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| i'm so smitten... i've actually been smitten for a while, since 2005, when i first heard him speak (yes, believe it or not, live). he's energetic, witty, intelligent, sincere... there's a real magnetism and you feel yourself being drawn into him, despite your own logic (or lack thereof). i am so smitten.
"i got a crush on obama"
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| Randomnessmy random ramblings as i reflect this LD weekend ...
i was blessed to have three different friends spend their LD weekend in baltimore/dc area. it's funny, b/c it didn't dawn on me until this evening the irony of these friends.
first, i had a friend from childhood visit from ny. i've known her since 2nd grade, and we went to high school. together. it was a love-hate relationship (so so so many cat fights). today, i have nothing but love for her. the overflowing type, where you didn't even know you had it in you to love a person so unconditionally and to unselfishly want so much for a single person. if anything good happens, i hope it happens to her. my friend cynthia. i think the fact we had a love-hate relationship growing up has eventually brought us to where we are today. it's one of those risky things-- our fights could've very well led us to continue to dislike one another & we would've been lifetime nemeses, but instead, our fate fell to the other side (thankfully) & we're sisters. we don't keep in touch very well (other than our annual conversations), but when i see her, it's like seeing my other -more fun & outgoing- self.
second, my college friend came from ny (for the 2nd weekend in a row  ). this time, she came with a posse. but, posse or no posse, she has a spark of life that brings me to life. she's so goofy, and i love the fact that i can just be as stupid as i want to be, b/c i know giggles will be in tow. esther c. she gets me. she really gets me. and i love that she gets me! we play off each other, and other people probably think we're oh-so-juvenile, but she keeps me young. she lets me laugh at my own stupidity and silliness, and there's no such thing as judgment. she sees me for who i am, flaws and all, and still loves and accepts me. the thing that i love most about esther is her stubborn inability to let go of people, no matter how sh1tty we can be. she has a faith that's stronger than any potent mixture of metals you will ever find (yes, she's that stubborn); she tirelessly serves people, even if she never gets anything in return. and, i know, sometimes, that's a huge burden to bear-- to always give for nothing in return-- but she's a smart gal, and relies on God to refill her. to me, she is everything that's fun, fresh, and good, and i hope that i can only be as genuine a friend as she is to me. she only deserves so much, and more.
third, my law school friend also came from ny. although i didnt get to see her, our futile attempts did me allow to meet up with 2 other law school friends for a meal in georgetown. a very girly dinner at a posh restaurant followed by drinks at a lounge. i think back to the dark, dark days we collectively call law school ... and i can see how different each of us have become. a particular friend used to be so annoyingly flaky, but now, she bends over backwards to meet us. she admits she never had many friends (her enormous family has served as her social support her entire life), so i dont think she understood friendship, or maybe, she thought she didn't need us. but somewhere around 3L, she started to be incredibly committed to us, and the change was amazing. the dynamics of our friendship completely changed, and i can honestly say that i love the girls i met. they're so loyal, it taught me a different, deeper type of loyalty to friends. maybe since we were all females, it sort of reminded me of a sorority (esp with all the drinking we did). with so many things on my mind, i realized how flaky & selfish i could be & i hated it. b/c i hated other people's flakiness, i had to try 100x harder to make it to certain appointments, or dinner dates, or study groups; i refused to be a hypocrite. having to juggle it all helped me to prioritize, and in the end, hopefully, be a better, more loyal, more committed friend.
anyway, besides everyone was visiting from ny, everyone who came was from a very specific time period of my life: childhood/high school, college, and law school. it's incredibly strange to have these fragments of my former life here ... they each know a certain part of old-me ... and they know today-me. i hope no one is disappointed in who i have become! it was just a wild realization to think about what kind of person i was when i knew each individual, and compare that to who i am today. the frightening part is that i am not much different than i was back then. but, i guess, that's good. drastic changes are more scary, anyway, and probably proves to be problematic. i'd like to think i've fine tuned myself, tweaking things that i dont like, keeping things i do like... and most importantly, i like to think i'm a reflection of my friends; by seeing the good in them, i'd like to think i emulate their positives.
i guess what i realized this weekend is the profound impact friends have on a person. while events and external circumstances certainly shape one's character, the people you surround yourself with also has a deep (maybe deeper), profound influence on who you are, and who you eventually become. i've learned to be who i am today b/c of my friends; anything good that is in me, anything salvageable in me, is a direct result of what my friends (including my parents and family, of course) have taught me. they show me the value of particular qualities through our relationships, and im almost always humbled, b/c they are all so much better than i could ever be in any quality. it's time to start being a better friend. if it's true what they say -- that you're only as good as your friends -- then, i better step it up a notch. i'd hate to be the one that brings everyone down. i'm freaking lucky. i <3 all my friends, b/c they make me better. [is that enough cheese for you guys?]
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| Miami((Click on the Links for pictures!! More pics to follow.)
I went to Miami (South Beach) for the weekend for a friend's bachelorette party. I have to admit I was stressed out most of the time b/c a friend and I had planned the weekend getaway for 12 girls. If you're female (or, heck, even if you're male) you know that it's hard to get along with a single female, let alone 12. With all that estrogen, you never know what's going to happen! Luckily, there was minimal drama, and we all got along, despite that we weren't all friends with one another. We did have the "cliques," but I think it's expected out of such a large group & the fact that we didn't all know each other. I tried at one point to "go to the other side" but it was awkward & I ended up returning to familiar territory!
1. We had matching tshirts that read "Team Lam" on the front (Lam is the bride's last name) with our favorite nickname and numbers on the back. It was a spinoff of the "Team Aniston" and "Team Jolie" shirts, if you can remember back that far. Not only were they cute & pink, but it was as great conversation starter since everyone & their mammas wanted to know what Team Lam was.
2. We rented a stretch Hummer limo to take us to Ft. Lauderdale. It was an incredible ride!
3. We had a professional party planner among us, so we got incredible rates at Loews hotel. It's probably the one of the nicest hotel I've stayed at (Sorry for ending with a preposition; it irks me, but I didnt want to be a smart @ss & change it; I'm not a grammar-snob!!).
4. The bride got an injury during one of our extracurricular activities. She was onstage during a performance & she ended up hitting her head on the back of the chair. The following morning, she had a swollen bruised bump on her forehead with 2 red vertical lines. We lovingly named it her "love bump." I wonder what she told her fiance at the airport? ;p
5. On Sat, the evening ended with me on a mechanical bull. (Yeehaw!) Seeing as that I have yet to pass my background investigation for my job (estimated 8 months, but so far, it's been 9!!), I hope I don't find myself on youtube or something, riding a bull. o___O What was I thinking? (It was totally worth it! So much more challenging than I anticipated.)
6. I'm sporting a nice tan ;) According to the bride, I have to get rid of it come Oct (She fired one of her bridesmaids, and I became the emergency replacement... Should I be thrilled or offended? LOL, who cares, I got three dresses for free!!!)
7. Being at the bachelorette party & asking the bride all these questions (we played the "truth or shot" game -- you either answer a really embarrassing question, or you take a shot!) ... And, after she answered some questions, I started to get serious case of cold feet. Seeing her at that stage in life -- with a mortgage, new car, new job, and almost a new husband and a new set of parents... It really, really freaked me out. I'm no where near being ready to take that next step & that leap of faith that I CAN live my life side-by-side with another human being for the rest of my life. I still eat cereal and Taco Bell for dinner. Heck, for 2 weeks, I ate nothing but cheese & crackers after work!!! How can I become a wife? (sweating profusely). I don't even know how to take care of myself, and I certainly can't be expected to sacrifice myself for another person. It's truly frightening.
8. That being said, seeing her describe how she knew that she wanted to marry Tuan, how she knew she loved him, that she undoubtedly wanted to spend the rest of her life loving him... Priceless (she really started to cry, followed by 11 other girls who started to cry). I do want that someday... someday.
9. I'm still recovering.
10. I used Skype for the first time with my brother. I don't yet have
a webcam & mic set up, so it was awkward having a one-way
conversation. He got it so our families can see Ben growing up ... Oh
man, I was really sad when Peter told me that Ben was babbling
conversations & saying "mama" and "dadadadadada" (presumably, that
means dada!) He's also learning to scoot backwards, and has yet to
master the fine art of moving forward. Apparently, Ben gets quite
frustrated while trying to reach for a toy, only to find himself
further away as a result of his backwards scooting. I can't say that
he's the brightest little boy, but, at least he has his good looks ;)
11. Pictures to soon follow!! I was a monkey & forgot to take my camera. I'm relying on some flaky people (j/k, they are my friends and I <3 them) to share their pictures, but the clock is ticking (yes, it's only been 2 days! GOSH, hurry up!)
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| HoustonI went to Houston this weekend to visit some college friends. I have to say, it was a great weekend & I was sad to see it come to an end. I also had to spend 2 hours on the runway on the way back home  I guess I don't have much luck when flying in/out of Tx. Mother nature is having a good laugh on my behalf. Anyway, I know this is a cheap entry, but here are a bunch of pictures!  
Maria & HyukJoon @ Tommy Bahamas
First time to the Water Wall (finally)
I took my vegetarian Indian friend to Taste of Texas 
Maria & her Mexican skirt riding a donkey w/ Bex (so romantic)
Went to Top Gun to shoot our hearts out (muy fun!)
I <3 Becky (dork) & Maria (weird-o) 
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| SFTrip to SF was too quick. I wasn't thinking when I bought my ticket, b/c I was only there for 40 hours ... And then, I had a 24-hour layover in Dallas b/c of the bad weather. Who would've thought rain could create such havoc? But, I finally got back to Baltimore, only to wanna go back as soon as possible. Young promised to take me to Napa (after much nagging) next time I go back! Good times! 
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