any/all of the people who read this blog

most notably Patrick Yu & Sun Nakamura =)

While I keep this blog so that it reminds me to be thankful for something each and every day it's also nice to know that people really DO read it and even enjoy it!  I'm thankful that my friends let me know that they read the blog, it provides motivation to keep writing and thinking of new things to blog about.

Thanks everyone!

24 Hour Walmarts

I accidentally left my trunk open and the light drained my car battery. If it wasn't for the 24hour Walmart, I would not make it to work on time to open the pharmacy. I'd be in big trouble. Thanks Walmart! You are like that annoying friend who is there when you need them! 

Shorts

Before Alex & I got married ppl would ask us, "Who wears the pants in the relationship?"  We came up with the perfect answer, it came about when someone asked us and we both said "He/She does" and pointed at each other at the same time.  Then Alex answered, "I guess we wear shorts!"  

I was reading another blog that posted love advice from a few old grandmas and the piece of advice that stuck out the most was "Let him think he is in charge, even though you’re really in charge." (and vice versa) Everything works better when you wear shorts.

dinner w/ old friends

it's nice to be able to catch up with old friends and just hang out.  It's nice being comfortable with someone and having them know a lot of the people in your life, a lot of the experiences and everything in between.  I'm thankful that I have friends like that and that we make time to hang out still.

being simply happy

Too often do we find ourselves needing things/objects to be happy.  I'm thankful that today I can just simply be happy.  I hope you are too!

Being tired

I'm thankful that I have more than enough stuff to do and more than enough people to hang out with that I'm super tired on this 3rd day off. Happy Memorial Day!

Daytime naps

There comes a time when you go back to needing/wanting daytime naps.  I'm thankful that I was able to recover a little and take a NAP during the day.  It's so refreshing and a nice treat on the weekend!

Saturday vigil mass

It's nice going to church on Saturday evening so I have all of Sunday to lounge around.  If I remember & have the time I'd prefer to go on Saturdays I think.

Long weekends

2 days sometimes just isn't enough. Hooray for long weekends!!

Disney magic

I once was told I shouldn't believe in Disney movies bc they're not realistic. LAME. I love Disney movies for the hope they give and for the emotions they invoke. I like watching the cheesy endings and repeating the corny lines. I'm thankful that I believe in the magic even at my age.

A husband who gardens edible items

It's great that Alex can open the door and pick items to cook & eat minutes later. These vegetables are so incredibly fresh it's amazing.

Brandon Barco Purificacion

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRANDON!!!

I'm so thankful that you've grown up to be a caring, responsible (most of the time), family-oriented man who loves his sisters & his mom (and his cousins and everyone else).  I'm thankful for all the memories we've had from when we were little all the way until we were older.  I apologize for kicking you out of the bed when we were younger and for all the times I was a mean older sister when I should have been looking out of you instead.  I'm thankful that as adults, we can be friends now.

I love you!  Happy Birthday!

USC SOP

Yesterday I had a mtg on campus and found myself back in PSC.  They were doing contruction on the 1st floor bathrooms so I ventured upstairs to use the restroom and was amazed that I actually remembered where they were (the signage sucks).  It made me grateful for the time I spent in that building, the events we held, the memories made and all that mushy stuff.

Past roommates

While my 'roommates' now are great I'm thankful for my memories and the things I learned from them.

Sunday naps

There's something extra refreshing about taking a nap after church, after lunch on a Sunday at your parents house.

Moral support/guilt

I'm not much of an exerciser.  I definitely need that push to make me exercise.  I'm thankful that Yao asked us to exercise with him today and that I was pushed to go.  Granted I didn't work out super-hardcore but it was good to get the blood flowing & work out even a little bit.  Thanks!

Facebook

Facebook gives us the ability to connect to people we otherwise wouldn't keep in touch with.  While it has a LOT of flaws and makes 'catching up' face-to-face not as exciting, it's still a good way to see what other people are doing and possibly get ideas for you too!  One of my favorite things is to see what people are posting in terms of news articles, videos etc.

Alex's sense of humor

I like to laugh.  I laugh a lot.  I laugh out loud a lot.  That being said, I find Alex to be very funny in the things he says and the things he does.  Maybe I find humor in the small things but he says the wittiest, funniest, craziest things sometimes and it just makes me laugh and laugh and laugh.

Fastrak

I can't believe it's taken me this long to blog about my LOVE for the Fastrak lanes!

They recently converted the carpool lanes on the 10, 110 & 105 freeways to Fastrak lanes.  If you're carpool you still need a Fastrak transponder but you can set it to 2 or 3 people and it will scan but won't charge you.  Otherwise for people like me you can pay to use the Fastrak lanes.  Yes it sounds expensive and yes overtime it builds up but if it can cut my commute in half and increase my quality of life I'll GLADLY pay it.

My commute: 25 miles one way, Hacienda Heights to Echo Park/Hollywood.  I have to be at work by 9 or 930 and I leave at 5 or 615 depending on the day.  I take the 60 to the 710 to the 101 on the way to work, side streets to the 10 to the 60 on the way back. 

Before Fastrak TOTAL TIME: Average 2.75 hours, 2.5 on a good day, my worst being 3.25 hours

After Fastrak TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 45 minutes ROUND TRIP!

Needless to say, I love Fastrak!

Competent managers

Yesterday there was a miscommunication between the MAs and the management.  My patients weren't getting vitalled and I was starting to get annoyed.  I walked up to the front office and as I grabbed the folders to see what happened the assistant manager told me to to give them to her and she would take care of them.  She figured out what happened, corrected the error and my patients were being vitaled again!  It was like magic!  I'm so thankful that the assistant manager is competent, takes charge and knows what's going on.

The MA who was assigned to me didn't know she was assigned and also apologized for the delay so that was a nice gesture also.  I feel like I don't demand much but I'm thankful for the people who give me (at least) as much respect as I give them.

WOW MOM

I'm thankful for all the effort and pain my mother and other moms go through to give us life and a good life after we're born.

Thanks mom! Happy Mother's day! I love you!

My sibs

Today I got to celebrate and watch my AIP lil sib get married!! I'm so happy for them and feel very lucky I was able to celebrate with them.

Congratulations Paulin & Thomas!!!

4 frends

Since we were 13 these girls have been by my side through it all. I distinctly remember our HS graduation when we were BAWLING thinking that it was the end of our world together and we wouldn't see each other as often. BOY were we WRONG!

I can't imagine my life (and all my life events) without these women.

Alex's thoughtfulness

I'm a very lucky girl. :)

Cerritos

5-6-2 WUT?!?!!?

GPS/ Siri

It's amazing how technology can tell us the best route to take or even new alternatives to take. Especially when you go somewhere new and in traffic it's great to have a device that will calculate all of that for you and still be helpful!!

Pressure cookers

Some may not know but I suffer from TMJ. As a result its difficult for me to eat very chewy things, very crunchy things or even chew gum. For me, red meat is often very chewy and thus difficult for me to eat. Thank heavens for the pressure cooker!! It makes meats significantly more tender and Cher-friendly. My jaws won't get tired and I can actually enjoy the food!! Hooray!

Regardless of your TMJ status or non-status, everyone should own a pressure cooker.

YFC/CFC-youth

I learned that other people my age liked to worship and praise god just as much as me. It was great singing songs and all the other memories from those few years. Today I was reminded of those happy times when we sang 'here in this place.'

Target

I LOVE Target.  But what I'm thankful for today is how they have expanded to include more food items so you can do most of your shopping in 1 store.  What I'm even MORE thankful for is that their food items are reasonably priced!  You pay pretty much the same as you would in a regular grocery store but you can by clothes and other cute things at the same time!!  Thank you for being amazing Target.  Keep up the good work.

talented friends & family

In line w/ my wedding memories, pretty much my whole wedding wouldn't have been possible without my amazing vendors.  I had many talented vendors some of which were my friends & family. My cousin(s) from Marizette Paperie fabricated my AMAZING invitations, program, menu, place cards, signs, and everything else pretty at my wedding.  My friends (from Ponderosa Films) graciously doubled as my videographers and wedding guests that night and documented the whole day for us.

Today we get to share our wedding trailer with you and hopefully soon the full feature!

Class 302!

A sweet surprise is all it takes to turn a really bad day into a good one!

the night crew

Knowing that the people I will be working with tonight are fun, friendly and competent makes it not so bad to work during the week.

My wedding memories

It's been 9 months since my wedding and when I think back I literally say to myself, "Man, how'd I do that?"  I can't imagine trying to get married in 5 months but I'm 10000% glad I did.  I was browsing our wedding pictures and watching our wedding video preview and I was so happy about how it all turned out.  I'm so thankful for the ability, the luck and the joy of my marriage & my wedding.

I say 'my wedding' but that's what Alex calls it.  He'll even correct me when I say 'our wedding.'  Apparently, it was my wedding & he was just a part of it.