Closing Time

Closing Time by Semisonic will always remind me of Murphy's on Stillwater's Strip. You know, it's the song the bar plays to signify it's time to start packing up and go home. For the ones who still ignore the hints to get out, the lights are turned off in the bar.

A college town bar is difficult to beat. I probably wouldn't even like bars if it wasn't for college. It's very unique to walk into a bar and be surrounded with people close in age as you and with similar backgrounds. The best part is bumping into friends, since it is a small town. My top three places to go are Stonewalls, Joe's, and Murphy's, each with it's own type of atmosphere and crowd. It's too bad it takes two days of quality hair washing to get the smoke smell out after a night at Stonewalls, though.

I am not a regular bar hopper. That's what made my experiences there so great. When I did go, it was with the right people and for the right occasions.

One Reason I Love the U.S.

Restaurants in the U.S. have huge food portions and asking for a take home box is acceptable. I love that. No one likes to leave a restaurant hungry. Refills are free too. It's a different story in Europe. There's a line on the drinking glass where the server will pour to, stop, and never come back, so you better ration your drink. We definately have it nice here.

California Adventures

I spoiled myself with an entire week in Southern California.

Day 1, Sunday:
My best friend (my Navy friend, like the military not the color) and her fiance picked me up from the airport. It was one of the most memorable arrivals. I was so happy to see her run down the escalator to give me a great, big hug. The rest of the day was spent hanging out and watching TV together, which is what we do best.

Day 2, Monday:
I met up with an old friend from TX, and we teamed up to discover San Diego. We went to the Old Town where we browsed around the little shops. The day got even better when we spent the evening watching the sunset at Coronado Beach.


Day 3, Tuesday:
My TX friend and I rocked the San Diego Zoo. I love koalas and pandas. I was lucky enough to see one of the koalas eating, since they usually sleep all day. That evening, I persisted to hassle my best friend's fiance (who grew up in Australia) to tell me personal stories about koalas. My Navy friend and I cooked dinner too (she made up the recipe), and it turned out great!


Day 4, Wednesday:
My Navy friend and I crossed the border to Tijuana, Mexico where we enjoyed 3 tacos for $1. I learned that a spritz of lemon on food does wonders to the flavors. I got to haggle for the first time too when I was buying my sis a shotglass. I got it for two bucks and a hug apparently. I probably had the most uncomfortable expression when I found out he wasn't kidding about the hug.

Day 5, Thursday:
My Navy friend's and her fiance's favorite radio station dj was going to be at Margarita Rocks, a dance club, that night. It was the first time I drank alcohol with my Navy friend. I have to admit, it was pretty cool to hang out with a bunch of sailors.

Day 6, Friday:
This was the special day I was reunited with Hot Dog on a Stick. Cheese on a stick is delicious. Enough said.

Day 7, Saturday:
Los Angeles!... and somehow I brought rain with me. This changed plans a bit, but I had a great time shopping at the Grove and eating at the Farmer's Market.

Day 8, Sunday:
This was a BIG day. I got to see the famous Hollywood sign high in the mountains. I was told that the sign had fresh paint as a gift for its centennial celebration. It was supposed to be brighter paint than before. It looked clear to me! I also walked along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I learned that there are several categories a person can earn a spot on this sidewalk, which explains why some people had more than one star. I also noticed the blank spots on the sidewalk for upcoming celebrities...hmm... maybe if this engineering thing doesn't work out. Disneyland and California Adventures Theme Parks were last on our agenda. I somehow managed to walk out with HUGE Mickey hands/gloves and ears and began to wonder if deep down I wanted to be Mickey. Why did I get all this stuff? It was just so cute!

Day 9, Monday:
My Navy friend and I celebrated New Year's Eve just like the old days. It was a little late, but it didn't matter to us. We got so wasted on Sparking Grape Juice her fiance had to drive us around. Then it was back to the airport for me.

I'll sure miss this... But I'll miss this so much more...

A Dark Night for the Faint Heart

Confrontation is always difficult, but I had to know. I prepared for the shattering news as is my nature to brace myself for the worst, yet hoped to be proved wrong. I finally asked My Dawson if he was still interested. His answer was an earth-shattering no.

I have a BIG headache, but it's getting better. Tonight is improving by seeking out distractions. I just need time. Although I thought it would be so perfect, it wouldn't have because he's not the one for me regardless of how much I want to believe otherwise.

There's no turning back time. What's the point anyway? I'm happy with who I am today and I wouldn't be like this if the past was to change.

A New Year

So it's a New Year. Not only going from '05 to '06, but the Vietnamese New Year is coming up on Jan 29 as well. I thought this is a perfect time to rename my blog. Besides, Wilbert didn't want to leave his host. Who would, really?

Preparing for the Move

My dad has played such a huge part in me getting my first real job. He drove me to my first interview with the company as I slept all the way there, since I was exhausted from schoolwork. Then, he just helped me find the apartment I'll be moving to in February. We searched for 2 and a half days looking at about 14 apartments. The winner is shown in the picture above. It's about 2-3 miles from any place I need to go, such as movie theaters, grocery stores, and of course, shopping. It's a one bedroom, one bath, but don't worry there's plenty of space for visitors... you know who you are.

When I drove by the apartment to choose the carport I wanted, I noticed that the carport next to mine had a license plate holder that said "alumni... oklahoma state university." I think this is going to work out...

My Bestfriends' Wedding

Two very good friends of mine got married to each other yesterday, and I was privileged enough to be a part of the bridal party. The ceremony and reception both went smoothly and both the bride and groom were calm all evening. They were ready to get married.

It amazes me how much time, effort, and money is put into weddings. Sometimes I think it's excessive, but after seeing all the planning be brought together last night it's worth it. I know I had fun, and I'm sure the bride and groom and their families did too. Marriage is a huge commitment and a big celebration fits the occasion very well.

...and no, I did NOT catch the bouquet. I strategically stood in the back corner.

Surprise Party

Two incredible, intelligent, fun, (and the list goes on and on) friends threw me a surprise graduation party tonight, and I was definately surprised. I saw friends from freshman year to friends that I made only these past few semesters. I am so so so so fortunate to have the friends that I do. I am a lucky gal. I appreciate Benheart's and trinity_garcia's careful planning, time, and effort in making tonight so memorable. You two are irreplaceable. I mean it so much, I'll say it again! You two are irreplaceable. I love you both!

The Celebration

A shot of Jager for Latino,
A shot of Jager for Yarlagadda,
A shot of Jager for Krasinski,
A shot of Kahlua for Allison...

So this is how EE graduates celebrate.

'Twas the night before graduation.

'Twas the night before graduation, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even Andy chasing his toy mouse;

The photos sat on the dresser with care,
In hopes that my college friends will always be there;

I think back to the times of freshman year,
The dorm life, the roomie, and with a bestfriend so near;
I experienced many things that were new,
The meteor showers, the sunrises, and Krispy Kremes too!

Sophomore year came and things began to change,
I learned about culture and what it means to me,
I understood things in myself and others that I did not before see,
How lucky am I to meet so many great friends at this time,
My memories from roadtrips are absolutely sublime;

Junior year snuck up and I turned 21,
I went to Joe's on Thursday nights,
And fell asleep in my 7:30 class without much of a fight,
Schoolwork got rough and I felt I wanted to quit,
With encouragement from others and my desire to succeed I had to commit;

Senior year came and I battled my design classes,
I had many days of ditching my contacts and wearing my glasses,
My last semester is over but will live on forever,
With days of Wicked, orange chicken, and bag lady jokes that were so clever;

This is only a miniscule glimpse of what it means to be at osu,
Cowboys forever and that will always be true.

Almost Done!

I'm studying for my last finals... ever.

What Would You Wear?

What would you wear if everyone at your school was blind? Would you still get dolled up every morning or would there be no point since no one would know the difference? I'll admit I'd let myself go a bit, especially on exam days or all nighter days. I don't think my jeans and tshirt daily attire would change much, though. I might be more daring and willing to mix and match. Overall, I think people dress up because they like how their clothing looks on them, not so much to try to impress others. This is probably more of a college mindset than in any other stage in life, such as high school or at the workplace.

Clothing reveals a lot about a person. Not all the time, but if you're observant enough you can gather where a stranger is going and their interests and personality by what they are wearing. For people you already know, you can probably guess their favorite color or what their mood is that day according to their clothing.

Dress is also an important aspect in differentiating cultures. Each culture has clothing that has a history to it or clothing that is only reserved for special occasions. Well, enough about clothes. All this talk makes me want to shop.

The Warehouse Wine Tasting

I experienced my first public wine tasting today. My sister and I drove down to OKC to Woodward's Wines UNcommon, where the wine tasting was held. I knew I stood among wine experts as I focused my best to characterize what I was tasting.

I had 14 out of the 20 wines on display, in addition to eating elk pizza for the first time (which tastes like sausage). I had to stop drinking when I had the Trentadue Chocolate Amore from Sonoma, CA, a red dessert wine made from Merlot grapes with chocolate added. It was delicious and drinking anything after that would just be a disappointment. It was like drinking chocolate liqueur candy. Another favorite of mine today was the Amorosa Sparkling White Wine from Lodi, CA. It tasted like a sparkling Gerwurstraminer crossed with a Riesling, in other words, sweet. It wasn't quite the Balatore, but I would certainly get it.

My Mini High School Reunion

Ten old friends met up at Brookside this Thanksgiving break. Some I haven’t seen in 2 years and others since the Union High School days (and that’s nearly five years ago). I sat down at the table and…

Friend 1: How are you?
Me: To sum up the past 4 to 5 years, good.
Friend 2: You’re not dead or pregnant…
Me: … so I’m good.

Everyone looked great and almost exactly how I remembered them, except one. I didn’t even recognize him for awhile, but the memories rushed back quickly enough. Everyone’s personalities and demeanors were the same to me too, perhaps slightly more refined and mature. As we all sat outside, we kept spotting Union grads that we haven't seen since high school too. It was a great idea to get together and to see everyone doing so well. It was a night of laughing at old memories, catching up on eachother’s lives, and strengthening lost friendships.

Eat it, CompUSA.

This was my life when I had a Compaq laptop about a year and a half ago...

In case you couldn't read it, here's the link to it: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2000/09/20

Baby It's Cold Outside

I mentioned to a friend after class how I wanted Christmas music today. It was as an afterthought really, but he insisted on helping me find this perfect Christmas cd. I wanted some classic Christmas songs sung by modern singing artists, just something upbeat with a new twist. We ended up looking at Hastings and WalMart and had no luck. So after exhausting our resources in Stillwater, I looked online and found the perfect cds! There's been 3 cds made. You can listen to the whole cd online!

http://www.maybethisxmas.com/home.html
http://maybethisxmas.com/vol2/home.html
(the link to the first cd isn't working)

There's Maybe This Christmas, Maybe This Christmas Too?, and Maybe This Christmas Tree.

So, mission accomplished. Enjoy!

Asian Cravings

I'm talking about food, by the way. I haven't eaten as much asian food since I lived at home, and it feels great! It all started with orange chicken. My good friend (which I still haven't thought of a clever blog nickname to call her yet) and I have eaten whatever we crave this semester, and it has been a wonderful time. We started going to the Golden Dragon Cafe, and this triggered the orange chicken kick and has spread to my rice and pho cravings like crazy. I think this is a good change for me. It's about time I balance my pizza and burgers eating habits with something more like home.

Party Like the Pandas

While I was catching up on some news on cnn.com, I stumbled across an article I had to read (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/11/09/panda.wedding.ap/index.html). With a title like "Two Pandas Tie the Knot," you would too. Yes, two pandas "got married." They did it with style too. Their wedding was complete with a Chinese tea ceremony and a huge cake. My parents would be proud of them.

Take a Moment

Everyone's busy, but with friends like mine I always get a chance to take a moment and enjoy the simple things. The best things are simple. Eating with someone on the whim and enjoying good conversation or sitting in the grass watching the colorful, fall trees rustle in the Oklahoma wind. These are the types of moments that I'll remember from Stillwater. Well, that and how much I don't like programming.

Senioritis

I've caught it today. I might have caught it yesterday, but I can really feel it today. I have senioritis!!! And it's about time! Ohh... I know why I caught it. I finally got and sent out my graduation announcements, and the graduation fair is coming up. It finally hit me that I'll be leaving Stillwater and will no longer be a student here. I've been trying to hang out with all my buddies that I've been putting off due to school. I just have to make time to have fun. That won't be too difficult. December 17, 2005 and I'm outta here!