carpel tunnel

I thought that maybe I had it because my right wrist was hurting really bad for two days. Then I thought that maybe it's a sign to not spend too much time on the internet. It's gone now, but I got the message. It's summer, and I don't want carpel tunnel, so I'm not going to spend that much time on the compy nerding out. It's your summer too, so take a break from my blog, oh diligent readers, and get out into the sunlight.

That being said...It's great to be home. The family is hilarious and in top form. Dad with his usual wit and one-liners ("dad-isms" Kuya calls them), Mom and her quirkiness, Kuya and his combination of wit and quirkiness. Nice.

Have done an enormous amount of unpacking and rearranging. I have too many things. Need to get rid of clothes that don't fit, cds I don't listen to, and things that I don't need. Out of all my possessions, I probably have the most books. I have hundreds maybe. Is that normal? For my age, I mean? What does that say about me? That I'm smart, or that I want to appear smart? Don't answer that question.

Caught my mother's cold. I didn't have a single cold for the whole spring semestre. Not one, and I live in a dorm with some 30 other girls who share the same bathroom with me. You would think I would catch something--thank God, I didn't. I kiss my Mom hello, and now my nose is gone. I've been using a handkerchief. White with green stitching. Cute. Hankies need to make a comeback.

I'm going to go now, I can feel the carpel coming back...

potential places where I might work:
-Borders
-Barnes and Noble
-at my mother's dentist

plan for this week:
-clean, arrange, get rid of stuff
-job-hunt
-visit dentist (wisdom teeth)

stuff you should read (when you're not reading my blog):
-A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
-The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
-high-school books that you didn't read because you opted for cliffs notes instead (you know who you are)
*also look in my profile under "favourite books"

last night

It's my last night here, and I'm totally alone. How fitting. L. is staying with her dad at the hotel. She's probably had enough of me.

Went to a Study Abroad meeting today. It was just me and this other girl there. The lady was really nice and informative, and it got me excited to study and live in Paris. She asked us what we were majoring in , where we wanted to go, and she gave us options and info. I told her I was double majoring in Cinema and French and that I wanted to study in France, especially in Paris. She said that the CSU Internation Program at the University in Paris would be the best thing for me because they offer cinema there. Awesome. The meeting got me really excited.

If I go, it'll be in my junior year. The whole program is a year long! So cool. My junior year in Paris. Amazing. But I have to have at least two years of French, so she said that I would have to take 102 this fall (which is what I was planning to do anyway) and then take two 200 level French classes in the spring. I hope I can do it.

L.'s dad came today and took us out to dinner. We went to a Italian-Brazilian restaurant in the Mission district (the Little Italy part). It's called Mango Rossa. It was very good. Had gnocchi, and it was quite interesting. There was a really cool gelato place around the corner, and I suggested gelato for dessert. Had the creme brulee gelato, and it was swell. I really like gelato! I wish there were more gelato places down in so cal. Yum. Gelato is the new ice cream. I like the consistency of it. It's in between ice cream and frozen yogurt. It's gelato.

It's weird to think I've only lived here (in this dorm) for nine months. I don't feel attached to this place or anything though. That never really happens to me. I must've been nomadic in one of my past lives. Always moving, never staying too long in one place.

The next time I write here, I'll be home.

now playing:
"pretend we're dead" by L7

too much stuff!

Had my last final today, and it was okay. I think I did alright. Wait, let me check...Cool! I got a B+. Swell.

Went out for lunch with the twins, El. and Em.. They're awesome people. Took us to this great chinese cafe on Noriega. They serve these meat dishes on top of spaghetti noodles or rice, whichever you want. Spaghetti noodles is a weird combination, but quite good. Ordered porkchops with sauteed onions and spaghetti. Yum. Couldn't even finish it! Took home the rest. Then we hung out at the mall in Westlake. L. and I have never been there. It's quite nice. Bought two skirts at Forever 21. They're really cute, and I like the print of the fabric. One reminds me of a cornfield, and the other reminds me of a Radiohead song for some reason ("paranoid android"). Don't ask.

Forever 21 is a cool store. I just like to go in there and see what's currently trendy and all that. I'm not into trendy stuff too much because I'd hate to think that what I'm wearing will no longer be cool in a month. I want to be cool all the time! That sentence was so uncool that I can probably never ever be cool again. It's okay I like being dorky. Anyway...sorry about that rant...My point is that my clothing style is, I guess, a little classic and a little unique. More on that some other time.

Skirts are awesome. I love skirts. I think I have too many as it is. But skirts and summer go extremely well together. Like porkchops and spaghetti. Haha. Clothing is just one of the best reasons for being a girl. There are so many clothing and accessory options.

Just started packing up today. Oh my gosh, I have so much stuff! It's unbelievable how much stuff I have. I also have a tv up here and a mini fridge. I feel bad for my dad who has to help me load all my things. I asked Kuya to come up and help, but he has a prior engagement. I'm going to try and not bring as much next year, even though I'll be living in an apartment.

Just finished watching the season finale of "Lost". Oh. My. Gosh. Amazing. If you're not watching this show, shame on you. It's the best thing since "The X-Files". Get "Lost" this summer. At least watch it for Sawyer. He's awesome. And sometimes...he's shirtless...hot. There'll probably be reruns this summer. Watch "Arrested Development" too. Another great show.

great reasons for being a girl:
1. proving yourself to the boys
2. clothing (skirts and dresses and shoes!)
3. we live longer
4. we get to be mothers (we have the potential for life in us...how awesome is that?)
5. click the comments link and add something!

exciting

By Saturday night, I'll be home. Isn't that cool?

I'm halfway done with my "Women in Film" paper. It's due this Thursday, so there really is no rush. I just like to be ahead of schedule is all. Did you know that the first film director was a woman? Her name is Alice Guy Blaché. The credit goes to a guy (Georges Méliès) only because of a small technicality. Alice made her film to sell a product, whereas Georges made his for entertainment purposes. Alice was the first, so she should get the credit! She gets the credit in my book. Anyway, that fact really empowers me. I thought I should share that with you.

I want to do something "San Francisco-ish" (by myself) before I leave, but I don't want to spend any money. Which is going to be difficult since I have to spend money if I want to get anywhere. Maybe I'll go down to Union Square or I'll hang out on Irving. I haven't decided yet. And I can't really do it until after Wednesday, which is my last final. I'll see...

in the ipod:
"golden brown" by the stranglers

sorry and a 5th grade mentality

Sorry for posting the second day straight, but I just don't feel like writing my 5 page paper on women in film. I've finished all my research and stuff, but I'm not in the writing an essay mood, you know?

Today was awesome because I got to eat breakfast at Squat and Gobble in West Portal. I had a crepe. It was very tasty. There needs to be more crepe places in southern California.

Okay, so in speech yesterday there really was no work to do since it was the last day of class, so we decided to play some games. The last games were heads up 7-up. I really don't feel like explaining how to play it, so if you don't know how, just google it or something.

We only had time for three games, but for two games I was picked. For the first time, it was this guy. I don't know his name, which is really bad of me because he sits two seats away from me. I guessed that the person who picked me was this girl, and when it wasn't he told me that he picked me. So that was pretty cool and flattering. The second time I was picked by another guy! L. had told me because she saw him pick me. I've written about him before. I thought he was cute and then I found out that he had a girlfriend (she was in our class too). They've broken up though.

So, after those grade-school games, I start getting this 5th grade mentality. Why did these guys pick me? I want to believe that it's because they have these super huge secret crushes on me, but I know that that's not the case (although I really want to believe that it is). On the other hand, they were probably being strategic in that I would probably not have guessed that it was them that picked me (because if you guess who picked you, you take their place). Anyway, it was cool to be picked. And by guys nonetheless. Both of these guys are really nice people and funny too.

plans for the summer:
-- get a job (boo)
-- organize iTunes library
-- make some films
-- try to lose more weight before my aunt visits and criticizes my body
-- hang out with brother/friends/others
-- celebrate my birthday

dvd I just bought: Snatch (The Special Edition)

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER

It's the last day of class, people! You know what that means: SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER! Woo-hoo!

Had my last French class today. We had an exam. I think I did well. I feel like all this French is pushing out all the Spanish I learned in high school though. Said goodbye to my friends, T. and D., too. It was bittersweet. I wished them a good summer and hoped to see them next semestre for second semestre French. I never talked about them much but T. is this 32 year old guy who works at the SF library. We would always laugh at the same stuff and make fun of this annoying girl that sits in front of us. D. is a freshman like me and is from Bakersfield. He's a Harry Potter/LOTR/Star Wars freak. He's not too crazy, but his passion for these subjects is just tremendous. They're awesome people, and I'm really glad to know them.

One thing saddens me though--I broke my fountain pen. The one I got in London. Not cool. It broke while I was taking the test. It still writes, but the cap is broken, so the ink is going to eventually dry up I think. I shouldn't get too attached to these things though. It's just that I have so many memories of England with that pen. And I have all this fountain pen ink! I'll ask my parents for a fountain pen for my birthday though. There's this really cool one that I found on the internet here: http://joon.com/display_collection.php?qcolorid=308&id=168&brandid=27 Neat huh?

currently listening to:
Keane's "Hope and Fears"

just ate: a fruit salad

my first film!

Okay, okay, okay...so it's not a film per se, but it's a start. I made a really cheesy slideshow set to music titled "hotties". For those of you who know me well, I've sent this little 30 second slideshow to you, hahaha. And I've received exciting responses. One friend said she couldn't stop laughing and that she showed it to her Mom, who loved it--which sort of makes me embarrassed because there's a pic in the slideshow of Mark Wahlberg in CK underwear. Another friend was embarassed when it came on and her Dad came over to see what she was watching. Haha. So, anyway, good feedback.

I used Windows Movie Maker, which Kuya put on my laptop a while ago. Unfortunately I don't have my own video camera, so I can't make my own movies just yet--not until I go home at least. My Dad has a video camera that I'm sure he's willing to let me borrow though. Can't wait! Watch out world!

Last week of classes! Woo-hoo! It's exciting that I'm already done with a year of college. A college year seems to go by faster than a high school year. I'm actually going to miss two classes--how weird is that? My first semestre French and biological anthropology classes. The professors are just really awesome. They love what they teach, and it shows, and it makes the class more interesting. Those kind of teachers are awesome.

how much I got for selling back a $20 textbook: $3 (what a gyp)
candy of the moment: Ritter Sport Dark chocolate
what I had for breakfast: Raisin Bran Crunch cereal and milk, banana
books Mom bought for me: "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" by Ann Brashares
my background desktop: a whole bunch of marshmallows (from homestar runner)

infinite interconnection

Hopefully this'll be the last time I write about this (there's a smaller variation of this rant in my "I Heart Huckabees" post). It's just that this belief I have rings true to everything in my life, and I want to share it with you (again). And since today is Pentecost Sunday, what better day to write about this.

First let me start off why Pentecost Sunday is a good day to share this with you. In the second reading at Mass today, a passage from 1 Corinthians is read: "As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ."

We are all connected because we have Christ within us, everyone. There's an infinite interconnection between all of us past, present, and future. Isn't that cool?

Amazingly, I was not first aware with this from "I Heart Huckabees" or even from reading Scriptures during Mass. I got it from a book, "Franny and Zooey" by J.D. Salinger, a book I read twice sometime during my junior and senior year of high school, and when I finished that book, I was enlightened. I was a changed person after realizing that I was part of everyone, and everyone was part of me because of Christ's presence in all things. I mean, the idea never really hit me until that book.

I don't want to tell you what exactly enlightened me about the revelation of Christ's presence in all things and how it was shown in the book--it would completely ruin the book for you, so you just have to read it for yourself, and I hope you become enlightened.

And on an endnote, oddly enough, this same book inspired David O. Russell, the writer and director of "I Heart Huckabees". Have a nice day and an amazing week.

currently reading:
"Early Bird: A Memoir of Premature Retirement" by Rodney Rothman (hilarious and poignant)

am I boring you?

Maybe it's me, but C. and I really have nothing to talk about. He came over last night, and we had dinner at the DC. I mean, there's more awkward silences than actual conversation it seems. And I kept thinking to myself, "God, am I boring? Am I boring him? Is this how it's going to be?" And this is just one guy! Is this how it's going to be for all the guys I'm going to meet? Maybe he's just boring. I don't know. He's sort of boring. But then again, I'm probably boring too. I feel like I don't have anything in common with him. Or that we don't have enough in common. Maybe I'm just doomed to be Prufrock forever.

L., our friend N. (from UCD), and I are going to see "Kicking and Screaming" tonight. I'm excited. I always get excited for Will Ferrell films now. He's so funny and entertaining. I totally need a laugh right now. And L. bought candy for me and herself at the Sweet Factory at the mall. So I'm going to go drown my sorrows with candy and Will Ferrell's banter. Why can't I meet a decent guy who shares my common interests? Why? Why? Is it because I'm listening to my ipod whenever I walk to and from class? Is is because I'm only in one club this year? Am I unapproachable? Do I scare people?

My wisdom tooth is coming in. I can feel it on my right side. It sort of hurts. I'll probably have them removed in June. Yikes! I'm scared, but sort of excited to be put to sleep. I wonder if I'll dream. Do anesthetized people dream?

in my candy bag:
1. peach penguins
2. gummy bears
3. chocolate covered pretzels

the birds!

I live on the second floor of our dorm building. The room overlooks the front of the building: the patio, the cafe, a grassy area, a fenced playground for a day care center, and the main path which is concrete.

Over the course of two or three weeks, these birds that have built their nests in the fence surrounding the playground have been attacking people. Mostly swooping down and sort of going for the hair and head region.

I have to admit, from my viewpoint, it's pretty hilarious. I feel so bad for laughing, but gosh, you just have to see this. I mean, I've been attacked once, and I still think it's hilarious.

I feel sorry though for L. because she's been attacked more than once. She's been attacked at least 5 times. I remember the first time she was attacked I told her that she shouldn't have teased this bird because now all the birds know who she is and that she teased one of their comrades. Long story short: L. and I were waiting for the bus in the back of our dorm building, and a small bird was near her shoe, and she kicked her foot nearby it to make it go away, and I told her to be nice. But she hates birds. Me, I'm sort of indifferent.

Anyway, so, I've witnessed a bunch of guys and girls getting "attacked" now. First, the birds swoop down and try to grab at their hair, and then these people scream a bit, and run away. Is it bad for me to laugh? And it's even more funny when someone is alone and getting attacked and they don't think that someone is watching, but someone is. And they don't scream, they just try to shew them away. Hahaha. I wish I could tape this stuff and show you guys, unfortunately, I don't have a camera. Me, a wannabe filmmaker, do not have a camera.

My theory is that these people who walk the concrete path nearby the fence are seen as a threat to these birds who live in the nests in the fence. Ever since the recent increase in attacks, I've seen these stupid guys teasing the birds. Now they're never going to stop. I don't mind. Non-stop laughter for me!...I'm so horrible...

In French class, we're watching this film, "L'Auberge Espagnole". It's was good! It's about this French student who goes to Barcelona for a year for the Erasmus program. He lives in an apartment with a Brit, a German, a Spaniard, a Belgian, and other people I can't remember. It makes me really excited for studying abroad. See it. I'll probably post it up in my recommendations next time. Although don't be fooled by the dvd cover that has Audrey Tatou on it--she's only in the film for like 15 to 20 minutes.

in the ipod (my "cinematic" playlist):
"no surprises" by radiohead
"tarnation" by max avery lichenstein
"amateur" by amiee mann

rain, rain, go away

It's raining here. I'm so sick of rain! I can't wait for nice, southern California weather.

Kuya called me from New York today and yesterday. I'm so jealous. He went to the Statue of Liberty, he ate at Serendipity last night, and he did other touristy things with his girlfriend. I can't wait to travel.

Tell me if you think I'm overreacting...Okay, so when my parents went to Thailand they bought a whole bunch of brand name clothes there because it's cheap (and fake...ssshh!). They gave me to give to L. a Burberry v-neck shirt. It's white and the v-part of the shirt is in the signature plaid. It's a really nice shirt.

Anyway, one time I saw her working out in it. Like excercising in it, and I thought that that was weird and sort of rude. I mean, it would have been better if she wasn't excercising in front of me while wearing the shirt and getting all sweaty in it. I mean, it would have been better if I had not known at all, you know? But she was all working out in front of me in it. It made me kind of angry and all because my parents gave her that shirt and it's a nice shirt, not the kind of shirt you work out in. Oh well. You know I won't say anything, but would you guys be bothered by this? (Chaunce, don't tell L., please!)

Anyway, I have to get back to this paper that's due on Tuesday. Check out my recommendations, I just updated it. Cheers! (Sorry, just felt like being British for a second.)

the last assignments and exams of the semestre (no final exams!) and other dates:
1. women's studies essay (10 May)
2. women's studies exam (19 May)
3. biological anthropology exam (25 May)
4. women's studies final project (26 May)
5. Mom and Dad come pick me up (27 May)
6. my birthday...woo-hoo! (23 June)

it's official

I'm officially a French-Cinema major. So, I'm double majoring--it's not like I'm studying French cinema (which I might do later..haha). I can't believe I'm going to do this! I'm really excited. I'm also going to be the treasurer for the French Club next year! Woo-hoo! I'll be learning how to handle a budget and all the monetary stuff that comes with that, and I think that'll come extremely handy for when I have to finance my first film. Wow. It's like my future is building itself right in front of me.

I feel as if things are falling into place. Like the stars and planets are aligning in a way that suits me, that makes things favorable for me. Like how I got to go to that premiere, how I had such a great time at home, how I'm doing so well in French. It's nice, but there comes these moments when I think, "When is everything going to go sour? Tomorrow? Next week, maybe?" But then again, I think the reason I feel that everything is falling into place is because I'm so over confident, so optimistic, that I see the good things about everything that happens and the bad things don't faize me, that the bad things are overshadowed by the good things. So by being optimistic, I'm letting things fall into place. And the position things are in will always look good to me. Maybe I should stop now, philosophy isn't my forte.

My most unlucky moments though occur in the department that deals with anything that has to do with the opposite sex. Like today for example. The CK model was walking toward me, and at that moment I dropped a quarter. It had to happen. Like the goof I am, I just had to drop a quarter right when he passes me by. God, I felt like such a huge dork. Who drops a quarter at a more inappropriate time? It could only happen to me. Right when I picked it up, and he had walked by, I thought, "Very funny, God. You just had to let that that happen. Hilarious." I don't blame God for letting that happen. Looking back on it, it was a pretty hilarious incident. And it all goes back to my theory that God does these funny things to me to see how I would react. You're hilarious, God.

in the ipod:
my new radiohead/portishead list I've made
M83

the second installment of my amazing weekend

Sunday. I woke up and watched "Meet the Fockers", which had some funny parts. The Focker parents were hilarious. Especially Dustin Hoffman.

Kuya and I left at around 6 to attend the film, "Slow Jam King". Mom, Dad, and Mom's friend were going to meet us there. The film was premiering in LA for the first time at the Visual Communication's 21st Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival at the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Blvd. I never thought I'd have the chance to go to the DGA at my age, I always thought that maybe I'd drive by it sometime, maybe get to go inside once I'm a steady filmmaker, but not now, not at 18. What a huge privilege.

We went inside to get my ticket at will call. The lobby is huge. Black and white pictures are framed on the walls. Right now, they've got pictures from musicals of directors collaborating with the actors. There was a picture from "The Wizard of Oz", "Moulin Rouge", "Chicago", and more. I'm guessing they change it up every so often. This season musicals, next season who knows?

We went to the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf across the street to get something to drink. Bunch of trendies hanging outside sipping their coffees. "These are where the deals go down," I said jokingly to my brother, and he laughed. We got our drinks, went back to the DGA, and sat oustide the theatre, Theatre 1, where the film would be showing.

Mom, Dad, and Mom's friend showed up around 15 minutes before the showing of the film. People working for the festival started handing out goody bags. Pretty cool. I left mine at home though because I didn't feel like bringing mine up here. Got a film program too.

They started to open up the theatre for the guests, so we went in. Oh. My. Gosh. That theatre is by far the most beautiful theatre (cinema-wise) that I have walked into. Second is the Arclight. The curtains, carpeting, and chairs were this deep red. The walls were white and lined with these columns that extended onto the ceiling with lighting behind these columns. I can't really explain it well, but it was beautiful. It made me realize, "This is what I'm going to do, it's all because of this, because I want people to see my vision on that screen." It further cemented my feet to the idea that I have to go through with this, I have to proceed with this future or else I really wouldn't be living, fulfilling a purpose that was (hopefully) meant for me.

We took up half of a row in the middle of the theatre. I sat in that soft red chair thinking, "Who else has sat here? Who in the DGA has sat here? Sofia Coppola maybe? Wes Anderson, I hope?" The director of the feature, Stephen Mallorca (Mom's friend's son), came up and did an intro for his film. Another guy came up and introed his short film that was going to show before the feature. Then they showed the films.

The short film was good and funny. It's about a caucasian comedian who starts dating a filipina and how the comedian reacts towards her family. The girl's brothers would come on their dates and so would her grandfather. Hilarious. She tells him not to use her family in his comedy routine. He does anyway, she finds out, and so forth and so on. Everything gets resolved, he doesn't use the whole comedy routine for his tv appearance, and they make up. It was pretty good for a student film.

The feature film was pretty good for a first time feature. It was all done digitally, and the director's band even did all the music. It was pretty good. Afterwards, the directors came up and did a Q&A, and then the actors came up and did a Q&A also. One of the actors was even sitting behind us! I didn't even realize. So that was cool.

After the Q&As, we went down to the stage to speak to Stephen. He recognized my Mom and Dad and brother. He was really nice, and Mom told him that I was majoring in cinema, and he said that his mom told him that too. He then had to go and do all this press stuff. He was sorry to say goodbye so early.

We left the theatre late. I can't even remember what time. What an awesome experience. I'll never forget that night. That night made me excited and scared for the future. My head was spinning, and I got sick when we arrived home. I got so sick, I threw up. That's how scared I am for this path I've chosen.

Anyway, what an awesome time despite the vomiting.

the first installment of the amazing weekend

Wondeful, wonderful weekend. Thank you, God.

Arrived late Friday night. What a welcoming sight to see a large familiartruck coming toward you with a small man wearing a baseball cap sitting behind the wheel. Dad could not stop talking about the Dodgers andChoy's grand slam (or was it a home run?). Felt like I had never left home. Right when we walked into the garage, Mom had opened the door for us, greeted me with a hello and a hug and told me that she had some food for me that she got from a restaurant. Mom and Dad dished out news and info for me as I ate the yummy salad she got me, and they ate turon (a filipino desert--sort of like an eggroll, but it has a banana inside and is drizzled with caramelized sugar) and drank coffee. Lovely.

Sorry if I made you hungry or at least craving for some sugar fix. Why don't you fix something for yourself right now?

Woke up and watched "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Kuya had it. We then went to go play some pool at the community center. Then, surprise, Mom wanted me to go with her and Dad to this wedding! I had no idea, so I had to create a decent outfit to wear, which was difficult since I only brought casual clothes with me.

It was a lovely wedding. Very nostalgic for Mom because it was the same church her and Dad were married in. Dad, pretty much being the typical male, didn't really show any emotion to being inside the Church he was married in twenty something years ago. For me it was nice, it made me realize how lucky I am that my parents got together (no them, no me ormy brother). I hope that I'm as happy as my parents are in the future because they're amazing together, perfectly made for each other.

The reception was nice too. Dad did something very, very hilarious. We got dessert, which was a surprise because everyone thought that the wedding cake would be dessert. Anyway, we got this ice cream thing that was really good. The DJ started playing music and asked all the couples who have been married for 25 years and over to come out onto the dance floor. Mom turns to Dad and says that they should dance. Dad looked at her and then turned to his ice cream. Hilariously executed. Mom hit him playfully on the shoulder and said, "You'd rather eat your ice cream than dance with me!!!" I could not stop laughing. The way he looked at the ice cream was exactly the same way Kip looks at the nachos when Napoleon asks him to come pick him up at school in "Napoleon Dynamite". They didn't dance, sadly. Dad's not the dancing type.

The evening was swell. I remember feeling a bit lonely when I realized that everyone at my table was gone, and I was sitting alone. But I brushed it away and kept watching all the happy guests dance. It made me so happy to see so many people happy.

So that was my Saturday. I'll have to tell you about Sunday and the film premiere on another post at a later time because I have a lot to do and so little time to do it. Take care!