Mad For No Reason

I'm not one to get upset easily but here are a few things that I know I have no reason to get mad but kinda do:

1. There are 3 stalls in the bathroom at work and I always use the furthest left b/c it's the biggest and most discreet. Plus no one can see my feet. It bothers me when people can. I find it really rude and illogical when someone chooses the stall next to me. Logically if there are 3 stalls and the furthest left is used then you go for the furthest right. Only when the 3rd person comes can they use the middle stall. Sometimes I want to tell the person to move one stall over but I know it's ridiculous so I just stare at their shoe in resentment.

2. When people put their Facebook/Myspace on private so I can't stalk them (even though I have everything on private myself).

3. When people won't let me cut in line while I'm driving. I may not have the right of way and I won't let people in myself but I really think it's rude for them to not let me ease in.

4. People who still write checks when they pay. Then if they insist on doing that, I really don't like it when they don't prefill the information. It's not like they don't already know the date, store and their signature. The only thing that changes is the price.

5. People who don't clear the microwave timer esp when there's only a few seconds left.

6. When the car garage door is locked.

7. Fancy hair and no make up.

8. When people walk slowly across the street. I think people should have the fear of being run down and start running. It's very pretentious of them to think that I would really not hit them.

9. Long closing prayers.

10. People who tell me that the word "hate" is a bad word. It just expresses how I feel about something. It doesn't have to mean something really bad.

I'm really not a negative person.

A Few Reasons to Love Summer

Warm summer days means Music Under the Stars at the Botanical Gardens. We also got free tickets to watch My Sister's Keeper. Score!

Summer+water+friends= tons of fun.

Kieri's artistic feet shot. I love it.

This was the most efficient 4th of July fireworks watching ever. We got there just in time to watch fireworks and left. No long lines, waiting in the hot sun, waiting for the show to begin. Everyone else was exploring the lake but I was happy to just enjoy the summer wind.

Catching up

I had misplaced my camera's battery charger so I haven't been able to take pictures thus not being able to blog about it. So I will just give updates on my life thus far:

- Completed my first triathlon. I did better than I thought I would but there is PLENTY of room to improve. Next one is on Labor Day.

-Went to visit the family in Phoenix for my baby brother's HS graduation. How can he be this grown up already? I still think he's 10. I was a proud older sister.

- Went to Chicago for the first time. Great place, food, buildings, etc. but I can never live there. It's just too crowded and dirty. I liked it a lot though. I did get to see Obama's house, eat a hot dog off the street, eat a real Chicago deep dish pizza, ran on Lake Shore Park (which is so pretty cause you're along side the lake with the heart of the city as your background), and a bunch of other cool things with my good friend Kelly Kitchen.

-Ran a full and half marathon relay (did better than I thought on one but worse on another)

-Slept at the airport b/c I missed my flight

-Camped at Canyon Lake which has restore my faith that outside of California, you can still find cool bodies of water.

-Floated the river a few times

I am going to enjoy this summer the best I can. I want the rest of my 20's to be amazing. I don't have much to complain but as I get older I also realize how precious this time in my life is and I can never get it back once it's over. I wouldn't go back to being younger for anything and am going to really just enjoy life.

-

Live Long and Prosper

You know what is going to be the best movie of the summer? Star Trek baby. I never have been a Trekkie but this movie rocks and I don't say that about a lot of movies, especially action ones. It had humor, a storyline (sorry Wolverine), history, cool special effects (again sorry Wolverine), eye candy and just overall coolness. This is my new obsession. I'm going to google all sorts of history on Star Trek. But what is so very cool about this movie is that you could have never seen or heard of the series and still totally love it. All I have to say is go see the movie. This is the trailer that got me super hooked when I first saw it a few months back. And honestly, I don't like most trailers that I see. Go get your tickets now.

My Fellow Stocktonians

This made me nostalgic and think of a time far far away in a ghetto land called Stockton. I can't imagine ever moving back but it's always home. If you understand the following then you can proudly (or shamefully) call yourself a true Stocktonian.

1) You get offended/defensive when people assume that Stockton is a small town in the middle of nowhere.

-Yea we are not a cow town. That's Stanislaus.

2) "March" is not just a month of the year.

3) You try to avoid Sherwood Mall unless
a. You are going to Macy's - I worked there.
b. It is completely necessary...Which in most cases, it is not.

4) Some of your best/worst middle school days were spent at Lincoln Center Live.
- I thought it was so cool to eat 3 dollar bagels from Noah's Bagel there.

5) You're tired of seeing snobby moms at Lincoln Center Live.
-Yeah but I wanted to be one of those snobby people

6) You can't count the number of times you've been to Discovery Zone [may it rest in peace] and you refer to it as "DZ".

-DZ was the new Chuck E Cheese man. And the roller slide was the best

7) You get excited when you meet other students from Stockton and think, 'FINALLY, someone understands!'

-Instant bond

8) You've gone bowling. A lot. For too many birthdays. It's not that fun.

9) Non-Stocktonians don't understand why you're so gangster. There are just some things you can't explain...
-That's why Im the YANGSTER
10) You've seen enough Escalades and rims to last you a lifetime.

11) You've been to/been in the Delta.
-It smells

12) You got excited for the new Target to open on 8 Mile and you drive out there because you think it is better than the old one...but they're exactly the same.

-It's the only reason that I ventured to that haunted 8 Mile Road.

13) College is too difficult or you are homesick and you wonder why you didn't apply/go to UOP.

-Honestly I think that now

14) You wonder what UOP students do for fun outside of school.
-Never would have guessed Stockton was a college town
15) It's 110 degrees outside and you learn to deal with it.
-Until you live in AZ then you know what the heat is

16) 95.1, 93.1, and 97.7 are programed in your radio.

-97.7 is so ghetto but when in Rome...

17) You and your friends go to Java when there is nothing else to do and you end up staying for hours because you run into random friends.

-Man those were some of my best memories drinking the same smoothie for 4 hours

18) You've almost been or have been late to school because of the fog in the winter.

-I'm still so scared of driving in fog to this day

19) You've been to Delta College on [too] many different occasions such as for elementary school field trips, the SATs, extra credit plays, summer school, regular school...

-Can't even comment on this

20) People ask you what you do for fun in Stockton and you're at a loss for words because you can't think of anything significant.

21) No matter how bad you want it, Stockton is not part of The Bay. Get over it.

-LOL guilty of that. But it just makes us sound so much cooler

22) You know that there has to be a back road to get from Point A to Point B.

23) You see way too many emo people wherever you go. Come on, people! Mix it up a bit!

24) The downtown movie theater opening was the best thing since sliced bread.

-It actually made it become a real downtown

25) Taking a field trip to Golfland was pretty much the most exciting place to go for a field trip.

26) You were super depressed when Golfland closed.
-*tear* I didn't even know it closed down. Another place of memories

27) You've been stuck in traffic on Swain one too many times.
-Dang those stop signs and elementary schools

28) The Asparagus festival is the biggest event of the year.

-I am so sad to confess that I never went. I took it for granted and now live with regret

29) You've been to Hammer Skate too many times and although you laughed a little when you found out it was closing, you later realized that you would never again skate in that rink or buy gifts from that gift shop.

-Another place that saddens me it closed. So many memories and bruises and I actually won during the games they played

30) The word "legit" is part of your vocabulary.

31) You used to Trick-or-Treat in the big gates of Brookside because you thought they'd give king sized candy.
-Yeah but they were shisty

32) If all plans fail, you can always have a bonfire.

33) You never went to Krispy Kreme and you can understand why it would have to close down.

34) You considered a day trip to Manteca Waterslides to be fun times.
-Manteca Waterslides rocked

35) You know you're from Stockton if you ever got a haircut at Sir Gauuan's.
-I thought I was so chic paying for my 25 dollar hair cut

36) You don't dare travel down Wilson Way or around the fairgrounds past 8 at night and try

to avoid this area as much as possible during any part of the day.

Let's just say that with the amount of cop cars there you'd have thought it was the police station

37) You go to the Baskin Robbins on Swain and Pacific because that's the 'best' one, even if the line is out the door.

-I used to get free blueberry freezes all the time AND I wanted to work there so bad but they had a million interviews so I said screw that

38) You refer to it as the 2-0-9 or the Dub Nine.
-HOLLAR!!

39) You went to Philip's Farm every year until you were 10 and you took pictures with the Raggedy Anne and Andy cutouts every time.

40) You've been to Tepa Taqueria too many times to count.

41) You remember when the Stockton Royal was actually open for cheap and classic movies.
-Yeah it was like a buck, it was ghetto but hey it was a buck

4

2) You know that the biggest hill in Stockton is the Feather River bridge.

43) You can name all the exits off of I-5 until 8 Mile.

44) You call speed bumps 'undulations' and no one knows what you're talking about...Then you realize it's just a fancy name Brookside made up for them.
-Dang Brookside and their gated communities. FYI you're still in Stockton, even if you think it's its own city

45) You flip out when you hit one red or yellow light on Pacific because you know that hitting one red light means that they'll ALL BE RED.

46) You crave Yen Du.

-It's all about the cheap Chinese food at Food 4 Less grocery

47) You call it "Five" or "I-5". Regardless, it has never been, is not, and NEVER will be "The Five."
-No one gets it outside of Cali

48) You get really excited for a new business or restaurant to open, only to realize that two weeks later it has become just as ghetto as every other place in town.
-True that

49) You know what the Pershing bumps are.

50) You go down Hammer Lane and still do 55 when the new speed limit says 40.
- Yeah after the 10+ year construction

51) People say, "Yeah, I know Stockton, My *insert random relative* ALMOST went to UOP."

52) You learned to drive in the Delta parking lot on a Sunday.

53) You thought you'd never afford a meal at Le Bistro.

-LOL how little I knew

54) You go away to college and tell your friends you're so excited to go home for the Asparagus Festival and they say, "There's a festival for a vegetable?"

55) People ask where it is you respond that it's the Foreclosure Capital of America and then promptly wonder why you would share such negative information.

56) You tell people you're "30 min from where the whole Scott Peterson - Modesto thing happened."

-That's my claim to fame. And we can't forget the Chandra Levy/Congressman Gary Condit murder investigation

57) You got your senior picture taken by Fritz Chin.
-It was mandatory for schools to do that

58) You are not really phased by the "bad" part of any city you've ever visited.
-I always thought all cities were ghetto until I moved away and realized it was just Stockton

59) You've waited in line to drive down Lincoln so you could look at Christmas lights.
-Where Spano lives and see what his family did that year

60) You actually know who Benjamin Holt is and why he's important.

-He made farming easier and no we are still not a cow town

And that my friend, is my childhood, teens, and young adulthood in a nutshell.

I'm Baaaaaccccckkkkkk!!!!!

I know it's been a crazy long time since I've blogged. I hate to blame it on being busy crazy busy but it's the truth. I work upwards of 60 hours a week and had to give up Internet time. So here's a run down of my life so far:

The new love of my life. I highly recommend the iPhone to everyone because it does EVERYTHING. It's convenient and saves so much time. Honestly there is an application for anything you might ever want to know about.





For some insane reason I decided to actually sign up for a triathlon. It's one of those things we all talk about but never really do. Well thanks to my triathlon friends encouraging me, I'm really going to do it. I'm not worried about time, just finishing. Training has taken up all my free time, hence not being able to blog so blame them for believing in me.

So even though I'm working crazy hours, my schedule is a lot more set so I can finally take little vacations. I'm going to be in Phoenix and Chicago this month. Super excited since I've never been to the Windy City. I plan on eating hot dogs on the street and a real Chicago deep dish pizza. Yummy.

Yes, These Made Me Cry

The Unthinkable

I have never voted in any of these reality contest shows but my love for Beat Freaks is to profound. I texed 1 to 2244 about 5 times. I encourage everyone to do the same. This is bigger than Obama/McCain, Bush/Gore, to be or not to be. It's girls vs guys Quest Crew. They did do a good job on the last show but it's about all over showmanship. Voting goes on until Thursday March 5th 1:00 AM E.T. or on MTV.com. Good Luck!

Kittens Inspired by Kittens

This is the cutest little girl. It just cracks me up.

Rekindled Love

Thanks Chrissy for reminding me how good America's Best Dance Crew is. I respect and admire all these amazing crews who are so creative and dedicated to expressing themselves through dance. I love how diverse they are and believe in staying true to themselves. These are my favorites in order:

Beat Freaks are my absolute FAV!!They should totally win. They are an all girl group who can throw DOWN on breaking. It's hard enough to do so when a group of girls can show that kind of athleticism is very empowering. It's also cool that they don't have to dance "sexy" to own it.I've loved everything they've done. Notice at the end when the girl spins that she puts on her shades. How cool is that?


Jabbawockeez had great theatrics. From the masks to their stunts to their moves, they always play up the audience. They deserved their win.

Episode 5 - JabbaWockeez in America's Best Dance Crew - Watch more funny videos here


Kabba Modern has the best technical hand movements. This is probably my favorite one b/c it equally showcases the guy/girl dynamic.


Fanny Pack was so unique with their 80's flare but they had such good choreography. I like how creative they are. This is just a clip of their greatness.

Can You Pass the Facebook Challenge?

I found this on my good friend Bex's page and I'm ashamed to admit that I'm NOT ashamed to be Facebook obsessed. I'm not as bad as I used to be but it passes the time. I really like outlets like Facebook and Myspace simply because I love to know what's going on with people without having to talk to them. Honestly I'm really not social as much as I am nosy. I like Facebook because it allows me to channel my curiousity without the hassel of small talk. Let's see how you fare:

10 warning signs that you may be addicted to Facebook
1. Facebook is your home page.

(I've thought about it but have settled on GOOGLE because I can do a lot more "curious" researching)
2. You update your status more than twice a day.

(It keeps you on the news feed rotation)
3. You have over 500 "friends" half of whom you've never actually met.

(My rule is that I have to have met them once.... or b/c I'm the Institute liason.Current friends: 489)
4. As soon as you step away from your computer you're on FB on your phone.

(Carlo and Woody have banned me from their IPhone)
5. You are a FB stalker. You qualify as a FB stalker if you

(My mott:Don't put your biz-naaz out there if you don't want people to access it)
a) click on someones profile more than once a day even if they haven't messaged or tagged you in a photo.
b) have dragged and dropped more than 3 FB photos (not from your own profile)
c) actually go to a place mentioned on someone's page in hopes of seeing them in real life...creepy!

(I've never done this BUT I do check if people clicked "attending" on events to decide if I want to go or not)
6. You change your profile picture more than a 12-year=old girl.

(I love pictures of myself. What can I say?)
7. You have checked your FB page while reading this article.

(It's always pulled up just in case)
8. You clean up your "wall" so it looks like you spend less time on FB.

(ehhh I don't care)
9. You are a member of more than 10 groups and respond to every event invitation "attending" even if you have no intention of going.

(Actually I believe clicking "attending" is a form of commitment so I rarely do it. I hate when people do it and don't show up)
10. You change your relationship status just to mess with people.

(OK once as a joke but I didn't realize how seriously people took it. The few other times were changed by friends who hacked my account as a joke. I had to send out a few weird apologies to guys so they wouldn't think I was a weirdo. Thanks Woody and Sara.)

And in case Chrissy is reading this, yes I am doing this at 4 AM. You always notice my time blogs.I need help.

Linger

Chrissy, Zach, and Chloe I'm taking this from you guys cause it's cute. My playlist was from my "Memories" collection so the songs will be old school. I've been in a nastolgic mood lately.

Here are the rules:

1. Put your music library on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. You must write that song title as the answer to the question, no matter how silly it sounds! Most of the time they seem to work though, strangely enough.

4. Ok, go!



1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK?" YOU SAY?

Please Don't Go Girl- New Kids on the Block



2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

Its the Hardest thing - 98 Degrees


3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

On Bended Knee- Boys II Men

4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

Iris- Goo Goo Dolls



5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

Steal My Sunshine- Len



6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

She Drives Me Crazy- Fine Young Cannibals



7) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?

If We Hold it Together- Dianna Ross from The Land Before Time I Movie



8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Foolish Games- Jewel



9) WHAT IS 2+2?

If You Don't Know Me by Now- Simply Red



10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

If it Makes You Happy- Sheryl Crow



11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

A Whole New World- Alladin Soundtrack



12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Opposites Attract- Paula Abdul



13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Take a Bow- Madonna



14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Tonight I Celebrate my Love- Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack



15) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Africa- Toto


16) WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING?

Water Runs Dry- Boys II Men



17) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Someone to Love- Jon B featuring BabyFace
(This would make me happy)

18) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

All Out of Love- Air Supply
(kinda sad)


19) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Praise You- Fat Boy Slim



20) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

Eternal Flame- Bangels
(awww very true)

21) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

Linger- Cranberries

A Very UnLinda Post

I'm not much of a sports fan but I do like to keep up with what's going on. With Super Bowl XLIII(43) I was kinda excited because the Arizona Cardinals were actually playing. It's not because I lived in Arizona for a year and a half. Honestly, I didn't much care for them when I was there except that I learned a lot about them. I just really like that they are probably the ultimate underdog. No one was betting on them to even make the playoffs. Their quarterback, Kurt Warner, is pretty old by sport players definition but he came on this year and took them all the way. It's even cooler cause Matt Leinart, who came to quarterback the Cards 2 years ago as like the best pick, Heisman trophy winner, golden boy who was supposed to do it but sure didn't. Maybe he should have practiced more instead of knocking up chicks and partying with Britney Spears. I like him, I even feel bad for him but dude, he didn't do his job. I think they won 2 games that season. Their head coach left (or got fired cause they had such high hopes). I think they also got a few other really good first draft players and they still sucked.

Then this year, they changed a few things and bam, they are in their first Super Bowl ever. I think they have only ever played in one playoff like in the 60's.Fitzgerald (running back?) and Warner make such a great team. Not as good as Montana and Rice or Young and Rice but hey only time will tell. Anyways, I just really like the story of achievement and that anything can happen. A never Super Bowl team going against the Steelers who are up to become the reining Super Bowl Champs. It's like David and Goliath, except in this one Goliath won. So many people were against the Cards. They really played an outstanding game. Even though they lost, I think they garnered respect as a team that really gave the Steelers a run. I do have to give it to the Steelers though cause they played a great game. James Harrison made like this crazy 100 yard dash to score a touchdown then he needed an oxygen mask cause he's a defensive player who isn't a runner. It was crazy and all within about 18 secs to half time. Crazy. Fitzgerald's' face for the Cards last touchdown was priceless and they almost tasted victory taking a 3 point lead. It was an amazing feeling until Steelers made another really cool touchdown that almost wasn't. The replay was insane based on whether or not his foot was inside the line before it touched the ground.

Anyways, it was a great game. It had 2 great stories and lots of suspense throughout. They played everything down to the seconds and had many highlights. Honestly though I couldn't take the ups and downs of sports. There is a reason besides boredom that keeps me aways. I was so ancient and the thought of the team your rooting for losing really sucks. This is probably the most sports like I will be unless the 49ers ever make it to the Super Bowl again. They can't let the Steelers have the most wins. Maybe their new coach is what was needed to turn the team back to the team they should be. I'll be into the NBA if the Suns or Kings ever make it to the championship. I love the Kings but I think it's a long shot. At least the Suns have a chance at the playoffs. I can't even get started on Steve Nash.

Anyways here are some highlights and next year Cardinals. It'll be your turn for that ring.

The Human Body

Very late Sunday night, my friend D.K. and I went to the UT Health Science Center to look at cadavers. Why you might ask? Cause I've never really touched a dead body before. He's in medical school and was talking about how interesting the human body is based on the cadavers they are learning on. I said that I would love to see and that's how this crazy idea was born. So it's 10:30 on Sunday night and we sneak in the class. Technically I'm not supposed to be there but... no one was there that night. I have to admit, once the body rose from the formaldehyde, I was starting to rethink the whole idea. It just took awhile for me to calm down. It really helped that D.K. has absolutely no qualms about handling the body. He showed me the human anatomy and it's very interesting to see how simple yet complex the body is. It makes me rethink cutting up whole chicken. It was weird to see a severed leg. Just one of the reasons why I didn't become a doctor, mortician, detective or anything that involves dead bodies.

The smell of formaldehyde was overbearing. Eventually I mustered up the courage to touch the heart, kidney, hand and muscles. Very weird. It also left the smell of formaldehyde on my hands forever. The hardest part was going to an empty home. My roommate chose a very bad time to go on vacation. Since it was now past midnight, my imagination started to creep up on me. I couldn't take the smell of my fingers anymore so I sprinkled bleach on my hands. It stinks also but at least it doesn't make me think of dead bodies. I didn't have a nightmare that night but I did last night. I had to think about the gospel a lot to get me through the night. It was quite an experience.

Romantic Heros

Since I've rediscovered my love of Anne of Green Gables, I've started thinking about all those romantic leading men that every girl crushes on. They are the men that every girl uses as the bases of her ideal man. Let's see if you agree and please let me know who you would want to add.


Tall, smart and handsome Gilbert Blithe.








Mr Darcy is the epitome of that arrogant, moody, wealthy, unapologetic but oh so desirable. Every girl can see his true loving self deep inside waiting to pour out for that "one" person.





















Legolas: unfailing loyalty, heroic nature, protector of the meek. He out shined royalty.














Ok, this was very highschool of me. Angel, the forbidden bad boy. Every girl wishes she will be the one to reform that one guy.
















Love that endures the test of times.



The boy next door that you can take home to mom.











Sweet Home Alabama makes you realize the root of who you are and who your first love is.


Who doesn't want their Prince to rescue them?

Asian + Rice = Bliss

My amazing roommate made me this lovely gift for christmas. We have lived together for over a year now so she knows most of my habits. It is a very fitting gift.

My latest obsession

Words cannot express how this movie has shaped my life. Enjoy