The Studio

A quarter of a century. Halfway through the most productive years of my life. Naturally, as I watched these milestones approaching, I gave a lot of serious thought about the person I wanted to be when I grew up. Who did I want to be? How close was I to being this person? What was I doing to become this person?

The answers were not immediately obvious...
I want to be a bad ass, someone who's really good at what they do -- someone who is sought out. I want to be someone who's going to have awesome stories to tell her grandchildren -- experiences that my grandkids will aspire to. I want to make a difference in this world -- someone who's going to leave a footprint.

I've been spending a lot of time lately with several non-profit organizations. It's something that has been a big part of my life but that has been missing for a couple years. I always feel a little restless when I haven't served for a long time. Getting re-involved is a good step, but I can't say I've found my community service niche here in the bay area -- the organizations I'm currently involved with are either too niche or too general. They just don't feel like the right fit. There's also the added challenge that there aren't a lot of people my age at the service events I've attended, and there's not a lot of repeat interactions. Basically it boils down to this: it's much easier to feel a part of an organization or be excited about community service when it feels like a group of friends getting together working towards a common goal.

In Houston, I had really good friends at the hospital and everyone was of my age and super enthusiastic. VCSA had a core group of volunteers whom you met or volunteered with frequently, and who formed friendships outside of the organization. I miss going to volunteer events and getting to see a bunch of friends and familiar faces. Hands On just feels too large, and BUILD just too small. I should talk to Melissa about One Brick.

At any rate, the thought that I have been most pre-occupied with is the Accenture Development Partnership (ADP) program. ADP is a program where Accenture employees give up half of their salary to go do consulting work in their world countries. "Consulting" is a very loose term in this case, it can be as simple as managing a project. Past countries where ADP has been involved include Viet Nam, India, Uganda, Bangladesh, Kenya, the list just goes on. I will more than likely applying next year. I'm super excited about the opportunity, just hope that I will get chosen to go. It's sort of a once in a lifetime opportunity do go experience a different culture and work on something that you can be really proud of. I won't always be able to be this free of responsibilities or free of ties (at least not for much longer I hope).

So, keep your fingers crossed for me!! Yes, this does derail the plans to buy a house a bit, but like I said, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity -- I can buy a house any time.

Oh yes, and I recently filed amendments to my articles of incorporation and bylaws to expand the purpose of my scholarship foundation, so hopefully Huy and I will be able to grow foundation in the near future. Wish us luck, and let me know if you'd like to help! ;-)

Me and all my friends We're all misunderstood They say we stand for nothing and There's no way we ever could Now we see everything is going wrong With the world and those who lead it We just feel like we don't have the means To rise above and beat it So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change We keep on waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change It’s hard to beat the system When we're standing at a distance So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change Now if we had the power To bring our neighbors home from war They would have never missed a Christmas No more ribbons on their door When you trust your television What you get is what you got ‘Cuz’ when they own the information ooohhh, They can bend it all they want So while we're waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change We keep on waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change It's not that we don't care We just know that the pot ain't fair So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change We're still waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change We keep on waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change One day our generation Is gonna rule the population So we keep on waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change Know we keep on waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change We keep on waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change Waiting on the world to change

Wow!! I haven't had that much fun in a long time!! For those of you who can't figure out what I'm talking about, Diana and I had a joint birthday party tonight at San Francisco's Top of the Mark. Our closest 30 friends came out to celebrate with us.

For those of you who were able to make it out tonight, THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart. Birthday #25 will definitely go down in the books as one of the bestest ever. There were some snags when we arrived at Top of the Mark, and I hope that you all didn't mind the wait too much. I apologize for that. Despite the minor set-back, I still had a ridiculously fun time. Tonight had all the components of a perfect evening: good food, good drinks, good music, great dancing, dressed up people, and AMAZING company. I can't express enough what a magnificent time I had.

You guys really rock my world. I'm sorry that I didn't get to dance with all of you, and I'm sorry that I didn't get to spend very much individual time with each of you, but rest assured that your presence contributed a LARGE part of the success of the evening.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you again. Since I am apparently at a lost for words to describe my gratitude and the amount of fun I had, I'll let the song below describe the rest of it...And yes, I do love every last one of you...

Now I've had the time of my life No I never felt like this before Yes I swear it's the truth and I owe it all to you 'Cause I've had the time of my life and I owe it all to you I've been waiting for so long Now I've finally found someone To stand by me We saw the writing on the wall As we felt this magical Fantasy Now with passion in our eyes There's no way we could disguise it Secretly So we take each other's hand 'Cause we seem to understand The urgency just remember You're the one thing I can't get enough of So I'll tell you something This could be love because I've had the time of my life No I never felt this way before Yes I swear it's the truth And I owe it all to you With my body and soul I want you more than you'll ever know So we'll just let it go Don't be afraid to lose control Yes I know whats on your mind When you say "Stay with me tonight." Just remember You're the one thing I can't get enough of So I'll tell you something This could be love because 'Cause I had the time of my life And I've searched through every open door Till I've found the truth and I owe it all to you

Hi there loyal readers. (You have to be loyal to still check this thing for updates after I've been absent for so long). It's been several months since I've posted anything -- not because I crawled into a cave and did nothing for the past 3 months, but I guess I've just been too busy doing things rather than writing about them.

I was going to say that I haven't posted in all this time because I haven't done anything that interesting, but upon consideration, I don't think that's true. Let's see, just a quick run down, in the past months, I have taken rock climbing classes, taken pottery classes, got a promotion, started mentoring East Palo Alto kids with their college applications, taken a role on the steering committee of Hands On Bay Area's tutoring committee, reconnected with an old high school friend who now lives in the Bay Area, went to Lake Tahoe a couple of times, hosted a couple of pull-out-all-the-stops dinner parties, created a wedding website for some friends who asked me to be their bridesmaid, attended a number of symphonies, and somehow managed to squeeze in some time to eat, sleep, and shower. Oh, and work I guess.

All of these events and activities were/are wonderfully interesting, but I can't tell you about them here because they would simply take up too much space. I can however, share with you a funny story.

The other night, I had taken my laundry to the laundromat, per my usual routine every 6 to 8 weeks or so. After my clothing finished the wash cycle, I started them on drying, and headed home for a bit, since the trying usually takes close to an hour. I came back around 9 pm, about an hour before closing time, only to find that one of my dryers did not run. So, I started it and proceeded to fold the clothes that were dry, while waiting for the others to finish. I called Justin to know I was running a little late because we had plans to go get some dessert, mostly so he could show me his new car.

When all the clothes had dried, I found myself with three baskets, too many to carry in one trip. I took one batch to my car, and when I returned to the laundromat, I found the doors to be locked!!! The gentleman who had been cleaning the place was standing outside the door, and just looked at me blankly. I asked if he had keys to unlock the place, since 2/3 of my clothes were still inside. He said he didn't have any keys. I asked him if someone was going to come in a bit to turn off all the lights and music, since at this time they were still blaring inside. He said no. I asked him if there was a phone number he was supposed to call in case of emergency. He offered nothing. I vaguely remembered seeing emergency contact info somewhere while at the laundromat, so I tried looking for it. I finally saw the sign posted at the very rear of the room, and quickly dialed the number. The whole time my heart was racing because I wasn't sure what I would do if no one picked up.

Luckily, someone did answer. I explained the situation to the man on the phone, and he said that he was on his way. His estimate was that he would arrive in 20 minutes to so. I went to go wait in my car, and while there, I called Justin again, to let him know I was going to be even later. Justin offered to come wait with me, but I told him I was fine because I was in my car. Justin pointed out that his car was nicer, and that I could wait in his with him. With that, Justin was on his way. Almost immediately after hanging up with Justin, the owner of the laundromat show up, only 5 or 10 minutes after I had gotten off the phone with him. He fumbles a while with his keys because he can't really remember which key opens which lock, but he was a very friendly man, and didn't act like he was annoyed for having to come out. Right before he manages to unlock the door, Justin pulls up.

As I walk inside to get the last of my laundry, the owner asks me a question, and I say yes, without really realizing what I've just said yes to, until after I've already answered. You know how it is...someone will say something, you'll ask "What?" and before they've had a chance to repeat themselves, you comprehend what they has just said. In this case, the owner asked me if Justin was my husband, and I said "yes". By the time I actually heard the question, it was too late to explain who Justin was, and why he had come to the laundromat. True to form though, my dutiful "husband" did go inside to get my last basket of laundry.

The most amusing thing about the whole event was that, my response was funny, unsettling, and comforting all at the same time. It was funny because Justin and I have always joked about acting like an old married couple. It was unsettling because I couldn't imagine being married right now, and if married life means that my husband is going to make me go to the laundromat alone, I'm in no hurry to get started. But, overall it was kind of comforting to have friends who treat me as others would expect for a husband to treat his wife.

I may one day call Justin my husband and not be lying, but that day will only come if we're both still single when Justin turns 35. For now, I'm content to call him my roommate.

My friend the communist Holds meetings in his RV I can't afford his gas So I'm stuck here watching TV I don't have digital I don't have diddly squat It's not having what you want It's wanting what you've got I'm gonna soak up the sun Gonna tell everyone To lighten up (I'm gonna tell 'em that) I've got no one to blame For every time I feel lame I'm looking up o I'm gonna soak up the sun I'm gonna soak up the sun I've got a crummy job It don't pay near enough To buy the things it takes To win me some of your love Every time I turn around I'm looking up, you're looking down Maybe something's wrong with you That makes you act the way you do Maybe i am crazy too