A new decade is upon us...

It honestly freaks me out a little that we're entering a new decade, but I decided to get in the spirit because I'm watching VH1's "I love my millenium" dealio and its making me crack up :D

iunno, i mean entering a new year can be overwhelming enough, but another decade? makes me crap my pants when i think about what can happen in the next 10 years... ::sigh::

in the past decade, i graduated from elementary school (the private school i went to was junior kindergarten to 8th grade, so we just considered the whole thing "elementary school"), high school, and i will be graduating from my undergrad. new people, relationships, experiences, but also lost a few, some breakups, and rather bad times... i dont know what exactly to say, but these 10 years have been interesting, to say the least. ive grown and developed so much, but to be honest im more amazed at how ive grown and developed within the past 4 years...

looking back at 2000, i wouldve never thought my life had turned out the way it did; makes me appreciate my life and everything i have going for me a little more...

my old coworker cid told me that although school life will be ending, the real world is just beginning.

my toast to 2010: it shall be my best year yet. good people in my life, amazing opportunities, and new experiences. and even though im really talking about now till september, i hope for the best for everything afterward as i enter the "real world" and all


quote of the moment:

"you're very lucky to have both of your parents living, and both of them together still" - my beautiful cousin Tina (the real Tina...)

What a wonderful Fall Quarter :D

So much to be thankful for <3

- Minimal sickness
- Minimal stress
- So much time
- Catching up with friends from froshie year
- 21-ness
- Attempting to save the department and believing in something <3
- Possibly being finished with finals on the first day after the time slot for the first final :D

[to be continued... :D]

Let's go! HOOOOOME stretch!

For once, I want finals to come! Then winter break. Then 2010! :D

im not saying im ready for finals (HAH) but im ready for fall quarter to end and for winter quarter to begin. i sincerely believe that new beginnings brings new opportunities, so COME ON ALREADY 2010!

i am genuinely excited for all the opportunities and amazing things that 2010 will bring me :)))

Save TXC: Info to Educate & Motivate [please read]

On September 14, 2009, the Dean’s Proposed Action Plan for the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CA&ES) Academic Prioritization Committee Report was published. It starts off: “A faculty committee led by Professor MRC Greenwood was charged to advise our college on how to absorb expected significant budget cuts in ways that strategically position us for the future.”

The Academic Prioritization Committee (APC) recommended the closure of three departments: the Department of Environmental Design, Department of Nematology, and the Division of Textiles & Clothing (TXC).

[Dude, they didn’t even consider consolidating us. Just straight up closure].
Although this Action Plan is dated mid-September, TXC students did not discover the news until October 20, 2009 through an article in The California Aggie (You can access it here). Regardless of the news, department chair Dr. You-Lo Hsieh, stated in a letter that the department will still do its best to help us learn and thrive.

Why do they want to close it? The APC notes the small size of the department – we are so small that we are considered a “division;” ironically, we have been trying to hire new faculty for decades and have not been able to because of the lack of resources put into the department.

It is important to clarify that the APC recommends the closure of the department, and not the major; declared majors will be able graduate. However, what you may not realize is that the department IS the major. We TXC majors and minors exist because of the faculty who have invested much time and energy into our education and research for others.

The APC report also makes note of the College’s future priorities to Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (i.e. Agricultural threats; food safety, food choices, & adequacy; global hunger; genomics, proteomics and biotechnology, climate change, urbanization, migration, land use, etc).

While we (those who represent the major and the department) acknowledge these as top priorities as well, we want to you to consider this: California has the largest apparel industry and is the second largest cotton producer in the nation.

Guess what? UC Davis has the only Textiles & Clothing program within the UC system, and also has the only textile research institution in the state.

The department’s academic mission “is to develop, integrate and disseminate knowledge in the physical and social science aspects of sustainable production and consumption of fibrous and biobased materials and products.”

First of all, we don't [necessarily] design clothes. Those who do are the design majors who focus under textile and fashion design. In addition to the focus on the social and psychological aspects of clothing, a popular emphasis is Economics and Marketing.
[Sidenote: I have NOT been busting my ass for the past few years over these required managerial economics, mathematics, and chemistry-based classes just for you to think that this is some “froufrou fashion major.”]

TXC majors & minors take classes such as:
- Style and Cultural Studies (TXC7)
- Textile and Apparel Industries (TXC8)
- Textile Fabrics (TXC162) & Textile Fabrics Lab (TXC162L)
- Principles of Apparel Production (TXC164)
- Clothing Materials Science (TXC171)
- Intro to World Trade in Textiles & Clothing (TXC174)

We are taught in the classroom and the laboratory by outstanding faculty, those who are responsible for the research and ensuing development on military suits, firefighter jackets, anti-microbial gowns, etc. They continue such research for important stakeholders (i.e. the Occupational Health & Safety Association [OSHA] and the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] to name a few) that utilize our research.

The numerous creative projects give us hands-on experience for the future and greatly help us obtain internships in the field of retail, marketing, merchandising, testing, etc at companies such as Banana Republic, bebe, Target, Macy’s, Ralph Lauren, Cost Plus World Market. We have open and strong connections with our TXC alum; they often visit us and give insight during the quarterly career development seminars.

As these students graduate, they are able to find positions in the field of their choice. Our alum work at companies such as GAP, Nike, Adidas, BCBG, Northface, etc. Although a substantial percentage enter textile and apparel-related industries, that does not deter other alum from going into different fields such as finance and technology (they work at Wells Fargo and Google, respectively).

The uniqueness of Textiles & Clothing stems from the department. You know what’s even more amazing than everything I just told you? The faculty to student ratio is so low that I get the exceptional attention that I want and deserve.

TXC majors and minors, specifically juniors and seniors, acknowledge that without a doubt, we are prepared for the future; however, we feel that the closure of the department will invalidate the degree that we obtained for the future. And without a "valid" degree, how will we help California maintain its substantial apparel industry?


What can do you to help? Help us to dissuade them.

Write Dean Van Alfen (nkvanalfen@ucdavis.edu), Provost Enrique Lavernia (lavernia@ucdavis.edu), and Vice Provost Patricia Turner (paturner@ucdavis.edu) and tell them to reconsider the department’s closure.

I’ve given you my two cents. Now give them yours.

True Life: WTF Am I Gonna Do After College?

LAWLS to my title :D

Fall Quarter has turned out so different from what I thought it would be. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's just... unexpected.

Approximately four weeks left in the quarter, and there's so much I want to do. And school is the least of my worries :\

This time last year, I totes thought I would be applying for a full-time job. Of the many things I've learned at the ICC, I noticed that companies start hiring for full-time positions as early as fall quarter (eek!). Some of my incredibly down-to-earth and ambitious friends, they started job-hunting as early as Fall 2008 and still were struggling to find jobs once graduation came (alas, they were victims/class of 2009 haha).

And what have I realized? That I still don't know what to do with my life. I'm constantly debating with myself and adding but ruling out options... A few weeks ago, I had a quarterlife crisis and realized I should've been a design major (::gasp:: yeah, i said it). Or at least, I should've double majored (too bad there is no minor, here at davis).

Iunno, I kinda thought this year would be such a "breeze," but I realize that there's an inverse relationship between time and pressure which begets my anxiey (as time decreases, the pressure to quote-on-quote figure out my life increases which equals z0mg anxiety).

My poor sister... she has to deal with my late-night panicky phone calls about the future. Thanks Ate, I love you.

ps - to those of you who actually read this, i'm sorry these are so depressing (to say the least). my job allows me to express my thoughts and creativity through artwork and social mediums, but this blog (other than facebook) is the one place where i can be honest, and that itself is cathartic.

i feel like im fighting for a lost cause.

Then why try anyway, right?

So conflicted. This is supposed to be my best year, my senior year. And then I got all sappy & shit that it was my last year. I didn't think things could get any worse, but... what's that saying? The straw that broke the camel's back? Yeah, something like that. I feel like that's just happened.

Before junior year ended, I was introduced to the beginning effects of the budget cuts. I was saddened to hear that the services we were offering at the ICC were being cut. On a more personal level, hearing that course alternatives that I wanted to take were being cut (due to budget cuts of course) sucked even more.

I was pretty excited to come back to my on-campus job, but I was informed mid-August that I was let go. Why? Because of budget cuts? Ooh, aren't you a smart cookie ;)

And it was officially released Monday (you can access it here) that the Textiles & Clothing department will be closing (I'm a TXC major, if you didn't already know). I've come to love that major, and the whole department has worked hard to create a well-rounded and interesting program that can apply to [mostly] any post-graduate field of choice.
(You know what's ironic? Earlier that day, a few TXC majors and I were part of a career panel explaining to freshmen why we love our major and how wonderful it is i.e. personal attention, well-rounded program, interesting subjects, etc only to find this out?! WTF)

I'll be spending my senior year fighting a seemingly impossible battle. Call me young, optimistic & stupid, but tell me, whats the harm in trying? And frankly, the more you tell me "no," the more you motivate me to prove you wrong.

Here's to hoping that we prove them wrong, ladies <3

110 memories... & Little Prague

Not gonna lie, but ever since I've gotten back to Davis, I've hit the bars just about every week haha. Ohhh the 21 life <3 and my liver. lol

I went out last night with the roomie & a former suitemate, and dude, it just felt like old times. We were reminiscing about schtuff that happened from Freshmen year, and then we realized we were seniors. Ohhh man. haha
[For the record, we are the remaining ladies of suite 110 <3]

We were catching up and learning about the "Downtown Davis" scene. It was pretty interesting... It's nice to wander around tipsy/buzzed/drunk when youre finally LEGALLY 21.

mmm Little Prague is our/my new favorite bar. Such a hidden gem. Kudos to the nice lady bartender :)

Being there, catching up, and talking about future plans just got me thinking about something else: studying abroad

I'm hoping to defer graduation so I can study abroad (something that "should be done before you graduate college), and im pretty excited. However, I'm weighing a practical decision (going to the UK to pursue a design course) and a kinda whimsical one (going Germany).

Aaand right now, I really really want to go to Germany. Maybe if I sleep on it, the desire will go away? Hah, doubt it.

Why Germany and not the UK? I took German for all four years in high school, and after taking the placement test here in Davis, I placed into intermediate German and took GER21 (as a Freshmen, mind you). Actually, when I came to Davis, it was because I wanted to pursue a major in German. It's funny how things change... But regardless, I miss the language. I miss speaking it and learning about the culture. Hmm...

Ich hoffe, dass mein Vater verstehen werde.

Thoughts on beginning the school year...

I've been extremely fortunate to feel and experience all that I have in this community for the past three years. All of it has been extremely worth it, especially now that I am at this point: my last year of college.

To be honest, I never saw myself getting here. I feel like I have to start putting on the brakes on this car ride as I realize that there will not be another fall, winter, or spring quarter like this one, that my days of taking the crowded A-line in the morning will be my last memories, or gracing the UC Davis campus will be my last time as an undergraduate.

Thank you to everyone older than me who has given me the wisdom to realize this beforehand. I try to eagerly take in each day and appreciate everything before me.

As each day flies by, I grow increasingly proud to be take part and use this great institution called "UC Davis" (well, i better be effin able to use it cuz otherwise where the EFF did my tuition money go!?). Mmm, some reasons?
- "one of the nation's top public research universities and is part of the world's pre-eminent public university system."
- Among the top 10 "green" universities as stated here (you know, all that sustainability we practice on campus, i guess?)
- American Farmland Trust has named the Davis Farmers Market America's Favorite Farmer's Market! (Okay thats not UCD related and its actually the city of Davis related but still!)

Gooooo Aggies!

my 2009-2010 resolutions

Iunno why, but prolly due to college and the quarter system that Davis is on, my year starts when the school year does. Therefore, I have a list of goals and/or resolutions I would like to keep:

- Study as hard as Susan does (Great... that's like 250% more than I study already)
- Go to a football game
- Attend Arrow Jam? (I've never been)
- Hit that downtown Davis scene :P Aaaand Sacramento! The Park, anyone?
- Be more involved with my TXC loves <3 - Hang out with buddies! :D - Go to some EC shows - Exercise - Work less, play more

Note: the list shall continue &&& here's a small preview: 2010 is going to be a great year.

Senior year: bittersweet

This past summer, I've been working full time. It's been exhausting (I know, I'm so weaksauce), but I am excited to go back to being a full-time undergrad with fewer responsibilities or worries.

However, whenever my thoughts truly focus on my last year, it's anything but exciting. I am filled with such anxiety, and to sum it up, it's very bittersweet. I love thinking ahead, but my thoughts and words change to accommodate them properly. My thoughts and words are changing to accommodate my future plans. For example, when writing one of my cover letters, I usually inform an employer that I am "pursuing a major in..." and now I actually had to change it to "finishing a Bachelor of Science in..." Oh goodness, I'm finishing my major. The end is near! haha

There are so many new opportunities I want to explore, yet I have to figure out my life at the same time? Last chance to dance with the Hawaii club, last year of being an ESL tutoring, last chance of being an undergrad... Le sigh.

I usually like to include some optimism, but "bittersweet" is just the best word to use right now.

Dear everybody growing up

Two years ago (yes, it was actually two years ago) I wrote a blerb about how to transition from high school to the real world. My answer? Go to college, far, far AWAY to college.

And here I am today. Anxious because in a year I will have to face the real world.

Well, I just hope my definition of college didn't offend anyone. That was obviously a very biased definition, but that still doesn't change the fact that going to [UC] Davis, getting away, and struggling with life lessons on my own has helped me grow up.


Oh, growing up.

summer09: summertime, and the living's easy... kinda

haha i am enjoying my summer so! and tomorrow i transition onto something different and exciting

From the end of finals till now, I've been extremely fortunate to have a month-long vacay from EVERYTHING. it was a difficult transition at first (from two jobs, school, hawaii club, tutoring then BAM nothing), but i got used to sleeping in, watching tv all day, and my mom being concerned about what i was gonna eat all day - hah! i swear, it has been theeee life, mayne (i don't know why i just typed it like that haha).

And so tomorrow ends my time of laziness. I'm starting work tomorrow (which I am very fortunate to get! This company knows I'll only be here till middle of September, yet they have hired me and believe in me to make some sort of measureable difference). I'm nervous, excited, anxious, and optimistic! :D

Since today was my "last day of summer vacay," I definitely made the most of it. You know, sleeping in. Seeing friends. Going out to eat. It's so so SO nice to know that good friends and good food are only a 15-20 minute drive as oppose to 30 mins or even 2 hrs.

Goodnight world, sleep tight <3

why i lubs home!

- 237, 280, 101
- my mom making sure that i get fed :D
- knowing that good food is very close-by (as oppose to succumbing to davis or driving all the way to sacramento)
- nice bay area weather
- house parties & ghetto bay people

and the list shall continue...


"i gotta feeling" - black eyed peas

"the only constant is change"

i remember my accounting professor said that. and i thought it was sooo insightful because i had never heard it before and yet it was so true.

the beginning of the end [on this transition called college] is upon me, and i can't help but reflect. to fellow freshmen out there - your last year will be here before you know it. gosh, it seriously just seems like yesterday that i was back in milpitas, waiting to get the hell out/eager/scared to start again. and now i'm... here back in milpitas lol waiting for my last year to start.

i remember last year i made a list of all the good and bad (but mostly good) that happened in my life that i was soo grateful for. i havent made a list for the past year for a reason... i've met some amazing people, but its hard to say that i'm truly... thankful? for everything that has happened. iunno. haha i blame working so much :P so much work, not enough time to think

life changes... ::sigh:: it's funny how you think you have everything planned out, and then things change. its kinda sad that the people in my life that i thought would stick around for another good 5-10 years are now distant and an unimportant part of my life right now. sometimes its just hard to let go... sometimes growing up is hard

hello july.

finals is the BEST time to blog

because that means more procrastinating! yay!

im bummed because i've neglected this precious blog, but that doesn't mean i still dont write (or type) out what's going on. you can catch me here:

http://icclab.wordpress.com/

i work on campus at the uc davis internship & career center as a student advisor, and one of my side projects has been this blog. i consider it my baby, something i am very proud of. i've worked me hardest to bring it life and raise it to student standards so that it will catch attention, entertain & educate, and promote the services of the ICC better. i've put a lot of work into it and i'd appreciate it if you showed it some love too :)

i secretly wish youd

- text me
- message me
- think of me in another way
- sweep me off my feet
- be the person that i could change for the better
- remember my birthday
- be the complete opposite of what you actually are

"maybe memories should just stay memories..."

z0mg, finals...

my healthiest meal of the year? a davis food shelter.

okay, let me explain... lol

im currently taking ARE112 - Business Organization and in addition to the midterms and final, we all have to do a group project with a bunch of people we didn't know before and make a difference. That's all - "make a difference."

so my group and i had a bunch of ideas, but we finally agreed upon one activity: volunteering at the local food shelter, called davis community meals. my teammate angel had interned there for a whole quarter, dedicating her saturdays to cooking, setting up, and serving people who wanted a free meal. that's how i spent this morning - waiting for my teammates, taking apart broccoli, setting up and cleaning the dining room, and drying dishes. whenever i have to go to a new job/task/duty, i always have butterflies in my stomach because i never know how/if i can contribute. uhh i can use my iphone for things and i can facebook stalk and im really quick to learn and use cyber media? yeah, that wouldn't have helped me in this situation lol. good thing i like doing repetitive tasks like drying! haha we got a few good pictures of us "in action"

the nice part is that we even got to eat the food! dude, it was HELLA good, considering it was leftover food from nugget market. yummy chicken pasta, salad, vegetable sautee, guacamole and bread, and cake! so yes, that was theeee healthiest meal i've had all year. sad, i know. also, it just got me to thinking - im really lucky. im not really a starving college student; i just dont really know how to be creative in the kitchen lol im lucky though that i have enough money every month to buy fresh groceries or even eat out if i choose. that's all :)

random song!
"the bad touch" - bloodhound gang

budget cuts & this economy

wow, all this news about a bad economy and budget cuts is really starting to get to me. i know that sounds a bit... uninformed from my end, but it's starting to really hit home. for example:

because of budget cuts...

- the Internship & Career Center has to start cutting various things now, and will be cutting more services later. For this year - no more end-of-the-year ice cream social. For next year - goodbye color printing and interview stream...

- I just found out that one of the courses I wanted to take for next Fall has been cancelled due to budget cuts. I've never heard of that happening before...

because of the economy...

- friends of mine, who i believe are extremely accomplished individuals, fear graduating this june. they've gone through interviews and second rounds of interviews only to call back and hear "sorry, we're not hiring."

- more students are pursuing grad school; stay in school until the economy gets better, right?

- jobs are being cut left and right [on a side note, i should be very fortunate that i was able to keep both of my jobs].

a step closer to figuring it all out

i'm one step closer of the, what, 42348329 steps?

exciting news! i met with my advisor (last week or the week before) and we have confirmed that i have 57 units left to complete before i can graduate lol. you see, if i follow this thing called the "four year plan"  i thought i was going to graduate by june 2010, but then my unit load for my 3 remaining quarters would be 20, 20, 17. gah. haha. wellll i'm contemplating walking in june and officially graduating by september. so let's see, if i do 17, 16, and 16 throughout the 2009 - 2010 year, i will have 8 units left... perhaps study abroad? i'm excited, but just have to focus on school and check with EAP :)

everything happens for a reason, and i can't wait to get this quarter/year over with. this has been my craziest year yet: full-time student status + 16-hour apple internship + 10-hour work weeks at the ICC + poi ball choreography with the hawaii club + tutoring. i'm crazy, i know. but im happy that i have one more year to realize it and then have a true collegiate experience next year, right? 

shout out to my parents, best friend, and friends back home who have continually supported me and kept in touch with me even tho it seems i never have time to talk on the phone or go home.

"super hyphie" - keak da sneak

you all should call your mothers more

holy shite week 2 starts tomorrow! well, i had a fabulous week 1 - it didn't go by fast, but it was productive and fulfilling, just how i like 'em! ahaha so much schtuff happened, but here are a few highlights:

- i started cooking again! i pretty much went on a cooking hiatus last quarter (the only exception was when luke & thongxy were living in my living room, and i only cooked cuz i figured they were pooped trying to find a place to live, and finding food shouldn't have been an additional stressor). all i did though was boil eggs haha. i called my mom to make sure i wasn't fucking it up :)
- the woman i tutor, a young korean mother, postponed our next session because she's pregnant! she already has one cute little 5-year son named yumin, and another baby is on the way! at first she thought she was just sick, but turns out that was morning sickness :P
- the first week back at the ICC is always pretty busy, but it got a lot busier because our receptionist was out. RIP to darlene's mother who passed away due to cancer (i think that was the cause) :(

notice the recurring theme? prolly not, because with the way i talk, only I get it. Just call your mothers more. The worst part is when you realize that there's so much left unsaid when time has run out.

I called my mom because I needed her help with cooking ground beef. Then I called her to tell her goodnight cuz i freaked out (and contrary to my sister's belief, no i am NOT high when i have these panicky thoughts).

spring quarter = new beginnings = final stretch

Spring! Change is in the air (wait, didn't "change" come when Obama was elected? lol)

I love this time of the year, especially because of the weather. There's just something about the sunshine that makes me so happy (i feel kinda bad saying that though, because one of my coworkers adores the gloomy weather and thats when i tend to be all sad and mopey:( )

I'm so happy & optimistic for this quarter! Beautiful weather, new beginnings, and the last quarter of my junior year. Usually, I don't like to do the countdown to the end of the school year, but this quarter I still have school, my Apple internship, my ICC job, choreographing, and tutoring and I have to admit, it's kinda wearing me down

I can tell things are going to change. Really. For example, I've blogged more times this freakin WEEK than I did last quarter!


<3


"Touch the sky" - Kanye West

to all my homies looking

...for that significant other.

a common theme has been popping up among my friends, and it's that they are out looking for someone. some maybe be phobic to the idea of a relationship, but regardless they want someone special. and i thought it was a bit ironic to "want someone" yet not make it official, and it got me to thinking...

individuals can fool themselves into thinking that "we don't want a relationship," but the reality is that we're just afraid to commit and invest so much into a person just to... get hurt. all over again. We all want someone special though, someone to call our own, but we just don't want to get hurt. and no one likes to hear this, but time heals all. maybe you're thinking "but i don't want to have to invest in someone all over again," but when you're ready, you WILL want to invest all over again.

It all points to one of the basic tenets of liking someone: fear of rejection

"all good" by mo thugs

If I told you once

Then I told you twice

That you got to get to know me

There's more to relationships

Than jumping in the sheets

noodles for college students only

im special enough for my mom's noodles :P

okay so story time!

the summer i turned 16 (or was it 15? shiet. it was the time i went to santa cruz with all my girls! yeayuhh) was tumultuous, to say the least :\ anyhoo, i just wanted a nice & quiet day away from my parents, and to my surprise, my mom cooked breakfast on my birthday! i know, it was my birthday, but i knew she had more important plans that day (i know that sounds mean lol, but i understood) and i was really touched. so im in the van with my sister and my friends and i excitedly tell them "you guys! my mom made me breakfast! prolly cuz its my birthday and all" and my friend lisa says "my mom only does that when my sister comes home from college" and i turn to my sister to talk to her and realize "oh. that's prolly why my mom made breakfast. not because its my birthday but because my sister is home from college [insert FML]."

so here's a bit more history about myself: my sister and i are 10 years apart, but sometimes i feel like my experience growing up was waay different from hers. one of the trippiest things that i had to deal with ever since going away to college was the fact that my parents just didnt cook anymore [sad face]. however, with this economy and in an attempt to save money, my mom started cooking again! so i went home two days ago, and my mom made some amazing food, which included some hella bomb noodles and then a lightbulb went off and i realized ::gasp:: "my mom made those special noodles!"

okay so this blog entry is pretty much an ode to my mother's cooking/noodles. i feel hella bad because i never really appreciated them before cuz im more of a meat and/or fried carbs kinda girl (i mean, HELLLOOOO look at my ass) but this is why i love them:

- my mom only cooks them on special occasions (i.e. holidays and birthdays, so the fact that she did it when i was home was uber awesome)

- these noodles are the epitome of yummyness from a honest-to-goodness homemade meal. z0mg for fresh filipino food!

- these are not just any noodles. they are composed of big yellow noodles (okay, so i dont know the right name, so sue me bitch), and small white clear noodles, snap peas, carrots, sliced boiled eggs, and onions. theyre a bit bland, but when you add some garlic salt and/or fish sauce - Z0MG

i miss my mom's cooking :(

side note - my mother lovingly reminded me that i was skinnier in high school aka im chunky now. thanks mom.

im a shitty writer

aaaand im procrastinating from studying for my last final.

so, i cant write essays for shizz. but the ones im REALLY interested turn out really well. and then there's the blog that i manage at work. i guess that counts as writing...

trip down memory lane. whee!

i was lazy and fat the summer before 6th grade. go figure haha
my sister was disgusted i think and did something about it; she put me to work. she made me do a book report every week, so instead of being on the computer all day or watching tv, i actually had to drag my chubby ass to the library, get hella books, read them, and actually write about them. and she graded them, too!

at first i was mad, but i tried hard not to show it because otherwise she wouldve beat me haha... no really, she wouldve beat me

so finally 6th grade rolls around. im still chubby :( anyhoo, I remember my teacher was Mrs. Hartinger and man, she was effin TOUGH. and she HELLA made us write. and looking back on it, on all the writing assignments we had, my lowest grade was a B+ which was the only one I got (which meant that the rest were A's and A-'s... and trust me, that NEVER happens).

thanks Ate :)
thank you for making me write, and thank you for attempting to foster an appreciation toward reading in me


[WARNING: little sister moment!]

Thank you for the times you used my fingers to pick your nose... NOT.
And thanks for the time you said "give me your hand" and i stupidly did and you ended up cracking my knuckles for the first time and it really really hurt and i started whining and crying and i think mom started to get mad. the end.

okay back to studying :(

I'm in LA for the weekend.

I haven't been home all quarter, and the closest thing to "home" and my family is going to LA.
My sister lives in her pimptastic downtown condo haha and we're all here for a "house blessing." I'm finally seeing my mom&dad - I haven't seen them Christmas. I'm finally hearing Tagalog and getting fed rice & fish & patis.

I miss home home though. I realize that my best part of the day is bedtime, and I want to be snuggling up in my nice bed back home. In the bay. After drinking some quicklys.

This is something, right?

pretty.

http://www.juicycouture.com/shoponline/accessoriesjewelry/jewelry/braceletsrings/prod-1XUV


here's to indulging myself shamelessly on valentine's day :D


ps - i love mario lopez. that is all. lol. and chris brown in his "take you down" video even though he beats women :(

dear rooms

so, i read your latest posts. stalkerish, i know. im allowed to, because im your rooms and thats how i'll keep in touch after i stop talking to you after college (LOL just kidding ;)

dont worry about the way youre feeling - its normal. i believe you were feeling the same way this time last year, but it was much closer to finals. there's something about winter quarter.. its stressful. everything just falls on top of us like one burden and... it gets overwhelming. but, when you put things into perspective, we're on top of the world and we have everything we could ask for... who am i kidding? fuck that..

it's okay, i miss being happy too.

and i know we have different reasons, but some may be similiar, and i feel ya. i just want you to know that i think you're doing an amazing job being her guardian and balancing the student life as well. im so proud of you and you inspire me so so SO much for everything you have done and continue to do. i dont know how you put up with me and my bad decisions and the slacker (in everything...in LIFE) ive become, and i hope youre not too disappointed. 

week 5 is here. let's own this shit, ya? oh, and lemme take you out to eat soon :)



i love you mel[issa].

"There's Gotta Be More To Life" - Stacey Orrico

My rando list is complete and perfect <3

My rando list is so rando, that I have 42 things. Oh yeah, I’m just tagging you because I want you to know more about me :D

(1) Most of you know me as “Kris.” Some family members call me “Krissy” (my best friend, my former band teacher, my dad). My sister calls me “Nina.” My mom calls me “Kristina” when she’s pissed and yelling at me (hence, why I don’t really like being called by my full name).

(2) I currently have two jobs – one that I love and one I’m growing to despise. Why am I still doing the other one then? Because my coworkers are amazing… and the pay. Oh Corporate America…

(3) I’m a product of private schools – “Everyone loves a Catholic school girl!” haha

(4) I'm ridiculously good at finishing leftovers. Specifically Mel and Giselle's :D Oh, and I LOVE CHEESE.

(5) I am a former band dork :D Trumpet for 9 years, French horn for 3 years... still don't know how to play anything lol jk… kinda

(6) I can eat. a LOT. on that note, i totes gained that "Freshmen 15." I lost about half of it from the summer. Where is the remaining half? Prolly all in my ASS aka why its so unproportional to my body/BIG :(

(7) OMG I LOVE CARBS. esp fries!!

(8) I get really sad when my roommates aren’t home, but then I get really happy because I can walk around in my underwear! Oh wait, I do that already… ahahaha

(9) I like sitting in the front of a lecture, participating often and having the professor recognize my face, but I’m not the annoying chick who won’t shut the fuck up. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A PERSON LIKE THAT IN EVERY CLASS

(10) I used to sleep walk. Now I just sleep… talk? Lol if you call me while im sleeping, chances are I’ll pick up and won’t remember a thing I say.

(11) When meeting people for the first time, I’m actually really shy and quiet, and I have to work up the nerve to start talking to people.

(12) Don’t let me fool you – I don’t really know that much about computers haha. I just know the basics, okay!? Reset the system management controller, reset the parameter random access memory, power cycle, boot to install disk to repair disk & repair disk permission…

(13) I get into some stupid shit, and thankfully I have some amazing boys who watch over me. I swear, they’re more like angels on earth. Originating from the mean streets of Fresno, I found them in Webster 313 (I think?), but now they’re my angels/big bros of Avalon 8.

(14) I’ve always been fascinated by greek life, and I’ve wanted to rush, but it’s a hard process. I’ve learned that during the rush process, you discover yourself and if you’re truly a fit, no matter how gung-ho you may be about a sorority or fraternity (and I’ve kinda rushed for a cultural and then a business one).

(15) I’m still fascinated by the greek life, but I’ve come to accept that the Hawaii Club is my family/ohana/”sorority”/group. Oh, my Na Keiki O Hawaii wahines!! And Team Webster :) I still wish we kinda had a big&lil system… If we did, I would want Jenny Yu to be my big. She’s such a fun person to be around, and I respect her for being so incredibly hard-working, but knowing how to hella have fun at the same time ;) And as for a lil, I think I’d take on two – perhaps a very giggly girl who is dating Goodman and a mango? But who knows if they’d want me as their big…

(16) I enjoy calling Calvin Newguyen when I’m drunk. Yes.

(17) I took German for 4 years (in high school) and a quarter (at UCD) lol. Actually, I originally wanted to major in German, but I wanted a more exciting major. Aber, ich vermisse die Sprache! Ich wuensche, dass ich ein Person zu sprechen mit mir hatte!

(18) I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve just always been around a lot of guys... For example, in high school, of the senior band members, I was one of two girls. In my high school sci-fi class, one of 3 three girls in like a class of almost 30. For my Apple internship? One of two girls. The ratio is 1:7 I think?

(19) I prefer texting over calling.

(20) im optimistic, stubbon, lack self control, and usually learn the hard way :D

(21) I got my license this past May and I drove for the first time in June. I quickly learned how to drive on the freeway for work… I had to. And got into a mini-accident at my new employee orientation at Apple… And to everyone that has ridden in my car: you’re still alive :)

(22) I didn’t start wearing jeans officially until last year – I had a really strict dress code from my high school. Apparently denim clashes with a private school’s image of the ideal “Holy Cross woman” ?

(23) People tell me that I have freakishly white teeth. I swear I stopped using those crest white strips :[

(24) I try to look gangster but my ICC coworkers say I'm too giggly to be taken seriously. Oh yeah, when i find things funny, I can't stop laughing. Which is often. lol :P

(25) I worked really hard this past summer: with my actual job, my body, and my friendships. I was totally doing that 40 hour work week in corporate America. Gotta love those 7am-4pm and 6am-3pm shifts. And sleeping early. Poo on that. And my lazy ass actually watched what I ate and worked out regularly. And I tried really hard to reach out to friends that I thought I had lost contact with.

(26) My dad and I text each other rando shizz. Yeah, my dad texts. I know, he's quite technologically advanced.

(27) I thought the point of living your life was trying your best to be a good person. At the beginning of the day, try your best to be a good person. Well, I've abandoned that theory because I realize that life is not so black and white. Who defines what is good and bad? Right now, it seems that the point of life is that people do things that make them happy and the concept of what is "good" and what is "bad" is all relative...

(28) When I hear a song that I really like, I play it over and over and over again. Just ask my sister – she hates it.

(29) When it comes to relationships and meeting guys, I try to keep my guard up and not fall for that stupid bullshit so I won’t get hurt. But then I met this one person, and he was perfect to me in every way possible. And we were together for a while, and we were in love. And even though I was still with him as I entered college and became extremely busy and career-focused, I contemplated giving it all up to spend the rest of my life with him. But I was young and naïve, and I’m over that and ready to move on, so it’s all good. It’s just a bummer that break-ups are so hard, especially when the person who was your whole world is the reason it’s crashing down around you. Everything happens for a reason, right?

(30) I'm extremely grateful to have a roomie who has been putting up with my shit since Freshmen year.

(31) I hate being the sober one in a group full of drunkies. Never fun. That is why it’s fun messing with them :)

(32) When I was younger, my parents said I could marry a guy of any race, but Filipino ahahahaha

(33) I think 5 minutes is too short, but 10 minutes is too long, so when people want to know how long it’ll take me to get there, I like to approximate 7 minutes. Shut up. It’s my 7 minute theory!

(34) I know I randomly yell, but I try to do it in a joking manner. I try my best to not get mad, like super mad, because I really despise hearing people argue. It’s just a personal thing of mine…

(35) I spent New Years Eve away from home/my parents for the first time this year!! I did have the option of celebrating it with my bay friends though… Sorry guys, I left because I knew everyone had coupled up haha

(36) I enjoy a good inappropriate joke every now and then. Or everyday, your pick.

(37) I’m really lucky & grateful that my parents still support me financially.

(38) My sister is my biggest role model (haha and im prolly getting kiss ass points because she’s tagged and I know she checks facebook 3134x a day, just like me). I respect and look up to her so much because she made growing up a lot easier for me haha. But really, I respect all that she has accomplished, but admire the fact that she still has her flaws. Even though we’re ten years apart, I still think we’re pretty close [DIANNE BE NICER TO YOUR SISTER]. We spent a lot of time during Christmas together and now I miss her more than ever. And her dog. And making fun of chicks who have nothing special about them. Seriously.

(39) I secretly would like for the Hawaii club to win DDR and own any MK-affiliated group. Yeah, I know, I’m a traitor to my people.

(40) So I have eczema, and it’s pretty bad (mainly because I don’t take care of it as much as I should, and I scratch a lot), and its on my hands and feet. NO ITS NOT CONTAGIOUS. So I met this cute boy Freshmen year and I was going to give him a high-five but he saw my hands and “thought it was contagious.” Cute factor, WAY down.

(41) If I shared my every thought, you’d find out that I can be pretty conceited (but who isn’t?). And I like guilt tripping people sometimes :D haha

(42) Im ridiculously good at facebook-stalking. Don’t even get me started.

reflection on last quarter...

WHAAAT THE FUCK WAS I THINKING!?

wow.

hello 2009!

so if you didn't know, music is SUCH an integral part of my life. i love love love it when i hear a song on the radio that matches my mood (which has been a lot lately haha)! so here are some great songs to start off the new year! its a mixture of new schtuff and the oldies:

Shadow of the day - Linkin Park
Burn Rubber - Too $hort
Beautiful - Akon, Colby O' Donis, Ludacris
Wake it up - E-40
Give me a reason - Buffy
Right now - Akon
Poker face - Lady gaga
Get Low - Lil Jon
My Love is the Shhh - Something for the people
Everybody knows - John Legend
I hate this part - PCD
Lovebug - Jonas Brothers
My Boo - ghostown djs
Universal mind control - Common
Hips Don't Lie - Shakira

so my 2008 resolutions? no more energy drinks and get in touch (and stay in touch) with friends! i think i did a pretty damn good job :D

let's keep whatever happened in 2008 stay there.

my 2009 resolutions:

- no more effin around

- pay off credit card

- make more "thats what she said" jokes. but not to the point where its obnoxious. just where its funny :D