2009 has been one of the most amazing years of my life and I don’t even know where to start to say why I am thankful and who I am thankful for. But there are a few people who I need to just mention to get it out there:
Mom and Dad, no matter how much I crap I’ve given you and how much trouble I have been in the past 24 years of my life, you’ve never wavered your love and support for everything I’ve done. This year, especially. I hope I have become the son you have been wishing for all your life.
Diwata, holy crap. I knew from that moment outside that New York bar that you would one of those people I could count on for all of 2009. We still don’t even know how we met, but I’m so glad it happened because you’ve become one of my closest friends in San Diego.
Aaron, my roommate that breaks everything. We both moved to the bay with hardly knowing anyone or anything here, and shit, I don’t know how I would have done it by myself. From getting kicked out, living in hotels and people’s couches, and our normal drunken nights, the transition into the bay has been that much easier with you there. Thank you for being one of the easiest people to live with, ever.
Joe and Frances, must I even say why? You already know why. I feel so comfortable around you two and I never expected it. But at the same time I’m not surprised because you two are amazing people. You’ve made 2009 that much easier, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that. I could only hope that everyone would be like you two.
Auntie Carol, you are the definition of what a great aunt should be. No matter how far you are, you have been there for every important moment of our lives. You even came to my housewarming and Robyn’s 21st birthday even though you live in Hawaii! I’m so glad you are my mom’s sister because you are just amazing.
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2009 would not have been the same without these people. I feel like I’m missing people, but I did my best. I have so much to be thankful for that I would not be able to fully express my gratitude with the rest of 2009. But it’s all about the future: maintaining the relationships I have, cultivating new ones to be thankful for, and living every moment like it’s my last. Thank you, 2009.
Including Brisbane, Santiago, San Francisco, Chicago, San Jose, Manchester, New York City, Philippines, Connecticut, and Nebraska!
Don’t see one near you? Organize it!
Sweet, Imma try making it out to the one in SF this Sunday. Anyone down to go?
I’m down.
Love it because I never know what to expect. Hate it because I expect too much.
(via jessejohn)
Not to mention, my tuition goes up to $41,700 next year, 7000, more than this year, and projected $45, 000 by the time I graduate. Hastings is officially the most expensive law school in California (more than Stanford). Oh, and the Blue and Gold Program which guarantees aid to recipients w/ household earning <$70,000 does not extend to graduate programs.
Good thing a bachelor’s degree means more than an abstract credential in this day and age. Oh wait…
Wow, that is ridiculous. Next year, tuition will completely double my 1st year tuition.
Fee increase sucks. I think they’re doing a fee increase because they can get away with it. I think they’ll get away with it because people will still pay the fee increase because they want their degrees and won’t drop out. I’m not saying drop out but your mouth is where your money is.
I feel every college should be a community college.
I’m not advocating violence or vandalism but I’m not rejecting it either.
I couldn’t agree more. I’m sure the UC Regents are thinking that the students will organize and cause a ruckus right around voting time. But right after it passes they know the momentum will die, current students will submit to the new fee hikes, the prospective students will accept the new fees as standard, and it will seem like nothing happened. It’s an endless cycle that has never been broken.
Something drastic needs to happen. The momentum can’t die. The students need to show the UC Regents that they can’t be trampled on.
I remember when I first started a Tumblr. I did it because I liked writing. It was a replacement to my blogspot. And then I went on this rampant frenzy of reblogging and posting pictures. I blame tumblarity for that. But now I’m back to where I started. I really just love writing. Nothing quite comes close in expressing pent up emotion and thought.
Just to reiterate from a previous post, I started a “Social/Cultural Awareness” committee within the professional Asian Pacific organization at my work. At first, I didn’t think it would be so well-received by the group. If you aren’t familiar with Northrop Grumman, it isn’t actually the most liberal workplace. Most of the employees are over 45 years old, many of them are military veterans, and you can feel the conservative attitudes all throughout. I presented the idea at a general body meeting and everyone thought I delivered a great presentation. From there, it was time to take action.
I planned my first event. Basically, the event is going to be a casual discussion directed by the topic of why there is even a need for these distinct identity-based professional groups at work. In the flyer, I was listing identities and I put the word “queer” in it and it caused enormous controversy. One email back said, “This poster is totally inappropriate. Please have the designer take out the word “Queer” and replace it with a work-appropriate word.” That’s when it really hit me, I am no longer at UCSD, I need to be aware of where I am at. But it also made me realize I have this amazing, though risky, opportunity to slowly change the culture at my workplace. This whole bit erupted another issue about labeling identity, what certain terms means, and such. There’s another event idea.
Although there are several negative consequences that can come from meddling with this at the workplace, I have to make some bold moves to see the cultural change I want to see at work. This is a whole new playing field than the one I was used to at UCSD and I’m excited.
Kai asked my auntie if she remembered eating boogers with him. She asked him “Boogers? When did we eat boogers together?” He said at Ala Moana at the booger place. My auntie realized, “Ohhhhhhhhhh!! Island Burgers!”
