AY! I have been sick since friday and it is incredibly frustrating. I actually had to call out of work today, which made me kinda sad...Not so much because I love work that much, more so because I felt like this allergy crap had beaten me and taken me away from my responsibilities. This growing up phenomena is a pile, if you ask me. I miss the days of classes when I could just decid that it would be better to get the notes from someone else and stay in bed for a day...grrrrr....

So I am supposed to be doing research for my extensions classes right now -- well, a sort of research they call homework, but nothing like what I was used to before...I would much rather update my blog. I came to campus for a few purposes: to attempt to study in my conveluted (or however you spell it) state; to bring my boyfriend dinner; and most importantly to pick up my diploma...It was one of the most surreal moments of my life...I showed the registrar my I.D. and in exchange I was handed a large yellow envelope and asked to peruse the contents. In my state of dismay, the woman at the desk congratulated me on my accomplishment with a HUGE disneyland-esque smile. I was filled with a mix: I was stoked to have something to show for my four years of study, but at the same time, feelings I had put aside since the summer sort of floated back to the "front burner" of my mind, if you will...It made everything so real, it was scary. There was no more screwing around: this was what my parents so lovingly often referred to as "the real world"...But I had to wonder, was it really what I wanted? I mean, I have felt this sense of reality before: when I was interviewing for work, when I started my job, when I got my first salaried check, when I became financially independent, etc, etc, etc...But it was different. It almost seemed as though I had been "playing pretend" for the last couple of months. (Ok, so I have been known to belabour issues past the point of recognition, so I know that I am just thinking too much on the subject. But it was a strange fact to be facing...This is show time...)

Continuing on in the fashion of philosophical ponderings, I found myself in the midst of a bizaar situation last friday. I was standing at Seattle's Best Coffee, next to my house, while waiting for my latte when a song came on the "in-house" music they were playing. It was Third Eye Blind's "Motorcycle Drive-By", which I hadn't heard in years, (partly because I lost my CD). It was a surreal moment because that song had always reminded me of people and things from my high school life, which was significantly different to life as I know it now. The odd part was, I found myself reflecting on the same things, but applying it to different (and more current) situations. I was looking at myself in two different perspectives and it was really weird! (ok, I know that there is no possible way that I can articulate into writing the strangeness of this situation, but bear with me...for all intents and purposes it was a pretty cool moment. Plus, I can't think clearly because of all the damn pressure in my head right now...)

Ok, so I think I have contributed a fairly wordy and not-so-stimulating segment to my blog...I'm out...

Woah...
So, I went to Vegas this weekend and had an awesome time! I have to say, however, NEVER stay at the Circus Circus...(it is only permissable if there are no other viable accomodation offers.) We got to the hotel barely before midnight, checked in and went to our original room on the 14th floor. Upon arrival to the room, we realized our keys didn't work, so back to the reception desk Luis travelled. He goes up to said room a second time (with new keys) only to discover that, yet again, they don't work. Trip number three to the reception desk was a bit more interesting: Luis was told that there was a possibility that there was someone in the room still, so they were sending him back with another new set of keys and security would check on our progress. Sure enough, the keys didn't work. At this point severe frustration sets in and we aren't talking to one another. Just sitting on the floor of the hall, pissed off, with full bladders, waiting for security to let us in to our stupid room. It is now almost 2AM and the security guard comes bolting through the emergency exit (conveniently located by our locked and possibly occupied room). He tries for about 3 minutes to defeat the stubborn door before coming to the realization that perhaps it the lock is simply dead. SO, he tell us to wait in the hall for a bit longer and he would go down to reception and switch our rooms for us. Fifteen minutes later, he returns to take us on two different elevators to a room on the seventh floor. Guess what? The keys didn't work there at first either! He was able to get us in, but needed to get the hotel engineer to come down and fix it...At long last, we finally got our room. We met up with Don, Vanessa, & Nicole and took off to hit up the night life.

The next morning/afternoon we went to the Bellagio for the buffet, which was good. I was bummed though, because I got really dehydrated and thought I was going to yack, so I couldn't maximize the buffet experience. After we ate, we began drinking...and that didn't stop until just before we went to sleep . (about 12 hours of drinking can really wear you out!) We walked around and gambled a bit, ate dinner at New York New York, danced at the MGM...It was rad! It felt really good to go out and have a good time and not have to worry about waking up early or running errands or any of that stuff...

Sunday morning Luis and I checked out of the hotel and hit up the midway to play games and win stuffed animals. Luis kicked ass on those machines where you use the claw to picked a stuffed character. Those things never work, but he walked away with Alf and Squidworth. I won a monkey on a toss game and Luis won an orange bear on the horseraces (where you roll the ball in the holes to make the horse advance). We went to the Pink Pony Cafe where I couldn't eat my food because it tasted like ass. I felt bad though so I just ate part of the side dish. I didn't want to draw attention and send it back or order something else. And at that point, my hangover started to kick in and I really didn't feel like eating anymore. After lunch, we gambled a bit more and then headed home...

Monday, I went to work and the whole day I just wanted to go home and sleep. I haven't been feeling very well for the last few days, for various reasons, and my apartment sounds so much more inviting than anything else....In a few days i will be better, but for now,I feel yucky...

Sigh...Well, I am going to go take my lunch break...

Many mullets were captured on film and burned into memory.

Ahhhh...Do ya hear that??? That faint noise in the background? No? You don't hear the clinking sounds of slot machines?? I DO!!! You know why???? 'CUZ I'M GOING TO VEGAS!!! heeheehee... :) I'm stoked...

I have one hour and seven minutes before I get to go home to get ready to drive to LA and then to nevada :)

I ate dinner with Silvia last night in Brea at BJ's. Everytime I go there it reminds me of when I went for my first college night with Campus Reps. It was me, Mat, and Bryan and we had a blast. That was a cool night..."Your hair would NOT fly in Indiana!" Pshaw! What did that guy know?! (Said the man from the Indiana University table in regards to Mat's spotted blue hair.) Ah, I digress. As I was saying, dinner was really fun last night. I had two glasses of this psuedo beer and i was really buzzed -- it was quite sad! The pizza there is really good -- and we made sure to have a pizzookie!! We had a really good conversation about our goals for the next year. I think there are gonna be some big changes coming up!! I don't want to say anything yet though, because I don't want to jinx things! :)

You know, I wish I made more money...(I know everyone thinks that same thing about themselves all the time)...but I really want to do a lot of travelling and it is just not really a possibility as much as I would like it to be...I want to snowboard a LOT this season! I have been (kind of) invited to go up to Stacey's place in Fresno to go snowboarding at Sierra Summit this year.

Ok -- 56 minutes to go and I am vegas bound!! SWEET! :)

I have come to determine (quite recently) that there is an enormous difference between being busy and being intellectually/mentally stimulated. I know, this may seem an obvious fact. When you are busy, your brain is functioning and neurons are in fact "pumping"...But it is quite something to be busy and not having to think versus being forced to utilize various mental faculties to accomplish tasks...I am the type of person that craves a challenge...if I am bored, my output is small and menial -- much like the given task...Just a little self discovery I have had since yesterday.

Speaking of yesterday, I was quite possibly the most frustrated I have been a very long time. I feel really bad for Luis, because the poor guy was the first non-work-related person with whom I conversed and I just launched on him while telling him about my day. (I got a little too passionate about my story). I think I scared him ;) Oh well, as my mom told me on the phone, just chalk it up to a bad day and go get some rest. So, what did I do? I ditched class, went to Boba Smoothie and got a hot tea, went home, watched TV for like 3 hours, and went to sleep early. To be honest, it really felt good. (I got to watch this show that I used to watch back in the day when I had time for TV. I had forgotten how much I love it!) Then I woke up and started the monotony all over again...(ok, so it isn't thaaaat bad...I am just being a drama queen, as usual. It's just that things are not how I pictured they would be and sometimes it can be a little bit of a let-down when your daydreams clash with your daily reality...But that is not to say that overall I am not happy, because I am! It's just different, is all...) At any rate, I have mellowed out some today and I am glad...I just needed to vent. (which is essentially the main focus for most of these things that I do.)

So, I made a special trip to go vote on tuesday...Voting is such a unique experience! It was refreshing to see a huge line out the door of people eager to go inside and stand in the makeshift cardboard box (with a curtain!) to fill out this long piece of paper...heeheehee :)

I can't believe vegas is tomorrow!! It really came up quick...I know it will be good to get away for a couple of days.

Okie dokie...I am gonna go hit up some grub...

AY! Today is moving at the speed of a sloth! Not a bad day all together, but I wish it would "keep on keepin' on", if you know what I mean!

I am actually looking forward to voting today -- participating in my civic duty...I absolutely cannot stand Gray Davis and I am stoked that this is actually happening. I only hope that there are enough votes to actually recall the ass and that this whole proceedure was not in vain.

I have been sitting at my desk daydreaming all day...Well, that and studying. I have caught up all of my little projects and I have been given the green light to study when there are "slow times" so I am all over it. But there is this part of me that wishes I was curled up at home watching a movie or something...It's the weather I am sure, but all the same.

My mom called me today to share with me all the warnings she has received from her connection at the CDC for the flu virus that is going around this year. There is some scary stuff out there! Her motivation for telling me was so I would go get my flu shot and spread the word to all my friends, but I have no clue when I will find time during business hours to go get one...

I have been in the mood to cook lately...I have been told by the family that I am to learn how to cook Thanksgiving dinner...Dude, I don't know how I feel about that exactly...

Cool beans -- I'm out...

Today has been gloomy and it is making me sleepy. But, all in all, it is not detracting from my overall fantastic mood! I have been feeling productive lately and getting a lot accomplished and I feel amazing when I know I have put in some hard work and started see some results.

This weekend was pretty packed. Friday night consisted of me having dinner with Meera at Islands, which is always so much fun! That seems to be our place to go for "chick dinners". I realize how cool it is to have girlfriends again -- at least girlfriends that aren't out to screw you over or stab you in the back...After our fun dinner, I met up with Luis and we had pseudo date night, which was rad! We decided to do something out of the realm of the norm for us. This started by us getting in the car without any plans and just driving. Our adventures carried us to H-214 for a bit...then to coldstone for a delectable dessert...and THEN, we went down to Corona Del Mar. We picked up some liquid treats at the liquor store and headed down to the beach. We found this little part where not too many people were, sat on the random solo lifeguard tower, talked and had our drinks. It was sooooo relaxing and a whole lot of fun. I want to start going down there more -- it is such a good way to just chill.

Saturday was interesting. I woke up and got my hair done and in the process gave the hairdresser love advice, which was a unique experience. Following that, I treated myself to lunch at Thai Spice, which was grub, talked on the phone to Silvia, showed up at the Campus Rep retreat for the last 20 minutes, talked to Bryan, picked up Meera and attempted to go to target. I say attempted, as our efforts were haulted as a result of another errand that came up. Before too long, Meera and I treked to Coffee Bean and analyzed the meaning of life and made it to target. Shopping for the White Trash Bash consequently commenced.

Speaking of the White Trash Bash, I had fun! I went dressed as a pregnant skank -- and cousins to my "baby's" daddy. (the baby was an enormous skene of yarn). The cops were a buzz kill, but overall I had some fun. I drank more that I had realized -- coupled with the fact that for dinner I simply consumed french fries...yeah...I was pretty tipsy...

Sunday was productive. Did grocery shopping and picked up my dry cleaning and all that stuff. But I also made dinner for Luis: Bratwurst & onions, macaroni and cheese, and peas with bread and brown mistard and Oranjeboom beer. It was fun! I also baked an angel food cake, which had not cooled by the time I was ready to bring Luis his grub...but that is cool...

As for today, my class was cancelled, but I am planning to go to school anyhow. I need to study TONS. I am having a sandwich dinner in Aldrich Park with Luis. Then, I think I am gonna work out. I feel so out of shape it is gross! my boss is in the hospital to have her baby, but the poor thing is having complications...My thoughts are with her that everything goes smoothly...

Ok -- that's all for now...
10-4 -- over and out...

Ahhhh...Don't you just love those days that remain consistantly chill? Today has been great!! I mean, aside from a couple of minor setbacks, I have been productive and in a really good mood and there has been no significant stress today AND tomorrow is FRIDAY! How hot is that??

I had my first Public relations class last night and I have to say I think I have found something I really enjoy. My instructor is one of those people that is never satisfied with one approach. Thus, he forces you to think outside the box. (Please excuse the banal cliche...) I am really excited to see what kinds of skills I can hone from this class. I am dually interested in pushing my own personal limits to see what I will be able to come up with.

I think my good mood is hanging over from last night: I worked, went to class, and actually worked out after everything, which felt absolutely amazing! Although I came to grips with how out of shape I am (rather quickly, I might add...) I was truly productive for the first time in a while and it felt good...

So, I am taking proactive steps in the direction of taking an international vacation in 2004. I am in the process of looking up places to go and flights and hotels and determining when a good time to ask for vacation would be.

Vegas is next weekend -- HOT!! I loooooooove Vegas and I am in need to get away!!

Dude, today just keeps getting better: I just noticed there is less than an hour left of work and then I am that much closer to the weekend! And I must say, I am beyond stoked for this white trash bash at Dustin's...I am sooooo excited that I think the evening will be that much better once I accessorize it with a beer cozy!!:)

Sigh...
I guess I should make sure I did everything I could for today before it is time for me to go home...

Quote:
"I would rather fail at innovation that succeed at immitation"

Hmmm...
The last few days have been filled with headaches...no bueno. I think I might need reading glasses, which really blows considering I already WEAR glasses...random...

There has been this unstated but unstable tension swarming around a couple of people with whom I have associated myself lately (random people mind you, no one with whom I am close)...and it is making me uneasy. I have talked to two girls in the last two days that have broken up -- or had fights -- with their significant others. I have friends who are in the throws of family crap...I have come to find that drama usually flocks around a group of people, and I have had my fair share of it lately, so I am really not wanting anymore to come my way (not to be selfish or self-centered)...I am a firm believer in the pendulum effect (and yes, my spelling is pretty foul). You know, that school of thought that suggests things go really great for a bit and then, as fate allows, things have to swing in the other direction for a while. I am ready for my pendulum to swing toward good things...and it seems like it is! :) I think this mindset makes people stronger and more capable of handling life's ups and downs... Well, it has worked for me at least.

My boss suggested I wait to take the GMAT until after the New Year...she says it is a damn hard test and I need as much time as possible. I am pleased that I am back on track with my life plans again. It gives me a necessary sense of direction.

Ok, that's it for today's randomness...time to get ready to go to school ;)