And so the countdown for ICON begins... and the proof is in my room. My closet has once again blown up and I've been trying on different combinations of clothing in hopes that I accomplish my goal of looking oh*so*cute in NY. Well, Beth came by today and has approved of what I have so far... yay! :) I think I'll have a LOT of fun... especially since my roomies will be Carrie, K-athy, and Beth. I can already see us dancing and singing to our hairbrush microphones as we get ready for events in our room... SOOO excited. :D

Hey Manny... MINE!!

It was a chill weekend... :) Carlene came over friday and we basically played with the karaoke all day. She then took Jen out clubbing, (where I believe she left poor jen on the dancefloor to be mauled by some freaky guys.. but I hear jen liked it...) and came home with Nick, who spent the night. That left Carlene to sleep in my bed, and me with an aching arm in the morning cause she kicks. :o My dear sister also wanted me to meet one of her friends whom she thinks I'll be perfect with since we're both "quirky." I was reading while she was talking to the guy... tell him in her best fob accent "she makes good tea... she be good wife for you." OH how I do love my sis...

I had my FTC meeting the next day and it went pretty well. :) I got to see Salamanca and kept hugging and exclaiming * I MISSED YOU* to him... I did! :) Afterwards, Ryan, Carre, and I drove to the Block to meet up with Beth were we shopped. (I was window shopping up until I saw the cutest jacket that broke my *I don't need anything* trance)

Had a very interesting conversation with Pic today... damn lucky duck. But I cross my fingers and wish that some day, it will be me.
Pic: i called you on your cell
Me: hmmmm.... weird.. it hasnt rang or anything.. whats up?
Pic: i called you when i was right in front of lance
Me: OH SHUT UP!! oh my gosh..
Pic: i got to shake his hand!!!
Me: SHUT UP!!
At least he thought of me and my crush on Lance to call me when he was near him... :)

Did you know that *LL Cool J* means Ladies Love Cool James? Something to think about huh... actually, not really.

smack it, flip it, rub it down...
1) I'm grateful for Color Me Badd... who knows where they are, but they came up with some good songs during their 15 minutes. *ALL FOR LOVE* and * I WANNA SEX YOU UP* always manages to put a smile on my face... they're just silly songs.
2) I'm grateful that I have people on my commitee... *whew* THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VOLUNTEERING!!
3) I'm grateful because WE GOT THE HOUSE!! :D Soooo... if anyone is free in January... I'll be moving and will be needed some help hauling boxes and furniture... :) Pretty pretty please??? I'll bake you cookies!!!

I have come to the realization today that BUFFALO is only a WEEK away!! A week!! SOO exciting... =) and yet sad cause once ICON is done, summer is done and time to go back to school. OH WELL.. lets focus on the happy thoughts.. rain drops on roses, whiskers on kittens, and a grand ole time in Buffalo NY. =) Beth has already planned out the times where we can go venture out into the city and play tourist. President McKinley was assinated in Buffalo in 1901... gruesomely depressing huh. Don't know if I wanna go visit that spot.. but its one of our options.

Wouldn't it be cool if you can make Tshirt with a picture of you wearing a shirt with a picture of yourself on it? I was trying to convince Beth to make that her convention shirt but shes dead set on her tuxedo shirt.. which is still a pretty kick ass shirt. Guys wouldn't have to worry about bringing a suit and just bust out with their cotton Hanes tuxedo shirt instead. But imagine going to the grocery in a shirt with a picture of you wearing that shirt of youself on it... what a converstaion piece!! Or you can make the picture of youself on the shirt looking upwards and smiling at you (the wearer of the shirt). It seems complicated in words, but once the shirt is made... it will make sense. =)

My mom is becoming more and more impressed by my adventures in cooking. I attempted to make fried chicken for dinner last night... and although it looked a lot like tempura.. it wasnt bad. =) Ok.. prehaps a bit salty... but nothing was raw and no one is yakking. We haven't been to go to the grocery in a while and I had to make do with the ingredients we had... I'm just grateful it was edible. I was dancing and cooking to the the music of the new Nsync album... I felt like I was in some cheesy movie where the heroine cooks and dances to a wooden spatula... oh wait.. i was holding a spatula too.

Speaking of my mom... since my days are BLAH.. I was listening to the radio earlier today and K-earth was playing *Monday Monday* by the Mama and the Papas... this song always makes me think of my mom and my Tita Ne. I guess when they were younger, they formed a band of some sort for their talent show back in high school... but they never practiced cause they thought *Monday Monday* was an easy song and with not a lot of technical harmonies. So they day of the event came.. and they started singing... *Monday monday... na na na na na na.. So good to me..* and they were doing pretty well up until the *every other day.. every other day... * part. One girl freaked and slid off the stage...and one by one the members of the band would abandon the group and dissapear onto the wings of the stage...until Tita Ne was the only one out and singing... well she freaked as well and ran. So much for their 15 minutes of stardom. My mom was always telling me crazy stories of her childhood... maybe if you kids are good... I'll tell you about the time she jumped off the roof cause she was dared by her brothers to jump and land without bending her knees...

*friday friday...*
1) I'm grateful for chances to try something new...
2) I'm grateful for late night chats about nothing.... it all equals to something.
3) I'm grateful for the person who invented that sheet of rubber that you use to open jars....

ok.. so this is where everyone goes... WHAT DID SHE DO?? Well, I felt like redecorating this puppy so *TA DA* here it is. Don't be all to impressed because I just picked out a new template. I'm not THAT talented in the world of computer wizardry. Anyhoo, I better type fast since I only have about 10 minutes left to play and finish up here since Carlene is going to kick me off at midnight.

So Nicole.. how was your day?

I CLEANED.

It was fun and the bathroom now sparkles. =)

Ok... really quick.
1) I'm grateful I got my new glasses today.
2) I'm grateful for all the new templates I got to choose from... I felt like a kid in a candy store!! =)
3) I'm grateful for the person who let me on to the 57 during traffic today... I made a mental note to be grateful for him cause the traffic was HORRIBLE and no one was letting anyone in.. so YAY to that person!! You made my day!

YEE HAW!! I LOVE NSYNC!! I LOVE LANCE!! He's such a cutie... *sigh* Mrs. Lansten Bass? Mrs. Nicole Bass? Well, its alright... not necessarily better than Concepcion but if I'm happily married, I'll take any name that comes my way.

Well, I'm jotting this on back of an NSYNC ROCKS MY WORLD sign in the parking lot/golf course behind the Rose Bowl because concert just ended and traffic sucks. I think I have spent over 6 hours in Keri's car today and the concert was only 2 hours long! The Rosebowl is an awful venue.. parking SUCKS, exiting the parking lot SUCKS cause theres only ONE main road and 20 thousand cars trying to get out.. and it was HELLA EXPENSIVE!! $15 baby!

OOOOO..I love this song! Everyone should go and download *GONE* by NSYNC. Yes... even you non-NSYNC lovers out there *ahem Phuoc*, but its a really great song.. nice back beat... kinda sad but pretty lyrics. We've been in the parking lot for over an hour and have been listening to the new CD...its making its second round now...

Anyhoo, back to the concert. I arrived at Keri's around 4 and we went over to Save-on to buy some supplies. Then we went back to her place and proceeded to paint the windows of her car with phrases such as *HONK 4 NSYNC*, *NSYNC OR BUST* and my personal favorite *BSB SUCKS*. =) Lauren finally came and we finished our decorating by putting pictures of our beloved on the doors and hood of the car. IT WAS ART!

The ride to Pasadena started off fun... I was in this lil world of NSYNC cds and being uncharacterstically bold with strangers by making eye contact with surrounding drivers, flashing my HONK 4 NSYNC sign and screaming *COME ON! DO IT!* If they did, and most did, they would be rewarded with a great big smile, a thumb up, and a whoop of celebration. We encountered slight traffic when we hit Arcadia, but it was cool cause we made more honking friends. I am proud to say that I got 3 big rigs to blow their horn for me. =) *YAY* It was 6:30pm, the concert was only an hour away and I felt the NSYNC love on the California freeway.

But 2 hours later, we were still on the freeway and EVERY exit was blocked. We had changed our *HONK 4 NSYNC* signs to *HONK 4 TRAFFIC* signs in hopes to lighen the spirits of our fellow concert goers caravans... but we all got tired. FINALLY made it to the Rose Bowl, were we parked WAAAAAYYYY yonder in the boonies and had to walk for a LOOOOONG time in order to get to the stadium. Keri and Lauren went ahead to the seats while I searched frantically for GATE B and WILL CALL for Carrie since I had her ticket.

Gate B was on the opposite side and Carrie was waiting patienly.. we find out seats and *YAY* the show starts. (sure we missed EDENS CRUSH and SAMANATA MUMBA.. but oh well.. just as long as I see my boys.. its all good.) I LOVE NSYNC... they are soo great. =) *sigh* sooo dreamy... and they are just great. did i mention they were great? Yeah.. they're great. =) I'm tell you.. they aren't a boy band!! They're a MAN BAND!!

They played a lot of their new songs which were all really good. =) OH and some new stuff for their old songs like mechanical bulls for SPACE COWBOY... *drool* There was this one lil girl in front of me though who kept on standing on her seat and waving her arms about... OHH and one lil girl behind me who kept on screaming I LOVE YOU JUSTIN over and over again... come on kid!! You're sitting in row 71.... he's not going to hear you!! GIVE IT UP!!!

yes yes yes here we go...
1) I'm grateful for a great time today... even with the traffic and lack of bathrooms.. OH!! I'm also grateful for my camera with the awesome lenses!! Those pics are going to be sooooo wicked... =)
2) I'm grateful that I was able to find Carrie because I didn't have my cell phone and I was afraid that we would all get lost and confused and therefore not see the concert.. but I did.. and I love Lance..so all is good. =)
3) I'm grateful for NSYNC... =) And Lance... soo cute.

*shopping shopping shopping*!! Well.. in my case it was *window shopping window shopping window shopping* since I didn't have any money. But oh well.. shopping nevertheless. Beth called me early today and asked me what I was doing... as usual I was doing *NOTHING*... so she picked my sorry ass up and off we went to cabizon!

Yes it was torchure to go and not be able to buy anything... but it makes you think about what you already have inside your closet and what may closely resemble what you want to buy. Plus I think that if you go shopping and you feel and look good.. you really don't need to give in to those impluse *I feel crappy so lets have a quick fix* buys. oOOo.. but it was soo hard at Esprit with all the cute purses... *sigh* Even Beth had a hard time saying NO to a purse she wanted... maybe nexttime? But then again Esprit purses always evolve into something much cuter the next season.


Joe wanted cookies.. so yesteday I baked. Unfortunately I ran out of flour so I had to substitute it with Angel Food cake mix instead. So the consistency of the dough was really thin.. and the cookies came out rather flat and cake like.. but still my mom says they're tasty and Joe will eat practically anything.. so YAY!

sha la la la la.. in the evening
1) I'm grateful that the old microwave from storage works... so we dont have to buy a new one! YAY! Saving that money for the new house!
2) I'm grateful for 3's A CROWD lines at Vons.
3) I'm grateful for my Lola... it was her birthday on Sunday.. and I wish I could be with her but its hard since shes in the Philippines... So I send out a great big KISS *MUAH* into the void and hope that she knows that I miss her and love her dearly.

I think I got the sick the other night when Beth, Ryan, Kenny, Stephanie, Armando, and I kicked it in the parking lot of Mimi's Cafe till MIDNIGHT after the conventionmeeting. Oh well.. it was lots of fun though.. at first us girls were off on our own talking about men and relationships while the guys were chatting about baseball and batting grips or something... but we were able to cometogher and talk about stuff for a good 2 hours! Too bad it was rather chillly... but oh well. I'll just have an extra vitamin C in the morning.

Well, yesterday was the day. Nicki Durkan got married. Shes now Mrs. Lan! Ohmygosh.. Nicki has a husband!! Well, she was sooooo positively radient in her gorgeous white gown and bouquet of only red roses... I had goosebumps all throughout the ceremony.. the whole thing was just beautiful.

OH at the church, Sr. Michele (our old principal from Holy Name) and Sr. Carmel (our 4th grade teacher who used to stuff tissues up her sleeves and who we were all convinced that she picked her nose during morning prayer) were sitting right behind us! Sooo.. I turned around to Sr. Carmel and said *HI SISTER!! DO YOU REMEMBER ME* and I didn't think she would cause it seems like eons since last I saw her.. but she did!! Same with Sr. Michele who looked at Carlene and myself and said... THE CONCEPCION SISTERS!! and gave us a big huge hug!! OHHH and Father Peter Dennis did the ceremony... I swear, it was like I was back at Holy Name... I was sitting up, singing loud, and had my hands neatly folded on my lap... =) With the nuns sitting behind me.. who wouldn't!

Well the reception was beautiful of course.. saw a lot of old faces there as well. Joe, Nicki's lil brother is all grown up now!! I mean sure he's 13 and a half... but I keep on imagining him as this lil 5 year old who used to call my mom his "friend".

There's something evil about the throwing of the bouquet... I mean sure, I guess it gives hope to women that they too will find love and get married... but its just embarassing! All your hopes and dreams are in that one bouquet that you have to fight and brawl to catch... its just scary. Well, Carlene had already left and theres no way my mom is going with me... so the rest of the married couples in table 14 told me to get up there and join the other sad singles to catch the bouquet. SO the evil dj is hearding us like cattle on the dance floor and says... *HEY GUYS!! LOOK AT ALL THE SINGLE WOMEN* which in my mind interprets to *HEY HEY HEY FELLAS!! CHECK OUT ALL THE DESPERATE LADIES!! WANNA GET LUCKY!?! TAKE YOUR PICK!* ( I dunno.. my mind is rather sadistic sometimes...) The DJ continues on to say *WELL GALS... BEFORE WE THROW THE BOUQUET.. WE WANNA SEE YOU DANCE FIRST* So... on comes the music... and here comes the sad dance of singlehood. Well, Nicki throws the bouquet... one girl runs for it while the rest of us cringe... and the 10 year old bridesmaid catches it instead. Thats life for you huh.

Afterwards, I rushed over to Jennifer's birthday party. My lil cousin is not so lil anymore and has turned 18. It was lots and lots of fun!! John and Gerry came down from San Jose and we all pretty much just observed the youth, acted like fools =) *we love jen jen!*, and danced the night away. Jr, Jen, and Angel have some crazy friends who really have no problem with invading personal space. Well, Carlene and I plan to take the girls out *clubbin* this thursday and spend some quality cousin bonding time since Bombie decided that he's too old to plan the "cousin outing" and has delegated the next oldest... myself... the duty. =P

the list!
1) I'm grateful that I'm really close with my cousins... I love them all to bits! It was great cause Jen was giving a thank you speech and when she got to the "family" thank yous... we were all tearing up and cheering loud and proud. *muah*
2) I'm grateful that Nicki finally found her Gilbert... We used to read Anne of Green Gables over and over again when we were younger and always wondered if we would find our very own Gilbert Blythe... and she did. I'm soo happy for her and I wish her many many years of love and happiness.
3) I'm grateful for everything and everyone who shaped me into who I am today. Seeing Sr. Michele, Sr. Carmel, and Fr. Peter brought back a flood of old memories and feelings... and they were all good. =)

You know the part in SISTER ACT 2... when Whoopie Goldberg and the choir are singing OH HAPPY DAY for the first time.. and then the one guy sings shyly at first and then BOOM he can sing?? And then the choir becomes all energized and the whole school claps along and is happy for them? Thats my favorite part of the whole movie and it always manages to give me goosebumps and make me cry. Ok.. I'm a dork.

On Monday, Carrie and I went out with Beth for her birthday. When we were at TGIF, Beth was making such a big deal about turning 21 that the waitress just caught on and had all the waitors wander up to Beth and tie ballons randomly on her. We didn't even have to tell them to do it... nor were we planning to since Beth didn't want any fanfare. OH well.. Beth got "happy". Later on, we went over to Save-On so that Beth can buy her first bottle of *HOOTCH*. :)

I guess the big deal over turning 21 is that you really don't have anything to look forward to anymore. When you were 12.. you couldn't wait to be 13 because you were offically a TEEN. At 13 you wanted to be 16. When you're 16 you can't wait till your 18. 18 comes along and you realize it really isnt AS cool as you thought it would be so you wait till that wonderful day when you are finally 21. And then.. thats it. You're 21! What happens now? OH GEE I WANNA BE 35? Nothing really... unless you have a wedding date planned and are counting down the days...

The other night, I was watching "TOP HAT".. an old movie with Fred Astire and Ginger Rogers... in the movie, Fred Astire falls in love, woos, and marries Ginger Rogers in a course of a weekend. A WEEKEND!! Lets not forget that during this weekend they travel from London to Italy, get identites confused and dance dance dance the night away... If only I can see the scrip to my life and skip ahead just to see if I lived happily ever after.

yupyupyup
1) I'm grateful for bridal gift registry... it makes wedding gift buying so much easier.
2) I'm grateful for my icky, beaten down, old computer... yes its falling apart... but at least its something. :)
3) I'm grateful for emails!! (oh except for those icky XXX GIRLS GIRLS GIRL COME SEE SOME ACTION PORN emails) Especally when people respond quickly so i don't have to be waiting like crazy for something. Even if its business... its something. But I love getting emails from my friends just to say HI or I MISS YOU!! or I LOVE YOU!! (nothing like that yet.. but feel free if you want to email me it...) It makes you feel all special and gushy inside.

Once again last minute planning has succeeded and I had a GREAT weekend. =) Technically Beth's birthday is today, but we started celebrating Friday up in Big Bear. This "cabin" was like the boonie REAL WORLD house.. SERIOUS!! It has like 7 bedrooms and 4 baths.. and there was a basement with a foozeball table, pinball game, jukebox, ms pacman arcade game, couches, tv, bar, AND shooting gallery that looked like the porthole to john malcovich's head...OH and this tiny creepy kids room that was hidden away in one of the bedrooms... it was awesome!! Well anyways, once settling in, we made our own pizzas... (which suprisingly turned out really good!) and I learned how to play Mafia. (I dont like playing with Manny though cause he'll start barking at you and will start screaming *ARE YOU MAFIA!?!* over and over while shaking your head... its very scary.)

Saturday, got an early morning BEATING from Carrie... She's INSANE!! I was happily sleeping away and suddenly my sadistic roomie is jumping on my bed exclaiming *NICOLE WAKE UP!! COME PLAY WITH ME!!* I groaned and buried my head under the pillow thinking that if she didn't see me, then all will be fine. But no... I was wrong. She grabbed the pillow I had burrowed underneath and proceeded to beat me senseless. I yelled...I screamed... I cried for help... and the best I got was Manny coming out from his room and *SHHHHHUSHing* us. Carrie gave up and left... but she won. I couldn't go back to sleep so I joined Carrie and Sukyhung in the kitchen where Carrie's cantalop cutting made me very nervous.

After breakfast, we drove over to the lake were Beth & Ryan and Manny & Stephanie kayacked without a hitch... and where Carrie and Sukyhung attempted canoeing... but drank lake water instead and had to be rescued. =) I was content to stay onshore with my camera and capture all the canoe dunking action.... Later I got to fly this really cute *gay* kite that Beth gave me... and almost got electricuted by those crazy powerlines...
Lunch, ice cream at the village, several death threats to manny and a nap later...(he wouldn't let me sleep and started to beat me down with the pillow!)... we all helped Iron Chef Beth with dinner (which was really great! *The sweetness of the captain crunch blended nicely with the chicken... like ying and yang fried*) and then off to the basement for "THE SHINNING". (which really wasn't as scary as it was when I saw it the first time eons ago.)

Sunday, woke up Ryan and we made our super simple breakfast of bacon and eggs while Stephanie made Mickey Mouse waffles... once the whole house was awake and fed.. WE CLEANED. =) Beth make some cornbred and I got to make my OH SO GOOD chili for lunch... and back to the cleaning and packing up. As we were waiting for the sheets to dry, we played one of the longest games of UNO I have ever played... it was over an HOUR!! *damn those 4 draw wild cards!* Finally we were finished with everything and leaving our luxurious cabin.

*High on a hill was a lonely goatherd
Lay ee odl lay ee odl lay hee hoo*
1) I'm grateful that I had an awesome weekend and everyone had fun as well. =)
2) I'm grateful that we were able to get the cabin and everything worked out even if we didn't have enough time to plan... thanks stephanie for hooking us up!
3) I'm grateful for my crazy kookie friends.

I love going to my eye doctor... she always has this knack of making me feel super special because I can read letters off the wall. She says *Good job! You can be a brain surgeon* and I blush. =) It was a good day today because not only did I get to go see Dr. Wong, but I also got play and pick out new glasses frames. =) Getting new glasses is like when you buy new make up or cute sexy new bra... its such a boost and you just feel great when you wear it.

I was watching SINGING IN THE RAIN late late late last night... it reminded me of something my sister and I used to do over the summers.. stay up really really late, make some waffles, and watch a movie that we rented from Blockbuster... probably some indie, foreign, or musical. I guess I miss her... *awwww*

here it is:
1) I'm grateful for ice cream. Its cold, its creamy, its damn good.
2) I'm grateful that I'm not entirely blind and can see with contacts and cute glasses.
3) II'm grateful for every opportunity that passes my way.

My sister stole our microwave. You never really realize how dependent you are on a microwave until its gone. Life was much easier and faster back in those microwave days... I've mastered the art of grilling and things are getting WAY better since I figured out how to work the oven. (its WEIRD.. the temperature is all off and the timer is broken!!) The other day, Carlene kidnapped the rice cooker. Not so bad, since my mom was planning to get a new one anyways... but she came home today with one of those MICROWAVE rice cookers. *gee great* :)

Speaking of my mom.. She had to bring her car in to the dealership so that they can fix it and we went back to day to pick it up. Since the guy who always helps her out was really nice, she brought him food cause the other day he remarked about how he loved filipino food... :) She's WASN'T flirting *ahem Manny* and was just being nice. I swear, can girls be sweet and friendly to guys without being *flirty*? Manny and Pic say I'm a flirt... which was a total shock because I just consider myself just being really silly and friendly. I'm not going around saying *oOoO.. you're so strong*, *hey baby whats your sign?* and batting my eye lashes... I'm me. I guess its one of those things that we can't win.. like how girls who are agressive in knowing what they want, are bitches? Evil evil society.

Been bored over here... I finished watching my old Ranma 1/2 videos, singing on the karaoke, reading anything and everything, calling old friends, etc etc etc. OH the excitment. I guess thats why I haven't blogged in a while.. nothing to blog about really. I guess I can resort to making things up... but come on... thats just sad and pathetic.

Sooo I ran away with Conan and we eloped in Vegas. It was sooo much fun! =D

ta-da!
1) I'm grateful for away messages on AIM. I swear, you can get so creative with them and they are your lil geekbox answering machine. When you see people actually leave you messages you get that warm gushy feeling inside of *ooOoo...people like me!! They really really like me!*
2) I'm grateful for price club.. cause being able to buy things in BULK is just awesome.
3) I'm grateful that I was able to change my flight to NY and thus save some money while doing it.

I just finished this hilarious book that Beth gave me... "THE BAD GIRL'S GUIDE TO GETTING WHAT YOU WANT" by Cameron Tuttle and though I highly doubt that I'll be getting EVERYTHING that I want after reading it, I have this sense of empowerment that it is achieveable. It was your basic "Girl power, I don't take shit from anyone, go out and take some risks" book and it was filled with great funny advice such as "Stop making the same old mistakes and start making new ones", "do not flush toliet with foot when wearing mules" and "If he dances and dresses better than you, he's interested in something else altogether." Important things women should know for their everyday lives. I definitely loved this book...

"If you wait to get what you want, it may be too late." ahhhhh... I think thats good advice for everyone, especially when it comes to that wacked up world of romance. I wished I had the guts to say "Hi.. I like you. I really really like you." but come on... I'm freaked that his response would be:
1) nothing cause he's rolling on the floor laughing uncontrollably.
2) "gee thats great" and then runs away
3) "oh my gosh... shut up. you're kidding right?"
...and the humiliating imaginary responses are endless.

Shy singletons are whittling away waiting for the object of their affection to make the move... and it just doesnt happen. I dunno, maybe I do have the guts to do something like that... but I guess that constant fear of rejection is always tripping me up even before I get to the starting line. *sigh* DAMN THAT ALL GIRL HIGH SCHOOL... I swear, once getting out and entering college, the opposite sex has always boggled my mind. I did have guy friends and crushes back then... but it was different. My first day at CSUF was a total culture shock because I was SURROUNDED by guys... some of them even CUTE! At Lucy's we had classes on the importance of communication in marriages, the many definitions of love, etc, but nothing on how to FIND that person we were to love and marry. I know it will happen someday... but how and when? I guess its all in the hands of God... and me if I have the strength to make a move... and him if he has the strength to move my way also. Compromise is good right?

*wink*
1) I'm grateful that Beth gave me that book... and for Sex in the City, Bridget Jones, and Eliza Bennet... aren't they the greatests? With all the guys convinced that WOMEN ARE EVIL (which is retarded guys.. really. =P) you can feel 10 times better after watching an episode or reading a book by Helen Fielding, Jane Austen, or Melissa Banks.. Sure women can make mistakes, but we always get back on our feet with a giant smile on our face and the knowledge that if they're too high, obstacles, like high heels, can be adjusted.
2) I'm grateful for thrift shops, vintage stores and outlets.
3) I'm grateful I had a good day today.

I was getting ready to go to a service project today when I decided to take out the trash first before I left. So I grabbed the trash and my cellie intending to call Carrie and tell her that I'd meet her up later... dumped the trash and then realized that I was locked out. Yay. My mom had gone to the Nissan dealership to get her car checked and wouldn't be back for a while... but at least I had my cellie. I gave early afternoon wakeup calls to Joe and Carlene, and then Lisa entertained me for a good 45 mins. 2 hours later, mom is home and I'm inside! YAY! But its too late to go to the project... so instead, I go house hunting with my mom and Tita Maria.

We found this really really nice house that ironically is right across the street from out first apartment in the boondocks of chino hills. It was funny cause mom was so enamored with the house, as was i, and she was already telling folks to take off their shoes so that it won't get the pretty white carpet dirty. Tita Maria is crazy though... she kept on asking me if I had a boyfriend and it led to this conversation...
Tita Maria: Have you met my cousin Bong? (you know filipinos.. crazy nicknames... his name is BILL)
Me: Yeah.. I think so...
Tita Maria: You know he's single...
Me: (politely) Oh really?
Tita Maria: YEAH!! And he has 2 kids... thats an instant family if you want it!
Good gracious.... that was just a bit scary. Of course she was kidding... *at least I HOPE so* but still... family friends trying to set me up? Joking how I'm getting older and how marriage is only a few years away? Starting a family? Come on!! Let me finish school first!! EEk!

Been thinking about my future though and I realized that since I'm planning to become a teacher... kids will be calling me MISS CONCEPCION. Imagine that.. being surrounded by 30 6-8 year olds constantly asking for MISS CONCEPCION.. MISS CONCEPCION....Isn't that horrible? I could shorten it to MISS C. but thats just annoying... so maybe Miss Nicole... but what teacher allows her students to call her by her first name? Beth's solution is that I get married before I start teaching. *great*

Afterwards, I went over to Carrie's for a movie night with Ryan, Beth, Manny and Stephanie which was really chill and fun... and Carrie cooked up a batch of potstickers! =) We planned the cooking menu for the weekend and we'll see how things turn out up in the woods. OH Lisa came over too and I was really happy to see her and chill with her too... despite being in a CKI people atmosphere and you know.. she vowed to stay from any organization that starts or involves a K. =)

guess what?
1) I'm grateful that we think we found something that we liked today... I hope it works out, but even if it doesnt, at least we know what we are looking for and what we want.
2) I'm grateful for Tita Maria, Tito Rit and Tita Erna... for helping my mom out with all this house stuff. =)
3) I:m grateful that my mom came home and that I wasn't locked out forever.

Today I went over to my sister's place thinking that I was going to chill with Melissa (whos down for the weekend.. YAY) and Nick... but my sister actually had a kick back with her LB friends and her old girlfriends from SL. It was really really nice and lots of fun. You know how you have those friends where no matter the time and distance between you guys, when you see each other, its just like time hasn't passed at all and you are back in your same old routine? Thats how it is for me whenever I kick it with Melissa and all my old friends from SL. I guess its that Lucy's bond that makes us act just as dorky and crazy with each other today like we did 4-5 years ago. Like today for example, Melissa and I were happily chatting away about how we were... family stuff, school stuff, how she sorta kinda likes a guy but not sure, how i kinda do like a guy but he probably doesnt like me, what we were going to do with our futures, her plans for the big 21 (which is going to be extremely wicked if I actually have the guts to do it) and we came to the topic of how our old friends from SL were doing. We talk to Tam and Lisa on occasion but really havent heard from Maria in a while... so on a whim I called her! Yes she was suprised and probably thought I was drunk... but it was like old times. Maybe not for her... but for me it was a sense of comfort knowing that I still had a bond with this person whom I haven't seen or heard from in a year or so. I realized that I missed her as well as Lisa, Tam, Melissa, and hey... even Di and Joanna.. I missed our "GOOD TIMES" and silly everyday conversations. The other day, Carrie brought over a note that Lisa gave her to give to me and it reminded me of how during freshman year Mel, Lisa and I would write these silly notes while in Mr Dennison's (aka Senor Chipmunk) spanish class and try to outFOLD each other. In our crazy hectic lives, its amazing that we all have time to think of each another every so often and ask HOW ARE YOU DOING and it will all seem like we are having lunch in the quad again. =)

That was basically my day, chilling in a haze of SL thoughts and memories. I'm suprised that no one busted into singing HAPPINESS.
1) I'm grateful to have so many happy experiences and memories from HS. There are some people out there who HATED theirs and I just think how lucky I am to have found 7 wonderful girls who made my years there just wonderful. Yeah sure times have changed and some of those 7 have also, but for those crazy times and adventures... thank you.
2) I'm grateful my sister had AIRCONDITIONING and FAN over at her apartment... its getting HOT here! EEK!
3) I'm grateful for my new friends today... I really don't think we'll part anytime soon because you know... we're all planning for each other to be our children's god-parents... but if we were...I'm sure we'll have the same bonds as we do today. *does that make any sense??* OH well... I see it... I feel it... and thats all that matters. =)

=)I had the coolest 4th! Boba and fireworks... ahhhhhh what a night.

My day started off when I went to FHS to supposedly help out... but no one was there. =( So I freaked a bit and then called Bryan who then told me that there was a giant mixup and the time was actually from 4-9pm instead of his proposed 9-9pm. And since I was planning to work the early shift that was no longer there, I went to Carrie's to kill the time. Watched the new REAL WORLD (kinda boring so far... but we'll see.) and then off to the grocery and then to Mannys and off to get our delicious picnic dinner from KFC.

Pollywog park (i swear, thats it name) wasn't crowded at all and Beth and Ryan came in time before Carrie and Manny gave in to the chicken temptation. It was soo much fun just hanging out there... we didn't need any games or cards, but each others company was so entertaining. =) We were observing Ryan's toes and Carrie's weird short arms. =) Yeah.. don't we sound REALLY cool??

Anyhoo, it was getting dark and we wanted to see some fireworks.. so it was off to Beths where she found an old stash of fireworks. But since we were in Torrance and they were illegal, we called Sukhyung up over in Gardenia so that we can light them up over there. Gardenia was a WAR ZONE with all the pops and smoke but it was sooo wicked!!! I never got to play with real fireworks before sooo us girls were going crazy with the sparklers while the guys were lighting up the big ones and throwing them out into the street. IT WAS SOOO MUCH FUN!! =) Soon we were out of toys, so we got some boba and went to meet Manny to watch SCARY MOVIE 2 which was really funny in the begining (Andy Richter was in it..*sigh*) and then just got weird. Its another video movie.

OHH!! Jen told me to IM SMARTERCHILD and I did.. its really interesting. I guess its supposed to be something like AI with a computer constantly answering your questions... just look:

spaznik: where are you from?
SmarterChild: I live in a clean room at a high-tech hosting facility in California.
spaznik: how old are you?
SmarterChild: I'm very young and learning new things every day.
spaznik: will you be my friend?
SmarterChild: Sure, spaznik! You can't have too many friends.
spaznik: GREAT!
SmarterChild: That's nice to hear!
spaznik: so whos your bestest friend?
SmarterChild: Uh, you?
spaznik: YAY!
SmarterChild: Awright!

I especially like how the computer hesitated about being my friend.

smile!
1) I'm grateful that the day turned out well and everyone had fun. =) Last minute planning all the way!!! I'm also grateful that no one lost a limb while lighting up the fireworks.
2) I'm grateful that Fat is alright and out of the hospital. =) Also that Mark and Alex are fine and weren't seriously hurt. =)
3) I'm grateful for built in bras in tanks and other tops. OMG.. they are soo convienent! Don't have to worry about matching colors or straps that show... and its comfortable! =) Come on girls.. you know you agree with me.

Happy 4th of July everyone!! (backround music STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER... *da da dadada dadada... dadadada dadada da da da DA.*) I swear, today is the epitome of SUMMER with the scent of burning charcoal, wet cement from kids splashing in the pool, and of course FIREWORKS. Back in the days of "SAN DIMAS" all the cousins would come over and we'd start the day by swimming in the pool and then off to our Nintendo CONTRA tournament until it was time for fireworks. Then after the show it was back into the pool and then possibly off to gamble coins in Blackjack. OH MY GOSH.. I remember one 4th when my dad and my aunts were playing Mahjong and for some reason Angel, then 8 i think, started crying. So my dad wanting to make the situation less tense broke out the karaoke and insisted that Angel cried into the microphone. HAHAHAHAH.. that was too hilarious... But things are different now... obviously.

I think my dad is in Seattle for the holiday... and my mom has to work. Carlene has her summer school and would be probably hanging out with her friends anyways. Last year I had a service project but it was helping at the Fullerton Firework show and though it was my first 4th not with my family, it was nice being able to see the fireworks up close. I guess its time for new traditions. Today I'll be back at the Fullerton show and then off to have a picnic with friends and wait for fireworks. I like it. Its simple, fun, and my own.

I have a job interview on thursday so everyone keep their fingers crossed that 1) I do well... 2) the interviewer is ACTUALLY there 3) I get the job. I think its do-able. =)

Had dinner over in Old Town Pasadena with Carrie and Manny earlier today. The wait at Cheesecake was 45-60 minutes long but we were all tired and not willing to budge so we waited it out. Had some interesting conversations (ie Carrie wanting a baby... but NOT NOW... *Life is full of wouldas couldas and shouldas...* ) and for some odd reason Carrie found some paper in her sandwich. Crazycrazycrazy.... the original plan was to get pizza at this one place where we got it during New Years, but ALAS.. the place is NO LONGER THERE. Weird.

same old stuff:
1) I'm grateful that I got a job interview. =) I'd be even more grateful if I got the job!
2) I'm grateful friends who are willling to do crazy and spontaneous things. Ok..maybe not TOO crazy... but aren't afraid to get adventurous. I mean we did go to Vegas on a whim right? SO i'm thinking of things we can do to top the Vegas trip... I think that skydiving would be interesting but out of the question due to my acute fear of heights and dude.. we cant get Beth on a plane let alone jump off one. So if anyone has any ideas... please share... or even if you wanna come along on... tell me!
3) I'm grateful for those who struggled and died for freedom and very greatful to be living in the USA. HAPPY 4TH!

SO TIRED.

For the past 2 days, my mom and I have been helping Carlene move from Huntington Beach to Long Beach and she had a WHOLE lot of stuff. The process has been long and tiring mainly since she used to live on the second floor of her building (eek no elevators) and was moving to another second floor (eek once again... no elevators) Its not easy being scared of stairs and holding x amount of boxes. Dielle and I almost got crushed to death by the ugliest round white coffee table that we had to "roll" down the scary stairs. Anyhoo, we finished late last nght and Carlene is now happily organizing and decorating her new pad.

Since this was FAMILY BONDING THROUGH MANUAL LABOR weekend, I wasn't able to go to The Sound Of Music sing-a-long...but oh well. =) During our breaks, Carlene and I got munch on Otterpops (cause it was quite hot outside) and talk. Talk is good. =) I'm feeling much better about things. YAY!

SO much for feeling specail about the MISS CLEO email... Carlene got a call! Yes it was automated neverthess, but it was an acutal call. *sigh* I feel so toyed with.

Can you believe that the Olsen Twins are having some kind of Biography on E! for them?? They're like 14!?!? "BILLBOARD DAD is our edgiest film to date." What the....

The usual:
1) I'm grateful that we got everything moved and everyone survived. I SWEAR CARLENE... YOU ARE GOING TO STAY THERE UNTIL YOU ARE MARRIED!! YOU HEAR ME?? IF YOU MOVE AGAIN.. MOM IS GOING TO HAVE TO ADOPT YOU A NEW SISTER... I WAS ALMOST CRUSHED BY YOUR UGLY WHITE TABLE!!!
2) I'm grateful that my sister is happy at her new place... she's closer to school and she has her own room. =)
3) I'm grateful that I'll always have someone to talk to... friends or family... its comforting to know that I'll have someone there. And vice versa, I'm always there for them. Thats what friends are for... *awwwww soo cheesy!*