heh... i take it back. It isn't all fun and exicting. When put together, my mom and my uncle become a pair of crazy obsessive compulsive decorating dictators. Okok... it isn't too horrid, but I just feel like we're moving in and settling in again. But on the bright side(?) everything should look all neat and spiffy(?) by the time we're finished with everything(?) here. :) Happy thoughts... happy thoughts....

Anyways, I just finished the 4th Harry Potter book a few hours ago and it was FANTABULOUS!! :) I loved it... It was dark, exciting and even had a touch of romance if you read between the lines... ;) Yesterday night, I was up till 5am because I was just so absorbed with it... Now I'm totally excited for the next movie to come out AND the next book. But now that I'm done with that series for now, I think I might move on to the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis because techincally, I have never read it before. I say "technically" because in the first grade, mrs. zehe read out loud to us and from what I remembered, I thought it was a pretty story. Also I have serveral friends who have told me that its a pretty damn good series... So, yeah, I think I'll be making a visit to Borders soon... Any more suggestions? ;)

Wow... I think the next 1 and a half weeks are going to be the closest that I'll ever get to experience "TRADING SPACES." Like I had blogged before, my "crazy" Uncle Sonny is here and he brought a whole bunch of stuff to fiddle with. He's this really awesome antique shopper and likes to restore furniture and other nickknacks... and he drove down with a SUV-full of projects for us to do. Today's "project" was refurbishing a trunk that will be sitting at the foot of my mom's bed in the near future. We stripped that baby and tomorrow will be the crackle and paint stage. :) Doesn't that sound like fun? (no sarcasm... I really think its going to be fun! Just like "TRADING SPACES" except without an interior decorator or Ty Pennington. *sigh* Oh wells... )

Ewwww... Carlene is brushing her teeth on my bed. OK. Not ON my bed... but brushing while on my bed. "How do people wash her teeth without foaming at the mouth," she says with a mouth full of foamy toothpaste and spit.

Ewwww!!

And she just sneezed on me.

Nothing like a guy who knows witty word play and drives a boat to melt your heart.

*sigh* I think I'm in love...

Actually, I'm not. But the guy sure was cute.

...so was the guy on the elephant. ;)

Work today (er... yesterday) was what you probably would call "bittersweet." (Honestly, more SWEET than BITTER but you get my drift.) Drove out to La Puente to decorate a church for a wedding at 2pm. The thing with this church was that they are like a "mass" factory on Saturdays... wedding after wedding after weddings by the hour. Luckily, there was no 1pm wedding, but that meant we only had a good hour to get everything set up in its place. Anyways, we made it on time but now, the wedding was to end at 2:45... and there was a 3pm wedding afterwards. So Brandi decided that I was to stay in the area to quickly clean up after the ceremony and then drive on over to Pasadena to decorate the Hilton for the reception. No prob... and really it wasn't a problem at all. In fact, it was actually pretty cool because I just sat in the back of the chuch and stayed for the mass. The ceremony was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I really can't stress how BEAUTIFUL it was. :) The mass was said in spanish and english... and although I really didn't pay attention during Senora Guerin's spanish back in HS, I still vaguely remembered the "Sign of the Cross" and "Our Father" in spanish that she made us memorize and so I wasn't entirely lost. But I think the thing that made the whole ceremony memorable was the fact that they had a mariachi band (complete with harp) play the music during the mass... from the Wedding March to Ave Maria, the music was so festive and beautiful and it just filled the church. And the bride was crying when she said her vows and the couple just looked so happy... everything was perfect. :)

So, once the ceremony was finished and the last guest had filed out of the church, I went mad collecting all the aisle clips and bouquets and cramming all the drapery into a giant tupperware container. Lugged it to my car and headed on over to Pasadena. (now comes the somewhat "bitter" part.) When I got there, the ballroom was 90% done, so since they had ample time (2 hours) to get that last 10% finished up... she said I could go ahead and go home. I guess this is a good thing but darnit... I drove to Pasadena so that I could tell her to move part of a drape a smidgen to the right and then go home? Oh wells... at least I get paid for mileage so it isnt all so bad. Plus on the bright side, I picked up the shirts for Joe over at Chicks on the way home and Met up with Carrie, who had Eileen's filipino movies for me (THANKS SOOOO MUCH EILEEN! I'll get them back to you once I'm done drooling over Aga Mulach), got some really cute shoes at Brea and some pizza at BJs. :) Its been a good weekend so far! :)

My favorite Uncle Sonny is here visiting from Seattle! :) Yaaaayy! He's the "crazy" one of all my mom's brothers and sisters... and honestly it takes a lot to be known as the "crazy" one among that bunch. Yesterday, I guess he was calling the house and ringing the doorbell, but I didn't hear anything. What I did hear was the garage door open and close, so I assumed it was mom. About 15 minutes later, my mom hadn't entered the house yet and I heard (finally) the doorbell ring... well there in the living room was my crazy Uncle Sonng, lurking in the shadows with his video camera. OK. Well I screamed bloody muder because this is the number one thing I'm afraid of (men lurking in my house with a video camera... *shudder*) and for one heart stopping moment, I thought I was going to die. Really. I did.

Anyways, he's here and I'm alive. :) He brought down all sorts of goodies for the house and now the next 2 weeks will consist of putting together the furniture and little nickknacks and completing the house. He gave my mom some name placard to put in the doorway that said "Welcome... Lynn and Matt," so that if people were to come over, they'd ask who's Matt? And so my mom can quirp in a smartassed manner... "what you're standing on... the Welcome mat." (cricket sounds) Ok.. It wasn't that funny... and in fact it wasnt too funny when he told us his plans for it... but hey, it was something kinda interesting.

Uncle Sonny: So you girls out to tonight??
Carrie: We're going to go meet and find us some boys..
Nicole: Yeah... you want anything?
Uncle Sonny: Just recycle.

I can see!!

Well *duh* I can see, but its offical. I went to go see my kick ass eye doctor today and I'm not going blind. I thought for a moment that I was completely loosing my eye sight because my eyes have been going blurry on me lately (um... I know now its because of the lack of nighttime reading light) and last night when I was driving home from Long Beach my left eye was really blurry. Initally, i just thought my contact fell out... but when I got home... it was there... and i thought that I was going to have to read by bralie.. but NOPE. :) Its all good. And I got new contacts! Oh the excitment... can you feel it?

Anyways, decided to be daring and have gone back to playing on Yahoo chat with my webcam. ;P Yeah.. its been very interesting. On the bright side, I'm meeting new people from all over the world... but then again... I'm meeting some frightening people. For instance.. I am not KIDDING you... I was chatting with some fellow who after exchanging introductions and pleasantries, proceeded to tell me that i was "cute." (um... riiight.) Then he asked me if I wanted to be in movies. This is were I was an extreme smartass and replied "isn't this how porn stars start out?" He then proceeded to tell me that it WAS a porn that he was filming on the beaches of Geneva, it was only to be shown in Europe so no need for me to worry about people recoginizing me AND how he would pay me $20000 to be in it as well as pay for my travel expenses. (gosh... I wish I saved that conversation for your entertainment!! But I got freaked after the whole thing happened and closed the box... sorry. Next time I do get porn offer, I'll save and post it for you. *pinky swear*) Anyways, I turned down his offer. Hello.. its PORN. Note that I wasn't in some sort of kinky sex chat room... I was in like "hi.. I'm asain" room. Ewwwwww... Well after retelling my story to others, I got some HILARIOUS feedback...

carlene:
carlene is nice: ewwww
carlene is nice: you suck!
carlene is nice: are you serious!!!
carlene is nice: lol
carlene is nice: you could be ASIA!
spaznik: im going to quit school and become a porn star..
carlene is nice: oh man... i ENVY YOU!

kathy:
P O T A T E YO: oh dang!
P O T A T E YO: hahahaha
P O T A T E YO: yougo girl
P O T A T E YO: of course you said yes right!!
spaznik: hahahahah.. NO..
P O T A T E YO: haha
P O T A T E YO: that's why I love you baby!! You can look a million dollar porn deal in teh eye and still say no!
spaznik: awwwwwwwww
spaznik: and that would TOTALLY go against my "wait till true love sex" rule..
P O T A T E YO: hahaha
P O T A T E YO: but what if it was a movie called "True Love"
P O T A T E YO: actually it would be more like
P O T A T E YO: "True Love..." and then in tiny letters at the bottom..."doggy style!"
P O T A T E YO: hahaha
spaznik: HAHAHAHA
spaznik: oh lordy...

So I guess you can consider the "porn offer" as my highlight of the day... but really my true highlight was going to Walmart to get "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." :) Yay more summer reading!!

Owwie..

Last night, I had this dream that I was kicking it with Ron Weasley down in Diagon Alley. :) I don't know what I was doing there, but I was having a great time! Anyways, I woke up in the middle of it and I was in this rush to get back to sleep so that my dream can continue... so I turned in bed hoping to get comfortable so that I can knock out again... but I was too close to the edge of the bed and *BAM*.... slammed my head into the wall. HARD. Really HARD. Don't ask me how this is possible, but it happened and I seriously saw stars and birds flying around my head chirping "cukoo cukoo cukoo."

For a moment there, I pondered if I should actually go back to sleep for fear of having a concussion. So I waited until I could blink without seeing flashes of white... and I went back to sleep.

Sadly, my dream of chillin with the wizards never came back. Curse it all to Hades.

Oops, I did it again.

I'm reading the third Harry Potter book and 4 chapters in, I coudn't resist the temptation. I peeped to the end. So I guess I know the "big secret" now.

:) It looks like it should be really good read though.

woah.

Today is July 23. It seriously feels like summer is going by sooo fast and I'm not properly "living it up." Or perhaps I am, but I feel like my days of spontaneous and wild fun are running out. July 23!?! What happened to July 5-22? I swear, after fireworks on the 4th...it just all breezed by. So I've been preparing a list of things I want to do before summer offically ends. Among them includes going to the Warhol exhibit at MOCA (#7), go back to the one club with the scantily clothed men or one like it down in Hollywood (#5), the Long Beach Aquarium (#11), the Hungtington Library for tea (#9), and your usual summer visits to Disneyland and California Adventures (#4 & 6). Other things on the list would include more nerdy activites like reading certain books, wash my car more often, and self improvement like the easy but still somewhat difficult "be open and communicate more often." I guess to some of my friends, they're like.. "riiight Nicole..." but also they may agree with that one. I dunno... but I guess I've been shelled in my little bubble of summer solitary confinement where on occasion I'll go out, look at the sun, and then scamper back to my pink bedroom of fluffy sheets, oscilating fans, and AIM.

On the oh so happy and bright side, in about 2 weeks I'll be off to Florida to frolick in the hot and humid Orlando sun. First, 3 glorious days of absolute, blissful and relaxing fun as a camera toting, hat wearing, sunblock on my nose tourist... and then 4 more days of wild and crazy orgies of CKI, politics, workshops, dances, parties at ICON. Now I'm super excited since I recieved my registration stuff in the mail today... PLUS Jean told me that we were able to get the villa we had requested and Mondo got the hotel room for the pre-ICON days. Yes.. its going to be the absolute ultimate!!! I even have my books and cds ready for the plane ride. *oOoooOOo* :)

I seriously had the GREATEST day today! :) I'm in this dreamy, happy state where everything is sunshine and lolipops...

NO. I am not on drugs.

I'm just really really really happy. :)

Hmmmmm...Something completely random.. or is it?? Does anyone wanna learn how to swing dance with me? :) Had this great moment of inspiration tonight... it looks like so much fun. I saw the cutest old couple dancing earlier tonight. They were wearing matching outfits, and were busy swing dancing and *believe it or not* getting freaky senior citizen style on the dance floor. It was too cute and it made me wish that I would find love and grow old like that. I'm not saying that swing dancing means that I'll fall in love and its happily ever after... but now its just representing a little glimpse of what happily ever after could be... twirling on the dance floor to big band music with someone who'll guide and hold you. *sigh* :)

OK. I'll stop now.

:D

:) Another million dollar conversation with Joe!

EclipseJMR: guess what
spaznik: you got a haircut?
EclipseJMR: no
spaznik: yuo got married?
spaznik: you GOT ME A PUPPY!?!?!
EclipseJMR: that's tomorrow
EclipseJMR: that's never
EclipseJMR: heheh
EclipseJMR: jk
spaznik: evil evil.
EclipseJMR: i ran out of boxers
EclipseJMR: i haven't done laundry in two week
EclipseJMR: so i'm fresh out
spaznik: hahahahah..
EclipseJMR: and i just took a shower
spaznik: i think thats a sign that you gotta do the laundry.
EclipseJMR: i'm wearing my board shorts
EclipseJMR: yeah
spaznik: grrrrreat.
EclipseJMR: hehhe...commando baby
spaznik: thanks for the info joe. now i'll be able to sleep at night.
EclipseJMR: hehehe....just wanted to let you know
EclipseJMR: i had to tell someone
EclipseJMR: i've never really gone commando before
EclipseJMR: it's enlightening

oh Lord.

:) just got home from a really fun and kick back night. Had dinner and movie with Maritess, old school friend back from Montessori, tap dancing, and Holy Name days. It was really great. We were reminicing about the days, how people are doing, and how old we feel but won't allow ourselves to act that way. Wait... Do I hear a story coming? Yes... yes I do.

Keri.. you'll enjoy this.

Our 8th grade class at Holy Name was tiny. I guess over the years, kids would come but wouldn't return when the year ended. In the end, our final year... we had a whopping 27 students in the class. 8 of which, I might add, were boys. (maybe this is the source to why I have a hard time with boys?) So just imagine how those dances were. (Well, they weren't as SUCKY as you wouldn think. They were very very interesting... we had Beth-Ann, the church music director as our DJ. Don't fret, we brought our own music though.) Actually, we would have had 30 students... but this whore of a new girl named Andrea came and ruined everything. She was caught smoking out with Mike Sargent and my 5th-8th dream crush of mine Paul Sheilds and all 3 were expelled. Ok.. so maybe it wasnt HER fault... but in the end, we LOST 2 boys. 2 boys!! Those are 2 wallflowers that could have been saved during the dances.

Anyways, 8th grade was a great year. We were the offical bad asses of the school. Unfortunantly we didn't get to call anyone scrubs because our teacher, Mrs. Davis, was determined to make sure we didn't leave the school as a group of neanderthals who would go all power trippy once they hit the real world. So each friday, we had different activites that didn't pertain to the curriculum. We learned swing dancing, self defence, basic drawing methods, had camp outs, played games, cooked... it was awesome. And it all culminated to the ever so fantastic and memorable trip to Catalina. Who can EVER forget throwing up 7 times in a 3 hour time span! But aside from having my head over the railing of the ship, we were having bonfires, playing charades (you try to mime DICK TRACY!), being dragged along the water on giant floating banana, even played an ever so scandalous game of spin the bottle on the beach behind the tree so the adults couldnt see what everyone was up to. Ahhh memories.

You know what I loved from those days? Its actually silly, but its something that really makes me smile when I think about it. I love the days where they had activites in the hall. The talent shows, that sports award nights when all the older boys started chating *BEEF* to Mike Keller when he won his award, the haunted houses, the day when the trampoline came to HNM, and especially those rainyday games of indoor dodgeball. Sure it was brutal and painful, but was so much fun. OK. Getting pegged HARD with the ball by Mike Sargent (who threw a ball with his WHOLE body) wasn't the greatest feeling in the world, but being indoors in our own little world of absolute fun was pretty great.

My first dance was in the hall too. 7th grade signified that you were truly an *almost* badass because you finally get to have a co-ed dance with the 8th graders. I blush when I think about it now, but I was so excited for it. My mom and I went SHOPPING for the perfect outfit for it and while we were shopping, I remember mom telling the sales girl that I was going to my FIRST dance. Oh my gosh.... first slow dance was with Greg Ojeda, who when the slow song came on, turned to me, raised his arm in a "dance" motion and pointed with his head to the empty dancefoor. It was very cute and I guess maybe in a way kind of romantic... just a shame that he was way shorter than me and my heart was still enthralled with that one gosh darn crush. *stop laughing Keri*

:) Martitess mentioned that in 2 years time, we're going to be celebrating our 10 year annivesary of leaving HNM. She wants to have a reunion where we all can get together and catch up. I think we should play dodgeball in the hall for good times sake.

:) I got my active box back again, so go buck wild and have fun with it. (except if you're going to say mean things... or if you know my darkest deepest secrets.. Don't tell. You pinky swore!)

Its been pretty uneventful and unexciting these past few days with the exception of tonight, hence the lack of blogs and I really don't think you would be interested in the newest book that I'm reading. (but if you ARE interested, I've been reading a lot of those cute pocket romances. Its like candy!! They're sweet and romantic... and it just makes you so happy!)

Anyways, went out for Beth's birthday tonight. :) Jean came over and we did our various birthday errands which ended up with my car smelling like latex and bubblegum. (yes Jean... too much latex in the backseat gives me a headache... there goes my social life.) :) But it was all worth it... we suprised Beth with a flowers, balloons, AND a cute little pinata in the shape of a crocodile! *don't fret... we didn't beat it down!* :) We played this one PS2 game that involved stealing cars and talking to hookers (don't ask me... I sucked at it. I guess I'm not meant to steal cars or talk to hookers. oh curses?) and then went out to TGIFs for dinner and MORE balloons! YAY!

OH!! Did I tell you that I got a brand spanking new waffle iron the other day at Walmart for $10? Yes.... its very shiny AND it makes waffles! Waffles totally remind me of the times when Carlene and I insomniac teens (pre-internet days of course). We would stay up late during the summer, watch Conan and make waffles. We then would hideout in our bedrooms when dad would come home from work... and when we would hear his door close, signaling that he was going to sleep, we'd go out and resume our chilling activities. Ahhhh memories.... if I were to ever write a book about my life... waffles would be one of those symbolic items that would represent happiness and contentment for my main character. Book groups would have long discussions on waffles and maybe some poor high school student in the future would have to write a paper on the true meaning of waffles. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself there... but it would be kind of neat. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!

Just got home... looonnng day. I'm tired, but my fingers are itching to blog. :) I'm telling you, its addicting! That and I'm a complete nerd. :)

Spent most of the day on the road (for which a majority of THAT time we were listening to FOB filipino OPN slowjams). Driving that 2 hour drive to OXNARD... My Tita Rita's husband had died and his funeral was over in Oxnard, hence the far drive. The traffic was SO bad that we arrived after the ceremony was over and everyone was basically hanging out at the cemetary, talking and reminicing. Afterwards, since we were like 5 exits over, we went to the outlets to do some shopping. It isnt easy going shopping wearing your "I just got out from a funeral" clothes and shoes... especially outlet shopping because they are ALWAYS big and it involves a lot of walking. OH well, but everyone was happy in the end.

Drove back home, rested a bit, and then drove on over to Irvine to have dinner and "what was supposed to be a movie but instead turned into games at Gameworks" night. :) Once again Carrie and I went ballistic with the tickets, squandering our money on charging our cards and playing skeeball like a couple of addicted ticket-hungry maniacs (we took breaks of course). Anyways, this technically was my first time over at the Irvine Spectrum (I say "technically" because I was there like a week ago, but due to a mix-up, only got to visit the D&B and admire their bathroom for 5 minutes before leaving) and it was really nice. :) Its really pretty actually with all the lights and fountains... so it was a exciting for me in this dorky way because it was all new and I had total eye candy with whole place. :) For a good 2 hours, we loitered right next to the merry-go-round and chatted. I seriously think everyone is in EXCITED ICON mode right now... less than 4 weeks guys!! WHOOOHOOO!


Came home *duh* ... and found the greatest message on my computer. :) This is seriously the first time I've gotten a response that creative.... Thanks Robert!

Zasher816: yo
Auto response from spaznik: Hello! If you leave a message, I'll get back to you soon. If you leave a *sexy* message, I"ll get back to you sooner!
Zasher816: i'm so hot rite now, u don't even know *in seductive voice* please take me, take me! take me into a cool place so I can stop burnin from this heat, dayum!
Zasher816: how's that ?
Zasher816: lol

*Talking about our future kids... :)*
**ninang means godmother in tagalog.

Babae112: u'll be ninang
spaznik: WHOOOHOOO!! im gonna save that and hold you to it!
Babae112: ok!
Babae112: cool!
spaznik: hahahaha.. whoohoo! im a ninang for a nonexistant kid!!
spaznik: :)
Babae112: woohoo
Babae112: what if i don't have kids?
Babae112: hahahhaha
spaznik: i'll happily pet sit for you anytime.
Babae112: u can say u woulda been ninang to my kids
spaznik: just dont name your dog after me.
Babae112: ninang to my pets?
Babae112: hahahha
Babae112: here nicole...come here nicole
spaznik: BITCH!!
Babae112: sit nicole
spaznik: evil evil evil...
Babae112: good nicole

I just had the coolest night...

Got back from CITYWALK where they were had this free showing of WEST SIDE STORY on their jumbotron. So families would come out with their blankets and chairs and pretty much camp out on the cement and wait for the movie to start. I didn't have my family... :) But I did have Luc, Beth, Carrie, Mondo and Manny... :) Before the movie started, there was some guy from some talk radio station who was hosting and started a "I FEEL PRETTY" contest... and that was FREAKING HILARIOUS. The winner (a big black man.... whom you wouldn't think a big WEST SIDE STORY fan) actually went up on the stage as the I FEEL PRETTY number came up on the movie and (I'm serious) was basically the mirror image of Natalie Wood... he knew every little move as to when she put her hands on her head to every little kick that she kicked... the facial actions... its was PRICELESS. :) It was great because people were singing along to the songs and saying the lines and were just impressing the hell out of me because they knew so much and some were really really young. (there was a kid right next to us who KNEW everything! scary in a way...but I guess if you were to put me in front of THE SOUND OF MUSIC or ANNE OF GREEN GABLES it would be alarming to the common fan.) Yes... so I think this definitely might become a weekly summer ritual cause it was a completely AWESEOME experience, the crowd wasn't too big and hello.. it was FREE! (*um.. except for parking.. thats $8... but just as long as you carpool.. its ALL GOOD.)

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, to whom it may concern, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Does that cover it all now? ..."

Larry King is hilarious.

:)

carlene is nice: youre like an angel... standing right before me

kerisovery17: so tell special K what he can do for you.......
are you cryin?!?!? OH BABY PLEASE.....you are far too fine to be lookin so sad

I'm suprised I didnt get a "Yo... I GOTS to have sex tonight!" Maybe next time....

I'm over in Long Beach because Carlene had a craving for Thai food from Pomona (its the BESTEST ever) and I drove over to have a late lunch/early dinner with her.

Inspired by our conversation... here is the following list.

Pictures of my childhood that WILL be burned... or shredded... whatever... they're going to be destroyed somehow.
*anything in which my sister and I are wearing CROSS COLORS. OH NO GIANT GREEN PONCHO. (not to mention the giant ass fake sunflower in my hair.)
*anything during swimming phrase... we were dark dark dark kids with frizzy hair, wearing neon PINK.
*pictures in which my glasses frames became ONE with my eyebrows.
*Any pictures from the Philippines vacation and any family vacations before 1995. This includes ultimate low point pictures of family trip to Seattle where it was a culmination of the bright and baggy CROSS COLORS, the dark skin, the frizzy hair and ultimate GEEK glasses. I think we had braces then too. *shudder*
*the GLAMORE SHOT pictures... what is that mass of feathers doing on my shoulders!?!
*for Carlene... the GANSTA, long hair with a tail pictures. "I just want everyone to forget that phrase"
*embarassing pictures that involve Carlene and I as 7 year old girls who went crazy with surgical glove water baloons and their lack of boob-age at the time.

Describing it for your pleasure since they will NEVER be seen in order to keep our "status" of coolness. But know that back in the days, it WAS acceptable to wear CROSS COLORS... shut up. You know you did too.

spaznik: hmmmm... i feel like blogging.. any suggestions on what i should blog about since my day was boring?
spaznik: any requests?
Zasher816: haha
spaznik: i feel like a DJ.
Zasher816: should u even be asking?
Zasher816: lol
Zasher816: it should be obvious
Zasher816: ME
Zasher816: lol
Zasher816: bhahahahahaha
spaznik: hahahahahah... oh.. you LAUGH NOW.

;) As Robert requested... I'm going to blog about him. :) What can I say about Robert (aka SCANDALOUS)? Hmmmm... he's my newest stalker! It was a few months ago when he first IMed me, he told me not to freak out because he WASN'T a stalker... and then he proceeded to ask me where I lived. *pshaw... acting like he DIDN'T know that... HELLO ROSTERS AND YAHOO MAPS!* Anyways, I'm just kidding Robert... stop crying... happy thoughts happy thoughts.. OOO TIN FOIL! He's a good guy... in Florida he's going to be living off of airplane peanuts and its all good because I'll have my Brita and we'll have a grand ole feast!

OK.. moving on. ;)

Life is pretty much the same... work... home... read... watch some tv... clean... throw in some valuable computer time there and welcome to my loser life. It really isnt loserish though... just... okok.. its pretty loserish. I'm actually had an "idea" to write about... but I forgot what it was and now i'm sad because I thought that could be my one big summer project... WRITE A STORY. But the GREAT IDEA hasn't come back to me just yet... sucky. It was cute and romantic and not too mushy.... darnit. Carlene is just afraid I'll write this novel about my quirky family and all will be known about our true lack of "coolness."

OH!! I also found some interesting websites that might entertain you if you're bored or just want some interesting reads....
- The Family Von Nuts is a very quirky site. If you love hamsters and soap operas... then this is for YOU! Its some pretty kick ass reading...
- Asia Carrera is a pornstar who actually created and maintains her own website. (note... since she IS a pornstar... there are some graphic *not TOO graphic* images on the site) Her writing is pretty darn funny AND she has a special makeup section with techniques on how to LOOK like a porn star. (um... don't think im a freaky kinky perve for having this here... BUT I found it on Wil Wheaton's site and I actually think she's hilarious... so there. ;P)
- Grand Performances is NOT a porn site... but has listings of free concerts and events around the LA area that might interest some people.
- Dead at Seventeen is actually an old online magazine that I had found 5 years ago... and just recently rediscovered it. I love the sarcastic points of view it has... It made me double over with laughter 5 years ago... and still does today. Try the ARE YOU A DORK quiz.

I'm happy!

Since my summer consists mainly of living vicariously though my books... I'm really happy that this last book (GOOD IN BED by Jennifer Weiner *don't just the book by its title.. its not what you think*) that I got didn't bum me out since I cheated and peeked at the end of the book.

The end was really depressing.

Knowing that the book was going to end that way, I continued to read, trying to see where it was going to go all wrong. BUT the publishers of the book made a big mistake!

I really didn't read the end...

"What are you smoking Nicole?" you ask...

I finished the book early early this morning. The book ended on page 360. The page after is marked 313... they reprinted the final chapters incompletely. So it didn't end all horrible and depressing!! At first when i finished, I thought it was a flashback... as if everything the heroine had gone through was a dream and now she was going to trace her steps and make it right (something like GROUNDHOG DAY or SLIDING DOORS)... but as I continued reading... she was doing the SAME EXACT THING. And then I got confused.... and then figured the whole thing out. :) I'm a genius.

Anyways, just thought that was a interesting thing that happened to me...

Go back to looking at your porn.

Carlene's suggested pick up lines for Sunday mass...
-So... you come here often?
-Oooo... I like this song! *dances along to the hymn*

And Carlene continues on this quest for me to go and find a mate. Today, she pointed out the singles/married social in the St. Denis bullietin and suggested that I go and have some celibate fun. *rolls eyes* :) Anyways, mass was really good today... instead of going to St. Paul, we went to St. Denis instead, where they have this AWESOME choir and the priest there had a really good homily. It was one of those mass where you want to go out and high five the Father and heartily say "Good mass!" like kids would say "Good game" after playing a little league game.

The *Our Father* there reminded us of how it was at SL... WARNING: Ok.. I'm going to do a bit of some reminicing so bear with me. At my first mass at SL... no one warned the freshmen about the *Our Father*. Ohhh... its not some horrible sacrilegious thing that we are forced to do... its fun and bonding... but it was just the actions that were new to us. So here we were... dorky freshmen sitting on the south side bleachers trying to follow mass. At my old church, it was normal to hold hands during the *Our Father*. At some other churches... they don't. At SL all the girls put their arms around each other's shoulders and sway to the music. And then when they get to the "for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours" part... everyone holds hands and waves them high above their heads (still swaying mind you). Well... this is a really neat and spiffy and all.. but not if you're a freshmen and this is a secret that everyone but YOU knows... and NO ONE has warned you of it. So then came time for the *Our Father,* all eyes turned to the south side... eager to see the freshmen in their confusing stupor. Well... to make a somewhat short story even shorter... I guess the scene of the silly freshmen attempting to figure out the chaos around us was pretty humorous. :) Wait.. where was I going with this story? nevermind.... I could tell you (my lovely reader) stories of how 800 girlies would cram ourselves into the gym and have a dj pizza lunch (WHO'S DJ PIZZA LUNCH!), or those insane rallies that involved lots of whipped cream and bananas or how at Kairos, that's were Melissa, Tam, Lisa and I made up the now infamous "doorway dance" to add to table, chair, and pole dancing... but thats for another night. ;)

Anyways, took care of the post communion munchies with some boba and afterwards did some shopping with Carlene. Came home, had dinner, watched a part of A BEAUTIFUL MIND with my mom who had gotten the DVD from COSCO (happy Manny?) and then was hypnotized by this kick ass documentary on PYRAMIDS on TLC. :) OH EXCITMENT. really.. it was pretty exciting. :)

Don't you love it when you're driving with the windows open... and you stick your arm out and do that wave motion with it? :) Its very relaxing.

I had the WEIRDEST dream last night... and this one goes way beyond my going to a wedding and sitting next to Xena Warrior Princess and getting rescued by Patrick Swaze dream...

I dreamt that I had gone to a strip club with my ENTIRE family.

Ok... I guess maybe in real life.. going clubbin with my mom might be pretty normal. Its weird and absurd, but its something that can actually happen with my mom being a "wild and rumbunctious free spirit" that she is. But it was like the clan of family... family friends... and their KIDS!! It was like one of those family outting we had when we were younger- trips to go cherry picking or fishing at the trout farm. This was the trip to the seedy adult club.

Well, don't go thinking that I'm this crazy, freaky, kinky perve who had dreams of strippers and her family... because I'm not. In the dream, there was no stripping action going on... it was just the fact that in my dream we all went to the place and were sitting next to a stage with a pole on it.

Weirdness.

You know how theres some kind of meaning behind your dreams... I REALLY don't know want to know what this one means... maybe its a "you need to bond with your family more" sign...

Kinda makes me wish for more weird dreams with Patrick Swaze... *eww*

My sunburnt has faded down from a ghastly fiery orange-red, to a beautiful pinkish-brown. Ahhhh... almost normal. :)

Today... was the worst wedding experience ever...

*note to self... next time you decorate an outdoor wedding, remember to wear your sunscreen. OH. And bring LOTS of insect repellent. ;P

So, the site today was at this goregous house over in Lake Elsinore. We were to decorate the backyard with some drapery, twinkle lights, and flowers... Brandi said we would be there for 2-3 hours... but she lied big time. It was more like a good 8 hours.

Did I mention that it was F'in HOT!?!?

Anyways, my first task of the day sounded simple.. and for awhile I thought I was rather lucky because I just had to put twinkle lights in the garden inside the patio... so I thought... "hey.. anything is better than working in the SUN!" SO there I was... lost amid a tangled mess of twinkle lights. But I was a happy little camperette... until I was continiously attacked by flies, bees, wasps, and pretty much anything that had wings and buzzed. IT WAS THE WORST ever... an hour of waving my arms like a lunatic and just throwing lights into trees haphazardly... I was almost done and loosing my patience. (not to mention a lot of blood) luckily, I got the stamp of approval from Brandi and my lights were hunky dory.

*looking at the pool*
nicole: gosh.. that looks so good right now...
brandi: ok nicole.. I'll push you in... and then I can pretend to help you out and thats when you pull me in too. ITS PERFECT!

*talking to the father of the bride about the business*
brandi: One day I hope to grow bigger so then I can get a lot of assistants.
nicole in the backround makes a happy squeal of happiness
brandi: nicole... its not too bad. How about I give you a 5 cent raise and make that payment of yours a flat $5.
nicole: oh brandi... you're too good to me.
brandi: i know.. speaking of.. what do you want for lunch? I got a stick of gum in the car...

Yep... my boss is pretty darn cool.. so at least the whole day wasn't completely wretched.

We took a lunch break... but got lost cause Lake Elsinore is incredibly boonie (WAAYY more boonie that Chino Hills)... so we decided to follow the Dominos' pizza car and just pray that it was going back to the store. We ended up on some dirt road and realized that maybe we were following him during a delivery. blah. So we followed a Stater Bros truck and right next to the grocery... was a DEL TACO. Sustenance!

Moving on... the rest of the day wasn't as insect infested... but it was gosh darn hot. 4 hours in... Brandi realizes that she DOES have sunblock... but I don't think it mattered anymore. BLAH.

ANYWAYS.. so how was your 4th of July?

you:


HOW COOL! :)

Mine was quite dandy. Spent the day here at home with mom and Carlene where I cleaned and mom bbq'ed... and then later on that night, the three of us when to Whittier to go watch the firework show. OOOOOOOOOO fireworks. :) It was a blast! (a "blast!" hee hee hee) Actually, we didn't make it inside the park in time so we watched it on the street where all the car alarms were going off around us. Met up with everyone... chatted a bit... and then was kidnapped to go to D&B for Ryan's birthday. Sucky thing is that we went to the one in Irvine, but Mikie, Lan, and Ryan were over at the one in Orange. *oh duh* Well we got there finally and I learned how to play table shuffleboard... and then Carrie and I went crazy with this one cool game where you had to hit the button on a certain time... its hard to explain but it GAVE a hella lot of tickets. :) OH... also learned this *double double ice ice double double cream cream* game from Lan. :) OH FUN!

OH... I had to put this quote down from my phone call to Jean because its ABSOLUTELY priceless. :)
*calling jean*
nicole: hello?
jean: hey! hold on.. I'm not wearing any pants!
nicole: oops... sorry. I think I got the wrong number.

Oh scandalous! ;)

I just found the COOLEST HOLY accessory since the WWJD bracelets that stormed the world 5 years ago... its the FISHERSHOE! "Nicole," you ask "What is the Fishershoe?" Well... the Fishershoe looks like your regular flip flops... and really they are your normal flip flops but with a catch. Underneath, the soles of the shoe make these neat imprints in the dirt. On one foot.. it says JESUS and on the other foot it says LOVES YOU! So.. you put your feet together and you get JESUS LOVES YOU! I think that maybe they were inspired by that poem FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND... isn't it really really clever!!? Imagine going to the beach, walking in dirt, or stepping in a puddle and wearing the Fishershoe and leaving all those words behind you. OOOHHH!! and they have the most creative slogan... "The sandals that leave the greatest impression." Wow...

I also found the whole collection of Jesus Sports Statues here... here... and here. Seeing Jesus playing hockey, and Jesus with the ballerinas, and Jesus skiing always manages to put a smile on my face. ;) ENJOY!

OH!! Happy 4th of July! :)

I finally let my imagination get the best of me today... and it wasn't pretty.

You know how I already whine about how I don't like to be alone at work and how I scare myself with horrendeous thoughts of getting abducted and who knows what will happen to me...

SO today, I was working at the shop all by myself (as usual) when suddenly... out of the corner of my eye... I see someone walk through the door. Well, paranoid and crazy me starts screaming bloody muder... but then I realize.. its my boss Brandi. She's terrified... I'm freaked... but everyone is fine and dandy. Whooo... I wasn't kidnapped! :)

Hmmmm... you know whats getting on my nerves... that one car commerical... I think its for NISSAN... or FORD... i dunno.. one of those car companies... but in the commerical, theres this guy and he's working in an office... and his boss gives him a package and tells him to deliver it to FARGO. So this guy jumps into his car and drives all the way to FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA... where when he gets there he realizes that FARO is some coporate man who works in the same building. So he drives back and delivers the package... and is given another package.. this time its addressed to VEGAS. And off he goes.. driving into the desert... and there is where I get irked. OK.. so he realized the FIRST TIME that the package was supposed to go FARGO the man.. not FARGO the city... and you'd think that he would learn his lesson and figure out that theres VEGAS the man.. and not to go to VEGAS the city... its just lame. If I were that guy's boss... I'd fire him for being a numskull. And hello... yes.. I'm sure the car is great... but how great is it if you're showing this total idiot driving it... are we telling the audience that its ok to be a complete flake just as long as you drive this car? This car is special for those who don't know where they are going? I dunno... it just confuses me.

OH you know what else gets on my nerves?? RICK DEES. I swear.. he's been bugging me ever since the 5th grade when dad would drive Carlene and I to Holy Name in the morning and would insist that we listen to him. He really isnt funny. I seriously want to slit my writs after he starts talking. I know I know... I can easily change the station... but it has come to the point where I dislike the guy so much that I pretty much use his bad jokes as ammunition to dislike him even more. And when I finally decide that I can't take it anymore... thats when I pop in a CD. ITs one thing to drive along to morning radio... but its utter torchure to WAKE UP to him on the clock radio. OH EVIL EVIL EVILNESS.

Ok.. enough with the negativity. :) Actually I'm very happy because I did some research and discovered the following bargains for the summer of things to do.
1) The Huntington Library has free admission on the first Thursday of every month. (not this month cause its the 4th and they're closed.) BUT even without the free admission... its $7 for students which is still pretty darn good.
2) LACMA has free admission on the second Tuesday of each month.
3) Citywalk: Thursday nights, they have this drive-in movie deal thingie... where it really isn't a drive in, but its a movie shown on their super jumbotron and we can bring blankets and camp out there and watch. Next week.. its WEST SIDE STORY... and the week later.. its LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. On Saturday nights... they have various dree dancing... like this weekend.. its free Salsa dancing at the Rhumba room... next... I think its Swing.
4) Media City Center in Burbank: Its another outdoor free movie night... but on Wednesday nights. Next week.. its FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF... the week after its ICE AGE.. and after that its TOP GUN.
5) MOCA: Thursday nights from 5-8 they have free outdoor concerts. Nice to kick back and listen... They also have a Warhol exhibit there that I want to see... but that costs money... but hey... with all the free stuff out there.. I really don't mind at this point.
Sooo.. if anyone wants to go play... tell me! :)

*oh.. and for those who want to go all free and completely GHETTO... remember COSCO always has free sample that you can munch off of. *

So rather than be entirely bored at home... suffering in the heat in front of the computer... I decided to do something. Today was an offical "Nicole's vacation from EVERYTHING AND THEIR MOTHERS DAY." Well... I guess you could say that everyday had been like that this summer since I've been doing nothing but work and read... but I guess this one was different? Or maybe I'm just overdramatizing the whole thing so that it makes my life somewhat more interesting than it really is? I dunno.. interpret is as you want. For me, it was a vactaion day... to you, its was Monday. hooray. problem solved.

:)

SO on this vacation day (er... Monday), I drove over to Pasadena to go visit the Norton Simon Museum. :) YAY ART! Before I had left, Carlene had asked me if I was going with anyone... I replied. "Nope. I'm going all by myself." To that she questioned..."What happened to all your friends?" Well... I like to think I do have my friends... but usually when I do go out on my little "outings" I like to be by myself so that I don't have to entertain anyone just only myself. I can leave when I like... look at what I want to look at.. stare at a picture for 30 minutes without any interruptions.... Probably its selfish of me... but I think its just common sense... especially since it was a vacation day.

*note* if you do go to Norton Simon... make sure you read the admission prices before you go. I had already paid my $6 when I got in... (and really $6 isn't BAD at all) but then later while passing by the admissions window over again I realized I had failed to see the giant FREE WITH STUDENT ID sign. Oh curses...

The day at the museum was great. :) Nice... quiet... peaceful... everything you can expect from going to a museum. For a good 30 minutes, I had stowawayed with a tour group... but I was feeling rushed so I ditched them. (see... it all makes sense that I do this on my own huh..) While on my own, I had a grand ole time just staring... and reading... and staring again. :)

Soon enough... the museum was closing and they were kicking me out of my my little world of art happiness. At least NOW I know that I can get in for FREE! ;P Curses...

But in the end.. the day was terriffic. :) I even got a free print! Whoohoo! Had a little ME time and I got to go out and breath some of that fresh LA air. (insert smartass remark about air here.. depending on where you are from.)

Oh my golly goshness... its HOT in this mofo!! I dunno, for some odd reason but my room is the hottest in the house (ooohh yeah.. HOT... *winky wink*) The air conditioning could be on, my window could be open, but it still will be warm in here. (oooohhh yeah.. she's STILL HOT! *winky wink*) So I brought up the fan and now its somewhat bearable. But I feel like I'm in the Philippines and all I need to complete my "summer of swel-ter-ing HEAT" is to get a mosquito net to put over my bed... very provincial don't you think?

Anyways, today was WAY better than yesterday due to the fact that I stepped out of the house and interacted with people. (I know what you're thinking... YAY!! SHES NOT A LOSER!) Met up with Carlene for lunch... came home and watched ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (yes... AGAIN) napped... and woke up late for mass. Drove over to Holy Name in time for the final blessing and that last song! (YAY CHURCH SONGS!... wait... hmmmm.. could I GET anymore nerdier? Love of chuch songs and she can quote Anne Of Green Gables like no other?? Yes... fellas.. She IS single!) Actually, since I was late for communion I got PRIME seating right next to Keri, JP, and Marissa on the piano. Oh YESSS!!! Anyways, after mass, ran into another one of my old kindergarten classmates... Maritess, who is back for good after graduating from Harvard this past year... WOW.. well she WAS voted most likely to succeed back in 8th grade so it really isn't much of a suprise. ;)

We all caravaned over to downtown La Verne for dinner where according to JP, supposedly I almost ran over a man on a bike... I dunno.. I didin't see him. :p Joey, Tina, and Emily later met us up... Dinner was good and we got all the FREE PEANUTS we could get! It was a lot of fun. :) *good times* Resisted temptation to drive to LA for some sinful fun... but oh wells. Something to look forward to next time I guess?? ;)

Came home and had a field night with Carlene looking for "potential" canidates on LAVALIFE.com. For some odd reason, Carlene is on this rampage to get me out and about and lord knows what. Her reason... "if you're 25 and you're still single.. theres something wrong!" But I'm not 25 YET!! Anyways... oh my goodness.. these fellas where very interesting. The thing with lavalife is that they have 3 categories of interests. 1) Dating. 2) Relationship. 3)INTIMATE ENCOUNTER. eek! But it was just freaking hilarious... some of these guys. For some I wonder, WHY are they on there because they're pretty attractive enough that I'm sure that they don't have a problem finding that INTIMATE ENCOUNTER... but then there are others.... HAHAHAHA... insane I tell you! IN-FREAKING-SANE!