Hi From the Sea...

Ok, so it costs a bundle to be using the internet but I figured I would say hii to all. Lets just say 2 hours costs me the same as one month in my apartment. Cruise is awesome so far- easy check in- and no traffic on the 405(miracle- i've never seen it soo clear)- just been relaxing on the boat- it was a little chilly on the deck- but with my kindle in hand, i'm a happy camper. It's nice spending time with the family. Tonight, was formal night so guys were in tuxes/suits and girls had their prom dresses on. One couple even had a top hat and a renassaince dress on which was awesome. People are really nice and just ready to have a good time. We have one more day on the boat and then off to Puerta Vallarta. My siblings/I will be doing a snorkeling/hiking adventure, so that's always a A+ in my book. 

Ok, can't spend too much time on this site. Gotta watch the minutes. SUCKS. Hope everyone is recovering from Christmas and is making plans for the New Year! 

Cruising to Mexico!

La familia de Sidhu van a Mexico para un cruise manana!! Estamos alli por una semana. En este semana, es el dia de neuvo ano, y vamos a celebrar este fiesta en el barco. En el pasado, mi familia celebro el neuvo ano en mi casa, pero este ano, nosotros estamos en Mexico. Yo estoy muy alegre que todo mi familia puede estar en este vacacion y podemos celebrar juntos.  

Ok, for those that can't read/understand Spanish- I'm off to Mexico for a good week-long cruise to Mexico. The Sidhu Clan is excited to go as a whole family(no one is left behind) to enjoy the sun and just relax on the boat. We went on a cruise to Mexico ten years ago, but we (1) weren't of age, (2) it was a 10 day cruise instead of 7 days, (3) we were with another family, (4) we weren't professionals/didn't know how to relax in the sun. So I'm excited to do some snorkeling/ATVing/ get in the sun and get a tan. There will be wi-fi supposedly but I plan on not being online much other to a) maybe read email, b) maybe blog. I'll probably gain 10 pounds on the boat since there is soo much food and I'll be doing nothing- but hopefully, the hiking/outdoor stuff will burn some calories. 

As for other news--> I booked some important trips for the future. Spring break= visiting the brother in St. Maartin and then I am on my way to learning how to snowboard. I'm going to go to Tahoe on the long weekend in January(taking lessons/gammit). Also, debating a Portland/New York(looked at flights and its doable) for Valentines Day. Last year, me/girlfriend went to Austin for Valentines and it was the best decision for both of us. This year, she's not available, but I'm always up for getting out of town on that day and forgetting that I'm not attached. We'll see- I might just do another snowboarding trip if I start loving it. 

Ok, I'm out. Gotta pack and get ready... I'll try to blog on the boat- but no guarantees! Happy New Years if I don't and I'll be back on the 3rd(which happens to be my 31st bday!)...

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope everyone had an exciting Christmas day and just got whatever they wanted. The Sidhu household was a little different this year since we're not doing New Years this year(a 8 year record)-- the house isn't decked out as much as it has in years past, but our front yard looks damn good with all the Christmas lights. 

Every year, we agree not to get Christmas gifts for one another but my mom gets too much in the spirit and then she buys gifts for everyone. Then we all buy gifts for one another and so on. My dad's bday happens to be on Christmas so we celebrate that more than Christmas so that has always been our excuse to celebrate. No, we're not Christian, and in the past, we've somewhat gotten a lot of negative vibes from other Indian families that don't celebrate and the fact that we do- makes them angry. We're kinda over that as of yet and we see it more of a)my dad's bday, b) everyone is celebrating, why don't we celebrate? no harm, no foul. 

I got some cool gifts. A sweater, a coverup for swimming(since we're going on a cruise), socks(my mom said my socks were gross) and then the best gift ever, a Camel-back backpack for hiking complete with a water hose. Basically, its a backpack from REI that has a water system in it. Awesome gift for the outdoor girl in me. Good for my hiking trips that I have next month...also, for Manchu Picchu. 

We capped off the night with poorji(eggs/onions) and prontas...good stuff...all in all, a great Christmas of doing nothing all day and just hanging out with the fam. Hope everyone had a good Christmas!! :) 

Shopping on Christmas Eve...

Yes, I survived Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. I had to go get my computer revived(thank God it was just a battery issue- $130 dollars later- laptop is a happy camper)... and get some stuff for the family. My brother and I braved going to Fashion Fair mall and just was smart about it. Don't go down the main drag(Shaw) and go down Fresno Ave- go to the back of the mall where there is plenty of parking- not the front. Walked into Macys Men and bam- right into the Apple Store. Get in, get out. 

Then, we had to go to River Park shopping center. Another cluster parking nightmare. Park in random lot, walk in- no problem- it wasn't that bad. Even got to go to two parts- two different parking spots. Borders somewhat had a long line to check out but within 5 minutes we were out the door. Lines that go fast, you don't even notice how long you're in there. Plus, most stores now have those "impulsive buys" that you can look at and want because its like, hey, why not? My brother got suckered into Ghirradeli Peppermint Chocolate... not that bad on the choices of impulsive shopping. 

Honestly, I'm just glad that I didn't have to go through more of a crunch. My laptop is aok which is one of the best gifts that I could have gotten. Basically, the battery was running at like 20% of what it was supposed to so yea, it was pretty much dead. The "apple genius" says that I have maybe a good 1-2 years left on this one if that, so I'll take that and run. No new laptop in the near future. Maybe in the summer or next year for xmas/bday. 

Ok, hope everyone has a great Christmas Eve...

Sick Laptop...

So, today, my laptop is sick. I have an Apple G4 that my sister gave me 4 years ago as my 2nd computer. My 1st one, I bought on Ebay(yes, used and for only 600 bucks) and it lasted me a good 5 years. When I took that laptop in after the screen was flickering, the Apple Genius bar guys were all surprised at how ancient my laptop was and were surprised that it still ran. That laptop had been all over the world and had survived a lot of ongoing things. 

This laptop, I'll be sad if this one dies on me too. I trust Apple a lot and know that the sell awesome products. It took me a while for me to switch over but now I'm a big proponent on it. My laptop that is sick now is not powering up. At first, it would randomly dim the screen but once the power was really plugged in properly, it would be aok. Now, its officially 'died'. I can't turn on the power even though minutes before it claimed the battery was 100%. 

Now, I don't mind getting a new laptop. It'll be exciting for the most part and since my birthday happens to be next week, it'll be a perfect bday gift. BUTT, the ONLY thing, like anybody that has had a sick laptop/computer, is the data. Even though I transfered most of it this summer after Spain, all the stuff that I've done since August- not there. Being a teacher, this is somewhat a nightmare, but at least I have the old stuff and hard copies of the new stuff. 

Let's all pray to the Apple gods that my laptop is fixed tomorrow and it's just a battery situation. Yes, I have to brave Fashion Fair Mall on Christmas Eve to go to the Apple Store- wtf- yes, I'm crazy, but this is an emergency. Omm....Ommm... let my laptop be aok(chanting is good...). 

Ok, hope everyone is surviving the Christmas season...only 1 more shopping day left! :) 

Spas...

In the past, I always thought that girls that go to spas were overly girly, self-indulgent, and just not a thing I would do. I thought it was too expensive to treat yourself with a massage or with facials where the money can go somewhere else. I still think this way to a point- but last year, around this time, my definition of what a spa day changed. 

On my 30th birthday, I had my first spa day. I got my 1st massage ever, a facial, and a manicure. Yes, I had gotten a manicure and a facial before(on the insistence of others) but not all at once. Let me tell you- my spa day somewhat changed my life in a good way. First, you change into those fluffy robes and slippers and then go into the sauna to just sit there and do nothing. That just puts you in the mood of relaxation and I hadn't done anything yet. Then, I was whisked away to my 1st massage. I was somewhat nervous about the whole naked thing- but I got over that fast. The massage therapist was awesome and we just chatted the entire time and it made me forget about school, my worries, or anything in general. 

Then, I waited for like 5 minutes and I was whisked away to my facial. My body was already relaxed and my face got a scrubbing like it never had before. It was like, my skin cells were saying- thank you for doing this. Then, not knowing what time it was, it was off to my manicure. My mom showed up and let me know that I was in the spa for a good 3 hours! Wha?? When you're in the spa- you don't even notice time. 

Ever since that day, I've been a big believer in spas. It was the best birthday present I got/gave myself and now, thinking about making it a year tradition. Yes, I know- I'm not a mom- nor don't really have the stress of someone that is an executive or something- but it's nice to be pampered once in awhile. Remind yourself that you're worth it. I used to be like, wtf- those girls that go to spas are ridiculous. Now, I'm one of those girls...oh well, I embrace it! :) 

Maybe I'll get one in the next week and relive my experience. If you haven't done it- I recommend it. OK- spa girl signing off...

Needs versus Wants...

In the hustle/bustle of the holiday season, it's very easy to go out and buy everything that I want. I've been really stingy this month because I've been trying to save up for trips in the future(St. Maartin(spring break), Peru(summer), maybe Portland(valentines/presidents day break)) and just trying to save a little for future purchases. It's hard not to think about things that I want versus need. Do I need a new pair of jeans, shoes, etc? Or do I want them? Do I need a new laptop when this laptop does its job aok even though it's having little issues? 

I'm sure I'm not the only one that struggles with these decisions everyday. In my junior year of college, I was a shopoholic to some point. I went out almost every weekend and shopped just to make myself feel better/have something to do. Now, I almost don't like shopping. I don't get that kick of adrenaline I used to. Some people don't know how to kick it out of their system. Thank God I never got into credit card debt because of it and knew how to spend within my limits. Maybe it's because I make my own money now that I'm stingy. Maybe it's also because I'm a travel junky and want to take extravagant trips all the time. Who knows? 

I think I always get to thinking when I have time on my hand and itching to do something/spend some money. Fresno is an oasis but also my reset button. It makes me think about things in my life and just what I could do in the future. Spending money is always another thing to do in Fresno- but needs versus wants- as someone has always pointed out to me- is something that I struggle with everyday. 

Gubbar Singh

This is my dog, mister Gubbar Singh. He's an awesome dog and loves swimming, hot dogs, apples, and any food you give him. He's a golden lab and loves his tennis ball. You have a tennis ball, he will sit and do poses like this to get it(cute, huh?)

I love dogs. I wish I had one in the bay or could take Gubbar to my place, but since he's such a big dog, it wouldn't be ok. He lives in paradise over here and we rescued him from a one bedroom house that had about 8 labs there. Gubbar did have a brother that died about 2 years ago, mister Kalia(a black lab). He died from cancer and it was really sad. But, Gubbar is doing a LOT better without him because he's not bullied and now loves to play fetch and swim in the pool. 

His name comes from an Indian movie, Cholay. People that know that movie- two characters- Kalia(means black) and Gubbar... so thats how he got it. Nicknames include: Gubbs and Gubbar Singh(which is his full name). He's grown up a lot and now is nice to people(doesn't jump up on them), listens for the most part, and just is a little kid when it comes to playing fetch. He does the standard poses: sit, lie down, stay, paw, etc. Gubbar was a dog training dropout but not because he was one- but because his owners were getting lazy in his training. 

I want to get a small dog when i 'grow up' and hopefully, that'll happen. But, Gubbar is a great dog to come home to in Fresno and just hang out with. So if you're in Fresno, and want to come visit mister Gubbar, please have a tennis ball and he'll be your best friend. :) 

The Fresno Elf...

Made it to Fresno- in record time too. I got lucky with traffic with leaving at 12:30pm and got here in 'normal' time versus adding another hour to my commute when I leave at 3pm. Gubbar, my dog, greeted me and I'll post some pics of him soon so that everyone can see why I love my dog- just a goofy dog that likes to have a good time all the time. 

As for me, the real story, is that a Fresno Elf, in the form of my smart, med school brother, helped me TONS on my masters work and now, I'm set. Saved me HOURS of time and now, this weekend isn't going to be doomed as I thought it would. Maybe, this was someone's plan of helping me out when things are rough. So thank you mister Elf for the best present I could have gotten in my time of need. 

And, of course, Fresno=Indian food. Yum. I don't get to eat Indian food often and always a good meal with garlic naan and chicken curry/kofta- is good stuff. Hopefully, I'll bang out the rest of my work and get to watch some TV that I've missed on. 

Hope everyone had a good Friday! :)  

Apologies...

So, as some of you might have noticed- I've been MIA for about 2 days. It's called partying and more partying. Yes, I have a big deadline ohh, tomorrow(sat) and sunday- but what do I do? Oh, I decide to go to Happy Hour and then we had our staff party and then more partying happened. I haven't partied this much in a while and its nice to get out- be with some friends- and take life at it's fullest. I WILL be paying for it tomorrow and sunday but oh well- I guess thats the way the cookie crumbles. 

I've been somewhat sad about an issue that has come up in my life that should be resolved soon(hopefully). But, in this sadness, its funny how things are put in front of you to remind you that life is good. Friends come out and support you, you get random emails from a close family friend that remind you that they love/support you, and you get christmas cards from students and teachers. Even being around my staff yesterday was just an awesome way to end out the semester and be with people that do care about me and we can still have a good time outside of school. 

I'm off to good old Fresno for the next two weeks. I look forward to be in the compound, see my siblings/parents, see my dog, Gubbar, and just be spoiled for a limited time. I'm already packed and ready to go and just looking at the time until I get to go. No students today- just 'working' in our classrooms(yea, right- karaoke party in a teacher's room, dogs coming to spend the day with us, and just wandering the hallways). Yes, some people are working- but its more of cleanup/get grades in/wish everyone a great holiday day. 

Ok- I'll write more in Fresno...and apologies again for not blogging- life got in the way.

Reading for Fun...

Yes, I'm one of those 'weird' people that likes to read for fun. Now a days, more and more people don't like to read because of the internet, video games, and TV, but I love reading if I have time and there is nothing to do. In my overwhelmed state of my head today, I decided to say "F-it" and read my Kindle. My Kindle, for those that don't know, is my new toy that I bought myself late October and now is somewhat an addiction. Basically, it's an electronic book that is linked with Amazon so that if you want to read a book- it wirelessly downloads it and within a minute, you have it. No going out to the bookstore, no dealing with parking/etc/lazyness. Also, the prices are usually less than 10 dollars and in the end, you save a lot money(even though you put up $300 bucks in the beginning). 

Ok, now that I'm done with that advertisement, since October, two things that have peaked my reading interest. One- the Twilight series. I first heard of it through an old co-worker last year and she was pretty much begging me to read them. I was like, um, yea, not into vampire stories and it sounds weird. Then, my sister promoted it as well and then I was pretty sold since she knows what I like. Warning- once you read one, you will finish all 4-700 page books within a week- its that addicting. I think its the way she(Stephanie Meyer) writes it and how its such a great love story. I didn't like the film- but thats another story. 

Another addiction for reading is Nicholas Sparks. You're probably like, who? He wrote "The Notebook", "Walk to Remember", "Nights in Rodanthe", and "Message in a Bottle". I can't get enough of his books. I've now read pretty much every one that he has written. I'm a sucker for a classic love story and anything that has to do with rights of passage. No, this isn't Harlequin romance stuff- if you've watched any of those movies, you know what I'm talking about. So, tonight I read "The Wedding" by him and loved it-as always. My last book by him unless I want to read "The Notebook" and "Walk to Remember" even though I've seen the movie. Now, I have to find something else to read... 

I think my love for reading really started with my mom. My mom used to read to us and encourage us to read a lot versus watching TV. My mom wouldn't let us watch TV after 9pm and so it forced us to read the books that we wanted to so that we wouldn't get bored. My sister/I read "Babysitters Club", "Sweet Valley Twins", and then when we were older, one of our family friends gave us a whole box of "Sweet Valley High" and we thought we were hot stuff because we were now older/wiser to read it. At one point, my sister/I even made a library complete with a check-out system and were pretty strict about it. Yes, I guess we were reading nerds to a point...haha. 

Now, that I'm older, I read when I'm on vacation. I'm a big fan of "chic lit" and read it constantly-- Sex and the City type books, Bridget Jones's Diary type books. No, I don't read anything serious(unless you count some Oprah's Book Club books) because then it takes the 'fun' out of reading. Yes, its awkward when I tell people I read, and then they ask what- and then I reply "Chic Lit" but hey, at least I'm reading right? That's the important thing. 

Ok- it's getting late and I need to rest to give out some more finals for the kiddies. Hope everyone had a good Tuesday! 

Swamped with Finals Week...

So, usually I don't blog about work but because this week is somewhat stressful because of finals and getting kids set for semester grades- it's all I can think about to blog about. High school finals are pretty intense--> 20% of their semester grade. Of course, in college, its more 40-60% of the grade, but I think students just don't know how important it is for them to do well and how it is preparing them for course work in college. 

As for me, it's not TOO stressful to give out finals- it's just making sure that my finals are decent- that they are numbered correctly/no mistakes(already caught one) and then figuring out grades(and waiting for the 'crying' to begin). My finals are 100-150 multiple choice so with scantron- it's easy to grade. Semester grades, for people that forget, is what colleges see when you apply to college so its a big deal for GPA and credits for graduation are concerned. Last year, I got like 5 emails pretty much begging me to up grades(an example- 79.3%--gave the student a C- yes, i'm that brutal). So, its always an adventure when grades come out and usually I do a good job of prepping students about what they realistically can get beforehand so that I don't get a lot of whiners. 

Finals are not the only thing on my mind. I just got SWAMPED from my masters class(60 med school level questions) and now am going to pay for it this week and even this weekend when I go home to Fresno on Friday. I HATE doing work in Fresno but I'm going to have to- heard there was a hail storm there and its cold there. I even canceled on an outing today to stay in and do work- so that blew chunks. I don't get to go out much on weekdays but it would have been nice...

Ok, will try to get more 'exciting' tomorrow...just trying to stay afloat right now...

BART and Union Square...

Living in Daly City, I live about 5 miles(about 2-3 exits) from San Francisco. Most times, I just drive into the city and deal with the parking issues but today, because I had to go to Union Square, I went on BART. BART is basically SF's answer to public transportation and honestly, its not that great. It only goes on one street through the city and then filters off for Muni folks(which is basically a bus). Most of the time, I don't mind riding BART but I avoid it for a couple of reasons. 

One- it's inefficient. To get to point A to point B, it takes less time in my car(most of the time). Yes, I have to find parking- pay for it most of the time- blah blah- but all in all- it usually takes more time. Two- random people. Yes, its fun looking at the different types of people- today, I saw a lady reading her bible, one rocker listening to goth, a gay couple, an old white lady having tears in her eyes, a black lady in a business suit, a single mom that looked like she was 15, and many sketchy people. Yes, there were 'normal' people too, but if you've ever been on a subway- you know what I mean. Third- cleanliness. I always think about the seats(which are fabric- wtf- who thought of that?)- the many times people are holding on to rails, close confined areas where people sneeze/etc, and no, I'm not a germaphobe- just always baffles me what people do on subways/public transportation. So all these reasons, and I'm sure more, are not my cup of tea and not very appetizing for me to get on BART. 

But, once I was on, I did enjoy it. People watching, imaging that I was traveling somewhere far(like I have in the past), and then getting off at Powell and seeing all the Christmas decorations on Union Square, was a treat. It reminded me of the holiday season and New York at Xmas. I've become somewhat of a Christmas scrooge these days because of various reasons, and this was a good reminder of what it could be- just cheery and holiday-like(if you go beyond the commercialism of it all). Yes, it was raining but people were still ice skating out in the open. 

Then, I came home- and guess what I find. Oh yes, my bathroom ceiling has a leak from the rain and yes, now it has a pot to hold the rain in. I always thought it was funny when I saw it in movies or at other people's houses- um, yea, NOT fun. There is a lot of construction in my complex so apparently the construction guys didn't do a good job of covering my bathroom roof. Nice job guys. No big deal...just thought I would share. 

Anyways, hope everyone had a productive and fun weekend! :) 

Cheap Retreat...

This morning, I had a choice. I could do the movie Saturday I did last week or I could go out. So, I chose going to one of my 'cheap retreats' which is Santa Cruz. I used to come a LOT more for various reasons, but because of the rise in gas prices and the fact that I moved a good hour up the bay, it was always a decision if it was worth it. But, with the recent advent of gas prices going down, I now could go with little guilt. 

Santa Cruz has a lot of wineries- especially up in it's mountains. I used to be a big wine taster. In fact, I had a goal(a couple of years ago) of going to all these wineries and I enjoyed it. Now, I overdid it to a point now that I don't enjoy it as much- only in small doses. If you haven't gone wine tasting or don't like it, it's still interesting to go. Just seeing what each bar looks like, the atmosphere, and even how they sell their product is enough for me to go again and again. Yes, its about the wine too, but for me, it's more about meeting the workers and getting to know about a field that I don't know much about and learning something completely new. 

I also got to see one of my old friends and get to catch up with her. Went to "4 Christmas's" with Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn- decent movie. I can't really relate to the movie a lot because of the divorced parents and not wanting to go home- but I could relate to them wanting to travel/not wanting to get married(settling just to get married)/not wanting kids. This all changes by the end of the movie- and I think it was a funny movie all around. A good feel good movie for the holidays if you ask me. 

I also sometimes go kayaking in the ocean- been multiple times(even took my kids with me twice). I now have a contact there that gives it to me for like $15 bucks and I can kayak out to the otters that are feeding and the sea lions that are barking. It's really cool to see them in their natural habitat just hanging out versus when you go to a zoo/aquarium or Pier 41. It somewhat now spoils those experiences for me- but I love Santa Cruz for showing met the 'real' way those animals live. 

Santa Cruz also offers the boardwalk(if its nice outside and you have money), natural bridges(when in season you can see a LOT of butterflies come in-a great experience), and go to the tide pools and see some interesting creatures. It's always nice to get away at times from the hustle and bustle of the bay and go somewhere where it takes my mind off things. One point for the bay- going places within an hour and feeling like you have stepped into another land...

Hope everyone had a good Saturday! :) 

A Spoonful of Sugar...

One of my friends refers to me as a "Spoonful of Sugar" meaning that I'm almost too positive and too sweet for him to take in big portions. I'm a pretty positive person for a lot of reasons. I think I've gone through really dark periods of my life and with those experiences, I've made it through a lot stronger and a lot more wise. Being negative, at least for me, is somewhat a waste of time and not worth it in the scheme of things. Don't get me wrong- I get negative a lot of times but then I remind myself of what I have and then tell myself to shut up and look at the positive. 

Whenever I get around negative people, I almost always just a) shut up and let them vent, b) tell them what I see about the situation, c) remind them what they have. Someone told me that whenever I get negative, I should write a "Thank You" list of what I have and I've always followed that whenever I get down in the dumps about something. Another method is that I compare my pain to what I felt like when I was super-duper depressed- and remind myself- hi, its not like that- so this is nothing- you survived that, so you'll be fine. 

The bubbly me that people see- sure its there. The negative person within me- its also there- but I think, the spoonful of sugar and Mary Poppins will always be in my heart. 

Listening and Keeping Secrets...

Listening and keeping secrets- two things that are definitely on my list of things that I need to improve upon. I have a bad habit of interrupting people in mid-sentence and not really listening to what they are saying. I think it's because I know what they are going to say and so I want to be more efficient with the conversation and so I want to finish or put my words in so that it flows better. That doesn't really make sense- but I'm working really hard to make these two things better in my life. 

I think most people when they meet me think that I'm loud and that I'm pretty outgoing- pretty much Type A- whoa, who is this girl? type of personality. But, in recent years, I've become almost more shy and more withdrawn. I think it's because of things that have happened to me recently in relationships and friendships that have died suddenly for no 'real' cause other than shift of priorities. Don't get me wrong, I'm still pretty outgoing- but I think its a tamed down version of what I was in college or a few years back. 

 

I think listening is a good trait to have. Instead of focusing on oneself, focusing on another person and figuring out who they are and what makes them tick, is always interesting(at least to me). I used to think why are people shy? Now, I kinda get it. They absorb first, then they speak(if they need to). They listen, not hear. Outgoing people(like me)- just blurt out what comes to them, sometimes listen/mostly hear, and then if something is said wrong- then they apologize for it/not really thinking of the repricutions(at least thats me). 

 

Keeping secrets is also a hard one for me. Like any girl, gossip is fun to a point until you get in the middle of it. I used to be horrible at it and now I'm trying to start to take baby steps towards keeping things within and not telling the whole world. I'm still really horrible at it(at least with my own life)- but with others, their secret is sacred and should not be told to others. 

 

On my 30th birthday(one of the best and most memorable bdays I've ever had)...even though I was slightly buzzing from wine, my sister made a speech about me and the one thing I remember from that speech was that she claimed that I was a good listener. Trust me, that floored me and to this day, I think whoa, at least one person in my life thinks I'm a good listener. At least I'm improving, right? I have such a long way to go on both things...but I feel everyday, I'm getting better. 

 

Hope everyone had a good Thursday :) 

I heart Fresno and UCSD/San Diego...

Ok, you all knew this post was coming. Anyone that knows me, knows that Fresno and San Diego, hands down are my two homes. The Bay is not- not even by a long shot. I just live here and am trying it out to make it my home. Fresno is obvious- I was raised there and have just an amazing support system there. San Diego is where I truly grew up and UCSD is always and forever will be in my heart. 

Most people when I mention that I'm from Fresno get this look of sympathy or disgust. I love Fresno for many reasons. Yes, it's where I grew up and where my parents still reside. But, more than that, it was where I was loved from an Indian community of a good 30 kids around me that made me who I was. Whether it was going to gurdwara(church) together on Sundays, going to each other's bdays(and still knowing them to this day), going to events/etc, numerous slumber parties, riding bikes around the neighborhood- all of this- made Fresno come alive for me. Even now, when we have weddings/events in Fresno, we all look at each other and think, wow, we're lucky to have an awesome core of friends that really does care about one another in the end(which is rare). 

As for Fresno, the city- it has grown a LOT since when I grew up. Because I went to Edison High(go Tigers!!), I got to see a lot of the town. The town has now become a city with a LOT of clubs/bars/etc. to now go to- shopping is somewhat now the same in major cities(still needs some help- but getting there for the most part) and just convenience of driving around with hardly any traffic is enough to call Fresno my oasis from the hustle/bustle of the bay. I do defend Fresno to friends and my students and now that the bulldogs and Fresno State are getting more prominent in the news, more people are knowing about it. Even one of my students was wearing a Fresno State sweatshirt because she wants to go there for their Forensic Science program(apparently it's one of the best in the state!)... 

And yes, onto what I call my "real" home- San Diego. Seriously, I think I have a minor problem with how much I flaunt around my UCSD/San Diego gear, but I think its due to how much I miss it. The main reason I still wear my UCSD gear is a) I like to promote UCSD because a lot of people don't know about it or think its a party school(like SDSU- big difference), b) not a lot of UCSD love here in the bay(a lot of Stanford and CAL gear-boo), c) reminds me of what I was like in college/sense of nostalgia. My true long lasting friends and the ones that know me the best have come from UCSD. Almost all people that come from UCSD- have license plates on their cars- have support for it- and the love of San Diego that comes with it(this is true of most of my family friends/co-workers/etc- that I've seen). People that came from other campuses- not so much- especially the folks coming out of UCLA(no disrespect to my Bruins)- they couldn't wait to get out of LA and don't have a TON of pride when it comes to it. Maybe thats just my experience- who knows? 

As for San Diego, the city- I lived in La Jolla for all my years there(7 total)... and that's literally, the place I GREW up. Being out of Fresno, away from my parents, and just trying the world for myself- I had an awesome time. From going to parties at UCSD, being in a sorority, being a part of the Indian club(Sangam), partying it up in Gaslamp and Pacific Beach(PB), fuzzy memories of Sun God festivals, walking on Library walk, having to study without my parents grilling me about my grades, dating for the first time--> and then after graduation, realizing that college is over and now you have to get a job- San Diego is truly my home away from home. Now, when I drive down to San Diego on the 5, I literally start to cry when I hit San Diego. When I hit La Jolla Village Drive on the 5 and pass Geisal Library on my right, I know I'm home. It's a weird feeling, but I know my UCSD people know what I'm talking about. I still have a lot of friends down there and visit whenever I can. I'm even coming in April/May for two weekends in a row for a wedding- had no complaints about that one- am so excited about it...

I've already alluded to me making some hard core decisions in 2 years- thats because I'll be done with my masters and I'll be a 6th year teacher...so somewhat enough experience to go into a Administration(vice principal/principal) program/get a decent admin job- or teach at a local JC(biology). Also, the other decision of where to live... the Bay, Fresno, or San Diego. I guess thats what the future holds...but my love for both cities is still there...

Boredom...

I don't have many days that I'm bored. In fact, I don't even remember the last day that I was. I usually have a ton of things to do- or want to do- so I either a) do them, b) look it up and think, I'll do it later(this would be called procrastination). Today, after doing pretty much all the immediate stuff(fixing finals, doing some prep work for January(yes, I'm that ahead)), I'm now looking at deadlines that are in two weeks or either in January(so no real rush). Therefore, now boredom sets in. 

Most people would turn on a TV. Um, don't have that. I have my internet but that gets old after a while. I have my Kindle, but knowing me, once I start a book, its really hard for me to stop which means a late night(and I need to sleep). I could watch a movie- my collection of oh 10 DVDs, if that, is getting old. So, all these options- I basically neg. All the other options- a) getting out of the house and spending money or b) being somewhat productive. 

So what do I do? I decide to go to my mailbox and see what I have(desperate times call for desperate measures)- and sure enough, my 1st "Good Housekeeping" magazine arrives. Why do I have that you ask? Well, I actually got it for $5 for a special deal--ALL year....so I couldn't resist, right? All the recipies in there and advice for a good christmas holiday ALMOST made me jump up towards the mall, but lazyness kicked in and that was negged also. 

So now I'm blogging. Only 2 hours till I go to bed. Maybe I'll call it a night early. Or maybe sooth my grumbling stomach with a juicy turkey burger. Yum. All right, me out. Hope everyone had a productive Tuesday! 

P.S. If you're bored like I am, here is something my brother sent me from abroad and a classic Indian song that my siblings/I grew up with! 

The Oprah Conference and Self-Improvement...

 

Today, was a very normal day(in some senses) so I don't really have a lot to say but since work(high school) is slowing down- I have a lot more 'free' time on my hands. Yes, I still have to tweek one of my finals before next week, have masters work(that is due in 2 weeks), and other projects, procrastination is hitting me big time. I'm even looking forward to a weekend where I don't have a ton to do(which is going to be awesome). 

So, when I have free/down time, I think about my time at the Oprah conference(yes, you can laugh now). But, seriously, my sister and my best girlfriend went with me and we just had the most awesome time. It was 4000 women and about 15 guys, and seminars in various things(Gail was there and even a surprise visit from Oprah herself-got to see her speak). I'm not one of those HUGE Oprah fans like some people I know, but I do get her magazine and watch it when I'm home and try to follow things here and there(but I'm not a cult member!). 

Anyways, Suze Orman(the 2nd pic)- is a financial guru and has really whipped my senses about my money and what I need to do in this hard economic crunch.  Being a teacher that doesn't make a lot, it's good to know that my 'cheapness' will pay off in the end and I'm learning a lot about needs versus wants. We got a free book from her about "Women and Money" so it's something I refer to still to this day. 

The third pic(Martha Beck) is a spirituality guru and by the end of her seminar- I was crying. Why? Well, she did this exercise with this woman who was having pressures from her family to a) get married and b) have kids(kind of like my parents/indian community) and Martha Beck showed how her body/spirit reacted to it(it didn't agree with both of them). So because this directly applies to me- I was a wreck. But, it made me feel like I'm not alone and it's ok to go with what your inner self is telling you. I guess you had to be there- but it was just one of those experiences I will never forget. 

One of the last seminars, was Stacy London- from "What Not to Wear". She was amazing and was really REAL- she told the story about how she is 39, just got dumped(she was engaged to this hot author), and now lives alone with her cats. She gained weight at one point, her show got cancelled, so it was just another side of her that I think a lot of women(including me) were really surprised to hear about. She inspired me to look at my wardrobe once again and try not to shlum to work as much. I know I need a revamping of my wardrobe and maybe this weekend, will be the time I'm going to do it. When we were walking out, we spotted her, and I yelled out "we love you" and she waved- so it was another encounter with her that we didn't expect. I have a newfound respect for her and now, when I watch her show, her personality that she is on TV is that- a personality- versus the real person that I saw at the conference. 

Anyways, for people that don't reflect on their life much, this post might be fluff. I do it a lot and as a teacher, it's almost a requirement in order to become a better teacher so that students can benefit. I also do it to become the best person I can be. I've changed a lot from when I was in college to now, and I think its because of my profession and just life experiences(like everyone reading this post). The Oprah conference was one of many experiences that will help me in that quest for that. 

Ok- enough fluff on a Monday- I'll write something more 'fun' tomorrow- had to post something, right? This is what I came up with...hope you enjoyed. 

New York to Machu Picchu...

 

From the bustling city of New York to the ancient city of Machu Picchu- both things were on my mind today. I'll start with New York. I spent my first two years of life in New York(was born there) and then my family decided to move to good 'ol Fresno(after a brief stint in CT). So I always have ties to New York and the city that it is. Even though I don't remember it a lot back in those old days, I have visited on MANY occasions for random trips--and still have family out there(even went to the Cosby house- oh yes). Today, I got a random phone call from 347- had no idea what that was. I know, I should have known. It was one of my many family friends who called to catch up and just see how I was doing. It's always nice to hear from people that you don't get to talk to that much and get back to square one like you talk to them everyday. I miss my family friends daily for various things and always have a special place in my heart for them(big props to my fresno folks here-me love you guys). 

 

Anyways, back to NY.  I've always had ideas of going back to NY- taking a year there, and really getting to know the area. I've even looked into admin credential programs at various NY universities and maybe in 2 years I'll be there. Who knows? I have to make some big time decisions in two years and New York is definitely a possibility. I love it whenever I visit and I think just experiencing East Coast culture for a year would be fun. 

 

As for Machu Picchu, it's been one of my big 'hits' as a traveler. I really want to do the Inca Trail and just see the ruins. But, I'm somewhat scared of what is involved. The Inca Trail is a good 4 day hike- 25 miles total. Some days(like Day 2)- its pretty much Stairmaster for 8 hours. EIGHT hours!! They say that pretty much anyone in 'decent' shape can do it- um, yea, I'm in 'ok' shape- but not stairmaster 8 hour shape(like people I know). I don't want to chicken out and take the bus up to Machu Picchu- I would regret it for a long time and I figure, go big, or go home, right? Me/friends are thinking July and we just have to stick to a New Year's Resolution of working out ALOT till then... I know- crazy...and I've heard soo many trials and tribulations over the trail- but the end all result is worth it. We've made Christmas the new deadline to figure things out...I'll let you know. 

A lot of plans/ideas in my mind, so little time. Next summer is pretty much booked with my big masters class(6 unit class in Maryland) and so this summer, I want to go do something productive. Besides Peru, getting certified for SCUBA is another thing on the list. Just always wanted to do it, never had time or guts(been on 3 trips with no certification-loved every one of them). Figure, I'm young, single, and this certification is for life. One time deal, get it done. 

 

Ok, back to my "Made" episodes (thank God for MTV.com and streaming video) and getting ready for a full week of finals prep for the kiddies. Hope everyone had a good weekend. 

Movie Marathon...

On random Saturdays, when I need a break from the week or just want a chill weekend, I do a movie marathon day. Since I don't have TV, its my chance to just stay in and just chill. Usually I grade or do masters work, but I threw caution to the wind and I haven't done anything. 

One movie I got to see FINALLY- Wall-E. Yes, it came out a long time ago but in my time, blockbuster just came out with it so I rented it. Everyone around me was like, oh you gotta see it- blah blah. I hate when movies are overrated and then when I see them, I'm like, really, is this it? This happened with Nightmare before Christmas, Juno, Borat, Big Lobowski, and Office Space(yes, I still don't get the hype over these movies). Yes, they were good, but were they everything end all be all- not really. But, Wall-E--OMG- what an awesome movie. Just how there was absolutely no dialog(hardly), how the science geek in me was excited about how they put the environment/plant(life) in it, how they put little references in it from the past- and most of all- it reminded me how to be a kid again. I always get scared watching these type of Pixar movies- but in the end, I love

them. 

Also, on another note- have you ever been in situation where you have to make a quick decision and then your gut is screaming to go one way-but  you go against your gut- and then karma hits and you're like, man, I should have followed my gut. That's what happened to me last night and I got the small remifications this morning(more laughing about the situation) and I'm sure I'm going to get more of it on Monday. Oh well, wrong decision-karma whacks you upside the head. Life lessons, right?

On to my favorite movie of all time... "Love Actually". When I first saw it, I just broke up with boyfriend, and I cried the entire time and didn't get why it was so popular with my friends. After I got over him, now its my one feel good movie and it's mostly because of this scene. If you haven't watched this movie, this scene is awesome(at least for girls but I know some guys love it too). 

Hope everyone had a good saturday night... 

Cat Fight...

So, today, in one of my co-worker's rooms-- there was a cat fight- two girls basically going at it. At EC- this doesn't happen much so it spread like wildfire.Girl fights are worse then guy fights- a lot of beef- hair pulling, nails, the whole gammit. Girls don't fight each other unless there is REAL issues going on/emotions going.  One of the girls happened to be one of my Advanced students which was a total shock to me. Anyways, sucks that it happened and to good people also.

So this got me thinking--I've never been in a brawl. Never punched someone, never been so angry at someone or defend someone. A LOT of girls have. Boys- almost all of them have been in fights. Girls- not so much. But, then I talk to a lot of girls and they too have been in fights- mostly defending someone else or someone really ticked them off. The closest I got was in high school where this girl called me out on talking trash about her. I retorted that she was talking smack about my sister. I basically got scared and just stopped any chance of the fight by apologizing and asking her not to pick on my sister. I doubt she stopped talking smack but I tried stopping. No fight insued, but that was the closest I got. 

Tonight, I went to go see "Get Mortified" (which plays all over the nation)--> somewhat improv but more poetry/story telling of the author's writings from when they were a teenager. One girl was from Fresno(my hometown) and had poems when she went to Kastner(a local middle school) and when she turned 12 and then 13. All the crushes/angst/etc that accompanies being a teen. Another person wrote about his first time having sex-another had a book about all the guys that she kissed and gave ratings on how they were/etc(reminds me when I wrote about all my dating stories in college). It was just awesome seeing people read their stuff that they wrote when they were teens and how much angst they went through that was similar to everyone in the room. I wish I saved some of my short stories/angst driven pieces/journals that I had so that I can reflect on them now. At least they can laugh through it now. 

Why do I mention this? Throughout the entire story telling, this couple next to me was plastered drunk. It was wall to wall people in a tiny bar and no room really to move(standing room only). The couple right next to me- especially the girl- was just being dumb and saying things that were inappropriate. I had to remind myself- hi, she's drunk- you've been drunk- just let her have her night. But, the teacher in me, wanted to reprimend her and tell her that she was being inappropriate. Then, I thought, wow, I would really like to pick a fight with her and just tell her off. But, I think having the fight of this morning in my head and just talked myself out of it. 

Maybe I'll pick a fight when due cause is there. Fighting physically in most cases is dumb and dangerous...talking goes a long way. We'll see what the future holds in the boxer in me--> till then, hope everyone had a good TGIF. 

Motorcycles- Fun or Dangerous?

So, on Monday night, there was a guy at the get-together that rides motorcycles. Conversation started about it and I learned a couple of things. One: his motorcycle only carries THREE gallons of gas- and its about 50 mpg- pretty impressive. Two: apparently, there are motorcycle parking spots all over the city(SF) and the meters there are ridiculous(50 cents for 4 hours). He offered me a ride and trust me, I was tempted. But, at 11pm, it was late, it was somewhat slick on the road, and he admitted that he was driving illegally(he hasn't gotten his real license even though he took the lessons)-so I passed. 

 

So here's my thoughts: Yes, I've riden on the back of a motorcycle- its thrilling- but its scary as hell also. I've always wanted to learn and every time there is a major traffic jam and I see motorcyclists just zoom in the aisles- I think, dammit, how convenient is that? Then, there are other times, when I'm driving fast and a motorcyclist comes waltzing in and all I think is: don't hit it, don't hit it. I always have a picture in my head of how people just plop over and then have multiple injuries. 

 

I've had boyfriends in the past tell me that they want to learn. I was somewhat all for it but at the same time, I was scared for them. Apparently, its safer when you go in a group and 280 up in the bay is pretty straight and no windy(unlike the 17). I used to read "Sweet Valley Twins" when I was younger and there was a whole book dedicated to how one of the twins decided to go on a motorcycle ride and then she ends up in the hospital. I never forgot that and even hearing stories about friends friends that have died/been injured- gives me the heeby jibeez. 

 

Then, I think- oohh mopeds or Vespas. One of my co-workers is huge into it and goes riding on them all the time. They are smaller and more 'fun' and not as dangerous as motorcycles. Maybe I'll start on one of those. Who knows? There are always tours on islands, etc. but then once in Oahu I saw a group struggling over one of their friends who just crashed and burned. Not good advertising for a person who thinks it would be fun. 

 

Maybe I'll just stick to ATVing (yes, even those are dangerous-one of my friends crashed/burned when we went to Costa Rica together)- but motorcycles are a different level. Maybe its the 'Bad Girl'(like Danity Kane syndrome) in me that wants to try it... or maybe, I'll just stick to getting rides once in a while. 

Productivity...

I'm sure everyone has those days where one part of your day- you are really, really productive and then the other part of the day- you do nothing. Thats me today. Today, was REALLY busy- with students gearing up for finals in 2 weeks, finishing a can food drive(got 40 bags of groceries-whoo hoo) and then having a pizza party for my club- I felt like I was running around and didn't get a break. By the time I got home, I was spent. Now, looking at work(some school work and masters work)- it's now, no thank you. I'll probably pay for it this weekend, but everyone deserves a break, right? 

In other news, as most people know, I participated in EC's lip sync rally last year- the theme was 'Movies' and us teachers decided to do "Stomp the Yard". Here's a link if you haven't seen it. The rally is in MARCH and the main organizer is already talking about what to do this year. The theme this year is "Songs that Sample Other Songs". So here's a list that students/we are considering...any thoughts? 

1. Queen-Under pressure/Vanilla Ice- Ice, Ice Baby

2. Rick James- SuperFreak; MC Hammer- You Can't Touch This

3. Micheal Jackson- Wanna be starting something; Rihanna- Please don't stop the music

4. Annie- hard knock life; JZ- Hard Knock Life

5. Grover Washington- Just the two of us; Will Smith- Just the two of us

There's a lot more, but you get the point. It's a lot of fun and as you can see from last year, it's a HUGE deal for students to see their teachers do something out of the 'normal'. 

Ok- going to try to get more productive. Signing out. 

The Things You Find in Odd Places...

Yes, its 12:30am and I'm still up... why? It's called "You play, you pay". One of my co-workers told me that when I told him that I went out last night and was exhausted- and so today, teaching was somewhat a fog. Thank God for solid lesson plans and knowing what to do in times like these. By 6th period, I felt like I was going to faint from exhaustion and needed to go home. I let my body nap- 3 HOURS later- i got up. So now that I'm rested- i'm up late- go figure. Hopefully, going to bed late won't do this to me tomorrow. 

Random story- today, I went searching in my car for parts of the charger for my GPS. Last night, I noticed that the charger wasn't working and after trying to to put it together(long story)- it still didn't work. Anyways, you know what i found? A) found a blue tooth headset that i thought i lost and was bitter that i had to pay another $40-50 bucks for another one(now, I have two headsets), and B) a found an apple. Yes, an apple...um, EWWW. old and meldewy. Now, anyone that has been in my car- it's pretty damn clean. No smell, no nothing. This apple was underneath my passenger seat for a LONG time- even though I eat GREEN apples everyday- this was an RED apple. Now, if i remember correctly- it might have came from my sister... or from a teacher's gift I got like the first day of school- GROSS. I guess apples don't smell when they rot. 

Random story- thought I would share. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll have more substance in my posting--> until then- me signing out. 

Going out on a Monday Night...

I never go out on the weekdays after work- hardly ever. I'm usually grading, planning, or just doing work for my masters- as well as catching up on friends/family/etc. So in order to keep sane, I've reverted back to my promise I made to myself way back in my 1st year of teaching-going out one night at least(Mon-Thurs). My 1st year- this was mostly on dates with boys- tonight, it was more of a group thing- boys/girls mixed(which is a nice change of pace). 

Learned Texas Hold-Em- I'm not good at it- even though I've watched the pro's on TV and think I know what they are doing and what to bet. Playing it is another deal. I did fairly ok- but still need lessons and just more 'poker' looks. I'm not good at lying and just not being excited when I have a good hand. Last weekend, in Tahoe, I cleaned up playing "Spoons"- one of the easiest games out there and one that I did fairly well my first time playing. Yes, its an age old high school game apparently- but I'm now a big fan of it. I haven't laughed so hard in a while. 

It's late for me but I didn't want to bail on posting only my 3rd day on my 'new' blog. Thanks to all who have emailed me and wished me luck on this blog. We'll see how this trend goes. So far, so good. 

Good night, all.