a poem

I heard this poem while watching the movie "Coach Carter" which is all about basketball... what a perfect time to watch something like that since we're right in the middle of March Madness.  It made me realize how much I enjoy that game... way more than football which I usually find boring by the third quarter.  My thoughts this entire week are on the Gonzaga vs. UCLA game on Thursday night.  I used to hate UCLA because they are my rival.  Now I have another reason... hah and another reason to wear my FUCLA shirt. Yes!

realizations

So I took a few days off from work this last weekend to fly out to LA and then take a road trip to Vegas with my EE crew who I have been missing every single day that I've been out here in Austin.  This trip was absolutely my best vacation ever and I realized how fortunate I am to have those people in my life.

My Realizations:

College kids are loud!  I went to La Barca for margaritas and I seriously could not have a conversation because the damn girls two tables over were screaming and laughing about who knows what. 

LA is too expensive and traffic sucks.  Ok so I already knew that but it was one thing that made me happy that I was in Austin rather than trying to make a living in LA.

I ADORE my friends.  No matter how long we are apart, we can all come together like no time has passed at all.  We play off of each other, we care about each other, and we have a ton of fun together.  Thank God we all started hanging out last year.  I dunno what I'd do without them and being away from them makes me appreciate them more.

I love vacations!  And Rachel and I decided that we are going to take yearly vacations together... we'll pick a different spot each year and all meet there.  And one day I hope everyone will come vacation in Austin. :)

All in all, I found out that while I am very glad that I am out of USC (and didn't continue to get my masters there) because I really don't feel like I fit in there anymore, I seriously wish that I was closer to my friends.  But hey, they are only a 4-hour plane ride away. 

i'm in love

i'm soooo in love.  well can you really be in love with a sport?  with a school?  with a team?  with one particular player who you haven't ever seen in real life?  usually i love USC and matt leinart and reggie bush.  that's during football season though.  i'm currently in love with a lil school called Gonzaga... since it's basketball season.  and i love a guy named adam morrison.  sure, i love his teammates too but seriously i loooooove gonzaga basketball.  without it, no one would have ever heard of spokane, washington.  even now, some people still don't know where the hell gonzaga is located but if they're real bball fans then they know. 

i didn't know i could love a school that i never went to.  that i could love a team i have only seen play once in real life (and i've only been able to watch about four games this season on tv b/c friggin texas doesn't show em).  and i loved em before they became all great and popular too.  just like how i loved usc football before we became national champs.  so it looks like i sure know how to pick good teams. :)

be sure to look for the sports illustrated issue that comes out on thursday.  u can take a guess as to who is on the cover. :D

Might be moving

So one of the main reasons that I moved to Austin, rather than staying in LA, was the fact that I could afford to buy a house here.  And since I've been here I have always expected to buy a house and move within a year (b/c why not make use of IBM's offer to move me for free?).  Slight change of plans... my mom decided to buy an investment property instead.  And I found the perfect one last weekend. :)

It is a duplex.  In a great neighborhood.  I actually found out that a few IBMers I work with live right around there so it's gotta be pretty good right???  And one side is already rented out and the tenants seem pretty cool so I'll just live in the other side until my mom decides to move to Austin.  I'm so excited -- you have no idea.  Only downfall is that the backyard is pretty damn small and one of the points of getting out of an apt was to get a dog.  Oh well.  Maybe I'll get a small dog... to match my small dog.  SO, she bought it.

Had the house inspection today... there's a slight hiccup so I'm not quite sure that we'll take this duplex...  we'll see.  I sure hope we do.  I had a good feeling about it since I first saw the picture of it online.  And I completely believe in fate now.  My mom actually looked at this same duplex when she was here a month ago and she liked it, but it went under contract the next day... obviously that contract fell through and now I fell in love with the place.  Good things are gonna happen.  I can feel it.

And now that I have a second bedroom, there is plenty room for people who want to visit.

Currently Watching The Butterfly Effect (Infinifilm Edition) By Ashton Kutcher, Melora Walters, Amy Smart see related

Austin City Limits

So I'm not into bands all that much.  But when my friend had a ticket he was willing to sell to a 3-day concert in Zilker Park, I jumped on it.  Of course, I had to ask Kara (the girl who knows every band in existence) which bands to see.  Also, by telling her that I was goin to this made her very jealous...hehehe. 

Friday:
Got off work early so I could hear Grupo Fantasma (a really fun band that made me want to dance... but I didn't... b/c I don't do that), Slightly Stoopid (a bunch of white guys doin reggae music... pretty hilarious), Keane (I only knew one of their songs, but I liked almost all the songs they played... will have to buy their CD or something), and The Black Crowes (after hearing so much hype at work about how good they are, I was expecting better... but I guess they just are not my cup of tea... and all the band members were Jesus look-alikes).  After the concert, instead of waiting for a shuttle I got to trek back to the car... and it took 1.5 hours!!!

Saturday: 
Friggin hot-ass day!  I thought we were supposed to get high winds and rain!  Either of those would be preferable to the 100-degree temperatures.  But at least there was parking much closer to the concert this time.  Kara always raved about Deathcab For Cutie so I knew I had to listen to em.  I had actually never heard any of their songs, but they seemed cool.  Then I listened to Jet, Oasis, and Widespread Panic.  Jet was frickin awesome... I knew two of their songs and remembered actually seeing one of their music videos!  Definitely have to buy their CD... or find someone who already owns their CD :).  Wasn't too impressed with Oasis or Widespread Panic.

Sunday:
It's supposed to be 101 today.  UGH.  I am seriously ready for the supposed "great weather" that is due in October... which means comfortable temperatures not above 90 degrees.  Today I plan to see Jason Mraz, Franz Ferdinand, and Coldplay.  Don't worry.  They will all be awesome.  I'll just have to remember to wear very few clothes, a lot of sunscreen, and bring a ton of water.  And maybe I'll even dance a little bit today too.