being sick sucks! i'm left to my knuddling with my nyquil so 1) i don't get anyone else sick and 2) i can't breathe through my nose and this is the only medicine that's strong enough to get me through the night without completely drying me up. blach! maybe i'll be well enough to get to work tomorrow...

I was reminded today of how my friends and I have always been somewhat gungho to make this world a better place. I don't think I'll ever move away from that frame of mind but I am definitely glad I've gotten more strategic about how we go about "saving the world." Conciousness is a powerful thing. Knowledge is even more powerful. And I am definitely in a position to keep working towards that, on a very global scale.

How sad!

The world was set abuzz this week with the introduction of the iPhone, the next generation of "smart phones" and iPods. As much as I was anticipating this introduction, I was highly disappointed to find that Apple has partnered with sucky Cingular as the service provider. The $499 cost for a 4 gig version and $599 cost for an 8 gig version didn't feel too good either.

I can't deny that the device really is a computer that fits in your palm and pocket. It's a phone. You can use it for phone calls, text/picture messages and visually scroll to check your voicemail. It works like a Blackberry for emails and online access. The browser is laid out the same way it is on the ever so cute Mac and Powerbooks. Google maps comes built in and, again, is the same view as you would see on a computer web browser. And lastly, you have mobile access to your music! Granted, you'll only have 8 gigs of music at the most right now.

What are the major arguments NOT to get it? First generation brands are always most expensive. The cost of the original iPods is definitely a little more than the current generation. They were also a bit more bulky. One of my fellow Mac-addicts who totally feeds my obsession everytime I ask for an Apple-related recommendation, said that the price will indefinitely go down. Since competitors will bid to provide parts for the device, Apple will experience efficiencies in production and customers will see the price decrease. Make sense? I hope so.

Let it be resolved that I will wait for the second generation, as much as I really want to play with it right now! Hell, if the third generation is even better, I think I can be that patient. I didn't get an iPod until the 4th generation. But yes, the new iPhone is ever so tempting.

Apple, Inc., you didn't make me super happy this week. But I wasn't completely disappointed.

In related news, I sent a "recommendation" to Verizon that they need to step up their game. I don't want to switch to Cingular because their coverage sucks more than Verizon. But Verizon's phones need to improve significantly. Don't be number 2 in the country forever!

Renewals

New year, older me and the iPod is still kicking. I got it to work yesterday after banging it on my bed a few times. It's probably not the most ideal thing to do with it but it works for right now. I've also started listening to my music again. I've forgotten how much I love the eclecticsm of music and how much it sparks my different moods.

My birthday was wonderful. It was a test of patience, understanding and flexibility. It didn't turn out as I had expected but in the end, I was with people I love and heard from my distant loved ones. I was reminded yet again of my many blessings. Thank you to The Most High for everything in my life, the good and the not so good. Great things will happen this year, I can feel it. And every year will only be better.

Apple iPhone, pleeeeeeeeease!

So Apple hasn't had the best pr in the past couple of months. Their stock has gone down a little due to the suuposed back dating of stock options, poor Stevie.

Rumors have it that they're going to announce a new iPhone next week at the MacWorld conference. Please don't tease me...say it's true! It seems like a natural progression but I doubt they're going to be cellphone service providers. It would require an entirely new set of operations, staff, expenses, etc. Besides, basic business principles will tell you that corporations the size of Apple should usually stick to their niche products rather than attempt to branch out if they don't have the proper systems in place to do so.

My iPod has been broken for months and I'm going to be in the market for a new cellphone in the next few months. I'm your target consumer, Apple! Make me happy! Just make sure you partner with Verizon to make that phone happen!

Culture for the Ones Who Can Pay for It!

Maya Angelou will be speaking at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on February 23rd. The lowest priced tickets are $50. I know she's an expensive ass speaker to pay for but come on! What the hell is she going to talk about? Am I just being bitchy about this because I haven't seen her speak in YEARS and don't want to pay $50 just to see her speak for a freakin' hour and a half, at best?! What's up Maya?

The LA Music Center has a whole speakers series that individuals can subscribe to. Tickets range between $50-$150. And they scoff at those who are supposedly "uncultured."

first there was the feeling of "something" happening today. then there's the news about the baby girl. then the stupid service reniged on their promise to be at the venue on time. then the call came...i kind of had a feeling.

Life's Soundtrack

Ok, thought this would be kind of fun. :-) Thanks to Ms. Mags & The Joe.

If your life were a soundtrack, what would the music be?

Here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. New question-- Press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool
(Since I have comedy sketches and spoken word pieces on my Ipod, I get to skip them if it lands there to get to the next song. I'm also going to skip the non-English & Pilipino songs since I don't know the words to those.)

==========

Here goes...

Opening Credits:
Uwawi - Chin Chin Gutierrez

Waking up:
I've Got You Under my Skin - Frank Sinatra (nice uptempo)

First day at school:
If There Ain't Nothing - Res

Falling in love:
The Fact is (I Need You)...of course! - Jill Scott (LOVE HER!)

Breaking up:
É Preciso Perdoar featuring Caetano Veloso - Cesora Evora (only for the grown and sexy, especially with the bass line)

Prom:
Come Smoke my Herb - Me'Shell Ndegéocello...ahahahahha! didn't touch this stuff until college. this should've been "come smoke my cigar" since that period was far more prominent than anything else

Life's okay:
Breathe - Burning Star...ommmm

Mental breakdown:
Carnival - Wyclef Jean...he can get kind of crazy

Driving:
Takin My Time - After 7...he says "girlie" in it! :-)

Flashback:
Hands Up - Black Eyed Peas...not quite a super flashback

Getting back together:
The World's Gone Mad -Handsome Boy Modeling School

Wedding:
Flying High - Jem...so sweet!

Birth of child:
Ifiwouldaknew (Girlnextdoor Remix) - Musiq Soulchild...hm...what's this trying to say?

Final battle:
Things We Said Today - The Beatles

Death scene:
Miss You - Rolling Stones...you better!

Funeral song:
Eternita - Ornella Vanoni...so much emotion, so much drama!

End credits:
Travelling Around - Ethnic Descent...is yet but a dream

It all Makes Sense!

No wonder he hasn't been making really good music for a while! I was kind of late to this news. I just heard mention of it this morning. That one stupid song about "what if she was the one...blah blah blah" was really true!

Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds and Wife Split
THURSDAY OCTOBER 06, 2005 08:00AM EST
People.com
By Stephen M. Silverman

After September brought what seemed a record number of celebrity breakups – Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney, Paris Hilton and Paris Latsis, Sophia Bush and Chad Michael Murphy, Tori Spelling and Charlie Shanian, Kathy Griffin and Matt Moline, and Jamie-Lynn DiScala and A.J. DiScala – now comes news that R&B singer-songwriter Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and his wife Tracey have gone their separate ways.

The husband and wife of 13 years – and parents of two young children – acknowledged in a statement Wednesday that they have been unofficially separated "for quite some time," the Associated Press reports.

"It is with deep regret that we announce our permanent separation. We remain best friends," said the couple, who have also produced movies and TV shows together, including Soul Food.

They also say that they "will continue to work together in our companies, and our various business ventures. ... More importantly, we are parents of two wonderful children, and will continue to provide a loving, caring and stable environment for them."

Besides his own hit songs – "Whip Appeal" and "Change the World" among them – Edmonds has also written for Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Bobby Brown and others.

Look at him. Look at how happy he is! I have to ask him to smile whenever we take pictures together. But put him next to a rock with a Pilipino related plaque and he's all smiles!

This was during one of the visits with the fam in Los Osos. Since we were only 15 minutes away from the big rock where the first Pilipinos supposedly landed in North America I figured I'd feed his indelible appetite for all things Pilipino.

I do love his smiley photos more than the ones where he smirks.


Daren & Marius were visiting that weekend. They were the real reasons why we trudged up to Los Osos. I just want to bite them! I'm feel an itch to visit them in Florida next year.

Ipod vs Digital Camera

My ipod has been dead for quite some time. Unfortunately, I never bothered to get the warranty after The Joe gave me the damn thing for my birthday. Is it really necessary for me to get an 80 gig? I don't even listen to everything, it's so large! I think I was more enthralled with the fact that I had the ability to carry around 10,000 songs! After a while, it became more of a storage device. I have about 28 gigs of music uploaded. Hmm...maybe I should get an external hard drive to store the tunes. So many choices!

Then there's a camera. I bought a janky digital camera years ago and has now become greatly outdated. I've done so many cool things with the homies in the past few years but have little to show for aside from the memories, and even that sometimes fails me. Should I, shouldn't I? Maybe I can talk The Joe into getting one so we can share. :-)

Surreal

Here's the view from my new office. It's still hard to believe. To those who know me best, it's always a BEAUTIFUL DAY, even when it's cloudy. :-) Unfortunately, I can't see the beach from where I am. However, I can see the "Think Blue" sign from Dodgers' Stadium as well as the Griffith Observatory if I really stretch my neck that far.

Perspective

I think that's one of the biggest life lessons I've learned thus far. You have to always put everything in perspective. Life may not always be as bad as it seems. We all go through our own dramas but for me, life is not so bad right now. I can definitely say I'm learning tons of stuff and continuing to refine my skills. I thank God that I am no longer in a position where I want to go postal on all my coworkers and that I can truly and honestly see the products and services that are offered at my new organization. How can you not sell the fact that your organization's sole existance rests on the fact that it wants to create positive opportunities and better the community of an entire county?

There are material things that I don't have in my life right now but at the same time, I have more than some people. I can't help but think about where homeless people go when they're pushed from sleeping on the streets. Where do they go once they've been pushed out of Downtown LA - another neighborhood, another city, another county, another state? How about we increase spending on the causes that fight homelessness?

I may not be able to travel as much as I'd like but the opportunity to travel is something that is more obtainable to me than some people. There are children who have never been outside of their own neighborhoods, much less Los Angeles County. As much as the neighborhoods in LA are diverse, it's not entirely like when you physically travel to anothe country to take in the sights, sounds, smells and touches. It's a completely surreal experience being in a locale that you've only seen in pictures and read about in various publications.

Perspective calms me down. Knowing that there is a greater being guiding me on my path keeps me sane. Having confidence that I can overcome challenges keeps me strong and optimistic. Realizing that my life is filled with great love makes me feel blessed.

Weekend of Firsts

Finally got to see Los Amigos Invisibles today! Yes, they are even better live. Every single album and performance I've heard from them has mesmerized me. I will forever thank my lovely Chris for randomly grabbing their cd from Amoeba's racks and turning me on to them. I think they're tied with The Brand New Heavies in my standards. Common was on the bill, as well but had to jet with The Joe to a Galaxy vs. Chivas soccer game.

I was warned that we would be sitting with the fan club for the Galaxy team but I was blown away with all the shouting, singing, chanting, costumes, flags, streamers and other paraphanelia James and his crew had to for the game. The whole experience exceeded all expectations. One of the great things that I stumbled upon as I wondered around the stadium to take a break from the riot was a mini version of Coffee Bean. I say "mini" because their selection was extremely limited - I'm talkin' no morrocan mint latte here! Ah well, everyone can't be perfect.

Gotta love Daily Om. For some reason, during the past few weeks, many things have been mentioned about my penchant for helping people and causes. Hope they're all true.

Unquestionable Capability
Capricorn Daily Horoscope
Your talents may serve you well today, aiding you as you strive to address your duties creatively and carefully. You will likely feel proficient and skillful while handling your outer world affairs and private matters. Success can inspire confidence within you and prompt you to challenge yourself to outperform your past feats. Others may see self-assurance in your achievements and present you with personal and professional proposals that are both demanding and splendidly gratifying. If you find yourself facing adversity, you will likely respond proactively and with great valor. To make the most of the positivity and optimism you feel today, consider applying for a more prestigious position at work or taking up a diversion you’ve shied away from in the past out of uncertainty.

The skill with which we handle our outer world affairs is a reflection of the confidence we feel within. When we believe in our ability to handle every challenge the universe chooses to put in our path, our courage carries us forward, even when we feel overwhelmed by the demands placed upon us. Self-assurance breeds proficiency by motivating us to continue to hone our talents and aptitudes through practice after we have already established ourselves. We approach life’s difficulties practically and with poise, ready to do all we can to restore the security that will mirror the lasting security we feel within. No setback or roadblock can cause us to question our abilities. The more confident you feel today, the more faith you will have in your capacity to overcome adversity.

California Community Foundation, Here I Come!

After months of pulling my hair out but trying to stay calm, I finally landed a job offer with the California Community Foundation last Friday! WOOHOO!!! I cannot describe the amount of excitement I have over this job. It's not just a job. It's a position with one of the oldest and active philanthropic foundations in Los Angeles County. The president is also one of the most dynamic and down to earth woman of color I've had the privelege to speak with. One of the great perks is a window office on the 34th floor of the Union Bank building in Downtown LA. I have a beautiful view of the Music Center, City Hall, Chinatown, Echo Park and the surrounding area. I really didn't expect that. I was going to settle for a nice new cube. My start date as the new Communications Associate is October 2nd. I'll post pictures as soon as I get settled and my office is nicely decorated. From the looks of my director's desk and a few comments I received on Friday as I was getting the grand tour, it doesn't sound like I'll be bored once I start.

Thank you to The Most High for all my many blessings, especially for all my loved ones whose support allowed me to be much stronger than I thought I was throughout this entire period. New challenges and adventures are on the horizon. For now, I'm going to do everything I won't be able to do once I start working full time again.

AW YEAH!

The First

For some reason, it's different going to a wedding of a high school friend that graduted with you. The reminiscing begins, particularly since we will arrive at our 10th year reunion next year.

This past weekend The Joe and I attended my friend, Ron's wedding. He and Amanda had the ceremony and reception at a Sacramento winery. As I had feared, there was no shade. Unfortunately, I left my parisol at home so there was no way out of it. I spent most of the ceremony shielding the sun with the pi-pi I recieved from a prior wedding. As the evening progressed, a breeze began to blow and brought some much needed relief to the occasion.

To my surprise, more people than I had expected have actually settled down since high school, well somewhat. The ever so intelligently funny, Dave Pace is now happily married to a fellow UCLA PhD Physics candidate, Ann. She strives to be a lifetime student as much as Joe. What Physics PhD holders do after academia is a bit beyond my reach but I'm sure they have their share of fun. Randy fascetiously stated how Dave and Ann's children will most likely be solving calculus problems when they're 5 years old. Ron obtained his MBA about two years ago, I believe. (That reminds me. I need to snag the GMAT review materials I sent him a while back.) Ron's wife, Amanda, holds a masters degree in Psychology, I think. Randy has a burgeoning career in sales but more importantly, comedy and now lives in Sacramento with his younger sister, niece and a female roommate. It sounds like he's getting his act in gear to be more active in the entertainment industry so can't wait to see him bust out. Ms. Amanda Secor is now also married and lives somewhere in the East Coast - Boston, I think. Her military husband is on duty in Japan. At least it's not the Middle East.

All of us mentioned that we didn't want to go anywhere near our reunion. I'd go based on the guests, venue, food/beverages and cost of the event. I'm not paying $75 for a rinky dink event. I need to be entertained the entire freakin' damn night.

That leads me to ask, is 10 years after high school really enough for us to "make something of ourselves?" Who do I know from high school with advanced degrees or are working on them? - Barnett, Ron, Debbie, Lea, Becca, Celina, Dave, Ceferina, Sara. I think that's about it, at least to my knowledge.

So what's the need to have "accomplished" something by the time of our high school reunion? Can't we simply state that I've finally reached the point in my life where I'm comfortable with myself whole-heartedly? I think that's a major accomplishment within itself. How many people can state that at our age? How many people have come to realize that without comparison to the lives of others? Is this lame to ask? But I truly feel that too much time is wasted on worrying whether you're better than someone else. Why be ashamed of your personal growth? I guess I would go to our high school reunion, only if the emphasis on accomplishment is not completely based on material possessions.

Dedication in Purposes

Gotta love DailyOm.com!

Capricorn Daily Horoscope
You may feel purposeful and reliable today as you address your personal and professional responsibilities. A strong sense of purpose can drive you to devote yourself more fully to those activities and obligations that are related to your short- and long-term goals. Your commitment to fulfilling your purpose can give you extra energy and enthusiasm that can be channeled into both work and play. You may project an aura of dedication that causes people in positions of authority to take notice of and put their faith in you. An opportunity to advance in your career, change jobs, study at a university or abroad, or take a relationship to the next level may present itself today. You’ll likely cope with these changes in your day-to-day life with poise and grace today.

Understanding your soul’s purpose can help you maintain a strong attitude of dedication that makes fulfilling your obligations a joyful experience. When we drift aimlessly through life, the responsibilities we assume can seem a burdensome and aimless expenditure of time. Knowledge of purpose gives activity meaning by enabling you to comprehend the broader repercussion of your choice to devote yourself to a single path. Your resolve is cemented by the connection you feel to your purpose and the pride you feel upon accomplishing tasks that relate directly to the fulfillment of that purpose. In commitment, you will find satisfaction unlike any you’ve experienced before. Because your purpose is clear today, you will have little trouble fulfilling the expectations you have set for yourself.

I made it to the second round for the Communications Associate position with the California Community Foundation. I need to complete a writing assignment by Monday morning and I need to make it immaculate. They're making me work for the position and I'm going to show them that I will be worth all the money and time!

a passion for creativity = an enthusiasm to create change = the power to fight for equality

After being on so many interviews and phone conversations about positions, I'm starting to warm up to the idea of not working in the Pilipino community anymore. More challenges = more growth. I'm keeping positive thoughts flowing. Need to be stringent on spending for now. Will remember that things will work out and that the Most High has great plans for me.