Couple's Shoot With Kiah and Alex In Tacoma!

Alex, Kiah and I after our shooting session around Tacoma

This afternoon, Alex picked me up and I nearly jumped out of my skin when Kiah snuck in behind me as I was coming down the stairs and barked. had never hung out with Alex before but we did go to school from junior high to high school so I quickly remembered how funny he is. His and Kiah's personalities are just...right. I had a great time bossing these two around, carrying Kiah's purse and jacket, and walking around some shady parts of Tacoma trying to ignore a man who apparently can identify Filipinos from first sight and has no qualms asking you "which island are you from?!" all the way across the street.

I also enjoyed a delicious dinner with today's favorite couple at the Old Spaghetti Factory. If my memory is correct, I think tonight was the first time I've ever dined there.

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Keep a lookout for Alex's and Kiah's couples portraits at Sison Photography

Christmas Party At Living Hope Church

Ninjas at the party

I had so much fun going with my sisters to their youth group's Christmas party. The laughing and games were very good for my soul. But both of those came after the eating, which Pastor Dave gave me the honor of praying over. I hadn't been to Living Hope Church for many months now since the family has been steadily attending Puyallup Foursquare so his request surprised me a little.

There is a game called "Ninja" that they were playing and which struck me as being completely stupid - at first. But after actually playing it myself, I was hooked. (I looove tag-like games! Especially ones that involve slapping somebody. lol!) We played several rounds where nearly everyone present participated and, in the first couple of rounds, I won!

We also watched "Merry Madagascar" (super cute and hilarious!), and "Christmas with the Kranks" (pretty good). It was pretty late when we left to go home, but it left me feeling like I am definitely not 21 yet.

Cheers, Because I'm Just That Good

Studying outside Geology lab

Before every major test or final, random, uncalled-for emotional stress never fails to jump on top of the intellectual one I'm already struggling under.

In spite of this, I must say it always amazes me the things I find myself overcoming in the name of study. Here's to two finals next week and to tossing negative baggage aside to conquer them like no other.

Facebook Stalking

There's actually a bumper sticker I added a while back that says something like, "It's not stalking when I read it in my News Feeds!" Anyhow, following is a conversation I had with a friend over Facebook chat. It amuses me even now as I reread it.

Bryan

in other news

google released chrome for mac this week

11:24pm

Mimi

So I read

from someone's status

11:26pmBryan

you are the definition of a facebook stalker i'm pretty sure

11:26pmMimi

...newsfeed, hello!

it's not my fault that at the exact moment I look at the Live Feed some overzealous fan of Google Chrome has chosen to update their status

Bryan

well

you seem to have a knack for mentioning yourself reading other people's facebook stuff

11:28pmMimi

Just for context's sake

I'm not going to claim I inherently knew the information

or that it was the fruit of some personally conducted research

11:29pmBryan

perhaps

Failed IMAX Theatre Field Trip

A huge crowd of shivering students had accumulated at the stops

Last night consisted of losing two hours of what could have been some intense English paper-writing time as I stood out in the cold with my group waiting for a bus that would take us to the IMAX Theatre.

We missed the first 30 bus, and were cut off from the second one. My lab partners and I stood there blowing on our hands and stamping our feet for an extra hour hoping that another 30 would come around. The whole miserable ordeal really grated my nerves. Losing 5 extra credit points is A LOT. Especially when you've consistently lost 4 points during every lab and when you know you're going to fail hardcore on the final exam.

Kainon was especially agitated because, apparently, he has a car and could have made it in time. I stared at him and wanted to smack him in the face. Really?! However, compared to his level of peeved-ness, I was able to let go of the situation easier and consider myself all the calmer because another person was more agitated about it than I was. I invited him for a quick meal back at my apartment, and he left shortly after reading my unfinished essay and falling in love with the kitten.

As of today, I just came back from my last session of English 200, where I turned in my 7-page Final Paper. I have not studied for either Geology or Linguistics.

Sunset View From The Train

The colors, at least, are warm over the horizon

Family And Food - I Will Travel Many Miles For You

The backseat crew chilling (literally) as we waited for the northbound train

After class ended today, I entertained the fleeting notion of dedicating all the afternoon and evening to writing my Final Paper. This did not happen as I quickly decided that having food to eat for the following week was more important. Honestly!

I boarded the 3:15 p.m. southbound train and returned home by the 4:37 p.m. northbound train. The entire time I was heavy with drowsiness, probably owing to having stayed up until 3:30 in the morning.

The weather has steadily grown unbearably cold. My face and hands, especially, are constantly feeling the numbing, stinging effects from going to and from classes. When I got off the platform, I immediately called Mama and practically begged her to "Save me! Save me from the cold!" I truly felt I might have died there. My body was shaking so hard that I was exhausted after only five minutes of standing there.

They arrived. Mama helped pack many dishes and pastries into my suitcase. We all hopped back in the car and talked and listened to the outdated playlist on Mama's iPod. Emily, they said, was very excited to see me - though she hardly showed it. Haha. I love my family!

After I got home, I went to Odegaard intending to stay there all night, if needed, to finish my paper. Esther was there with me, I ate her froyo and chicken teriyaki meal over the course of our 3-hour stay at the library. I also managed to write and rewrite the same sentence over and over again during that time.