You know back in the elementary school days, when a boy (or girl) would attempt to hold your hand.. or rather, make any physical contact with you, even if it was a simple high five to congratulate on your four square win… and you’d get that butterflies feeling inside, and no, I’m not talking about your stomach growling because the bully managed to, surely once again, steal your lunch money and the ritz crackers your mom ziplock bagged as a recess snack.

Well, I still get that feeling. But what’s surprisingly ironic is, it’s not a tingly sensation and no, they don’t arise in my abdomen area. Heck, I’m not even quite sure how to further elaborate on it.  It's just this warm feeling in my chest, easily mistaken as heartburn for you savage eaters, that is somewhat pleasantly uncontrollable.  It’s almost as if you can’t breathe, or have difficulty doing so during that specific moment.  In reaction, I place my hand on my upper chest, in my futile attempts to moderate it, as I’m taken a back by this amazing aura.  This doesn’t occur on a regular basis, well maybe the past few weeks have been an exception, but I guess it’s become an indication for me because I only get it from someone special. Initially, I figured this “warm feeling” would only randomly surface around his presence, but I soon realized that even the mere thought of him could, without a doubt, make my heart melt.  There’s just something about him, some characteristic (or perhaps multiple) that distinguishes him from others.  He never fails to leave me in awe and inevitably, although not intentionally, take my breath away…

I’ve been wanting to update my xanga for a while, and have been searching for something meaningful to post about… and I quickly found myself flabbergasted because I couldn’t find the precise words to express my current sentiments.  I guess he has a way of leaving me speechless … and you know that addicting “Heaven” song by Jamie Foxx (iTunes notes that I’ve played it more than 500 times already since I came back to berk two weeks ago) that I previously posted lyrics from, I truly feel that song is about him.  And every night before I sleep, I always contemplate and reflect on the past few hours, day or week, wondering how I found myself in this surreal situation, and acknowledging how extremely blessed and lucky I am to have come across someone so genuinely unique, caring and appreciative of his family, friends and life in general. 

... Always dreamed that it would happen

I just didn't know exactly when

All my life I'd been waiting for something amazing

Said it took a while but now I know…

mon: last day of oases.     tues: art history 190A eight-ten page research paper due. kim mai's 21st bday. last aphio big fam dinner and chapter meeting.     wed: french quiz. vsa culture show meeting.     thurs: math quiz. french oral final.     fri: last day of class. oases volunteer appreciation dinner.     sat: study endlessly.     sun: aphio banquet.

other shit to accomplish/get done this week: PH major crap. xmas shopping (yeah right). french reading assignment and tous les devoirs (hw). purchase a guitar case/gig bag. missing lect notes. everybody and their moms' bdays. final reviews. back to moffitt being my best friend. finalize (for real) spring 2006 schedule. procrastinate (i.e. aim/online sites, guitar, "study"/play with friends, nap, tv, take my best friend (the 51 bus) to southside, listen to music, decorate/clean room/apt, etc). not procrastinate (i.e. no aim/facebook/xanga/etc, be diligent/studious and maintain self control, stock up on monster/sobe/energy drinks, etc). the list is incomplete and endless...

and all this the week right before finals (tues, dec 13. thurs, dec 15. fri, dec 16. and mon, dec 19)?! OH JOY!

i'm so st r e  s   s    e               d ........

oh how i absolutely LOVE thanksgiving break! i celebrated thanksgiving four (or technically five) times this year with two thanksgiving dinner potlucks with friends in berk, one back home at my uncle's house (on my dad's side), dinner with some of the RYLA crew, and another at my cousin's house (on my mom's side) in hayward!

mike and allen's thanksgiving dinner potluck last sun

angela, mike, moi and my partner in crime kathy

dude, don't you see a resemblance?!

our pathetic (i mean successful) attempts to be ghetto

thanksgiving dinner on thurs at my uncle's house (on my dad's side)

my cousin alex, so adorable!

check out his eyebrows, now that's straight muggin!

damn this fruit tart was soo good!

i love my bro and sis!

family portrait with baby alex

my 6th grader cousin ben who has a GF, damn what a baller!

fri dinner at maggiano's with quy, elisa, matt, andrew favor and abs

and mr.big spender frank wu!

thanksgiving dinner on sat at my cousin's house (on my mom's side)

my cousin's baby grace! if you remember baby andrew from some of my previous entries, grace is andrew's little sister!

talk about precious..

stephanie and julie

more sibling love!

presenting my NEW BABY...

the (black) Ibanez TCY10 Talman Acoustic-Electric Guitar!!

i ordered it late sat night and received the highly anticipated phone call today at 6:22PM and by 6:23PM, i was already bringing my guitar back to my apt room! i've seriously never sprinted down the stairs so swiftly and vigorously in my life!

i'm extremely excited and i think this acoustic will be worth my investment of two bills! it's going to be another packed weekend with the sigma mu delta banquet, multiple days straight of partying, veterans day off with the aphio thank you banquet and angela's dress up "fine dining" dinner, the usc game, another special "dinner," more partying/clubbing, aphio service events and fellowships, and the aphio talent show! i can't wait to start playing my guitar and for the weekend to begin, OH JOY! 

i'm planning to teach myself to play the guitar (for now), so please leave me with any suggestions/advice/etc if you have any insight on good guitar sites (for learning chords and song tabs), necessary guitar gear, tips on how to start off, etc! thanks and i promise when i get better, i'll play you a song.. and maybe even serenade you