Lola's Birthday - Oct. 9, 2011

It is not everyday that everybody is home at the same time, but today was one of those days.  Today was a crazy family day, but mostly because today is my grandma's birthday.  It is also her last birthday here with us before she goes back home to the Philippines for retirement.  The day started out early at 6am when we all left the house to go to church at Mission San Juan Capistrano for their 7:30am mass.  Afterwards, we had breakfast at McDonald's and did some picture taking.  haha

Children's Party?

The Boys

The Gals

After breakfast, we took a stroll on Balboa Pier and enjoyed watching the surfers and the fishermen catch fish.  Oh! And we did more picture taking.  haha

Balboa Pier

The Boys

The Gals

Family :)

Lastly, we went to Puente Hills Mall to eat at Max's of Manila for lunch.  Just to throw it out there, this was the same place I saw Marié Digby perform together with the Digbyholics back in March.  I even got to see Marie's picture with the manager on their wall.  hehe.  Anyway, I couldn't stop thinking about them the whole time.  I miss them much?  :P

Anyway, after lunch we went back home, and had my grandma blow her candles and open presents.  Here's a video to watch to see how much fun we had.  Honestly, I almost cried watching all of this happen.  I'm going to miss moments like these with my grandparents when they go back home to the Philippines.  :)

Inspired

Today, I decided to go to the hospital and have a quick check-up because my cough hasn't gotten any better in over a month.

Anyway, the physician assistant who did my check-up randomly asked me about what school I went to and my major.  So I told her what school I am attending and that I am majoring in nursing.  Right away, she praised how great my school is and how amazing the nursing program is at my school.  It isn't the first time I've heard that, but hearing that from someone in the medical field made hearing it even sweeter, like I made the right choice of going to that school.  hehe.  Furthermore, she kept talking and saying that it's great I'm choosing to be a registered nurse.  And this is how she said it:

"I am proud of you that you are choosing to be a registered nurse because it's in high demand right now.  And it's great because you will always have a job, you get good salary, and most importantly, you're helping people.  Sure, it's a grueling process and a grueling job, but in the end, it's worth it because you're helping people."

When she said that, I thought to myself, "Yeah...that's what I want to do...help people."  :)

Nothing Lasts Forever?

"Acceptance is the first step to moving on." One of the things that bothered me for so long, especially this year, was the fact that I grew apart from my childhood best friend. It was evident that we were inseperable. We would do everything together. We would see each other whenever we can when there was no school, celebrate holidays together, laugh at the most silliest things together, have sleep overs, and etc...all the things best friends do. Then came middle school and high school when I started to feel our friendship slowly drifting away. We would never hear or see each other for long periods of time. Now, when we do see each other, it doesn't feel the same. Anyway, this past week, I have come to accept that our friendship isn't how it used to be. Over this past weekend, after her birthday, I realized that what happened to our friendship is bittersweet because I have new best friends whom I love dearly and cannot imagine my life without. :) All I can do now is to just be thankful I got to experience having a best friend/sister. Now, this doesn't mean that we cannot or will not be friends anymore. This just means that I will miss the times we spent together. And who knows? Maybe we will be good friends again later. But for now, all we have of our friendship are memories.

Love

The video says it all!!

March 4, 2011

:)

Nostalgic

I have been very nostalgic lately, and I thought that I should share this with you all because I feel like I am going crazy. lol. I guess I just miss her though. :)

This happened just a few months ago, and I don't know why I never blogged about it. Anyway, it was a spring night on March 4, 2011. I was with my friends at a show of our favorite singer-songwriter in Puente Hills, CA. As always, she gave a great show and then she does a meet and greet session afterwards. Let's skip all the details and get down to the scene that keeps playing over and over in my head lately.

We had the chance to hangout with her for a couple of hours, just relaxing and chatting in the tiny room where they held the meet and greet, and then it was that time of the night to say our goodbyes. So there I was, quietly standing next to her, minding my own business just watching the people around me, waiting for my turn to say goodbye and wish her a safe trip to the other side of the world where all my other friends are, when unexpectedly, she gently grabbed my arm, looked at me in the eyes with a gentle smile, and quietly said, "Don't you ever change. I love you just how you are," just before we said our goodbyes. Then she was off to conquer the world with her music. ;)

Me and Skirts/Dresses

I heard this at church today, "It's time for change. It's time to move forward." It definitely is time. :)

It has been so long since I have worn a skirt or a dress. lol. I have been boasting about this since this morning, but hey, I think I have every right to because this is kind of a big step for me. I am a shy girl and I am very self-conscious of how people look at me or think of me, especially as I grew up from 5th grade to middle school and high school. I was always teased behind my back. So it came to the point that the only way I felt "comfortable" around people was to hide under my clothes. For so long, I have been the kind of girl who is always wearing jeans and shirts, and too often nowadays, people think I am gay. lol! Well, I changed that today. :) I am just taking small steps in breaking that wall that I have been building for so long and stepping out of my comfort zone. :)

On top of that, I love watching fashion TV shows ("What Not to Wear" and "America's Next Top Model" particularly) and looking at fashion magazines and fashion photography. In fact, come to think of it, one of my all time favorite movies is "Devil Wears Prada." hehehe #jmiefacts. The funny thing is that I never dress up like I love fashion. lol. :]

The one thing I probably won't do is put on make-up, unless I really have to put it on for special occasions. haha! :P

Anyway, please excuse my pale legs (not that you can really see them here). lol. ktnxbai.

xo, J

P.S. I still love my jeans. :)

Awkward Moments and Dreams Do Come True

I took this CD to the cashier.  The cashier says, "Oh!  You got it!  One of my friends is a HUGE fan and she keeps asking me, 'Do you guys have it?!'"  I laugh as I look into my wallet digging out my money, and then I hesitate for a second wondering if I should tell her that I actually know the guy personally, that we went to the same high school, that we have a lot of the same friends, and that our families know each other.  In fact, I think the whole time, I had a stupid, mischievous smile on my face.  haha.  But...nope...instead, I just said that we went to the same church.  lol.  I was really hoping that something like that wouldn't happen.  haha.

Anyway, just last year, my friend and I went to his first show that he headlined at the Glass House in Pomona.  I remember my friend and I talking, and we both agreed that if he releases an album, we were going to support him all the way.  And here we are, one year later and he releases an album.  :)

I'm really proud of this guy.  I love his hard work and dedication to his career choice, and yet, at the same time he still finds time to thank his fans, serve and give back to the community, and still be there for his family and friends.  I don't know how he does all of that at once.  He must be superman or something.  lol.  

If that's not enough, he put this album together at a house without a record label.  That's amazing!!

Once again, another YouTube musician proving to the world that with hard work and dedication, dreams do come true.  :)