado, toast with Earth Balance.

5) Eat breakfast in front of the computer while checking my 3 email accounts and then log-on to facebook, myspace, yelp, blogspot, fark in attempts to continue being in touch with the world.

6) Do #5 for 2-3 hours.

7) In addition, for 2-3 hours, feverishly scan Craigslist, Indeed, and Monster for a job, "any*" job!!

8) Decide to "do something with myself"

- Create perfectly aligned rows of light beige and dark beige carpet while vacuuming

- brush my teeth

- make the bed

- feed and walk the dog

- create natural household cleaners, especially one for the shower curtain

- do the dishes (only applies when they are piled up too high or if something smells)

- consider sweeping and dusting

9) Look at the clock once the door knob starts to turn - it's 4:30 and Tim's home!! YAY!

REPEAT x74 days... and counting...

Note:

Since March 9th, I formed a group called "The Walking Unemployed". Essentially, we are a group of people frustrated-with-the-job-market, bored-as-hell, can't-stand-this-weight-gained-sitting-on-my-ass-waiting-for-an-employer-to-call-back who want to meet similar minded people. We meet every weekday morning at 10:30 for coffee and a brisk 2-8 mile walk in various parts of Oakland. This group has saved my sanity by giving me reason to get up and get moving. I can insert this in between #4 and #5 on my list.

* with the exception of fast food service, telemarketing, live-in caregiving, tutoring, and envelope sealing.

Good Night & Good Luck

This afternoon we payed our respects to one of our favorite spots in Oakland, the Parkway Theater. I first learned of the Parkway through my mom and dad, "They have couches, and you can order food!"

I was too young to go then. Hard to believe that was 12 years ago.

Moments there have been good (Grindhouse, Sensitivity Training, double date w/Mpho & Klaudia, Tim & Melissa's downtown Oakland MEGA DATE, etc.) and bad (grimey couches, flat beer, spilled beer, forgetting our food order, guy behind us farting during Choke, etc.), but here was a theater I didn't have to sneak a tall can into. Here was a theater I could catch a film I couldn't bare spending $12 on seeing (2 for 1 Wednesdays like WHAT!). Here was a theater I could do a little cross dressing and step out for a midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show...

-image deleted-

Let's keep our hopes up that the closing is only temporary. Until then, you know you're all welcome to grab a 6 pack and come on over to the crib to watch whatever cult/foreign/oddball film I've ripped, err, umm, rented from netflix. 

Please show your support by clicking here.

Unemployed

... and I'm suffocating from the stress of it all. 

10 years?!

Next month, on April 18th, I will be "celebrating" during my 10 year high school reunion. 

*gasp*

I cannot believe how much time has gone by, but at the same time, I greatly appreciate how far away I am from 10 years ago. 

Now, I did not graduate from Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, but I did go there for half of my Sophomore year. Despite having not graduated from here, I do feel it somewhat necessary to attend since I did go to junior high with everyone from this class - Go Ralston Rams! 

It will be quite interesting to see everyone again - how much they've grown, where they live now, how successful they've become (since that is what people care about, right?). 

I'm very excited about this but totally dread it at the same time -especially the ordeal I must go through up until the reunion:

- lose weight... at least 10-15 pounds! Double that would be better, but totally unrealistic. 

- grow taller.

- correct my posture. How embarrassing to still be slouching after all of these years!

- buy a cocktail dress. I was thinking a short, black dress with stilettos, but how ordinary... yet oh-so-sophisticated and sexy if done right!

- learn how to repeat, in a short but not too basic paragraph, the story of my fabulous life including all of my achievements along with all of the special components that make me who I am now. 

*breathe* 

So far I've come up with, "I like caring for sick animals, and I can place an IV catheter single-handedly. But enough about me..."

Basically, I know I will be judged on how I've chosen to live my life after high school. That, or no one will give me a second of their time. I know I was that girl in high school - artsy, strange, flamboyant, sarcastic, independent yet very easily influenced -- all of which contributed to my appeal with every clique. But would this "popularity" really stand for anything after all of these years? Or will the topic of coin trump over individuality? Will there be groups of yuppies standing around holding martini's discussing the latest in their over-indulgent luxury purchases, while others coo over baby pictures? Am I going to be the only one that still listens to The Smiths?

No matter, since I am happy to be exactly where I am (but if someone wants to buy me a BMW M3 Coupe', that's perfectly fine with me). I guess I'll just have to wait to see how this goes...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Devin wuvs you.

foot in mouth as i type...

Cool! If only my mind's eye would allow me to see things like this - instead, as I wait for the train, I just see the repetitiveness of formed red dots indicating train arrival time, a sea of people listening to ipods that disconnect their personal antennae and BART officer shootings (ohhhhhh! low blow, i know but i was going for my taser!! er, wait, this bit of a rant is all unintentional).

No seriously, enjoy The Animals On The Underground, and maybe we can trace ours with an imaginary line on all of those metropcs and iphone ads.

Ever have the feeling that you're being watched?

This is what we see from the corners of our eyes and edges of our plates, every time we sit for a meal.

(Yummy fried rice but overcooked broccoli take-out)

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

This outfit is embarrassing and repulsive! I totally dig MIA and love her music (sometimes), but have mercy on our eyes and cover up or assemble a different ensemble! Something, anything but THIS!!

ps. yes, it is my business.

The ball is in motion...

On February 23rd, I will be starting my 40-hour long externship at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. I got assigned today through the externship coordinator of my phlebotomy program. I am so thankful because this means I am closer to becoming a certified phlebotomist, which would provide me a unique career in healthcare. 

After 6 years of being a veterinary technician, I have decided to make a slight career change from animal venipuncture to human venipuncture. This decision came after the disappointing and heart-breaking reality that my position at the Berkeley Humane Society would be terminated as of February 1st, 2009. In addition, practically everyone is being devastatingly impacted by the current state of the economy, that few veterinary hospitals are hiring. (I have this silly thing called standards which prevents me from working anywhere else other than an animal shelter or a holistic practice. I'm not in such a terrible financial condition just yet to work just anywhere.)

I've always really enjoyed the act of venipuncture, and know that the purpose is extremely important for diagnostics in patient care. Although I am crossing over from animal healthcare to human healthcare, I don't feel any differently about my goal, and that is, be the best and be the kindest. 

No Reservations: Philippines

Ai nako, here it is! It's (practically) confirmed.

I am plastering the words now: ANTHONY BOURDAIN'S VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES AIRS FEBRUARY 16TH. Tune into the Travel Channel at 10pm that night.

I can see it now - 

balut, adobo, sinigang, lechon... all the key foods of my people, and all the reason I became vegetarian at thirteen. Food is very much appreciated and respected, which is comforting in a sense for the animals that are used in every dish. But really, Filipinos use animals in everything that is eaten. You'll see during the show.

Filipinos love to eat, I mean, really lub it. I'm excited to see how Philippine cuisine is portrayed on the show. I hope it's all done in good taste (harhar!).

 

Finally, a new blogspot layout!

I'm having a hard time sleeping, not only because Tim is snoring very loudly, but because I took a nap this afternoon and I am not sleepy right now. 

I am excited with this new layout. I think it's a pretty neutral choice, so hopefully Tim will like it. If not, I can hover over his shoulder giving my honest opinion as he scans for another.

Merry Christmas!!

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and a very happy New Year!!

Our tree this year...

Devin's first Christmas! 

I can tell that he is not pleased...

Cheesy grins!

These guys are too much! 

Oh, but I love them...

Thank you, Phyllis! I love the new mugs and dishes - they are so cute. You really had us guessing, "What on earth ARE these heavy presents?" 

Go on already!

To this day, personally, I must say that 2008 has proven to be the most depressing, most pathetic year of this decade. As I type, I reflect back to every heart-wrenching experience that has taken place this year, and I cannot think of anything more than the urgency to get this year over with already.
I am eager for the upcoming new year for the chance to feel revived hope and prosperity. And with that said, 2009 is going to make it all fine!