my world. my word.

it’s been awhile since i’ve blogged.  i miss it.  i just got home from spending time with the cousins.  always fun.  always yummy. haha.  we met at la palma then had a drink at tea station… i ordered my usual lychee jelly ice… and of course we shared some strawberry brick toast.  robin caught up with us and we all had dinner at the tofu place…. sooo friggin delicious!! anyway, dino entertained us with his whole vegas birthday weekend.  i am soo jealous!  it sounded like it was soo much fun and lately i’ve been wanting to go to vegas and party and let loose.  i even dreamt about being in vegas last night with the girls and damn it was fun.  hahah.  too bad i had to wake up to reality and head to work.  also, i wish money wasnt an issue.  i would party like there was no tomorrow… have no reservations about what to do and where to go…  but that’s not the issue now.  financially, we’re all suffering and being smart with your money is all we can do… most of us are just a paycheck away from being homeless…and honestly, that is REALLY scary.

on a somewhat lighter note (not really), i actually felt the earthquake that happened yesterday which originated in baja california, mexico.  it was pretty strong.  jake and i were in a parking lot having lunch when all of a sudden the car started rocking pretty hard.  i actually got scared for a second because the tall lightpost was rocking really hard and i was afraid it would break off and fall onto the car and kill us instantly.  some imagination, huh? haha.  now i am actually pretty scared because with the weird changes in weather, and the mini earthquakes nearby, i’m sure a really big one is going to happen and if you read one of my earlier posts about emergencies, i still have NOT put together an emergency bag/kit.  we have nothing.  all jake and i did was talk about it that night and kind of established where we would meet in case we wouldnt be able to contact each other….but frankly… i’ve already forgotten what we discussed. no bueno.

now i am pretty terrified considering the intense damage and injury caused in the recent earthquakes such as haiti.  i say this now and i really hope to follow through but i am determined to have at least half of the emergency kit competed by the end of the week.  that’s a pretty reasonable goal.  my main priority is getting copies of important paperwork though.  i can easily buy an emergency kit at target but the paperwork is something i cannot do without since i am usually responsible in that department, and with my memory there is no way i can remember what we have, numbers, etc.

so… other than that..nothing really has happened lately.  lana’s first birthday party is coming up this saturday.  i am so excited to have a little niece!  i wish one of my cousins (locally) would have a kid… heheh.  =)  that way i can learn from them what to expect and how to act around little kids.  i am not good with kids… it’s so awkward.  haha.

okay…i am getting too distracted now…jake is playing 24 and i’ve missed half of it already… gonna go pay attention to the show now………and maybe start on the emergency kit.

we were over due for a vacation so we decided to take a day off and have a mini adventure.  nothing expensive or crazy so san diego was the nearest place to feel like you’re “leaving home.”  saturday, jan.30, we slept inand then took our time to get ready – no rush to catch a plane.  we got our beach stuff ready, the doggies stuff ready and we all loaded into the car.

our first stop was carl’s jr.  we wanted to eat before we started our trip so we wouldn’t be starving.  the dogs wanted some car’s jr, too…can you tell?  they see jake coming back to the car with food.  “can we have some? can we have some??”

then of course jake had to have his mocha….so we hit up it’s a grind as well.  i got a kid’s road warrior.. yumm.  jake got a large ice blended mocha.

finally….we’re on our way to ocean beach.  when we get close the dogs can smell the beach in the air.  you can tell they’re getting excited.  friggin’ bella.  this is her looking out of the window and smelling the ocean breeze.  on the bottom picture, between the silver truck and the blue car, we were at that spot and driving towards the beach.  i asked bella if she was excited about going to the beach since it was her first time…..the silly dog says “YAAH!!” and jumps out of a moving car!!  thank goodness it was a two lane street and there was no one near us.  she didnt get hurt or anything…i just told jake to stop the car and i jumped out myself to get her in case a car came.  friggin bella.  hahaha. this isnt the first scare of the weekend either.  keep reading.

finally, ocean dog beach.  bella: ” where should i go first?”  this was her first time at the beach.

just a few cool pix…. if i personally know you and you are my friend on FB, there are many more posted there to see.  **i will not add anyone i do not personally know.**

time for lolita’s!!!  the whole reason why we went to san diego.  hehehe.  sooo good!! i obviously got carne asada fries…. and jake got his usual, enchiladas.  soo worth it.

on our way home now.  i love my family. <3

my two boys.  loove.  bella was tired after a long day of running and swimming.

and that was the end of our trip.  soo much fun,  i would love to do this more.  i love spending time with jake and the dogs.  my heart smiles when we’re all together.  awww.  =)

can we say…WOW MOM! 

i want the new iPad soooo bad!!   it’s so genius!  some might like it (i couldn’t see why not?!?!) and some might not (are they lame or what?).  it’s funny, it looks like a big version of the iPod.  but still, this thing is incredible!  the way they let you read your emails, the way you can view your pictures, the way you can play games, read books, use iWork, anything is possible with the iPad.

i just barely saw the keynote earlier today so i dont know too much.  there might be some other features that weren’t in the video but are included that i haven’t researched yet.

as much as i am in love with the iPad, there are a few things i do not like:

-i hate the name.  it reminds me of a woman’s menstruation.  might as well call it iTampon.

-i am not sure but i don’t think there is a camera/video.  they didn’t specify it int he keynote.  if the iPad does have the camera AND video i would consider selling my laptop to get it….

-there is no disc drive.  i understand it’s not a laptop but it would still be cool if it worked just like a laptop.  i’m just being picky now. hahah.

-you have to pay a monthly fee if you get the 3g iPad.  lame. it should be free. i’m filipino…everything should be free. haha.

if you havent already go watch the keynote!  tell me what you think!

http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1001q3f8hhr/event/index.html

i cannot tell you enough how much i love my family!  i have the best brother, awesome parents, the coolest/funniest cousins, and not to mention amazing & young hearted aunts and uncles.  if any of you are reading this, know that you are much appreciated and i love you always.

i hung out with robin and dino yesterday.  we met up at dino’s house and got the dogs settled in.  our first stop was tea station, of course.  i ordered my usual: lychee jelly ice — AMAZING!  **All three of us met up two weeks ago and we visited tea station.  dino tried my drink and he said “WOW!  there’s so much going on in my mouth I’m not sure what to do!”  it’s true!  this drink is liquidy, the ice is crushed, there are jello like things that pretty much melt in your mouth, and there is boba which is slimy and you have to chew…it’s definitely a party in your mouth!**  so anyways, we shared popcorn chicken and strawberry brick toast…very yummy.  after some deep conversations and laughs, we left and were pretty much driving towards cerritos town center but had no plan.  at the last second we decided to check out the cerritos library and OMG it was: ENORMOUS, BEAUTIFUL, INNOVATIVE, SLEEK, FUTURISTIC, SPECTACULAR, and MORE!  it was like a library made for beverly hills! i remember going to this library many, many years ago when i was still in elementary school and it looked nothing like what it used to.  the outside itself was so pretty.  they had a huge tree that was perfect for a photo op! they had a bench made into a book where the pages are open and you sit on it.  there were a very creative fountain with water coming out of the center.  it was just really nice…especially for a library.

so we finally reach the entrance and it’s like you’re entering a mall.  the first thing you see is this gigantic double sided aquarium with all sorts of fishes and even sharks!  to your right is the “reading room” that looks like a law school library with the huge wooden bookcases, tons of books, antique lamps, real marble and concrete side tables…just WOW. on the left side next to the aquarium was the children’s corner.  it looked like a really upscale toy store.  this was my favorite part of the library.  you go inside and its a jungle theme.  i wish i had a library like this when i was growing up!  i bet these kids actually get inspired to learn more.  there was a lighthouse where you could read inside (or play!  robin & i took pictures..i’ll post them when she sends them to me) and a “bridge” where you can sit and gaze in awe at the other side of the aquarium.  towards the back there was a tree that went all the way up to the ceiling, there was a huge world model to use as reference.  there was even a gigantic dinosaur made of fossils!  it looked like a museum in there!  there was even a sky on the ceiling that reminded me of the ceiling of a catholic church or ceaser’s palace in vegas that even changed colors!

upstairs we took an escalator….yah, i said an escalator…to the second floor.  it felt like we were entering another world.  it was like we went into space and were living in a futuristic world!  everything was white, silver, & black….very sleek.  i can’t even describe it…it’s something you have to see.  i hope robin was able to take a picture of it.  they had private rooms on one side so if you had a group project or a meeting, these private rooms would be perfect so that you wouldn’t disturb others who are trying to study.

guess how much it is to get a cerritos library card?  $100!! are you friggin kidding me?  if i had the money and if i lived near the area i would definitely get one! but i don’t so it would be pointless.  i would love to come here and read though.  i don’t need a library card to read or study here unless i wanted to check out books.  but there are a few ways to get a library card at no cost: if you live in cerritos, if you go to school in cerritos, and if you work in cerritos.  i think that was it. soooooo jealous.  i know we have a library just down the street but i’m not sure if it’s nice or remodeled like the cerritos  library.  i want to go check it out one of these days.

wow, that was a long section just on that library, haha.  so after that we went to old navy cuz dino wanted to get some clothes.  i ended up buying 2 pairs of sandals for $5!  what a deal.  i helped dino pick out some clothes.  i love shopping with him.  i get to tell him “yes” “no” “hell no, that’s ugly” and not feel bad. hahah. and i know he values my opinion.  =)

next stop was borders.  omg, i feel like i’m in heaven inside book stores.  i love to read! one of my dreams is when we finally get a house, we’d have a room specifically as a library/reading room.  i don’t think i’d want an office inside, but maybe some chaises or couches were you sink in, or even bean bags where you can just read, read, read.  wouldn’t that be awesome?

so by this time everyone was ready for dinner and we ate at thai bbq — totally hit the spot!  we ordered beef sautee, pork ribs, rose chicken, and pad see ew …..DELICIOUS!!  again, more deep conversations and just pretty much enjoying the company.  “nights like these” is what wilson was thankful for in 2008 when we had our tiny thanksgiving dinner.  it’s true, nights like these with your loved ones warms your heart and soul.  (wilson, we miss you! come back soon!)

after dinner we went back to the house and i think my parents had just gotten home as well.  they were out front playing with the dogs.  we came inside and just talked some more.  nothing like the love of your family.  anyway, i had an awesome day.  and i couldn’t wait to get home to jake.  the dogs and i missed him very much and the perfect day was topped of when i got home and jake opened the door and he held me in his arms.  hahahha… awwww….corny….but that’s the best feeling in the world. haha.

**pictures coming soon**

all my life i’ve been disgusted with tofu.  i cant stand the look of it, the texture, the taste…..and smell?  does tofu have a smell?  lol…anyway, dino (my lil bro) has been talking about this tofu place that i HAVE to try.  it’s tofu like i’ve never had/seen.  well, last week we were having a fun day together so i thought “fine, why not.”  the thing is, once i find something i like at a restaurant, i always order that same dish.  when i’m feeling adventurous i order another dish but i end up hating it….happens 95% of the time.  so over time, i’ve realized once you find a dish you like always order it.  you’ll know what to expect, you’ll know you like it, and in the end you’ll be happy.  so anyway, dino convinced me to finally try it.  this was our experience:

we drove into the town center, as we enter i look to my right and the first thing i see is a noodle restaurant.  i didnt bother to look anywhere else so i asked dino “is it at that noodle place?’  dino looked at me like i was crazy and started laughing saying, “NO, it’s that TOFU place right next to it!!” there was a humongous sign right next to the noodle place with a gigantic TOFU written across.  i’m such a dork.  hahahah.  i’ve got serious tunnel vision.  oops.  so we go into the restaurant and the atmosphere is okay.  it was very oriental, but what stood out to me was their dishware.  they had real copper dishes, metals, etc.  even the chopsticks were made out of copper — they were so heavy!  it was pretty ghetto thought that they had tables share water and hot tea – both in a plastic container.  so when it seemed like we hadn’t touched our water they took it and brought it to a new table.  weird.

then the food started coming.  the rice was yummy.  the sides were pretty good.  i only had the seaweed paper and a bite of the fish.  the seaweed paper i devoured..kinda.. it’s been a long time since i’ve had it.  the fish….bleh.  then the korean bbq came on a hot plate.  the onions came freshly sliced but within a few minutes was carmelized….YUM!  the korean bbq was pretty amazing…makes me wanna go to a korean bbq place soon.  ahha.  the tofu finally came and it looked like soup.  then dino did his magic and added an egg and broke down the tofu, then mixing it all together.  i tried it and it was pretty good.  i wouldnt say it was amazing or that i would crave it but i would eat it if it was there.  it actually reminded me of a filipino dish.  i dont know what it is called but i will post the name when i find out.  so yah.  I HAD TOFU. unbelievable. afterwards, we had some ice cream.  it was pretty good….until i dropped it on my chest and lap.  ahhaha… typical, clumsy me.

because i am so picky, i think someone would have to really rave about a new dish for me to actually try it.  i am still cautious about trying new items because of past experiences.  so… do any of you like tofu?  are there any dishes that you rave about that you can suggest for picky me to try?  that reminds me.. tara (jake’s sister) took us to a cuban place in old town orange.  i forget the name, but i was scared the food was gonna be disgusting. i started seeing some food come out to other tables and they did not look appetizing.  we finally got our food…and i LOVED it!  it tasted really good.  i would mosdef go back again.  too bad jake didn’t like it. i’d have to find someone else to go with me. haha.

enjoy the pictures from the tofu place.