Quarter of a Century Highlights

I always get the birthday blues. Every year, days before the actual event, I always find myself a little bummed to say goodbye to another year of youthful days and move on to the next. This year wasn't that much different from the rest but with a little help from my friends, my bday week turned out to be a great memorable event.
On the morning of the 26th, I was going absolutely berserk from boredom. I've been staying at home for the past few days trying to job hunt but have been unsuccessful. I tried calling everyone I know but I guess since everyone is either at work or at school and no one was available. Finally, Rudy called me in the early evening to go buy a bbq. That's right,Rudolph offered to throw me a bbq/kegger at his place. And aside from being a little late on the evite (and I'm not sure if that is to blame or people are just super lazy that until the day of the actual event, half of the people in the list haven't responded yet) we were also last minute on the actual bbq preparations itself. Afterwards, he gave me and Gavin a ride to Silver City where we met up with Neal and Bern to watch X-3. It was the first day of the show and the place was soo packed that we couldn't even get seats together, Bern and Neal had to take the seats infront of us. The movie was actually pretty good but I think I still liked the first two better.

The next day, I woke up to flowers at the door. Kuya Ian sent me some which was really cool since I've never had flowers delivered to me before. Then, my mom and I went around to shop for food for the bbq. We got awesome sausages and shish-kabobs for really cheap. Woohoo! By 4:30, I called rudy and the crazy dude was still downtown playing poker. Aaarrgh!!! So last minute I ended up buying the propane tank and the rest of the food and he went to go get the drinks. By the time I picked up Gavin and got to Rudolph's house it was already past 7 and Lily, Richard and Neena were already there. Aaaaaaah...so embarassing. Despite the lack of "yes" on the evite, a lot of people actually showed up and it was so much fun! It felt a lot like a highschool/university reunion. John and Tamara came from Burlington, WenBey showed up all the way from Ottawa (and I didn't even know he was coming!!!), Diana M. rode her super bike Bellatrix bike and Nicole showed up as well! It was wicked because I haven't seen them in a while!It was also wicked hanging out with Will, Joey, Marija, Audrey and the girls as well. Overall, it was a total success! They loved the food and we got around $90 from the beer fund which helped Rudy a lot.

The next day, I had another bbq with the family. Gavin and Trish came over as well. It was funny coz I dragged Gavin to church then invited him to a bbq where he had to help cook the food. So bad. Lianne and family dropped off their new puppy Kiko for the night and he provided much entertainment for us. Super cute!!! It kept chewing on grass and twigs and licking tomatoes while ignoring the meat we were giving it. I think it might be a vegetarian like Lianne.

On Monday, Rudolph, Gavin and I met up again (yeah we have this new crew of slackers or people who don't work much) and decided to finish up the left over beer from saturday night. I got so drunk and even got sick once (I blame it on the chicken wings Rudy put on the grill). We played dominoes and kicked Gavin's ass for a bit until he retaliated. Roger also joined us a little bit when he got home from work. Then, around 4pm Rudy kicked us out coz he had to go to Dragon Boat practice and Gavin and I just chilled watching the Dave Chapelle show. Too hilarious! I was still a bit tipsy by the time I left for home. I promised myself after that day that I wouldn't drink anymore for the rest of the week or month. Unfortunately, that promise didn't even last a day since yesterday after having lunch with Dave on Bay St. downtown, Joy and I had a drink at Elephant n Castle. I also went to Lianne's jazz gig at Marlowes. Shaza, April and Daniel were there too so I got to hang out with them for a bit as well which was nice.

So it's been a wonderful several days indeed. Today I think I'm just goin to relax and maybe apply for some jobs. I guess it's about time I get a bit serious.....oh who am I kidding...PARTY ON!!!

It's good to be home!

So I've been home for almost a week now and I must say I've been having a lot of fun lately..thanks to the fact that I've actually been able to hang out with friends whom I totally missed while I was away.

Last Wednesday, I got to hang out with Gavin and he got me into a new anime series called Bleach which is pretty awesome. Another addicition maybe???? Then that same night, Joy and I had appetizers at Kelseys and caught up. Man I miss hanging out with her! Then on Thursday, Rudolph and I volunteer to help out his brother Roger to supervise some high school trip to the Science Center. It was pretty fun especially when Rudy and I decided to ditch the school to go drink some beer and eat chicken wings at the closest grocery store. Super hilarious! We were drinking beer out of soup cups and we got so full that I was so ready to throw up on the way back to the center. hhahahaha. Then on Friday, Joy, Ate, Juan and I went drinking at my Tito Roger's place then went out clubbing. We got so hammered that even though we ended up at a club called Krave and it was empty..we still had an awesome time. Then yesterday, Mel, Gavin, Joy and I went to the movies. We intended to watch the Da Vinci code but it was all sold out so ended up seeing Over the Hedge. It was actually pretty funny! That night I am ashamed to say that we got totally hammered again drinking at Joy's place with her brothers and friends and playing poker. Nicole and Mel came over too so it was more fun.



It's the Victoria Day long weekend so there are a lot of partying going on. My mom's starting to complain that we're out all the time and I'm trying to explain to her...mom...it's my BirthMonth...I HAVE to PARTY!!! hahahahah

A fun-filled weekend

By the way...We didn't end up going to Vegas due to some unfortunate cirmcumstances but it all worked out for the best. Instead, we went to the Ghetty Museum with Tita Flor, went out to Santa Monica and downtown LA with Tita Venus and cousins, went to Redondo Beach with Ate Aileen, kids and Kuya Ian and ate some yummy crabs and we also celebrated Kuya Omar's 26th Bday and got to meet more cousins that we haven't met before. I love how things always manage to work out for the best! Here are some pics from that time.

Y'all have a good time now!

So my sis and I arrived in Houston, Texas on Monday afternoon. My cousin Allan picked us up from the airport. Totally wacked how I have a cousin who not only speaks with the southern twang but also loves country music. So funny. And he likes Star Trek and has named his dog Geordie after one of the characters. Hahahah. He's pretty cool though coz he took us to his fav bars and we met some of his friends that night. I also met my other cousin Michelle who thinks Allan is uncool and she brought us to a karaoke bar where she works. Unfortunately for me, I was getting real sick and couldn't have as much fun as I wanted.

The next day, my sis and I took the greyhound to Garland, Texas with a short stop-over at Dallas. Man...people who take the bus in Texas are messed up. They all look weird and shady and could be characters in the Texas Chainswaw Massacre movie. My sis and I were pretty scared and uncomfortable at the stations. Some dude tried talkin to us in the bus but my sis just pretended to be sleeping..I was knocked out with Gravol. In Garland we visited my grandpa's sister, Lola Nens and one of my mom's cousins, Tita Lilibeth and her husband Tito Jun. I met my cousin Kevin for the first time. He's only 11 and has no cousins there so he was pretty happy to see us. My family took us out shopping and a short tour of Dallas where we saw where JFK got shot. We also went to the JFK memorial which is just a huge artsy box in the middle of the city. It was kinda plain and disappointing but cool nonetheless.

It was kinda sad saying goodbye to them but at least now we know where they live and can hopefully visit them again soon. I was supposed to hang out with my friend Nathan in Dallas too but we got too busy and I just didn't have time. Back in Houston, my aunt Helen (whom I also never met before) picked my sis and I up from the station and we had dinner with her. We also surpised my grandma's sister Lola Violet at her place. That night, I also met my other cousin Mark and his son Andrew and Allan's parents Tita Alice and Tito Dave with whom we stayed with for the night. The next day, we had lunch with Lola Violet at wicked barbecue place then we went for dessert at her house. She took us on a tour around her backyard and garden where she trains bonsai plants. It was really cool. Afterwards, Tita Alice and Tito Dave took us to NASA Space center. It was pretty fun...my sis and I took crazy pics as usual. Then we headed to Hermann's park where we saw a ballet "Giselle" in an outdoor stage setting. It was really cool. Too bad we didn't get to finish it coz we had to meet up with Allan. THat night Allan took us and his other friend Jacob to a houseparty. We didn't know anyone there but it's free booze so we just drank. Then we met up with Allan's other friends at a bar downtown. Overall it was a pretty fun day/night. Even though I didn't get a chance to go see a rodeo or ride a horse or go to a square dance, I still had a good time down in Texas and will definitely want to come back and hang out with family and friends again.


Now, vacation time is almost over. Kuya Ian picked up my sis and I from the airport and he took us to a mediterranean restaurant where i stuffed myself with chicken shawarma. Then when we got home, my Tita Flor took us out shopping and to make a long story short...she made all my shopping dreams come true!!!!! Afterwards, Precious, Kuya Ian, Ate and I went to an LA club called Vanguard where we met up with Ruby, Ian's bestfriend. THe music was pretty good and we had a great time. Ofcourse, laughs all around especially when char has had several alcoholic beverages. hahaha.

Today is Mother's Day and my last day here in Cali before I leave for home tomorrow. I'm spending it with family ofcourse and hopefully I'll get to see Clarissa sometime tonite as well. Man....I'm so going to miss everyone here again...and well, the pleasure of being on vacation of course. It's been a great and memorable trip and I can't wait to see all the pics!!!

Fun Times Ahead!

So ever since the wedding, I've been having a blast. On the 23rd, we had a get together at my cuzins place after I went to the restaurant with Clarissa's family. Yeah, I made all my relatives listen to Clarissa and Jordan sing coz they're so good. Then from Monday - Wednesday, my sis, mom and I hit up Vegas!!! It was soo much fun! We went crazy shopping, met up with Tito Dennis (my mom's previous co-worker) and he hooked us up with free pizza at SBarro. Then on Tuesday we visited my aunt Maureen and Tito Jun and she took us to Red Rock Canyon. It was spectacular. I jumped and ran from rock to rock with my barefeet! Then we ate buffet and played Bingo at Red Rock Casino. That night she took us to the old strip where we ran from one casino to another signing up for player's cards so we can get free stuff. It was so hilarious. At this point, I was getting real sad coz I haven't won anything and Ate and mom have. Then when we were in Flanigans, just when I had lost my last dollar I saw a gigantic dollar slot machine. I asked my mom for money just so I can try it once and lo and behold...I wond $50!!!! Yay! It was a super fun day. I am ever grateful to Clarissa and family for lending me her car and giving us a place to stay in Vegas.


But the fun didn't end there. On Thursday, my cuzin Joanna picked us up from my aunt's place to go to San Diego. Ultra fun weekend! I went to Hooters for the first time...ultra degrading moment when the waitresses had to stand on chairs and do a little dance. I met her "special friend" Leo and his buddy Kenneth there too and they were pretty cool. That night we went to a bar by the beaches and god tipsy and danced and laughed our heads off. The next day my uncle Miguel brought us to Tijuana, Mexico. Unfortunately, we didn't have much time and all we did was buy some cheap liquor at Duty Free and eat yummy seafood and lobsters at his fav restaurant. That night we went out clubbing with Joanna's friends again. The music was alright but there weren't much eye candy. Story of my clubbing life. Sunday was the best day coz we went to Sea World. It was hilarious how we all ended up wearing orange shirts (me, my mom, sis, Tito Miguel and Tita Thelma..another of my mom's cuzins). I had lots of fun at Sea World and wanted to take Shamu home with me. Too bad I don't have a gigantic saltwater pool. Dang! That night, the family went out for dinner then Kenneth, Leo, Joanna, Ate and I went out for drinks at a microbrewery and then hung out a Hookah place where another of Joanna's friends Vic, met up with us too. Her friends are pretty cool. San Diego has been a total blast. My cousins Joanna and Michelle (whom I unfortunately didn't get to hang out with much since she was working all the time) are fun and my aunts and uncles super nice.



Now, back in LA for a week to spend some more quality time with the family...and Clarissa and her family too! Yesterday my sis, mom and I walked to the mall..took forever and then we couldn't get ahold of my cuzin Omar to come get us so I had to walk back to the house. So freaking hot that day! Then I met up with Clarissa and family that night and we went out for dinner at a chinese restaurant where I saw Tiffany Amber-Theisen...oh those Save By the Bell days. Couldn't sleep at all that night coz I was super smart to drink capuccino after dinner. Duh? Tonite, Precious, Carlo, Kuya Ian, Ate and I went to a microbrewery where I got a taster...like 7 small glasses of different beers they had. It was cool and it got me a little tipsy. We also rented Hostel...not that scary but pretty gross. The best part of the night though was when I got to ride on kuya's Audi TT top down. It was cold that night but we just blasted the heater. Then, he let me drive it. Wooohooo!!!! I've never tried driving stick before and I kept stalling...but it was ultra fun anyway. I was scared I was gonna reck his car but it was alright.

This weekend, Joanna, Leo, my sis and I are planning to go to Vegas again but it might not work out which is alright since it's Omar's bday on saturday anyway and my mom's leaving on Sunday. Clarissa lent me her car again so I might go shoppin with Ate Aileen tomorrow. Next week my sis and I head out to Texas to meet more family we don't know...it's bound to be more good times.