Yearly Goal

Every year I do something that scares me.

2004 - Compete in the Miss Kent Scholarship Pageant
2005 - Run for ASWWU President
2006 - Initiate the search to find my biological mom in Korea
2007 - Leave full time job to contract at Microsoft
2008 - ???

"A diamond don't define what shine is

I don't need a Rolex to know what the time is

You got yours let me find what mine is

I'm a survivor look how strong my mind is

I stand on my own it's all me

Regardless of whatever they call me

I'm a leader not a follower

And I'd rather be paid and popular

Ride homie get your dollars up

We're in the belly of the beast that already swallowed us"

-Afraid, Nelly Furtado

Ok, go

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets
So love the people who treat you right,
forget the ones who don't,
and believe that everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it;
If it changes your life, let it,
Nobody said it would be easy,
They just said it would be worth it."

-source unknown

Being Thankful

Truly mean it too. Pause and think over who/what in your life is significant and meaningful. Maybe tell those people too. One thing I am glad for are that I have improved my health and fitness in the past few years. This article about the 20 Worst Foods in America reminded me of that this morning :). I used to eat a snickers and a snack can of Sour Cream & Onion Pringles for lunch in high school. Don't get me wrong though. I work out/eat mindfully, and still possess the power to shutdown all-you-can-eat buffets. My WWU friends don't call me Cookie Monster for nothing, I've just found the balance I need.

Make time to think about what you are glad for. I'm sure I'll post more closer to Thanksgiving about other things/events/elements of my life I have gratitude for so look out for that. I just put together a 5-page newsletter for work so I'm taking a writing break for at least a few hours. This week I've been spending time working (obviously), planning holiday events/visits, and deocrating my office. One easy way to spruce up my corner office with a view is with easy print and cut snowflake patterns. They're fun during a lunch break... or a "brain break" like we used to say/require at Copacino+Fujikado.

Out of Town Again This Weekend

See you later alligator... I'm in southern Oregon all weekend. Corvallis! More trip pictures from California below. Feel welcome to leave blog comments too.

Think about this a bit

"Faith and doubt both are needed, not as antagonists,but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve."

-Lillian Smith

:: Above the Clouds ::

My vacation in California was amazing guys. The flight was a-ok and I was back home this afternoon. Already went to the gym, grocery shopped for the week and did some laundry. Soon I'll be going to bed so I can be up and pumped to do some solid Microsoft work. I can say that there are now multiple reasons I love Huntington Beach. My vacation made me happy and I want to remember every minute so I'm pretty much writing that below.

Arrived Thursday and hit up Holllywood. Got a bit lost but managed to get back to the apt. The clock said quarter-till-big-muscles, so we all hit up the gym. While there, Bobby did the sweetest 360 kick ever. His glasses might not agree b/c they ended up at the bottom of the stairs, but Jeremy and I were freakin rolling. I also did my first 30 unassisted dips so that was hot. We headed out, got fresh & clean then went to dinner and visited Bobby.

Friday morning we cruised down PCH to Huntington Beach. Saw the funniest "farmers market" and took pics on the pier. Needed a caffeine fix at S*bux, then hit up Fred's for some Mexican for lunch. After that, J and B experienced the dirty griminess that is Walmart, as we searched for some DVDs. Laughed at Clerks 2, "Ooh... cake." Hahha. Later we checked out Ebisu for dinner which I freakin loved. Electric green melon soda and oyako donburi had me in heaven :). The super fun part of Friday night was going to Gaslamp for 80s night. I have never been a fan of that decade's musical offerings. But it was awesome. I did get Bobby into a little trouble when I exchanged texts with one of the girls he is talking with. My justification is she is being stupid and needs to "sh*t or get off the pot". Date him or let somebody else have a chance yo. Somebody who actually realizes he's a "catch." Anywho... a few drinks, lots of singing, even more taking pics of the guys posing and suddenly it was midnight. Probably the best night of the whole trip*!

Shopped my damn heart out at H&M on Sunday. The mall we went to (South something or other) was near University of Redlands and was ginormous and filled with the highend brands/designers I love (Carolina Herrera next to Marni... are you serious?!?) More fun with J and his roomies. A slight forray into "eh?" when I crunched into a piece of charcoal in my salad during lunch at Claim Jumpers... but that was quickly remedied with a comped lunch. Then on the way home... Bobby was a speed racer and, feat of all feats, managed to do a 180 on the 405 onramp, coming to a stop about a foot away (broadside) from the wall. We saw them as we got on...looking at them face to face lol. Back to the casa for a wardrobe change then we met his parents, sister/her bf and cousin for dinner. Had carne asada for the first time. Saw his dad's friend rock out some Jimmy Buffet and a cool version of "Brown Eyed Girl." It was so fun seeing his parents b/c hadnt seen them since high school. Super friendly and fun to hangout/talk with, like always! Headed home w/ the sis and her bf and watched another movie.

Woke up this morning and just got ready & headed to John Wayne since I had to be there at 9 a.m. So many things about this trip make me smile. It was a bummer to go. J and I definitely wanted more time together. But it feels like the start, so I'm not too sad :).

Just like Biggie....

"I'm going, going... back, back... to Cali, Cali."

Holler. This girl is getting the hell out of Dodge (ok, Seattle) on Thursday morning. Heading out to Huntington Beach to catch up with Jeremy. I also need to take a break from WA. Sometimes I am pretty tempted to move to California for the improved weather and larger cities. It'll be fun to check that out also while I'm down there. Don't miss me too much.