2004 So as 2005 approaches, I can't help but think of the past year and how much I've grown and learned this year. Honestly, I think 2004 has been a year where I've grown the most and LIVED the most. I think I've lived a lot of life this year. Usually my life has just been routine, stable, boring....no ups, no downs...this year was me living life, full of the highs of the Ups and the depression and uncertainty in the Downs.
Ensenada Cruise was SO FUN! Of course you're gonna have fun when 16 friends board a ship bound to Mexico where all you do is drink! We did it ghetto style by smuggling in some alcohol!!! GREAT TIMES! I think we were drunk every night. Best night of the cruise though was WINE TASTING!!! I just remember we ALL got so drunk!!! and followed up the wine with drinks at Boleros! SUCH A GREAT TIME! "Let's play ninja!" HA HA HA!!! (btw...I am NOT an alcoholic...my 'bleching' to Patron is proof of that).
Weddings this year were great. Seeing old friends of the family when Eric and Melissa got married and just kicking it like it was old times was awesome. OPEN BAR with all your drunk friends at Mish and Regi's wedding was SO MUCH FUN!!! You guys should get married again! And finally Elaine and Mason getting married allowed old school freshman year friends to kick it once again. GREAT TIMES. CONGRATULATIONS YOU NEWLYWEDS!!! Also add to the weddings the surprise engagement that got EVERYBODY talking and practically knocked me to the floor when I found out. Congratulations you two!!!
Vegas trips this year were awesome. JAC Vegas trips are awesome as always, even though freaking Jevon goes to sleep at 11 o'clock and doesn't go with us to experience Rain from Sapphire. Kicking it with the Nor Cal people and celebrating James' birthday in Vegas for the Fourth was grandiose times. Ghost Bar is awesome. November was the month of Vegas. From rescuing what could've been an awful night (::cough cough:: body english ::cough cough::) to turning it into grand times just kicking it with great friends, and making good friends during that trip "ESPAGO!". To the next Vegas trip a week later where we owned Club Risque. Bottle service is da bomb, prepartying is da bomb, and Friday nights at Risque is awesome because they play all the old school jams, and we even did the electric slide (so freaking random). Plus having a girl w/ a sexy voice leave a voicemail on your phone is pretty damn entertaining...ahhh...the wonders of technology.
Trips this year not only to Mexico or Vegas, but also to San Diego (I love the house Shawn and Rita), San Jose (I love the new condo Serena), back home to Tulare, random work trip to New York for a night, my first time to Olde Town Pasadena (I LOVE that place even though I've only been there twice...ever), and exploring LA (I LOVE the taskate picture of me and Riann in front of Mann's Chinese, my FAVORITE picture I took this year).
Trips also to restaurants whether it be all the normal after hours snacks at Denny's, Norm's or IHOP, the ice cream cravings to Coldstone (mmmm...Coldstone), trips to Roscoe's (mmmmm....Roscoe's), to Revolving Sushi (mmmm...Revolving Sushi), my FIRST time to Pink's (mmmm....Pink's), and my frist time ever to STAPLES center (ok, not a restaurant but I had to stick it somewhere).
I've grown closer to some friends who're there whenever I need them to vent or just talk about life or chat about TV shows, just talking/chatting meant a lot to me...thank you. Friends who're there to look after me and concerned when I lose weight. I've realized how awesome my friends are, from all the Vegas trips, to the birthday parties, to camping, to just hanging out, and to my surprise birthday party. Thank you Theda and Anna for that party...I really think that was a turning point for me this year. I've never felt so loved than that night. I hope I was there for all my friends whenever they needed me just like they were there for me when I needed them the most too.
At the same time as I've grown close to some friends, I've grown apart from some good friends. You know how much I love my friends and so losing a friend is something I couldn't understand at the time, and I'm hoping that I will understand it sometime, but I can happily say that it's on the road to recovery now and it only looks better. Hopefully the new year will bring new life to my friendships.
Friends have also moved away literally. Friends moving to Hawaii, Berkeley, Chicago, back home to the Bay, or just moving with different people in different places. Just makes me happy to see how well they're all doing in pursuing their dreams but of course makes me sad to see them go (but at least I have places to stay when I'm at those places, right? ;-D
My ego has been boosted this year like it has never been boosted before. From my surprise birthday party to having people tell me that I've really helped them get through things, and that I've helped them think back on old stuff and get over that, and that feels good. Remember, I'm just a listener, I just say "uh huh...uh huh" and not an advice giver...so that's what surprised me, I helped you guys? It's been boosted in other ways too....watch out 2005! Joe with boosted self esteem is coming at ya!
Let's see how 2005 treats me. I love this thing called living life. It's great. Once you get a taste of it you're addicted...it's so good, once it hits your lips, it's so good. Such was the year of Joe...
Movies What were your favorite movies this year??? The first 3 that came to my head (and so I'm guessing my top 3) in no particular order are:
Garden State
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Lost In Translation (ok, so it came out in the end of 2003, but I actually watched it in 2004)
Those movies just made me think and I guess I could kinda relate to them in some way. They're all undercover romantic movies. They all had people searching for someone to connect with. Some found them, some kept them, others lost them...but all great movies. Sure, there was Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King, The Grudge, Kill Bill, and others that I watched this year, but those were really just for entertainment. And yeah, I haven't watched "Before Sunset" or "The Life Aquatic" yet and I'm sure those'll figure into the top movies of 2004 for me...but yeah, those are the 3 movies that I highly recommend.
All I did on Tuesday was lay in bed and watch "Garden State" I watched it twice back to back...once just to watch it and then the second time with commentary by Zack Braff and Natalie Portman. Did I mention that I love that movie? Yeah, but I called in sick on Tuesday because I was pweh pweh sick. I mostly stayed in bed all day and I seriously didn't even know that it was raining outside. Crazy, huh? I'm feeling a lot better now...
Ok, tomorrow is the last day of work for 2004! WOO HOO!!! I can't wait!!! Hopefuly it'll go by fast. Such is the life of Joe...
Garden State on DVD TODAY! I LOVE IT! One of my favorite movies!!! Who wants to have a movie night??? Jevon? Berto? Dammit...why am I calling out guys...
Ok, I'm gonna post this for all those people that have no idea what they're doing for New Year's. What's going on for New Years??? Let us all know...shout it out! There are things being planned but only a couple definite things...let us know what's going on?! Who's doing what, with who, where and what time, and how much and who's gonna be there, wearing what???
Oh yeah...and I'm glad that I made someone's day on Sunday...makes me happy to know that the best part of her night was playing a trick on me....awwwww...i feel special. It sooooooo made her night that she blogged all about it and only wrote 2 sentences on the rest of the night. HA! I'm glad I could be there to make your night...you're welcome. ;-D
Only 3 days to get those New Years Resolutions. So if you want to stop eating Krispy Kremes in 2005, better eat as many as you can these 3 days...if you wanna stop spending a lot of money in 2005, better spend as much as you can in these last 3 days...and if you wanna stop being a slut in 2005, CALL ME UP these last 3 days!!! Such is the life of Joe...
4 more days Christmas was fun as ever. Christmas is all about spending time with the family but it feels a lot more like Christmas when there's a baby around laughing and opening presents. You don't realize how much children's presence can make Christmas until you don't have one anymore. Oh yeah, me and my other cousins have also realized the addicting nature of "cup stacking" it's soooooo fun and great. HA HA HA! You gotta see some video that I took!
Sunday was the UDY Gift Exchange in LA. Good times with friends, great food, great company, great laughs...just a great time. Thank you Ms. Riann for the pictures of my favorite stars and the shirt that is just my size and color! Thank you to Anna and the Gonda family for the accomodations. YAY! I realize I need practice playing poker since I lost both rounds. I also realize that we're old...chilling and listening/telling stories, playing poker, singing kareoke, instead of sitting around the table and playing drinking games...WOW! That's it, nothing else happened that night, no one played a trick on me...no need to read other people's blogs.
Feeling a lil sick, hopefully I get better by New Years. At least it's only a 4 day week! WOO HOO!!! Such is the life of Joe...
Movies!!! Here are a couple movies that I CAN'T wait to see:
Sin City. Doesn't the trailer look so freaking awesome!!! OH MY GOSH! I can't wait for this movie. Look at all the stars attached to the film...especially Jessica Alba...hopefully she doesn't have a ghetto accent like she did in "Honey".
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. It looks freaking awesome. Tim Burton is an awesome director and his visual style will make this movie look a little more darker/scarier. Didn't you think the original was a little scary??? Ok, maybe I'm the only one...but you have to admit that "The Wizard of Oz" was pretty scary, right?
So last night I went to Shark Club (ok stop laughing) to celebrate Mike and Ed's birthday. Good times just chilling with friends, drinking, and seeing old friends I haven't seen in a while. I guess that I was really hungry because at IHOP afterwards, I inhaled my food. I was finished with my whole plate before everyone else had eaten a quarter of theirs!!! Note to self though...drink lots of water before going to sleep after drinking or else you'll wake up with a freaking headache.
Ok, Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!! I hope you're finishing up your shopping and spending time with the family. Have a great day everyone!!! Such is the life of Joe...
TGIW Thank Goodness It's Wednesday! Why do I say that? Because this Wednesday is my Friday...I don't have work on Thursday and Friday! WOO HOO!!! I love it. Probably just gonna chill and be lazy, watch some DVD's, work out, ok ok...yeah, I'm gonna do nothing...but at least I don't have to work! WOO HOO!!!
I actually went ot Best Buy today after work and I was in and out of there in like 15 minutes. It was so freaking awesome. I was so surprised. Ok,ok, it was the Best Buy in Laguna Hills, but still...it's a Best Buy! I just need to get a couple more gifts, maybe go to Barnes and Noble tomorrow, and hopefully the stuff I won on eBay gets here before Christmas.
Stupid Patriots! They cost me money! They freaking HAD that game!!! Pissed me off. This sports betting is pretty fun. It makes watching these games a lot more interesting. The online Sportsbook that I use also has an online casino...which I've recently discovered, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing when I win money, bad thing when I get carried away and start losing money and not really thinking it's real money because it's all electronic, but it is. MAN!
Ok, That's it for now. Maybe I'll update later on, if not...all ya'll have a great Christmas. Such is the life of Joe...
5 Days and Counting Long and tiring weekend, either that, or I'm just lazy. Saturday was the gift exchange with COF and that was great as usual. Good friends, good food, presents, jokes, and EVERYONE loved my collage. HA HA HA! Sorry Larnie! It was a long night though...it wore me out. Thanks Isa for my new 21 Grams DVD, Rounders DVD, and Banana Republic Gloves that I wished for!!! I love it!!! Here are some pictures of the Holiday Homie Gift Exchange w/ COF
So Christmas shopping stresses me out!!! That's what I did on Sunday. I got some stuff that I was looking for but there were things that I couldn't find which freaking sucks. I dont' know why I went to South Coast Plaza because that place was just crazy. Parking sucked, the mall itself was crowded, long lines to pay for stuff, and not finding stuff that you want. BOO Christmas shopping! Don't get me wrong...I love Christmas...the Carols the nice crisp days (ok ok...here in CA it's a warm 80, but still...the nights are pretty crisp), the decoration, it's great. but then throw in the stress of buying presents and it kinda ruins it. I mean, I did take time to step back and admire the huge tree, the carolers, and just the atmosphere...it was great...but then I stepped back into shopping mode. It gave me a headache, I had to take a major nap when I got back home...wore me out and I only got part of a gift.
So you know what I hate? I hate people that stop in the middle of the aisles while they're shopping!!! I can't stand that!!! It causes a little freaking traffic jam in the mall!!! I say that you should treat the mall aisles as a freeway. If you're slow walking or just window shopping, go to the right side!!! Please! Go to the slow lane!!! If you're gonna do a complete stop...please DON'T stop in the middle of the aisle...pull off to the side and put on your blinkers!!!! (ok ok, no blinkers but at least pull off to the side). It's not that hard!!! No stopping in the middle of the mall aisles! PET PEEVE!!!
I had something else to blog about but I totally forgot...until next time. Such is the life of Joe...
O.R. They??? I love Wes Anderson movies. The first one I saw was "Rushmore", his second film, which I thought was freaking hillarious. I then watched his first movie, "Bottle Rocket" and you could tell that it was his first film because, while quirky, it doesn't have the style that he has in his other movies. "The Royal Tenenbaum's" was great (I LOVE the music that he chooses for his movies). Now I can't wait until his new movie "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" comes out. I was waiting in line at Best Buy and they were playing clips and previews from that movie and I was freaking laughing out loud and smiling and all the people in line with me were looking at me like I was crazy...which I'm not...I swear, I'm not. HA!
So I watched some of the Apprentice finale which reminded me of a funny thing that happened last week when I was watching the Apprentice. So Dana was telling me that one of the girls (the Asian chick) took off her skirt to sell some candy bars:
ME: What did she have on under her skirt???
DANA: Underwear.
ME: Her skirt
DANA: Underwear
ME: HER SKIRT (get it??? underwear/underwhere?) HA HA HA!!!
Me and Chris were busting up while Dana didn't get it....freaking hillarious!!!
I hope all all the people that are sick get better soon. And I wish good luck to all the people taking big tests tomorrow like the GMAT. Especially to people that are taking the GMAT while they are sick. GOOD LUCK!!!
Weekend is here, gift exchange on Saturday. Can't believe that Christmas is only next weekend! WOW! Crazy! Get your Christmas shopping done!!! Such is the life of Joe...
I admit it Dammit, I know I'm gonna get a lot of crap for this blog but I don't care. I really really like Kelly Clarkson! Terrible, huh? I dunno what it is, I liked her song "Breakdown" and then last night I saw her on the Late Show singing her newest song "Since You've Been Gone" and she rocked! I LOVE that song! Today it was even #1 on TRL (not that I watch TRL). So awesome...."SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GOOOOOOONE!!!!"
I think I'm getting a little sick. Started Monday after visiting a friend. Thanks for the present!!! I'm not sick sick, just a scratchy throat, and minor head/body aches. It's all good, at least it gives me an excuse to be lazy and take naps. HA HA HA!
I can't believe it's only Wednesday. It seems like this week has gone by so freaking slow. Except today. Today actually was pretty fast for some reason, i think it was because I actually was a little busy. Being busy at work is a good thing, I like having stuff to do, being stressed at work is another thing. That just sucks.
So the new weather girl on channel 9 has the hugest boobs. It's just crazy! and she wears these tight sweaters to accentuate them. Random? yes, i know. Sorry.
&nbnsp Ok, update over. 2 more days until the weekend. YAY. You gotta love those weekends. Such is the life of Joe...
Wires??? I love technology...it's the greatest thing in the world. Especially the whole internet thing. SO GREAT! We just got wireless at home and so I'm roaming around the house w/ my laptop. SGREAT! Yeah, before I was stealing a connection from my neighbor and the connection sucked downstairs, but now I can go anywhere! I love it!!!
So I finished watching "Full Metal Alchemist" and it was pretty good. That's like the only anime series that I've watched all the episodes to, except for Cowboy Bebop..but Cowboy Bebop is awesome. Next on my list is to finish Samurai Champloo, i'm up to episode 9. AND NO I'M NOT A NERD!!!
So I watched "House Of Flying Daggers" and it is really good! I love this whole artsy medievel Chinese movies that have been coming out of late. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was great, Hero was great, and House of Flying Daggers was great. Good story to follow along, great visuals to keep you entertained (but not as great as Hero), and subtitles to help your reading comprehension. SGREAT!
You know what album is GREAT!? Gwen Stefani's new album is the BEST! I have to admit that when I first heard "Whatcha Waiting For" her first single I had doubts...but as I started to listen to it more and more it grew on me. The whole album is awesome...totally different than No Doubt stuff...it's more dance/club beat driven stuff...SO GOOD! What's my favorite track? "Luxurious"...no no, it's "Bubble Pop"...no no, it's "Serious"...no, no...it's "The Real Thing"...no, no...it's any of her tracks on the album. SO GREAT...I recommend to buy it!!!!
Ok, that's it for now. Counting down the days to the end of the week as usual. BOO!!! When I said last week was gonna be long I was right. This week is gonna be the same. BLAH! I should seriously take the rest of the year off...I have all the vacation time to do so...but then again, I would just sit on my ass doing nothing. BLAH. Such is the life of Joe...
I LOVE MY NEW CAMERA I LOVE my new digital camera!!! It's so great! I got the new Canon SD300 digital camera. It's so tiny! (hee hee) I can easily fit it in my pocket and can take it anywhere. Seriously, it's smaller than my phone! (but my phone is freaking huge). Now I just need to do stuff so I can take pictures on it. Here are some pictures:
So I said this week would go by slowly...and it has. I feel like I've left my blogging audience dead because I haven't blogged in a while. So here you go! A blog entry to tide you over. I love eBay because it just got me $75 in my pocket for someting I don't need anymore. Sure, I bought it for $90 but still...I don't need it anymore (because I got a new camera) so it was worth it. I'm thinking of placing small bets on some basketball games just to see how I do because my Sports Book betting is just play money...oh wait, it's real??? OH MAN!!!
Apparently some people don't keep up with my blog daily because they missed my blog when I told them about this article: Can Guys And Girls Be Friends. Hope that article helped ya...hoped that article let you see a different point of view and realize that your friend is jockin...good convo though.
And yes, I got tricked today...and it isn't even CLOSE to April Fools. I was so disappointed and sad but just had to laugh at myself when I found out it was a joke. MAN! Got me good!!! Just wait until I walk out of the movie theater and don't come back!!! HA HA HA! "uh huh...uh huh...uh huh"...Can't wait to win my $5 back! WOO HOO!!! And I was soooooo close to winning $10...too bad Chili's sounds just like Tilly's. HA! 'uh huh...uh huh...uh huh...'
Ok, that's it enough blogging. Hopefully I get to work on time tomorrow. I went to work late today at 10:30...stupid sleep...feels so good. I heard it also helps you lose weight...such is the life of Joe...
I HATE YOU BITCHES!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! What a great past few days. It started off with great times for my birthday "SURPRISE!!!" and ended with great times with the family celebrating my niece's 1st birthday.
So yeah I already wrote about my surprise birthday party which was awesome. Thanks guys for everything...you are all the best. It was my best birthday ever. I really didn't drink that much...but I did get freaking drunk. It was terrible...I didn't have anything to eat at all but I had all these drinks pushed in my face, so I got drunk off a few drinks. I thought I remembered everything that I did that night, but then people started telling me stories. I don't remember saying or doing some of the stuff that I did. Talking about the Ukraine election? cussing at people? calling people bitches? Good times...you all know that if I'm a dick to you and call you bitch (especially if you're a girl) then I consider you a close friend.
I had a hangover the next day and so I freaking stayed at home because of this HUGE headache I had. It was terrible...I couldn't even go back to sleep...I just laid there in bed. I did a little shopping, bought a new memory card for my new digital camera, had Coldstone with Dana since we've been craving it for a couple weeks now, went shopping with Dana, Iya, and Chris and bought some deodorant ($22) at Sephora, laughed at how Chris has no "whisper" voice b/c his whispers are said in a normal to higher than normal voice, and just watched "The Terminal". Good times.
&nbnsp Saturday, Tommy and I went to San Diego for Shawn and Rita's house blessing. Too bad that by the time we got there it was over and people were leaving. I did get to see Nicole which was cool and of course Shawn and Rita and their doggies Chloe and Daisy.
Finally today was spent at my Tita's house in Palos Verdes just chilling with the family because it was my niece's Makaylee's first birthday!!! That girl is the cutest thing...I can't believe how big she is now. It's always great kicking it with the family and even my Dad came! COOL! Oh yeah...AND I won $95 on the Philly/Green Bay game! WOO HOO!!! I love sports betting! Good times...good times.
So I'm chilling there watching TV and I get a text on my phone and it's sexy bebot voice texting me "hope u won't be too mad =). we're friends remember. ha ha". I had no access to a computer and so couldn't check what she did but I was honestly scared and nervous! I finally got home and she showed me what she had done...booo...I didn't have to be nervous about anything. You can't beat my post of your voicemail...that's classic. But good one though...good one...you got me scared...and you got me good. The game has officially begun....what's "comet's" blog? and screen name? Hmmmm....i think it's in a different language...maybe I should have a "change in speak" because I wouldn't want to tell him about the collage you have. HA HA HA! GAME ON!
Now to a LOOOOOOOOOOONG week ahead. I KNOW it's gonna be a long one. DAMMIT! I'm already counting down the days. Such is the life of Joe...
I love love LOVE my friends. How often do I say that??? I think I say that quite often, but I truly mean it every time. They're the only ones that make my life as fun as it is. All of my friends....I seriously mean this "I LOVE YOU" I seriously do.
My birthdays are usually spent being depressed and hating that I'm turning a year older...but this birthday was different. I had my friends with me. As much as I say that I don't like to celebrate my birthday, I totally enjoyed this one. All my friends came out and surprised me at D&B's at the Block. It was crazy to see how many people came out. I was touched...I dont' think that it got to me until the end of the night when I teared up because I had such great friends. Tears of joy. I dont' know why I started crying...I think it just hit me...how many people came out, how many people cared, how many people I can truly call my friend. I LOVE YOU ALL. I seriously do.
So tonight was my surprise birthday party at D&B's and yes, I was surprised, ok ok...I wasn't really...there were a couple things that kinda put suspicion in my mind and yeah I asked Theda "should I pull out my camera?" when I walked into D&B's but it doesn't mean that it wasn't special to me. I'm sorry if I ruined the surprise for all you guys. I was truly surprised to see how many people came out just to wish me a happy birthday. It was great. I'm truly blessed. I was seriously shocked to see all the people there...and was seriously scared because I knew you guys were gonna get me shots (which I hate).
Thank you to all you who wished me happy birthday by calling, texting, emailing, sending ecards, and IMing. Thank you to all you people who threw me off by asking me "what are you doing for your birthday?" (like you guys didn't know...ha ha ha...good one!). Thank you to all those who came out to celebrate with me and a big thanks go out to all those who arranged the surprise. I love you guys. Such is the life of Joe...
3 x 9 = ?? Happy Birthday Britney Spears!!! Happy Birthday Lucy Liu!!! Happy Birthday Cassie Steele (Danielle's favorite)!!!! Hope you all have a great birthday...hope people give you free IPODs by clicking on the link above. HA HA HA!!! wooo hooo....late twenties....wooo hooo...almost thirties.... ::sigh::
LOST is the BEST SHOW EVER! WOW! Tonight's episode was just crazy! Full of twists and turns! Amazing! AMAZING i say!!! But you know what? If the psychic saw that the plane was gonna crash...wouldn't he also see that crazy dude there??? Hmmmm...makes you think.
One Tree Hill yesterday was crazy too. Just when I say I'm losing interest and not keeping up they spring a great episode last night. During the last 10 minutes alone I was just going "OHHHHH!!!!" "OHHHHH!!!!" "OHHHHH!!!!" with all the surprise twists and turns and stuff. It was great!
So I picked up the newest Wizard Magazine today and man, I'm so close to going back to a comic store and starting collecting again. Did you know that Jessica Alba is playing Susan Storm (Invisible Woman) in the new Fantastic Four movie!!!??? AWESOME! Did you know about all the major players that died in the "Avengers Disassembled" storyline? CRAZY! Did you know that Spider-Man, Wolverine, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, and The Sentry!? are new Avengers? (That's awesome b/c I have the Sentry's first appearance...I can hear it's price going up as we speak). Ok, i'm sorry if this last paragraph bored all you...except Jevon and maybe Berto (even though he's more of a DC guy).
Well, that's it for now. Weekend is almost here. I'm feeling a little sick for some reason. Gotta take my echinacea pills. Ok, all ya'll have a good day...such is the life of Joe...
