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.