It's already 3rd week (out of 10, for those of you not familiar with the quarter system). That's really crazy. I have my first midterm next week, then two (maybe three) the week after, then two more before the quarter is over. So we're, like, really into the quarter now. Crazy.
And you know what's crazier?? I'm turning 20 this Saturday. TWENTY!! Two whole decades under my belt. And I STILL don't know what I'm going to do with my life. Yeah, I'm a declared Computer Science major, but it's really, really difficult. Who KNOWS what I'll really end up doing with my life. I'm still pretty immature... who am I kidding? I'm still SO immature! I still cry when I get frustrated with things, even little things like living in an apartment and being away from home, on top of all the school work I get 'cause every professor thinks that their class is the ONLY class we're taking so they take the liberty in assigning loads of homework. *sigh*
So I'm still not happy here. Almost a month and I still don't feel at home. Got my routine down and everything. Not much I can do about it. Hey, all you SJ people... please email or snail mail me! I'm so lonely, even with all of LA right at my doorstep.
Anyway, hope you all are doing better than me! I miss you, San Jose!
I'm homesick. I don't feel like I can live here for a year, let alone two. I'm scared $hitless about my classes. I miss Emilio. I even miss my dad and sister. I feel smothered here, the same girls all the time. Maybe once the routine of school settles in, I'll feel better... I sure hope so. School just started Thursday, and Friday classes were cancelled, so today was technically my second day of classes. Cabin fever? Probably. Homesickness? Definitely. Manic depressiveness? Hopefully not. Either way, all I keep thinking about is how I would like to go home now.
I'm at work. At work. They must have taken the lock off the internet!!! WOO HOO!! So now when I'm bored, I can update!
Okay, way too much enthusiasm there. So I'm here at work with Sunshine and Joe... we're a lively bunch, and we like to make fun of customers who buy hideous clothing. Two more people are supposed to come in at noon... hopefully a couple of us will be allowed to leave early 'cause it should be a slow day, thanks to the Niner game. :p
I already ate like, 1000% of my daily allowance of fat from my chocolate bar. But it was worth it. My last day at work is this Friday, and I only work Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, so my time is definitely running out. I feel like it's finally kicking in that I'm leaving soon... the 24th, so like, 11 days of San Jose left. So much stuff to do in such a little time!!
Which reminds me... I was in a car accident on Wednesday while Chrissy was visiting. Just a small one... no one was hurt, the other car didn't even exchange info with me 'cause their car was totally fine. But my car has $500 of damage. I mean, geez, this car is an '83, and like, how much can a 1983 car cost total??! But it's my baby, and my baby is worth everything to me, so I'm highly considering dishing out the $500. Gabe and Emilio were there with me and Chrissy, and Gabe's going to try to get a friend to do it for me for a discount, but I really want the same paint that I just got it with. Not even a month ago, my car was looking brand new with that new paint job. And I go and crash it. And you want to hear even MORE irony?! I won a car wash at the raffle at work. A CAR WASH. Someone up there really has a sick sense of humor.
But no one was hurt, my car is totally fine except for some body damage, and my record is still "spotless" so I guess I shouldn't complain.
Lots of stuff on my mind, lots of things to get taken care of in very little time. Deciding on a computer (or not), getting my car repaired and new shocks for the trip to LA, packing (which I've totally forgotten about), shopping for stuff for the apartment, going to a haircut and optometrist appointment, and spending some time with the people I'm going to be leaving behind. Not to mention mentally preparing for apartment life with two other females at the peak of young-adulthood. Hormones up the pitoot, I can imagine. :) But it should be fun, and hopefully not an "adventure," and at least an experience, for sure. Big step in my life... big decisions and very "adult" things to start taking care of... and by myself.
Getting depressed thinking about all that... and they're playing very 80's songs, which depresses me even more... 'cause I remember them, and I'm not even that old!!! Things are getting weirder and weirder... the thunderstorm, the accident, the suicide at my alma mater.... Be careful, everyone, and take care.
Chrissy, my roommate for the next two years (presumably :)), is coming to SJ tomorrow!! I'm picking her up at the airport tomorrow and she'll be staying with me till Friday! We've got tons of stuff planned, and I'm pretty excited.
And things go well with Emilio. But I guess you can look at that as bad because the better things go with him between now and the 24th, the harder it will be to say goodbye. And trust me... already, it's going to be totally awful and heart-wrenching to say goodbye. I never expected to feel so much for him, let alone care so much. I seem to make a mess of my life no matter what I do. It's like I'm destined to live the messiest, most complicated life ever lived. And if I'm not destined to, then I'm at least in the running for it.
Things happen when you least expect it. That's for sure. I haven't cared so much for someone since Jonathon was in my life. That's a big step for me, and now I have to leave again.
....
September already/finally?! This summer feels like it's going by faster than last summer (IBM will do that to you...) but I think I'm about ready to go back to school. I don't want to leave some things/people behind, but I also miss other things/people. And I think you people all know who you are.
The weekend was pretty cool. I got to see Gavin, Mike, Josh, and Corinne (hi, guys!) and I took all them (except Josh) around SJ a little, to show them what it's like up here. That was fun, even though I only got to see them for like half a day. It made me anxious to move back to school. And on Sunday, we did some school shopping since I didn't have to work, so that was fun... spending Dad's money! :) And I got a cool (very heavy) desk for school, too, so I'm pretty excited about that.
Now I'm looking for a new computer... shopping around and comparing prices. It's pretty crazy how much prices have dropped and technology has advanced in the two years since I last shopped for a computer. Finally, I'll be rid of my 166 MHz!! :) Even my dad's computer is a 233. And having more hard drive space is going to be awesome. I can't wait! Too bad we don't have the ethernet anymore. :(...
And now that school's coming up, I've got all these appointments made... doctor, dentist, optometrist.... Bummer. I hate the dentist. :p But it's nice that Erika's back in school (sophomore at STHS already!) because I wake up to an empty house, even when I have to open at work. It's nicer to wake up to silence than to a TV blaring downstairs and Erika running up and down the stairs and drying her hair and stuff. I'm dead asleep when that all happens at the insane hour of 7 in the morning, thank goodness. :)
And Chrissy's coming to visit, in less than a week! Basically 5 more days! I think we'll quickly run out of things to do since SJ SUCKS, but it'll be cool to have her around and to go up and see B&B&Megs and not have to work and stuff. :)
Anyways, happy back-to-school, semester people, and enjoy the last month of summer, you bruins and other quarter people! :)
I hate that song.
Anyway, I'm still alive, just working my @$$ off. Lots of hours, lots of "tired feet" days. That's why I haven't been writing. Besides, not much to write about when all I do is work all the time.
Hope you're all having a better summer than me. :p And happy back-to-school for you semester school kids. Me, I still have 6 weeks, baby. Aw, yeah.
Take care, and hit me up, guys! Let me know how you're doing!
Money is definitely a good thing to have. I found out that I'm really good at spending it in the blink of an eye. In fact, this week alone, I bought new underwear and a bra (but they match!! And I had a $15 certificate!), new (expensive) shoes (I'll need them for school anyway, and they match with ANYTHING), and a new REI jacket (employee discount, and it'll be good for rain or snow). In fact, this wasn't even in the time span of a week. It was two days.
Now, credit is another thing. I'm not overdoing it... I know I'll be able to pay off the bills like I have been doing. But now I need to stop and think, how much do I really need to take with me to school? I'll have my car down there, so I'll need gas money, which is something I didn't have to worry about last year. And having an apartment means seeing little things in stores and wanting to put it in that one corner of our bedroom or a cute picture frame for the space over the fireplace. That kind of thing. So I guess this is the difference between childhood and adulthood. :p
Other than work... I've just been hanging out. Work really is most of my life, and I guess it's because on weekdays, when I work, I don't get home till 10, and considering I have to be home by midnight, it doesn't leave much room for an active social life. Not that I have things I want to do... I'm perfectly content (most of the time) sitting around or going online or going to see Emilio or whatever. And it's fun to occassionally go see a movie (BTW... see "The Iron Giant." It's a kid's movie, but very cute and very funny) or go to dinner, which I've been doing. But of course, there's the thing about MONEY again. :p *sigh* It all comes full-circle. :)
I really like my job... I like the people I work with, I like (most of) the customers, I like the management, and I like the discounts. My feet usually hurt at the end of a 6 or 8 hour shift, but that's to be expected. (Now that I have new shoes, maybe that will change!! :))
Oh, and BY THE WAY... if you or anyone you know are interested in buying a used car, my friend Sara is trying to sell her 1995 Eclipse. Fully loaded, lowered, new exhaust, new Eibach springs, sunroof, turbo (GS-T), bronze colored (it's like a dark, dark orange, really cool for that car). She's selling it for $12,990. Also, Emilio is considering selling HIS 1997 Eclipse. Low miles on it (40-some-odd-thousand), black, new exhaust, souped up (racing) engine. He'd like to sell it for $13,000. Both are manual transmission, 5-speeds. Both in GREAT condition.
Anyway, I hope everyone's doing well... Countdown back to LA: 6 weeks and 1 day (43 days). I'll try to update more often. :) And have a safe Friday the 13th. Not that I'm superstitious or anything.... :)
Just thought I'd update and see how everyone was doing. Work has picked up a little more. It's nice, I guess. At least I'm making SOME money, even though it's not very much. My family and I went camping to Buck Meadows south of Yosemite in the Sierras. Very fun. And we got very dirty, but I guess that's what camping is all about. I survived, even though I was very scared every night that the Blair Witch would come out and get me. :)
On Sunday, I went to Great America with Bobby, Bobby's guy friend Kelly, Bryan, and Emilio. It was SO much fun!! It wasn't nearly as crowded as we thought it would be, and we got to go on all the rides that we had wanted to. Everyone got along, and it was so much fun! That was Bobby's actual birthday, and I gave Bobby and Bryan their presents. I'm going to call Bryan today and wish him a happy birthday. He had foot surgery yesterday, too, so I hope that went well. Hopefully no more surgeries or problems for that foot of his!! :)
I miss all my ucla friends, and I guess my SJ friends, too, 'cause I haven't seen too many since I've been home. I'll get my butt in gear once I'm fully rested... believe it or not, the last quarter stressed me out so much, I'm still not in the mood to really GO OUT. I'm perfectly content to sit at home and relax. So call me. Or write me emails. Or write me snail mail! I love snail mail! At any rate, I'm here, and I'm alive. I'll make my appearance sooner or later. Oh, and welcome home, Devin! Can't wait to see you!
I'm seeing The Blair Witch Project tonight with Emilio, my sister, and two friends of ours across the street, Wendy and Nick. Three of us went to get tickets today downtown at Camera One. The box office opened at 2:30, so we got there at 1:00 pm. And we weren't even the first in line. But we got tickets for the 10:15 showing tonight, and I'm SO, SO excited. And nervous, to tell you the truth, but either way, I just HAVE to see this movie, if only to say I saw it. :)
Other news... I've been working quite a bit more... or at least it SEEMS like it. I got paid today (YAY!), and I promptly picked it up (hot off the press), deposited it (*plop*), and spent part of it. I bought a new wallet -- like I need a new wallet... I needed a new wallet like I needed the new purse that I bought recently, which I needed like I needed the new jacket that I bought at work the other day (30% off, though), which I needed like I needed the new ring I bought that same day... which I needed like I need a hangnail. So yeah, I'm having a blast spending my money, and I know I'll be upset in June when I realize that I should have saved it. It's always June that I realize I have no saving skills.
My hair is slowly growing back. I got a trim to get it de-bush-ified. It KINDA worked, I guess. :) And I'm gearing up to get it to start growing back evenly, or as close as possible. I'm getting impatient, and I'm realizing that growing my hair out is going to SUCK. The in-between stages really suck.
It's been cooler lately, thank goodness. And pretty darn cold at night. And I like that, too. And when I'm happy with my surroundings, everybody's happy. :) Let's keep it that way. I hope everyone's having a good summer! LA people, I miss you dearly! And SJ people, CALL/PAGE ME!! I'll probably be working, but I will call you back soon if you page me the number you're at. This is Jennifer Shioya, signing off....
Way too hot for comfort up here. *fanning myself* Haven't been doing much. Work is still sporadic... probably will be for the rest of the summer, but it's kinda nice. I'm used to the everyday thing, and that was a bore. I'll have more hours starting Sunday.
Haven't gone out much except with Emilio. I'm kinda grounded... can't drive and have to be home by midnight. So he drives me around when I want to go somewhere, and we hang out a lot. Lots of fun. :-)
Other than that, nothing's been going on. I'll see Sara and Kelly tonight (yay!) so I'm looking forward to that. And I'm busy staying cool the days I don't work. Sorry I don't update much... it's too hot to be upstairs during the day! I hope you're all doing well. Take care....
Went down to Santa Cruz with Jodi today. It was actually pretty fun. Crazy traffic going up, but nothing coming back. It was seriously like 95 degrees today in SJ, which is why we went, but it turned out to be kinda foggy and barely warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt, let alone shorts and a bikini top. :-) But it was nice, and there were lots of people.
It's nice to be back "home" in SJ, and I've been sleeping in as long as possible, although the heat in my room is usually unbearable and I end up waking up before I would like to. I love driving around, and my outrageous gas expenditures prove it. It's been pretty damn hot around here, hotter than LA has been in a while, and it's kinda nice 'cause it's the sign the summer's here, but it's kinda not 'cause I don't have AC in my car. It reminds me of the summer between Junior and Senior years in high school, when I didn't work and I spent all my free time with Jonathon, JR, Cory, Jodi, and Susan, going to the beach, driving around, and blasting music. Those were the days, I tell you.
I got a job at REI in Saratoga, and I start training on Thursday. I'm pretty excited... I get to wear a green vest and a name tag! I've never had a real name tag... only a badge at IBM. And I get to work with customers (hello, cashier), which will hopefully be a nice experience. The pay seems so little compared to last year's, but what I can I do? IBM is laying off so many people, to begin with. I just like to tell myself that I'll get another, better internship next year in LA.
Kinda tired... the heat is getting to me. But yeah, I'm home, and for those of you who have my pager number(s), it works again... I got a new pager, so everything's cool. Talk to everyone soon! And stay cool.
Cheesy, I know, but that quote from the song is so touching and so apropos for goodbyes.
So here I am... sitting in my now almost-empty room, waiting for my dad to come get me. Every once in awhile, someone will come by, tallying one more person moving out of Rieber 7 South. My ICQ and AOL buddy lists are deserted. Where there was once over 30 people with online status on ICQ, there's now 6. Now I KNOW it's really over.
The end of my dorm years has arrived. I can't believe it! Yesterday was my last dorm meal. (I won't miss that, though.) As people were saying goodbye, and I as I was helping Bobby and Chrissy move out, I got really, really sad. I'm actually going to miss dorm life! And I'm going to miss a lot of people here. And it's sad because no matter how many times you say you'll keep in touch, and no matter how much you mean it, it just doesn't work that way. Well, I guess I'll at least have Bobby, Bryan, Chrissy, Mitchell, Chris, and Meghan, but I just don't know about the rest of them. Ashley's going to Spain for a year, too, so that will be sad. I just know that I'm going to go home and be excited for a month, max, then I'll be ready to come back... but I'll still have another 2½ months to go. I guess road trips will be in order. :-)
Anyway, I guess I should finish packing. Daddy should hopefully be here soon. My second year of college is over. I'm halfway to graduation. I can't believe it. Goodbye, Los Angeles (*sniff*), hello, San Jose.
Why the dumb quote? Because that just shows how illogical I've become. I used to pride myself in my logical, practical self. My Artificial Intelligence class has proven me wrong. :-)
I'm currently studying for my AI class, and I still have to study for my stats class. I still have two days... but maybe "still" isn't a word I should be using. I'm not too confident on my AI knowledge right now. But I just want to go HOME!!! 3½ months is a little excessive to be away from LA, but for now, I just want to get the hell out of here!!
Which brings me to another topic: moving out of the dorms. For good.
First off, it doesn't even feel like I'll be leaving. Don't get me wrong, this has been one of the longest school years of my life in terms of looking back at the classes I've taken, the friends I've made, and the things I've done. But I'm so used to living here and everything that it just doesn't seem like I'll be moving out in 4 days. And this isn't just moving out of the dorms for the summer... this is moving out of the dorms for good. This means no more smelly trash chutes on the floor, not as much social interaction (because when else are you so closely packed with 70 other kids per floor?!), no more communal bathrooms, and no more DORM FOOD!! I'll actually miss the socialness... I'll miss waking up at 4 in the morning to pee, only to see that half the floor is still up hanging out. And being able to just walk down the hall a couple doors to talk to a friend or gossip in the bathroom or never being too far from someone so that whenever you need someone, there's always SOMEONE. And I'll miss the ethernet connection and ICQ and AIM. I'll miss abusing technology and chatting online with my nextdoor neighbors. I'll miss the security of the dorms, where you can crank call people and they can't *69 you. But I WON'T miss having to dial that stupid phone code to call long distance. And I definitely won't miss Vivian [my roommate]. So I guess there are pros and cons.
After Thursday, I'm done with half of my college years. I'll be moving out of the dorms and into an apartment with two other colleagues. I'll be that much further into my major and my life. It's kinda scary to think about. :-\
Meghan leaves tomorrow (well, today) morning. And I think maybe then, it'll start hitting me that the school year's over. I took down all the pictures off my wall (like, all 75 or so of them) to try to make me realize how close it is to move-out day, but it hasn't worked. I'm actually getting stressed out about my finals, finally. I just want it to be over. I almost wish they were tomorrow like Bobby's so I would at least be done. But alas, not until Thursday. :-p *sigh*
Until then, wish me luck, and I'll see San Jose soon!! :-)
Finals week is now upon us. I attended the last of my classes for this hellish quarter. THANK GOD. Now, I'm off to see Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me with some friends. It opens today! Woo hoo!
Highlights for the day, other than finishing class? Bobby (with an assist by Bryan) made a paper airplane that flew out the window at the end of the hallway, over the Rieber stairs, across the street, onto the roof of the Housing office!!! It was amazing, and I'm honored to have witnessed this incredible feat. :-) You go, guys!
BTW, any of you who have my pager number, it's still out of order. It just hasn't been the same since the boating accident. :-) I've always wanted to say that. Have a great weekend! I hear it's supposed to be great weather... grr... more incentive NOT to study for finals.
In case you didn't go to my front page, there's a picture up of me and Bobby at his formal now on my pictures page so please check it out!
The formal was SO much fun. It was by far the best weekend of college so far. There was no drama between the girls or the guys, everyone looked great, we got to tan by the pool, we got to bus it to San Diego... it was great! We even went speedboating, which is when my pager and camera were ruined. But it was worth it. :-)
I had my first final yesterday. It was in graphics. It sucked. But I actually knew more than I thought I would. Oh, well. I also got The Matrix on CD so I can watch the entire movie on my computer now!! I saw it with my friend Ryan last night 'cause he has awesome speakers hooked up to his computer, and mine has no sound.
I had my last CS 161 lecture (which means my last CS lecture of this quarter and school year!!) this morning. I have my last discussion tomorrow morning at 8 am, then my last stat lecture, then I'm done till my two finals next Thursday!
I took down all my pictures off my wall today. There were SO many. But I'm going to put up some formal ones for the remainder of the year (like, all of one week) because they didn't have their share of time up on the wall. :-) I just want to procrastinate.
Anyhow, to all of Santa Teresa High School's class of 1999, congratulations on your graduation, which is going on RIGHT NOW!!!! That includes Wendy Aftowicz, Jason Beagle, and James Vernon! Have a great graduation!
I'm very, very, very, VERY scared for my grades (and therefore, my life), but there's only one thing I can do: TRY AS HARD AS I CAN. If it's not enough, I don't know what I'm going to do. It's true what Mike (Gavin's roommate) said to me today, about how taking two programming classes is so hard, especially because they're two totally different ones. But still.
And finals are almost upon us. I have my first on Wednesday, during the last week of instruction so we don't have to wake up early on Monday to take it. Then my other two are back to back on Thursday, the 17th: 8-11 and 11:30-2:30. It's not going to be fun, I can tell you that.
But it looks like I'll have tons of fun this weekend, then there might be a Spring party at Theta Chi on the night right after my first final, so I can relax before buckling down the very next day for a week of strenuous studying for my last two.
And roommate situation for next year is still pretty up in the air. We'll see how that goes.
And guys are adding a little more stress to my life... well, one guy, but it looks like I've got it pretty much under control (for now).
Anyways, I'm glad this week flew by (Thank God for 3 day weekends!!) and tomorrow's Friday, even though I have an 8 am discussion. :-( Oh well. Then on Saturday, I get to leave for SD, so that will be fun. If only the weather will cheer up!! It's been pouring at night, and it's cold and dreary during the day... in JUNE in LA where it's supposed to be sunny all the time!! Arg. Have a good weekend, all!
Yesterday was my sister Erika's 15th birthday! Happy birthday! I would have posted yesterday, but I was in Orange County for the long weekend with Chrissy. It was a lot of fun! And lots of good food. :-)
Going out tomorrow night... date #2. Kinda weird. Ask me about it if you're curious. I got a scratch down my nose about an inch and a half long, and I don't know how. It's pretty obvious, and I'm pissed 'cause it's so close to Bobby's formal!!
I've decided for the most part that I'll be wearing Regina's pink dress to the formal. The purple one from my senior prom just doesn't fit me anymore. I dieted and exercised last week, and I know I lost weight because I can now almost see my ribs without sucking my breath in, but it still won't fit. Some people told me that I'm just "filling in," but I don't know if I buy that. Anyway. I figure, with the pink dress, it fits me comfortably, it's the perfect length with my silver heels, I've got really cute earrings to match, and it's Cinderella-esque, with a pretty sash that ties around in the back that makes me feel like a princess, so it's probably for the best. Then I won't have to worry about sucking in my gut all night, or not eating or moving or whatever. This way, I can dance the night away and still look cute. :-)
And I'm really excited because Bobby said he's pretty sure we're taking a bus, so it'll be fun, AND we'll be hanging out, either at the beach or the pool or something on Sunday, too, so it should be fun!! The last breath of fun before finals, which, for me, begin that Wednesday.
Anyway, I'm tired (already), or I'm not in the mood to do work, so I'm hittin' the hay. Have a good [short] week! And I get a haircut tomorrow! Woo hoo!
