Currently Listening Kapena Collection, Vol. 2 By Kapena see related

Because I have a lot of free time here at work—here I am! *tadah*

Well the last was the excitement I was anticipating for Vegas. And yes, it was definitely well spent.  Every moment of our walk up & down the strip & Fashion Show Mall, every $$ dropped into the slot machines, and $$ shopping, every meal from the buffets, every lil’ drink we consumed—ALL WORTH IT.  Sometimes you just have to get away and not have to worry about anything. Even if it’s for a short time. You then realize your normal pace back home is not so normal but too fast, too straight of a line, and it’s much more easier on your body & mental well-being to slow down, take things one by one and RELAX (from time to time).

The concert at the Pure Aloha Festival Saturday night was incredible! I was enjoying every second of it (it really took me back the islands-especially listening to the old Kapena Jams). But to start it off, MKZ rocked the event! I’m really impressed on their growth & their passion for the island style music. I mean, who else can be #1 in the nation for this band competition they are competing in right now. Way to go! I’m a proud supporter.

But we all had a good time, especially our sneak peek into an infamous strip club Sapphire. Sheesh, from the outside, it looked like a shopping plaza because the building was pretty big.  Sunday was our Rio buffet splurge. My 2^nd time there & it was just as good as the 1^st. 

Sunday we basically chilled until Jay surprised me with dinner at the Palms Hotel Alize Restaurant, overlooking “Sin-City” all lit up! It has an amazing view. Enjoyed our delicious dinner and just time together. We met up with lonesome Rodney at the Ghost Bar, which had even a more spectacular view of the strip!

So our conclusion is that we will try our best to make Vegas our annual trip if we can. There’s just so much to do & see. We were debating about seeing a show or even getting a massage, but those were all booked. So definitely next time.

Speaking of annual, we booked our tickets to Hawaii for my brothers wedding at Turtle Bay. Vacation is scheduled July 28-Aug 2.  There’s quite a handful of us going, so this will be more of a family fun affair. Excited about that.

Currently Listening The Emancipation of Mimi - Platinum Edition By Mariah Carey see related

- Say Something

Aaahh—the Lord has tested me yet once again!

Everytime I mention what happened, I pick up the notion to laugh more and more about it each time it’s brought up.  Of course I was upset at first, but look who’s the dummy who got caught & will have to pay back. Loser!!

My car got broken into after 30 minutes being parked right outside Jay’s house.  The juvenile kid didn’t even have good aim at all.  I mean c’mon, he had all that window area on my back passenger door to aim at & throw the brick but nooooo….dude had to hit part of the window frame which makes it a lil’ more difficult to fix. So my car is in the shop for about a week/week & half or so being worked on.  So it’s not only the shattered window, but the frame got dented in, chipped a lil; bit of the paint outside AND scuffed the door panel inside. LOSER!

What makes him even more of a loser is that the sucker got CAUGHT! Thank goodness there was a witness at the nearby park who called VPD and actually had memorized the license plate# when they were cruising around.  The old man was walking his dog and noticed how suspicious they acted, while driving around. And I know for a fact that they probably saw me get there & unload my car. 

They took a Victoria Secret towel bag that only had my planner, address book and misc paperwork inside.  And the reason I left it in there was because I knew we were gonna drive to Sacramento later that evening.  But that doesn’t give the right for anyone to break into any vehicle. So the nice police officer came by and got some info down & linked the plate# to the address and apparently this loser boy lived around the area. So he made it clear that he was for sure gonna pay him a visit later.

And he did just that.  We took my car (window covered w/ a trash bag & tape) to Jay’s sister’s house to be parked in their garage. Pretty bummed, but really hungry, we ate at Black Angus.  Ordered and then received a call from Officer Jarrington. They found my bag in some bushes!! And he was so nice that he offered to stop by and bring it to me. Again, he did just that. He called when he was outside. So Jay & I walk out…there was my bag. AND….the loser boy!  Cop said, “Someone would like to apologize for what he did.”  Yeah right, there he was—18 yr old LOSER BOY! All cuffed up, wearing his pj’s. He thought it was a purse, cuz he didn’t have $$, sorry this & that, I apologize this & that. Sure loser.  So that was that. He went to jail and I’m stuck paying my deductible and trying to figure out the hassle of this whole situation. It’s a pain but it’s alright. Can’t do much from here except wait.

Ironic thing was that whole week I was praising to God & telling Jay how well everything in my life was going. Got my tax return, changed insurances just the day before the incident (saving $30/month), and contributing more into my IRA account and we were off the Vegas in just a couple weeks (next weekend-yay).  I was giving more of my tithes & offerings & just getting nice, unexpected surprises along the way. And now this had to happen.  But I keep getting reminded that it’s not that bad and hey, it’s a learned lesson and bumpy ride overcome. LIFE in general is just full of surprises. What can you expect?  It would be lame and unexciting if things were just perfect.

Anyway, that’s the story of the month. Things ARE going great though and I feel good about a lot of things in my life. You really just have to pick yourself back up when you’ve tripped & fallen.  And it’s not always easy but things happen. God continues to encourage & bless us in every way possible. Sometimes we are blinded and don’t notice it at first or even at all. And we miss the good opportunities. I’m reminded that patience is what we need now & eventually we’ll receive all that He has promised.

Other news:

 My nephew is getting cuter & bigger every time I see him.

 The snow is pretty good up in the Sierras (riding with the wind).

 And I’m just looking forward to being off for 4 days next weekend.

Woo-hoo!!

Currently Reading Keys to Financial Excellence By Phil Pringle see related

Hello. Sitting here at my desk, sipping on Mint Medley Bigelow Tea. REFRESHING! Just finished eating my yummy senorita's from the bakery-so tasty! 

Can you believe it's already February?? Pretty soon, it'll be Spring. Well the weather is sure proving that it could come sooner (but I highly doubt it-we still need some more Rain=Snow).  Haven't been doing much except picked up a new book to read, been laying low, saving $$, and really putting my all toward my provider & Savior and trying to be as humble as I can with all my blessings. He's brought me so far and I feel like I have a new calling to voice myself out singing for Faith Bible's Easter Cantana. They had also asked me to pray about being the narrator for it. It's a great deal to feel welcome into a new "family" and what's nice is that they encourage the young adults to be involved. So that's where I am...

So my nephew Micah is getting big. Can't believe he'll be 2 months on the 19th. Precious lil' thing and I still can't believe my brother is a daddy. But he seems like a natural at it. He loves babies and all the kids in our family. I think they're planning on re-locating back here to the Bay which is nice so we can see them more often.

This weekend is our annual snow & stay-in-a-cabin weekend trip w/ our friends. FUN! Good times--all the time. Valentine's is in a week, but this year, we're holding that off because we're trying to make trip out to Vegas at the end of March (we planned for the same weekend the MangoKingz are out there-Pure Aloha Festival in Vegas) and we both agreed that will be our treat to each other.    For some reason I've been wanting to go and bless his heart, he finally got the hint--hahaha!

And other than that, that's basically it. Work is work and it's not so busy. Still job searching for something interesting. I've gotten a few call backs but for some reason didn't follow up w/ the interviews. I feel like there's more out there & better ones where I can expand and be happy with it.  So I'm not in no hurry-it's all planned out I'm sure.

I got this email from an ex-co-worker and thought I'd share it. Hope everyone is doing good--healthy & going.

Philippians 4:13 --- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The road to success is not straight.
There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion,
speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies,
caution lights called Family.
You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a spare called Determination,
an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith,
a driver called Jesus, you will make it to a place called Success.

Currently Listening Lifestyle: A Worship Experience By The Katinas see related

- I Give You My Heart

I am blessed...

Winter Camp=loads of laughter, fun & tears & the HOLY SPIRIT (no, not the scary one!)
Current mood: thankful
Category: Life

Before ever agreeing to go, I contemplated for a while thinking about the benefits I would get out of this trip. Well, I can't state it any better, but the $$, time-off and the journey through my mind & heart was well all worth it!  WOW!

We signed up for workshops that were unbelievably informative, Sessions that made a huge positive impact of my invision of the Holy Spirit & listening closely to "crickets".  Played games in the snow & did one of my all time favorites sports (snowboarding up at Heavenly), sang praises of worship, fellowship w/ discussion groups, prepared to laugh all night w/ the creative skits made by different groups (Go YELLOW!).

Can I tell you how awesome it is to know friends who are so open to talking about all this. And how incredible & comforting it is that Jay is my ultimate bestest friend. We shared a conversation that no other can beat & we just made that insight to each other to build our relationship on a (Godly) foundation that's smarter. He's so amazing, I tell ya. And I don't mean to boast, but he really is. He told me that he wants to re-commit himself to the Lord & he knew it in his heart all this time. Praise God for that.

After this week, I realized that I've taken with me, so much happiness, a brighter look toward my goals in life and an array of joy & grace toward my relationship with the good Man above. He's got me now. I was overwhelmed with gladness that I felt the urge to go & share my thoughts to everybody (esp after "Roxie" went up) and even though I can't really remember what I was saying, all I know was the SMILE on my face was contagious (because all I can see were people smiling back at me). There's just so much to share...I am blessed...

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life…
Psalm 23:6, NLT

…And I’m back…from nowhere, really. Just been so flippin’ busy with work, meetings, events, parties, shopping for the holidays, celebrating the Christmas Holiday (which was fantastic before I caught a cold) and lastly a reason to smile about is babies.  Yes babies as in no, not mine, but my brother Roger is now officially a daddy! Little cutey Micah James joined our family on Dec. 19^th. He’s so small and just so precious. I already LOVE him! If you wanna check out a picture, he’s posing on MYSPACE! It’s adorable and I’ve got a only a few days to work on his birth announcements before the New Year!  Can you believe it? 2006?!?!?!

Something to ponder upon…

• What do you expect this New Year?
• How will you approach your goals?

There’s so much I want to accomplish, but I need to take one step at a time and not rush to end up being frustrated (so much easier said than done, huh).  I know I’ll survive.

I can’t say that looking back, I wish I would’ve handled a few things differently, because those have set me to be who I am and I’ve learned through them and have been successful to walk out of it with a smile (and even sometimes w/ a tough look even after I’ve felt failure). This is the time to move forward, to be thankful for what I have and keep going.

So there’s hardly any snow up in the Sierras, although I’m guessing that this stormy weather should dump a few more feet. I haven’t been up this season, eventually in January, I’m going up for Winter Camp (for Faith Bible Church) and I’m looking forward to that (thanks Kris). I want to know what it’s all about for ME and for my inner-self and faith not from what people tell me what I can expect. Because I think it’s up to the individual and I know I plan to worship him throughout my life and this will be a step forward for me to realize He’s got it all under control. And that He Loves me.