something to think about

ok so i'm a sucker for those quote of the day items in my gmail account. this is one that i saw today and found very interesting:

Quote of the Day - Shakti Gawain - "You create your opportunities by asking for them."

if that's true, then hopefully the situation i'm in will work itself out.

on a better note, my friend jenn got married this weekend and i just wanted to say:

Congratulations and Best Wishes, Mr. & Mrs. Alonzo!!! I was very honored to stand up for you.

have you ever made a decision you regret?

i made one recently and still reeling from the after effects...

love to hear what you've gone through. i know not too many people read this, so feel free to comment as much as you like...maybe then i'll share my experience with you.

love is...part 2...

i do have people that care about me. i'm going through a really rough personal time and trying to stay strong, but when someone asks me if i'm ok, i am literally on the brink of tears.

i'm starting to wonder if i made a mistake...i keep trying to tell myself that i didn't - that this was for the best, but a friend pointed out to me that love is not a feeling, it's a choice.

so what was my choice?

to stay and see if things would change? how long do you wait? how long do you tell yourself hey i'll stay around and see if things will get better? maybe i just lost my temper and made a horrible decision. or i made the right decision just saw it out in the wrong way.

let's just leave it at he is a great man....

love is...

...not exactly perfect. and when it seems that way, i've learned, something is missing.

i'm not perfect, and i know in my head i can't expect anyone to be perfect.

but you know what i do want? i want passion and romance. it will fade, as a wise person pointed out to me, but not to have that at all - then what? you miss out on the butterflies? you miss out on the smiles that come across your face when you get a sweet email, text, or call?

i know we're not all alike. humans are just meant to be different - otherwise we'd all be boring. but as another relationship has ended, i've learned i need that passion, the fight, that drive - to feel that someone loves me for me. i keep changing for people, when all i need to do is stay and be myself.

on a serious note...

so what do you do when two of your closest friends stop talking to you?

for me, it's been a mourning of sorts. i know what happened and in all honesty, i feel extremely betrayed and hurt. the sad thing is i haven't talked to either one of these people for over a year now. the only communication we have is via email or text, and that is if i make the first move.

i just don't understand where they are coming from, and it's not like either one of them is bold enough to talk to me about it.

and, just like that, 2 people that i used to talk to on a consistent basis - one almost every day, vanished. how do you react? do i summon up the courage to talk to these people? or do i just let it be?

and what i don't understand is that i was a good friend to both of them. always there when they needed me - driving out to seem them if they asked - yet receiving none of that in return. and when they are called out on that, amongst other events, hearing nothing? dropping me as if we didn't share all those intimate details of our lives?

i just don't understand people.

tristan!!!

well, like i said earlier, this year has been pretty low key. i don't have much time to write in my blog, unlike my BFF's hubby Andrew, who is so great about writing in his blog daily.

there are a few things that i would like to get done before i travel to milwaukee for work.
1. go see isabella
2. study for my office test to test out of a class
3. clean my room (no jokes, z)

that's about it. pretty simple, huh? and just enjoy the rest of the summer.

well, san diego went quickly but was fun. and i love my newest little cousin, tristan! he's so adorable!!!

low key summer

gone are the days of having 3 months off to do nothing. i have to say, this summer has been pretty low key for me, outside of going to arizona for an extended weekend and my trip to san diego this weekend.

work and school full time will do that to you. but i'm lucky, i have peter to keep me "sane."

hope everyone else is enjoying their summer. i'll fill you in on the weekend trip to san diego, z, since you and my sis will be the only ones reading this! =)

...and here she is...

isabella, you are so gorgeous and i can't wait to meet you!

welcome to the world!

CONGRATULATIONS!

i just wanted to welcome isabella to the world!

my friends colleen and zoran just became parents! i'm so excited for the both of them! congratulations to both of you! you both are going to be wonderful parents. let me know if you need a babysitter. school is crazy, but at least i'll be able to study!

i don't have a picture yet but once i do, i will post it.

happy birthday ann!

feliz cinco de mayo! i know it's a day late but i was unfortunately studying for finals all day yesterday.

i just wanted to write a quick post to my friend ann. i had a great time at uncle julio's celebrating her birthday yesterday!

happy birthday, my mexican sister!

happy birthday zoran

hey everyone - it's been a while since i've posted. i've been really busy with school + work.

anyway, just wanted to write a quick post to celebrate my friend zoran's birthday. he turns the big 3-0 today!!!

happy birthday z!!! i can't wait to karaoke!!

interesting quote...

hmm...this was in my interesting web clips on my gmail account....

Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!

Eleanor Roosevelt

i love it. and i think it applies to me...

justin timberlake...part 2

let me just begin by saying that justin timberlake puts on a GREAT live show.

here's how monday night went:

traffic, of course, because everyone in the area of chicago (i wouldn't be surprised if people came in from wisconsin, michigan and indiana) was heading west on 90/94 - traffic was a nightmare. we made it in time to miss 1 or 2 pink songs. she was awesome. her backup singers/dancers were so full of energy. pink is pretty cut and at the end when she sang "let's get this party started" remixed with annie lenox's "sweet dreams are made of these", she got on this ribbon contraption and performed all this crazy acrobatics. i LOVED it. of course, now it's in my head as one of the things i want to learn.




after a short break, justin came on. while i don't remember exactly his set order, it was just amazing how it was laid out. we had seats on the 2nd balcony but i think it was a better view than those people standing in the pit area. you could see everything on the stage. there was so much going on, at times, it seemed overwhelming. the show was fabulous. the dancers were a bit disappointing, but then again, justin can't hire dancers that are better than him! his dancing skills were terrific. all in all, that boy has talent!

i definitely disagree with this chicago sun-times article. of course being at a bigger venue is not going to compare to a smaller, intimate venue. and you don't go to a bigger venue to obtain that intimate setting. yeah, it was annoying that the infatuated girls would not shut up during his slower songs, but that's what happens when you go to a big show. it sucks but that's the reality of the situation. but, i think justing did a great job of performing and entertaining the crowd. and that, my friends, is the point of a concert at that scale.

getting out of the allstate arena was a nightmare. wow. but we made it back. needless to say, i could not get out of bed on tuesday morning. but it was well worth being late to work!

justin timberlake

yes! justin timberlake tonight. i'm so excited. i'll let you all know how the concert was.

other than that, i haven't been up to much. school, work, the usual.

the weekend was great. friday - stella's party - CONGRATS Dr. Shon! saturday - kyla's fundraiser at wrightwood tap for her breast cancer walk.

oh, and happy birthday to the march babies in my family so far: auntie nene and uncle roan!

and as an added bonus, since it's already floating out on the internet, here's a video of me hula dancing.

have a great monday!

breast cancer walk

hi everyone!

my friend kyla will be participating in the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on August 10 through 12. as this is an issue that is near and dear to my heart, i urge everyone to support her in her efforts to raise money.

please follow this link to donate to kyla. thank you!

valentine's day

so today is valentine's day and i love this holiday. there's something about love that makes people, especially women, swoon. i know i sound like an old lady but frankly, i really don't care.

what makes it most special to me is my grandmother, who turned 93 today. wow. her actual birthday is valentine's day, 1914. she is the sweetest person i know. i'll call in to check on her on a cold day and in turn she'll ask me how i'm doing, how work is or if i'm getting over the cold we talked about last time. happy birthday, mama.



other than that, this truly is the first year in a while (and maybe in my life) that i have someone that is a special valentine to me. even though he's enjoying a much needed vacation in europe, peter sent me roses and chocolate. it made me feel terrific to know that while he may not necessarily celebrate a so-called hallmark holiday, he knew how important the day was to me. (for those of you, most likely my sister, who want more info on the "history" of valentine's day, read here.)



anyway, happy valentine's day everyone. i hope the love that you feel today you feel all year round. andrew, be good to jessie, or i'll have to beat you up. manay, you are the best sister i could have and you will find the love you truly deserve. peter, thank you for making me feel like a princess today. i love you. hurry home. everyone else, there's too many of you, but i hope you know that i love you all.

ok, enough sap. for my single people out there, don't worry, single awareness day (S.A.D.) is almost over.

there is nothing worse than...

being sick right now. i've been sick for the past 3 weeks (almost) and this sucks. and i went to the dr. today - very nice guy, don't get me wrong - but i have a viral infection and there is nothing i can do about it except take tylenol sinus, drink soup and juice, and rest.

come on, for those of you who work and go to school full time, there is nothing like your body telling you to slow down. i wanted some sort of medical relief - maybe in the form of a prescription drug or something, but now i am subjected to suffer.

sorry, i'm totally venting to everyone reading this, but this sucks. i hate being sick.

DA Bears!!!!!!!!

okay, this was the video i wanted to post yesterday....



and i have to give my fav bears player of all time a shout....
walter payton...may you rest in peace...

superbowl XLI

okay, so most of you probably don't know this about me...but i love the Chicago Bears...

it's been 21 years since they've gone to the superbowl....so i'm EXCITED. while i was not able to watch the fantastic fourth quarter against the saints yesterday, as peter and i were driving back from detroit, my terrific friend jen text me updates. and we kicked some saint @$$.

so now i have to wait 2 weeks for the big day. i know my boys won't disappoint.

go BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lynn's fives

okay, so andrew technically didn't tag me, but oh well. and unlike andrew, all of my answers are truthful. enjoy!!!


Five Things You Don't Know About Me:
1. i love to sit around and not do anything (ask my brother), despite my crazy work/school schedule
2. i named my adorable cat after my grandmother who passed away
3. when i'm focused on a project, i get really quiet. yes, i know, doesn't sound like me but it's true.
4. i was a math tutor in high school
5. i did not start drinking until i was 21.

FIVE JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE:
1. Sales Associate
2. Paralegal
3. Sales Administrator
4. Beauty Lead (Victoria's Secret)
5. Professional Hula Dancer

FIVE MOVIES I HAVE WATCHED OVER AND OVER:
1. Napoleon Dynamite
2. Saved!
3. Dodgeball
4. Beauty & The Beast
5. Anastasia

FIVE PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. Orland Park, IL
2. Chicago, IL
3. Osaka, Japan
4. Chicago, IL
5. Chicago, IL

FIVE TV SHOWS I LIKE TO WATCH (that are currently on TV):
1. Desperate Housewives
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Ugly Betty
4. The Office
5. Gilmore Girls

FIVE PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION:
1. China
2. Japan (but that was school and not really a vacation)
3. Philippines
4. New Mexico
5. California

FIVE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1. Pancit Bihon
2. Crispy Chicken
3. Anything my auntie nene makes
4. Cucumber Salad
5. Sushi

FIVE PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. In the Philippines on a beach
2. Reading a book (that was not assigned in class or used for research)
3. Sleeping
4. Shopping in Japan
5. Anywhere but here in the office sounds pretty good to me!


FIVE SONGS I LISTENED TO TODAY THAT I DON’T THINK ANYONE ELSE LISTENED TO:
1. Bebot - Black Eyed Peas
2. Luv U Better - LL Cool J
3. My Boo - Ghost Town DJ's
4. Orama - Tahitian Drumbeats
5. Don't Call Me Baby - Madison Avenue

ONE BEST PICTURE FROM NEW YEARS EVE THAT I AM IN:

i'm tagging my sister jamie because i'm sure she's the only person reading this right now.

Vote for Meg Allison!

if you're reading this, you know my fav reality show is dancing with the stars. however, i support people who go for their dream, especially if they are from chicago.

my friend ari knows meg allison, who is one of the finalists on nashville star!

Watch and Vote for Meg Allison!

"Nashville Star" Finalist
USA Network 10/9 C

January 11, 2007

You can vote 10 times for each
Phone line AND email address

Check Meg out on her myspace page.

2007 already?

wow, i can't believe it's already 2007! that's crazy!

well, i have a few resolutions, so let's see how they will pan out this year:

1. learn how to play the guitar (i've been wanting to do this for a while)
2. brush up on my spanish and japanese; learn italian and french
3. get organized and try not to be as messy!

that's pretty much it.

New Year's was fun, except for the getting sick part. Have a great 2007 everyone and enjoy the pictures!