Letter 1.

Dear Chris, We're not married so you only get one letter, haha!  Your hugs are the best.. my boney arms might hurt you but you take it like a champ! Dear Chemistry, you are not as bad as I remember.  It's probably because I'm not in high school anymore and not distracted by those silly boys.. which is when we met last time!  Dear Bagged Lunch, you save me so much money and you're so much healthier than take out.  The money you saved me today went to a homeless guy + his doggie.  Jojo: Just kidding, I'll write you two.  Let's have another fun coffee date tomorrow, I'm sure I'll need it after you hog the blanket tonight! <3

*inspired by Today's Letters

kim & kourtney + my 40 year old child = great combo

it's been guilty pleasure TV night for me.  kim & kourtney take new york!  there should be a million reasons why i hate that show and their excessive-living, fur wearing family but it's too addictive.

anyway, the only reason i'd admit to watching them is because i thought it was on at 9pm instead of 10pm. and at 9, i found on TLC "my 40 year old child" which hi-lighted the lives of two families who had children who didn't age physically & couldn't speak/see.  the dedication of moms/parents/siblings of people with special needs always turns me into the biggest cry baby.  my older brother was born w/cerebral palsy and other brain damage so i know first hand what it's like to have someone who doesn't really "grow up".  i didn't even really tell any of my friends until i was in high school.  i was so afraid of hearing hurtful words towards my brother that i kept it a secret for a long time & to this day the word "retarded" stings my heart. (which is such a popular word these days!)

be grateful for all the healthy little ones in your life friends =)

5 favorites + 5 goals = cheers 2010, helloooo 2011!

5 favorite things about 2010:
1.  my first (of hopefully many) trip to the philippines!
2.  my first 1/2 marathon
3.  enrolling back into school for my second bachelors
4.  eating less meat & being much more conscience about where my food comes from
5.  writing more letters to out-of-touch friends

5 goals for 2011:
1.  HUSTLE, HUSTLE, HUSTLE!!  i need money for books, for a 2012 trip to the philippines & for savings.  any wedding that pops up, i will work it.  unless it conflicts w/goal #3
2.  complete another 1/2 marathon
3.  get straight A's
4.  pack my lunch more often
5.  ride my bike more =)

my brain is already hurting from school.  registering for classes has always been a pain and having no priority again is like a welcome-back-beeyatch-slap in the face b/c i have very low priority.  however, in the words of spongebob: I'M READY, I'M READY, I'M READY!  haha, you know it's time to get back to school when you're quoting spongebob.  i'm coming with a half renewed attitude towards school and half "i know myself better than that".  i always feel very motivated and ready to learn in the beginning of each semester but am always burnt out by the end.  i'm hoping this time around it really will be different.  i will need lots of coffee for this..

a pilipina american in the philippines.

with the year anniversary of my trip to the philippines quickly approaching, i thought i'd remember and reflect .  the first week, i hated it.  i ddin't understand why anyone would go there to vacation.  and not because it wasn't beautiful but because it was gorgeous...

but it was so heart breaking to see babies, kids, families living in shanty shitty living conditions.  i honestly thought i was prepared for what i was going to see, especially being from the bay area where homelessness, hunger, and poverty is unfortunately not a strange concept.  i was an asian american minor for gods sake!  i know what colonization and a corrupt government means to the philippines.  but rivers filled with garbage, so much so that you couldnt see the water underneath was very strange and impossible not to stare at while you drive by.  i was on the beach of boracay (the biggest tourist destination in the philippines) crying to my dad asking why anyone would come here for pleasure.  he told me that he hoped i understood now why his father, my grandfather, worked so hard to get out.  i did.  the warmth of family members who might as well have been strangers was unbelievable and i had to hold back tears saying goodbye to them at the airport.  its no secret that i've been a hater of the united states but i am so thankful to have grown up here and all it's opportunity.  but it's definitely a must to visit the country/countries of your parents, grandparents, ancestors & gain a little perspective, especially as americans.

lately, and by lately i mean this whole year, i've felt my life is at a standstill.  i have all these big plans set up in my head of getting a full time job or going back to school for a second bachelors.  i've applied to what feels like at least 50 jobs.  even though i love living at home, i really want to move on and move out or at least feel like i'm saving enough money to make that move.  at points like this where i'm neither applying to jobs nor classes, i feel like i'm at this standstill of not moving anywhere.  perseverance has not been on my side b/c getting no call backs or getting rejection letters in the MAIL is never fun.  i hate to admit that i just want my life to pick itself up and move forward with no effort on my part at all at these moments.  and although im grateful for a job, a roof over my head & my first bach.. ... ...even grateful girls need a future!

my first 1/2 marathon!!!

my 1/2 marathon experience!

pre-race, we didn't sleep well that night.. kept waking each other to check the time!

the views + on-course support was amaziiing. wish i brought my camera, my dad showed up on his bike & snapped this one =)

at first i was 30% concerned about falling behind on training & 70% excited BUT kept reminding myself that it's a blessing to even be able to walk let alone participate in a 13.1 mile event!!   i wouldn't have been able to pull through without chris making me crack up especially in the last 2 miserable, painful, rainy, can't-feel-my-hands and my hair is soaking miles.  he stuck by me through most of the race & crossed the finish line with me even after all his training and it being his bday, whatta keeper.  i am very proud of myself though & would love to do it all over again next year. i will stick with training though b/c these post-race aches are no joke, lol.