You Make Me Better

Like Ne-Yo and Fabolous says, "I'm good all by myself, but baby, you, you make me better".

Sucker Upper or Genuine?

In high school, when I was taking AP History, I remembered that I was on the verge of getting a C+. That's when I decided to go to extreme measures and start sucking up. I started asking the teacher if I could stop by after school for some extra help (I only did that so it looked like I was interested in US History, in reality I was thinking yawn yawn yawn). I started talking to her and learned that her favorite candy bar was a Butterfinger. When report cards were about to be submitted, I went out and got her a Hallmark card and raved about what a wonderful teacher she was and how she's changed my life and also included a giant Butterfinger. When my report card came in the mail, I ended up with a B-. woohoo~

When I say I know how to suck up like no other, I mean it. It's helped me get through some "tough" times in school, haha. Anyway, now that I'm on the other side, I think I've been experiencing some sucker uppers as well. I'll be honest, it is quite flattering, and I don't want them to stop.

During the first 10 minutes of class every day, I have a random journal write for my students. Last Friday's was "My Dream Teacher". The topics are pretty open ended and they're free to write about whatever they please. A couple students decided that I was their dream teacher, one of them wrote that I was their favorite teacher because "she is nice, teaches us, and is very pretty". After I read that, I'm like "shoot, automatic A+ for the rest of the school year".

Anyway, this got me to thinking, are these students old enough to really know how to suck up? I'll admit, there are times when I'm at work and I'm always curious as to how I'm doing as a teacher. Whether they're sucking up to me or not, it does help boast my ego and make my day. In conclusion, I decided that I do like suck ups, 'cause I can't handle the truth. jk.

"I bone to study..."

You know how you read funny Engrish stuff on websites? Well, thanks to D, I recently started taking pictures (more for his laughing expense and his personal collection) of errors in restaurants, cafes, etc. While grading a History test, I couldn't help but chuckle at the HORRIBLE grammar on it. What was this kid thinking? (Side note: Do NOT send your kid to a Montessori school, trust me!) My favorite is the answer to question #2. Click on the picture for a larger view.

A Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane

It all started when D and I were cleaning/emptying out his boxes and a bunch of old cards, letters, and pictures started showing up. Naturally, my first reaction was to look at his old college pictures and make fun of him. After a while, I began to think... "wow, I wonder what all my old cards, pictures, and letters say". When I got home today, I decided to open up the box of old memories and past flames to see what funny memories would surface.

I wish Janelle (Baby J) were here to look at all this stuff with me and reminsce about our college past. I completely forgot about "FETUS!" (something only her and I would understand). After reading cards I got throughout college, I realized that I used to be quite the comic who brought a unique something to the table. It was nice and reassuring to know that I've developed a nice handful of authentic relationships throughout my college years, especially the latter part.

Now, back to present day. I was laughing at how D would save some cards from the past and recycle some other ones. I'm not much of a packrat, but I think the only things I really do save are cards and letters people wrote me. As I read through most of the cards, I began to wonder how many of those people actually still consider me to be a close friend. Besides Facebook (good ol' Facebook) and random chats once in a while, I don't think I've really done a good job with keeping in touch with people I was close to in college: especially the LFC (Loyal Friend's Club... haha, don't laugh) turned to YFC (Yo Face Club) and Loveshack. A few weeks back, Baby J and I were bored and decided to write out my college wedding invite list. Baby J was a little shocked when she learned that certain people did not make the cut to my wedding list (and at this moment, only the two of us know who made the cut). After thinking about LFC/YFC, Loveshack, and all the numerous people I've encountered throughout college thru serving in ministry, I was like wow... people do come and go. Most of the closer friends I hang out with now are not the same group of people I hung out with in college. This got me wondering about how everybody's doing... how is everybody doing?

Anyway, when I think about the new people I've encountered post college - the SPEW crew and D, I wonder if we'll ever drift apart and live our separate lives one day.

To the college buddies I was closer with at a point in time, remember this stuff?

1) FETUS! Your mom... YO FACE!
2) "Janelle's my baby's daddy. Ede stole my heart (along with everybody else's and broke it in the process), and I got Anjied!" - Trainer (what he wrote to us on Valentine's Day, 2005)
3) uhh... jus... jus becoz...
4) (and of course) I'm a hottie with a naughty body.

Unlike a lot of people, I do not rip or shred up stuff from guys in the past (unless I was really mad at the time or things ended up really badly). It was also pretty entertaining looking at past flames' stuff. I was looking at all my old ticket stubs and shoot, I was pretty darn pimp back in the day! I still am... haha, jk.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have sporting events, ballets, movie stubs such as Transformers that I have to shred up now. jk.

Right place, wrong time

D mentioned that he tried this Filipino ran BBQ place in San Bruno with good food and a good price, so he bought me to it one evening for dinner. On the outside, the colors were kind of funky. What kind of restaurant would paint their exterior orange and green? Yuck! Anyway, it looked like the parking lot was full or that the place was packed, so D asked me to go inside to reserve a seat while he looked for parking.

As I walked into the restaurant (I should've known better), I noticed that all the faces were brown. Hmm, oh well, it is a Filipino restaurant, so I didn't think anything of it. As I opened the door, EVERY SINGLE FACE TURNED TO STARE AT ME! Still, not thinking anything of it, I walked in and asked if they were open. The owner told me they were having a rededication, but said they'll serve us anyway. He guided us to the corner where we would not be a part of the party. I was about to walk out, but at that same instant, D also walked in, so I figure it was a little too late.

When they brought out our dinner, they also asked if they could take a picture of us to put on their website. We've been checking randomly every so often, but no such website really existed. One night, when I was extremely bored at home, I decided to Yelp IHOB: International House of Barbeque (yes, tacky name too) and look what I came upon: http://ihobbykadoks.com/photo_gallery . Scroll to the very bottom, and voila! Who do you see? For a while, we were wondering if they were just bluffing, but I guess the owner's a man of his word. (Good for you Mr. Owner!). Look at those two Chinese people who weren't really supposed to be there, at least we added diversity to the restaurant. Oh yeah, the food's pretty good too.

The newest fad

I suppose the newest fad nowadays is co-habitation. Ever since I've been mentioning to friends that my boyfriend got a new condo (well, I guess it's really not new anymore), there has been one question which keeps reoccuring - "Do you live with him now?". Non Christian co-workers, I would be more understanding, but Christian friends too? Hmm... I dunno. Do I make myself out to be a person who seems like they would move in with him? Anyway, no I do not believe in co-habitation. I go home and sleep in my bed every single night, thank you very much.

I also read an article in Marie Claire about how women are looking for starter husbands nowadays. What exactly are starter husbands? What are starter jobs? You go with it for a few years, and when you think you're tired of that person, you just move on and look for something better. Lots of women are marrying in their early to mid-20s with their starter husbands, divorce, and remarry again later on in life.

I guess all this is something I don't understand and against what I personally believe in: co-habitation and "till death till us part... not!".

Anyway, I decided to quit writing in my Xanga cuz Xangas are for chumps. But I guess the Carrie Bradshaw in me still wants to type things out randomly. If you're reading this, good for you! Me you have found.