Thursday, December 31, 2009

"We'll take a cup of kindness yet...."

2009, you were kind of a bitch.

I know I'm not the only one who felt this way.

I also know that, in your own harsh way, you were just trying to make us all a little bit better and stronger - in the way we perceive, live, and love.

And with that, here's a last look at 2009 via Facebook Status.


Though I will not miss you, thank you, 2009.

Here's to 2010 and all the hope it brings!


Sunday, December 27, 2009

Travels: West Coast Christmas 2009

Just thought I would log the travels thus far for this bloggie.

December 23rd Departure
Though we were slightly delayed in our travels, we were very happy to leave this:

Stop-over in Denver...completely re-routed!

We had a lot of open space on the flight, however.  The boyfriend and I got an isle all to ourselves for the entire flight, and slept most of the way.  But I got some really neat views of clouds and icy terrain.

Cloud landscape


Icy landscape

Overall, we were very impressed by the way Southwest handled the weather problems.  The staff were fabulous, even if they weren't scheduled to be there!  Our bags made it to LA safe and sound.  Yay, Southwest!

Loves!

Doggies!
The majority of my vacation pictures will be of doggies.  I miss being around them so much, and I will just have to keep waiting since they aren't allowed in our apartment.

But at least there's these cuties in L.A.

My Tita Agnes' Menagerie


Sitka - Tita Ame's Big Baby


Garrison and Charlie - My parents' really hairy child and my sister's new love

Christmas Eve
We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.  Food is abundant.  Family is present.  Presents are distributed at midnight.

Family and Filipino Food - what more could I ask for?

Up Next on the Itinerary:  Coastal Driving and Wining



Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas! War is Over (if you want it)!

As I'm spending my first Christmas with my boyfriend in Los Angeles, surrounded by my loud and obnoxious yet wonderful Filipino family, I wanted to share some sentiments from John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Tagalog



I love giving gifts.  Even when my mom would ask, "Why are you giving gifts to those people when they're not giving you anything?"  I gave anyway.

Though I try to be very conscious of the variety of holidays and I'm not at all religious, I credit my family's celebration of Christmas for this need to give to people.  Somehow, this feeling of giving expanded to my becoming a social worker.  I love the whole notion of empowerment and showing people how they can have some control over their own situations.

So, interwebs, this post is a gift to you.  A wish that you have a happy holiday and a reminder that even the most unattainable things are within reach (if you want it).

Happy Holidays!

p.s. Yoko is looking for more languages!  So click on the link at the beginning of the post to see if a language you're familiar with is missing!



Wednesday, December 23, 2009

City Sights - Exactly what are you selling me?

As my boyfriend and I are flying to Los Angeles for the holidays, here's an L.A. edition of City Sights.


In a city focused on and run by the media, marketing executives really have to get very creative about getting their information to the masses.  But, sometimes, you just aren't very sure about what's really being advertised.

Here are 2 strange advertisements in the City of Angels.


Giant Baby Heads and Helmets?
Near Wilton and Wilshire
July 2009
I learned after that they were public service announcements about keeping your kids safe.
But when you're just casually driving down through Koreatown, this can be quite a frightening sight coming at you.
You just can't be too sure about what's happening in K-town.



 
Chickens Selling...Chickens?
Near 8th and Vermont
December 2008
Now, I really have no idea what's happening here.
Is this a plug for a restaurant?  A market?  A joke shop?
Or is this a threat of what's to come when the apocalypse arrives?


Oh, Los Angeles.  You crack me up.

I can't wait to land in the warm weather (flip flops already prepped as they make security lines that much easier).  I can't wait to see my friends and family, and meet new little ones that just joined our world not too long ago.  I can't wait for all the delicious (Filipino) food that I plan to stuff my face with.

Oh, Los Angeles.  Hello again.



Monday, December 21, 2009

Toesies of the Month - December 2009

The December blizzard has finally arrived.  Seems like it hits pretty hard around this time every year.

My theory is that the City of Boston knows that it's losing the majority of its population to the holidays.  So many of the students leave for winter break, I'm sure the City feels lonely.  But Boston is somewhat passive-aggressive.

Sometimes it will snow, as it did on the 20th, and the City is successful in holding on to its inhabitants for just a little longer.  But, us pesky humans manage to get away.  While Boston is happy that it's not completely desolate, it's still angry at all of us who leave.

Boston has one more chance to mess with us:  Our return flight.  If somehow Boston manages not to thwart the departure, you can bet that the City will call the Snow Gods over for an extended stay right around the time when the vacationers return.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Unemployment Files: Not the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As if things weren't any more difficult, another thing gets piled on to the list of things that just aren't going well.  I'm starting to wonder if maybe it's because I'm the bad luck that's walking around.  I don't want to be all negative about this, so I'm going to get that part out of the way.  I promise to end on a more positive note.

Let's review the facts, shall we?

Thursday, December 17, 2009

BEST got milk? commercial EVER

As I sit here, enjoying some Candy Cane Joe-Joe's with a glass of milk, I think of my most favoritest "got milk?" commercial EVER.

I think it's worth reintroducing it into this world.  So here it is.  You're welcome.


Got Milk? from Jason Wilson on Vimeo.



Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Community in Los Angeles

I love L.A.  For me, it means home, family, warmth.  For a long time, I've chosen not to live in L.A. because I'm sure that I might not want to leave again.

But, when I start my own little family, I know I want to be in the City of Angels.  Not only will I have lots of free babysitting options (between my bazillion relatives and my amazing friends), but I want my children to be surrounded by the Filipino and Los Angeles culture.

"What Los Angeles culture?" you might be saying.  "Isn't Los Angeles just full of non-Los Angelenos working their way into show business?  Or it's full of movie stars and rich people and undocumented immigrants?"

Mermaid Collages: Algea Lingerie

For some reason, I have a magazine subscription to Elle that I have no recollection anymore of purchasing.

It's possible that years and years ago, I signed up for one of those random subscriptions that included Elle....but it has never expired.  I feel like they somehow keep renewing the subscription without me knowing.  And how they managed to follow me when I moved from apartment to apartment...no clue...

But, I used it as an opportunity to collect little clippings and fun ads.  Of course when anything was said or insinuated about mermaids, I would clip that little bit out.  I have tons of little clippings about mermaids, the ocean, or the color green sitting in my journal...waiting for the right time to connect with the glue stick.



"The vocabulary word for this back-to-school month is algeabra- the single biggest lingerie problem facing mermaids."

That little bit makes me giggle to this day.  It's so cheesy!  Even for Elle!

Now, I don't claim to be any artist.  These are just extensions of my mermaid doodles.  But I had fun with them.


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

City Sights - "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"

I love the holidays. The songs, the gift-giving, and the awesome holiday-themed movies. With Channukah in full force and Christmas merely a week away, here's some fun pictures I've snapped around the city.



First Snowfall in December
Allston Parking Lot
December 6, 2009



Santa Speedo Run Hits the Floor on Boylston St.
December 12, 2009
 

 
Live Carolers Amidst Live Wires
Tremont St., South End
December 6, 2009


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Princesses and White Knights In our Midst...In Reality

What happens when princesses and white knights enter the current dating world?  And what if they're in a time and age of flux, like their 20's?

I've talked a lot about Saturn's Return in this blog, as I've been exploring how it's affected my life and the lives of others.  Many of my friends who belong to the same age bracket are going through major life changes - babies, weddings, moving to different cities or parts of the country, and losing or getting a new job.

Even more so, I've had friends who've gone through major shifts in their dating relationships.  Perhaps since we are all maturing, settling, and/or "growing up," things NEED to shift to make way for whatever new collective experiences there will be.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Princesses and White Knights In our Midst...At the Strip Club

This past summer, I happened to be in a Spearmint Rhino club (which is a strip club for all of you who might not know) in the Los Angeles area for a bachelorette party, and the social work part of me got to thinking.

Well, firstly, I needed to really put my morals and ethics in check.

I for one am of the point of view that if you can use the system to benefit you, then more power to you.  If it's the best way for you to make money, because of school, family, whatever, then so be it.  But there is definitely a part of me that recognizes that it is unfortunate that stripping is the best and fastest way for these women to make money, that it could be their only option, and that the system that created it was based on the male need to get off.

Secondly, for some strange reason, I got to thinking about their costumes, and was curious about whether they bought it elsewhere or made it themselves.  I mean, what a craft!  That's some sewing skills that they could really put to good use somewhere.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Talking Tunes - "I Wanna Know Your Name" by The Intruders

My morning ritual goes something like this:
-Hit snooze for a half hour
-Hit the bathroom
-Drink some water, and take my allergy medicine and vitamins
-Watch local news from 6:30-7:00am
-Grab some coffee and check emails

-Switch over to Music Choice's Classic R&B channel (mainly because the boyfriend can't stand the Today show)

 
Now, the Classic R&B channel is great.  Lots of great music, and I discover all this awesome music that I probably wouldn't have ever sought out before.  The music ranges from R&B, soul, and funk - many of which gets sampled in so many songs I heard on the radio growing up. 

Once in a while, a song comes along and grabs my attention.  Not necessarily because I'm grooving to it or feeling it...but because someone starts talking!  Possibly to me, the listener!  

Sunday, December 6, 2009

City Sights - Modes of Transportation

Just wanting to share random sights around Boston.

Here's two that I've been excited about sharing:


Going down Commonwealth Ave. towards Boston University.  April 25, 2009.
Goodness knows where they were going, but the poor guy was pedaling so hard, 
probably because her shoes were so freakin' heavy!
At one point, they reached a stop light.  She proceeded to get off the bike and cross the street, while the bike waited for the light.  The light turned green, he caught up to her, and she hopped right back on.  



Why, yes...that is a minivan with spinners.
Parked in the Allston Stop & Shop lot.  November 25, 2009.
I really don't have anything to say about this one...



Tuesday, December 1, 2009

My Mythological Dating Type

Today, this blessed first day of December, I finally received Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur:  A Mythological Dating Guide by Francesca Lia Block in the mail.

I have been waiting patiently for my Amazon.com package.  I would eagerly check the mail when I got home from work, checking all over the foyer for packages and even examining packages that don't have my name on it.

When I realized the package had finally arrived, I basically tore it open as I waited for the elevator.

So, after a bit of reading, re-reading, tallying, and re-tallying, I realized that I don't fit neatly into one category (when have I ever?).  I don't fit neatly into a simple combination either.
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