Dream Big, and Dream Often.

3 am Study Break

2011-01-21T03:00:00.016-05:00

i'm shocked at myself at how UN-frequently i've been blogging! i used to blog as if i was talking to my therapist who didn't mind me popping in his office every other day constantly like clockwork to drawl on and on about things that were so important to me that i had the urgent need to speak about it then and there! *Power-blogging, as i called it. I posted anything and everything, anytime, every time. I have nothing to hide. I like to share! That's how i was raised: Sharing is Caring! *cue cheesy smile and teeth sparkle* .

but now that habit of mine recently went out the window. Blog posts became few and far between. From posting on my Xanga every day when i was in Rutgers-- bragging about my academic achievements, to adding a blog weekly on my MySpace about the "TROUBLE" with BOYS, to going back to Xanga (i had 3 different Xanga accounts) sharing my experiences as a dancer in various dance crews and ended that with the establishment of my Nursing career as Wonder Woman RN, only to RE-start blogging again as soon as i had a handle on my time management and signed on to BlogSpot !!. but posts haven't been as frequent.. Is it because i'm getting older? Age must have nothing to do with it. People of all ages blog! It could just be that i've encountered changes too big or too important to continue this habit at my old pace. For that, i apologize. I wonder if anyone even reads these things at all anymore. I'm sure i'm not the only one who "got too busy all of a sudden". Well, i'm a person of my own truth, and part of my own truth is that i like to share. So here i am again still, selfless and humbled. I'm not going to lie and say i haven't changed at all. I know i did, and i can only hope and almost believe that i've changed for the better.

My last post was just about 5 months ago, in August. Reading from that, u can tell i was a bit distraught over another boy and venting about my hopelessly hopeful lovelife. What else is new in Shirl's World? lol. Since then, i got over that one (thank Goodness!), and celebrated my fabulous 28th birthday in July, went on an all-girls' vacation with 5 of the most amazing girls to South Beach, FL in August; in November i went to one of my favorite cities, San Fransico, CA to visit family and bid farewell to my late aunt; then from there i went to Playa del Carmen in Mexico to meet with more family for a weekend getaway. Then there was the exciting rush of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. And in between, i'm happily discovering a loving relationship with a great guy, all the while managing my full-time career on which i'm currently working diligently to transform to new heights. I'm always on the move with it!

I guess now that i actually took the time to put all that out there for my own eyes to see, it's easy to figure how i got so distracted from my blogging routine. Well, to those out there in "blogworld" who are as faithful a reader as i am a writer, I'll always be here! Just not as physically able to post so readily as i used to, but the thought will always be there in my head whenever a lightbulb turns on due to a life-changing thought or event: "I should write about this!". Because really, i dont have that great of a memory-- i not only like to share things that i think are noteworthy, i just need to so i don't forget about them!

Now, back to transforming...

It's Better if You Don't Understand

2010-08-24T04:01:00.002-04:00

"I could tell that he saw the world around him as it really was. To me, he seemed to see the sap bleeding from the trunks of the pine trees, and the circle of brightness in the sky where the sun was smothered by clouds. He lived in the world that was visible. I knew he noticed the trees, and the mud, and the children in the street, but I had no reason to believe he'd ever noticed me...

"Perhaps this is why when he spoke to me, tears came stinging to my eyes."

0711

2010-08-01T09:28:00.005-04:00

here we go, welcome to my funeral.
here i go, this is my confessional.
a lost cause, nobody can save my soul.
i am so delusional.
i have destroyed it, it's gone.
payback is sick.
*i'm dancing with tears in my eyes*
just fighting to get through the night.
i'm losing it.
with every move i die.
i'm fading, i'm broken inside ( i admit )
i've wasted a love of my life.
when did i become such a hypocrite?
double life, lies that u caught me in.
trust me, i'm paying for it.
with every move i die.
on the floor i'm just a zombie.
who i am is not who i wanna be.
i'm such a tragedy. this is it.
never once thought i'd be in pieces left behind. Ke$ha

Psalm 183

2010-06-29T03:23:00.003-04:00

Pardon me if i seem to cop an attitude,
But the attitude is one of worship and is--i think--SINCERE.
My heart swells against the prison of my ribs,
and it grows to keep my lungs from seeking air.
Still the breath is not pushed out by such a simple force as 'Pride',
but by the glory of my dreaming that i might, perhaps, be loved..
by you.

Pardon me if i'm moved to endless chatter,
But i fear the beauty of the silence
As i watch your distant eyes caress the words i've arranged..

* * * *

i dont want to be like a bird or butterfly anymore. i'm getting tired and drained from flying away all the time. Teach me to stop and stay a while. I think i'd like that. <3

So What is Love?

2010-04-27T09:03:00.008-04:00

Nathaniel Hawthorne worked at the customs house in Boston, MA. When there was a change in management there, he lost his job. He went home dejected and almost desperate. He was worried about his family and, in particular, how his wife would take the bad news.

Instead of reproaching him when she found out, his wife put a pen and ink on the table before him. She lit the fireplace and put her arms lovingly around his shoulders. "Now you will be able to write your book," she said. Hawthorne, reassured by his wife's words and actions, set about writing his novel, The Scarlet Letter, which would prove to be the first step in a famous writing career.

It is sweet, gentle, soft, understanding, accepting, trusting, supportive, and kind.
=*)

Never Settle

2010-03-02T20:54:00.006-05:00

Those who know me know that my motto is "Never Settle" .. I apply that to many aspects in my life, my career in particular. So as i'm home on my 9th and final day off in a row and feeling useless, i couldnt help but think how much i want to go back to work and continue to help save lives. I start to miss being at work after a few days. I really love what i do. And as much as i am happy with it, i'm always looking to see WHAT ELSE i can do as a Bachelor's prepared Registered Nurse, ACLS/BLS certified, licensed in NY and NJ, 2.5 yrs experience thus far, now working in an Adult Surgical ICU in Manhattan, and taking graduate classes towards my Master's. WHAT ELSE is out there for me?? You know what i mean? Never Settle.. i never do settle. I never want to stay in one place for too long and evenutally decompose. I always want to keep my mind stimulated with new and different things to learn and experience. I believe i was destined to be in this career path, and i "can't stop won't stop" pushing myself further with it.

I've been through so much hardships and jumped through hoops and over hurdles (and fell once or twice) to get to where i am now, and even though i know there's going to be more hardships ahead, i'm ready to face them and overcome them with the help of God. The road to the most meaningful Happiness of all is never the smooth and easy one.

I'm looking forward to going back to work tomorrow night =)

Orlando & Bahamas 2010!

2010-03-02T20:09:00.001-05:00

A bunch of videos we took during our greatest weekend ever!! =)

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's the Little Things :)

2009-12-31T09:45:00.001-05:00

She awoke to the alarm and got ready for work.
He got up a few minutes later and prepared food.
She made coffee for two.
He washed the dishes.
She took out the dog.
He walked her to the train station.
Together they sat on a bench...
And he waited with her.
A few shared moments in laughter,
The arrival of a train,
One hug, one kiss goodbye.
She sits down.
He walks back.
They turn back around for one more wave.
*Heart smiles* .

♥

My 2009 Christmas

2009-12-29T00:39:00.019-05:00

Well, i really wasn't expecting much since i knew i'd be working both nights of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day =T .. But i made the best of it. ♥

It started on Friday night, December 18. My friends from work gathered together at Verlaine Lounge in SoHo for a Holiday party. We've been waiting for this all month! A chance to get together outside of work and let loose! I brought my boyfriend, and he finally met them all.. my sisters.. and they all approve! hahaa. Never-ending wine, cocktails, and food. I love these people, and i love that we can share good times together at a more relaxed social setting other than the stressful hospital workplace!

* * *

Sunday night, December 20. It was a night i've been planning and re-planning in my head for a month. I wanted to get together with my closest girlfriends from NJ/NY for a Holiday dinner and call the event "Shirl's Girls Holiday 2009". If i could, i'd bring the ones from Cali, Savannah, and Vegas as well. *sigh* . I think the world of these girls. They've each saved my life (and my heart) on more than one occasion in their own individual ways. So to get them all together to share a night in celebration of Christmas would be the greatest gift. And so that's how it went. Despite the terrible snowstorm we had the night before, there was still a handful of us who were able to go. I reserved a table at ilili Restaurant in the Chelsea area. The place was gorgeous, albeit quite empty considering the snowy conditions, but it was intimate nonetheless. We exchanged gifts and then toasted to our sisterhood. The food was delicious and plentiful: Mediterranean/Lebanese cuisine mixed in with red and white wines. I'll find myself there again very soon.

* * *

Tuesday, December 22 finally arrived, and so did our new 50-inch Samsung flatscreen!! Merry Christmas indeed! =P .. My brother and i bought it together on Black Friday (online of course, never at the actual store on Black Friday! Come to think of it, he still owes me his share of the payment!). Well she's beautiful and treats us very kindly! My brother is excited.. he's planning New Year's Eve in HD with friends at our house this year! With his new Super Mario Bros. game and Mario Resorts for the Wii, DJ Hero, and with Bailey's & cupcake chasers (our tradition lol), it will make for a family fun-filled night!

* * *

Wednesday, December 23 was the eve before Christmas Eve when i had to work, and i spent it with my boyfriend. Our first lil' Christmas together=) . We had dinner at this delightful Italian restaurant where thin-crust pizza is their specialty. Tell me about a place that serves good thin-crust pizza, and i'm there! we had so much on our plates! We had it with red wine and wrapped up whatever we couldn't finish, which was ALOT!! On the way back home, he took me around the neighborhood to look at the pretty lighting decorations on all the houses. This one's our favorite:

We got home and exchanged gifts. I love my gift! and it's purple!! i played with it all night last night lol. I gave him a bunch of stuff too, from socks to a top-of-the-line Jawbone bluetooth earpiece.. and there's one more thing i plan to give him the next time i see him (i hope his friend hasn't spilled the beans about it yet because he's the one i consulted about it with! ooohh he better have kept his mouth shut lol). Anyway, after gift exchange, i got us some Tim Tams and he made hot chocolate (♥), and i taught him the Tim Tam Slam--which, by the way, is the most awesome thing ever!! Then we planned a movie night with his friends. We all have been dying to see "Avatar", so that night was the perfect time. We saw it in 3D and was simply BLOWN AWAY!! The effects are out of this world, and the story was actually good too!! I cant wait to buy the dvd to watch on my flatscreen hehee. Everyone should see this movie. James Cameron did it again. So that was our first Christmas to go in the Memorable Moments file =).

* * *

24 (Christmas Eve) and 25 (Christmas Day) - WORKED!! But it really wasn't just work. It was spending time with great people, exchanging gifts, and eating an abundance of food we all brought from home. Both nights were unusually busy however! It was surprising.
But in the meantime i was able to keep in touch with my brother and mom who celebrated at our family friends' house. It's funny-- i was the one who ran around the past several weeks getting everyone's presents AND i wrapped them all, and i wasn't even there!!! Amazing! It's like that every year =P .. I'm the designated Santa AND the elf ... *sigh* lol. I came home Christmas morning to a pile of gifts in the living room with my name on them, opened them up, then went to bed to prepare for another night of work!

* * *

The weekend after Christmas i was off, and i planned to continue celebrating. So Saturday the 26th i rested all morning and afternoon, then i visited my boyfriend at work: the Nets vs. Rockets game! hehee. It was a close game but as usual, the Nets lost. And as usual, the bf did an awesome job! ♥ ♥ i get so proud whenever i see him out there!*tear! hehee. but my night ended early because the next morning i'd finally be celebrating with my best friend....

* * *

Sunday the 27th. I woke up at 6:30 am! Arrived at Kim's house at 7:30 am! We were on our way Radio City Music Hall to watch "Christmas Spectacular" starring the Rockettes!! But first we made a detour to Dunkin Donuts to get some much-needed coffee. hahaa. Then we were amped! The show was great! I couldn't believe the backdrop.. it was so realistic. It was really 3D but this was more like 3D times 100! I'm glad we finally went; we've been talking about it all month. Then we saw the Rockefeller tree, window-shopped along 5th ave, and i visited my ♥Penelope the Pup♥ at FAO Schwartz.

Then we found ourselves the Upper East Side for lunch at Parlor Steakhouse. We frequent that place all the time, not only because the food is spectacular, but Kim used to work there and we love her manager and coworkers. They treated us like royalty! We stayed for 4 hours eating and drinking! She even bumped into a regular guest there who gave us each a certificate for a free mani-pedi at the salon across the street! i wanted to stay longer to see what else we can get (lol) but i caught food coma.. I slept all the way home.. Thank goodness Kim was driving! hahaa

* * *

... that was my Christmas =) . A month ago, i was depressed thinking i'd just be working through it all, but my holiday turned out quite nicely. I hope yours was just as blessed!

Miles of Books, and I'd Take on the Whole Journey

2009-12-12T04:28:00.013-05:00

One morning I got out of work, and strangely enough, I didn't feel tired. Nevermind the fact that I had just worked a 12-hour night shift in the busiest unit of the hospital, and it was a particularly busy night with codes and direct O.R. admissions happening simultaneously. That was all behind me as i walked outside and took in the morning sun and cool wintry breeze. I looked forward to where i was going next. I was on my way to Strand Bookstore in Union Square! The excitement gave me a second wind of consciousness, and away went the fatigue that had accumulated the night before.

I went into Strand with just one item in mind: a Moleskine 2010 weekly planner. This is the really nice planner i was referring to in my last entry that my friend Candee also has. The legendary notebook of Hemingway, Picasso, and Chatwin. I finally had the time to go get one for myself! I've always had planners of various types in a perpetually haphazard attempt to organize my life, because it somehow manages to get out of my control, but i never found one good enough to do the job. Hence the wonderful mess that i have now, growing spontaneously also known as My Life. So imagine my excitement and determination to get this awesome datebook to end all datebooks, with the radical idea that my life could possibly and finally have some organization to it! I walked in that bookstore... eyes widened in sudden intrigue... and i knew... i knew i wasn't going to just get that one item and leave just like that. The bookstore aptly quips itself as, "Strand: 18 Miles of Books", and i was ready to take on the whole journey.

I wasn't exactly sure where i'd find the Moleskine planners, and i didn't bother to ask for help. I was happy winding, weaving and hovering over books, finding my own way. I lost myself in complete content, and with that, i lost the sense of time. I was off that day and had no time-constrained plans, so i was a kid in canyland. Or better yet, i was like Belle in "Disney's Beauty in the Beast", practically living off books! Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda, and founder of the Wu-Tang Clan The RZA-- some of my favorite writers.

I opened up a small pink book, "Love Poems" by Pablo Neruda, and found "The Queen" under my fingers.

I'd like to share this poem's timelessness:

"I have named you queen.
There are taller ones than you, taller.
There are purer ones than you, purer.
There are lovelier than you, lovelier.

But you are the queen.

When you go through the streets
no one recognizes you.
No one sees your crystal crown, no one looks
at the carpet of red gold
that you tread as you pass,
the nonexistent carpet.

And when you appear
all the rivers sound
in my body, bells
shake the sky,
and a hymn fills the world.

Only you and I,
only you and I, my love,
listen to it."

*Heart melts!*

I didn't buy that book though. I was intrigued by The RZA's latest book, "The Tao of WU". I'm a student of Life, and i love learning new insights to broaden & deepen my own perspective on it, and the RZA has much to teach. His lessons are inspiring, including his references to Kung-Fu flicks and comic book heroes symbolizing Faith. I suggest everyone give him a chance. I read a few pages there in the bookstore, and I already felt at peace. So i bought it to bring home and read with my bf =)

"Studying lessons and reading great religious books is an excellent form of prayer. But whichever you choose, don't pray to have something pop up under your Christmas tree. Don't pray for a thing. Pray to put yourself in harmony with God. Do that and your prayers will be answered." --the RZA

I proceeded on to the next tables to indulge some more, slowly collecting enough literature to add up to at least $50 (so i could get a free Strand tote bag!)... Then finally i came upon the Moleskine planners. I was so happy. I got it in black. ♥

~ Peace ~

A Lionness Tamed . Possibly ;P

2009-11-17T01:54:00.001-05:00

Has it already been 2 months since my last post? Time sure flies. I still can't believe we're in the thick of November! I found some time to update in between work and school and my extracurriculars :) .

There's this cute little leather-bound address/date book that my dear friend Candee has in which she writes short notes about each of her days in the space provided. I've always wanted something like that, but there was nothing like it in the big commercial stores like Barnes & Noble, Staples, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. what have you.. So i always considered jotting my thoughts down online. If you know me well enough, i'm pretty much a 10-year blogging veteran, and you've followed my random thoughts since Xanga, since Myspace, since Multiply, and now Blogspot-- which, btw, is linked to FaceBook, so my posts show up on there too. So basically, if i wanted to know what i was doing on, say July 28 2002 (my 20th birthday), i would probably be able to find out by searching through those mediums.. most likely the aforementioned date would be Xanga. and now that i think of it, i really dont remember what i did that day, so i'm kind of relieved the memories are archived online while they're still available! hahaa

So back to Candee's cute lil date book/daily personal notes. Turns out it's at a small bookstore in Union Square, by my hospital! Of course! Only in Manhattan ;) . I'm definitely going there asap. Until i do, I'll be here!

* * *

I just finished a nice stretch of 5 days off. And i went nowhere. Surprise, i know! Normally, 5 days off for me would mean a vacation to a warm and sunny place. It would mean flying! I would happily find 4 or 5-day stretches in my work schedule every month, and i'd immediately book a flight just to get away. It was fun being a jet-setter and planning these escapes within short notice, throwing caution to the wind, just me and my carry-on suitcase. It was crazy, but fun. My mom and brother thought i was crazy! They swore I'd imagined there was a fire in the house that i always had to get away lol. This time around, the sky found one less traveller. Well, i did actually reserve these 5 days for Aruba or Cancun with my girls. Haha i can always plan! But in the end, the idea of sharing quality time with the biff & friends and saving money (basically my voice of reason), won me over. I guess this lionness is tamed. ? . For now! hahaa anyway I didnt have any concrete plans since i'd be home, except i knew i wanted to watch Pacquiao on Saturday. Everything else was pretty much spontaneous. And it was a great 5 day weekend!

It started Thursday. After a busy 12-hour shift the night before, i spent a nice portion of Thursday sleeping. Hunmin was hosting an open gym for adults that night, and Candee was going with me! After a plate of delicious Columbian food and a few rounds of sangria, we were ready to tumble! Hahaa. It was more fun than we thought. I practiced my cartwheels and handstands while she did her flips and worked the uneven bars. Then we jumped around on the trampoline runway thingie for a bit. So much fun! Then i plopped down breathless on the mat and watched the boys wrestle.. *awooOo!

Friday the 13th was gloomy and blah, and so was my mood. I kind of just wanted to relax indoors, so i dyed my hair red.. but it's not red because my hair is so dark and natural that it did a very poor job of picking up the dye! ugh i'm gonna have to do it again with a stronger dye and leave it in way longer.. Then, last minute i decided to go out. At 11 pm. A friend was having his birthday party at a big multi-level club in the city.. uugghhh big clubs.. just the thought of them makes me feel old lol. I got in for free though.. there would be no other way! lol or else you'd find me someplace else hahaa. blaahh! But i actually had some fun, especially when Wil.I.Am from Black Eyed Peas got on the DJ wheels. He caught me off guard as one of the most amazing dj's i've partied with, almost up there with DJ AM <3. He made might night. So did Hunmin of course ;)

Saturday was a night i was anticipating for weeeks! It was the big Pacquiao vs. whoever fight. I'm joking.. i meant Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight. I was determined to watch it and was ready to visit some friends' houses or hit up a bar to watch. But my dear hunnie decided to order it at his house and have a party! yay! Major excitement! Alongside 10 or 11 people, rows of beer and wine, junkfood, and beer pong, it was a Pacquiao house that night-- save for one person rooting for Cotto just to root for the underdog lol. When Pacquiao won, the living room went in an uproar. And i was the only Filipino, so that was very much appreciated! Thank You!!!

On Sunday, because of such an exciting Saturday night, i slept in late and didnt do much of what i wanted to do that day... i was pretty bummed and had a sad face for a while. Hunmin's friends came over and i watched him fix both of their cars while i sat on the porch steps and played with the dog. Then when i got tired of doing that, i went inside, turned on the tv and was so happy to see "Bring It On" playing! Only one of my most favorite movies of all time!! haha. Yay again. They saw it with me too bwahaha. Then we had a sort of double date.. to Pathmark! lol jp. Well we had to go to Pathmark to get ingredients to make our homecooked dinner! Ribeye steak, mashed potatoes from scratch, garlic bread, grilled mushrooms, stirfried veggies... and the boys grilled the steak in the backyard! Ooh and let's not forget my red wine! mmmm yummy dinner made me so stuffed. Then more friends came over for a big, loud, competitive game of Cranium!! aahhh love that game! We won ;) ..It was a good Sunday after all.

Monday, my 5th and last day =( . I had lunch with the dear biff, then i left to pick up my best friend Kim at the airport. She was one of the girls i was supposed to go to Aruba or Cancun with =T . So when that plan fell through, she went to California to visit family instead. Lucky girl! We filled each other in the whole ride to her house, and once we got there, she vomitted in her driveway. aaahh am i that bad of a driver?? Well considering we were stuck in an hour's worth of traffic by the Lincoln Tunnel, i was feeling a bit nauseated too. I helped her bring her suitcases in while Kim's younger brother hauled his suitcases out of the house and on the way to the airport to visit the Philippines! With Kim coming back from vacation, and her brother leaving for vacation, i'm itching for one of my own now! But my long weekend was still just as good and better .. When i got home, I spent some time with my mom and brother. It's rare that my mom and I have the same nights off and that we're both home. It's even more rare that the three of us are home! So it was nice.

You know what else is nice?? Sleeping in my comfy fluffy bed right now =) .

Good night!! <3

Taking a short Break from Flying

2009-09-22T00:17:00.014-04:00

Wonder Woman loves to fly, but it's become quite tiring living out of a suitcase! Almost every month since January, I've gone away somewhere within the country. Let's go through a quick recap:

January- Savannah, GA and Key West, FL
April- San Diego, CA
May- Los Angeles, CA
June- Los Angeles, CA
July- Dallas, TX
August- Los Angeles, CA
September- Las Vegas, NV

February was a weekend roadtrip to the wineries in Long Island, and in March i spent a good deal on a former boyfriend's birthday lol so that left me with little resources for a vacation. Nevertheless, all those expenses were worthwhile, some more than others (Vegas!!). On another note, you can tell how much i love my job.. i love it so much that it makes me want to get away all the time! ;P But for October, i think it's safe to say i'll be sticking around here, mainly because i'm looking forward to HALLOWEEN, and what better place to spend it then in NJ/NYC!? It's my 2nd favorite holiday ever, next to Christmas. I tend go a bit overboard with costumes (i usually get them tailored hehee) and celebrating (which lasts the weekend).

By the time November comes along, i know i'll be itching to get away again. My girls are already in talks over Cancun or Aruba for several days that month... and i'm personally planning a trip to San Fransisco in December for a long overdue visit to see my family and to *ahem*look for a job*ahem*sshhh!*. .. Then January 2010 will probably find me international-- on a snowboarding trip in Canada, and a Bahama cruise in February! The travel planning never ends! I do love it though ;) and so does my carry-on suitcase. ♥

It was Beautiful

2009-08-22T21:08:00.007-04:00

i wrote this in 2005..
guess there are some things about me that just don't change.

i'm like a bird, i'll only fly away.
i dont know where my soul is.
i dont know where my home is.

Embodying The Conqueror

2009-07-20T10:08:00.014-04:00

I randomly get spammed with Daily Tarot Card emails, which usually get disregarded. Today was an exception as I couldn't help but notice how closely it related to my personal situation with work:

"The World card suggests that my alter ego is The Conqueror, whose superpower lies in graduation to the next level. Today I am free. I have accomplished my mission and feel on top of the world. I will enjoy the experience to its fullest. I have come full circle on my path to success. My job is done, my dream fulfilled, and I have gained their respect. Accept and embrace the journey taken. It has served great purpose in my growing wiser and stronger, and has provided a sense of relief in that now it's complete."

...This morning i finished the last night of my SICU orientation, and finally got my SICU wings! It was a long 4-month road, and now the youngest ICU nurse at BIMC is flying on her own! *Hmmm, what's next on my "To-Conquer" list?? hehee ;)

-S-

4 JULY 2009!

2009-07-06T17:54:00.003-04:00

America's birthday weekend is over. With my plate full of classwork and studying, I didn't plan on really celebrating. Plus i would've hated to be around the Hudson River with all the messy crowds =P . But around noon on the 4th, i had a change of heart and called up my girls Kim & Ingrid. It was just in the nick of time because Kim was just leaving for Staten Island to meet Ingrid at the Sarmiento's house for a bbq! So i quickly got ready and left with her. I'm so glad i went out beceause i had so much fun and met so many cool new people! There's a bunch of pictures from it floating around Facebook if you're friends with me or anyone who was there lol.

For a nice little recap of the night, i'm taking a quote from Genevieve, who was hostess of the whole thing, along with her siblings Steph and Ted:

The morning started with breakfast for 10. Everyone rising like sluggish corpses searching for fresh coffee and food was a sight to see. With everyone's help the afternoon was spent transforming the abode into its well acclaimed party house now known as "Firepit Lounge". 3pm grill started and doors opened. Family and friends pour in. Bocce ball game in full swing. Conversations and laughter so loud u can hear around the block. Sunset quickly arrives and the music starts. PERFECT. Night fall the fireworks show begins. The dance floor is PACKED with 50 of our friends and family at minimum. A group of us decide to sit on the lawn and have our own little family moment. Fireworks in full swing and i realize almost everyone stopped dancing to enjoy the view. The shows done but the party continues. People continue to flow in. Flip cup is in full effect on 2 of the tables. Dancing continues til 4am. Closing time. Music comes to a slow pace. People say their goodbyes.

The next day they had another bbq with drinks again, but i decided to stay in and finish up my case study. BLaH! Well, one night of crazy memories is enough for me hehee.

Hope yours was fun too!

I Built a Bridge!

2009-07-05T22:52:00.006-04:00

Halloooo!! here i am! sorry for the huge gap from my last post to now! But this is my bridge that i just built! walk with me :)

So much has been going on. For one, i've been on my toes in the SICU. I'm still under training there! can u believe it? this is my 4th month, and it's been a vigorous orientation. Even though i'm in the last leg of my training (i'm on my own in a couple weeks), I feel like there's still SO much more i need to learn! I started off training on days.. and just a few weeks ago i switched to nights. I'm back in Vampire status! Nights is just as crazy as days. There's just different routines at night. The staff on both shifts have been more than helpful and welcoming to me. I'm so thankful for that! There's more young blood on days though hehee, which makes it super fun. At nights, it's the older veteran Filipino nurses, but it's also good because i can learn to be tough and autonomous. i feel like i'm working with 5 of my moms every night! hehee I'm the youngest ICU nurse there. It's all been so cool! I love it! i love it! i love it! And on my days off, i read up on critical care for fun.. yes, i said for fun hehee leave me alone!

And as if i didn't have enough to study, in May I enrolled in a class at UMDNJ towards my Master's degree. Just one class for now. Clinical Pharmacology, but *argh* it takes up a big chunk of my time! every other week is a case study, and the other weeks is an exam! If i didnt have Carol taking the class with me, i think i'd go bald and insane! but i need this. i want to keep myself busy and productive. and now all these drugs make more sense to me hahaa i feel the powerr!

Another thing that takes up a major amount of my time, and happily so, is Howieeee!! =) yaayy i love him! We both work so so so so so much (him especially), but we make time. It's been alot of fun exploring new restaurants for brunch, lunch, dinner.. ordering in "Yummy House" delivery.. and abusing our Netflix hahaa. i also was his cheerleader whenever he had a basketball or football game. he's a jock. a jock doc! Well, he finished his residency last month and now he's in LA for his fellowship. So he's there, and i'm here.. which is how i finally have time to blog! lol jp. but really, it's been an awesome adventure. I've already been there twice, helping him find an apartment and moving in. he has a sweet apartment! LA is a pretty cool place to visit (not somewhere I'd want to live though hehee i ♥ NY-- and SF!). I know he will make history in LA, leave a legacy for others to follow, and just be GREAT.

Meanwhile, all work and no play makes Shirl a dull dull girl, so i've been avoiding dull-ality at all costs! Even though i've been on orientation, i managed to make time to fly out to San Diego, LA twice, and this Wednesday, i'm flying to Dallas to meet up with Howie and, conveniently, see my dad who lives there! it will be my first time in Dallas, YEE-HAW! lol i cant wait to say that when i land, i've always wanted to do that!

Ok so that's my bridge. Thanks for taking the walk with me :) You will hear more from me more often, because i think i finally got a hold of this time management thing.

See ya!

So You Think You Can Dance?

2009-03-31T16:41:00.004-04:00

I haven't been watching this season, but i came across a routine on YouTube that moved me to post it on here. This is Chelsea Highwater (hot) and Mark Kanemura (double hot) dancing hip hop to "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. Triple hot!!

I Am the Decisive Element

2009-03-25T16:39:00.013-04:00

Had an extraordinarily great yoga session today at St. Mark's in the East Village. That was much needed, given the stress and uneasiness i've been feeling recently.. including planning and re-planning Howie's surprise birthday (which, according to him, was "a smashing success" ♥), mentally preparing myself for the SICU, uncontrollably eating way out of my usual!, and some personal issues with Love. Regardless of whether or not those emotions were necessary, i did feel them! and they were valid at the time!! Anyhow, i just needed to simply relax. So with every deep breath, i exhaled one thing that used to bother me; and with every concentrated pose, i focused on producing positive outcomes, pushing myself to ACT instead of wasting time worrying and then subconsciously forming evil thoughts in my head that cloud all the rest of my rationality.

I'm a worry-wart, i know.
That's something i have to work on...

By the end of the hour-long exercise, my mind was so clear i could see through my closed eyes! As we were lying there, the instructor read this quote that impacted me so much i felt like it was directed towards ME. I totally became a part of that quote, and i'd like to share it with you now:

I AM THE DECISIVE ELEMENT
by Goethe

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element.
It is my personal approach that creates the climate.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.
In all situations, it is my response that decides
whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated,
and a person is humanized or de-humanized.
If we treat people as they are, we make them worse.
If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become
what they are capable of becoming.
* * *

I love how Life answers my questions in the most amazing, unforeseen ways. I feel much better now.

Namaste. =)

Happy Birthday to My Amazing Boyfriend!

2009-03-21T22:06:00.007-04:00

After weeks of stressful planning, and with the help of his awesome friends, I was able to pull off a wonderful surprise for Howie's birthday! Aside from a minor setback which caused additional stress that Howie created (lol he made me tell him which restaurant i was taking him to, then he changed it! it ended up being better than the original idea though. hehe), things went pretty smoothly, and more! It was a delightful success!

He was on-call during his birthday weekend, which is most unfortunate but not quite surprising considering his profession, but I decided Friday (yesterday) would be the best day. We celebrated in TriBeca. I treated him to an amazing French dinner at Chanterelle topped off with a specially made birthday dessert from the chef. That dinner itself would've sufficed to make for a remarkably special--and highly romantic--celebration! But we didn't stop there. After dinner, we walked over to M by Megu for drinks, where he was pleasantly SURPRISED by some of his closest friends! One of those friends is director of the place so she helped me set it up. Gotta love open bar with a professional mixologist! He kept those delicious cocktails coming. There was green tea cake! I'm so glad they were able to make it. That was an incredible way for me to meet and get to know the people whom Howie holds near & dear. I learned that he's been blessed with really good friends =). You dont understand the pains i went through finding these people whom i hardly know, getting their emails and hunting them down on FaceBook (lol), messaging them, then making a detailed Evite to send out 2 days before showtime, and repeatedly making sure of each one's confirmations!! hahaha. *pphhheewww!!!

Thank goodness his birthday only comes once a year!

Aside from planning for that night, i spent the other half of my time getting his gift. At first i was racking my brain on what to get, because i simply didn't know! But all i had to do was take a few moments to think about him, and the ideas came rolling. Instead of 1 thing, i got him 5. hehee. Aren't i sweet? ;)

oh yea, and today (his actual birthday) he was surprised once more by his cousin and her bf with another yummy birthday cake! I just realized that altogether, he had 3 birthday cakes with candles to blow out. Wow , his birthday turned out to be better than planned. ♥

gosh i'm tired! goodnight =)

I'm On a Good Music Roll!

2009-03-19T03:01:00.009-04:00

I've been browsing Pandora and Imeem for the past 2 hours, and found a bunch of songs that tugged at my heart! Gotta take notice when that happens, which is rare and always comes unexpectedly. =)

p.s.- Songs 7 to 10 are only snippets, so click on the link below to pop up the playlist in a separate window & hear them all in full length!
So Happy

Slumdog Song Remixed by The Pussycat Dolls

2009-03-19T02:00:00.003-04:00

A.R. Rahman, the genius behind the finale song "Jai Ho" for Slumdog Millionnaire, proves just how genius he can be. He collaborated with The Pussycat Dolls to make an awesome remix AND a sexy music video! ENJOY it below. Btw- exactly what nationality is Nicole Scherzinger? I thought she was part Filipina or some type of Asian.. Hawaiian.. but here she looks Indian. Whatevs, she's always been hot. ;)

S.I.C.U. woohoo!

2009-03-15T03:59:00.019-04:00

(Surgical Intensive Care Unit)

oh dear. is this going to be a monthly blog? i sure hope not! i used to be able to blog every other day. Well, so much has happened.

About a month ago, i received a phone call from my awesome nurse manager that a full-time, night-shift SICU position just opened. Mind you, i got this news via voicemail, since she called during the day while i was asleep. Thank goodness my hunger woke me up a little past noontime to get the message! Anyway, in her message, she had spoken with the nurse manager in SICU about me and suggested i apply for transfer there, saying it will be a good transition for me. I jumped out of bed and squealed! I had to listen to the message again. Immediately i called her back and told her of my strong interest in transferring... then i caught myself, hoping she didn't interpret my excitement as wanting to leave her unit, 4 Linsky! (I do love my coworkers on 4 Linsky). I let her know that i would certainly apply to transfer, and she warned me to do it as soon as possible, as the postings are only up for a week. What she didn't know was that i was just 1 block away from the hospital! lol i was at Howie's. In a matter of one hour, i went to the nursing office, filled out the form, went to the SICU, spoke with the nurse manager, handed her a copy of my application (she was surprised to see me just minutes after she spoke with my manager. hahaha), then, after several failed & frustrated attempts at faxing it to HR, i actually cabbed it to the HR office in Midtown to personally hand in the paper myself!! *phew! .. then i called back my manager and told her I DID IT! in a matter of a one hour lol.

i crossed my fingers that week...

i made sure i kept busy in order to refrain myself from paranoia and anxiety. Thank goodness that was the weekend of Valentine's and President's Day, when Howie took me on a Long Island expedition hehee (see previous blog) ♥. I even picked up an overtime shift. thank goodness, really! or else i would've gone mad.

Then, that next week, i got another phone call from my manager, of course during the day, and of course while i was sleeping! So i got the GREAT NEWS via voicemail again that my transfer application was approved! I suddenly felt relief, followed by lots of "omg OMG omg omg omg OMG!!!!!" hahaha. i'm going to the SICU! i'm gonna run with the big boys! *pause*...wow.. i don't know anything! oh man, i'm scared.

I guess i must've done something right at work for my manager to go ahead and recommend me to the sicu. I'm amazed she remembered my plan to work there one day--the last and only time i mentioned that was way back during my job interview with her! which is why i think she's so awesome. So my official start date is in two weeks. Orientation will start on DAYS, M-F. My sleeping schedule will totally be out of whack. At least i'll have my weekends off. And the best part is i will finally have the same schedule as Howie, yay! Until then, we're like passing ships. He gets out of work in the evening, and we see each other for literally 30 minutes (out of the whole day!) before i leave for work at 7pm! and i work every other weekend, and even still, on some weekends that i'm off, he'd be ON CALL!! *arrgghh, i really hated it when he's on-call during my weekends off. It got a bit depressing. So our synched scheds is the upside of being on days temporarily.

Although it makes me sad knowing i'll miss my 4L coworkers, i'm looking forward to my big move. Looking at the big picture, this is something i really want and need in order to reach my goals. Besides, in my heart i'll always be an Abilifly sister! heheh that's between me and 4L ;)

My Valentine's/Presidents Day Weekend

2009-02-20T22:23:00.008-05:00

HI!

It's been a while since i blogged because i'm having so much fun with McHottie! Even though he works so many hours every day, and i work nights, we make time ♥. Well, he puts in more effort cuz it's harder for him. I'm still pretty flexible with my schedule.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear such good feedback regarding our Key West video! We fell in love in Key West, so it was a wonderful vacation. Over Valentine's/President's Day weekend, we went on another getaway to Long Island. We just wanted out of the city, primarily away from the noise. Living in Manhattan is fun... if you're awake! hehee. It's a different story when you're trying to sleep, even worse particularly for me since i have to sleep during the day! By the way, it's so funny that he lives just 3 buildings down from my old apartment, on the same block on the same side of the street! Funny i never came across him before.

Sooo i worked on Valentine's Day =P . I never took that holiday seriously, so i didn't mind. But during the day, he took me to Five Points cafe for brunch. It's surprisingly nice inside! We got there early enough to snag a table in the back under the ceiling windows. Smoked salmon on top of eggs florentine hit the spot. Churros dipped in mexican hot chocolate are to die for! and if you're a weirdo like my boyfriend and like bloody maries, they're actually really good there.

Sunday and President's Day were spent in Long Island. First stop on the trip was Flushing Queens where he took me to this dim sum place for lunch. It was crowded and we waited about 20 minutes to be seated, but it was worth it!! The food kept on coming! Soup dumplings *delish! Then we went to Hauppuage and checked into the large Hyatt Regency, in the middle of peace & quiet =). Normally a night is $200, but we got it for $52! amazing! We went swimming for a bit, then got ready for dinner. I made reservations for Honu, a Hawaiian restaurant in Huntington. That place is gorgeous! We sat by the fireplace and got waited on by the nicest, most knowledgable server.

The next day we went to the eastern part of LI and visited 2 wineries: Paumonauk Vineyards in Riverhead, and Wolffer Estates in the Hamptons. I brought home a bottle of Vin Rose, a sweet fruity blush. I wanted to also get the Claletto Amarone style Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, which is by far the best red i've ever tasted, but it was too much $$. Anything Amarone fits my taste.

We got back fairly early in the evening, but i was so tired from our adventures, i fell asleep right away while he stayed productive and reviewed research papers and prepared for conferences. He's got limitless energy for someone who drove the whole trip! That doesn't say much for me, hehee =P i love to sleep! Eventually however, i woke up and we finished the second half of "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist". That movie is too cute! We really liked it, especially for the reason that it's totally set in Downtown, so we were calling out the places during the movie hehe.

That's pretty much it! I hope yours was great too!

I posted pictures on my FaceBook. Enjoy =)

I Made a Key West Video!

2009-02-10T02:55:00.007-05:00

i love doing these things! it takes me forever, but the end product is always worth it. We made so many wonderful memories from this vacation that i want to share them! ENJOY!!

Songs:
1. "The Zephyr Song" -Red Hot Chili Peppers (cover)
2. "Brown-Eyed Girl" -Van Morrison
3. "Starlight" -Muse

Stay tuned til the end for the BLOOPERS & CANDIDS hehee ;)
♥

Even Wonder Woman Needs a Hero

2009-02-06T08:22:00.009-05:00

I'll always remember what someone told me when it comes to finding the right person. She told me:

"Find a man who's two steps ahead of you."

She meant someone who'll make you want to better yourself; who will motivate, encourage, and support you along the way.. Someone who stands to be an example of the type of person you admire and want to be. I used to think it would be hard to find such a person because i'm always striving for the best and going for novel challenges i can learn from. Who's going to be ahead of that?? I wanted to meet someone who was passionate about everything in his life and strives for the best in everything, because that's how i am. After a while, i came to accept that the only men who would fit my criteria is an aerospace engineer, a neurophysicist, and Leonardo DiCaprio. What were my chances?

Against all odds, i think i found him. Well, he found me. =)

Superman swept Wonder Woman off her feet.

Our Song

2009-01-30T14:00:00.002-05:00

Enjoy!

On Current Repeat

2009-01-26T01:02:00.005-05:00

i know this song has been out for a while, but i dunno why it took me this long to notice it.

My fave line:

i swore i'd never fall again,
but this dont even feel like fallin."

Detoxing.. Just for 2 Days hehe

2009-01-25T22:08:00.007-05:00

I had too much alcohol this past weekend!

Last night was the charity event for NY Cares with Lola's Rags fashion show at Fontana's. It was my 2nd Lola's Rags show. This one had a better turnout than the last. Until i get the professional photos from the designer, here's one from my camera:

Lola's Rags is inspired by 1920s fashion, focusing on lingerie. I loved all the looks. It was really crowded there. We had a runway set up, but by showtime, so many people had packed themselves in, that the runway shrunk to a small circle lol. But the main point of the event was to raise funds for NY Cares projects, mainly aiding the homeless of NYC. And since there were so many guests, i'm happy to say it was a success =)

Afterwards, i met Dr. McHottie at his friend's bday dinner at Typhoon on St. Mark's, then we partied at Rewind.. Asian'd out! But still fun. McHottie introduced me to sooo many of his friends! i feel bad to admit i cant recall all their names. I had never-ending Stoli blue & sprites hehee, which is partly to blame for that! I drank more than i told myself i'd drink, but what else is new? =P

I woke up early the next morning to run some errands, then met my coworkers for breakfast at The Pancake House in Fort Lee. YUMMY CREPES! Afterwards, we all had an hour-long roadtrip to central Jersey to visit our former coworker, Roma. She has a beautiful 2 bedroom apartment right across from the beach! We brought food and wine, drank and laughed. There were ALOT of us, so it was loud and rowdy! The work stories we shared were hilarious, and if u were there, u probably would've been offended and grossed out! I love getting together with them because, as nurses, we can all relate with each other. Plus the gossip is priceless! hahaha. i feel really lucky to have ended up with such a great group of people to work with. We totally rock! I will post pics when i get them.. We took so many.

man, i'm still full. I'm trying to detox starting now until Wednesday when i leave for Key West (haha not a long enough time, i know). But now my brother wants to open up his bottle of Cabernet, and i cant say no to red wine! I guess i'll have one more drink ;p

3 more days til Key West! woohoo!! McHottie is setting up scuba diving lessons for me so we can go diving by the reefs! aah i'm too excited for this vacation!

enjoy the video!

Another Charity Event & Fashion Show

2009-01-23T05:41:00.008-05:00

For the Love of Fun, Fashion, and Philanthropy...

THE BIG TEASE II: A WINTER WONDERLAND

Hosted by: NY Pin-Up Photography Group, NY Cares, and Lola's Rags

Date: Saturday, 1/24/09

Time: 7pm - 10pm

Location: Fontana's

Address: 105 Eldridge St. (b/w Grand & Broome) NY, NY 10002

Contact Info: shirleen@vzw.blackberry.net

Description:
Another charity fundraising/fashion event! If you came to our last party in November, you know this will be lots of fun and for another great cause!

In November, we raised funds for Orphan's International World Wide (OIWW), a non-profit organization that gives financial aid to children left orphaned from natural disasters. This time, our goal is to help NY Cares, an organization aiming to mobilize volunteers to take action against serious social issues facing our city. With current econimic conditions worsened by the wintry weather, we're targeting help for the homeless of NYC.

A donation of $15 at the door is all we ask. 100% of proceeds will go towards NY Cares.

* * *
Featuring:
A fashion show with 1920's-styled lingerie, designed by Lola's Rags
- A burlesque performance, featuring La Maia
- Carnival acts
- Live Music and DJ
- Raffles and door prizes
- Gift bags
- more

* * *
See u there! ♥

>NY CARES

"Flying" Can Be an Unfavorable Superpower

2009-01-22T05:43:00.007-05:00

bubbz.

You're beautiful. That's for sure.
You'll never ever fade.
But it's not for sure that i won't ever change.
And though my love is true and rare,
I'm like a bird: i'll only fly away.
I don't know where my soul is. I don't know where my home is.

Your faith, and your faith in me, brings me to tears.
And it pains me so much to tell that u don't know me that well,
Though u know my love is rare and true..

It's not that i wanna say goodbye,
It's just that everytime we try at this thing call Love,
Each and every single day,
I know that i'll eventually have to give u away.
I'm just scared that we may fall through.

And baby all i need for u to know is
I'm like a bird: i'll only fly away.
I don't know where my soul is. I don't know where my home is.

2009-01-21T00:09:00.000-05:00

He looks into her eyes and, through a smile, tells her,

"You're perfect."

She held him closer, and spoke in his ear,

"There's no such thing as perfect."

Without a pause, he responded, "Perfect for me."

<3

Sealed and Solid.

2009-01-20T18:34:00.007-05:00

20JANUARY2009 - Inauguration Day.

The whole world watched as we welcomed our leader. He didn't fail to captivate us with every word and action. I was amazed at how he spoke with passion... and he didn't read from any paper or teleprompter. Everything he spoke came from his head and i believe from his heart too. With millions--likely even billions--of people before him, filled with hope and waning dreams, how could he not stand for doing the right thing? Let's remember that he's not alone. We all have our parts to do.

THOUGH THE WORLD IS BIG AND WONDERFUL, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR NARROW-MINDED IGNORANT PEOPLE.

CHANGE is inevitable, but PROGRESS is in our hands. Let's do this together!

On a lighter side, i went on Obamicon.me and made myself a logo similar to Obama's "Change" ad, in the form of my day job: Wonder Woman! hehe. With her truth lasso, she fights for the Truth and WORKS FOR LOVE. =)

Chasing the Sun: Key West!

2009-01-19T03:14:00.014-05:00

I just came back from a nice vacation in Savannah, GA where the weather was 60s and sunny, and, not wanting to be in this freezing winter of NJ/NYC right now, i just booked another vacation in Key West, FL! I'm chasing the sun by heading back South again. I just checked the forecast, and it's 70s-80s and sunny!! i'm so excited!! Leaving at the end of this month hehe.

Aside from lazying on the beach, we're planning to do lots of water activities, which i think are way more fun than winter activities =P. Scuba diving, snorkeling, jet skiing, SWIMMING... and we're definitely renting a moped to explore the island. *weeee =)

Here's the view from our resort hotel!

Here's the famous Key West sunset. So romantic.

i deserve this.. i know the dr definitely does. gosh he works so hard =)

Forever Yours. Faithfully.

2009-01-15T20:13:00.006-05:00

I had an unforgettable, momentous, heartfelt time reuniting with my Lacanilao family in Savannah, GA. They are big and loud, like in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" lol. hehee =)

My dad brought the dvd and cd's of Journey's concert featuring Filipino frontman Arnel Pineda. He turned me into a fan. So he let me keep it! Now whenever i hear Journey, i'll think of my time in Savannah. One song really stuck with me. This one's for my family, and for you Dad. I'm forever yours, faithfully ♥

I'll post pics when i get around to them. I still have so much to unpack! *sigh =)

Highway run into the midnight sun.
Wheels go round and round, you're on my mind.
Restless hearts sleep alone tonight.
Sendin all my love along the wire.

They say that the road ain't no place to start a family.
Right down the line, it's been you and me.
And lovin a music man ain't always what it's supposed to be.
Oh girl you stand by me.
I'm forever yours...faithfully.

Circus life under the big top world.
We all need the clowns to make us smile
Through space and time,
Always another show, wondering where I am.
Lost without you.

And being apart ain't easy on this love affair.
Two strangers learn to love again.
I get the joy of rediscovering you.
Oh, you stand by me.
I'm forever yours...faithfully.

Over It

2009-01-13T02:54:00.005-05:00

in all honesty, i'm over it! thank god!!!! what a relief! =)
Noooo i'm not talking about Savannah. but i'm leaving a piece of my heart here, seriously.

in other great news, ooooh i have a dr's appointment in a couple weeks. mucho importante! hehee. just gotta confirm it asap ;)

Going to Savannah

2009-01-10T06:37:00.018-05:00

In Georgia. lol i feel like i have to add that because nobody seems to be sure where Savannah is!

My dad's side of the family lives there, and i haven't seen them in 20 years, but we've been keeping in touch on holidays via greeting cards with updates and photos. My cousins and i keep in touch on FaceBook & MySpace ;) See, they really do work!

Anyway i'm really looking forward to seeing my grandfather, whom we all call "Poppy". He's my only grandparent now. My dad is meeting me there from Dallas. He'll be driving 12 hrs... so he's probably on his way at the moment. Hopefully this snowstorm doesn't delay my afternoon flight. I'm not even done packing! i'm bringing about a dozen ensaymadas of assorted flavors from that famous Filipino bakery, Christine's Bake Shop! I remember Poppy loves them. and i can't wait to see my cousins and aunts & uncles! i'm also going to meet their babies and new families! wow it's been so long.

i've always loved Savannah. i used to want to move there for its peacefulness and tranquility. Reminds me of "Gone with the Wind" or something old school romantic like that. and it's so rich in history. I plan to do alot of sightseeing and learning along the way. this is going to be a great getaway, something i really need right now more than ever! And for 5 days, i'm going to be a Georgia Peach getting some good Southern comfort with the Lacanilao's, not to mention great weather (mid 60's and sunny every day!).. don't be surprised if i pick up an accent lol.

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-01-07T00:49:00.004-05:00

My best friend came over my house with a bootleg of "Slumdog Millionaire". but it was such good quality, like the real thing! anyway, this is a fantastically powerful love story! Freida Pinto is gorgeous! M.I.A. is on the soundtrack! such a great movie!

There's one scene i want to share with you...

Jamal finds Latika after years of searching, and she is now with a rich, powerful gangster. He sees she is positively unhappy, and he whispers to her, "Come away with me." She looks at him doubtfully and asks, "Where? And live on what?" ...Without skipping a beat, he said, "Love."

* * *

Aaahhh i really appreciated this movie! it goes along with my views on Love, how it can overcome time, distance, money, everything. Life is fleeting, but Love is boundless. Put the two together, and u have an unstoppable force.

Everyone, please see this movie! u will love it.

* * *

That scene ended with Latika pushing Jamal out of the house before the gangster could kill him.

She quickly says, "Jamal, do something for me."
He responds, "Anything."
"Forget about me."

-End scene.

Bringin Some SHUGGA to the Powder

2009-01-04T15:55:00.018-05:00

Not wanting to use and abuse my red North Face jacket, i ordered myself a North Face snowsuit the week of Christmas! Consider it my own gift to myself =) Last year my gift to me was the Sony T2 digicam, and this suit costs just as much =X hehe so i thought it was fair!!

I even paid for express overnight shipping cuz i'm impatient, but i guess because of the holidays, i didnt get it til last week! aaahh its super cute! gonna use it tomorrooww =)

Here it is! THE SHUGGA SUIT --click

i got it in taupe/hunter green, but maybe i shoulda gotten it in blue! o well still cute. Now i want the Spyder snowsuit in black!! soo diesel! then i would be broke, but i'd be happy! i still love Ingrid's Spyder. it's gangsta, nobody has that style anymore. we'll try to take pics tomorrow if we're not too busy hehe.

My 2009 Life Resolution

2009-01-02T15:14:00.002-05:00

(1 Cor 13:1-13) ♥

Usher's song, "Will Work for Love" from his latest album Here I Stand, is the inspiration for my 2009 Resolution. I'll work for it overtime. Can you help me?

U can listen to it here.

* * *
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is >love.

2008 in Retrospect

2009-01-01T03:18:00.001-05:00

This New Year's Eve is the complete opposite from last year's. I kept it very low key. I'm at work, and we just finished celebrating the welcome of 2009. I have a bunch of awesome coworkers! The Neurologist and I sat with one of my patients and watched the ball drop in Times Square. After greeting them both, i ran out and hugged the rest of the nurses and our assistants, then made a few calls to my loved ones. Then we all chowed down on good food and bubbly. now i'm stuffed like a teddy bear hehe.

Thank goodness the night is quiet *so far*, and i have a little break to reflect on the past year. To sum things up, 2008 was a year of REUNIONS:

In February i flew to Las Vegas and met with one of my best girlfriends, Nikki, whom i haven't seen since college.

In April my cousin, Natasha, from my dad's side visited us after not seeing her in 20 years.

In May(ish) i reunited with MV, and although it lasted just several months, it was good and worthwhile.

My other best girlfriend from California, Rachel, visited us with her new family, and i met my angelic Godson for the first time.

In July i reunited with my love, Goofy, at Disney World =)

In September, after a year of full independence living on my own in Manhattan, i realized i missed my brother and mom, came to my senses about money management, and moved back home.

And the most significant reunion ever in my life: meeting my dad after a 19-year absence on Christmas Day.

The reunions don't end there. Next week i'll be leaving for Savannah to reunite with the rest of my family from my dad's side. I think it's about time for me to catch up on my roots. There's a saying that goes, "You'll never get to where you're going if you don't know where you're coming from." I'm finally finding myself through all these reconnections and the lessons i'm learning from them.

With that said, i think 2009 will bring me Peace and a stronger sense of direction. I thank God for seeing me through the past year. He is so good.

Boarding, Day 1

2008-12-30T12:00:00.006-05:00

So last night was my first of the season. Monday night, and there were hardly any people, thank goodness! Ingrid and I still had a good amount of time to cut up some powder. Ingrid rides goofy too! She's better than I am. actually i was riding switch because i can only go down heelside LOL! it looks so retarded, so i retrained myself to go on toeside. then i basically fell on my butt everytime! i'm also really upset because i think i lost my goofy stance =( Whenever i got up, my board just naturally went regular! i was like NOOOO!! Turn left, turn left!

As we were both sitting on the pow, Ingrid came up with another one of her wise sayings. She said, "Life is like snowboarding. You control the board, the board doesn't control you." LOL only she would say that! But its true! I have to take control... but i'm out of shape! i have to work out my core.

So today as i was doing Pilates in my living room, i figured it would be more fun if i got the Wii Fit. and so that's what my brother is getting me since he hasn't gotten me a Christmas present yet! hehe. his last present was DDR. That was fun!!! but it only works out my lower body. still fun though. Anyway i cant wait for my Wii Fit!!!

hittin the slopes again in a few days. i think i'm gonna have to go regular stance this time =(

Mariah, You're on Fiyah

2008-12-29T02:11:00.005-05:00

People can hate all they want, but they can't touch her. It's no wonder she's so successful. She sings like an angel and writes her own songs. and the words she writes have so much meaning and expression to them. In '97 she had a song with a sick beat by Mobb Deep called "The Roof" that i used to play over and over and over. I still love it.

It wasn't raining yet,
But it was definitely a little misty on
That warm November night.
And my heart was pounding,
My inner voice resounding,
Begging me to turn away,
But I just had to see your face
To feel alive.
And then you casually walked in the room.
And I was twisted in the web
Of my desire for you.
My apprehension blew away,
I only wanted you
To taste my sadness
As you kissed me in the dark.

And so we finished the Moet and
started feeling liberated.
And I surrendered as you took me
In your arms.
I was so caught up in the moment,
I couldn't bear to let you go yet,
So I threw caution to the wind
And started listening to my longing heart.
And then you softly pressed your lips to mine
And feelings surfaced I'd suppressed
For such a long time.
And for a while I forgot
The sorrow and the pain
And melted with you as we stood
There in the rain.

Every time I feel the need,
I envision you caressing me.
And go back in time
To relieve the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night. "

The Video: She looked ssoooooo hot during this time! before she went off the edge =x

2008-12-28T09:37:00.007-05:00

"A woman's heart should
so be hidden in Christ
that a man must have to
seek Him first to find her."

Air Dogs Cuttin It Up!

2008-12-27T08:02:00.012-05:00

Camp of Champions - i'm so in awe of these guys.
♥♥ Can't get enough of their SICK style!!!!! ♥
I want skinny neon green pants and a hot pink snowboard now! =P
Enjoy their video below!

i suppose i'm still a french fry even though i started abooutt 6 years ago?! but i never took to kill. this time i'm going aggro so watch out for this Betty! and i ride goofy heehee. actually i taught myself to ride that way cuz it's cooler ;p. See ya on the pow!

Addendum to My Christmas Day

2008-12-26T03:14:00.007-05:00

After reuniting with my father, I needed an escape to get my mind off it. J saved me again! We watched "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". It's a really beautiful movie. I also just learned that his daughter Shiloh was in the movie! The part where he's cradling her and they watch the balloon fly away.

hmm, i cant tell who's cuter?! lol jp. This whole image itself is cute.

The movie was almost 3 hours, however i was too engaged in the story to notice, and i'm sure the audience was too. But i did notice something else.. He held my hand the whole time! ;)

* * *

Afterwards, i left to meet my family at Kim's house. I was late for the start of Christmas dinner, but people were still eating anyway. Then they made me Santa this year since i kind of balled out with everyone's gifts hehe. I wore the Santa hat and distributed all the presents. I refuse to post my rediculous-looking pics! Then we ate and drank more and chatted, but suddenly my exhaustion from the whole day caught up with me and i ended the night early.

I Saw My Dad for the First Time in 19 Years..

2008-12-26T02:42:00.001-05:00

It was Christmas Day.
He called my phone the day before, and since i don't pick up unfamiliar numbers, he left a voicemail that started off like this:

"Hi Shirleen. It's um.. *pause*.. it's your daddy..."

I was floored. How many times did i replay that message? My mom was in the kitchen, and i told her right away. I had her listen to it. Just like me, she needed to hear it again. My brother was at work, but i called and told him, then i forwarded him the message. I didn't even recognize the voice, but my mom did, so i believed it was him. I heard the hope and intent in his voice in wanting to see us. He was only in town until the day after Christmas, I guess before he disappears again.

I didnt call him back that day. What was i to do?? I havent seen or spoken to my father since i was 7, when he left us a broken family. Mom had wanted nothing to do with him. She got full custody, changed our number a few times, kept my brother and i from our dad's side of the family.. and he got the hint. But now it seems Time has once again found a way to change things. It all started this past April, when my cousin from my dad's side came up to NY and reunited with me and my brother after 19 years of no contact. She previously found me on MySpace and we reconnected. I'm sure it was her who gave my number to my dad.

I kept it in the back of my head the whole day. I made myself busy wrapping presents and planning Christmas Eve. But at the end of the day, when i finally got in bed, the quiet darkness opened the flood gates of my thoughts, and the tears that i've held back finally made their way out. How could i face this man i hardly know anymore, who wronged his family, and still acknowledge him as my father? I was scared and confused. so i prayed and got my answer. it was simple. See him. Forgive him. Make peace. I believe it was Alexander Pope who coined the famous phrase, "To err is human, but to forgive is divine." To sin is human. The ever-present question arose: WWJD? It was simple: reach out, forgive, and make peace. God is so good.

The next morning, Christmas Day, it hurt to open my eyes. The tears had burned and dried them. I hesitated for a moment as i held my phone. But then i felt a rush of courage, dialed that unfamiliar number, and waited to hear that unfamiliar voice. It was an awkward 2 minutes. I would meet him for lunch. Over the years, i used to imagine how i would act if i ever saw my dad again. I imagined myself crying to his face, yelling, hitting, kicking, and screaming. I harbored hateful and bitter feelings. I blamed him for all my relationships with past boyfriends that ended badly. I made him the reason why they couldn't work out. I became bitter seeing how tirelessly and endlessly my mom worked. I hated him for leaving my brother to grow up without a male hero. But most of all i hated him for never going to be able to walk me down that aisle, ever.

But when i saw him, i surprised myself with my own strength. In that small restaurant, we talked as adults, yet knowing we couldn't go into detail over the past 19 years. I showed him the young lady his daughter grew up to be. I told him about his son who matured so fast and so well since he became man of the house at the age of 9. I told him about our mom who worked so hard and who single-handedly put us through Catholic grade schools, Catholic high schools, state universities, and seeing to it we that we now both have stable, successful careers... and he concluded that she did a swell job of raising us.

*And finally after all these years, i felt closure and peace.*

A couple months back, i made plans to fly to Savannah, GA in January and reunite with his side of the family. He told me he'd willingly drive the 12 hours to meet me there. And i thought: He's only my biological father, and that's how i'll acknowledge him. I dont hate him anymore, but I don't wish to rekindle our lost relationship and bring him back fully into my life. Besides, i've lived all these years and i've managed without a father.

Lunch lasted an hour and a half.
His parting words were, "See you in Savannah, my darling."

...See you in Savannah, dad.

My 'Serendipitous' Christmas Eve

2008-12-25T02:11:00.001-05:00

SERENDIPITY: (n) A fortunate accident, usually discovered while looking for something else entirely.

Things happen for a reason.
My Christmas Eve plans had gone up in smoke. If it didn't rain freezing ice, I could've went snowboarding. If my brother didn't take my car, I would've driven to Staten Island to see my cousin and have dinner. If my mom and brother weren't working, we would've gone out to celebrate somewhere. If my best friend wasn't working, she would've taken me out. But all these things happened... and i was stuck at home by myself... I thought my Christmas Eve was going to be lonely. But if all these things didn't happen, I wouldn't have spent a romantic Blockbuster night at home with J, watching my favorite movie of all time, "Serendipity", over a bottle of red wine by candlelight. I'm a sucker for old school romance. He saved my Eve, and it was better than i planned. My hero! =)

Sarah & Jonathan = S & J . haha he picked up on that! it's a sign hehe
♥

Sleepless

2008-12-21T08:04:00.004-05:00

Another night awake. This time i made sure i made myself busy to keep my mind off things. So at midnight, i went to Macy's to start AND FINISH my Christmas shopping. Macy's is now 24 hours until Christmas. thank goodness for that, cuz i dont know what i would do... probably just cut checks to everyone, but i didnt wanna do that. So i shopped for 6 hours lol. The Starbucks inside Macy's saved me. I got everyone, even my aunts and uncles. Usually i just get my cousins, but i got them all. I also got myself some things too hehe.

Santa Shirl is in full effect. Now i just wish i had elves to wrap up all the presents! Well, i do have one very helpful elf: my internet! hehe i just bought a few gifts online and had them delivered to my friends in California and one in central Jersey.

*sigh. and i'm still awake. forcing myself to sleep for a few hours before mass. looking forward to the readings. His inspiration is always positively motivating =)

Love and Fear

2008-12-20T03:20:00.013-05:00

It's 3:30 am, and i'm wide awake. I just saw something on my laptop that rendered me speechless and filled with thought. It was absolutely the most disturbing thing i've ever let enter my virgin mind. I don't want to share it with u now because i dont want to offend anyone. It offended me.. but only at first. If u really wanna know, hit me up.

But after watching the whole 2 hours of it hypnotized, I came to one conclusion. It's a thing that i've recently brought to conscious on my own, and this documentary just proved it: Love conquers all.

The opposite of love isn't hate. Hate is just as strong an emotion as love, and it brings forth a multitude of other feelings as does Love. No, no, the opposite of love isn't hate at all. It's FEAR. Fear doesnt let us have any other emotion. Fear to love, fear to think for oneself, fear to appreciate Life. Fear closes our hearts to Love and endless, boundless opportunities. I mentioned before in a previous blog, "Let go and let Love." I've added that as a motto, along with my only other motto which is "Never Settle." What i mean by "Never Settle" is this: never stop thinking. Don't settle for something less than what you're really looking for just because you feel that something is stopping you from obtaining it. Then after that, let go and let love!

You know where all this fear stems from? Fear from authority and power. I dont know if i'm getting through to you with all this, or if i'm just making you more confused. But i just wanted to make a record of my opinions on what i just saw, and at least to me it makes sense. Maybe if after u watch the documentary, you'll get it. Here's a couple quotes i took from the doc:

"The last thing the 'men behind the curtain' [aka power/authority] want is a conscious informed public capable of critical thinking. "

..And even still, after all that, i still believe God is Love. i amaze myself with my own thoughts.

Santa, Can You Hear Me?

2008-12-19T12:13:00.009-05:00

Last night I took a walk in the snow.
Couples holding hands, places to go.
Seems like everyone but me is in love.
Santa, can you hear me ?

I sign my letter that I sealed with a kiss.
I send it off and just said this:

I know exactly what I want this year.
I want my baby.
I want someone to love me, someone to hold.
Maybe, he'll be all my own in a big red bow.

Santa, can you hear me ?
I have been so good this year.
And all I want is one thing:
Tell me my true love is here!
He's all I want, just for me,
Underneath my Christmas tree.
I’ll be waiting here.
Santa, that’s my only wish this year.

Christmas Eve, I just can’t sleep.
Will I be wrong for taking a peek ?
Cause I heard that you're coming to town.
I really hope that you're on your way
with something special for me in your sleigh.
Ooh please make my wish come true!
Santa, can you hear me ?

I want my baby.
I want someone to love me, someone to hold.
Maybe, we'll be all alone under the mistletoe.

I hope my letter reaches you in time.
Bring me a love I can call all mine.
Cause I have been so good, SO GOOD!, this year..
I can’t be alone under the mistletoe.
He's all i want in a big red bow.

Santa, that's my only wish this year! =)

Christmas @ Rockefeller Center

2008-12-19T11:57:00.014-05:00

Last week Carol, Dee, and I had a Christmas date at Rock Center.
It was ohh soo romanticaL!! i love them =)

I greeted them with presents from Sephora.. now we all have roll-on perfumes small enough to carry in our purses! Carol got Marc Jacobs, Dee got Burberry, and i got myself Masaki.
Masaki smells really nice (he likes it too ♥ hehe).

We had dinner at Seo, then went ice skating!! that was my first time at the rink! it's sooo pretty. We had so much fun!

Ever Grateful

2008-12-17T23:16:00.008-05:00

Entertainment Weekly Magazine reunited Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet to talk about their upcoming movie, "Revolutionary Road". This is their second movie co-starring together since "Titanic" 12 years ago. I loved them in Titanic, and i'm looking forward to seeing an equally amazing performance this time around. Aahh Mr. DiCaprio still looks dashingly handsome, forever and always!! =)

To read the cover story, CLICK HERE.

Just for the Sake of a New Blog

2008-12-13T19:17:00.008-05:00

=P Man i was pretty emo the other night wasnt i? lol thats what happens when i have too much time to myself. my mind wanders.. U can imagine how relieved i was to be back at work last night to get my mind off things. although it didnt get busy til the last few hours when i got that crazy admission and my other patient was on his way out =( .He had a big family surrounding him and i was glad it was peaceful. anyway things like that always puts me into perspective with life and God's plan with mine.

Speaking of plans, I'm still digging that song below by Simple Plan. Have u ever liked a song so much that u play it over and over and over, and u dont get tired of it? lol this is one of them! and that "Sober" song by Pink. She's a genius. So is Santogold hehe. yea i'm pretty much loving my MySpace playlist right now =)

oh gosh i'm blabbing. but i have one thing to say: is it just me, or does the stuff on PerezHilton.com seem boring now? I used to be obsessed with his site last year, now i just really don't care! u know what? he needs to put up more Leonardo DiCaprio or Orlando Bloom. But they're both smart enough not to land themselves on stupid gossip columns like Perez. o well.

Today was a lazy day. I left work with mixed feelings, and took a cab instead of the train to Port Authority. i just wanted to get home asap and sleep. the photoshoot today was cancelled, which i was moreso happy about because i was really tired. Sleep was good and actually i just got up an hour ago! My work is having a Christmas party tonight in SoHo, and although i was looking forward to it for the past month, i all of a sudden felt blah about it. Plus, have u been outside?? freeezing! My warm comfy bed is the best place to be right now. or maybe in my cozy living room with a good movie, hot chocolate, and a box of TimTams. =)

Alright thats enough out of me. Tomorrow looks like a busy day with mom. She wants to go shopping! dun dun dun! well she's coming with me to mass first, which i'm happy about. i usually go by myself, so it would be nice to have some company. then it's all day at the mall... on a Sunday... during Christmas shopping season... oh dear i'm totally dreading tomorrow!
*
Ooh look what i got the other day! Racquel, the designer for Lola's Rags, emailed me a sneak from the fashion show i did a couple weeks ago. This was backstage. I remember it was frantic because the hairstylists never showed up! but i think things worked out pretty well. Can't wait to get the rest in the mail!

Simple Plan - Save You

2008-12-12T02:52:00.004-05:00

aaahh i heart them so much!! tres tres mucho =)

Simple Plan - New Music - More Music Videos

If God is Love, then let Love be my Religion

2008-12-12T02:29:00.012-05:00

Love has surpassed every problem: time, distance, race, age, class, money.. even religion. Of all the religions in the world, Love is the greatest faith. It’s what I believe in.

Romeo and Juliet loved each other in the midst of family feuds. They were ahead of their time, knowing the power of Love despite society’s strongholds. Sadly there are still obstacles in the way of love to this day. I have been smitten by a boy I hardly know. When I discovered he was of a different Religion than my own, it was already too late to let go without heartbreak. I had been smitten.. And I don’t know when or how or why it is that I like this boy, but I do. I do not question Love. I only know it when it comes; I can feel it. Just the same, I do not question Religion. With the utmost respect, I accept my situation fully as it is. He is different from me in only that way, and because of this, we could never be. This deeply saddens me. The situation is taboo, so I must tread softly. Here I cannot tell which is more powerful: love or religion. But if seen in another way, love and religion are one and the same. God is Love, and God is my Religion; therefore, Love is my Religion. And if I am right, Love is his Religion too. If I had it my way, this would be our truth to set us free, and I could be released from sleepless angst-filled nights and finally dream happily endlessly, asleep and awake.

“Tis but thy name that is my enemy:
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s a Montague? It is nor hand nor foot
Nor arm nor face nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O be some other name!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called.
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.”

*sigh. I realize I have much to learn.. Love, give me strength to endure this pain.

PDA in NYC (We Just Don't Care)

2008-12-09T23:45:00.007-05:00

Had a photoshoot in Manhattan today with an amazingly awesome photographer from San Fransisco! J came along, and i introduced him into my world hehe. For someone who's used to being behind the camera instead of in front of it, he was a natural! Our photographer seemed to love us. And we totally dig her style and vision. We'd be walking, then she'd stop out of nowhere, give us some direction, and *bam*- full originality! She had us on a random parked bicycle, a truck at a red light, in front of random signs with cute messages, we got in trouble at Rockefeller Center! we just didn't care lol.. She spontaneously bought a bright t-shirt off Canal Street and had J wear it for a few shots! She loves colors. Her style is parallel to ours, which is partly the reason why the photoshoot went so smoothly. If you or anyone else you know is looking for an amazing wedding/engagement photgrapher, she's your girl. But i must warn you, she doesnt come cheap! fortunately for us, it was free =)

The shoot was a complete success and so much fun. Ingrid came along as my stylist, and so did the photog's assistant who is super cool. I'm excited to see the finished product! I will let u know when i have the pics. The one you see up there is only from Ingrid's camera, so imagine how much more magical they will look from a professional camera with so many different lenses! lol.

aah what a great date! that was #8 =) . It reminded me of John Legend's song "PDA". Enjoy it below! I couldn't help but notice that the first couple (with JOhn Legend) had a photoshoot in the city, and the second couple was on a MOPED! haha

=)

2008-12-08T11:05:00.000-05:00

I ♥ Gossip Girl!

The Enemy of Dreams

2008-12-08T06:21:00.005-05:00

Insomnia is the enemy of sleep because it does not allow us to dream, with a racing or worried mind being the common culprit.

I have so many questions yet i don't know how to begin to ask them. Insecurity creeps back to the forefront despite my attempts to brush it off.

Lord, give me strength. Guide me in all I do.

#7

2008-12-08T00:01:00.011-05:00

i just confirmed it. that was our 7th rendezvous =) haha.

just got back from seeing Cirque du Soleil: Wintuk!! sooo entertaining! the skateboarders, rollerbladers, pop & lockers.. the green men lol. there was so much going on, which is usual Cirque fashion. makes me want to go back to Vegas and see the rest of them. I hear Mystere is really good..

yesterday was fun too. i went to the salon on 5th Ave. and decided to be bold and creative. I came to trust my hairstylist who suggested i get subtle highlights! lol i've never colored my hair before so i was pretty scared. but she did good! the cut was great too. she's awesome and definitely deserved the 27% tip i gave her ;) ..i think this is the first hairstylist i've ever had that i actually liked. The salon itself is pretty nice. Among the drinks they offer, i got red wine! now if they only served creme brulee and cheesecake hehe.

after the salon, i drove to Queens to watch the big Pacquiao/De La Hoya fight at J's house. There were about 15 people who showed up. I think it was cuz of his 52" flatscreen lol. woulda been perfect if they offered it in HD.. maybe in a couple weeks when it airs on HBO. Well, i guess by now you know how the fight ended. My thoughts--It was too fast. Coming from someone who's never seen a boxing match before, i thought it would be more dramatic like back and forth, edge-of-your-seat, biting your nails, holding your breath dramatic. but Pacquiao had a clean streak that put De La Hoya to shame. i was mad cuz i wanted some real competition so when Pacquiao won, it would be like he REALLY earned it, yaknow? this was too easy in my opinion.

yes, you read that right. i said i drove to Queens lol. yea, i didnt think i'd be going there ever again either! much less to watch BOXING! haha. cute grandfather. the mom cooks a mean spaghetti.. i'm happy she told me her special ingredient! J lead the prayer over Papa John's pizza hehe. Hawaiian, yum! he picked my favorite without even knowing. Just like that time he guessed the dessert i wanted at that Italian restaurant.

such a fun weekend! along with it all, J & i had our first snowfall on saturday, and our first fake one on sunday at Wintuk lol.
Looking forward to #8. =)

S for Spontaneity

2008-12-04T01:09:00.010-05:00

*Uggh... long day in the city. crazy things happen when you dont plan things!

I didnt think i'd stay out too late, thats why i decided not to drive in. Geez, the ONE day i actually leave my car at home!.. Just got back an hour ago! longest commute everrr =(

So I woke up with some good news from my manager. Instead of coming in to work, she gave me a paid day off! Which made me feel better about having to rush to the city for my casting. Hence, leaving my car at home. The Ray Ban casting was in SoHo. that was cool. Afterwards, since i didn't have to go to work anymore, i went shopping on Broadway. Hit up Esprit and thought i saw someone. Hadta look twice, three times! lol. Deliriousness! Good thing that wasn't him or else i woulda had a nice talk with him and that chick he was with! haha i'm just joking ;p . Anyway i bought a hat there.

Window shopped some more, and was gravitationally pulled towards Zara! i'm telling you, that place always has something for me! i got a mean leather jacket! then after that, i told myself i have to stay away from that place for a while, at least until i'm done Christmas shopping for everyone else!

A friend of mine was holding an Orchard Street sample sale just a few blocks from where i was. Ingrid, Steph, and Ricky would be there. So i met them up. Got 2 t-shirts for a GREAT deal! not for me hehe.

Ingrid just started up being a stylist, so she's been doing research on all the little boutiques around the city. SoHo is full of them and we walked around for a bit. I was getting hungry, so when we found ourselves right in front of this restaurant that i LOVE, i made us go in and eat! mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Then, by pure luck, these 2 girls came in and handed the waiter 3 boxes full of Tim Tams! u dont understand!!.. I completely squealed, jumped out of my seat, and practically pounced on the waiter, "OMG ARE THOSE TIM TAMS??!!" lol.. So he gave us each a package. Well, i got two hehe. again, not just for me ;)

The night was still early, so Ricky brought us to St. Mark's to this unsuspecting underground bar called Please Don't Tell. It's so secret! From the outside, it looks like a dingy hot dog place, pretty unattractive. BUT THEN! you go inside a phone booth, pick up the phone and press the button, and a hostess literally opens the wall and takes you in to a really nice, swank bar!! I could not believe it! But there's a catch. It's really hard to get a seat there. You have to call exactly at 3 pm to make reservations. Strictly at 3 pm! no earlier, no later. Ricky called at 3:20, and the only opening left wasn't until midnight! can u believe that?! But we decided to just go there anyway and take our chances. I almost thought we werent gonna get seated cuz the hostess just closed the wall on us, all 4 of us huddled into this tiny phone booth! haha but then she opened it back up and let us in! it was all too exciting. I felt like i was part of some top secret operation!

We stayed there for a while. One topic we talked about was Religion. and love. They went on about it for a good hour. i was mostly just listening because i needed to hear other perspectives. Got me sad, then mad, then depressed. Then mad again. haha it's complicated.

gosh i'm tired! no more commuting for Shirl please! =( and tomorrow morning i have breakfast at Tavern on the Green with my girls. every day it's back and forth for me! argh...

i'm moving back to the city.

It's December!!

2008-12-01T22:56:00.012-05:00

How did that happen? lol

well the Charity Event/Fashion Show last Saturday @ BLVD was great! I wore a blush-colored 2-piece lingerie. Now before u start thinking Playboy, remember the designs were 1920's inspired! It was classy sexy. Loved all the looks. Everyone else has pics except me, so i'll let u know when i get them.

Ingrid, Dee, Stephen, J, Peiwizzle and his friend met up. yay! after the show, we went to the asian bar next door b/c drinks were waaayyy cheaper. why would i spend $12 for a lychee martini at BLVD when it's $5 next door?! plus the bartender over there HOOKED IT UP. hehe we had fun there.

then we all split up and Ingrid and I met up with Kim at Gramercy Room for our friend's birthday party. Good times with old friends! Then, in typical Shirl, Kim, and Ingrid fashion, we left for another party at Highline Ballroom. More good times with old friends! But then i realized i went the whole day without eating a thing, save for the few cheese cubes and carrot sticks they offered the models backstage =P . I was staaarving!! "FEED THE MODEL!" my friends said. So i decided we should go eat at Hop Kee. Kim's boyfriend came along. i was craving the steak w/ chinese brocolli! Mmmmm best thing on the menu! Then we all split and i went home. I dont even remember what time it was; i just knocked out!

Sunday started off the way i usually start it. Went to mass. Lit the first purple candle on the Advent wreath. Then the priest made a good point: When you're out shopping this month, people shouldn't say "Happy Holidays".. they should say "Merry Christmas"... because 95% of the shoppers are buying gifts for.....??? CHRISTMAS!! lol. He even went on to list the stores where the employees actually said "Merry Christmas": Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy! haha

Once i got home, my brother took my car! i was planning to use it! argh o well... so i stayed in and had a Blockbuster Night instead ♥
Not a bad alternative, i'd say. Actually quite romantic.. ;)

Aaah i'll end on that happy note hehe. *sigh!

10 Days

2008-11-27T22:53:00.008-05:00

I just realized how much has happened in 10 days. Time is amazing. It's been a whirlwind for me. Lives changed in a matter of days, hours, and minutes... and it all seemed natural.

If Time is logic and reason, then Nature is irrational. Nature is of the heart. I think it's wonderful how we can't control what or how our hearts feel. I don't try to explain it, nor do i need an explanation. The 17th-century French philosopher Blaise Pascal, for one, had no idea, concluding simply:
"The heart has its reasons of which reason can know nothing."

This principle governs love, which is also best defined as a perverse and willful denial of logic. I just don't care to reason with it!
Let go and let Love.

Charity Event & Fashion Show

2008-11-27T01:49:00.006-05:00

For the Love of Fun, Fashion, and Philanthropy

Host: Lola's Rags and OIWW
Type: Causes - fundraiser
When: This Saturday 11/29, starting at 8 pm
Where: BLVD - 199 Bowery (at Spring St.) NY, NY

Description:
The event will be raising funds for Orphan's International World Wide (OIWW), a non-profit org that gives financial aid to children left orphaned from natural disasters.

**Pay a $15 donation at the door. 100% of proceeds go to the current relief efforts in Haiti, due to the devastating effects of 3 hurricanes.

Lola's Rags will also hold a runway show (in which i'll be participating!) presenting designs inspired by the 1920's fashion era in womens' eveningwear and lingerie.

Event starts at 8 pm.
*Goodie bags given to the first 50 guests!*

8-9 pm: Open Cognac Tasting by JTE Spirits
9-9:20 pm: Lola's Rags runway show
9:30-10 pm: Special performance by The Stumblebum Brass Band
10 pm-4 am: the party goes on with DJ spinning throughout the night.

Prizes For Raffle:
1. Organic cremes box (Value $100)
2. Discount certificate of $500 off a jewelry item for a fabulous diamond store.
3. Luxury Beach set from "Sol de Ibiza" (Value $435)
4. Lola's Rags "Sara" Top (Value $95)
5. Vale Jewelry (Value $100)

See ya there! ♥

http://www.oiww.org/
http://www.lolasrags.com/

Faith - Belief without Proof

2008-11-25T14:37:00.006-05:00

i wanted to know the difference between what it means to be Catholic and Christian. here's what i came up with:

all catholics are within the christian religion. catholics are a sect of christians. christians are the people that believe that christ was the one and only son of God sent here to die for our sins.

the catholic religious institution was the first actual christian church and was and still is quite powerful. it is the one christian sect that will make its priests and nuns practice celebacy, an unnatural human condition. that is one of the reasons why so many men and woman will not consider enteriing into the catholic priesthood/nunnery at all anymore, because they too wish to have a sexual life, to get married and make babies. since the catholic church tells its followers never to use birth control, maybe it should allow its priests and nuns to be married too and to make more children, even if they do not have enough money to even feed one.

the catholic church is that which henry viii turned against to start the anglican (christian) religion in england, but it was because he wished to divorce and still remain king.

the catholic church has been behind sending missionaries all over the planet to change what it determines are pagan methods of worship, or, any type of worship that does not fit into the catholic's set standards of rules that are written in stone.

catholics are heretics that tortured and killed many innocent people during the inquisition, but catholics call people of other faiths heretics.

the catholic church was very, very powerful at the time that the new world, our hemisphere, was conquered by spain. not only did spanish conquistadors kill off around 80% of the native americans just via germs that they carried and were sick by, such as influenza, chicken pox, measles, etc., because native american people just did not have immunity to those diseases, but after that number of native americans were killed, the conquistadores used every method of lying and letting ancients believe that they were gods so that they could plunder societies. part of it all was not just sending gold ingots back to spain to make it richer, but because spain was a catholic country (and still is), spain ensured that catholic missionaries were to be in the new world to change the religious beliefs of who the called "the infidel," which is anyone, so they think, who is not catholic.

martin luther was what the catholics would call an infidel because he broke away from the catholic church to form the lutheran church. however, he is lucky he was not burned alive on the stake for so doing.

as part of the reformation of christians of the almighty catholic church (more people in our times in the usa that were raised strict catholics have become athiests more than in any other christian sect), more and more sects of christians formed their own christian churches.

all christians, whatever sect/church they are in, believe that christ came as the messiah to eat our sins and therefore to go only through him in order to live in heaven. but when you visit other christian churches, almost all of them have a central cross, but not the version showing jesus dying on the cross. the catholic church does always have a crucifiction cross at the center of its church.

other sects of christians that broke away from the catholic church are all referred to as "protestants," protesting the catholic version of how they should worship christ, the saints, and sometimes the holy trinity. catholics always believe in the holy trinity: God the father, Christ the son, and the holy ghost, a spirit of Christ.

protestants might be in churches called: lutheran, episcopalian, baptist, pentacost, mormon, universalitarean, new age (television evangicals), voodoo, and/or in very small, not well known churches in communities, but always do believe that christ came to the earth as the son of God.

jews do not believe that christ was the messiah. they say that if he were, that his life here would have put an end to all of mankind's suffering, but really,only we ourselves can do that.

if you are not of the catholic faith and you go to a mass, you are not to partake in the eating of the "host" or drinking of the "blood" of christ, which is eating a wafer and a small drink of wine, symbols of the body of christ and of his blood.

if you are catholic, a good one, you would go to confession to confess your "sins," whether small or large, and the priest is not, by church law and by separation of state from church, even allowed to tell anyone at all what you told him inside of the confessional, even if you stated that you murdered somebody. he cannot use what you say to help the police find you.

basically the catholic church has its center in a private city of rome that is called vatican city, or, the vatican. that is where the pope lives. it is quite lavish because much gold from native american peoples was used to decorate many items inside of it.

usually, christians, catholic or not, do not believe (as do about 1/3 of the religious people of this planet) that you are ever reincarnated to have another round of life on this planet, again and again, until you reach the state of knowledge whereby you will be allowed to enter the state called nirvana. that is when you will no longer be reincarnated.

all you need to be a christian is to have faith that christ was indeed sent here by God as his only son, his only child, to cleanse the sins of the people. that is the faith that you would have to be any type of christian.

~ End of Lesson 1 ~

300 W. 57th Street

2008-11-22T18:50:00.016-05:00

Probably one of the most powerful addresses in Manhattan.

It is the Hearst Tower, headquarters of the Hearst Corporation, one of the largest media companies. Home to Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and The San Fransisco Chronicle.

Soaring at 46 stories, The Hearst Tower is the first "green" high rise office building in NYC.

Yesterday afternoon, i stepped through its doors. I stopped for a moment and took a breath as i marveled at "Icefall", a 3-story waterfall sculpture in the lobby.

I was then escorted to the [censored] floor and met with the casting director for Cosmopolitan Magazine...

The whole experience was surreal and reminded me of the movie, "The Devil Wears Prada". Lots of tailored female "clackers" hehe. Thankfully, the director was much kinder than the one in the movie!

After the meeting, i decided to stay for a while at the cafe, Cafe 57, and read my book before leaving for work.

...*and you thought i was just a nurse! ;P

Don't Believe the Hype!

2008-11-20T02:53:00.002-05:00

lol my coworker showed me this ad. hmmm what's wrong here???

lolol are they seriously thinking we're retarded or something?! either that, or this product has some MAJOR side effects! hehe ;p

Just Wanted You to Know

2008-11-19T02:42:00.006-05:00

When your heart fell,
it never touched bottom,
because I was there.

No Title

2008-11-17T11:37:00.004-05:00

Proverbs 31:10

2008-11-16T23:13:00.008-05:00

After a refreshing brunch with my lovely girls at Parlor Restaurant, I went to evening mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. I love it there. Here's a picture i took over the summer:

Breathtaking, isn't it?

Anyway, i haven't attended mass in about a month, and i've been looking forward to the readings. They always inspire me. Today's reading was no exception:

When one finds a worthy wife,
Her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,
has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil,
all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax
and makes cloth with skillful hands.
She rises while it is still night,
and distributes food to her household.
She picks out a field to purchase;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She enjoys the success of her dealings;
at night her lamp is undimmed.
She reaches out her hands to the poor,
and extends her arms to the needy.
She makes her own coverlets;
fine linen and purple are her clothing.
Her husband is prominent at the city gates
as he sits with the elders of the land.
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs at the days to come.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
and on her tongue is kindly counsel.
Her children rise up and praise her;
her husband, too, extols her:
"Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
But the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Not Worth My Tears

2008-11-16T22:19:00.006-05:00

I shall cry no longer. I refuse.

Hurt me all u want, i've learned to become immune to your words and actions. But hurt just me. When you attempt to include those I care about, that's where you cross the line. You won. You've found my weakness. Now revel in your victory alone.

I'm done.

From the Diary of Adam and Eve

2008-11-13T11:50:00.013-05:00

by Mark Twain

EVE'S DIARY: AFTER THE FALL

When I look back, the Garden is a dream to me. It was beautiful, surpassingly beautiful, enchantingly beautiful; and now it is lost, and I shall not see it anymore.

The Garden is lost, but I have found him, and am content. He loves me as well as he can; I love him with all the strength of my passionate nature. If I ask myself why I love him, I find I do not know, and do not really much care to know; so I suppose that this kind of love is not a product of reasoning and statistics, like one's love for other reptiles and animals. I think that this must be so. I love certain birds because of their song but I do not love Adam on account of his singing--no, it is not that. Yet I ask him to sing, because he likes to do so, and because I wish to learn to like everything he is interested in. I am sure I can learn, because at first I could not stand it, but now I can. It sours the milk,but it doesn't matter; I can get used to that kind of milk.

He is as God made him, and this is sufficient.

Then why is it that I love him? At bottom he is good, and I love him for that. He is strong and handsome, and I love him for that, and I admire him and am proud of him, but I could love him without those qualities. If he were plain, I should love him; if he were a wreck, I should love him; and I would work for him, pray for him, and watch over him until I died.

Yes, I think I love him merely because he is mine. There is no other reason, I suppose. And so I think it is as I first said; that this kind of love is not a product of reasonings and statistics. It just comes--none knows when--and cannot explain itself. And doesn't need to.

FORTY YEARS LATER.
It is my prayer, it is my longing, that we may pass from this life together. But if one of us must go first, it is my prayer that it shall be I; for he is strong, I am weak, I am not so necessary to him as he is to me--life without him would not be life; how could I endure it? This prayer is immortal, and will not cease from being offered while my race of female continues. I am the first wife; and in the last wife I shall be repeated.

AT EVE'S GRAVE.
Said Adam, "Wheresoever she was, there was Eden."

♥ ♥

Forever Gorgeous

2008-11-12T10:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a special holiday. No i'm not referring to Veterans Day.. athough that is hugely special. But yesterday, my sweet handsome love turned 34.

Happy Birthday, Romeo. *swoon!*

aahhh he's still as hot as i first saw him on "Growing Pains" :) And the sincere fact that he cares so much for our planet and our country makes him to die for! Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think he's still dating Israeli model Bar Rafaeli. So jealous. She's really hot and just 3 years younger than me. Super jealous! But at the same time it gives me hope! lol. I hope i see him again.. and not at Marquee where it's loud and crowded and the security won't let me near him!

Awake!

2008-11-12T08:10:00.011-05:00

argh! I was rudely awakened by the loud sounds of leaf blowers outside. The gardeners are here already?! damn do they have the most random schedule or what?? i thought i'd be able to sleep in on my day off, but the noise will continue for the next hour... sorry, neighbors. I looked outside my window into the backyard and saw a huuuuuge pile of red and yellow leaves, and i imagined how it would be like to jump out of my 2nd floor window into that pile. LOL we'd have some pretty pissed gardeners! But they're taking away my lovely leaves...

The other morning as i was dragging myself home, i had to stop and admire these bushes that i never noticed before. They have the best color this time of year:

I took that from my phone, so it doesn't say enough. But look at those trees! They're already bare! =( They'll be beautiful again when clothed in snow... I'm looking forward to winter to see the first snowfall. It's always beautiful on the first day. After that it's just ugly, brown, and slushy hehe.

..i guess i better start my day early... i have a go-see this afternoon by Wall Street, but i'm not sure if i want to go. My agent and booker are going to kill me if i don't! I already pissed them off when i cancelled on United Colors of Benetton.

Science Genius Girl

2008-11-10T07:50:00.012-05:00

My funny friends Mike and Ryan (aka Suitkace and Hydroponikz) dubbed me Science Genius Girl years ago. I forgot how that came about! I think they were watching something on TV.. anyway, they, as well as I, are intrigued with aliens and outer space. Ryan and I had an awesome discussion about it on AIM one night. I think i still have the convo saved somewhere! It was a long one! you'd think we were nuts haha.

This past weekend I lived up to that name. I stayed in and slaved over a "science project" for work. I dont think i even ate a full meal yesterday! i was so caught up. Well the project is for my job. Working on a Neuro/Surgical critical unit, I decided it would be great to present a common but critical diagnosis, Spinal Fusion. You know, just for kicks! I didn't want it to be too serious and boring, so i added some fun to it. I even threw in a Nursing care plan lol.

I think I did alright :) Excited for my presentation!

Click on it for a closer look. I dunno if you'll be able to get much from the photo. If you're interested in getting detailed information, you can email me -- shirleen@vzw.blackberry.net.

Love Me Like You'll Never See Me Again

2008-11-09T11:23:00.007-05:00

Been rockin out lately to John Legend's jam with Brandy called "Quickly", off his latest album.

You can hear it on my MySpace while it's still on there. It has a nice beat. Synthesizers are back hehe.

October Hurts. November Hurts More.

2008-11-08T21:28:00.019-05:00

it's been years, and can u believe i can still feel the aching pang? thankfully, each year it subsides. i'm only starting to be able to transform October and November's heartache into comfort from their welcome of Autumn. in 2006, after a year had past, i discovered this remarkable movie, "The Holiday". It quickly became one of my favorites, up there with "Serendipity"... There's something about romantic drama-comedies set during the Christmas season that touches me. The musical score seriously tugged on my heart strings too. Anyway, in the movie, Iris said something that really spoke to me:

"I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible. And how it can actually ache in places you didn't know you had inside you. And it doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood. And how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new. And you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again. And little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, in that time of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade."

Oouuch my heart :*( ....Shoot i need a drink!

Dear Autumn

2008-11-07T09:41:00.008-05:00

Dear Autumn,

Thanks for welcoming me during my morning jogs. Your cool, crisp air feels so good to my lungs. Thanks for greeting me when i walk out of work in the morning. Whatever happened during the night that might've been stressful & tiring seem to fade into your amazing colors, and my sleepy eyes brighten up at the sight. The days are colder, and the skies are duller, but your warm reds, oranges, and yellows are so comforting, it's magical. I'm almost expecting to find fairies behind your leaves or in the grass! Or maybe I've been watching "Tinker Bell" one too many times, but u get the idea. i know you can't stay long, so until then, i'll treasure walking peacefully with you, hand in hand, as i do every year...

Didn't Vote? Then Don't Talk

2008-11-07T05:08:00.003-05:00

You care enough to criticize or be a naysayer about the election, then you would've cared to vote. On the other hand, there are those who were so passionate in their support for a candidate, and that's wonderful, until I find out they didn't vote. I understand there are certain things that would hinder someone from registering (age, citizenship, disability), but otherwise, voting is a national privilege. Our ancestors fought and died for this right. Voting is the ultimate voice. I thought everybody knew that. So what was all the talk for? I just don't get it.

History. His Story. Our Story.

2008-11-04T23:52:00.010-05:00

The clock struck 11 p.m. here in NY, and the election count wasn't officially finalized, but ABC News had already declared Barack Obama as President-Elect. Just seconds after 11 p.m. EST, when polls closed on the West Coast, California--with its valuable 55 electoral votes--called it in. It went Democrat. That's all. HISTORY.

History is when an increase in voter turnout has never been higher.. thanks to our youth. It's when a significant number of states who previously had been known to be Red, went Blue.. thank you, Ohio. Another huge step towards realizing equality.. thank you, Florida. America has never been more hopeful. Our dreams have been refueled.

Like i said 4 years ago upon W's reelection, no matter what political party we are, we are American citizens. We must stand proud for our country and support our leader in the name of Patriotism. Mr. Obama now has daunting tasks to undertake. We have come so far, but there's still so much more to do. And yes, we can do it. We're making our first step towards Change. Change is progress. Congratulations, Barack Obama, and congratulations, America!

--(However, I must mention with complete disgust the members of the Replican party present at McCain's concession speech, who BOOED our next President. They outwardly rejected our next leader! There are so many things i can say in response, but i won't stoop that low. The REAL right party won this time. Now we can move on.)--

Decision-making shouldn't be reduced to just blue or red, black or white.. or coke or pepsi. There's more to it, governed by issues, moreso personal than political because it involves us. Being a healthcare worker myself, Healthcare was my main issue. I was a huge supporter of Hilary Clinton for her healthcare ideals. Economy and the environment were also as important to me, 2 things i haven't seen flourish since Bill Clinton. Seeing them both fully back Barack Obama instilled in me belief and confidence to support him also. America and the world shall now only move forward from here. I believe we are headed in the right direction.

1776 - The Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

1863 - The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln:

"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

1963 - Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech:

"...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character..."

And one more quote... According to ABC News, Barack Obama just sent America a text message: "We made history. All of this happened because of you. Thank you."

Change

2008-11-03T01:44:00.000-05:00

I actually made the move to Blogger.

They say change is good. It's inevitable. However, I have a long-standing tendency to resist change when in a comfortable situation, through good times and bad. Believe it or not, I've been a loyal Xanga member for 8 years, since my early days at Rutgers when i would be tormented over my pre-med classes and needed a creative escape. And boy did i really escape pre-med! Thank God!! I would never wish anyone in this age to pursue Medicine. It's not as glamorous as it's hyped up to be, believe me (not your parents)! Especially when I work alongside the new MD's whose salaries are less than RN's. yup, you better believe it. They're in school twice as long and then work double the hours.. Thank God i changed my major!.. but i digress..

Despite it all, my bottom-line motto is NEVER SETTLE. Not even in blog mediums. This is a good change. It's more user-friendly. Let's see how many years will pass before i actually decide to change blog sites again!

PS - I bet you thought i was going to talk about Barack huh? lol, well regarding change, u can relate some of the things i said about it to his campaign, this election, and our futures in general.

...Frankly, i've had enough of all the talk and want to see things happen already. I'm so excited to vote tomorrow!

Dream Big, and Dream Often.

3 am Study Break

It's Better if You Don't Understand

0711

Psalm 183

So What is Love?

Never Settle

Orlando & Bahamas 2010!

It's the Little Things :)

My 2009 Christmas

Miles of Books, and I'd Take on the Whole Journey

A Lionness Tamed . Possibly ;P

Taking a *short* Break from Flying

It was Beautiful

Embodying The Conqueror

4 JULY 2009!

I Built a Bridge!

So You Think You Can Dance?

I Am the Decisive Element

Happy Birthday to My Amazing Boyfriend!

I'm On a Good Music Roll!

Slumdog Song Remixed by The Pussycat Dolls

S.I.C.U. woohoo!

My Valentine's/Presidents Day Weekend

I Made a Key West Video!

Even Wonder Woman Needs a Hero

Our Song

On Current Repeat

Detoxing.. Just for 2 Days hehe

Another Charity Event & Fashion Show

"Flying" Can Be an Unfavorable Superpower

Sealed and Solid.

Chasing the Sun: Key West!

Forever Yours. Faithfully.

Over It

Going to Savannah

Slumdog Millionaire

Bringin Some SHUGGA to the Powder

My 2009 Life Resolution

2008 in Retrospect

Boarding, Day 1

Mariah, You're on Fiyah

Air Dogs Cuttin It Up!

Addendum to My Christmas Day

I Saw My Dad for the First Time in 19 Years..

My 'Serendipitous' Christmas Eve

Sleepless

Love and Fear

Santa, Can You Hear Me?

Christmas @ Rockefeller Center

Ever Grateful

Just for the Sake of a New Blog

Simple Plan - Save You

If God is Love, then let Love be my Religion

PDA in NYC (We Just Don't Care)

=)

The Enemy of Dreams

#7

S for Spontaneity

It's December!!

10 Days

Charity Event & Fashion Show

Faith - Belief without Proof

300 W. 57th Street

Don't Believe the Hype!

Just Wanted You to Know

No Title

Proverbs 31:10

Not Worth My Tears

From the Diary of Adam and Eve

Forever Gorgeous

Awake!

Science Genius Girl

Love Me Like You'll Never See Me Again

October Hurts. November Hurts More.

Dear Autumn

Didn't Vote? Then Don't Talk

History. His Story. Our Story.

Change

Taking a short Break from Flying