Nap time!

Guess what's inside these fellas! The one on the left is an obvious guess, but I was totally caught off guard with the one on the right. Maybe it just makes sense that they put a hot dog within that waffle exterior... really, though?
These two are from the Siam Paragon food court- a stop-you-in-your-tracks food court, I must admit.

I'd also like to introduce you to Conizza. Has it reached the States yet? This picture is mighty unclear, but your creative intuition can fill in the fuzz. Cone + pizza = Conizza! Tasty... but kinda difficult to consume.

When midterms got ya down..

th3one: how is uncommon an uncommon word
th3one: ahhhh *bleep* you egg salad sandwich

I am grateful

for so many things. Whenever I meet with the site coordinators from the West Contra Costa County Unified School District, my work becomes that much more fulfilling.. or rather, the sense of need to be in the work I'm in is enhanced tenfold.

I've retraced plenty of the steps I've taken to get where I am today. You should try it some time; it makes you appreciate things more than you could ever imagine.

Things I appreciate/acknowledge:
- my friends- old and new, trustworthy and bright, hilarious and loving
- my family- kooky, bizarre, amazing
- the socks on my feet
- the food in my tummy
- the tap water I can drink
- the things I think I should be worrying about versus the things I know are more important/impacting/pressing

"Don't you just love these kinds of moments?" - over cheesesteaks, kung pao, and a side of fries...

It's gettin' colder in the Yay AreA!

I'm always surprised by those colds/bugs that really remind you that you're under the weather. I was at a training this morning and even after a cup of coffee, a serving of tea, and part of a chocolate chip bagel (and croissant!), I still felt weak and bluhgh [I tried to enunciate the sound so I could figure out a logical spelling for it].

I should be resting, but I am much more interested in the taiko-ing that will be happening this evening! And the Halloween festivities of tonight and tomorrow! And my Evolution of Human Sexuality paper (interest, no.. completion, yes)! And my Thai midterm, which was due on Wednesday... epic fail.
--

I was speaking with a friend recently about ageing and ageing fast. I think 20 is the age at which you physically, mentally, and emotionally morph into a new YOU. I don't think I've experienced nearly as much change as I have in this year in any other year of mi vida (give or take the age of my first menses, kiss, etc etc). "You tack on about five extra years when you're 20," he said. You might think differently... but try to assess how much change you incurred when you were 17 versus that which you incurred in your 20th year of life. So think:

This...

to this...
I am definitely not complaining :)

Also...

a poem I found to be beautiful and awe-inspiring:
---

God said, "I made a man
Out of clay -
But so bright he, he spun
Himself to brightest Day

Till he was all shining gold
And oh,
He was handsome to behold!
But in his hands held he a bow

Aimed at me who created
Him. And I said,
'Wouldst murder me
Who am thy Fountainhead!'

Then spoke he the man of gold:
'I will not
Murder thee! I do but
Measure thee. Hold

Thy peace.' And this I did.
But I was curious
Of this so regal head.
'Give thy name!' - 'Sir! Genius.'"

- Jose Garcia Villa

Sunny day!

Just for my own amusement...

Team Kickass 2008 Roster
Snowflake
Pretty Eyes
Mama Love
Morpheus
Dance MagIK
BooB MagIK
Upright Log
Charmander (Styles)
Frazzle (Wolverine)
Toyko Drift (40!)
Incognito

Twinklecoming to a sweaty, loud, packed, and bangin' auditorium near you!

My random post after impeccable fun

There are certain things that really make college college. I would have to say this past weekend with the buds goes down on my list of Top Experiences in Colegio.

Now, don't get me wrong, this kind of fun requires stamina, will, and down-right energy! My weekend of fun concluded with a class at 8:00AM and a take-home midterm due a couple days later. Who am I to complain?! I am much more appreciative of these sorts of experiences... even if I'm at Rockstar status the following morning.

Memorable quotes from the weekend include:

"If I ever see him, I'm gonna punch him in the Paul Van Balls!" - Toni, in reference to Paul Van Dyk
"I haven't heard a thing you just said." - William, following my two minutes of whispering
"Okay, guys, I need to make sure that this parrot comes back with me at the end of the night. He was the most expensive part of my costume." - George, 'nough said
"Dog diarrhea! Dog diarrhea!" - Paul, that compassionate man
"Whose birthday is it?" - Maria, on our way to the next bar
"You are now... Charmander!" - Alex... come on!

and as for dialogue:

"I think I need a 6-month hiatus."
"Hiatus? See, I would have used 'break'." -__-

I cherish these sorts of things every single day.

My random post before impeccable fun

There was an array of drinks sold in Bangkok markets, and I believe I was checking this one out because of its unbelievable fiber content. Also, note the hair/outfit color scheme- obvious, yes, planned, well... yeah.. hahah


There was more to this post, but the formatting was too weird to deal with!

"Snowflake and the Breath of Life"

You order papaya salad, and this is what ya get!

And I uberly prefer this one to its more extravagant variants. This papaya salad is from a restaurant in Pak Beng, Laos. I asked for 'medium', my tongue read 'paralysis'. Yes, I'm weak; but, I can definitely go for some of this right now.

Heartburn

It's something I get when I have extra greasy pizza, burgers, super oily junk and sometimes, orange juice. Now, maybe I can attribute this to some sort of Filipino mechanism in my GI tract, but I never ever have gotten heartburn because of Filipino food.

Should I remind you of what Filipino food entails?

Perhaps not... I would only get hungrier =P

So when chunks of fried pork skin/fat, chicken, and fish don't get me, but orange juice does, then I'd have to say I'm a believer in miracles. -_-

Warm day, warm day

During our last week in Hanoi, our days consisted of:
1. Waking up at 11AM
2. Using the computer
3. Eating pho
4. Buying snacks
5. Going to Hoan Kiem lake
6. Buying ice cream
7. Consuming ice cream
8. Snack snack snack
9. Eating dinner
10. Sleeping

Yeah, it didn't get more varied than that! So sometimes, we thought it would be cool to take myspace angle pictures of ourselves at the lake. Other people didn't find this amusing... but we sure did!

We also took flattering pictures of our ice cream. Strawberry and coconut, I believe. :)

How is a salad ever this filling?

I just had a salad from Rio Cafe, which is this quaint Brazillian eatery tucked into Preservation Park in Oakland. It's super convenient because CSHC is located in Preservation Park, too. The salad was a quarter dressing (a subtle garlic-cilantro), half romaine lettuce, and a quarter chicken + tostada pieces. I'm a-refreshed, which isn't necessarily a bad thing... but now, I feel like taking a nap on the office carpet.

I should have given the preemptive "dressing on the side!" call.. drats to my assumptions.

::so full::

I'm hungry!

Yummm.
This was from a little snack shop within a subway station in Hong Kong. Made right before our very eyes! And consumed voraciously like no other!
I want fOOd.

I am horrendously busy in the office right now

I shall update anyway!

Uplifting moment of the day: when this lady I was sitting next to in the BART station laughed out loud after reading a text. I love bursting into random fits of laughter, and it was pleasant hearing her cheer.
Cutest moment of the day: little girl getting her hair combed by her mother on the Fremont-bound BART. Reminds me of the excruciating - yet loving - pain from my mom whenever she was comb-in-hand.
Friend of the day: The Oye... just because he knows what to say in those oh-so-needed texts.

One more Monday picker-upper

Bank's dad also owns a resort in Nakhon Sawan. It has a mote surrounding all the huts and land... and yes, the mote has canoes!

This canoe in particular had a quarter-sized hole, so using it required some coordinated scoopage on the scooper's part. This wasn't a clean event, but it ended up getting ranked on my Top 5 Experiences in the Region list. :)

Bank, you are too cool.

Oh, Mondays

Actually, this Monday was rather okay. A little hectic, a little cold, but not bad in the least. But, if you feel like your Monday hasn't gone spectacularly well, take a gander at this:It's from Cabbages and Condoms in Bangkok. I had an awesome time in the gift shop. Mike and I stopped by the one in Chiang Rai, as well, but the one in Bangkok was even more memorable. The restaurant portions are generous, and I'd like to think the Republican-sized condoms were smaller.. teehee.

Now start having that blissful Monday!

Sunday evening treat

for a weekend that equaled almost no academic productivity and topped the charts in TaiKo cRazY!

This is Evan and Michael with terribly cute (and happily mangy) puppies in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. Bank's father owns a huge stretch of land upon which dozens of buffalo freely graze. There are also resident dogs... with resident puppies... with resident fleas?

Too cute.

Om nom nom

Okay, maybe I don't cook/bake when I'm stressed out. I usually do all that yummy productivity when I'm feeling good, accomplished or satisfied with X. (X... a variable I've grown an ambivalent relationship with ever since 10th grade calculus).I didn't make these, but look at how delicious they are! I believe both were filled with red bean ::drool:: These two guys were from a hotel restaurant in the Chinese district of Phnom Penh. I had the turtle :D

Strike of the Poo Bacteria II

There is nothing truer than my oh-so-sensitive stomach. If you can recall Filipino Poo Bacteria I, then I can assuredly introduce you to Thai Bacteria Dos. Now, whatever I reacted to in the Philippines was at the level of 'oh man, am I gonna die?!' status. Whatever I got in Thailand was much more manageable but terribly prolonged.

So when Mike and I made our way to Chatuchak weekend market, I thought I was prepared for a full day of shopping and eating and then, THE UNTHINKABLE.

yeah, those are coconuts in the background

and yeah, that's me on the gurney. hahah

Was it really that bad? Mike and I rushed to the nearest hospital, which actually wasn't the nearest hospital.. we kind of just pointed at the map and followed our noses. This is a shout out to Bangkok Christian Hospital: you guys are the bomb diggity. I'll save the itemized bill for my emergency visit for another post.

After a good hour and half in the hospital, where did we turn to next? Food, of course! You can't think some pesky bacteria will get in my way!

Ramen from the Central World food court.
Defeat? Never.

Me want!

Only in Bangkok...

is it even better..

Quotes of the day

"Ye bruh i gots the snizzle on yr toe tight shiz in the what."

"Ya u knw i dun smack all tht high no mor but itz all good bruh im all down wid jus smakin n chillum on tha thizz u kno"

Priceless. Alex, you are loved.

Sure, why not a third one?

While Mike and I were in Thailand, we met up with some friends from Los Angeles in Bangkok. We tried to hit up the most "happenin'" spots. So, of course, we brought Bank, Evan, and Jesse to where we were staying: the infamous Thanon Khao San. It's a huge tourist trap, teeming with vendors, late night partying, and crazy-touristy-ish-debacle-type-stuff... every single night of the week. After we brought the guys there, Bank thought it would be much better if we visited local haunts.

A Sky Train and subway ride later, we ended up at RCA. RCA, similar to Khao San, is a long stretch dotted with clubs, eateries, and other hip things that hip people do. We ended up at this club with live music, and the guys decided it would be great to order The Tower ::cue thunder::.

The drinking curfew is 1:00AM in Bangkok, and the fellas ordered it at 12:30AM. They had 30 minutes to finish three liters of beer in addition to the two beers each of them already had. Bank and I didn't drink; we just watched the beautiful agony.


Yay! Look at that glory!








And this gastric sobriety!


These pleasant memories perk up my day. =)

Also, if you're interested,

here's a pretty comprehensive and recent article on the 'model minority' stereotype:
"Getting real about the 'model minority'" by Carol Brydolf (CSBA)

Let's make this more snazzy, shall we?

A great friend of mine suggested that I add a little more political flare to my blog. Well, we'll just see about that!

Here are a few issues I've recently been most concerned with:
No on Proposition 4
No on Proposition 8

I can be moved to tears when discussing the above two. Watch out!

(According to the flickr caption) Pistahan 2008 at the Yerba Buena Garden in San Francisco

At the Magno Rubio performance last Friday, people were selling shirts with the same message. But, as I usually say, "I gotz no money!"

This is a less publicized issue, although I feel it is extremely critical for the future of adolescent health. Teen pregnancy prevention programs (MIP, TSO, I&P) have been completely cut from the updated California budget. I owe so much of my foundation in public, reproductive, and teen health to TeenSMART Outreach (TSO), and I know there have been hundreds- if not thousands- of youth who have benefited from this program. Must I repeat the adage?! Prevention is the best medicine, people! So, for the next couple of weeks, a lot of my energy will be invested in salvaging these statewide programs.

Stay tuned for more pontification. ^_^

When life gives you hummus,

eat it with pita.. or PETA, if you know the right people. ;)

Dialogue of the day:
Female 1: The essay portion was crazy!
Female 2: I wrote on quality improvement, and I was totally schizo!
Female 3: Managed care can !@#*& and #$@^%$^#!!!

Wonder which one was me..

The Evolution of Human Sexuality

When my professor for PH 180: The Evolution of Human Sexuality notices that someone has a question during lecture, he immediately says, "Yes! Question!" He has a scholarly English accent with a debonair tone, most definitely refined by his years of experience in the fields of reproductive health, population control, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

So as he was giving his lecture on sexually transmitted infections, he was referencing sexual intercourse quite a bit- something completely normal in PH 180. Then someone raised her hand, and he exclaimed, "Yes! Sex! erm, question!"


No? Not a lot of people caught it. Maybe you had to be there. I thought it was cute and fitting. ^_^

"Sextion!", I say.

Just to cap off the Sunday

Yeah, we really don't know how to take pictures anymore.

Study, blog, stog, bludy.

During the summer, I loved Cambodian and Filipino food. Well, I still do, but more so when I was over there. To the left is a photo of a delicious Sunday afternoon spread that was devoured a few miles outside of Phnom Penh. The spot's name escapes me; nevertheless, families and friends buy a bunch of goodies from vendors, rent a rattan mat, and lay out everything on a canopied pier that juts into a sectioned off part of the Mekong river. There are at least two dozen piers, so you can imagine the crowd that this place gets. Pictured are steamed snails, chicken hearts, chicken thighs, spicy crunchy papaya, spicy beansprouts, fish (mackerel?), and steamed rice. MMM!



Snail attack! (Can you tell that this isn't posed?)









Turtles and chicken hearts/livers. Nope, didn't try the turtle.

Taking my time.

So far, 2008 has been the yearNot to mention...

Things of the Day

Smell of the day: the patis in my backpack. Every semester, I usually soil my notebooks, readers, and planner with coffee. I haven't had a clean semester yet! We're about half way into the term now, and my container of Thai beef salad leaked fishsauce in my backpack. Oh, the staining!
Heartwarming moment of the day: seeing this exuberant, glowing, and lovely toddler play with her mom on the BART. The child had a stuffed puppy and pretended as though the puppy were licking her mom's face with gusto! That little babe was smiling so wide, I couldn't help but stare and smile back.
Minor grievance of the day: forgetting my reusable coffee mug and still purchasing a warm beverage- a no-no in my book.
Currently awaiting: The Romance of Magno Rubio performance at Skyline College Theater. In meantime, enjoy this pikachu:
It's these sorts of things that help me get by. mmm

For my close friends:

If you want to get out of that obligatory (well, not really) birthday present for me, vote.

Here's the info you'll need if you're not registered or if you've moved recently and haven't re-registered.

I sincerely thank you now and on February 25th. ^_^

Things of the Day

Food of the day: Battambang salad (I believe #23 on the menu) from Battambang Restaurant in Oakland
Song of the day: "Shine a Light" by Wolf Parade- what an uppity song! and "The Good Times Are Killing Me" by Modest Mouse- a fitting song for my half-way-through-the-semester self-assessment
Appreciation of the day: A sunny Oakland
Goal of the day: Gain a sense of (academic, occupational, personal, and/or taiko-related) accomplishment no matter the degree

During a review session I attended yesterday night, I tried to make a "Top Make Out Songs" list. After minimal thought and effort, I wrote this:

"'All I Need' by Radiohead
'Crimson and Clover' by Tommy James and The Shondells
Oh hell, the whole Garden State soundtrack.. hah!"

In ten minutes...

For the last week and a half, I've had to rush between Haviland Hall and Barrows because Thai has been temporarily moved out of Dwinelle for AV purposes. As I was scurrying over this afternoon, I heard snippets of different conversations. Here are some of them:

Guy: Where can I find SNL's Palin skit?
Gal: Oh, youtube it or go to NBC!

Female 1: Talaga??
Female 2: YUP!

Person with megaphone: Register to vote!... ::meekly:: please.

Dude: Dude, why are you wearing that sweater? It's so hot!
Dudette: Ah, I get cold in class sometimes.

If you ever hear a snippet on gratifying bowel movements, uncontrollable flatulence, or daily fiber intake, it's probably me you're walking beside. ;)

When the stress is mounting,

I bake! When I need to blow off steam, I cook for the folks in my house. I get a lot of personal enjoyment when I see my friends eat the food/confections I make.
I've made cinnamon buns. They were kinda funky and uneven, so I appreciate Cinnabon that much more. My goal is to get them at that cute curl-like stage.
These are walnut chocolate chip cookies. I make these like every other week, and I'm surprised they haven't gotten tired of them. I've tried to perfect the "chewy factor"; I think I got it down!
And these are my (banana, walnut, strawberry) Morning Muffins! I made them for a taiko meeting. This batch was a little dry (damned unpredictable oven!), but I plan on taking another crack at them soon.

So yes, I do want to do some baking right now. Mike, get me some ingredients!

Confidence, woman!

or the lesser known Confidence Woman. Saving an insecure soul near you!

Waterfall
Nothing can harm me at all
My worries seem so very small
With my waterfall

- "May This Be Love"

Oh, Jimi, you know how to set a thing or two straight.

Soo sluggish!

It's been back-to-back everything the last three days, and it'll keep going until the weekend. I'm looking forward to this Sunday evening the most. It'll be the end (temporarily) of the back-to-back craziness, but more importantly...
T minus 4 days to FOUR YEARS! Yipes! =D This means a yummy dinner! Hahah
This is us on a vespa on Koh Samui, Thailand. Look at his calm and collected self!