I wish you a Merry Christmas..

Yes.. it's December 26th.. but it's still Christmas.

It's the Christmas season and Christmas doesn't officially end until January.

Yes.

If you don't believe me.. look it up somewhere Catholic..

Anyway.. I've been pretty MIA on this blog.. or any blog really.

Life just got busy.

2010 is just around the corner and as usual, I find myself wondering where all the time went and if I'm where I want to be..

And as usual.. I find myself coming up short again..

But over the years I have learned how to accept it all..

That my life doesn't go according to MY own timeline.. and it's so comforting to know that God is watching over me.. and trusting Him makes life more bearable..

If I don't come back here by the end of the year.. Happy New Year!

May 2010 bring as may blessings as the previous years..

Let's get physical..

So I gave in.. and I got the 2yr membership at the 24Hr Fitness..

They sell them pretty cheaply at Costco.. $300.. and it's a two-year membership.. that adds up to about $12.50 a month.

They have this awesome Aqua class.. it's water aerobics.. I'm hooked on it..

I just hope that I don't fall off the motivation wagon.. and waste the membership..

Must.. keep.. motivated!

Drive.. drive!

Driving to work so early in the morning..

It's about a 45-60 min drive to work..

So much good music plays on the radio during this morning commute.. and it keeps me awake..

It's also amazing how many thoughts run through my head during the morning commute..

The morning commute has been interesting..

Maybe it's the maturity level.. last time I did this commute it was so hard to get through.. so much coffee... so many times I drifted off.. there were so many times I couldn't get through it..

I guess I've got a different outlook on it all.. I'm using the commute to my advantage.. thinking.. listening.. mediating.. understanding.. taking it all in.. taking in my time alone.. and enjoying it for the short time I'm on my commute..

I'm ooooooold!!!

I'm officially twenty-nine..

The last year of my 20s.. I have the whole year ahead of me..

I'm sooooo old!

Oh well.. watching Bridezillas... and I gotta get some crazy homework done..

Ugh.. time.. time.. time..

The gain..

How does one expect to lose weight when there's food.. food.. food.. around me.. all.. the.. time?!

I'm finishing up week 2 at the new job.. and I'm still adjusting to the whole work/school balance.. it's been hard to find treadmill time..

I had Cursillo weekend this past weekend.. there's more food there..

I feel like I've gained at least.. AT LEAST.. 5 lbs in the last two weeks..

Not good.. not good at all..

I need to flush this out with a lot of water.. and some activity..

I try not to eat too much when I get home either..

I just feel like I'm eating and eating.. especially since the workplace just remembered that my birthday is on Sunday.. and now we have pecan pie!

Yikes!

I'm also starting to eat breakfast because my schedule makes me hungry in the mornings...

Good thing I'm only working 3xs a week..

If time permits.. I can use those other days to work out.. and once life calms down into more of a routine.. I'll be able to find ways to eat less..

I'm already learning to save money.. now.. I gotta learn how to balance out my diet!

I'm on fire!

Yesterday was the end of another Cursillo three-day weekend.. and I'm on fire.. once again..

It's such a beautiful thing.. to watch the ladies come in apprehensive.. and walk out of there completely enthusiastic and so happy they went on the weekend..

It's so inspiring and makes all the hard work and preparation worth it all..

Every year it reminds me of all the things I want to do.. and all the things that I have let slip..

But life is great.. and there are blessings abound..

I'm exhausted.. yet ecstatic.. DE COLORES!

Special songs..

I'm sitting here on the last hour and a half of my second 12hr work day of the week.. and I'm just sitting here and contemplating about music.. songs and lyrics..

There's one song that comes into mind right now.. probably because I just finished blaring it from my iTunes at work..

"For the first time" sung in the musical rendition of Disney's Tarzan.

It's such a beautiful song.. about falling in love for the first time.. it's such a wonderful song..

And although I know that have seemed to have fallen in love several times in my life.. each time always feels like the first time.. I guess its because the people are always so different from each other and I have found so many different reasons to fall in love with a man..

Each relationship has it's ups and downs.. each relationship has it's lessons to be learned..

And with Joe.. it's different once again.. I feel that we really took our time to fall in love.. and the fact that we didn't rush it makes it feel so much more worth it to know how long it took to appreciate it..

Still praying...

Can I get a witness?!

So I'm scheduled to do the Witness Talk for this Thursday's Ultreya.

It's Tuesday and I really have NOTHING.. so I'm thinking that if I ramble on here for a good while that something might come to me and I might have something to talk about..

It's about my faith journey.. how I've grown.. how I've learned to be the type of Catholic Christian I am today.

The thing is.. I'm no where near perfect.. none of us really are.. but I still don't see myself as "devout" as everything seems to think I am.. I go to Mass every Sunday.. I love the Lord.. I try to incorporate Him in everything I do.. but does that really make me devout? Does that really make me like all the other people I see in the Cursillo group?

I hardly think so..

I don't think I am even worthy enough to give this talk.. I don't even know how or where to begin.. what to talk about.. how to talk about it.. when I find so many imperfections and ways for improvement..

How can I tell people about my faith journey.. when.. I'm not really sure how far I've actually gone..

I mean.. true.. I have come a long way from what I was when I first started this blog.. relatively speaking.. I am truly devout compared to what I used to be.. but no where near what others are..

But is it really important to compare myself with the others?

This is about MY journey.. not how my journey compares to everyone else's..

I keep praying for the words.. I know He won't let me down..

I'll definitely post what I said on here.. and on my other blog..

Stay tuned..

The reanalysis is...

I love this blog.. I've really grown up with this blog.. reading entries from years and years ago have shown me how much I have really grown.

It's hard to let this blog go.. even if I have found myself spending so much more time on my other blog..

So.. I've decided to keep this one. I still have readers on here.. tho' few and far between. There are people that stumble across this blog and read it.. and leave comments.. which are always greatly appreciated.

I just won't promote this as much and will let it be.. and continue to appreciate the readers that I do have.. I'll have faith in the readers I have.. or those that stumble upon this and hope they come back..

This is also the blog I will turn to for releasing thoughts that I necessarily want friends, family and boyfriend to read.. they are usually fleeting moments and temporary emotional blow-ups..

Keepin' it real.. that's what this is..

August: Nothing new

We're in the final stretch of August.. quickly finding our way to September and I am still in utter shock at how fast this year is going.

Every year just gets faster and faster.

It's hard to make the most of life when it just quickly passes you by..

I'm in my final stretch for my MBA program as well.. I just paid for my second to the last class.. and I'm in the final two weeks of my third to the last class.. I can't believe I'm surviving it.. but I am.. with the Lord's help.. I'm able to do anything..

I want to hurry up and finish.. there are so many things I want to do with the free time I am going to have once school is done.. but I have to be patient..

I did start running.. I'm training for a 5K marathon. My goal is to do one in October. It's a 9 week training program and I'm barely on week 3.. it's interesting.. and tiring.. but I'm enjoying it.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.. or you can just go to this blog:
Living life in the carpool lane..

Redgage/Gather

I have been all over redgage and gather posting and posting and posting that I have totally neglected my wordpress blog and this blogger blog.

I guess because there is no monetary incentive to posting blogs here..

Then again, it's not like I'm bringing in the big bucks by posting stuff on there..

On Redgage, I have about $.20 collected from views of the stuff that I've posted. It's hard to get started on getting an active viewer base.. as is with any blog or website.. it's a slow beginning..

I have problems concentrating on a specific subject I should write about and sometimes the creative energy just isn't there to make a good posting on those sites.. as is with any blog or website I have.. I am just not creatively "on the ball" all the time..

On Gather.. I've got about 800+ points.. which I am trying to accumulate enough to get a $25 gift card to Amazon.com. I know that the more stuff I post.. the more points I get.. but again.. the creativity is just not there all the time..

Also.. with having to concentrate on school work.. it's hard to find time to really dive into the websites and get enough people to view my stuff..

Gotta keep on pushing.. I guess..

Extra dough

Extra money is always a good thing.. but I really don't have time to get an extra job.. so I found ways to make some extra money while doing the things I love.. going on the internet.. blogging.. yadda.. yadda..

I've found two great websites that have helped me with this extra money..

Redgage
This site allows you to post blog entries, pictures, links and stuff.. and it gives you money based on how many people view your stuff.. you get more money the more people view your stuff and leave comments for them. It encourages you to write good content... and to be interactive with others as well..

Gather
It's similar to Redgage, but it's based on a points system and these points can be redeemed for paypal payments.. or gift cards. I use this place to get target gift cards.. it' saves me money on everyday necessity shopping. They recently revamped their points system, so everyone's getting used to the way it works.. and my points seem to be accumulating a little faster than before.. so we'll see how well this works..

Clicking on the link sends you to my referral site where you can sign up with my referral.. check it out.. it's all free to join!

Shenanigans..

Fourth of July weekend was full of fun.. heat.. and heat..

It was HOOOOOT!

The thing I noticed about San Diego though.. was it blaring hot in the morning.. not as hot as the I.E.. but it was hot enough to complain about the heat.. but by 5ish in the early evening.. the cool breeze kicks in.. and then I'm freezing by 9pm..

Seriously?

Being from the Inland Empire.. the middle of the desert.. heat is something I'm used to in the summer.. but what I love most about summers here is that the heat last throughout the day.. and leaves a comfortable evening where I don't have to bring a sweater.. and I can still be in my shorts.. and not feel any cold..

That is why I didn't bring a sweater with me this weekend because I wasn't thinking that the weather down there would be any different..

I don't think I like that it gets cold at night there..

I like the comfort of Inland Empire summer nights.. ahh.. nice.

Slightly discouraged..

So tuition increased.. I got that email about a month ago.. so I don't know why I was so shocked to see the increase when I got a notification email this morning..

$2070..

Taking two classes in a row means I'll have to pay again next month.. I think.. something like that..

Plus bills..

Looks like I'm going to be "el negativo" with this month and next months expenses..

With all the pending salary cuts.. and furlough days.. I don't think I'd survive financially..

It's definitely time for a change.. thank God!

Two more months.. and I'm out of here.. hello.. Fullerton!

Counting down..

I'm sitting here at work.. 75 days left until I leave this facility and go back to the lab I worked at in fullerton.

That was the lab I worked at when I first start blogging on this blog.. full circle.. I'm going back.

I won't be the same lab-rat with the same lab-rat responsibilities though.. because I have grown.. personally.. and career-wise.. I'll have a different job with a different set of responsibilities..

I'm excited.. I'm growing up.. and growing out.. and I cant' wait for all the opportunities this holds for me..

I kinda hope I get to travel a little bit.. but I know that won't come for awhile..

I'll miss this lab.. the work.. the close-to-home-ness.. the short communte..

It's for the best.. God knows what is going to happen.. and I'm just following the path He's put me on..

Whoa..

Has it really been almost a month since my last post on this blog.. wow!

Poor Blogger.. I've set up camp at Wordpress and have been doing fairly well with that blog that I have neglected the blog that pretty much started my "blog craze."

This was always my first "mature blog" and now.. it's been left behind.. I will try not to let this happen.. I like this blog too much.. I have a fond sentimental attachement to this site and I don't want to see it neglected.

I added a swagbucks widget.. so that should mean that I should be here more often than not from now on.. check the widget out.. it's a search engine that will randomly give away "swag bucks" that are good for redeeming things.. like music.. cameras.. books.. etc..

I'm aiming for some sorta digital camcorder.. I've got a ways to go.. but any little search helps. It helps that I am doing research for class.. so I have good reason to be on the site..

Back to work!

Shopping and bopping..

Joe and I had a great Memorial Day weekend out of town. We went to Santa Monica and had fun at the beach and around Los Angeles and Beverly Hills..

We hit two malls and loved every second of it.

I'm in a "shopping" mood.. and right now.. it's more a "window shopping" thing than an actual shopping thing..

I also saw this really pretty engagement ring at the Tiffany & Co. Not that he and I are going to be engaged anytime soon.. but it was really fun to look..

I told Joe that was what I wanted.. but I looked at the price.. and it is waaaaay too much to be spending on an engagement ring.. haha.. $10K is too much for an engagement ring.. that's like.. half of the wedding budget.. that's a definite no..

Hahah.. well.. it's not like our engagement and wedding is happening anytime soon.. so there's lots of time to find something he's willing to buy me.. hahah.. lots of time..

Feelin' it..

I swear.. this has to be the longest month I am experiencing in my life..

Granted.. it does seem like the week went by quickly.. it just feels like we should be at the last week of May or something..

I always complain that the time flies by crazily and it's so hard to keep up.. but this month is ridiculous..

I think it's because I have got lots to look forward to at the end of the month.. the anniversary weekend.. and then the Vegas week vacation..

I just want this class to be over already.. it's a long needed vacation.. and a long-deserved weekend away with my boyfriend..

I'm procrastinating.. this paper needs to get written so I can work on the final paper so I have nothing to worry about on the anniversary weekend..

That should be motivation enough to get me cranking on the paper.. I have no idea why it isn't!!

Hey day.. may day..

It never ceases to amaze me how fast the years go by as I get older.. the months fly by like is just this ever-increasing momentum that is zooming us faster and faster through time..

Time never stops for anyone.. nor will it slow down for anyone.. no matter how much I try to ask for it..

Sometime.. all I need is an extra hour in the day.. an extra hour to sleep.. an extra hour of the day to do more things.. an extra hour for homework.. an extra day in the week to be able to relax and get things done..

But I gotta keep moving with the time.. and I gotta make sure I'm keeping up with it all.. I can't fall behnd because there is no such thing as falling behind time..

Oh boy.. let's hope that I continue to remain calm.. and keep my sanity through all of this..

This class is killin' me.. it really is..

La.. dee.. dah!

Click it.. live it.. love it.. learn it.. and continue reading it..

I've been spending a lot of time working on the blog above.. it's the go-to blog now.. I try to make it interesting.. less rambling.. less venting.. I try to spend more time thinking about what I am going to write before I enter something there..

So.. give it a shot.. go over there.. gimme some "viewer love.." and while you're at it.. some "comment love" would be nice..

Living life in the carpool lane..

Stitching queen!

I've been cross-stitching like crazy lately.. there are two cross-stitching projects that I had started last year.. and never finished.. but I'm finishing one of them now.. and that's cool..

Cross-stitching is relaxing for me.. I like watching something come together.. a couple of stitches.. looking like a blob of threaded colors.. suddenly.. from afar.. a whole picture comes to play.. it looks so cool..

I can't wait til the finished results.. I've got them on facebook.. I'm taking pictures of the progress.. when I finish.. I'm going to try to sell it on Etsy.com..

Can't wait!

Sleepy head..

I've been very "sleepyhead" lately.. I think it's because I have been sleeping a tad later than I usually do.. but not by much.. maybe a half an hour or so.. I guess that's late enough to cause some real sleepiness..

Oh man.. am I really getting old.. are the hours of sleep really affecting me this way?

Gosh..

These are the special times..

It's Good Friday.. a time to reflect on all that Jesus Christ has done for us.. all the suffering he endured for our sins.. and to thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us..

Be mindful and prayerful.. remember what this day means to us.. and don't forget to celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday..

These truly are blessed days!

The hardest part..

I think the hardest part about being in a relationship with someone that lives an hour and a half away is the fact that you can't see him when you want to..

Granted.. the distance is good.. it gives us perspective and prevents us from getting tired of each other too fast..

This distance prevents us from over-exposing ourselves to each other..

But when you want him around.. just for a simple hug.. or for a quick dinner.. or just to be around to tell him about your day.. it's kinda difficult..

The cell phone and text messages become your best friend and most reliable liason between the two of you.

It's hard.. but I know that if we keep working on it.. things will change.. and we will eventually be close enough to each other to have those quick dinners.. or those moments when you just want to be next to each other..

But then.. you'll also get those moments when you wish he did live an hour and a half way from you again.. hahaha.. I doubt it..

This distance will hopefully allow us to appreciate what we have when we are together and will allow us to cherish the time we will have together always..

If only it will come sooner than later.. :-)

April sneaks up again..

It never ceases to amaze me how fast time really does fly.

My boyfriend and I just recently celebrated the one year anniversary of us meeting each other. We can now say we've known each other for a year now..

Next up is the anniversary of our first day.. and then the anniversary of our actual declaration of our relationship..

I can't believe a year has flown by already..

My friend's babies are all turning a year old.. my other friend is going to have her baby soon..

Other friends are getting married..

I'm almost done with my MBA.. I just finished another class.. and by the looks of it.. I should only have about five more to go.. it seems like only yesterday that I started.. and it's true.. that only last year.. about one year ago in March.. I decided to pursue the MBA.. now I'm in the home stretch..

Time.. time.. time..

Here's to another fun-filled month! Enjoy it while it lasts!

Keurig.. my friend..

We have a Keurig coffee machine. It's that cool one that uses those little cups of pre-measured coffee.. you put it in one part.. put water.. and press a button..

Poof..

A perfect sized cup of coffee..

Ok.. so I gave up coffee for Lent.. but I think we already established this in a previous entry..

But did you know that Keurig has teas and hot chocolate as well?

They do.. and that is wonderful!

They have quite a selection at the Bed, Bath and Beyond..

Execellente!

Sickly..

I've been out of work for three days..

I'm finally going to go to the doctor to give me meds because I know I have a sinus infection.

It's Joe's birthday weekend too..

So sad.. I hope I feel better..

On a happier note.. I'm all over the NCAA March Madness.. it's so much fun keeping up with it all..

Just makes it so hard to keep up with my homework.. even tho I've been using these past few days to really make the most of my school time.. yay me!

Another quarter..

The first quarter of the year is flying by. We are halfway through March and it seems like I didn't get anything accomplished this month.

I actually have no idea where the first few weeks of March went.. or what I even did!

Now we are on the downward slope to the end of March.. and I have no idea what i want to accomplish.

Seems like time is running away from all of us..

Will we ever be able to catch it..

Work out!

I went to my Zumba class today.. first time since I was in Arizona..

It kicked my booty..

Then.. I went home.. and had a nice big serving of Sinigang.. my favoritest filipino food of all time..

Yummmy..

There goes my workout!

Check some linkage..

Ok.. now's the time to show off some linkage..

For starters.. there's my other blog.. Living life in the carpool lane..

Then.. there's my YouTube channel.. Artsyviray's Channel..

My Yelp page.. http://artsyviray.yelp.com

Uh.. I also have a Facebook.. and Myspace.. but I won't post those links here..

I'm tech savvy.. or I just have no life..

My coffee!

I gave up coffee for Lent.

I gave up coffee and frivolous shopping for things..

That means I can't drink coffee.. and I can't buy shoes.. purses.. dresses.. tops.. etc..

The shopping thing is fine.. I can live without it..

I'm struggling with the coffee..

We got a new Keurig coffee maker.. the one with the pods.. and you just slip a pod.. a cup of water.. press a button.. poof! A cup of coffee..

I don't even get to enjoy it right now..

When's Easter again??

The things I love..

I love being in California.. I wrote blog entry that you can read here about the things I didn't realize I take for granted because I live in California.

I don't know what I caught being Arizona all week.. but every afternoon I've been having a low-grade fever and massive headache. I'm hoping that this sick I'm experiencing will go away soon because I have a high school reunion to attend this weekend.

It's also going to be a boyfriend weekend.. and I haven't seen the boyfriend in awhile.. and I had been gone in Arizona last week.

Now he knows how I felt while he was in Asia..

Freezing and grumpy..

It is cold and wet in Southern California.

This sucks.. I hate this kind of weather. It makes me want to stay in bed all day under my covers and not do anything but sleep.

I wrote a blog recap of my awesome Valentine's Day weekend.. and it can be read by clicking here.

It was a really fun weekend and it made me enjoy valentines day for the first time in a long time. It was really sweet and fun and I laughed.. a lot.

Gosh.. it's freezing and I can't feel my fingers. It's making it impossible to type of this blog entry.. I get dizzy when I stand up for a long period of time because I am so tired.. and my heart is racing because I'm not feeling good.

Maybe I'm getting sick.. but I better not be because I'm on a business trip all week next week.. yikes!

So cold!

I am absolutely FREEZING!

This California girl is sooo not used to this freezing weather. She can't channel her inner "native Rhode Island girl" inside her and enjoy this cold weather.

I left Rhode Island when I was two years old. From Rhode Island, we went to California.. and it's pretty much where I've been ever since..

My mom used to tell me stories of how I used to love being outside in the snow. My cheeks would get all red.. but I wouldn't care.

Then again.. I was just a toddler.. stuff like that doesn't phase kids of that age.. as long as there is fun to be had.. they don't care what the circumstances..

I'm a total California girl all the way and I can't imagine myself living anywhere else but here. I need the warmth of Southern California..

And I know that this cold is probably NOTHING like what people back east are experiencing.. but darn it.. it's cold to me..

I've got two jackets on and a thermal long-sleeved top..

It's just not enough.

I hope you all have found ways to stay warm..

Today..

So.. I started the day off at work pretty happy because I had a buttload of things to do. I set out all my plates and made sure that everything was in the right spot.

My deck looked really full because I set out the entire days workload to warm up to room temperature.

I was happy.

Then.. they ask me if I needed help.. and I said I was good.. I'll be able to handle it all..

Slowly.. one by one.. someone else has been doing my work for me.. and now I'm left with only one more thing left to do when I had the whole day planned out and it all totally worked out and I would have been busy all day and very productive.

AHHHH!

I said I could do it!!!!

Now.. I'm pissed.

First Valentine's Day Weekend Extravaganza!!!

This weekend is going to be the boyfriend and mine's first Valentine's Day. It falls on a three-day weekend, and so we are pretty much going to make the most of it.. I think.

I have never been one for Valentine's Day. I'm not too into the candy and flowers and overtly nice romantic gestures.. well.. to occur on THAT day..

I'm more of an anniversary type person.. do those things on our anniversary. That's where the romance should happen. An anniversary commemorates the day that you two became a couple.. unless you got together on Valentines Day.. then that's a whole new story.

I think we're going to stay in that day. We're going to cook dinner and have a nice little dinner for us at my house. Parents will be partying with their friends, and I'm not sure what the little brother is doing.. but for the most part..the house will be our own.

I think it will be fun this weekend. I don't want to expect anything.. just a good comfortable time with a guy that makes me happy and comfy cozy.

Sweet.

Oh my stars..

It was a fun weekend. I had the boyfriend over this weekend. That always brightens the mood.

My friend had been telling me for the longest time that there is a strong resemblance between the boyfriend and I. She said she is in the same situation as her husband and they used to constantly be mistaken as brother and sister. She said that eventually.. that may start happening to us.

Well.. yesterday.. it did.

We were eating at a Japanese restaurant with my mother after Mass.

My mother was talking to the waiter about how her children love the food at the restaurant we were in. The waiter then looks at us as if implying that the boyfriend and I were her children.

Ha!

Weird.

I don't see it. I really don't.

Do you?

From Us.. in Anaheim

Boredom!!!

I'm at work and I have had nothing to do since this morning!

It's insane!

I wrote a cheesy blog entry.. that can be read here..

And have been trying to look busy ever since..

All the people I usually text at work are busy..

I'm bored outta my mind..

I need someone to send me something.. or else this day will be a complete waste of time!

Boo!

Zoom.. there it goes again..

Ok.. who else thought February creeped up on us outta nowhere?

You can't see it, but I'm raising my hand...

We are going to find ourselves wondering where 2009 went again. Time is moving so fast.. after I kept complaining about how slow it was going at the beginning of the year..

That was because I was missing my boyfriend a lot.. of course time is going to go slow when you want it to pick up the pace..

Now that life is back to normal.. time is racing at lightning speed again..

I look back at January and see nothing.. remember nothing.. except the Vegas trip.. and the reunion date.. which only occured about two weeks ago.. other than that.. I spent a good part of January moping around missing the boyfriend..

Waiting for his texts..

Waiting for his emails..

Trying to make the most of our time apart by trying to do stuff.. but not really having the energy to do much..

Did I waste my January??

I want to think I didn't..

I'm going to make sure I don't waste my February. It's going to be busy anyway..

I find myself in Phoenix, Arizona on the last week of February. It'll be for work, and it's a trip all by myself..

How's that for makin' memories?!?!

Tag! Not it!

I was tagged on Facebook. I was to write 25 random facts about me. Now, I'm not going to go around tagging everyone, but I would like to share what I wrote. It just gives everyone another opportunity to get to know a little bit more about me.

1. I hate horror movies.. but LOVE watching shows about supernatural and paranormal stuff..

2. I watched nothing but Filipino stuff and Tagalog stuff for about a year and a half.. until my mom made me stop cuz she said I was developing an accent..

3. I am freakishly afraid of bugs.. even when they are encased in glass.. and dead..

4. I would love to have a kid some day.. but I am deathly afraid of the weight gain and stretch marks..

5. I was born in Rhode Island. I only moved to California when I was two years old.

6. I would rather email, text, or chat online with a person than talk on the phone.

7. My current boyfriend is my first Filipino boyfriend. I had attempted to date another Filipino in college but that was just a very wierd situation.

8. I didn't sing for many, many years because I was always very self-conscious about my singing voice. I still cringe at the thought of hearing myself sing, and I always look for approval. I am terrified of being off-key.

9. I did background work for the television show, Boston Public. I had recorded every episode I appeared it, then my dad taped them over with whatever show he wanted to record.

10. I have a weakness for purses, shoes and other accessories. The more expensive they are, the better.

11. If I find a quote I like in a movie or a TV show, I will use it until everyone gets sick of it. Sorry!

12. When I was younger, I told my parents that when I grew up I wanted to be a waitress at McDonalds. True story.

13. My boyfriend thinks I cry too easily. I just tell him I'm not a robot devoid of feelings.. like him. That usually shuts him up.

14. I know every line to the Sound Of Music and can recite it along with the movie. This was because I spent a few summers watching that movie everyday growing up.

15. I want to run my own business and be my own boss, but I'm not quite sure what I want my business to be.

16. I like doing crafty things, like crocheting and cross-stitching. However, I can't knit to save my life. I have been known to throw my knitting needles across the room out of frustration.

17. If I could, I could eat any kind of Asian soup everyday.

18. I used to make Christmas goodie platters for friends and family during the holidays. One year, some people paid me to make some for their friends and family. I wish I had more time to do that again.

19. I have a weakness for French Fries.. especially the fat and soggy kind.

20. If I could, I would pay people do things for me.. but I don't have that kind of money.

21. I barely saw a picture of my paternal grandmother last year when I went to Guam to visit my dying Grandfather. My little brother is the spitting image of her.

22. I'm allergic to wine.

23. I can sing on a stage for any show, but singing the meditation song, or doing the responsorial psalm at Mass makes me nervous to the point that I want to throw up!

24. I recently forgot how to tie shoe laces until someone had to show me again.

25. I will fall in love with any guy that will bake me chocolate chip cookies.. someone should tell Joe..

Hope you enjoy! And don't forget to check out my other blog.. click here..

Scattered thoughts..

There isn't much to say at the moment.. I need to vent some feelings out and I really don't know where to start.. I tried about eight times to start this entry.. and everytime.. I deleted it because it just didn't sound right..

I'm not insecure.. I'm not depressed.. I just have things on my mind that need to get out.. I'm confused.. maybe worried.. a little scared.. I just know I'm not the me I was this weekend..

I'm just out of sorts again..

I was settled last week.. this week.. I'm not so sure..

I feel complacent.. I need movement.. I need something exciting to come.. move me forward..

I started this year so pumped... I started this year so inspired that things were going to change for the better..

My impatience is getting the best of me as I look at the end of January and find that I went no where..

I really need to learn to just give myself time.. I thought I trusted in God and His time?

Sometimes I seem to forget that.. this is that "sometime.."

I need a day out.. I thought I got that in Vegas.. and I did.. but as much fun as I did have.. there were places to go that I didn't go to.. things to see that I didn't see.. we just ran out of time..

And that's the thing I always feel like I'm running out of.. time.. there is never enough time to get all that I want done.. it's discouraging.. when it should press me to move on.. and to work hard to get as much done as I can.. should it?

That should be my new outlook.. life is short.. time is scarce.. I gotta make the most of the time I have.. work hard to get as many things done as I can.. and look back and know that even if I didn't finish it all.. I sure did a lot with my life.. and for that I should be proud..

If it were only that easy.. but lets work on that..

For more reading.. try my other blog.. "Living life in the carpool lane.."

Easing back into life..

Well.. my Vegas vacation came and went.. my boyfriend came back home from his three week long Asian adventure..

Life is slowly coming back to the same routine.. the same comfortable pace that we had left behind during the Christmas season.

I've noticed how much calmer I seem to be since my boyfriend came back. I no longer have that worried feeling that nags behind me in the back of my head while he was away.. I am a lot more easy going now that he's back.. I didn't realize how much I was going to miss him while he was away.. and I didn't realize how much I want to see him now that he's back..

I'll be seeing him this weekend, so that makes me happy.. I can't wait!

School is also in full swing.. so I've been dealing with that..

Life is moving on.. holidays are over.. vacations are over.. it's time to slip back into "real life.."

I'm still very excited for what this year is going to bring.. like last year.. I believe that this will be a great year..

I hope you have all been checking out my other blog.. a newer blog.. found by clicking here.

I'm going to Disneyland.. someday..

Disneyland.. I'm an annual passholder. I have been an annual passholder for the past two years. It was a lot of money, but it worked for me because for the years prior to that.. I was going several times a year and paying full price for a ticket. Getting an annual pass just fit my visitation to the park financially.

A lot of people think I'm crazy for wanting to go so many times. A lot of people think I'm a little too old to be visiting a place like that. But I am at the age and point in my life that I can afford to do things that I have always wanted to do and going to Disneyland a lot was one of them.

Does it really matter what everyone else thinks? I'm not using their money to pay for my pass...

I haven't been to Disneyland since November.

I missed out on a Disneyland Christmas. I always loved going to Disneyland during Christmas time.. everything is soo festive and beautiful..

February.. definitely February..

For more reading.. and a list of my other guilty pleasures.. click here for my other blog..

Sloooooooow..

To read another blog of mine..click here!

I am seriously going out of my mind with the slow pace of the week. I already knew that this would happen since I am looking forward to something on the weekend.. but this is ridiculous..

I kinda also expected my workdays to feel longer after we switched around our rotations and I got a set of jobs that tend to be slow on some days.. and hectic on other days.. I think we're going through a slow period right now..

I honestly don't mind being swamped..makes the time speed up and the week fly by..

The week flies by when I'm at home doing homework.. so I guess that's my consolation..

Tonight.. I have another excercise class. Looks like I've got 2009 off to a fairly good start.. I hope I keep it that way..

I figure I'll just take one month at a time.. it doesn't seem as overwhelming when you think of it in shorter intervals..

Slow and steady wins the race.. or so I've been told..

Monday.. before Vegas..

It's the work week before the Vegas trip. I'm looking forward to it. The one thing I am NOT looking forward to is the drive out there.. I'm driving there and my daddy's drivin back.

I'm going to need lots of caffiene and lotsa good music..

There you go.. gotta remember to pack some CDs..

I am sooo bored right now. Monday's are always slow for the rotation I am in right now. Nothing comes in on the weekends, and so there isn't anything to do.. ugh.. but I gotta look busy cuz being idle doesn't fly at work..

This past weekend was fun. I got to spend time with my favorite best girlfriends in the world. We had lunch at this great dim sum place in San Diego. Watched a few movies.. had a lot of laughs and talked about stuff..

That is always fun.. and I always look forward to the times that I can do that with them..

Well.. the clock is ticking and tocking at the slowest pace known to man.. but I gotta go and look busier than I am already pretending to be..

For an update on my new blog.. click here!

I think I'm goin' outta my head..

Half an hour.

I have half an hour until I can finally go home.. eat.. do some homework.. then go to choir practice.. go home.. prep the christmas gifts I have for my best friend and her daughter.. then sleep..

Only to wake up early and start my day..

Sounds busy.. but it helps make time go faster in a time that i want time to go faster..

It's actually gotten a lot easier over time.. dealing with missing the boyfriend.. it's not as agonizingly slow.. and it feels like when he's back home and we can't see each other for a few weeks..

It's pretty much the same thing.. except he's halfway around the world..

I knew that time would make it easier.. but it doesn't mean I miss him less.. and I really can't wait to see him..

But at least I'm not all outta sorts about it now..

At least I don't think I am.. maybe I'm just in denial..

Oh.. and if you wanna read about my latest endeavor into the world of exercise.. read this..

Rockin... and rollin.. and whatnot..

Yesterday I was watching The Notebook..

Gosh.. I love that movie.. it's like.. love.. in it's most perfect form..

Nicholas Sparks really knows how to tug on the heart strings with all his love stories.. he's the same man who wrote "A Walk To Remember.." another one of those perfect love stories with perfect love all around..

What I would give to have a guy like Noah.. or a guy like Landon.. from The Notebook and A Walk To Remember.. respectively..

But life and love aren't perfect.. at least in the human sense.. it's just a matter of working through life and love.. and keeping our heads above water..

Those two movies are definitely on my top 5 movies to watch whenever you need a good cleansing cry..

They were playing at the same time on TV.. I stumbled upon the end of A Walk To Remember after I finished The Notebook.. I own both movies.. so I don't have to worry about missing it..

Made me miss my boyfriend tho.. but he'll be home before we know it..

For further reading.. visit my other blog.. by clicking here..

Change rotation..

We changed rotations at work.. so now I have sooo much time on my hands..

I think I liked it better when I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off..

I'm also under the weather.. I'm a little dizzy and it's hard to breathe.. and I'm experiencing some tachycardia right now..

Ugh.. I usually go home.. but I got things to do at work.. but if really can't handle this.. I better go home.. so i don't get worse!

Oh ya.. and read this.. it's a new entry on my new blog..

Tension..

I'm doing it again..

Clenching my jaw so that the whole lower half of my head hurts.. I dont know why.. I guess I've just been so tense and out of sorts lately.

Again.. I didn't realize how much of an impact missing my boyfriend would have on me.

Top it off.. the internet connection in his hotel room is tripping out and so he has to go to an internet cafe to get a hold of me or any of his internet obligations..

We were talking at least once a day.. now I don't know when I'll talk to him.. I suppose this makes it easier.. without hearing from him I'm just going to have to deal with it..

Sometimes it makes me miss him more to read emails and texts from him.. but again.. I'm not complaining..

A little less than two more weeks and he's home.. and I'm gone..

I hope I can have fun in Vegas.. I need it.. I need the diversion.. and Vegas is always a good place to have such diversion..

http://artsyprincess.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/a-word/

Workaholic..

So.. I worked all weekend at my old job in Orange County. We finished the big bulk of the project we've been working on. All that's left are the repeats which he can do on his own hours in the lab on the weekdays.

I'm tired.

I've got a full week's work ahead of me and the classes for my MBA are starting up again.

I can feel the headache coming on.. yikes!

Well.. whatever makes the time go faster.. and the faster the time goes.. the faster i get to go to Las Vegas..

Actually.. the one thing I am looking most forward to is the return of my boyfriend back home.. even though I won't be seeing him right away.. I find a comfort in knowing that he's only an hour and a half away from me.. and not a whole half-a-world away from me..

I seriously didn't think I'd miss him as much as I do.. it's surprising..

How the Eve went..

My countdown to 2009 was rather eventful.

Not in the way that most people would think. It all had a happy ending, but getting there was pure torture.

It started off like any other day off. I slept in.. then ran some errands. Got my nails done and threaded my eyebrows in preparation for the nights festivities.

In the afternoon, I proceeded to take a nap. I knew it was going to be a long night of partying and I learned that as I am getting older.. it gets harder and harder to stay up later and later. I realize I am not longer the spring chicken I used to be..

Anyway.. during my nap I get a text message from my best friend.

She tells me not to worry but just wanted to know if Joe was ok because there was a fire in a club in Bangkok and several people were killed and hundred or so more were injured.

Of course.. I start to worry. I hadn't heard from him the whole day. Usually, by the late afternoon and early evening I would have heard from him.. either through a text on my phone or through an email.

I hadn't heard from him at all.

So my mind starts racing. I'm frantically emailing him.. I tried calling.. and obviously his phone was off..

I was a mess.

By the time the family had to leave to go to my aunts house for the countdown.. I was a huge pile of tears. I neglected to do my makeup.. and I forgot my camera and I was totally not my chipper-self.

My mind and prayers were on the other side of the world hoping that he was just asleep or busy elsewhere..

Luckily.. after about three or four agonizing hours.. I hear from him telling me he was ok and that he hadn't realized there was a club fire. Thank God he was at another place ringing in the new year.

I was able to relax the rest of the night but it really exhausted me. I hadn't realized until then how much I actually cared about him and how badly I would have felt if I wouldn't have him around anymore.

It was a wake up call to how I seem to really feel about him.

God likes to speak to me.. but He didn't have to scare me half to death!

There are methods to my madness..

So.. one way I have found to not miss the traveling boyfriend so much is shopping. The day after Christmas I found myself in the local mall in the city that my cousin and his family live.

I bought shoes.. makeup.. and some sweaters.. and tea.

They have this awesome tea shop that sells custom teas. Marvelous. They had these sample teas and so we bought some. I can't seem to replicate how well the made the tea. For some reason my version is always a little too watered down. I think that I need to put more leaves and possibly steep it for much longer. I also don't seem to put enough sweetener as they do.

I'm determined to make this tea as flavorful as they store did. I'm getting close!

The shopping is only a temporary fix to trying to not miss this boy so much.

I mean, it's not like we don't spend this much time apart as it is. It's going to be four weeks apart. He's gone for three but I'll be gone the weekend he gets back.. so we'll have to wait another work week before we can see each other.

We've done four weeks apart before.

Does the distance really make a difference?

Or is it the fact that he isn't as readily accesible via text messages like he is when he is at home?

Is it a combination of all those things?

This weekend I will be able to keep myself busy because I will be working with my old boss on the project we have been trying to finish for a few weeks now.

Then the next weekend will be spent with my closest girlfriends. It'll be a girls-only thing because they know that I am going nutso missing my boyfriend while their hubbies are all with them.

The weekend after that is the weekend he returns but it is also the weekend I will be in Las Vegas with my family.

So.. when you look at things according the calendar.. it really doesn't seem like much time will pass.. and it looks like time should move quickly..

But reality is not making it so.. for the first time in what seems like years.. time is moving waaay too slow for me..

Madness..

New year.. brings new.. blogs?!

Happy New Year everyone.

May the Lord bless each and every one of you with a happy and healthy and prosperous 2009.

I started a new blog on WordPress.

I'm not neglecting this one. I am going to juggle the two blogs.

Feel free to join me there too..

http://artsyprincess.wordpress.com/