girlfriends A young wife sat on a porch on a summer day, drinking tea and visiting with her mother. As they talked about marriage, and the responsibilities of life, the mother turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter. "Don't forget your girlfriends," she advised. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you'll have, you are still going to need girlfriends. Remember to go places and do things with them. And remember that girlfriends are not only your friends, but your sisters, your daughters, and other relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do." "What a funny piece of advice," the young woman thought. "Haven't I just gotten married?" "Haven't I just joined the couple-world?" "Surely my husband, and the family we'll start, will fill my life." But she listened to her mother; she kept contact with her girlfriends and made more each year. As the years went by, she came to understand what her mom was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, girlfriends are the mainstays of her life. After 50 years of living in this world, here is what I know about girlfriends: Girlfriends bring you food and wine and scrub your bathroom when you need help. Girlfriends keep your children and keep your secrets. Girlfriends give advice when you ask for it. Sometimes you take it; sometimes you don't. Girlfriends don't always tell you that you're right, but they're usually honest. Girlfriends still love you, even when they don't agree with your choices. Girlfriends laugh with you, and you don't need canned jokes to start the laughter. Girlfriends pull you out of jams. Girlfriends help you get out of bad relationships. Girlfriends help you look for a new apartment, help you pack, and help you move or move you in with them. Girlfriends will give a party for your son or daughter when they get married or have a baby, in whichever order that comes. Girlfriends are there for you, in an instant, and when the hard times come. Girlfriends will drive through blizzards, rainstorms, hail, heat, and gloom of night to get to you when your hour of need is desperate. Girlfriends listen when you lose a job or a friend. Girlfriends listen when your children break your heart. Girlfriends listen when your parents' minds and bodies fail. Girlfriends cry with you when someone you loved dies. Girlfriends support you when the men in your life let you down. Girlfriends help you pick up the pieces when men pack up and go. Girlfriends rejoice at what makes you happy, and are ready to go out and kill what makes you unhappy. Times passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Marriages fail. Love waxes and wanes. Hearts break. Careers end. Jobs come and go. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Men don't call when they say they will. But girlfriends are there, no matter how much time & how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, your girlfriends will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out. My daughter, sister, sisters-in-law, mother-in-law,daughter-in-law, nieces, cousins, extended family, and friends bless my life. The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead, nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still. Pass this on to the women who help make your life work. I just did. i might not have that much girlfriends (you know who you are), but i love each and every one of you. you know i'm always there for you, no matter how close, or how far i may be. *mwah*

something to keep in mind I think that what happens as you get older is that you start to live more for others than you do for yourself. To see someone that you care about smile and appreciate you, to help someone through difficult times, to really live for others, and in turn, this becomes your life, to make the lives of those you care about better, doing whatever it takes. Whether that be working the night shift until your hands become bleeding and calloused, putting aside everything, to just hear what was said to be heard, it's being who you are. Sincerity, being genuine in your motives, it's not enough to simply believe in your self, believe in your friends, your family, the people in your lives, something greater than yourself; and live for them, and they'll live with you. And that's most important, to live with people that believe in you, and people you can believe in too. ~Revelations 21 : 3 - 6~ stolen from bumblebootie. thanks girl! =)

it's my two year anniversary.... with TSMP! this is the longest job i've had....EVER! now the question is....will i make it to next year? will i make it to the next christmas party? hmmmmm....what will happen next? at least i got a raise.

jersey round 2 so we're back from our trip to the east. we had the best time, it was just really busy (and cold). this time around i brought lani so i wouldn't be the only cold one, and i wanted her to meet everyone over there. we walked all over the place & we hit up rockefeller & central park.... but i didn't go iceskating since a) the line was long and b) no one wanted to skate with me. we went to times square, 5th ave, passed st. patricks, went shopping at h&m (and all those shops on our way to central park & rockefeller), hopkee and i don't remember what the name of that bar was. oh and we made it to the met (i've always wanted to go there) that was an all day adventure (too bad we lost our map holder--he needed to carry a big sign or something). i still don't understand why you can't use your cell inside. but thanks for holding my bag phil, i didn't realize how much stuff i had inside...it was really hurting my back! i just wanted to say thanks to phil for losing sleep to pick us up, and showing us around (we really did have the best time--just was surprised how cold it really was) also, thanks to tim for helping phil shows us around. and thanks guys for showing us how to "commit". i think i'm gonna use that from now on. * click* *click* so there's the pics, we had the best time. now all i have to do is test out spring and summer, then plan 2 comes in effect. so i'm pretty tired, i just wanted to post this up and thank phil again, you are the best tour guide. i mean, walking all that way in the cold, while smoking....that IS an accomplishment. heheh thanks sweetie. okay bed time! night night all. *mwah*

one more day... the excitement is building, and we both wanna go already. they're installing my washing machine, gotta do my nails, gotta finish shopping, gotta finish packing. i can't wait to get my ass on a plane! whooooo ha! jersey here we come!!! 1/30

happy real birthday mommy!! i just wanted to wish my mommy a happy "real" birthday (her "hospital" or "birth certificate" birthday is on valentines day). and also a happy birthday to my big brother alfrancis. even though i know you won't ever see this, i'll see you one of these days.... 4/30

one of my favorite things... or actually places to eat. but unlike the little shack type deal they used to have (with just the tables outside to sit at), this one is way updated! it's the fanciest albertos i've ever been to, with a playground and everything. it's like mcdonalds!! it's even nice on the inside, complete with video games area and televisions (all on the spanish channels of course). but it was way cool! oh yeah, their still is the tables on the outside. you see... they only have these in like oc & daygo (this one happened to be in the oc area). arnie aka sk00by was kind enough to take me here before we headed down to daygo for mary's birthday party. they have the best carne asada chipys! i think i just like their guacamole, but man it was good! ya'll want good mexican? go there! daygo was fun, but i didn't bring my cam in so not a lot of pics (and i have to wait till arnie sends me copies to post them up). but all i gotta say is the wine was so nasty that i was chasing it down with water! bleu!! sangria was good, and i'm glad mary had a great time. good times again with the daygo heads, looking forward to mammoth (hopefully i can get it off)!! **edit:: here's a few more pics! 5/30

seven days.....

OLD PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE!!! so i was driving in to work, minding my own business...then this old man tries to get into my lane WHILE I WAS STILL IN IT!!! i didn't even have a chance to do anything (since he was right next to me), i didn't even have a chance to see his signal light!!! so i honk right, he still continues to get into my lane while i'm still honking!!! i literally had to stop and wait till the f*cker moved over. HE ALMOST HIT ME!!! i mean really, if someone is honking at you wouldn't you stop trying to do what you were doing and WAIT till it's clear to change lanes? oh no, the f*cker just kept on going his merry way, as if he was in the right. sh*t, if i didn't notice he wasn't going straight anymore and crossing my line then he WOULD have hit me! i swear, that's just the perfect way to start my day.... 8/30

neverending circles "it's amazing how far we'll go just to maintain some measure of control. the world spins a circle within a circle, and we grip so tight, it makes our knuckles white...when all we really wanna do is let go, lose control, fall, see where we land." -from everwood monday night 12/30

serendipity 1. The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident. 2. The fact or occurrence of such discoveries. 3. An instance of making such a discovery. i love this movie, and i love this song.... waiting in vain -annie lennox From the very first time I rest my eyes on you, boy, My heart said follow through But I know now that I'm way down on your line But the waiting feeling's fine. So don't treat me like a puppet on a string 'Cause I know how to do my thing. Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb, I wanna know when you're gonna come. See, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, 'Cause summer is here, I'm still waiting there, Winter is here and I'm still waiting there. Like I said, it's been three years since I'm knocking on your door And I still can knock some more. Ooh boy, ooh boy, is it crazy love ? I wanna know now For I to knock some more. You see... In life I know there is lots of grief But your love is my relief. Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn. See, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, 'Cause summer is here, I'm still waiting there, Winter is here and I'm still waiting there. Like I said, it's been three years since I'm knocking on your door And I still can knock some more. Ooh boy, ooh boy, is it crazy love ? I wanna know now Like I said, tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn, see Ooh boy, ooh boy, is it crazy love ? I wanna know now For I to knock some more. In love I know there is lots of grief But your love is my relief. * * * * * * * * there's this part in the movie when they're in rockefeller center iceskating.....i wanna do that. it's not that i believe in fate so much, but i do believe that you control your destiny (my main theme if you will). i know this is just a movie, but wouldn't it be so cool if something like that were to happen.....a fortunate accident, or maybe some things are just meant to be. it could happen. you never know right. 13/30

what a difference a strip makes i've been using the crest whitestrips premium (i'm on my 6th day). whatcha think? the after pic was actually on the 5th day, and it's much brighter now. my teeth are a little sensitive when i eat cold stuff, but it tingles a bit then goes away. either way looks like the strips work! whooo ha! go try it, it's not expensive at all....and you can do it all in the privacy of your own home (rather than spend a grip at the doctor's office). so there's my recommendation of the month. enjoy! 15/30

look what i did mini-story (complete w/ pictures) my boy rob came down for work.... (doesn't the promenade look nice at night?) continue here.... 16/30

you must get this (or at least watch it) radio is finally out on dvd! go watch it, rent it, buy it.....YOU MUST SEE IT!! also, friends season 6 is out on dvd....buy it! i pre-ordered it (yes i know what a dork i am). have a good day everyone! and go rent or buy radio! you GOTTA see it! =) *mwah* 17/30

I WENT DOWN A BLACK DIAMOND!! if i didn't have that daymn migrane i would have done more (i think we went down them a couple of times...those tricksters!!). the boys just pointed & i followed. we got there early, so i got some good runs in before lunch (and migrane)...now all i have to do is master the art of getting off a lift. 19/30

hey ya!!! 20/30

Way You Look Tonight -Frank Sinatra Someday, when I'm awfully low, When the world is cold I will feel a glow just thinking of you And the way you look tonight. Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm And your cheeks so soft, There is nothing for me but to love you, And the way you look tonight. With each word your tenderness grows, Tearing my fear apart... And that laugh that wrinkles your nose, It touches my foolish heart. Lovely ... Never, ever change. Keep that breathless charm. Won't you please arrange it ? 'Cause I love you ... Just the way you look tonight. And that laugh that wrinkles your nose, it touches my foolish heart. Lovely... don't you ever change Keep that breathless charm. Won't you please arrange it? 'Cause I love you...and Just the way you look tonight Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm, Just the way you look to-night. * * * * * * * i have no idea why, but i have this stuck in my head. . . . 20/30

gung hai fat choi!! *mwah* 22/30

check it, check it out.... thas right baby....hardcore since '74!! check out what we did =) 23/30

this is the goal... wish me luck, back to the gym again.... 25/30