2003 year in review
so as 2004 comes in in like 5 hours, i think its time for me to give a brief review of the 2003 that just passed. being the optimist that i am, i will start with the bad stuff, and end with the good stuff. (note...much of this review comes from my archives, so if you want more detail, check the archives)

the =( stuffs
- the explosion of the space shuttle columbia
-single awareness day (aka valentine's day)...meaning my love life has sucked this year
-the first of my C's in my major (ehh...all the C's ive gotten in my major have been this year)
-the iraq war
-my brother eric's stroke
-students first getting screwed @ ucsd
-my brother eric's death 1 month after his stroke
-missing out on kp pilipino cultural celebration because of the funeral
-family bickering after eric's death
-catching up with school after the funeral (ie, 6 all nighters @ clics during spring qtr finals)
-somebody hitting my car while it was parked
-got sick in vegas
-missing jeff baker's going away party
-governator
-the death of joy de la cruz
-san diego on fire
-the death of one of my 2nd grade teachers (Mrs. Beverly Trust)
-30 1/2 hours straight being awake during fall qtr finals (2 papers=23 pages total, due 5 hours apart)

the =) stuffs
-dave n busters virgin no more
-the discovery of rei do gado
-my preuss school students
-APSA talent show
-APSA undergrad vs grad sports day, where the undergrads dominated (the next one will be the last time the undergrads win =p)
-pcc practices, and the community i felt while i practiced with them
-knight rider coming back on tv =)
-spring break in las vegas (last time eric and i spoke, & chillin w/ friends there)
-APSA Grad Banquet
-disneyland annual pass
-boogie boarding all summer
-san diego county del mar fair
-turning 22
-intersuite 450 (summer bridge 2003)
-the failure of prop 54
-friendship games (nuclear boobs, gay's island, dick's last resort, nutwood, siemens =p)
-finding a $5 bill @ regents parking
-APSA High School Conference
-bay area virgin no more
-a full family thanksgiving
-making money once again (through work...summer bridge & macy's)

as you can see, 2003 has been full of ups and downs. im sure there were more...im just glad that 2003 is over, because even though ive had more ups than downs, the downs seriously outweighed the ups. im just hoping the 2004 will be a much better year than 2003 has been...of course it will, im graduating!!! this just about summarizes 2003. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages < l =)

Home Alone
for the next 5 days...my dad went to las vegas for the week. i couldnt go, cuz i have work @ macys. so yeah, i have the place all to myself. who wants to party? as for new years...i have no idea whats going on. gimme ideas people...maybe i'll go to richard's thing @ his place...we shall see. other than that, hopefully some fun will come out of this week, since this is the last week that i have off before school starts again. yes, it is my last winter break of my undergraduate career @ ucsd..so sad, i guess. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =p

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

hmm...should i blog?
i dunno...only if the demand for this blog is high enough...comment over there to lemme know if i should blog. yeah yeah, this is a shameless attempt to get comments over there, but it could also be used as an excuse for me since i really have nothing to blog about right now. but if the demand is high enough, maybe i can come up w/ something interesting enough for people to read and get their money's worth...but then again, you guys pay nothing to read my juicy tidbits of haloHalo happenings. haha...im gonna go christmas shopping right now...but while i'm away, comment over there ------------------------------->
and maybe i'll accomodate all y'all haloHalo junkies. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =p

workin
so as i have mentioned before, i'm working @ macy's. im actually somewhat enjoying it...and the people i work with are pretty cool. but the thing that is really getting to me is the music they play. since it's christmas season, of course they have to play christmas music over AND over AND OVER again! i blocked it out for awhile, but it just got engrained into my head that now if i hear any christmas song outside of work, i just go crazy. among the songs that drive me crazy are jingle bell rock, holly jolly christmas, and the worst of em all...LITTLE DRUMMER BOY. my coworkers and i want to kill the people who wrote these songs...or at least tie them to a chair, and play these songs to them non-stop for 8 hours.

we do get bored sometimes when it gets slow in the store. to pass the time while we're working, my coworkers and i analyze some of these songs. we have come to the conclusion that santa claus is a stalker (he knows when youre sleeping, he knows when youre awake), and a pervert (he knows when youre naughty) and he likes to make out with mom (i saw mommy kissing santa claus). oh yeah...and rudolph aint nothing without his nose and i have no idea what the lyrics to little drummer boy are, even though i hear it 6 times a day. ah...the joys of retail...and the christmas music that drive workers in retail crazy. ok...time to sleep so i can shop tomorrow morning and then go to work to hear more about santa's perverted ways...stay tuned, we'll be back after these messages =p

new layout
so i decided to put up a new layout...that last all black layout had been up for well over a year...i kinda got tired of it, and it kinda made my page look...well...black. it's not like i had anything else to do...i have pretty much finished my finals, except for my sign language finals. just look around...comment, and stuffs...im gonna go veg some more in front of the tv before i go to sleep. i got work @ macy's tomorrow...first day @ 12noon...stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =)

done
this weekend was a marathon writing session...i had a 12 page paper due, which turned out to be 18 pages (with the added figures and stuff that was needed for the paper, but not "graded) for hdp 191 and a 5 page paper for tep 117 that i hadnt read for. both were due today at 12 noon and 6pm. let's just say that i was up for 30 1/2 hours (between 12 noon yesterday and 630 tonight) with no sleep. but yeah i got it done...and came home and slept for 5 hours. im still a lil tired, but i didnt wanna go to sleep for the night just yet...so i got up and vegged in front of the tv. let's just say that it feels damn good to be done. well...im not completely done, cuz i still have my sign language conversation on weds, and a sign language final on friday...but that's pretty easy, so im not stressin, and im prolly not really gonna study...kinda nice that im taking that class pass/no pass...so technically i'm not done w/ school just yet, but pretty much, i'm free! training @ macy's tomorrow...maybe i should go to sleep now, so i can be fully fresh for that. peace and adobo grease...stay tuned, we'll be back after these messages =)

still awake
it's 430 in the morning, and i'm still awake and doing my 12 page HDP 191 paper. this thing is due in 32 31 1/2 hours! i've got the majority of it done...i guess that's cuz i locked myself in my office @ OASIS today from 2pm til OASIS closed @ 3am (with a few breaks here and there). even though i worked on it all day, i still got some stuff to polish up on it...i am determined to finish this paper before my head hits my pillow. that's cuz i got my 5 page TEP paper to do tomorrow, and that's due in 38 37 1/2 hours. so yeah, i got a lot more to do before i can finally relax. so what am i doing here typing this blog? =/

on another sad note...i just found out that one of my 2nd grade teachers passed away. i had 2 teachers who switched off during different days of the week to teach. Mrs. Beverly Trust died about a month ago from breast cancer at the age of 54. i dont remember everything that happened when i was a 2nd grader, but i do remember that i did like her as a teacher. i tell you, there are way too many deaths! stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =(

my final fall quarter
is now over...today (and yesterday) was hand clap day...meaning that there is no more class...only finals. for me, finals will come in the form of 2 papers...both due on monday. let's just day that i will be spending a lot of time staring at the screen this coming weekend. i am looking forward to monday night...yeah i have another final for sign language, but that is cake compared to the 5 pages i have to write for my TEP class, and the 12 pages for my HDP 191 class. yep, this weekend is gonna suck! on a side note...apsa stress relief is tonight @ the CCC, and xzhibit is performing for free at the price center tonight also. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =S

driving home
i really enjoy driving home from school each day. not because im on my way home to relax from a long day, but because it's a time when i can play loud music in my car, and just use that time to think and reflect about what happened that day, or think about other random things. its a good way for me to somewhat center myself, and brace myself for whatever i may or may not have to do when i get home (eg. homework, or sleep). ok...enough of the random blogs, i already blogged twice in the last 5 minutes...i got a 12 page paper to work on. stay tuned..we'll be back after these messages =l

hired holiday whore
i have officially sold my services for the holidays, for the lowly price of $7.50 an hour. i am now employed by Macy's @ UTC for the holidays (maybe more after...who knows?). lucky me, i dont start til after finals are over. look for me in the men's department of Macy's after december 14th...i think? had my interview, and they mentioned something bout my start date, but it wasnt too clear. i have orientation tomorrow night from 4-8...yep, im in to for the money (not that i will be making much). stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =p

Thanksgiving
yes it is thanksgiving day...let us take a moment to remember those who are less fortunate than we are (how cliche-ish). but i am very thankful for what i have. i am having a big family dinner for the first time in a long time. my mom is in town, and my aunt and 2 cousins are coming over...so dinner is over here at my place. im in charge of desserts this year, with pumpkin pecan pie and chocolate mixed-nut bread pudding. yes, the creative juices in me are coming out again (not those juices if thats what youre thinking you pervs). this will definitely be one of the best thanksgivings of all the 22 thanksgivings that ive had. hope all is great with you and your family, happy thanksgiving everybody! stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =)

applications
why am i procrastinating in filling out applications? i really should be filling out apps for my teaching credential/masters program, but i haven't even started. the first one is due in january, but still...i should be getting my shit together. but i guess school (and other things) have been keeping me busy, and draining me...so i havent really been too motivated to fill em out. i should also be filling out apps to get a job for the holidays, but like my post-college apps, i'm procrastinating on that too. just keep one thing in mind....Procrastination is like masturbation, it feels good til you realize youre fucking yourself! definitely words to live by. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =p

Bay Area Virgin
no more...went there this weekend, and got back like an hour ago. i really wanna explore the bay more than i did. i was there for a conference, so i didnt really have much time (only saturday night) to explore. i'm tired, had to drive pretty much the whole way (except for about an hour and a half somewhere in kern county into la) when my eyes were about to give out on me from focusing on the road too much over the weekend. i would give a minute by minute description of what i did, but i'm just lazy. so if u know me, ask me...and if u dont know me, u can still ask me by leaving a message over there to the left. back to life, back to reality, back to homework right now after i close this window =(. stay tuned, we'll be back after these messages =)

short recap
APSA High School Conference was great, even though it was on a sunday. good times, and an education was gained by all who came, including the peeps putting it on (ie, me and the other HSC committee chairs, and especially Richard & Tiffany). cant believe that this was my last HSC as an undergrad @ UCSD. CRAZY!

Heading up to San Jose tonight to go to a conference in Stanford tomorrow. i'm "hella" excited since this will be my first time in norcal EVER! will be back on sunday to work on my HDP 191 presentation which will be next weds. yeah, cant wait til that's over...then i can just relax a bit til finals come around in a few weeks. ok...gonna go pick up the rental cars from enterprise now. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =)

ever get one of these emails?
Attention
I am Mr. Patrick Tama and my sister is Miss Rose Tama,
we are the children of Late Chief Paul Tama from Sierra
Leone.
I am writing you in absolute confidence primarily to
seek your assistance to transfer our cash of Ten
Million Dollars ($10,000.000.00) now in the custody of
a private Security trust firm In Europe,the money is
in trunk boxes deposited and declared as Family
valuables by my late father as a matter of fact the
company does not know the content as money, although
my father made them to understand that the boxes
belongs to his foreign partner.

Source of the Funds:

My late father Chief Paul Tama, a native of Mende
District in the Northern province of Sierra Leone, was
the General Manager of Sierra Leone mining
coporation (S.L.M.C.) Freetown. According to my
father, this money was the income accrued from Mining
Corporation's over draft and minor sales.

Before the peak of the civil war between the rebels
forces of Major Paul Koroma and the combined forces of
ECOMOG peace keeping operation that almost destroyed
my country, following the forceful removal from power
of the civilian elected President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah
by the rebels. My father had already made arrangement
for his family(talking about)my mother, my little
sister and myself to be evacuated to The Netherlands
with the CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT he made with a
security firm in Europe through the aid of U.N
evacuation team.

During the war in my country, and following the
indiscriminate Looting of Public and Government
properties by the rebel forces, the Sierra Leone
mining corporation was one of the targets looted and it was
destroyed. My father including other top Government
functionaries were attacked and killed by the rebels
in November 2000 because of his relationship with the
civilian Government of Ahmed Tejan Kabbah.

As a result of my father's death and with the news of
my uncle's Involvement in the air crash in January, it
dashed our hopes of survival. The untimely deaths
caused my mother's heart failure and other related
complications which later lead to her death in the hospital
after we had spent a lot of money on her early
this year. Now my 18 year old sister and I are
alone in this country suffering without any
care or help. Without any relation, we are now like
refugees and orphans.

Our only hope now is in you and the boxes deposited
in the Security Firm, to this effect, I humbly
solicit your assistance in the Following ways.

1. To assist me claim this boxes from the security
Firm as our beneficiary.

2. To transfer this money (USD$10M) in your name to
your country.

3. To make a good arrangement for a joint business
investment on our Behalf in your country and you,
our Adviser/ Manager For your assistance, I have
agreed with my younger sister that 20% of the total
amount will be for your effort and another 10 % to
cover all the expenses that may be incurred during the
business transaction, Lastly, I urge you to keep this
transaction strictly confidential as no one knows our
where about.

Please as you show your willingness; Forward to us
your full name, address and Tel/ Fax numbers, company
name and address (if any) to me via my private email
address as indicated below, this is for security
reasons as I will only be accessing my private email.
Earnestly awaiting your response.

Thanks.

May God bless you as you assist us

Mr. Patrick Tama



NO THANKS!

stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =p

short story
once upon a time, earlier today jeff found a $5 bill on the ground at the regents parking lot @ ucsd. jeff picked it up and put it in his pocket. he and his friends had lunch at costco after outreaching for high school conference at grossmont high school. jeff was able to pay for lunch using the money he found. jeff was happy and full when he returned to campus for class. the end!

stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =)

HAPPY haloHaloween

stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =)

is it night already?
it's 230 in the afternoon, and it seems like its night outside. today was day 2 of classes being cancelled @ ucsd due to the fires around sd. i'm thinking that school will most likely be cancelled tomorrow also. it's crazy, i've never seen it like this in sd ever. it's so sad, i'm watching channel 7 right now, and theyre talking about a 16 year old who died while running away from the fire on sunday. yay that there's no school, but boo for the reason why there isnt any school. keep those in mind who are affected by this disaster. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =/

fire!
good news...school is cancelled tomorrow...bad news...we're gonna burn! yes, san diego is on fire right now! i'm about a 5-10 min drive from the fire in scripps ranch...and about the same distance away from the fire at miramar. crazy stuff...i've never seen it like this in sd before. it's literally snowing...not snow snow, but ash snow. a lot of houses have been burnt down. a few of my friends are affected by the fire, and may have to evacuate sooner or later. i'm hoping for the best, for all who are directly, or indirectly affected by the fire that's ravaging the county. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =/