alas, my office with a view may come to an end. we're hiring way more people than we thought we were going to and we're running out of places to put them. there's no definite time line at this point but i'm cherishing every moment - haven't quite stopped since the first day i got here. thanks for the blessings, even if it won't last for a super long time. :-)

my power adapter for my little powerbook almost burned noel's finger off tonight. so scary! thank goodness i live five minutes from an apple store. not so happy that i had to pay for the stupid adapter because the genius bar was closed by the time i got there and no one was available to determine whether the little accident is covered under my extended apple care warranty. hint to all, ALWAYS PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. there's a reason why apple stuff never goes on sale. you can usually get your items replaced w/o question with the warranty. i learend my lesson after the whole ipod situation. that's still not solved yet. booo.

A Myriad of Nuptials

We keep throwing around numbers as to how many weddings we really are attending this year and probably next year. Let this serve as something a bit more solid than the random countst that have been mentioned in the past couple of months.

2007
1. RV
2. PA
3. GE
4. Joe's cousin - somewhere in Orange County
5. JB ?
6. DJ
7. CC
8. DB ?
9. JJ - Maui, HAWAII!!!

OMG...kill me.

2008
1. K - Barcelona, SPAIN!!!
2. RR
3. PM - Milan, ITALY!!! -- please let this be next year!

No more people...puhleeeese! Wait until 2010. That should be plenty of time for The Joe's and my checkbooks to recover and it's the beginning of a new decade! Doesn't that sound like a wonderful year to get started on a new phase of your life? I implore you.

Annual Improvements

People tend to make their resolutions at the beginning of each year. Being the ingrained Catholic, I tend to do it closer to the Lenten Season. It's hard to break old habits as much as I'm not devout. I started this practice years ago instead of giving up something with the intention of taking it back on after the Lenten Season is over - like meat. I'm an omnivore for life so that's not an option.

There are tons of new challenges this year. One of them involves getting my mind back into the school mode. All of them involves writing down plans and following through. The more I verbalize them, the closer I'll be.

Positive thoughts all around.

Clear Days in LA

Here's the view from my office today. The rain and winds have definitely pushed out all the yucky smog. Too bad every day can't look like this.

MBA here I come!....deep breath

As much as I swore off business school and never to sit in a business course ever again, I have come to the conclusion that I will get more mileage from an MBA program than a specific MPA or MPP program. I want to stay in philanthropy and possibly the public and community service sector but bring way more to the table.

I have strengthened oodles of skills with my community involvement over the years. My level of care for the public sector has grown to levels I never knew it would. “Sink or swim” has been the main motto every time I get into something new. I do not foresee this changing anytime soon.

So here we go. We’re waiting for replies from various PhD programs for The Joe. If he decides not to go through with it, I’m applying. If he decides to go, then my timeline will be a little longer. For now, I’m going to take a few courses to strengthen the skills I figured (in college) I would pay someone else for when I got older. I have definitely seen the error of my ways. I gotta be competitive, right?

Bad group project flashbacks started to happen when I attended my first info session the other evening. I remembered buzzing noises happening every time the class and professor started droning on about bottom lines and profit margins that had no higher purpose. For this reason, I MUST have a community service/public administration/public policy slant to my program. The potential of going postal would be too high for me if I could not customize a program this way.

Moving forward – I breathe in courage, hope and the true spirit of humanity with the highest intentions of truly contributing to and supporting a better world.

Guilty Pleasure - Top Reality

Woohoo! Another season of the Top Chef is over. Although many of the challenges each chef is placed in doesn't always seem like reality, I still like watching the creative process. Ok...I guess I'm kind of hooked on the drama that ensues, as well. There's just something about watching other people fight! It puts me into that "I'm glad it's not me" mode.

In any case, the right, mature person won - someone who can really run a kitchen and have the respect of his colleagues. (Those who have not seen the show yet, do not read on if you don't want to know the name of the winner.) Stupid little Marcel needed to be kicked down a few pegs before he's really elevated to a level as respected as the executive chef of an establishment. I don't care where the hell the little prick is from. His head needed to be deflated so he can actually understand what it takes to be respected by colleagues in his field.

Bravo Ilan!

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.