Rejection #2

I just got rejected by Wisconsin. That's too bad, I would have liked the cheese and wanted to pick up their accent, don'cha know?

Yoga/Pilates

So I've been meaning to get into shape for a very long time now, but my problem is that I can't find any physical activities that I really enjoy doing. I bike to and from work everyday, but it only takes about 20-30 minutes both ways. I wanted to do something extra, and for a while I ran 2-3 times a week, but since it's definitely one of my least favorite activities it only lasted a month. I would find any excuse to get out of it: too windy, it's raining, too cold, etc.

So now I'm trying to pick up yoga and pilates. I'm taking those classes where they heat up the room from 80-105 degrees. I thought it was gonna be nasty in such a warm room, but it's actually quite nice and toasty. So far, I've found out that I am totally not flexible, and that I have no core strength whatsoever. I can't even sit up straight with my legs flat in front of me. I was seriously sore from both the yoga and pilates class. But I think it's a nice challenge. Hopefully I'll stick with these classes and become stronger and more flexible. I can't wait to touch my toes!

Midterm-O-Ween

Since all the Harvard kids have midterms on or before Halloween, they had to create midterm-o-ween so they could all dress up and get butt drunk.

Here are some pics from the party:
This is me and Carlos as a lovely Bavarian couple. Yes, I made Carlos' costume too. =) Not bad eh?


This is Cressida, one of the girls that I knit with and the host. She sewed every single sequin on to her costume. Isn't she insane?


This is Mary (another fellow knitter), with her boyfriend. Can you guess what her costume is?


Lorena (knitter also), a power puff girl.


The goth couple (Dave and Haley)


President Adminijad (Mike) with uranium and one of his 72 (virgin) wives. Of course, he chooses the devil (Kathryn).


Dorothy (Joyce) and a burglar(?)(Dan)


Then we've got Pablo, proudly representing the only Olympic medal in Ecuador for speed walking. Carlos is loving this costume because that's all Mexico has too.


Here's Simon as one of the characters from Life Aquatic. (Not my favorite movie-I fell asleep)


It's JAZZERCISE TIME!!! Oh yeah!!!

And what is a party without the classy divorced couple, Britney and K-fed?


Hope you enjoyed the pics!!!
Happy Midterm-O-Ween!

First secondary rejection of 2007

BU med doesn't want me. Surprise, surprise. They're lame and expensive anyway.

Getting my craft on!

So lately, I've been in a very crafty mood. I've been inspired to make something that I can actually wear, other than scarves, socks, gloves, and the such. Although I haven't mustered up enough courage to go into body shapes, I am taking on a wanna-be poncho. I'm about a third done. I have also been working on a new bathroom rug. And is finally finished!!!

Tada!!!

It needs a bit of blocking, but it's finished and I LIKE IT!

Next on the list, my halloween costume: my dirndl - a traditional bavarian dress.

I bought it from a second-hand shop on my last trip to Europe. The dress was about 30 euros, and the tiny blouse that goes with it costs an extra 30 euros and I wasn't about to cough up that money for something that only covers my boobs. So originally, I was going to have my dad make it, but he was a bit busy when I visited and I didn't get a chance to make the request. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and make it myself. Yes, that's right, I bought a sewing machine. And here are the goods:

I got so excited about making my blouse that I stayed up until 3 am finishing it. Although it's a really simple top, it took me forever to make it because I've only have one prior experience to sewing before this.

After the blouse, I thought that I might as well complete the costume by making an apron and putting some tule underneath the skirt to give it more umph.

Drum roll please...

Not bad for a first-timer, eh?

Now I gotta work on Carlos' lederhosen. Results and pictures to follow. =)

My night in

This weekend is the BBS retreat. All the graduate science students get together at Province Town and talk science for 9-12 hours and then party all night. I'm expecting a call from Carlos some time this weekend that goes something like, "Honey, I'm sooo drunk. Ugh." repeated about four times. Then he'll tell me about the wild grad students gettin' it on with other grad students or even professors. After all that, I will silently hope that he didn't lock tongues with another female over there. I can be quite the jealous person and I will paint horrible, possible situations, but I have to just learn how to trust and take things lightly.

Anyway, I had a pretty good night tonight. I finally shipped out some DVDs to my sister. When I came back from the post office, I bought some sushi and milk tea boba for dinner. I also rented the girliest movie I know that Carlos would never agree to watch with me, "Because I Said So". The story is about an over-protective and controlling mother (Diane Keaton) who schemes to hook up her hopeless daughter (Mandy Moore) with a decent man. Towards the middle of the movie, Mandy finds herself falling for the average Joe, but Diane keeps pushing the successful man into her daughter's life and Mandy is torn between the two men. I really liked the movie. It's your typical chick flick and it's been a long while since I've seen one. So it was quite refreshing.

Next movie on my list: "Knocked Up". I'm not sure whether I want to see this with Carlos or not. My sister and her boyfriend loved the movie, so I might save it for him.

"Lost and New"

This is what was waiting for me when I got home:

Isn't he just the sweetest?! My baby is so thoughtful. =)

Quarter Century Old

Yesterday was the big 2-5 for my baby, Carlos. And this was the game plan: Get up at 6am, cook breakfast and finish by 6:30, hop in shower and get ready for work by 7am. Wake up the b-day boy have b-day breakfast for half and hour and get to work by 8am. Work and then leave at 4:30pm. Get the car, the soccer tix and pick everyone up by 6:00pm.

How it went: I woke up at 6:10. I prepared the meal and it took me a whole hour! But well worth the smiles on my baby's face. Here's a pic of the table set up sans pancakes and bacon. And the dozen fresh roses:We enjoyed a lovely conversation and took our time for breakfast. Next thing I knew, I was way behind schedule and I got to work at 9am instead of 8am. =T

Then around 11am, my co-workers and I leave the office so that I could get a tour of the transplant center. When I got back, I wanted to get a tampon from my backpack. I looked under my desk, where I usually keep it and it was gone. I was so confused. I knew that I brought it to work. Then I thought that my co-workers were hiding it from me, but when I asked them, they had no idea what I was talking about. Someone had stolen my backpack!!!! Luckily, there wasn't anything super valuable in there, although there were some slightly sentimental things, like a pair of white flat shoes that my aunt recently gave me. I kept my wallet and cellphone in my purse which I carry everywhere with me. Anyway, the people of my floor were really nice and empathetic. Even the doctors took some time out of their day to help me look for it. Well because of that stupid person who stole my backpack, (s)he ruined my plans for the day. Then I couldn't bike home because I didn't have keys to my lock, nor could I walk two miles in three-inch heels. So my poor birthday boy who had a buttload of work to do had to cut his day short to take over my responsibilities of getting the car and tickets from home.

Work finally ends and everyone gets in the car by 6:30. The soccer game was held at Gillette Stadium (Foxburo), only 25 miles away. We totally thought that two hours would be enough time to get there, but we were sooooo wrong! It was bumper to bumper all the way from Boston to Foxburo. It was re-freakin-diculous! The game started at 8:30pm and we got there at 9:30. It took us about 10 minutes to run from the parking lot to the stadium and find our seats. There was about 20 minutes left in the game. Brazil and Mexico were tied 1-1. Not much to our suprise, people took over our seats and were so stuborn to move. These people were getting on Carlos' last nerve and I decided to call security so that Carlos might be able to enjoy a few extra minutes.

By the time the seat stealers finally moved out of our seats, there was 15 minutes left. "Come on Mexico....you can score one!" "GOOOOAL!!!!" Brazil made a beautiful shot. The sea of Brazilians wearing yellow shirts goes absolutely wild. Drums are banging, the crowd waives their oversized green flags. Only a couple hundred people sit still in their seats, hoping that Mexico can score another goal to catch up. Two minutes left in the game. "GOOOOOOOAL!!!"Brazil scores again. Thousands and thousands of Brazilians cheer on their country's team. 3-1. Game over.

My poor poor baby had to drive his manual car in bumper to bumper traffic, see only 20 minutes of the game, Mexico lost, and he didn't even get to see that one goal that Mexico got. Then we ended the night with another three hours of traffic coming home.

I guess that Interpol concert, which was playing right across the street from our apartment, would have been better. =(

The b-day plan

Rather than dwelling on crap, let's focus on the future and the good.

The boy's birthday is only a couple days away. I went shopping for his gift today (and I did a little damage for myself too - a pair of brown pumps =P). Carlos goes bonkers for any Hugo Boss leather jacket, but lets face it. One, I don't make that much cashola. And two, I'm not even in med school yet so that I could take it out of my definite future salary. Since I'm pretty positive that he doesn't read my blog, I'll go ahead and spill the beans. I got him the next best leather item from Hugo Boss: a wallet! It's all I can afford at the moment, and his current wallet is falling apart anyway. I hope he likes it. =)

I also wanted to do something special, sort of sentimental...maybe a nice breakfast with fresh flowers. Hmmm...what can I prepare other than his usual cereal? I would cook him some pancakes, but that's a little hard to calculate...although I bet I could do it. And maybe some sausages, and a scrambled egg. I like that idea! I'll just prepare all the ingredients the night before, and he'll wake up to the smell of a buttery breakfast....mmmmmm!

For the evening, we were originally supposed to go to the Interpol concert, but I didn't get the tickets because I was unsure of whether Carlos really liked that band or not. A week after he booked tickets for a soccer game (Mexico vs. Brazil), he said, "This game better be good. I'm missing an Interpol concert for this." So I guess he does like them. =P Anyway, I think it's gonna be an awesome game. I've never seen a live professional soccer game, or any live soccer game for that matter. So this should be a pretty cool experience. And we're going with a couple of cool people from Carlos' school.

Well, biddy-biddy-biddy that's all folks!

Familia Loya

So as soon as I got back from my lovely vacation in LA and seeing all my buddies. I had some nerve racking drama from work, but I don't care to write about it because it's resolved and now I love my new job! =)

But anyway, I had two days to get our apartment spanking clean for the "in-laws." (No, they're not in laws, but it's so much easier to refer to them as that for now.) I heard that Carlos' mother was a neat freak and if she saw a speck of dust, she would starting cleaning our house. So I swiftered and windexed everything. It took me all of Monday and Tuesday evening to get everything organized. I was so nervous! I mean, this was my first time HOSTING HIS FAMILY! Gotta stay on the good side...ya know what I mean?

Wednesday night: I slaved over the stove to make sure that his parents had a meal to eat when they arrived. We would have taken them out to a restaurant, but nothing is open past 10pm on a weeknight. Then I slaved over the stove some more so that his sister's family would have something to eat also when they arrived the next morning.

Dinner menu: Filipino style chicken menudo with homemade corn tortillas.

Lunch menu: A delicious exotic mushroom pasta with white wine sauce.

Luckily, Carlos' parents loved their dinner and his dad even asked for seconds! =) Hooray! My first set of brownie points!

Thursday: Carlos picked his sister's family from the airport, had the mushroom pasta and headed out to the Science Museum. A perfect place to take a kid!

Here's a pic of Carlos' nephew and his brother-in-law.

That evening I met up with his family at a nearby Korean BBQ restaurant, where we celebrated Carlos' mother's 50th birthday. Then we topped it off with a delicate chocolate raspberry cake from Finale, a fine bakery/coffee shop. (I would have shown a pic, but I have no idea where Carlos kept them.)

Friday: His family went exploring the history of Boston, by walking the freedom trail. I heard that his brother-in-law was so fascinated by the USS Constitution that they spent three hours over there! Then Carlos and I met up with them in Little Italy for a good ol' traditional Italian dinner.

Saturday: We went up north past Salem to Crane's beach. It was so beautiful there! The sun was shining, the water was clear, and the sand was warm and soft. It also happened to be Carlos' nephew's first visit to a beach. So the first thing he did of course was run straight into the water. =P
That's me throwing him into the water. And you can't go to the beach without building a sand sculpture! Carlos and I decided on an airplane. I present to you Ocean Air! After we returned with sand in our pants and shirts, we treated them to their first taste of Thai food at Brown Sugar. I ordered the usual Pad Thai and Pad ZEU, which every first timer has to try. Then I ordered my favorite dish, Kow Mun Kai (steamed chicken on mildly favored rice served with a spicy garlic sauce), some crab fried rice, beef macadamia, and some roasted duck. And of course, Thai teas 'round the table. Mmm...mmm...mmm....

Sunday: Started the day off with mass with my favorite priest, Fr. John Unni. Carlos' mom is quite religious and really enjoyed the gathering. Then we headed over to the Belkin Family Lookout Farm to go apple picking! Luckily for me, since I'm not too fond of apples, the plums and peaches were also ripe and ready to be picked. So that's what I got a bag full of. =D Midway between the picking, there was a petting zoo and children's playground.

I was most fascinated by the rock-climbing apparatus. See? It's pretty cool.Then Carlos and I also played Gladiators on a balance beam, and the monkey bars. =)

And a couple of dragonflies landed on my arm, which I totally wouldn't have noticed if Carlos' nephew didn't point it out.

Then my biggest challenge came: how to impress the family with a big sit down dinner in our apartment. Well, I took a very good tip from a former co-worker of mine. Get of bunch of drum sticks, stick them in some Jack Daniels marinade and put it in the oven. And that's exactly what I did. Plus I cooked up a couple batchs of rice, warmed up some tortillas, and served it with some salad along with Carlos' homemade salad dressing. Everyone was stuffed and satisfied. Mission complete!

Here's the whole familia at the end of their stay.

Overall, it definitely wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. His family is really sweet and treats me like one of their own. I wouldn't mind having them over again.

Nervous

OMG...I am so nervous about my new job.

I was interviewed for the position of Clinical Research Coordinator II about two months ago and I was given an unofficial job offfer from the Principle Investigator about a week later. She said I couldn't be offered the position officially until the girl I am going to replace gives her letter of resignation. So finally a month later, the girl declares her last day of work, and I get the phone interview with HR soon after. I figured the interview went well, and I'm assuming that my former boss gave a good letter of rec. I'm supposed to start on August 27th, but I still haven't heard anything from my workplace!!!!

So I finally decided to call today and I find out that the HR woman that I was working with left and now there's a new person in charge of my paperwork and doesn't have a clue as to who I am!!! I had better have a job waiting for me when I get back to Boston or else I'm gonna go insane!!!!!! ARG! It has to happen this way, doesn't it?! AGLK!

btw...my life has been wonderful for the past month. Ususally, when I don't write for a while, it means that life is great, I'm super busy, and that I don't have much to complain about. I should really write about the cool/fun stuff that goes on too, so it doesn't seem like I have a miserable life. Anyway, quick update: I went to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany for ten days with Carlos and a week after, I came back to California to see my lovely family, and awesome buddies for two weeks. Hopefully when I come back, I'll be employed.

My name is out, baby!

I'm a published author people! WHOOOHOOOO!!!!!

Check it out! http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/papbyrecent.shtml
And here's my manuscript!!!! http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/reprint/jpet.107.121640v1

*screaming* I'M SOOO EXCITED! *jumping up and down, doing the happy dance*

Independence Day!

One of my co-workers, Suzanne, lives in the town of Wollaston. To save about $50K on fireworks and hiring pryotechnicians, they shoot off fireworks on June 30th instead of July 4th. At first, I thought that was a lame idea, but I guess fireworks on any day is a good thing. =)

Despite Carlos being out of town and not knowing anyone at the party other than the host, I took out my brave social armour and had myself a good time. Everyone there was so kind and inviting. I felt so comfortable! I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my Saturday evening in Boston. Going to a buddy's house on the beach, enjoying good company, watching the sun set, drinking beers, eating freshly grilled burgers, watching fireworks, and feeling the heat from throwing gas into the bonfire. Good times, good times. And thanks to Suzanne, I held my first sparkler! It was so pretty.

If I get any pics, I'll definitely post them up.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

MED SCHOOL ARE APPS IN!

PHEW!!!! My AAMC apps are in! Now I gotta take care of Texas schools. Darn their own app system. At least I don't have to fill out secondaries for the Texas schools. =D

Justine's Last Day

It was Justine's last day and we celebrated her future job at a nearby Thai restaurant, Brown Sugar. Everyone in the medical area is crazy about this place. I brought my camera to take pictures, but I totally forgot until the end of the meal. Fortunately, I did remember in time to take pictures of giant goldfish they have in the restaurant.

And here's a quarter for size reference.

OUR LAB (From left to right, top to bottom: JiHye, Suzanne, Justine, Wendy, Me, and Songhua):

Her parting gifts (wrapped by Wendy):

Pretty creative with the fork, huh?

Artsy Card

Alas, a coworker of mine has found a new and exciting job. Her last day was today, so I decided to make a card for her last weekend, but I needed more supplies. So I found this awesome store called Paper Source, which is like a 10 minute walk away from my apartment. When I walked in, I was like kid in a candy store. There were so many card stock colors, wrapping paper, card making tools, book binding stuff, tissue flowers galore! After cleaning up my drool, I finally bought a couple sheets of paper, fushia and orange, my co-worker's favorite colors. Below are the materials I used: Special paper, card stock, an exacto knife, a sharpie, thread, and a needle.

I initally tried to use my exacto knife to cut the flocked fushia paper (flocked paper feels like the fuzzy stickers you might have collected as a child), but I wouldn't recommend it because the paper is kind of fabricky and is easier to cut with small sharp scissors. After I cut out my designs, I sewed around the edges of the shiny orange paper and the inside of the card to give it a finished look. And voila!

(I have more views on my web album.)

ScOoPeR bOwL!!!

It only comes around once a year...the Scooper Bowl!!! Pay seven bucks and it's all-you-can-eat ice cream! Vendors with at least three different flavors. And all the money goes to cancer research. =)

Look at all the people in line for the ice cream buffet!

A few big names were there, Ben and Jerry's, Haagen Daz, and Baskin Robins. All the vendors had huge crowds except for poor Garelick. Unfortunately, they were placed right next to Coldstone's. People were waiting in front of Garelick for Coldstone's ice cream!

See?

Here are my buddies with our cups stacked up.

I must have had at least 9 scoops of ice cream. Ugh...I was so sick by the end of the day...but it was sooo worth it. =)

The perks of church

#1: If rich people have a wedding on Saturday, you can take home all the left over flowers on Sunday!!! =)



My apartment smelled beautiful all week! (You can click on the pic for close-ups of the flowers.)

Stencils!!!

Inspired by my lovely sister's work, I decided to pick up my exacto knife and carve myself come stencils. I'm not as daring as she is when it comes to putting in shadows. I'm just gonna stick to the basics for now. Enjoy! My first stencil. It was totally black and white, although the sweater had some crazy designs, so I had to improvise for my beginner's level.

This was an add for the army out of the newpaper.

And I found this cutie online.