Dancing Phalanges

Footloose and Fancy Free

2011-12-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

"Birds flying high, you know how I feel.

Sun in the sky, you know how I feel.

Breeze drifting on by, you know I feel.

It's a new dawn.

It's a new day.

It's a new life... For me.

And I'm feeling good!"

~Feeling Good

(sung by Michael Buble)

* * * * *

Handing in the last final exam of the semester is a wonderful feeling. What can be better than that? Handing in the last final exam of the semester and knowing that I won't have to go to anymore classes or take anymore exams until Fall 2013!!! Ok, ok, I know it's not as good as graduation day when I will never have to take another class again, but hey.. I have to keep positive until then ;)

For the next 30 weeks I have 3 clinical internships. Long days with increased need for brain power may come with these internships, but the next 30 weeks have what I haven't had in a long time: nights and weekends free from drudgery (also known as studying)! I am excited to embark on this new journey and gain experience working with all types of people in out-patient, acute, and neuro rehab care.

Until then, I am going to make the most of my Christmas break with whatever my heart desires --

Family.

Friends.

Relaxation.

Travel.

Reading.

Sleeping in.

Movies.

Road trips.

Shopping.

I'm feeling footloose and fancy free :)

The Magic Number

2011-11-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

Today my magic number is ONE...

ONE more day of studying.
ONE more day of class left in this semester.
ONE more day until my man flies out to visit me.
ONE more day before we drive up to spend the holidays with my sister.
ONE more day before Thanksgiving break begins.

"So Others May Live"

2011-11-11T06:49:00.000-08:00

My fiance, as well as thousands of other brave men and women, have chosen to live by this motto. It is the motto of the Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers.

Today is Veterans Day and, until recently, I never paid a lot of attention to this holiday. Don't misunderstand me, I have always appreciated the service of those in the military. I just never could relate to the sacrifices they and their families have gone through to keep this country safe. Within the last few years I have begun to get a taste of what this sacrifice is like but I know I am only at the tip of the iceberg! This can seem daunting at times, but I am grateful that the Lord will be with us each step of the way and believe He will prepare us both for whatever lies ahead in the future.

So here is to my fiance.

Your service and sacrifice for this country does not go unnoticed.

I am proud of you!

"So Others May Live"

Naptime and Snacktime

2011-11-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

"I miss being young sometimes...naptime & snacktime."

~Anonymous

I definitely agree with that one! This semester has made me wish I were young and carefree again.. Although I have been taking naps lately, but only from sheer exhaustion.

Snacking has become a habit of mine lately as well. Instead of bringing a lunch to class I sometimes bring a variety of snacks to munch away the hours during the lectures. One of my favorites -- apples and peanut butter!

This delicious (and mostly healthy) snack is the perfect blend of salty and sweet as well as smooth and crunchy. My fiance thinks I'm crazy for enjoying such a snack as this, but I think he eats weird types of food so I'm pretty sure that makes us even ;)

What are your favorite snacks??

From the Dance Floor.. Continued...

2011-10-28T21:30:00.000-07:00

Back in September of 2009 I wrote a few blog posts filled with strange or awkward conversations I have had while dancing. (If you enjoy random stories I highly recommend reading them. "It is so choice!") Anyway, since then I haven't danced with too many weird people who struck up odd conversations that were worthy of making it on to my blog... Until now...

Last night I attended a swing dance event that was costume themed since it was so close to Halloween. Most of the people there dressed up however there were still a few, myself included, who chose comfort over costumes :) But that is beside the point!

So here it is. The most bizarre conversation I have had for a while.

For this blog post I shall name the man (who looks to be in his late 20's) "HS" because he reminded me of a socially awkward home schooler :P

Me: [sitting down off to the side of the dance floor, texting on my phone]

H.S: "Are you taking a breather?"

Me: "Yeah I'm sitting this one out. It's kind of a weird song to dance to."

H.S: "I never notice the songs. I just start dancing."

Me: "Oh, I see." [I get back to finishing my text]

H.S: "Do you want to dance this one?"

Me: "How about the next one? I need to finish this text real quick."

H.S: "Sure." [continues to stand over me the entire time I'm texting]

Me: [trying to be nice since he won't go away] "So how long have you danced?"

H.S: "This is my second time. My mom got me into it."

Me: "Oh really? How so?"

H.S: "She has fun dancing, and I wanted to have fun too."

[music changes to the next song and we begin to dance]

H.S: “I didn’t dress up tonight.”

Me: [thinking.. um, yeah I can see that.] “That’s ok, not everybody dressed up tonight, including me.”

H.S: “I was worried it was going to be mandatory.”

[we keep dancing and then the music stops]

Me: “Thanks for the dance.”

H.S: [takes my hand and notices my ring] “Are you married?”

Me: “I’m engaged.”

H.S: “Ok I just wanted to make sure.”

Me: [Confused, I smile, thank him again for the dance, and leave]

[later that night I’m sitting down with my phone again and he walks up]

H.S: “It was nice to meet you. I’m going home now.”

Me: “Nice to meet you too!”

H.S: “Good luck with your endeavors!” [points to my ring and walks away]

My Favorite Things

2011-09-19T16:42:00.001-07:00

Fall has just begun and I already have a new list of favorite things that I love! Here are some to name a few (in no particular order)...

Kopiko Candies
Mini coffee candies of deliciousness! Lenny (a.k.a. The Lens) first introduced them to me and I think I am now addicted. With a burst of coffee flavor these little candies taste as though you are drinking a perfect blend of coffee and cream.

Walks
Although the trees haven't yet started turning colors the weather certainly has changed, bringing me fresh hope that fall is finally here. I have begun to walk home from school more often now that the fear (or just pure annoyance) of heat stroke and sweating buckets equivalent to my body weight is over.

Talking on:
Skype is the perfect way to keep in touch with those who are dear to you yet live so very far away.

Caramel Apples
Sweet goodness mixed with a sour crunch. Need I say more?!

Power Naps
Most of my classes have 10 minute breaks after every hour, which make wonderful opportunities for a quick power nap!

HOT Coffee
I'm so excited to be drinking hot coffee again! This summer has been excruciatingly warm (an understatement!) which called for lots of iced beverages. Although I love all things iced, there is just something relaxing about sipping hot coffee, cocoa, or cider while curled up in a cozy chair!

My Ring!
I would have to say my most favorite thing this month is my new engagement ring :D I absolutely love it!!!!! It is "my precious".... Ok, maybe that's going a bit too far, but I had to incorporate that quote somewhere :P I think my fiance (I love saying that hehe) did an amazing job picking it out himself!

Procrastination Tools
I am always eager to find new ways to procrastinate ;) Pouring over the knot, among other wedding websites, has been my most recent instrument of procrastination. We won't be married for another 2 years but it's never to early to start finding ideas, right?!

Clash of the Cultures

2011-08-13T10:13:00.001-07:00

Greek music blasting over the speakers...

Customers rising from their seats to dance throughout the restaurant...

Waiters shouting "opa!!" randomly and throwing paper napkins in the air...

This.
Is.
Taverna Plaka.

Next time you're there on a Friday night peak in the back "private" room.. The Greek atmosphere and shouts of "opa!" will fade away as you take in the new sights and sounds around you.

"Arriba, arriba, arriba!"

Yes! Latin music! Salsa dancing! In a Greek restaurant!
How much better can this get? Not by much...

My roommate, Naomi, and I had a BLAST taking in these two cultures while we danced the night away. I primarily swing dance, but this was too much of a random opportunity that I could not pass it up :) Taverna Plaka is definitely a restaurant I will want to go back to in the near future.

Move over Tony Hawk

2011-07-27T14:12:00.001-07:00

My Motor Learning class had to do group projects in which to learn a novel motor skill (one that we have never learned before) over the time span of approximately 1 month. We had to collect data and take measurements to see overall progress, whether our goals were met, etc.

What motor task did my group pick? Skateboarding!

Who was picked to practice this skill? Me, of course!

Overall, I would say that it actually turned out to be a fun project.. This was only because of the video we made to include in our presentation :P Although I make a complete fool out of myself in the video I decided to include it in my post because you just HAVE to see it for yourself. There are no words to explain..

So move over Tony Hawk! Make room for the next professional skateboarder! Next up: half-pipe tricks? Ok, maybe not..... But hey, you never know when skateboarding might come in handy ;)

Food, Glorious Food

2011-07-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Chaotic cart-pushing, elbow-shoving, body-pressing, food-swiping crowds can always be found at any international farmers market during peak hours...

Why do I frequently return to these markets? Because of the "food, glorious food! ... That's all that we live for!" Not only do the farmers markets have the cheapest prices, they also exhibit good quality produce and dry goods from countries all over the world (hence the "international" in the name haha). I love cruising down each aisle and glancing at all the imported items, wishing I knew how to make savory meals with those various ingredients. *Sigh* maybe one day! For now I'll have to stick with purchasing the foods that I DO know how to cook with :)

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

2011-07-21T10:10:00.000-07:00

Humans have been pampering their pets, especially dogs, for what seems an eternity. Dyeing, clipping, clothing, you name it. What's the latest craze now? Dyeing your dog to make it look like a wild animal! Although this is absolutely ridiculous I would have to say that they did a pretty amazing dye job. I always wanted a pet tiger, so this might just be the cheaper (and safer) way to go ;)

Check out this picture of 4 dogs below.. You can tell the "tiger" is a dog, but don't the others look like real panda bear cubs??

Hold On To Your Butts

2011-07-07T18:16:00.001-07:00

It seems as though there is a quote for every situation in life. My inspiration this past week has been from the notable acting skills of Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Jurassic Park. Although he used his famous line as a figure of speech, I chose to use it in the literal sense during my latest musculoskeletal labs. We have been learning various techniques on how to palpate, manipulate, and mobilize the low back and pelvis, and I must say I definitely have "held on" to my share of butts lately. I have an small inkling (ok, maybe not that small haha) there will be plenty more butts to work on throughout my career as a physical therapist ;) So thank you writers of Jurassic Park for creating this excellent line for me to use on days such as these!

"Hold on to your butts..."

sigh

2011-06-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

Midterms begin tomorrow.....

Must.

Keep.

Studying...

Cannot.

Fall.

Asleep...

ZzzzZzzZzzzzzz

All We Do is Win...

2011-06-12T21:13:00.000-07:00

Here it is, the welcome video for the incoming class of 2014. Let me just say that my class is crazy but at least we know how to have fun and keep the stress levels low ;)

Enjoy!

Warning: For some reason the sound isn't very loud during the talking at the beginning and end, however the music video portion is. I am not responsible for any loss of hearing that occurs if the volume isn't turned down before the music starts.

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You're A Nerd

2011-06-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of my first year at Emory the 2nd year students made a video, for us as the incoming class, of "what PT school will like" (see video below). Now that we are officially the 2nd year students it was up to us to make a welcome video for this year's incoming class. I don't have that video as of yet, but when I do I'll definitely post it!

Don't Need No Starbucks

2011-05-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

Ground French-style coffee.

Hot, boiling water.

Sweetened condensed milk.

Enormous glass filled with ice.

. . . . .

This is Vietnamese coffee.

It will change your life forever!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

2011-04-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

If Sawyer (from the epic TV show LOST) had a letter he carried around at all times to the man who killed his parents, I think I should do the same - except to the man who ransacked my apartment. It would read as follows:

Dear Burgler,
You are stupid. Why? Because:

1. If you had planned this break-in at all you would have realized there was nothing of significant value to steal (except for my roommates camera... but the TV was even bought at used price).
2. Doesn't every thief know it's easier breaking into a place on the first floor instead of the third??
3. When you found out there was nothing to steal, why in the world did you decide to take 3 packs of gum, tupperware containers, and cheap jewelry from my room?

Next time think ahead and plan on not breaking into any apartments. You won't find much that is of monetary value! If I were rich I wouldn't even be living in an apartment, now would I?

Sincerely and with absolutely NO best regards,
Kim

NOLA

2011-02-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

NOLA.

Short for New Orleans, Louisiana.

Home of jazz music, mouth watering beignets, mardi gras, and a bunch of crazies.

I was there a few weeks ago for an annual PT conference, and although I attended tons of lectures throughout the day I still was able to get a few photos of the city. The conference center was close by to the French Quarter so some friends and I explored that part of town one day during our lunch break. We had more free time after dinner, but unfortunately cell phone cameras don't take very good pictures at night!

This man didn't budge the entire time!

A fun street band!
(see video below this pic)

A wannabe rock band performing at Hard Rock Cafe (where we ate one night). Note the ridiculous "bob" style haircut of the guitarist on the right. My friends and I nicknamed the band The Bob in honor of him. Time for a new hairstyle? I. think. so.

Pinkberry. Only the best frozen yogurt place, and they had one in NOLA! Atlanta needs to step it up...

And finally, the sunrise as I drove to Pensacola, FL for the second and better half of my journey :)

A Walk in the Snow

2011-01-10T11:12:00.001-08:00

A cozy little cottage..

Rapid Taxi.. no longer rapid

Snow Day!

2011-01-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

My first snow day in Atlanta! Growing up in Southern California I've never had a snow day before and now here I am, sitting in my cozy little apartment with not a thing to do. Today was supposed to be the first day back to PT school and now classes are canceled. Schedule for the day? There is none! I can do whatever I please and at my leisure.. I may wrap myself up in a blanket, surround myself with comfy pillows, and drink a steaming hot cup of coffee while reading a book. I could possibly write 5 more blog posts about random things (although not likely!). I can call all my friends back home and see what they're up to. And I just might go for another walk in the snow! I say another because before writing this blog post I had already bundled myself up and braved the great outdoors. Of course soon after I left my apartment it began to freeze rain a bit and, having forgotten to bring an umbrella, I decided to quickly walk back home. Here are a few pictures I took from my phone! There will be more pictures to come :)

The view from my apartment balcony

The view outside my door

Crayons' first snow. He looks like he may be shivering! Maybe I should put a blanket on him... ;)

Men in..... Skirts?!

2011-01-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

Man skirts. No, I am not talking about Scottish kilts. I can at least acknowledge kilts as a culturally acceptable piece of clothing for the people of Scotland. I, however, cannot accept grown men in Atlanta, Georgia wearing ankle-length skirts! To eliminate any confusion, men do not go around Atlanta wearing women's skirts. They apparently only wear them contra dancing.

I was invited to go contra dancing by some friends of my friends. The only reason why I accepted this invitation was to support my friends who, in turn, were going only to support their friends. To make a long story short, none of us wanted to experience contra dancing! What is contra dancing, you may ask? I see it as if someone combined Pride and Prejudice era dancing and country square dancing (otherwise known as "corn shucking in the barn" to my friends and I) together. Not a good idea!

Thankfully I was able to keep myself busy by talking on the phone all night so that I didn't have to dance! I made sure to sneak a few pictures of the man skirts and a quick video before leaving though! Feel free to watch it below... If you can stomach it!

Man skirt #1

Man skirt #2

Man skirt #1 twirling it up during a dance

One of my friends asked why some of the men wore skirts, and found out that supposedly they think it keeps them cooler while contra dancing than if they were to wear pants..... A word to sum it up? Weird. Creepy. Strange. Not right. Odd. Unusual. All of the above!

Finals and Free Time

2010-12-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

Thinking of all the fun I'll have over Christmas break while studying for finals is not a good idea. This is what happens when I think of both the subject I'm studying and the soon-to-be free time I'll have at the same time:

1. Time constant.

Semester time left = 2 finals x 2 days

2. Length constant.

Length = square root of plane speed divided by distance from Georgia to California

3. Mechanism of nerve action potential.

My studying potential quickly changes when enough thoughts of Christmas break combine, opening the procrastination channel. This reaches threshold, creating an all or none response. The rapid depolarization phase occurs as I no longer think about Neuro but switch all my attention onto Christmas break. As I realize what happened my procrastination channel is inactivated and my thoughts turn back to studying for Neuro due to the delayed responsibility channels opening. Studying potential repolarizes and motivation to finish the semester strong returns to normal.

for the next 35 days...

2010-11-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

study study study study study DANCE study study study study study study study study study TEST study study study study study TEST study study study study study study study study study study PAPER study study study study study study study TEST study study study study study study study study study TEST study study study study study DANCE study study study study study study study study PAPER study study study study study TEST study study study study study TEST study study TEST study study study study study study study FINALS!!!!!!!!!!

Brainstem! Brainstem!

2010-10-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm taking, among other classes, taking Neuroscience and am finding the brain anatomy, function, and neural pathways through the body absolutely fascinating! Instead of telling you all about it myself, here's a short clip from a Pinky and the Brain episode.. I wish it were as simple as this in real life! :P

p.s. the video wouldn't download into my blog post, so you'll have to copy the link instead. Sorry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5nMsXg1Lk

Colors of the Wind

2010-10-26T13:33:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day walking home from school today! I noticed the trees have subtly been changing colors as the days have become shorter and cooler. Fall is here!!! Throughout my walk a cool breeze gently teased at the strands of rebellious hair that wouldn't stay in my pulled back pony tail. At one point the wind picked up pretty strongly and leaves with various shades of red, yellow, green, orange, and brown swirled in circles around me. For a brief moment I felt like Pocahontas and was about to let down my hair and begin singing "Colors of the Wind" at the top of my lungs...

...But then I saw the amount of cars zooming down the road, so I decided against it! I did, however, find the song on my iPod and listened to it as I continued to walk home :D

Silly Stories of Studying and Strangers

2010-08-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Almost every time I go somewhere to study a stranger comes up to me and starts up a random conversation with me. Is there a sign somewhere on my forehead saying "please talk to me"?? To me, my appearance would suggest otherwise: sitting (sometimes slouching) with my head buried in my books, listening to music on my iPod with the earphones clearly visible in my ears, furiously scribbling notes when needed, and occasionally sipping an iced coffee from wherever I happen to be studying at the time. This image clearly is not an invitation to interrupt the little studying time that I have.

For your entertainment I have made an attempt to recreate some of these random conversations I've had lately while studying for finals... Here we go!

Scene #1
Setting - Me studying in Piedmont Park, sitting on a park bench swing overlooking the lake. People walking/running/biking on a trail behind me.

Man in mid-30's: (comes riding up on his bike and stops next to my swinging bench) "Hello."
Kim: "Hi." (goes back to studying to try to avoid awkward silence while he continues stares at her)
Man: "My name is Robert. What's yours?"
Kim: "Kim."
Robert: "It's nice to meet you."
Kim: "Nice to meet you too."
*more awkward silence so I decide to go back to studying*
Robert: "Mind if I join you?"
Kim: (obviously trying to study alone due to earphones in my ears) "Actually I'm just about to finish up studying here and then I'll be leaving in a few minutes." <--truth! I didn't lie about that!
Robert: "Ok." (rides away on his bike)

Scene #2
Setting - Me studying in cafe area at Borders Books. Cafe is busy and all tables are being used. I just so happen to be sitting by myself at a bigger table meant for 4 people instead of a smaller table (those were all taken!).

*This particular conversation lasted around 1 hour so I'll try to make it short!

A man in his mid-30's (not the same one from the previous scene) asks to share the table I'm sitting at. Since no other tables are available I decide to be nice and let him sit there, and continue pouring over my books while listening to my iPod. He pulls out a laptop and starts typing. 15 minutes goes by and he starts up a conversation with me. Did it look like I wanted to talk? No. Did I try to hint that I wanted to get back to studying? Yes. Did that work? No.
Anyway, 1 hour later I found out that he was a 34 year old, single doctor from New York who was currently down in Atlanta finishing writing a fictional sci-fi book (which was explained to me in great detail). He also told me of his recent travels to Germany to attend a trance festival and how he'll be taking a trip to Spain in the next few days for some reason or another.. Oh, did I mention he invited me to go to India with him in October while he performed some surgeries there?! Trying hard not to laugh in his face (or to choke while sipping my iced coffee) I graciously declined the offer :P He also threw it out there that "we should hang out tomorrow", which I also declined not-quite-so-graciously. It was getting pretty ridiculous, so to sum it all up, I ended up having to leave Borders in order to stop the conversation and get back to studying!

Scene #3 (not out of control like scene 2, but a random conversation nonetheless!)
Setting- Me studying in a cozy chair at Caribou Coffee. An old man walks up with his coffee and newspaper to sit down in a chair next to me.

Old man: (standing, but slightly leaning over me) "You look like Chelsea Clinton!"
Kim: (smiles) "Really? I've never gotten that one before."
Old man: (still leaning slightly over where I'm sitting) "The only reason I knew that was because she got married and her picture was in the paper today."
Kim: (not knowing what to say) "Oh, that's nice."
Old man: (continues on about her wedding and how much it cost while he sits down to drink his coffee and finish reading the paper)
*Conversation fades and I go back to studying, except for the random times he decides to let me in on what's going on in the news.

the nerd in me

2010-08-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

This has to be the most amazing blanket. EVER. It would be awesome if the blanket were reversible because the other side could have all the muscle origins and insertions!

things to look forward to...

2010-08-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

I'm tired. I'm tired and tired of studying. Not a good combination! For a study break I decided to make a new countdown list. I love countdowns because they make all the things I'm looking forward to come sooner!

1. Less than a week until finals. No, I'm not looking forward to finals, but it does mean that this semester is almost over!

2. Two weeks until break! I only get 6 days in between my summer and fall semester (lame!), but Allison is flying out here to visit me for most of that time :) I'm super excited!!! I'm sure we'll have a blast!

3. Three weeks until the fall semester begins. I actually am looking forward to a new semester because that means new classes, new teachers, and new things to learn!

4. Three weeks and four days until I see my boyfriend!!!!!! After an extremely long two months of boot camp he will be in Pensacola for further navy rescue swimming training. Guess who gets to drive down there for Labor Day weekend... ME :D

Home Sweet Home ... for the next three years!

2010-06-12T20:11:00.000-07:00

It has already been two weeks since moving to Atlanta and I am just now posting a few of my pictures! Unfortunately I don't have the road trip pictures (those were taken on Noelle's camera) for you, but here are some shots of my new apartment, Emory campus, and a park located within the borders of the campus. If you want to view the larger images just click on each picture individually. Enjoy!

Inside the apartment complex, looking across from mine

The top window is my room!

The School of Medicine building - where most of my lectures will be

The back of the Science Administrative building

More buildings for the health and science departments..

The Depot: an old train station that was transformed into a coffee house for the college students

The park/walking trails located within Emory's campus.
It was such a beautiful day!

Some furry friends let me take their pictures :)

Birthdays and Birthday Dances

2010-05-09T22:06:00.000-07:00

I had a great time with friends as we grabbed a bite to eat at a local diner and later as we danced my birthday away at Memories! These pictures are a bit late, seeing that my birthday was last month, but I thought I'd post them anyway...

The group - minus Lenny who took the pictures
(thanks again for taking them!)

Being silly!

Birthday dance!
(for those of you who don't know - during the birthday dance everybody cuts in to dance with those who have a birthday that week.. so fun!)

Stephanie cutting Sergio off!

Birthday + Food + Dancing = a happy Kim!

Class Schedule? What's That?

2010-04-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

It is so strange to think that in two months I will be back in school with my nose glued to the textbooks! For the past two years, since I graduated college, all I've had to do is go to work and not think about studying, tests, papers, quizzes, projects, financial aid, and everything else that comes with college enrollment. It has been a wonderful break and I have loved being able to focus more on fun and stress-free things, friends, and of course, dancing!

Although I will miss my comfortable, laid-back lifestyle I have grown accustomed to, I am eager to begin a new chapter in my life. It will be an unforgettable journey full of exciting (and stressful, I'm sure) moments that I will most definitely be keeping you updated with :)

And before I forget the reason why I wrote this blog in the first place ~ I received my class schedule for the first semester! Here's what I'll be taking:

Human Anatomy (4 units)
Basic Measurement Skills (3 units)
Ethics and Professionalism (2 units)
Kinesiology and Biomechanics (4 units)
Heath Promotion, Wellness, and Prevention (1 unit)
Interpersonal Communication (2 units)

California, I will miss you!

2010-03-28T00:28:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me the other day how many things there are about Southern California that I will miss when I leave, therefore I decided to make a list. This list is not in any particular order and it does not contain the obvious - family and friends. I know I still have 2 more months until I officially move to Atlanta, but I thought I would share my "will miss" list with you now. I might add a few items to the list later, but this is what I came up with so far.

1. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

If I had a choice between Coffee Bean and Starbucks, I would definitely choose Coffee Bean! I absolutely LOVE their ice blended vanilla ultimate.. the amazing blend of creamy vanilla with crushed chocolate covered espresso beans hits the spot every time! The vanilla powder will be taking the trip with me so I can make my own version in Atlanta whenever I crave it :)

2. The Pacific Ocean.

I haven't been to the ocean lately, but I will miss it all the same. The beautiful sunsets, walks (and rare occasion of jogging) along the beach, and bonfires. Whether I'm there to have fun with friends or spend some alone time with God, the beach has always been there when I needed it - just 15 minutes away.

3. Atomic Ballroom.

This is one place I will miss the most!! I have gone dancing (mostly swing) twice a week for the past year and I have loved every minute of it! I know I will have to find somewhere to dance at in Atlanta, but I just wish I could bring Atomic and all my friends with me.. That would be so much more convenient :)

4. Disneyland.

Ah, Disneyland. What can I say? I have a great deal of memories of Disneyland ranging from childhood all the way up to last month. Disneyland is a place you can go that never gets old!

5. In N' Out.

The best burger place EVER and it's not in Georgia?! Nooooooo! In N' Out, I will miss you and your amazing burgers, animal style fries, secret recipes, and great tasting shakes.

6. Sleeping in.

Beginning work in the afternoon is a wonderful thing. I have grown accustomed to sleeping in most days of the week, and I am sorry to say those days will soon be over. Classes begin promptly at 8 am, which means getting up early every day to commute to campus!

And the number one thing I will NOT miss about Southern California is........

TRAFFIC!

There is nothing I need to say about traffic. If you live in Southern California you know exactly what I'm talking about. End of story.

March Madness

2010-03-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

March Madness typically refers to, correct me if I'm wrong, annual college basketball competitions (although I have no idea why that is). Unfortunately for my Dad, I have never had a desire to watch basketball, or any other sport for that matter. This year is no different. In fact, the only reason why I'm bringing this up is to inform you of my own March Madness and the madness that will continue throughout the next 3 months. As all of you know (unless you are some random person I don't know who happens to be reading this particular blog entry), I'll be moving to Atlanta, GA in a few months!!

In order to prepare for the move and beginning the DPT program at Emory University my days will be filled with extra odds and ends, phone calls, emails, loan applications, and other whatsits and whatnots.. I am beyond excited about starting this new chapter in my life! Although it will be sad to leave California and my family and friends, I love new adventures and experiences and I can't wait to explore more of the campus and the city around me. I will definitely be posting pictures of my new surroundings in the near future, but for now here are two pictures I found online.

The Atlanta Skyline

. . . . . . .

Emory University
Medical Education Building

A Recipe for Friendship

2010-02-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

The other day Noelle and I were hanging out and caught the last portion of an America's Next Top Model episode...

One of the judges (shown below) commented on one of the model's photograph for that week...

Noelle and I thought the comment defined our friendship (and how we act when we're together) perfectly! The comment happened to be in a "recipe" format, and whoever has seen us together will automatically agree with me when I say that the recipe of our friendship equals:

2 cups of crazy with a pinch of insane!

Anniversary of the Bookworm

2010-02-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

February marks the 2 year anniversary that I've been a member of Goodreads.com! Ever since I was a child I have loved to read books and get lost in the adventures of the various characters. It wasn't until Goodreads that I began to keep track of them all. Since February 2008 I have read approximately 70+ books: 40+ in 2008 and 30+ in 2009! Did I mention I love to read? I have 30 books still on my "to read" list and I can't wait to get started on them :)

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy.
~Edward P. Morgan

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
~Charles W. Eliot

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
~Groucho Marx

You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.
~Paul Sweeney

'Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every books he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakeably meant for his ear.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one.
~Chinese Saying

A blessed companion is a book, - a book that, fitly chosen, is a lifelong friend,... a book that, at a touch, pours its heart into our own.
~Douglas Jerrold

...and so it begins...

2010-01-21T22:44:00.001-08:00

I am waiting - patiently, yet anxiously, for the beginning of the end of LOST. I must confess that I have really missed watching the characters develop and plots unfold from each episode over the last 5 seasons. An incredible amount has happened since the very first episode and I wonder how the writers will tie everything together! I (and the other LOST fans out there) have only a few more weeks (notice my countdown! woot!) until the crazy, mysterious, and mind-blowing adventure continues.

Cream or Sugar?

2010-01-14T23:37:00.000-08:00

A particular patient came into work this morning for her physical therapy appointment. As the sweet elderly lady sat down to wait, she began to tell me (in her texan/southern accent) how the traffic was terrible, how nothing had gone right since she woke up, and how she couldn't wait to get her ultrasound treatment to ease the pain in her low back. I, of course, smiled sweetly and replied with a "oh, I'm so sorry to hear that" and a "we'll be with you in a few minutes" as I continued racing around the clinic working with three other patients going through their individual exercise routines.

A few minutes pass by and I walk back let her know she can begin with her warm up exercises, but she's not there! Where can she be? The restroom? No. Making appointments at the front desk? No. Getting something from her car? No one has left the building.

I turn around and watch as she leisurely walks out of the employee kitchen/break area with a hot cup of coffee (from a pot that I had just made and had not even had time to get a cup for myself yet) with a big smile on her face. As she begins her exercises she starts slowly rambling on in her texan/southern accent about how she normally doesn't use coffee creamer, but the creamer we had in the fridge looked so good she had to try it, and how now that she has coffee it made her day so much better, etc, etc. During her mostly one-sided conversation, I'm trying to redirect her back to the exercises and work with the three other patients besides her that I still have, all the while secretly wishing I could be sitting down sipping my own freshly brewed coffee.

To conclude:

I finally did get my cup of coffee, and it was oh-so-good.

Next time I will barricade the kitchen door or simply start her on exercises right when she arrives. Either way, she won't be able to get near the coffee pot again!

Pleasant Surprises

2010-01-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

1. Introduction to new characters. Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas is not a new character, but he is new to me. I watched the movie for the first time a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised with Jack's personality, love for Christmas, and soft spot for nice things. It got a little weird towards the end when he took over Santa's job of making and delivering the gifts after kidnapping the "real" Santa Claus. Overall, I enjoyed the movie and got some great quotes out of it!

2. Sandy Sweets Socks. I love my new sock monkey! She was a wonderful and pleasant surprise as I lifted her out of the gift bag Noelle handed me for Christmas. Stanley Spins Socks (Noelle's sock monkey) now has a little sister :)

3. Avatar. I have to admit - I was not too thrilled about seeing Avatar instead of Sherlock Holmes on Christmas day, however I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. I loved it! I want to go see it again! Full of adventure, exciting plots, and a world full of fantasy, Avatar is definitely on my "to buy" list.

4. Cuties! What a pleasant surprise! I love them. I eat 6 at a time. They're cute, amazingly sweet, and fun to eat. Every day I work at the physical therapy clinic I find 2-3 cuties on my desk that the doctor's wife so kindly placed there for me. I look forward to them every time!

24 Hours

2009-12-10T23:10:00.000-08:00

"I could have danced all night,

I could have danced all night,

and still have begged for more!"

~Eliza Doolittle

My Fair Lady

There are 24 hours in a day, which means there are 24 hours that can be used for dancing. Well, certainly not every day, but from March 13-14 2010 I will be dancing for 24 hours! Yes, I signed up for my first dance-a-thon! I am SO excited!! Ok, ok, I know what you're thinking.. How can anybody possibly dance for 24 hours straight? Don't worry, everybody joins a team, and as long as one person from each team is on the dance floor you aren't "disqualified".

The whole purpose of the 24 hour dance-a-thon is to raise money to help fund cancer research and treatment for the City of Hope Hospital. There will be DJ's, live bands, food, lessons, friends, fun, and most of all... s w i n g d a n c i n g !

If you are interested in this event and would

like to participate, just go to:

http://www.danceathon.org/

-OR-

If you'd like to donate to City of Hope through sponsoring me in

this dance-a-thon, just go to:

http://www.danceathon.org/donate/?loadbody=mip&mid=370

Against the Social Norm

2009-11-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

Swing dancing inside Starbucks. Check.

Monkey in the Middle

2009-11-16T23:44:00.000-08:00

Poor Thanksgiving has been stuck in the middle of Halloween and Christmas for so long that hardly anyone pays attention to it anymore. Yes, we still make plans to get together with family and friends on Thanksgiving. Yes, we look forward to the wonderful feast that is prepared in memory of the pilgrim's who bravely started a new life in North America. Yes, we wait with anticipation for bargain prices on that crazy day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. So why has Thanksgiving never caught the ball and let Halloween or Christmas have a turn being the monkey in the middle? I say that the Christmas season has gotten greedy. Once Halloween is over all of a sudden Christmas decorations have been assembled in malls and stores, Christmas coffee blends are being brewed in coffee shops, and Christmas music is heard everywhere in expectation of the coming holiday. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Christmas, but do we need it in November? Why hasn't Thanksgiving ever gotten decorations, coffee blends (besides the pumpkin spice one), or special music?

Here's to Thanksgiving. The holiday stuck in the middle.

"So once in every year we throng

Upon a day apart,

To praise the Lord with feast and song

In thankfulness of heart."

~Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving

Monday Mornings

2009-11-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

I have grown to enjoy Monday mornings. I don't work until the afternoon each Monday so in the morning I am free to do as I please, which may include sleeping in, relaxing, getting things done around the house, or doing errands. This past Monday morning, however, was exceptionally fun, adventurous, strenuous, and ridiculous. Why? Allison and I decided to go for a bike ride at Peters Canyon. Having never been there, I automatically assumed the trail would be similar to the Back Bay trail: paved, mostly flat with a few small hills, and not too strenuous. Assuming all of this I naturally wore jeans and flats. What a mistake! My jeans decided to stick to my legs as the day became increasingly more hot on the dusty trails. Oh, the trails! Most of the time it was a fun adventure to peddle up and down the bumpy stone-infested dirt trails, but there were definitely a few 45+ degree hills that we tried to ride to the top, only to be defeated when we were in the lowest gear possible and only moving inches at a time. All in all, our biking expedition was a huge success (we didn't die!) and we came back tired, thirsty, hot, dehydrated, smiling, and laughing about our ridiculous morning. I didn't bring my camera, but I found a few pictures thanks to Google. As you go on to take a look at these pictures I leave you with this quote:

Get a bicycle. You will certainly not regret it, if you live.

~Mark Twain

Livin' It Up

2009-11-01T16:35:00.000-08:00

I have compiled a list of things (in no particular order) that I would love to do at some point in my lifetime. I had a similar list on facebook, but unfortunately the application is no longer working so I decided to post it on my blog instead. If you have any more ideas for me let me know! I'm always adding new things on :) This list contains silliness, seriousness, and randomness. Enjoy.

I Want To...

1. Travel the world.
2. Get into grad school.
3. Graduate from grad school with my DPT.
4. Master a foreign language (not Spanish, since it's pretty much the second language of California already).
5. Be able to identify the constellations.
6. Participate in a 24 hour dance-a-thon.
7. Explore all over Europe by foot and by train.
8. Fly a plane (a small 2-4 seater).
9. Go horseback riding (without a guide who makes you sit on the horse while it slowly walks down a trail it's been on 10 times already that day).
10. Stop procrastinating.
11. Watch a heart transplant; get the surgeon's autograph.
12. Have an underground lair.
13. Learn cello.
14. Either pet a tiger or have a pet tiger.
15. Go para-sailing.
16. Take an archery class.
17. Finish crocheting the two blankets I began last winter.
18. Go spelunking.
19. Take a glass blowing class.
20. Deliver Operation: Christmas Child shoe boxes directly to the children in a third-world country.
21. Swim with Orcas.
22. Sail to Catalina Island on a sailboat (not a huge boat like the Catalina Flyer).
23. Volunteer in Namibia, Africa to help care for, feed, and train local wildlife including baby cheetahs, lions, and baboons.
24. Finish reading all the books in my personal library (I have gotten so many great books for 25-50 cents from the library bookstore that I haven't been able to read them all yet!).

the times, they are a-changin'

2009-10-21T00:40:00.000-07:00

My life seems to be changing with the seasons. The incredible amounts of free time I've had has come and gone with the summer wind, and now the business of each day seems to accumulate like the leaves on the ground in the fall (except for southern California of course.. but this blog isn't about fall leaves, so I'll get back to the main point). Becoming busier is a good change though! I'd much rather be busy than bored and lazy :) Here are just a few things that have added to the business:

1. Orchestra. Praise the Lord for His perfect timings! I auditioned within a week of contacting the conductor (never do that! if it had been a more professional orchestra I wouldn't have been prepared enough or even had a chance of making it) and started rehearsals the following Sunday afternoon. It's been a year since I've been involved in an orchestra and it wasn't until I began rehearsing with the Orange County Symphony that I realized how much I missed playing violin!

2. Monday night Bible study. A few of us "young adults" in my church have begun to get together and discuss the scriptures. It's great to be among friends and set apart time to focus on God! Right now we're looking into I Timothy.

3. Physical therapy aide. I'm still working with autistic children Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, however Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm now working at a physical therapy clinic. It's great going into a new job and already knowing what to do! Working in a clinic again has sort of reconfirmed to me that physical therapy is what I want to do. I think I am now ready to begin the craziness of grad school and all the intense studying and working that goes along with it.

4. Friday night dancing. Swing dancing is "like a drug to me" :P I look forward to swing dancing at Atomic Ballroom friday nights like a starving homeless person looks forward to his next hot meal. I have become friends with some of the other regulars (yes, I would consider myself a regular after going approximately 6-7 weeks in a row!) and have even played racquetball with one of the girls I met there :)

Thrill the World

2009-10-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson.

Thriller.

Thousands of people all over the world dressed as zombies.

Simultaneous dancing.

Need I say more?

I first heard about Thrill the World at Atomic Ballroom (where I go swing dancing) and thought to myself, "how fun and random would it be to do something like that?". Apparently Thrill the World has been going on for years and each year they try to get more and more people involved.

I've always wanted to learn the Thriller dance moves and today a friend and I went to one of the FREE classes! It was hilarious seeing 100+ people in one room learning this dance, and it was very difficult to keep from smiling the entire time. The ridiculous part was that the majority of the group took the class very seriously and most were flailing their arms around like the zombies in the music video! Don't get me wrong, I did a bit of flailing myself (how can you not when you're actually dancing to Thriller??), but some people were just out of control.

Needless to say, today was a great day, and I hope to see YOU on the dance floor next week!

For information go to: www.thrilltheworldoc.com

October 24, 2008.

Thrill the World.

The bill is coming...

2009-09-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

"Procrastination is like a credit card: It's a lot

of fun until you get the bill."

~ Christopher Parker

I fear my procrastination "bill" will be arriving sooner than I thought. Why, oh why, do I love to procrastinate? This indeed is a question I have often asked myself, although I never seem to get a good enough answer because I continue in my procrastination ways until the very last possible moment. I am even procrastinating at this very moment by writing on my blog about procrastination! "Now this is serious!"

You may be wondering (or you may have already guessed) what I have been procrastinating from doing. I'll give you a hint: five letters. Yep, it's PTCAS. This stands for Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service. Surprisingly I have already completed inputting all my information into the application as well as 4 out of 6 of the personal essays required. I just can't seem to finish the last two essays. "I am sick. I am sick and tired" of writing about myself, my personal characteristics and motivating factors that led me to pursue the profession of physical therapy, my background experiences, goals for my career as a physical therapist, why I want to attend a program with a strong problem based curriculum design, and my understanding of the various roles and functions of physical therapy as a health profession. These questions are, of course, not difficult to answer, but I find personal essays very tedious and hard to elaborate on. But it's not over yet! Once I've submitted the entire application I will begin filling out the numerous supplemental applications, extra essays, and portfolio's required of certain grad schools.

So if you happen to see me on Facebook or any other ridiculous non-PT website, please feel free to tell me to quit wasting time! I also give you permission to text me at any time with the words, "get back to work!". I won't hold anything against you if you do :P

A Tale of Two Sisumbhajees

2009-09-12T14:19:00.000-07:00

Many of you might not remember a particular pirate lord named Sisumbhajee in Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End. I, on the other hand, remember him very well. Little does Sisumbhajee know that not only do Noelle and I quote from him (or just say his name in a ridiculous voice) all the time, but we comment on his crazy beard and mustache quite a lot. Do you still not know what I'm talking about? Perhaps a picture would bring back your memories..

Ok, now that you can connect the name with the face, I will tell you of the time Noelle and I saw a real Sisumbhajee! Of course this was not the same man who was in Pirates 3, but he looked almost identical apart from a few differences.

* * * * * * * *

One night Noelle and I decided to go for a walk. We ended up walking longer than planned (almost 2 hours!), and towards the end we became super hungry so we decided to step into a 7Eleven. In our state of hunger we did not notice the cashier right away but instead took a bee-line right to the food section, where we found some amazing assortments of nuts. Of all the food products to pick we picked the ones with no price and, of course, we had to ask the cashier how much it cost. Wouldn't you know it, there was a Sisumbhajee look-a-like standing behind the counter! Now of course he wasn't wearing pirate clothes, but the East Indian man had the turban and the crazy beard and mustache, except it was black instead of grey. His handlebar mustache was much more out of control than the pirate lord though. What are the odds of seeing a real, live Sisumbhajee?? "Oh anyway", getting back to the story.. I asked Sisumbhajee how much the bag of nuts was, and he replied in his thick East Indian accent, "You look nice! For you, $2.39!" I smiled and was about to hand him the money when Noelle began to look at the various candy on the counter. He picked up two sour sticks and said, "These are one for 50¢, but for you I'll charge two for 50¢!" Because this whole situation was most ridiculous, Noelle and I agreed. As we left 7Eleven to walk back home I'm sure everyone in the neighborhood heard us laughing as we talked about meeting a real Sisumbhajee and how he gave us a discount because we looked nice. I wonder if the pirate lord Sisumbhajee would have done the same?

By Popular Demand

2009-09-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

As requested in my previous blog comment section, I will write two more accounts of random conversations Noelle and I have had while swing dancing with various dance partners. Here goes!

Conversation #6
(dance partner shall be known as Spins)

Scene 1 - Spins and Noelle are dancing. Noelle catches Spins hand after he repeatedly spun her around

Spins: NICE! *crazy grin*
*Spins spins Noelle again, and again she is able to catch his hand*
Spins: NICE! *crazy grin*

Scene 2 - Spins and Noelle are dancing. Noelle is unable to catch his hand after repeated spins, and starts to spin away

Spins: Trying to escape, eh?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conversation #7
(dance partner shall be known as Grins)

Scene 1 - Grins enters wearing a hawaiian shirt and a goofy grin on his face (hence the nickname)

Grins: *talking to nobody in particular* This place is HOT!
Grins: *pointing to Kim's dance partner's 40's style shoes* Those shoes are HOT!
Grins: *moving to the rhythm of the current song* This place is HOT!

Scene 2 - Grins dancing with Noelle

Grins: *dances Noelle over to a group of guys sitting down* Jealous aren't ya?
Group of guys: *confused faces, some shake their head no*
Noelle: *laughs*
Grins: *dances back to the middle of the dance floor* This place is HOT!
Grins: *points to the same 40's style shoes* Those shoes are HOT!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Well, there you have it! I would have to say that Spins and Grins are the most entertaining so far, but all the rest (from the previous blog) come pretty close!

From the Dance Floor

2009-09-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

Dance floors. Not only are they a place to dance and have fun, but dance floors are also a place where you hear the most random things! I shall do my best to give you an exact account of what various dance partners told me or Noelle over the course an evening. Keep in mind, this all occurred while we were spinning, doing the charleston, and lindy hopping to lively swing music..

Conversation #1
(dance partner shall be known as Spins)

Spins: Would you like to dance?
Kim: Sure.
Spins: I got a spam email today. I found it very provocative.
Kim: Oh, really?
Spins: Yes. It said it was from Satan's Mother!
Kim: *awkward chuckle*
Spins: Usually email addresses are just blablabla and are so hard to remember.
Kim: That's true.
Spins: I keep mine super easy, so that even I remember it. It's just - Joe!
Kim: Well it's good to have an easy one to remember..

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conversation #2
(dance partner shall be known as Cancer)

Cancer: Care to dance?
Kim: Sure.
Cancer: This place is great, have you danced here long?

Kim: I've only been here a few times.. I usually go to one closer to my house.

Cancer: This place is even better than where I learned swing at ____(I forgot the name).

*pause*

Cancer: I've also learned how to shoot! I'm a pretty good shot.. It's too bad I couldn't shoot my ex-wife though.

Kim: *awkward chuckle with surprised look on face*

Cancer: I had cancer too.

Kim: Oh.. Sorry to hear that.

Cancer: The cancer's gone! Yup.. the cancer left, but the wife stayed! (said sarcastically)

Kim: *yet another awkward chuckle*

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conversation #3

(dance partner shall be known as Suspenders)

Suspenders: *holds hand out to Noelle and leads her to dance floor*

Noelle: Why didn't you dance with me before? I thought you were going to ask me when you walked up a while ago, but you combed your hair in the mirror instead..

Suspenders: Oh, are you into me?

Noelle: Um, no..

Suspenders: Because if I were you, I'd be into me.

Noelle: *confused face*

Suspenders: So are you here with anyone?

Noelle: I came with my best friend. She's over there.

Suspenders: Only one best friend? I have a lot of best friends.

Noelle: I actually do have a few best friends. They just aren't here right now.

Suspenders: Well I'm just saying I probably have more friends than you.

Noelle: What?

Suspenders: It's hard to believe you have a lot of friends. You seem like a very difficult person.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conversation #4

(dance partner shall be known as Jackie Chan's Dad)

Scene 1- Noelle is sitting down and a middle-aged asian man sits down next to her

Jackie Chan's Dad: Do you dance?

Noelle: Yes.

Jackie Chan's Dad: Oh! *surprised look on face*

Noelle: Do you dance?

Jackie Chan's Dad: *shrugs shoulders* Yes, a little.

*pause*

Jackie Chan's Dad: Did you come here with friends?

Noelle: Yeah, she's dancing over there.

Jackie Chan's Dad: Oh! *surprised look on face*

Scene 2 - Kim is sitting down and the same middle-aged asian man sits down next to her

Jackie Chan's Dad: Is that your friend dancing over there? *points to Noelle*

Kim: Yeah that's her.

Jackie Chan's Dad: Oh!

*pause*

Jackie Chan's Dad: Do you dance?

Kim: Yes.

Jackie Chan's Dad: Oh! *surprised look on face, even though he had just seen me dancing earlier*

Scene 3 - Both Kim and Noelle are sitting down and once again, the same middle-aged asian man sits down next to them (Kim is in the middle)

Kim/Noelle: *talking to each other*

Jackie Chan's Dad: *slowly leans around Kim and takes Noelle's hand, somehow expecting her to dance with him even though he never said a word*

Me: *busts out laughing once Noelle and Jackie Chan's Dad are on the dance floor*

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Conversation #5

(dance partner shall be known as Twinkle Toes)

Scene 1 - Twinkle Toes shows up

Twinkle Toes: Want to dance?

Noelle: Sure.

*dancing goes on for about a minute. Noelle is confused with Twinkle Toes' dance moves*

Twinkle Toes: Aaaarg.. Come one, what are you doing?

Noelle: I'm sorry, but I can't seem to follow what you're doing.

Twinkle Toes: Well you need to stop trying to lead!

Scene 2 - Later that night

Twinkle Toes: *walks up to Noelle and starts hitting her foot with his shoe*

Noelle: *Tries to ignore him, but it doesn't work* What are you doing?

Twinkle Toes: Well I had to get your attention somehow. *Holds his hand out in a "let's dance" gesture*

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Well, there you have it! Those are only a few ridiculous conversations that have happened to Noelle and I as we brave the weirdos on the dance floor :P Some of the above accounts are much more funny if Noelle or I tell you in person (we do all the voices!) so if you want a good laugh don't hesitate to ask us!

The Hatch

2009-08-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

I have been watching too much LOST. How do I know this? Well, for starters, Christy and I have watched the complete first and second seasons within two and a half weeks! If you have not watched LOST before, it is a show full of mystery, suspense, surprises, questions, "chases, escapes, revenge, true love...", and so forth. I highly recommend watching it.. "It's so choice".

But why must I blog about it? What does my title mean? These are all very good questions you are asking right now, and I will try my best to explain. "No, there is too much to explain. Let me sum up"...

After sitting in a cozy chair watching LOST, squeezing my pillow during intense moments, and eating yummy snack foods, I realized something.. Something not-quite-that-significant, but something none-the-less. Christy and Eric have a hatch! (non-LOST watchers, you will have no idea what I'm talking about from now on. If you are curious and want answers I suggest you get LOST from your local library and start watching!) The first and second floors of their house is normal, consisting of the usual living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. From the first floor, however, there are steps that lead to a lower level that is halfway underground. This level is complete with a den/computer room (to push the button of course!), bedroom, bathroom, a back door for quick exits, and even more steps leading down to the basement that holds the washer and dryer. The only things missing are the lock-down doors, mysterious blocked magnetic room, and the clock that counts down from 108 minutes. Could this not be a hatch? Has my imagination run away with me again? Whichever question you think is right, it doesn't really matter. Since I love naming things, in honor of Christy getting me into LOST and all the episodes we watched down there, the lower level of their house will now and forever more be called "The Hatch".

Settlers of Catan

2009-08-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

Fun + Intense + Crazy + Frustrating + Challenging = Settlers of Catan

Christy and Eric introduced me to this game last time I was in Ohio. It has become a tradition for us to play it every time we get together, and I must say it can get pretty addicting! Not only is it addicting, but it is stinkin' hard to win when Eric is playing against you (*shakes fist at Eric*), which increases the urge to beat him even more. So far I've only been able to win once during this visit and it's super annoying! I'm not a sore loser and "I am determined to enjoy myself", but when you win the game you get a feeling that you have actually accomplished something. It may have to do with the fact that Settlers of Catan usually takes pretty long to finish.. or maybe it just feels good to beat your opponents after so many games of them constantly beating you to the ground and taking away any remaining chances of winning. A glimmer of hope might be given to me during the game, but a second later that wonderful shining beacon will be taken away again when my opponent robs me of my cards, destroys my cities, or blocks my roads. Think I am being a little over dramatic? If you do, I strongly urge you to buy it and see for yourself. You will think differently once you have experienced the intensity, hopefulness, frustration, and joy all combined and rolled into this game called Settlers of Catan.

Ode to Joy

2009-08-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Joy is playing with my one year old niece, Audrey, and listening to her laugh and squeal with delight.

Joy is spending time with family and friends.

Joy is holding onto the rock of Jesus (and being safe in His presence) while wind and waves of hardships/trials crash around you.

Joy is getting spun around on a dance floor.

Joy is being able to act silly and goofy around the ones you love.

Joy is reading in a cozy chair by the fireplace, listening to the rain outside.

If you give a bug luciferace..

2009-07-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

...he'll become a lightning bug!

One thing I love about the mid-west is lightning bugs. When the sun sets the lightning bugs begin to fly around, lighting up yards, streets, fields, and parks alike. Watching lightning bugs from a distance is truly amazing, but have you ever seen one up close? It's a bit strange looking at a bug's butt starting to glow at random times :P This got me thinking.. Why do they glow? What makes them glow? What do they do during the day when it is light outside? Thank goodness for Google and Wikipedia at times like these! Here are some of answers I found:

Lightning bugs use a chemical reaction called bioluminescence (the production and emission of light) to attract mates or prey
The combination of the enzyme luciferace, magnesium ions, ATP (adenosene triphosphate), and oxygen produce the light
The light may be yellow, green, or pale red in color, having a wavelength of 510-670 nanometers
Lightning bugs are nocturnal (obviously), but I couldn't find out what they do during the day. Do they sleep? Do they lay eggs? "Oh, do you think we shall ever know?"

"So, there you go!" A little science lesson on lightning bugs, one of God's amazing creations!

3.. 2.. 1.. And the Countdowns Begin!

2009-07-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

9 days until...

PTCAS opens and I can begin the grad school application process all over again..

12 days until...40's Dinner and Dancing at Riley's Farm!

16 days until...

I get to spend a whole MONTH with my sister and her family in Ohio!!!

38 days until...

I'm in Chicago with all my Dad's side of the family for my Grandma's memorial service. I'm excited to hang out with all my cousins, since it's been 10+ years since I've seen some of them!

92 days until...

The Prisoner's Dilemma comes out! This will be the third book of the Mysterious Benedict series. If you are looking for fun, adventurous, easy-to-read books, these are the ones for you!

Burn, Baby, Burn!

2009-06-27T14:31:00.001-07:00

What a weekend for me to pick to visit friends in Fresno! The current weather forecast shows that it has been, is, and will be no lower than 100 degrees the entire time I'm here.. Today it's been around 108 degrees. What's the deal?! We have, of course, been able to stay cool in various places: movie theaters, coffee shops, restaurants, homes, and malls.. We'll be playing games and watching movies tonight, and I am quite excited to tell you that Kelly found a Series of Unfortunate Events board game at a thrift store that I am really jealous of! I think I'll definitely have to check online to see if I can get a copy :)

An Absolute Must

2009-06-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

I begin the adventure of my mini road trip tomorrow! First stop, Santa Maria to visit with the Ig and the Fauf. After that I'll be driving up to Fresno for a few days to hang out with my wonderful friends Kelly and Chelsea, whom I haven't seen for so many years! Since I will be going by myself I have a list of absolute musts to keep me occupied for the endless hours of driving..

1. Music.

If you happen to drive by Kim as she is driving you might hear her singing along with fun and upbeat music, classic Disney songs, or soundtracks (such as Newsies, Back to the Future, and Sister Act 2). Anything to keep her entertained!

2. Fun Snacks.

Somehow eating snacks seem to be more fun on a road trip. Having snacks already in the car also means less stopping on the way!

3. Phone.

No, I don't have a bluetooth, but my phone does have a speaker phone button! Who knows, you might get a call from me sometime in the near future..

4. Igor and Friends.

Igor (my little puppet who keeps my manual shift knob nice and cool in the summer) and his friends keep me company on long trips.. King Louis, my most recent addition, has been renamed Groucho after one of the Marx Brothers.. Just look at his eyebrows!

A Glimpse Into the Future

2009-06-17T23:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight we were transported 10 years into the future. We only hope we will look this good when we get there...

Vogue mom, 7 months along with baby Zenda (who may have a look a-like out there in the world)

Model mom, 7 months along with baby Byra Tanks (soon to be appearing on America's Next Top Baby Model)

Auntie Fauf is excited about Lowie's offspring

Tidy mom, 7 months along with baby Cinderella (who WILL help with the household chores)

Mr. Blue Sky

2009-06-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

After 7+ days of Orange County being covered by a continuous blanket of clouds, Mr. Blue Sky decided to finally show himself today. Even with my busy day I made a point to stand outside for a minute, close my eyes and feel the (somewhat) warmth of the sun rays on my face. Oh bright sunshine how I've missed you! Hopefully Mr. Blue Sky will be back tomorrow, and the next day, "and all the days ever after"...

"I love weddings! Drinks all around!"

2009-06-08T23:11:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've been to a great wedding.. The usual weddings I play at have a serious lack of creativity and class. Sometimes I wonder how much thought actually went into the planning! There always seems to be a lack of organization, strange taste in decoration, not the greatest reception food, and a DJ who doesn't really know what's going on. This, however, was not the case for the Drazin/Riley wedding! That is why I decided to make a 5-things-I-loved-about-the-Drazin-wedding-in-no-particular-order list. Here goes! "She's going to tell! She's going to tell! She's going to tell!..."

1. Simple, yet elegant. The ceremony was held outside at Riley's farm in a "prettyish kind of little wilderness". The reception took place in the barn/packing shed, complete with twinkle lights lining the entire room and parachutes draping down from the ceiling. It was "just like a fairyland!"

2. Class. This was a 40's themed wedding. The groomsmen outfits were complete with fedoras and the bridesmaids wore a 40's styled dress. Mallory (also known as Mals, heiress of the powus) even arrived up the hill in a model T!

3. The communion song. Yes, I absolutely HAD to put this in my list! The day before the wedding, Eric (Powus) asked Michael (also known as Ig, husband to the Fauf) to sing For the Beauty of the Earth, a song he had never really heard before. Fauf and I had to continually remind him how the tune went by humming, singing, you name it, until the ceremony started! Even with the random section of improv, he did a great job.. way to go Ig!

4. Dancing. The song "I could have danced all night" from My Fair Lady comes to my mind. They had a live swing band at the reception. Need I say more?

5. Crazy friends. Fun + loud + ridiculous + neverending quotes = the Drazin family. I love it!!!

The Saga Continues...

2009-06-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok, I know New Moon doesn't come out until November, but I thought some of you might like to know who the new cast members are who have been added. Oh, and here's an exciting piece of news I found out as well ..........*drum roll*.......... Eclipse will be coming out in theaters JUNE 30, 2010!!!

Volturi Cast:

Michael Sheen - Aro

Christopher Heyerdahl - Marcus

Jamie Campbell Bower - Caius
(I hope he plays his part well in this role, otherwise I'll be watching New Moon and expecting him to burst out singing "Johanna" from Sweeney Todd!)

Dakota Fanning - Jane

Cameron Bright - Alec

Noot Seer - Heidi

Daniel Cudmore - Felix

Charlie Bewley - Demetri

Wolf Pack (and others) Cast:

Graham Greene - Harry Clearwater
Tinsel Korey - Emily
Chaske Spencer - Sam Uley
Alex Meraz - Paul
Bronson Pelletier - Jared
Tyson Houseman - Quil Ateara
Kiowa Gordon - Embry Call

I didn't add pictures for the wolf pack since they will probably be in their wolf form for most of the movie anyway :P

A Preview to the Great Park

2009-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

The other day found out that the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine, California is currently undergoing major construction in the hopes of creating what will become Orange County Great Park. When completed, this park will be over 1,300 acres (that's bigger than New York's Central Park!). Unfortunately the scheduled completion date will be 20 years from now..

I went to the "Preview Park", and according to the visitors center the Great Park will include features such as a 2.5 mile canyon and lake, cultural terrace, a sports park, botanical garden, and an aviation museum. Think it can't get any better than this? The park also has free hot air balloon flights! Now of course this hot air balloon is connected to a pulley machine, so it can't fly away, but I still thought that was a great idea to have.

On top of all this, the Preview Park has scheduled live performances and entertainment throughout the summer. They will be showing Transformers at an outdoor free-movie-on-the-lawn on May 30th, and I am so there!

My Life Story.. As of Now

2009-05-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

I was reading in my devotional book, Streams in the Desert, today and came across two different poems that seemed to parallel what I’ve been going through lately. God is so good to bring encouragement when I need it most! If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can ask me in person :P

Waiting! Yes, patiently waiting!
Till next steps made plain will be;
To hear, with the inner hearing,
The Voice that will call for me.

Waiting! Yes, hopefully waiting!
With hope that need not grow dim;
The Master is pledged to guide me,
And my eyes are unto Him.

Waiting! Expectantly waiting!
Perhaps it may be today
The Master will quickly open
The gate to my future way.

Waiting! Yes, waiting! still waiting!
I know, though I’ve waited long,
That, while He withholds His purpose,
His waiting cannot be wrong.

Waiting! Yes, waiting! still waiting!
The Master will not be late:
Since He knows that I am waiting
For Him to unlatch the gate.

~J. Danson Smith

. . . .

Pressed beyond measure; yes, pressed to great length;
Pressed so intensely, beyond my own strength;
Pressed in my body and pressed in my soul,
Pressed in my mind till the dark surges roll.
Pressure from foes, and pressure from dear friends.
Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
Pressed into loving His staff and His rod.
Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
Pressed into faith for impossible things.
Pressed into living my life for the Lord,
Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.

~A.B. Simpson

. . . .

We were under great pressure, …so that we despaired even of life….
But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

~2 Corinthians 1:8-9

“One, we’re going for one…”

2009-05-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

Blogging. It’s a whole other world that, until now, I have not dared to venture into. You may be asking yourself why a person such as a Kims should even have a blog. Would it be a way for her to pour out creative thoughts that have been lurking somewhere in the back of her brain? What about educating other bloggers on quotes and how to incorporate them into their daily vocabulary? Could it be that she needs something else to do while impatiently waiting around to hear back from ridiculous grad schools? “Oh, do you think we shall ever know?”
I guess we’ll find out sooner or later! Until then, “I am determined to enjoy myself” as I begin my blogging journey. Even if I “bring a little joy into your humdrum lives, it will make me feel as though my hard work ain’t been in vain for nothin’. Bless you all!”

WARNING: Each blog will most likely contain quotes from random movies. The Kims may or may not reward the person with the correct answer with five (“three sir!”) invisible gold stars. To take care of these accumulating gold stars you must “put them in your pocket; never let them fade away!” … Whaaat?

Dancing Phalanges

Footloose and Fancy Free

The Magic Number

"So Others May Live"

Naptime and Snacktime

From the Dance Floor.. Continued...

My Favorite Things

Clash of the Cultures

Move over Tony Hawk

Food, Glorious Food

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Hold On To Your Butts

*sigh*

All We Do is Win...

You're A Nerd

Don't Need No Starbucks

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

NOLA

A Walk in the Snow

Snow Day!

Men in..... Skirts?!

Finals and Free Time

for the next 35 days...

Brainstem! Brainstem!

Colors of the Wind

Silly Stories of Studying and Strangers

the nerd in me

things to look forward to...

Home Sweet Home ... for the next three years!

Birthdays and Birthday Dances

Class Schedule? What's That?

California, I will miss you!

March Madness

A Recipe for Friendship

Anniversary of the Bookworm

...and so it begins...

Cream or Sugar?

Pleasant Surprises

24 Hours

Against the Social Norm

Monkey in the Middle

Monday Mornings

Livin' It Up

the times, they are a-changin'

Thrill the World

The bill is coming...

A Tale of Two Sisumbhajees

By Popular Demand

From the Dance Floor

The Hatch

Settlers of Catan

Ode to Joy

If you give a bug luciferace..

3.. 2.. 1.. And the Countdowns Begin!

Burn, Baby, Burn!

An Absolute Must

A Glimpse Into the Future

Mr. Blue Sky

"I love weddings! Drinks all around!"

The Saga Continues...

A Preview to the Great Park

My Life Story.. As of Now

“One, we’re going for one…”

sigh