just jo

2010-07-18T16:26:00.001-07:00

happy birthday jessica!!!

2010-07-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

game night!!

2010-07-16T04:11:00.001-07:00

days 3&4

2010-07-15T20:02:00.001-07:00

2010-07-14T07:34:00.001-07:00

lunch on the lawn  team froot loops! my room by day FaceTime with lambo 

2010-07-12T22:12:00.001-07:00

first day of my life

2010-07-01T17:31:00.001-07:00

couldn't find a way to make my mark among the carvings in this tree so I had to get a little creative

2010-07-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

2010-06-30T13:58:00.003-07:00

2010-06-30T13:58:00.001-07:00

2010-06-28T23:22:00.001-07:00

2010-06-28T23:21:00.003-07:00

2010-06-28T23:21:00.001-07:00

not much beach, but the water's clear!

2010-06-28T23:17:00.003-07:00

hi 5!

2010-06-28T23:17:00.001-07:00

anybody love spam?

2010-06-27T10:09:00.001-07:00

2010-06-27T10:06:00.001-07:00

oooh. the DARK MATTER.

hawaii: 1.3

2010-06-27T10:04:00.003-07:00

hello, hawaii! we have arrived.

2010-06-27T10:04:00.001-07:00

inflight mai tais and mac nuts!

hawaii: 1.1

2010-06-27T10:01:00.001-07:00

an early morning flight out of san jose. we brought some friends

2 dozen.

2010-04-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

...years.

a birthday and some thoughts.

i'm feeling a little uninspired, but it's been awhile since my last update, and it's not like i've been thinking any less.

so, instead, a few photos and a video.

something about waking up and seeing these starts my day off right.

for the first time ever, i spent a weekend in the world of comics: wondercon!

it also happened to be iPad launch weekend, so this picture pretty much sums it up.

that's right, lambo has discovered his alterego.

krypto, the super dog!

the past month has been amazing.

i feel like i'm finally settling into my life here in san francisco,

finding the places i belong,

discovering the things i want to do and become,

making meaningful memories,

and creating lasting relationships.

it's a community of friends, coworkers, and adventurous minds.

we may not all be the same (although we're probably equally geeky),

but they're my favorite because they embrace life with as much passion as i do.

i put lambo in michael & robert's hands and this is what happens.
good thing lambo's used to it :)

it may not have been huge, but it was a super special birthday.

if i knew how to embed a video from mobileme, it'd be here... but for now, just follow the link :)

http://gallery.me.com/jochin/100114

hold your breath, it gets better

2010-02-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

i don't think i've ever really experienced the "magic" of disneyland (i used to only go with the marching band), which would explain why i'm STILL so excited about my socal weekend. i might actually be more excited now than i was before the trip.
the 2 days of rainy weather didn't really bother me (including ponchos, wet feet, and annoying umbrellas), and i got some really fun pictures!
the only thing disappointing about rain was the lack of lines to wait in. we were all ready with movies loaded onto my ipod touch and edwin's iphone! hahaha i know, i'm not complaining. and i at least got to finish toystoryII :)

i now have 3 of my own vinylmation toys, one of them being a "design your own" figurine (the white one). i'm still looking for inspiration but can't wait to do something cool with him :)

they all had their own photographic disneyland adventure, representative of my own. [they will probably make appearances in future adventures too]

shameless plug of the day: we just discovered a new board game (courtesy of laura & anthony) called wits & wagers and it is HILARIOUS. we played it for hours on saturday (with an intermission of laura kicking a kid's butt in air hockey) haha. it seriously rocks.

anyway...

that's all, folks!

already | not yet

2010-01-31T13:55:00.000-08:00

it's a paradox, the "now-ness" of the future.

at church today, it was described in context of the kingdom of heaven - this promise of positive change, and the hopes that we hold for both now and later, which holds true in a way that is applicable and yet larger than life.

growing up, i knew nothing about a world outside of my own. God was God, belief was belief, and my faith was one of childlike innocence/naivete. then i started seeing the world as it is, and i needed to figure everything out all over again on my own. it became more about the action than the belief -- who i wanted to become, what i wanted to embody, and what to do about the things i don't understand. i neither wanted to live in oblivion of reality, nor did i want to live hating things out of ignorance.

these were huge reasons for my moving to san francisco. not only was i afraid of becoming complacent in a sweet, sheltered suburban lifestyle, but i also could not miss out on an opportunity to challenge myself.

my future is not just ahead of me, but it's also right in front of me.

i can't be waiting for it to happen, because it's already happening;

i can't settle with right now, because it's still unfolding.

[man. that's heavy... it's been on my mind all day]

"if you think you have it half-figured out, you're all the way wrong"

-dave lomas

anyway. realitysf was an amazing experience: a new church service taking place at an awesome location (the swedish american hall), a message that tackles the bigger questions in a very real way, a gathering that feeds the soul.

so often i just want to leave a lasting impression with others, be certain of my purpose, and love people. it's nice to be reminded that the biggest impact i am making is on myself, and that there is something so much bigger than me in control.

i saw a tweet that really stuck with me from a close friend of mine:

My life is more f*ed up than ever, but I'm happier than I've been in a long time. Does that mean I'm a crazy person?

to which i responded:

it means you're human and you're embracing the imperfections that make life beautiful. <3

...who says we're supposed to be perfect and have it all together?

doggy day out in dublin :)

2010-01-28T22:25:00.000-08:00

one of my favorite day-off things to do is take the bart out to dublin with lambo
and hang out with vix & bud.
even without my dSLR, vicki is still a consistent source of inspiration on our little day adventures :)
[see more photos here]

the best i could do for the last shot of the night
racing against my dying battery

hearts will hold [details in the fabric]

2010-01-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

maybe it's the weather, or this city, or the new year
that puts me in a very reflective place.

(or this perfect combination of sun & clouds on a saturday morning)

what are you afraid of?
when it comes to life and love, i think everyone is afraid of something.
some people are afraid of commitment, of getting attached, of getting hurt,
of loving and being loved.
and for the longest time, i didn't understand it.
i gave freely to those around me
- my love, affection, time, and consideration.

i wore my heart on my sleeve.
i still do.

and i believed that every experience is worthwhile,
that every mistake is a lesson learned,
and it all culminates to create character.

i still believe it,
kind of...

but i suppose, in a jaded way, these experiences have taught me about taking my heart off my sleeve, building my character in a way that creates independence and the freedom in being me.
my fear lies in making the wrong gamble. my sacrifices, vulnerability, consideration turning around and making a fool of me.
[that probably explains why i have a difficult time being patient and accepting that i need to wait, to know where i stand in the eyes and mind of another. that same impatience has led to impulsive decisions that created short-term solutions and temporary gratification.]

so all this time has been an ongoing lesson and reflection on living in the present instead of dreaming about the future.
of building & cultivating supportive/affirmative relationships,
taking advantage of opportunities for character growth,
and taking wise risks that will create something meaningful in the long run.

if it's a broken part, replace it

if it's a broken arm then brace it

if it's a broken heart then face it

are the details in the fabric (hold your own)

are the things that make you panic (know your name)
are your thoughts results of static cling? (go your own way)
and everything will be fine
everything
in no time at all
hearts will hold

this is not just tea, but a cup of wisdom.
"travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light"

ps.

[jan 18]

we just celebrated lambo's 2nd birthday
during a mini-vacation in fairfield

borrowing & sharing

2010-01-10T18:54:00.000-08:00

being on my own since 2nd year in college has taught me a few survival techniques:
learning time and again how to budget my $ wisely, efficient laundry techniques for a month's worth of clothing, and namely, the gift of a borrowed family.

and as it goes, what is borrowed must be returned,

so i hope this counts

as me giving back.

i like to think that my value for family is because of the significance of my parents and siblings while i was growing up, but i must acknowledge also that the fascination can very well be attributed to my 4+ years in sociological studies of group behavior, cultures, and [of course] families.

borrowing family is not about spending (or NOT spending) the holidays alone; it's one thing to spend time with friends, but another to have someone share their family with you -- in that moment, you are not only experiencing the company of a support system, but also gaining insight from different perspectives on what fundamentally ties people and beliefs together.

i love how a simple conversation can lead to a profound realization of how God's plan works, how blessings come unexpectedly, and how timing can be most perfect when you just let it be.

between christmas and new years, i was able to catch my mom in san gabriel before she flew back home and spend some quality girl time with her and my sister (who, btw, always has amazing thoughts along her journey as a new parent with the 2 kids). and, as always, i walked home after eating with them a little wiser, a lot more trusting, and completely encouraged.
that, to me, is what i look forward to when spending time with a family other than my own. it's not about the company of other people, but the connection that is shared. it's that sense of belonging, of a past&future, and of support

(i'm totally overthinking this, that's why it's starting to become jumbled up)

so, segue:

with the new year comes room for growth, and lessons in trust and patience.
last year was '2009, time to shine'. and i think i can say that it happened.
i learned a lot about responsibility [stewardship], patience [love], and change [life].
moving to san francisco was really about me embracing challenges and becoming self-sufficient; moving here meant moving onto my future. it took a few months for me to realize that i was being held back by my own vices, and to fully become who i wanted to become, i needed to step back and see the big picture, instead of holding onto a fear of looking like a fool.

when reflecting at church today, i realized that this year has kicked off in an awesome way.
i'm learning patience: letting it be means experiencing the reward of knowing when i'm meant to know, instead of when i'm asking to know; it means that there is a reason things aren't meant to be rushed, and yesterday, it also meant that my car would be sold in a completely honest manner without any pushing or begging, at a nice compromise.
i'm learning to trust: because things will happen as they should. and that all goes hand in hand with being patient. it's about realizing that the unexpected can [eventually] bring me to something better than i could take credit for, if i just trust that it's all part of the perfect plan.
i'm learning about love: trying to love other people has kept me from loving myself (cliche, i know), and i know that taking care of myself first will enable my heart and mind to grow so that i can give my love to a fuller extent.

i have some amazing people in my life right now, it's no wonder i love where i am today.
and i'm learning that balance
of making and keeping quality friends
and the value of my close friends across the miles,
instead of feeling the need to make new acquaintances all over the place.

i hope this all made sense. i can't believe i've been trying to put this [my thoughts] together for over 2 hours.
comments are appreciated!!

all that time I wasted is now
all Im making up
and its mine, oh its mine
now i'm not so scared of what i want
theres a freedom in just being me
and i'm flying, oh i'm flying

i cant hold back
i'm breaking out the gates & screaming

give me back my voice again
give me back my self
give me back my love again
i wanna give it to someone else
i will not calm down I wont be nice
now, give me back
-kina.grannis

when it rains, it pours // my year in review

2010-01-06T23:57:00.000-08:00

...back to blogging. hello, i haven't been here since september 1st.

wow. a year ago, i was here.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
moved to a new city on my own, moved 4 different times, got stranded in a random town by myself for 2 days with a busted car, faced my debt, worked at a tradeshow in vegas.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
some i did, some i didn't, and both in kind of unexpected ways... but i definitely have some new goals for the new year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
i think it counts to say that my sister adopted 2 kids from ghana!! that addition to the family is just as good as a birth :)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
my mom's eldest sister, my da-yi-ma. it's still hard to believe she's gone. we miss her.

5. What countries did you visit?
canada... yah!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
more patience, better sense of self, and money.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
april 15. one person who has made a huge impact on my life. i know we are constantly becoming better people because of what the past has given us :]

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
facing and paying off my NZ debt, and picking up & moving to san francisco on my own. in the same year! (even though the debt came right back... circumstantial)

9. What was your biggest failure?
making rash decisions, losing my 2 cameras (who took them?!), still being far in debt.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
aside from a chronic sinusitis, i managed to sprain BOTH my ankles on halloween. one of which had been previously sprained over the summer at the beach as well.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
my canon d10 shockproof/freezeproof/underwater camera

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
+my brother going FULL-TIME with his photography business and leaving the cubicle for good!
+my sister & her husband adopting emmanuel & gloria from ghana <3 style="text-align: right;">
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
why talk about that which depresseses?

14. Where did most of your money go?
citicards - a massive car repair, rent, and survival (food)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
three things: the new kids, moving to san francisco, and my job at apple 

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
jaysean-down, kerihilson-knockudown, kinagrannis

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier/more content
ii. thinner or fatter? definitely thinner. i think i'm disappearing.
iii. richer or poorer? about the same, but i feel poorer because i'm not in denial anymore.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
saved my money while i had it. put myself first. photography.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
impulsive decisions!!

20. How did you spend Christmas?
i borrowed someone very amazing's family :] thanks edwin!

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
you could say that

23. How many one-night stands?
none

24. What was your favorite tv program?
2009 = addictions to fringe, grey'sanatomy, house, glee!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
hating takes too much energy! no.

26. What was the best book you read?
time traveler's wife

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
i<3youtube style="text-align: right;">

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
given myself more time. but i have no regrets

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
transition from casual/comfortable to trendy - skinny jeans, layering, scarves and heels (not all together)

34. What kept you sane?
lambo, my awesome house in sf, my down comforter, good music, and my guitar

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
i've never been one to "fancy" celebs.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Marriage equality.

37. Who did you miss?
hana, diem, and the kiwis

38. Who was the best new person you met?
i met so many awesome people it's hard to say. so here we go:

[nick syquia] [apple  kids] [sidneyaptekar & ken hom, vegastrip]
[my roommates + jenny!] [walter&co.] [mr.fab]

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009?
+take responsibility for your own actions, because nobody else is going to.
+the willingness to grow creates character - "if it is to be, it is up to me".
+independence comes from being a little selfish first, i have to think about myself first before trying to be useful to others (this meant buying crap for people too... it took me till now to finally figure that out)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

this is a message from your heart
your most devoted body part
taking blood and making art
this is a message from your heart
pounding away into the dark
you could thank me for a start
this is a message from your heart
-kg

holiday spirit(s)

2009-12-25T00:03:00.000-08:00

christmas in the city is beautiful.

even when it's rainy.

this christmas, unlike other christmases past, i did not buy presents; i instead made cards and ornaments. i thought about keeping the mystery and magic of my stars to myself, but i had promised peterkim that i'd post photos, so here they are.

Downtown Portland

2009-09-01T20:33:00.001-07:00

if only i knew this way earlier... hahaha

sneaky september

2009-08-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

hello, september.
you snuck up on me.

it has been a LONG time since i last posted.
a lot has happened.

it seems that, whenever i'm at my parent's house in vancouver(washington), i have a nice window of opportunity to catch up on my blogging, photo editing, yelp reviewing, whatnot.
and i'm taking it.

i have been everywhere.

a few weekends ago, justin wanted to take me down to SD for a getaway
we went to the races in del mar and checked out la jolla.

i was able to make it to my aunt's funeral in vancouver BC, but not without my signature misadventure -- this time it was my passport.
i had somehow, along the way, forgotten that prior to going to new zealand, i got a new passport.
so when this trip came along and i was reminded to bring my passport, i located and packed it, neglecting to check the expiration date.
once at the airport, i decided to check the expiration, just in case.
2004. wtf? i had 2 passports floating around amongst my belongings?
and omg my picture was so old.
so i called justin. he went into an apartment-searching frenzy. nothing.
[i found out my flight would be delayed - multiple times, forcing pretty much the entire plane to be missing their connecting flights. luckily, us airways rebooked me onto a direct flight to seattle. so i was freaking out at john wayne for about 3 hours.]
i texted lex. she was at work until 11. after work, she told sam, and they told laura.
THEY went into an apartment-searching frenzy.
[and in the meantime, my brother had looked through the remainder of my stuff at his house,
and my mom had ransacked the suitcase i had left with her. nothing.]
by this time, i had given up. i wouldn't be making the wedding, but at the very least i would stay at my cousin alan's place in seattle, borrow will's car, and scout the city for a weekend of exploration when justin came up for his first time.
2am - lex calls me. THEY FOUND MY RECENT, non-expired PASSPORT!!
*relief* - at not having to pay $200+ for an expedited renewal, or $200+ for an earlier return ticket, or being left behind and not going to the funeral.
my roommates rock.

the funeral was an opportunity for the cousins on my mom's side to be reunited, to catch up, and see all the kids of the younger generation playing together.
my canadian cousins took us, the american cousins (alan, my brother, and myself) canadian bowling. 5-pin, with a smaller ball. i was terrible. but we had a great time, and that was my short, sweet, impromptu, misadventurous northwest trip.

then there was vegas.
great people, new friends (and some old ones that i finally got to party with), good times.
i am so thankful to have had the chance to meet so many of justin's friends and actually have meaningful conversations with a handful of them. they're not only a huge bundle of fun together but also genuine, down(downdown...) individuals. (see also: walle's world)

[photo credit: christine.coates]

i got to use my new canond10 underwater camera and it WAS all it's made out to be.
i love that thing.

upon returning to socal, my roommates convinced me to go to the SD zoo with them
and in honor of us all leaving (my last hurrah),
lex&sam treated us to free admission with their memberships! <3 size="2">[more pictures from my dSLR coming later]

and last but not least, a picture of lambo. he's the best.

+pictures of NWadventures (seattle, portland, SF) coming next[preview]

+looking forward to watching the timetraveler'swife w/vix!
+love, starfish <3>

06.august 2009

2009-08-07T00:19:00.000-07:00

goodbye, da-yi-ma (auntie patty)

we're really going to miss you

say hi to po-po for us in heaven!!

[COMIC]blastfromthepast

2009-07-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

when i was little, i always remembered my brother sitting at the dining table in the morning with his bowl of cereal and the funnies page...
and ever since i was old enough, i've loved going through the newspapers and reading the comics as well (particularly the sunday paper - in color!)

comic strips are timeless... they have a way of captivating your attention and imagination, making you laugh without infiltrating your brain the way tv does.

while cleaning out my desk for justin, i came across a stack of comics that i enjoyed and clipped.

for your enjoyment...

we're celebrating halloween 3 months early ;)

thinkingoverthinking

2009-07-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

hump day sucks.

but it's the perfect time, while i'm stuck in the slump (or hump),

to put a few thoughts down to reason (or rhyme)

[lots on my mind]

with my notice to Tustin Ranch put in and operation:SF well underway, i've had a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. i'm determined to make the most of my time left here in Southern California, as well as get things done in preparation for the big move.

i can't wait.

the job search, i realized, needed to slow down. 2 months is a long time in job world, and it is a little early to expect someone to hire me for mid-september. i'm still keeping my fingers crossed, though.. hoping things will work out with a few of my leads.

it's amazing how things have progressed in the past few weeks. call it the secret, or the law of attraction, or just good timing... my desire to move, prompted by my difficulty in seeing a future here in orange county, put into action by a perfect housing opportunity and some really supportive friends/family. [i expect all of you to be visiting me @ arkansas -- the house, not the state -- in the near future!]

on a side note, this summer has been an awesome one so far.

i've been fortunate to (despite and around my odd work schedule) squeeze in the things i love -- beach days, lazy afternoons, close friends, sunshine, roommates, fat-people-food, making lists, planning adventures, and my superduper boyfriend justin.leu :)

[things are gonna be great]

timeline of important dates

8|20 - last day @ TRGC

8|21-23 - vegas!

8|28-30 - seattle

8|30-9|3 - portland/vancouver

9|3-9|8 - san francisco//labor day play wknd

9|sometime - MOVE

10|8 - j.leu's bday

10|10 - mr.az @ the hollywood bowl

11|13 - boyzIImen @ house of blues:anaheim

12|28-1|12 - COSTA RICA

:reading list:

+time traveler's wife

+extremely loud and incredibly close

+the story of sushi

+mountains beyond mountains

+confessions of an economic hitman?

where does time go?

2009-07-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

already this month, i have...

been patriotic in my celebration of independence

been reunited with my girls

had a random last-minute beach bonfire

spent the day in venice beach (actually, many days at the beach)

attended my FIRST major concert - incubus @ hollywood bowl!

San Clemente Ocean Festival
apparently an annual event in San Clemente... not so much food but still some awesome stuff to see + surf competitions!

we hung out with justin's friend shaun, and all his boarding buddies for awhile. got some shots of them.

+I WANT A TIKI!!

we finally went bike riding in newport beach - another check off the J-list =)

[can't believe it's already been a month]

+i really need a watch
+put in my notice at work. that's right, I'M GOING TO SF!
+blockbuster is lame. netflix is definitely coming up.
(boo) to customer service and membership retainment
(literally-- they "lose" your info after 3 months)
+the hangover was a definite thumbs up!

june in a nutshell

2009-07-07T00:35:00.000-07:00

+being at the beach rocks
+starfish! <3
+hardcore job searching
+coincidence? i think not. the secret.
+COSTA RICA HERE WE COME!

i <3 san francisco

2009-06-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

summer = busy at work.

as an event coordinator, my schedule revolves around [surprise, surprise]... events, which means i don't necessarily get my 2 days off together, and most certainly do NOT get weekends off.
when i realized that i had wednesday-thursday off AND didn't have work until 4:30 on friday,
the fiercely spontaneous adventuregirl in me demanded to go somewhere.

so i booked a flight to san francisco, and the trip (despite flight delays on both ends, one of them being 4 hours and putting me 3 hours late to work) was completely worth it
and just what i needed.

my time with honabear

+quality food

there's always something interesting in the city

[and i'm pretty sure that's true]

[berkeley has captivated me]

i want to live here

P.S.

how can anybody be mad at traffic when you have these faces on your window?
nice job, vicki haha

+lesson learned: don't fly jetblue through SFO
+see you sept 3, san francisco + friends!
+buy tix in advance for Nightlife @ Academy of Sciences
+it really is a small world

can't believe it's june

2009-06-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

...photo catchup time!

we haven't had internet at the apartment for the past few weeks after getting ousted from whatever neighbor's open wifi we were stealing, and finally decided to go ahead, stop being cheap, and pay for some net-surf-ability.

most of the pictures have been posted on facebook; other not-so-fbook-applicable photos can be found on my flickr.

tustin chili cookoff.

the best way to kick off the month... i definitely plan on attending again next year

so far
+i <3 SF
+mesa lounge is my new favorite spot
+you've got a dud, i found a stud
+beachtime is bomb

memorial day :: newport beach

2009-05-27T00:33:00.000-07:00

another long weekend... this time, one that i got to actually enjoy! (the monday, off, that is)

and of course, i had to be at the beach for a portion of my day off. i decided to take the d70 along this time, and i'm glad i did.

just some fun stuff from the afternoon on the sand...

my roommates are great <3

more photos from memorial day weekend.

+btw. i found this new application. it's AMAZING. www.poladroid.net

will post pics soon!!

+sprained my ankle today. a hole in the ocean ate me. SUCKS.

who needs the aquarium... [beach shoot]

2009-05-17T18:35:00.001-07:00

instead of going to the aquarium as planned, ruben and i decided to make a detour to Corona Del Mar on friday afternoon. we figured we'd have just as much fun climbing the rocks and finding interesting doodads on our own, and i would be able to go camera happy.

here are some of the results of the day out
to see more, hit up the flickr

still got it! [downtown santa ana shoot]

2009-05-15T23:08:00.001-07:00

went shooting for the first time in quite some time with rocky yesterday,
and it's nice to know, as he said here, that i still have the ability to produce some quality images.
too bad i realized later that my iso was way too high.

anyway... here are some photos. [in semi random order]

mother's day

2009-05-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

welcome home, emmanuel and gloria!

here are some photos i took in excited anticipation of my sister and mom's arrival [and post arrival] with the kids on monday.

this used to be my room

I'M AN AUNTIE!!
*link for gloria's pictures coming soon*

this year is my sister's very first mother's day and i couldn't be more thrilled...
the kids are such a blessing, and vice versa, my sister + matt are a blessing to them as well

so in lieu of today's holiday,
and all the moms i saw today
i am so lucky to get to hang out with my mom
and i am so thankful that i have an awesome role model
for when i become a mother
love you, momma

on a side note...

_those greek goddess dresses are not for me
_i believe all girls have 3 basic needs:
to be acknowledged,
pursued,
and special.
_i found the best place to get orchid plants!
_round 2 of golf rocked.

meet... emmanuel and gloria

2009-05-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

as many of you know, my sister and her husband were in the process of adopting two children from ghana, africa.

they came home on monday and i was able to spend some time with them... they are AMAZING kids.

[connecting]

2009-04-30T21:19:00.000-07:00

this whole past week has been full of connections made, in all aspects of the word.

connections with people,

connections with new things,

and connections with perspectives.

it's definitely nice to be young... just knowing that i still have time to do take opportunities for things i'm passionate about as they come is reassuring.

anyway.. here we go. the photos.

bittersweet fun @ discovery center =)

caught up with koichi at the olde dubliner @ the district
good friends, good drinks, GOOD TIMES me, koichi, laura, dan, and alex mar!

i finally connected with the game of golf.
which needed to happen, after working at tustin ranch golf club for almost a year!
and as said in the alchemist, it might have been beginner's luck, because i had a GREAT time, did pretty well, and i'm hooked.

laura and me

we had the party cart complete with music and pink caddies

(although neither of us are pink people)

and we had SO much fun playing -- probably because we don't play by the rules ;)

it's spring! momma + baby ducks

brand new club rentals... thanks steve watson

our cart + the boys' cart

my awesome boss (f&b director @ tustin ranch) jeff, was super awesome and gave me+laura a $100 gift certificate for Scott's in Costa Mesa.
It was BEAUTIFUL. food, service, and overall experience were amazing.

it was a celebratory dinner for laura's promotion to Special Event Manager
and my [pending] promotion to full-time Events Coordinator.

my industry rocks.
tonight we were invited to an open house/meet&greet @ house of blues in anaheim
free drinks, food, and even tickets to the mary mary concert tonight!
we gave our tix away but had an awesome time networking with a few very cool people
+my business card got picked in a drawing! i won 2 tix to any HoB show and a HoB pint glass. =)

managers @ tustin ranch (minus brian).

_life is good. l♥ve it.

the best back-home birthday

2009-04-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

today:
_san gabriel automotive
_kingburg kitchen
_cathy's bakery
_half&half tea house
_guitar center

on my days off, i always want to get a lot done. while its like an almost-mini-vacation, i like my vacations productive - errands, quality time, and new things make the perfect agenda.

so after picking up the applause (my new acoustic vintagey beater), i headed up to san gabriel to get some new brakes on my car. richard [my mechanic] rocks. i ended up getting new brakes/rotors, filters, and an oil change.

in the meantime, will and i did some quality chinese-style damage. we ordered in mandarin, at all the places we went to! i'm glad i still remember hahaha... and for a cantonese guy, will's mandarin is pretty damn good. [i'm afraid his vocab is better than mine]

it was definitely the best hometown birthday i've had in a long time...
lots of awesome fobby soul food, a good heart-to-heart, and sweet weather.
we had a much-needed catchup afternoon.

soy tea egg
(cha yeh dan)

beef noodle soup
(nyo roh mein)
pork, sea cucumber, and shrimp dumplings
my long awaited bday cake!
i havent had this in YEARS.
crispy layer cake from cathy's!

and of course, it was a good day out for lambo
got some new elixirs for the beater and ran into jake cheung!
totally forgot he was asst manager at guitar center... thanks for the hookup =)

the boys made for great company today.

+new music on my ipod, happy sleeping dog, quality time with an old friend
+time to learn some new songs on the old guitar
+i should really try this mobile blogging thing... i'm always so much more inspired on the go than i am by the time i finally sit down at the compy
+tomorrow is going to be awesome. right?

new love

2009-04-19T01:35:00.001-07:00

i am going to find me a guitar (i don't know where my one went)
and learn this song!

simple truth [beautiful mess]

2009-04-16T17:37:00.001-07:00

this beautiful mess is still here
and 'it's nice to say
that we played in the dirt all day'
-jason mraz

there's no lies,
no wondering, or questions, or what-if's.
just the simple truth
that maybe, you're meant to grow apart
that you need to let go
to be honest with the things you've discovered
you now need.

it's a bittersweet yet comforting feeling, to know that we're on the exact same page.
that we are thinking the same thing, drawn to the same concepts,
and needing to get there completely different ways.
we've learned so much, grown so much, and now it's time to grow in some different soil.
it's a new adventure

just like the rest of my life.

i moved back into the woodbridge apt. i live in the living room now,

and i hang out with laura all the time.

plus lex and sam
the afghan the wannabe rapper. who also has a grown-up fort.. in the dining area.
it's good times. most of the time.

my birthday was awesome.
girl time was much needed, and all of us totally bonded over the weekend, talking about relationships, goals, traveling, and life.
after graduating college, i've started to realize how important it is to maintain friendships -- and unlike college itself, your friends are no longer defaulted by what organizations, classes, or activities you're involved in, but they are instead people who know who you are now, understand who you want to become, and have maybe known you in a different time. there's something about it that just makes you feel grounded and gives you the ability to candidly be yourself in any situation or conversation.
after 5 years in college, i've taken my experiences and found that i somehow have gravitated back to old friends that i've discovered have grown in similar ways as i. and it's nice that, ironically, as far as i've come from jr high and high school, and even earlier years of college, i'm as close as ever to them.
i'm not sure if that made much sense.
so here are some pictures from vegas!

first, our little misadventure... poor fiona's car w/ busted turbo :(

we got to vegas at 5am

eap new zealand girls <3 a very awesome birthday boy
thanks ken!

that's us. girls night out!

hotel preparty shot

i'm so thankful for these 3... they're so important to me <3 style="text-align: left;">
and laura took me to TUNATOWN on main st huntington beach!
that place was freakin awesome
but i got jipped on my bday dessert! stupid chef was a pervert. haha

+you and i both.

old friends, new places

2009-03-25T15:34:00.001-07:00

friday night was my night off, so i thought it would be fun to call a few friends up for drinks.
we hit up neomeze in old town pasadena - i love this place! it was my second time here since ronnie's bday and definitely didn't disappoint.

after gathering inside and some brief introductions, we quickly came to the realization that i was among some my oldest (long time) friends.

fiona, vince, and joanne lee

it feels good to have that connection with people, and to know that they're still around after all these years of change, growth, and distance.

let's start with #1.
joanne lee and i have known each other since i was 5 and she was 3.
her mom helped my parents buy our house in san gabriel!

and here we are, 18 years later.
happy 21st, doll =)

#2 comes fiona. we've known each other for 11 years and she still makes me laugh.

#3 is vince. ironically. i always regarded him as one of my oldest friends.
we've been best friends for 9 years... and through everything, i think we're still best friends.

our girly drinks: carribean mojito, razzle, and melon margarita.
vince wasn't included. he got a beer.

and then this week, i hung out with tay-che... formerly yun-che, now known as taylor.
i call her tay-che.
sophisticated chicago girl now, no more short skirts and skin-revealing beach wear for her.
it feels good to grow up.

and to end this post,
here's a very entertaining video of henry at wokcano after neomeze on friday night.
enjoy! =]

my life in pictures

2009-03-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

1. A picture of you in your room

it's not exactly my room... but close to it. my closet back at the woodbridge apt!

2. A picture with someone you don't really like
why would i have one of those?

3. A picture with you very drunk

...21 shots later...

happy birthday me

4. A picture of you on your birthday/favorite holiday

vegas for my first time... 22nd bday ♥

5. The youngest picture you can find of yourself in digital form
only in the scrapbooks.

not exactly the youngest i have in digital form... i cheated.

6. A picture of you in one of your favorite outfits

i guess this could be one of them...

7. A picture of you making a goofy face at the camera

haha... our maori faces

:new zealand:

8. A picture you might have edited to make yourself look more attractive

i guess you can say this is manipulated...

9. A picture of a night you regret

hahahahha.... please don't have nightmares.

10. A picture of you truly being yourself

yea... that's pretty much me.

11. The most recent picture of you

with tay-che ♥

12. A picture of you being absolutely ridiculous

we were supposed to be a walking middle finger. it doesn't make much sense here...

13. A picture of you showing off a new haircut/color

when jo chan cut my hair in wellington, new zealand. love you sister ♥

14. A picture of a time in your life that's over, but you wish it wasn't

5 months in new zealand

life is beautiful.

15. A picture of a time in your life that's over, and you couldn't be more thankful

i have learned so much and come so far since/because of that breakup.

16. A picture of you when you were anything but happy
i dont think i took pictures when i wasn't happy

17. A picture of you when you were nothing but happy

good times ♥

18. A picture of you when you were a different person than you are now

i have grown up so much since high school

19. A picture of you with someone you love

we are totally the best.

20. A picture of how you'd like the world to see you

i love life.

21. A picture that describes how you'd like to spend everyday

capturing everything around me

being in the middle of it all --
events, weddings, banquets...

22. A picture of a time when everything was changing

my car all packed up for my 4th move in a year

24. A picture that makes your heart smile

they always make me smile. the best photosubjects of all time!

25. A picture of one of the best days/nights of your life

he remembered!!

26. A picture of your past

27. A picture of your present

always trying to become better

28. A picture of your future

someday i might acquire fairy superpowers... who knows

29. A picture you couldn't leave out

30. A picture of just you

just me

googlemejo

2009-02-23T12:03:00.000-08:00

just for fun...

i decided to do a few versions of the google name searches that have been going around

JOANNE NEEDS...
(Go to your favorite search engine, and type "your name needs" and list your top ten hits...)
1. Joanne needs ...an intact dilation and evacuation abortion (oh my!)
2. Joanne needs ...more character development. She is gorgeous and has been in the background far too long.
3. Joanne needs ...A RAISE!
4. Joanne needs...scientific evidence or support of the things that Paul takes on faith. (Paul is highly intuitive)
5. Joanne needs...to think. think. think harder. think wise. Joanne has to THINK BIG.
6. Joanne needs...help with dressing and washing and still wets the bed occasionally, although she is reliable during the day. (HAHAHAHAHA)
7. Jo needs... 2B funky
8. Joanne needs... space and can't stand to be suffocated
9. Joanne needs intellectual stimulation and companionship
10. Joanne needs to turn 3 more or gain 75 more Vampire points to reach the next

ONE DAY JOANNE WILL...
(Go to Google, type in "One day (your first name) will" with the quotations, and post the first 10 returns, no matter what they say.)
1. return to the East just one more time
2. one day, [jo] will be there
3. send you a recap email within 24 hours of your Coaching phone call
4. surpass their understanding within days.
5. notice us
6. be rehearsing to resume her role as Jenny Johnson in Santa Claus
7. be missed.
8. be exhibiting at Origin
9. not faint or stumble again. She will never experience illness...
10. be putting her clairvoyant skills to the test

something about rainy days...

DESIGN YOUR LIFE...instead of making a living.

2009-02-13T22:18:00.000-08:00

thought provoking questions that i would have been able to answer, if they weren't for an interview

-give an example of how you are loyal

-if a friend has something that you need, do you ask for it? explain.

-what is something that you have learned in the past week?

-how do you use emotions for a desired effect?

please comment and answer them if you like, i'd love to know what ideas are out there

my future awaits me

2009-02-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

a lot of things have been changing in the past year.

i've changed homes 4 times.

i've changed jobs... from working at the hotel and school, to just working at the hotel, then being on pool status at the hotel and working at tustin ranch, and now struggling to get hours anywhere.

i've changed my mind several times... first i was in denial. then i decided to face the music by going somewhere completely different -- seattle or portland. and now i'm taking charge by (ironically) letting the pieces fall into place.
i'm not sure about seattle anymore... or portland. i'm definitely not sure about orange county, and it looks like LA may be a definite option. and i'm ok with that!
wherever i'm meant to go, is where i'm going to end up.

(it's kind of up to God now)

change is change.

i'm thankful for a roof over my head, and family that's willing to provide it for me,
for people who are supportive and helpful,
and for friends who know the value of quality time.

my resume is out all over the place, and i'm just waiting to see where the search will take me
_castle pets resort and spa
_sports marketing international
_ritz carlton marina del rey (banquets captain)
_seattle waterfront marriott
_parlor billiards seattle
...& a number of other random catering places

pretty good options, huh? =)

the very late, worth the wait, all-about-our-SF-trip BLOG DATE

2009-02-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

in honor of the new month (hello, february) - what better way to bring it in than to reflect on what was going on exactly one month ago?

and i'm sure you're all quite bright and have figured out why i named this a blog date --
1. because it requires time to be set aside
2. and the more time you spend with it, the more fond of it you become

here we go...

15 things to do in san francisco (in no particular order)

1. take pictures of every moment (it's the journey, not the destination)

and DON'T let your wallet go missing in the dark abyss of airplane underseat storage.

(major props to jetblue for their great customer service at midnight... thanks rick @ sfo!)

2. check out the art around SFO

3a. Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Cable Cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Union Square at night.
you are a tourist, so be a tourist.

3b. take pictures of everything that catches your eye.

4. ride the BART, MUNI, and caltrain. public transportation here kicks butt.

5. use YELP, word-of-mouth, or gut instinct, and find cafes, bars, and shops that you will remember for character, like Dan Sung Sa, Tartine bakery&cafe, and King Wah

6. chinatown - you'll never know what your fortune has in store for you

7. Zeum & Exploratorium - you don't have to be a kid to be creative and curious

8. Be a part of something bigger. join a protest.

9. of course, SF Center and Metreon

10. party hard with friends, then eat at Mel's Diner. or be sure to go to Tad's Steakhouse.

go ahead. indulge in cheap eats.

11. Berkeley: Scharffen Berger chocolate factory tours, Zachary's pizza, and Top Dog

12. Golden Gate Park: be superhuman at the Japanese Tea Garden, and also check out the haunted Stowe Lake ;)

13. GROCERY store! our trail mix and jug of water took us a long way.

14a. take a day to just explore, enjoy, and play in Mission District.
wander the streets & alleys and discover
murals,

playgrounds,

and awesome street art for yourself.

14b. buy fruit at a fruit stand, and bacon wrapped hot-dogs from a street cart.

15a. plan your trip, use a travel guide

15b. but allow flexibility. choose to walk... the city offers you more when you do ;)

----------------------------

current location: Pasadena, CA 91105

2009-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

trivia fact: i've now officially moved 4 times in the past 8 months.

i moved to Pasadena today, into my brother's house to live with him + jeannie for awhile.
i'm on a job hunt - my future location and direction will primarily be based on whether or not i get a full-time job out here.

but anyhow, thanks to will, i kind of like LA. i had an encounter with venice, and it was beautiful.

the move took 2 carloads and a few hours of loading. (ONLY a few... mike thinks i'm a moving pro now... i'd rather not think about it)

my new room... with my new damage... haha
i'm working on it!

but while i'm here, what i REALLY want is to catch up with old friends.
being in orange county really is kind of a bubble... i'm only an hour away but i've been so bad with keeping in touch with people.

today was a good start. kevin, betty, fiona, ellen, and wendy are some people i'm both blessed and happy to have in my life again. can't wait to spend more time with the girls! <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PTVo7RFta5w/SYayit2cGpI/AAAAAAAAACU/luFd0XiXO2I/s1600-h/IMG_3088.JPG">
lambo's got a pommelo hat.

love in paper form

2009-01-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

[things i've realized from my paper past]

In preparation for this impending move, i finally shut myself in my room and tackled two sterilite shoeboxes that have been sitting around with my collection of notes, cards, and sentimental stuff.
(if anybody has a thing for stationary, i have a nice stack that you can have)
this all came in perfect timing, these little bits of love in a box.

a note that i came across was from someone i was really close with in jr high and through hs until she moved.
i was so naiive and sheltered at this time that i never realized the significance of the world around us. i read this last night and was surprised at how much i agree with it now, 6 years later, and didn't even think anything of it back then.

it said, "i really hope i get to go back to cali, before we all go off to college; i don't think i'll be attending school there, because i've my mind set on going somewhere else. it's experience that counts, and i don't want to be staying in one place for too long. there's so much to see out there, and when you travel, i hope you look up at the big world and say, "Life is beautiful"

(thanks christy)

these little pieces of paper showed me how much i've changed, grown, and how lucky i was to have certain people around me.

my grandmother sent me a birthday card every year, in chinese, so i never knew what they said but they mean the world to me still.

i had a stack of notes from high school, when all the girls would write to each other about nothing at all, on super fobby stationary and that was life.

i kept in touch with few people in high school, and while it's kind of a bittersweet feeling to look back and know that i left some people behind, i think it helped me to move on from that stage in my life and become more independent.
the ones that keep in contact with me are amazing and supportive (i don't think i appreciate them enough) and they, too, have grown into amazing people.

this was on written on my dorm door before he disappeared for 3 years haha

a lot of my transition into college was influenced by going to spop

and then a lot of who i am today was influenced by being a spop staffer.

Aldor[m] experience was.... interesting, to say the least.
i learned a lot, and grew up a lot too. lost some friends, and grew some more.
being in ASuci was another way i wanted to be involved, and i think it really fit my post-spop college life at the time.

i really have come a long way and accomplished a lot throughout the 4.25 years of my college career. every single thing has been an experience that has built me to who i am today and although my parents may think that i'm troubled, i think i turned out ok.

the full collection of scans can be viewed on my flickr.
<3

FOMO

2009-01-10T18:50:00.000-08:00

[fear of missing out]

ever since the day i realized things needed to change, and my mom suggested that i move somewhere -- to vancouver, or seattle, i've been torn between the feeling of excitement towards leaving the OC bubble and starting something new, and a severe case of FOMO.

the fear of missing out...
on time with friends (what if they will never visit me?),
on a possibility of a permanent position at tustin ranch in the distant future (like i can't come back once i go?);
and the guilt
of having moved 3.5+ times in the past year (i should have put THAT on my 16 things),
of people already trying to help me out by finding a part time job to add to my repertoire (because what if they would never understand that i want a career?), so i can make ends meet and stay in orange county.

the more i think about my current situation, the more i think i know what i need to do.

i said, God... show me where to GO so i can GROW...

i'm officially a college graduate.
for the past 4.25 years, i have taken on jobs here and there, sometimes 1, sometimes 2... or 3... 1/2. part time jobs. (thank you, financial aid!)

2 years ago, i was preparing for the trip of my life.
ever since those 5 months in New Zealand, i've got the bug.
you know, the one that makes you itch for adventure, a new challenge,
the one that tells you that there's more out there than what you've got,
the one that makes you feel carefree in a place where you are the most out of your comfort zone.

right now, i work at tustin ranch golf club -- part time. i am on pool status at the residence inn. i am looking for, yet another... part-time job, to supplement my current income.
UGH.

i didn't graduate college so i could have more time to do exactly what i was doing IN college.
i love TR, and working at RI once in awhile has some sweet perks, but the situation isn't exactly what i had aspired to be doing post-grad.

a quick search on craigslist|seattle led me to this:

they're looking for an Event Specialist. i hope they love me.

anyway, IF that doesn't happen, i'll just keep trying. all i know is, i can't be bouncing between part time jobs anymore. it's not what i want to do with my life.

a lot of reassurance has come from some very important people in my life, which i'm really thankful for.

last night, when hanging out at broadway bar (which, btw, is quite fabulous), diem and i were talking about our futures, and hana moving, and how our traveling experiences have really shaped us and our ideals - the things we want, the way we see the world, and what we expect of ourselves, as well as our relationships with people.
when i was talking to hana earlier, we discussed how a lot of people later in life wish that they could have traveled, or gone somewhere different to challenge themselves and see what else was out there.
we consider ourselves lucky.not only do we already have a taste of what the world can offer and are in the right stages of life to do it (with hana going off to explore her potential in SF, me dreaming about seattle, and diem working to go on rotation), but we also have something that makes certain friendships unique.
when diem said, "we have to stay friends, ok?" i responded with "i don't think we can't be friends because our friendship was built in another world". after more contemplation, we realized that it was true, that no matter how not-often we see each other or however far away we are, as long as the desire is there, our relationship has been built to last. there's something about developing a quality friendship with someone somewhere other than home - in a stage of your life when you're allowing yourself to grow and explore and become bigger than what home allows you to be -- others may be left behind, or need to catch up, but these relationships are meant to grow together. i guess it's hard to explain, it's still gibberish coming out of my head but maybe someone else will understand what i mean too.
anyway, it's a great feeling.

i sent my newly revamped resume to tuxedos and expedia today.
hana is amazing... she did all this research on resumes and some pretty amazing stuff comes from these websites:
http://www.1stopresume.com/newsletter.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/transferable_skills_technique.html

and while i'm plugging links... i just checked out drew's for my first time in a lonng while and had forgotten how much these guys make me laugh. it also reminds me that i'm not meant to write a kooky funny blog, cuz it's clearly his expertise. check it out!

[we miss you guys.. druke]

and now... some other pictures. and things that make me smile

my very first stoplight. thanks, cyrus!

mr. vice45 himself
jeff+v... thanks for comin out guys!

starbucks just started doing a tea time, expanding on their tazo line.
i tried the black tea latte the other day and i got the vanilla rooibos for free today with a teatime coupon they gave out. they're GOOD. and they make me feel warm and satisfied inside without having to be coffee.
mmmmm <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wonderfulimage.com/c&d/cj/product/oxiclean/633329.gif">

also, OXICLEAN is amazing.

we found this huge pile of dog turd in the corner of the living and i'm not kidding, it looked like straight up softserve. we don't know when it happened but then lynn and phil found MORE on the other side... just all over the carpet. we tried cleaning it up with all sorts of sprays and it just left this huge stain that still looked like nothing was cleaned up at all.

we thought it was hopeless.

sooo... i busted out my oxi clean, mixed it with some warm water, put it on the carpet and IT SCRUBBED OUT!
there's my testimonial... it's the best thing since shamWOW (which i don't have).

anyway, i'm gonna end with this picture, because it's cute and it's hana.

<3>

just me, jo.

2009-01-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

a little late on bringing in the new year, but i've committed to blogging again.

[thanks for checking me out]

here it is. my new blog.

i'm actually pretty bummed, couldn't bring back my old one since google shut down jojoey and everything was connected to that account :(
but it's a new beginning! not quite clean and sparkly yet, but it'll get there!

as les brown says, time to shine... 2009.

in addition to blogging, i commit to...
-exercise. walking the dog, jogging, anything. and maybe eventually getting a gym membership, after things settle down a little.
-spend less and budget better. no more impulse shopping.
-making more lists. they keep me structured.
-if not blog... write, work on photos, etc. some kind of creative outlet for thoughts and ideas.
-keeping in touch with close friends. ones in new zealand that i miss dearly, hana in san francisco, ones that i hope to see more often.
-creating a book list, and reading a book a month. personal development.
-reflecting. so i can be a better friend, girlfriend, person --a better me! cheesy as it sounds. you can always better your best.

what's been up
i have no hours at work this week. pretty shitty. i still have bills to pay and a bad few months behind me.
so i'm in search of a new (3rd) job. (well, technically 2.5)
places:
_ruth's chris (between 11-3 walkin interview - today)
_houston's (3-4 walkin - today)
_melting pot (applied)
_il fornaio (must call)
_mccormick&schmicks (applied - call terri when she's back)
_taleo (try to talk to nick)
_starbucks

i need to talk to my boss at tustin ranch... see if things are going to start looking up for me.
if i'm not going to be able to pay bills here, i am seriously considering moving up to washington. seattle, maybe... or my parents suggested i live with them in vancouver for awhile.
gives me a weird feeling thinking about it. yep.

ANYWAY

hence: begins my... stuff.
a facebook post that i had fun doing.
(ps. sf photo post coming soon)

16... things i didnt realize about myself until i thought about this note...

(once you’ve been tagged, write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If i tagged you it's because i want to know more about you, or just want to hear what you have to say because it's interesting.)

1. i never really liked my name when i was a kid... i always imagined being a samantha, or anne like anne of green gables. i had a thing for nicknames, but i never got one till high school. the closest ever was when my brother was "farmer dan" and i was "farmer anne" and we were growing grass for his science experiment. it wasn't till high school that people started giving me nicknames. joey was my favorite. and Jo stuck. i'm not complaining :)

2. whenever i ride in cars (or sit anywhere), i have to put my legs up. i usually will sit indian style, but curling up and slouching down in the seat works too. i can't ever imagine not being able to fit on the seat that way.

3. not counting piano, i've dabbled in a lot of instruments since 4th grade. flute/piccolo, guitar, bass guitar, drumline (i played 2nd bass at football games and marimba/vibes in pit), and as much as i wish i could rock out on all of the above, i'm really only proficient at flute and piano.

4. i'm better at cheering other people up than myself. my own vices: grilled cheese w/fries inside and ranch dressing or some sort of frozen delight (ie: ice cream).

5. i'm really particular about the orientation of things... if it looks too conventional, i'll pick the opposite. i dunno, maybe its my dying-to-be-artistic eye, or just taste. i almost always prefer portrait (vertical) photos over landscape (horizontal). i love long rectangles. i can't really explain it.

6. i love setting goals, even though i tend to forget them. funny, how it still makes me feel accomplished.

7. remember when you were a kid and you named all of your stuffed animals/toys? the only toy i ever named was a teddy bear - cinnamon. and that's only because i felt pressured by my friends who had named everything they owned.

8. i got my first pair of trendy jeans in the 8th grade. they were paris blues, hipster flare jeans, $13 from Stylez for Less. I was so excited about actually having something trendy I think i wore them all through high school until there were rips on the butt pockets.

9. i make lists in my head, that i want to write down, but when it comes to writing them down it's not as satisfying. i'm still looking for that perfect method to keep my lists, and as convenient as my cell phone is, i guess it's not ideal because i don't use it very often for lists. and they pile up... lists of things to do, things to write, what to remember... and then lists of lists i need to make...

10. i love the feeling of getting earwax taken out of my ear... which makes me miss being a kid, because the pediatrician would have me lay down on my side so he could take it out and it would feel soooo good like nice and clean. doesn't happen anymore :(

11. i've been a flower girl at least 11 times in my lifetime, a junior bridesmaid once, and a "best woman" once.

12. at my 10th birthday party, my dad told all my friends that i was an accident and they didnt want me. i cried.

13. when i was young, maybe around 5th or 6th grade, i DITCHED SUNDAY SCHOOL. yes, yes i did... with my best friends wendy and kim... we went to this little room under the stairs at cefc and played mancala and talked. i got in big trouble and pastor rich never let me hear the end of it.

14. i'm allergic to cats, kiwi fruit, amoxicillin and bactrim. i found out i was allergic to amox on my birthday, freshman year. i spent the day in bed broken out with major hives from the tips of my ears to my toes.

15. some kids grow up with dogs, cats, pet turtles, whatever. i grew up having a goldfish tank and birds - parakeets. bluebell when i was little, then one i can't remember, then tinny and qwerty. and finches that annoyed the crap out of us.

16. i believe in the law of attraction, and i have very little tolerance for people who are negative and feel sorry for themselves and do nothing but blame other people, and wait for it all to happen again.