What a rush!

A buddy recently told me about her adventure skydiving.
"Wow! what a rush!" I replied, "I'd be scared to death if I had to jump out of a plane."
So, I have a fear of heights. Many people do. I also can't swim. Years ago, I took lessons but the moment I get in deep water I panic. Maybe someday I'll have the courage to face the fear. I enjoy boating but if it tipped over, that would be it. One of my fave books as a child was called Narrow Escapes (gift from a good friend in primo) and it featured stories of shipwrecks in wild seas. I enjoyed reading them but I resolved never to sail around the world.

It seems like a lot of people hunt for activities that challenge their physical and mental endurance; that adrenaline rush must be addictive. I've gone on a couple of amusement park rides that gave me that rush: even though I logically knew I'd get back down, there was a moment when I was suspended up there when I thought, "this is the end!" And one of the best tours I've had in my city was riding on the back of a motorcycle. It was a spontaneous afternoon ride I took with a certain gentleman. Very exciting! In the end, I prefer to remain on solid ground.

ABCs

All or nothing.
Be the best or remain invisible.
Climb to the top of the ladder, or stay out of the mad scramble.

A pledge of lifelong loyalty and devotion, or sever all ties.
Break the barrier or stand aside in the shadows.
Conquer the world, or be a servant.

Action!
Beware of vows made in the heat of the moment.
Can you live with them?

Hatin' Holidays and the Tax Man

When I first saw this, it cracked me up! This is how I feel about holidays. Let me rephrase that: it's how I feel about the over-commercialization of holidays. Plus, it's not a holiday for me if I'm working so I could care less. Thanks to annoying tv commercials and the advertising industry, we'll never forget when it's time for us to empty our accounts coz our significant others will feel horribly neglected if we don't give them gifts. I do enjoy shopping for gifts for those I love, but I don't like the message from adverts:"You have to go out and buy all this crap right now!" I find those perky, high-pitched (often female) voices annoying. I even hate checking my voice mail coz I hate the voice mail lady's voice:"please enter your password." Is that strange?

I'm tired of memorizing passwords, usernames, code images, and pin numbers. There are the routine things like e-mail and online bills, but these days you have to sign up to read news, or browse some online stores. We have to be careful coz of identity theft, but the next thing you know, they'll be asking for blood type and tissue samples to prove we are ourselves. Maybe the idea of implantable microchips in our forearms isn't that bad; they seem to work for pets.

I would willingly have a chip implanted in my arm if my state tax board would give me my refund check sooner. Somewhere, in a landfill or a garbage dump is a check with my name on it. I waited for it with great anticipation, the same way you wait for a phone call from that 'special somebody' who makes your heart beat faster and puts a big smile on your face. Problem: it never came! Partly my fault coz they still had my old address on file. The people in my old place decided to throw out all the mail that didn't belong to them. So, I go online to check the status of the refund, but I can't get info. I dial the 1-800 number and I'm greeted by that brilliant automated voice system: "para espanol, oprima numero dos." (And they wonder why people don't speak English? )
The lines were constantly busy, it was like trying to get a visa appointment at the US embassy in Nairobi. After multiple calls, I get through, give the various numbers to id myself and state that I never got my check. The dude on the other end sounds bored as he explains what I have to do: sign the form I'll receive in 2 weeks, mail it back, wait for verification from them that I didn't actually cash the check, and finally get the damn thing.
Sounds straight up--but "it could take up to 5 months."
WTF! In this day of fedexing stuff overnight and wiring funds around the world in minutes it can take 2 weeks to mail a stupid form. And months for them to track down the check and mail it to me. It doesn't make sense! I am furious but I gotta do it. Hope nobody else has to go through this. There's no escaping the tax man!

Pets,'Reality' & My little crush

There's a breed of dogs known as the "Leonberger." They're intelligent, calm, affectionate, loyal, and friendly. They can even save me from drowning. What more do I need in a companion? Nada. My eldest sibling has sike to get a puppy, but we can't have any pets in our apartment. I can handle any kind of pet except a reptile, and most rodents. One of my workmates has a snake. And it's not one of those tiny garden ones either. I think it's a boa constrictor or something. When the honey had a birthday bash at her digz, I saw the snake sleeping in a huge glass cage. Thankfully, the cage was covered while we were there. What is this crazy urge to bring the jungle home with you?

The term 'reality show' is rather ironic, don't you think? Some are dumb, others entertaining. I met a dude who tried out for The Apprentice. Which show would you go on if you had the chance?
For me, it's simple: MTV's "Made."

There's this MTV show called "My Super Sweet 16" that features superwealthy kids planning parties to celebrate their birthdays. Talk about extravagance, arrogance, and people with money to burn! These teenagers have a major sense of entitlement, they even push their parents around. There's this really cute, dimpled boy called Darnell who's recreating the 'Coming to America' scene with dancers. Isn't it amazing how just looking at some people will put a smile on your face and lift your spirits?

On my recent trip out of town, I was crushing on this hot guy. Actually, there were cute guys everywhere I turned. But this one is special...I have pictures! He is a fine Kenyan with a nice ass (of course) and a wicked sense of humor. But at times, we are not in a position to give our hearts away. But it's nice to know the great options out there. On the other hand, it is such a relief to look back at some former crushes and wonder, "What the hell was I thinking?"

A place of refuge

I've been reading about Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the striking Somali born Dutch politician who is now resigning from her post in Parliament due to pressure about lies on her asylum application and is also being kicked out of her residence because neighbors complained she's a threat to their safety (Muslim extremists have been making threats to her life for the past few years) so she's taking up a new gig in D.C. Well, this woman is not only beautiful, but also intelligent and articulate in several languages. She lived in Kenya before moving to Europe. She has a lot of guts to say things are they are, and offended fundamental Muslims. There's been a lot of controversy surrounding her situation.

Asylum and immigration are hot button topics on this side of the Atlantic too. Dubya and the Senate are working on getting a bill passed while millions hold their breath. But not for long...life must go on. No matter where you are in the world, you've got to wake up, shower, get dressed, and work so that at the end of the day you can have a hot meal and a safe place to rest your fatigued body. Some people are getting very militant on this issue, "we need more laws!" No. I disagree, there are already numerous laws in place but they haven't always been enforced. Or rather, the wrong group is being subjected to new restrictions monthly. Why exactly do students have to be hassled so much?

I've heard about a crooked lawyer who has swindled a lot of our friends from south of the border. People trying to get makaratasi were told about this guy, so they paid a hefty deposit for services after being told they could get asylum. The lawyer would take cases that he knew were hopeless. Even when there's hope, the avg processing time is in yrs--there's a serious backlog of cases. You want a dependable pro handling your case. No matter the outcome, you're going to pay. You walk into the office and the lawyer says "Good morning" and you've already been billed. You'd better get straight to the point and have all documents on hand coz by the time you're being told "Goodbye" you may have spent your next paycheck! At the end of the day, we are all searching for asylum aka "a place of refuge and protection."

Handcuffed!

We live in an unpredictable world. Check this out: one moment, I'm standing on the sidewalk listening to "Kenyan Boy, Kenyan Girl" by Necessary Noize on my ipod. Next thing, there are 3 cop cars in the middle of the street in front of me, sirens blaring. 6 men in blue step out of their cars and surround a shifty, bummy looking man. A few minutes before, the man was yelling something incomprehensible, now he was handcuffed and being searched. They pulled something out of his pocket. One of the cops walked to a building on the same block and questioned a woman standing by the door. I don't usually check out cops, but I've been seeing some hot ones lately! There's something attractive about a man in uniform. One of the things on my wishlist is a pair of fur-lined handcuffs.

Something else I've been checking out lately is guys' asses. A firm, toned round butt is a true ASSet!

Classes are over in the next week. I don't even care about the grades anymore. I just want it to be over.

Thirsty or hungry? Take a break!

I started out the morning feeling really thirsty, I gulped a bottle of water before leaving for work. No breakfast. Not unusual when I have to get up early--I'm just not hungry early in the day. I like to eat leisurely meals when I have enough time to savor the flavors in every bite. So I get to work and, an hour later, develop a pounding headache. It was kind of weird. I don't usually get headaches, unless I've been crying really hard. Tylenol usually does the trick so that's what I took. Then I downed a cup of coffee. Time crawled by, like a senior citizen driving in front of you on the narrow, windy road down the mountain. I seized the chance to take an early lunch thinking some Sobe Lizard Fuel and a croissant sandwich would perk me up.

When I got back to work, I was feeling funny: slightly lightheaded, and weak. I felt like my blood sugar was running low, I knew I was dehydrated, and I didn't want to pass out. I told one of my workmates who gave me a glucose tablet to chew and checked my blood sugar. It was within the normal range but I wasn't feeling great. While I sat and sipped my drink, my workmate was asking me some questions like whether I ate breakfast or lunch. When I thought about it, I realized it wasn't much. She told me, "You need to take care of yourself and eat something every morning." In my mind, I'm thinking, "I know that!" But guess what, knowing is one thing, action is another.

Especially for those of us who are young and healthy. We push ourselves knowing our bodies can take almost anything. Sleep deprivation, unbalanced meals, loads of caffeine, processed sugar, large amounts of alcohol are part of our lives--for some more than others. We know we should drink more water, and eat fruits and vegez daily. Once in a while we get a reality check. All the plans we make for tomorrow, next month, and next year are based on our health. Anyway, I started feeling better. And I got to leave work early coz it was a slow day. God bless my workmate who drove me right to my doorstep! I got home and changed into comfy clothes, shortly I was enjoying a delicious hot meal of pilau, Napa cabbage, and bean soup. Now I feel fabulous! Just takin' it easy and having an early night.

Heard...and Seen {-_-}

Memorable movie quotes:
1) "We are the Catholic church, we can do anything." Casanova.
2) "Deep down, I'm really shallow." Shark Tale.
3) "We want free!" Amistad.
4) "Just when I thought that I was out, they pull me back in" The Godfather.
5) "I'm not a Las Vegas showgirl, I'm a headliner!" Sister Act 2.

Today,
while walking home from the neighborhood Safeway, I passed by an old couple strolling. The woman was walking slightly ahead and she'd slow down and urge the man to walk faster. He looked like he's lived through both world wars, the fall of the Soviet Union, and seen the computer shrink from occupying an entire field to something you can carry in one hand. Anyway, I think old couples are sweet when they still seem enthralled by each other. Talking of strange couple behavior, I remember some men who would rarely walk with their wives. As in, they are both going to church or something at the same time but you see the husband about 5 feet ahead striding confidently while the wife trails behind. What is up with that? Maybe I never got the memo, but is it a cultural thing or just a personal thing? Either way, I don't like it. It implies lack of consideration among other things.

It's high season for sports, obviously. Saw a bunch of little leaguers in uniform. Planning to see a live baseball game and looking forward to World Cup. I recently hang out in some sports bars (with some dudes of course) watching the Lakers vs Suns game and it was quite interesting. I know the general rules but the finer details escape me. But that's just me. There must be some kind of genetic code programmed in males that attracts them to sports. If a man enters a room and there's a game on tv, he'll instantly gravitate in that direction like steel shavings to a magnet. I think there's also a code programmed in females that attracts them to magazines. I've tried to analyze their attraction from a logical view without success. I'm talking magazines like Cosmo, Marie Claire, Seventeen, Redbook, etc. If you grab a sample of these, you'll realize there are some dominant themes and articles that keep getting published every month: "10 ways to please your man," "Discover the real fabulous you," "Meals that tantalize the senses" "Serve yourself for dessert tonight" Even guys who bitch about magazines giving ladies senseless ideas have probably been the recipient of some exciting experiment from those same magazines. (Say 'thank you Cosmo!') Some of those tips are pretty useful, but I think it's the pictures and real-life examples ( love the embarassing stories and confessions) that make the magazines irresistible. Who knows? Who even really cares? Not much harm is done, so hand me that Cosmo!

Da Vinci, Bad drivers, & the Cocktail Within

This past weekend, I had a great trip out of town: saw old buddies, ate a lot, drank plenty, and had a wonderful time socializing. Enjoyed the sunny west coast weather and the sights. On my way there, I sat next to a pleasant older couple. After chatting briefly with the gentleman, I saw 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown in his hand. I asked if he'd read 'The Da Vinci Code.' He had but wasn't enthusiastic about its portrayal of secret societies. The he showed me his Mason ring. There are so many myths surrounding them but I won't get into that. I do know for a fact that they are very wealthy and run children's hospitals (Shriners) which give free care--but the kids have to meet certain criteria. This has to be one of the most widely read books around the world. It has sparked off genuine interest in religious history, art, Europe, the Knights Templar, secret rituals, Leonardo da Vinci, and Jesus. Lots of other books on the subject have since been published, and there are tours that highlight the museums and churches mentioned. The movie had better be good!

My rant of the day: bad drivers! When I get into a car and somebody is going to drive me somewhere, I don't ask for their DL or where they learned to drive. I assume the person knows the basics, but there are times I have to break the silent passenger code and interfere for safety reasons. I was riding with a dude today whose driving made me so nervous that I will never get into his car again. Slowing down while crossing an intersection, running a red light when there were other cars coming, chilling at a 4-way stop for too long, parking and blocking cars, the list goes on. I felt like yelling, "Are you blind!" I was very relieved to get to my destination. I don't want to die in a car accident, that's scary.

As time goes by, do we grow up into different people with new personalities or are we born with multiple ones that take turns dominating? Seriously, are there times you find yourself doing or saying something is just not you? You're thinking, the old me would never do this, but it makes perfect sense right now! Although we may all have the classic Jekyll/Hyde aspect, I think we're made up of a more complex blend. Like a cocktail: it can be sweet or sour, icy, fizzy, colorful or clear, strong or watered down, and may have extras (olives, cherries, lime, mint...) that make it memorable.

Labor(less) Day

I didn't go to work today. Didn't have to coz I worked all weekend. So when the alarm clock went off, I just shut it off and rolled over. I enjoy waking up with the sunlight peeking through my burgundy curtain, then sipping hot tea or coffee after a shower. Briefly thought about skipping class in support of immigration rights, then thought, "Who am I kidding? There's an exam on Wednesday!" For my views on immigration, see my April 10th post. Today, a very special person is celebrating a birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY M!

So I get to Chemistry class late (I've got a chronic lateness problem, I'm either late or really early) and sit near the front coz it's closer to the door. I usually sit in the back next to a dude from Cote d'Ivoire. Rule is, when you're in front you have to stay awake and appear very interested. It's a challenge when class is over an hour long and during lunchtime. These days, I have a very short attention span. Don't know why. My chem professor seems very enthusiastic about his subject. But I could never be a teacher, or a public speaker, or a solo performer. I hate being in the spotlight--the center of visual attention. It doesn't mean that I want to be ignored. Instead, I'd like to be one of those legends that you hear about but rarely see. I'd rather be the power behind the curtain masterminding the scenes.

P.S. I'm reading a book called "The Last Don' by Mario Puzo of The Godfather fame. It's gripping, fast-paced and exciting, kinda like me (just kidding!). I passed by a great bookstore today in my old neighborhood and browsed. What I wanna read soon: Obama's "Tales of My Father" and anything by David Sedaris. Also looking to read up on intelluctual property rights.