I find myself looking forward to starting school. Not that summer is going bad, not at all. I'm having a great time and I still enjoy my job. But I miss seeing my friends, I miss...learning stuff, I even miss Wurster Hall. Really.

Jen's witty observation tonight at BJ's restaurant:

"Mini Sucker is dating Freedom Swallows!"

Who would have thought that Matt's streetball name and Kim's porno name would go so...ah...'well'...together.

(See Jen, there you are. Immortalized in my blog. Congrats!)

So..back to Jamie's Mountain of Suckiness. Have you noticed that popular music is starting to reflect the current going ons in the world? I like it, cause it makes me feel like I'm not alone with the feelings I have about current events. Plus, I like music that is unique to an era, that represents the times we are living in. So, I humbly submit to you a portion of the lyrics from the Black Eyed Peas' (and...ahh..Justin Timberlake's..shhhh) current hit, "Where is the Love."

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I’m gettin’ older, y’all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin’
Selfishness got us followin’ our own direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids act like what they see in the cinema
Yo’, whatever happened to the values of humanity?
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality?
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ down
There’s no wonder why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
Gotta keep my faith alive til love is found

People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send us some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love

First my cell phone broke. Went into the pool with it in my pocket

Then my car broke down from overheating..it's in the shop till friday and will cost $500 to fix.

And now my laptop's battery is dead. Cost to replace it? $149

Bad things come in three's right? Cause this is enough.

TheKatsMeoW137: I wish I had a car over the summer, I would've just driven down by now,
TheKatsMeoW137: even if you weren't free, I'd just frolic in the lovely land that is MV by myself.
Nap98: who wouldn't?
Nap98: no one can resist when MV beckons
TheKatsMeoW137: I know! I'm sure that the only thing keeping the entire earth's population from doing that right now is the immense feeling that true perfection may just be too much for them.
Nap98: yes...yes. that must be it.
TheKatsMeoW137: I'm glad we've figured this out, Nick. hehe
Nap98: it's always perplexed me

Taken out of context, but wise words from Jamie:

"If you think all the bad stuff going on in the world sucks, why not do something simple that will put even a little tiny dent in the Mountain of Suckiness!"

Conquer the Mountain of Suckiness! This could be our generation's motto.

At my uncle's wedding the photographer had my grandparents, and all my aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mom's side come together for our first ever family portrait. In that picture, there are:

14 Mexican-Americans
1 Filipino/Chinese-American
1 Filipino-American
1 Japanese-American
1 Portuguese-American
1 Anglo-American
2 Filipino/Mexican-Americans
2 Portuguese/Mexican-Americans
and 4 Filipino/Chinese/Mexican-Americans

Lots of hyphens and slashes huh? But when you put us all together, in one big family photo, it’s clear that we are all Americans. We are a mix of cultures and backgrounds that you would be hard pressed to find any where else in this world.

There’s lots of turmoil in this country and in the world right now. Divisions seem to have deepened over race, culture, religion, and class. And over the past few years it has become increasingly clear that this country is far from perfect. When someone says, "This is the greatest country in the World!," I can't help but think of the others that have been stepped on to get to that position. I will not allow myself to be ignorant and filled with blind patriotism.

But when I look at that family photo, I can’t help but be hopeful and proud to call this place my home. We are a testament to the ability of people to put aside their differences and come together.

And that's what I’d like to think being an ‘American’ is all about.

Happy Fourth of July.

After two years of going to Berkeley, today was the first day I drove there. Woohoo! Go me.

Took my cousin Tiffany up there to show her around the new house and neighborhood. Really nice weather today. We explored the park around the corner and discovered this awesome slide built into the hill slope that is pretty big. Can't wait to try it out one day. Also....we found a tunnel that goes under Euclid Avenue connecting the Rose Garden/Tennis Courts to the Park. Pretty sweet. My neighborhood up there is pretty darn cool. (Let's see if I'll still think that after walking to and from campus come the end of August)

Work was kinda hectic tonight, but cool. My co-workers make it fun. Work again tomorrow night, but hopefully I can fit in some quality time with my Tio and Tia who are visiting from New Mexico. It's always great when they are here.

So yeah....this blog entry isn't very witty, deep, funny or a good story....just some thoughts I want to remember. So that's all. Move along.

When you have 10 hungry cousins waiting for their table to be called to get food at a wedding...

Fighting desperately over tortilla chip crumbs,

And two of them abandon the rest to cut in line and get food,

It's then you know that Salsa is thicker than Blood.

So a nice day off today. Lunch with Jen at San Jose city hall, lunch meeting with some MVPA people at the county building next door, dinner with Martin and Matt and a quick trip to Downtown Palo Alto after (I can't stay away from that place).

On the way to University Avenue from the parking garage, we encountered a homeless lady pushing a shopping cart, as she walked by us she looked at Matt and suddenly yelled "Fat Chance!!" as we passed her.

It took a while to figure out why she yelled that, but then we looked at Matt's shirt and it said "ROLE MODEL" across the chest.

Ah, crazy homeless people yelling things at you, it was almost like being in Berkeley.

Summer does not officially begin until I spend an evening with my friends hangin at Martin's house. Tonight summer began.

And for another night at work, I was paid $9.50 to watch a movie....I mean..."monitor the theater." Ahhh, the perks of working at a movie theater!

Driving through Downtown Palo Alto after work, and then Downtown Mountain View on the way home from Martin's, you could tell it was summer. Lots of people out late, enjoying the not-so-warm night air, walking around, talking, having fun. The moon was so full and bright tonight, you could see the Santa Cruz Mountains at midnight. Kinda cool for Friday the 13th. I feel like I should be tromping around some supposedly haunted house or the former graveyard behind City Hall with Matt and Martin asking ghosts if they feel like chatting. I need a few more ghost stories to tell the folks up at Berkeley in case of another blackout.

Oh well, maybe some other night, summer has only just started.

To those in the know:

Tonight on my way home from work I was surfing the radio waves and came across a surprise on the Bay Area's alternative rock station, 105.3.

It's a catchy little Danish pop song that goes something like this:

"Everybody, move your feet and get united....woah, wah, ohhh"

And we never thought it'd be on American radio. Maybe my cuz Mikey made a special request.

"Can't stop...can't stop the beat....won't stop...won't stop my feet"

Oh boy.

All right, so summer! Woohoo! I've done a lot of fun stuff already with my family and with the friends that are here. Explored my Portuguese heritage with Chris on Sunday...we went to the Portuguese Holy Ghost Parade in Downtown MV, to the Portuguese mass (which was really nice), and even tried to fit in at the Portuguese festa. A whole different world that my dad's side was REALLY involved in until my grandpa passed away, and that Chris and I know hardly anything about. Hope to get a little more in touch with that this summer.

Other stuff...celebrated Matt's 20th birthday....saw Finding Nemo with Matt, Kim, and Ili (GREAT movie!)....got the keys and moved some stuff into our new house in Berkeley. Went to Half Moon Bay with my dad and Chris for clam chowder. Had a nice lunch with my grandparents yesterday. And on Memorial Day had a fun impromptu extended family barbecue. But I guess the most important thing (at least according to my mom...who's been hounding me on this topic all year...) I got a summer job!

Today was my first day working at the Stanford Theatre. I know...I know....STANFURD theater...boo hiss etc. But hey...it's a cool place. If you've never heard me talk about it...the Stanford Theatre is a completely restored movie 'palace' from the 1920s in Downtown Palo Alto. It's owned by multimillionaire David Packard (son of the P in HP). They only show classic movies from before the 1960s. The place is like a time-warp, and a lot of people go there for a fun, classy, (and relatively inexpensive) night out.

My coworkers are really friendly and fun to work with. This in a way, is my first REAL job...or at least my first real job in the service-sector. My internship with the city was a very cushy job, mostly research and learning about the field of city planning. Stuff I am comfortable doing.

I was kinda nervous starting today, I had NO idea how well I would do doing things like cashiering, and working in costumer service. Research on a historic building? No problem. Updating a city's zoning map? I can do it. Meeting with city council members? Sure thing. Adding the cost of a box of Milkduds, a large Popcorn, and a medium and small Cherry Coke in my head while getting the order at the same time? Yikes.

But everyone told me..."don't worry about it!"..."cash registers are easy to use." But get this....NO cash register....NO calculator....just me, behind the counter in the lobby, counting in my head, pouring drinks, getting popcorn...by myself for the first 10 minutes are so right at opening. My worst nightmare! Hehe, not really...it was scary and tough, but I got through it. The people are really friendly and patient...which is one reason I thought it would be good to work there. My manager and then the other worker came to my rescue later on, and things ran smoothly after that.

They told me I'd get used to adding up the prices in a few weeks. But come this Friday...I'm brining my own calculator. :-)

Wait....

How'd that happen? ....I'm an upper classman now? Halfway through college. Halfway to some unknown post-Berkeley future. High school was two years ago already. Two years! Have I changed? Of course. How can't you?

Berkeley. Berkeley rocks. I love it here, and seeing people walking around in their caps and gowns sorta scares me, while it makes other people jealous. I hear a lot of unsatisfied grumbling, and some of "I can't WAIT to get out of here!" But that's not me. Maybe that'll change in two years. Maybe I'll get cynical and tired of being here, but I hope not.

I get attached to places...and to the moment I'm living in. I'm not one who always is looking for the next best thing, ready to jump into the future hoping it will be better there. I'm always a little reluctant to take the next step. Nostalgia is in my soul, and it always has been.

So packing up and leaving La Loma is kinda tough. I like my room. It's a nice, big room with a pleasant view. I know I'm going to miss being this close to campus next year. But I'm looking forward to moving into our house. It's exciting to start something new. I guess what's really tough is the thought that I can never come back to this time and place. When I walk out of that door tomorrow, a year will be officially over. I'll be walking into something new ....the last half of my undergrad life. I hope its as good as the first half...I hope its even better.

ihanah: i heard a nasty rumor about you mr perry
ihanah: *gasp*
ihanah: you havent watched the matrix!!!!!!!??????????????????!!!!!!!
Nap98: nope. haven't seen it
ihanah: *smack*
Nap98: is it any good?
ihanah: thats it
ihanah: i disown you!
ihanah: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
ihanah: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Nap98: val kilmer's in it right?
Nap98: or..was it vin diesel
ihanah: *cringe*
Nap98: i know its someone with a V
ihanah: youre kidding me right
ihanah: i can never ... look at you the same way...
Nap98: so...val kilmer right?

Señor Cadbury El Pescado de Alviso has gone to the giant fish bowl in the sky.

Señor was a good fish, he was blue. Blue is a nice color. I hope that wherever he is...he's still blue...because I don't see how anyone would like him if he was some other color.

Time for a new fish!

I think I will name the new fish Señor Cadbury El Pescado de Alviso el Segundo. Or maybe Bob...Bob the fish. Or maybe Finny. The options are endless.

Los Lobos rock....

Hearts of Stone
(David Hidalgo/Louie Pérez)

I travel down this lonely road
To see if I can pick me a rose
But all I find is a handful of thorns
In a place where blossoms should grow

Some hearts are made of stone
Some are cold, made of ice
Some beat all alone
Then there's those made of steel
Ones that don't even feel
Where are those hearts,
Those hearts made of gold?

I wandered down this lonely trail
Some twenty seven hours a day
But all I see are prints in the dirt
Where others tried to find their way

How far will I go,
To leave these fears behind?
Oh, let those tears go dry
Yeah, won't stop until I can find
Oh, that heart of gold

Walking down Broadway in Uptown Oakland, past dozens of empty storefronts, shuttered department stores, and buildings that have certainty seen better days, I felt uneasy. Why? Because I don't like to stand out. I never do. And here I was, one of the only non-African American people in the neighborhood. To make matters more awkward I had to constantly snap pictures with my digital camera, which yells to people passing by..."look at me, I'm a tourist!" I don't like that. It took me years to get comfortable taking pictures in Mountain View.



So as I'm walking down Broadway... I see this older African-American woman in a wheelchair ahead of me. She didn't appear to be all there mentally...but I couldn't really tell. My urge was to walk right past her and continue on my way. But as I approached her she quietly said, "Excuse me Sir, Sir...can you help me?"

I responded..."What's That?"

And she said, "Can you help me Sir? I'm thirsty. Can you get me a Coke?"

"A Coke? Umm. Where from?"

"Over there down the street, the Chinese Restaurant. A Coke in a bottle, please."

And I thought about it, looked at the restaurant, and looked at her.

Maybe she was homeless. Maybe she wasn't. Maybe she had the money to get the Coke herself, and just thought she could take advantage of this obviously suburban outsider timidly walking in her neighborhood. Maybe she had no money, and just really wanted a Coke.

So....I said that ya, I would get her a Coke. I went to that Chinese Restaurant and bought one. I walked back to the lady in the wheelchair, and gave her the Coke. She said, "Thank you Sir, God Bless You Today."

And I continued on my way.

Thanks Architecture, it's been a swell two years. We've been through a lot together, but its time for me to move on. Really, it's not you, it's me.

As of today, I am one of Berkeley's first Urban Studies Majors!

No longer homeless next year!



What a relief. We were choosen out of at least five other groups who wanted it just as bad as us. Saw the house, and got the house within the same day because the landlord liked our group and "wants us to rent there." Great job everyone at the interview, we all said the right things and gave the right impression. The house is almost ours now. I can't wait to make it our home...or second home (mtn view will always be home...hehe)

Negative stuff first: 15 minute walk from campus, we're up in the hills.

Good stuff: It's all downhilll to campus in the morning! Awesome views of the Bay, one room with a view of the Golden Gate and the city. A large back yard and a deck. Good sized rooms, Dining Room, Large Kitchen, 3 baths, possibly a Living Room depending on how many singles, a unique spiral staircase to a double on first floor, scenic quiet neighborhood with little old men that say "Good Evening" to you as you walk by, around the corner from the Rose Garden and a large park with playing fields, basketball court, tennis courts, and picnic areas.

Woohoo!

Some other notes about yesterday:

Alumni Leadership Scholarship Interiviews were fun. It's so cool to talk to potential freshman about going to Cal, and remember being in their position two years ago. Sign me up to be a tour guide! Hehe.

My preservation organization (Mtn. View Pres. Alliance) is on the road to become an official non-profit, which is really exciting. We now have a pr-bono lawyer from one of the biggest law firms in the South Bay. The entire steering committee met today in Downtown Mtn. View and the meeting went really well. Things are rolling.

Today was my Uncle Mike's birthday, what an amazing year for him.....it's so amazing and wonderful that he's here with us alive and well. How blessed we are. We brought my Grandma and him over for the entire day, took them to Berkeley, and threw a surprise party in MV at night. After calling them only this morning, almost all my mom's siblings and their families who live in Mountain View came over to celebrate my Uncle Mike, even though he's my dad's brother. A very touching evening that was enjoyed by all.

What an excellent day.