Busy, busy, busy

I don't know what happened, I blinked and it's already the end of April. Where has time gone? This time last year, I had everything under control and was anxiously awaiting graduation, but this year everything is piling up. Graduation is two weeks away and I have a million things due with no time to do them. I think tomorrow I will write a to do list, starting with renting my cap and gown. I need to make it a point to actually follow this list, unlike the countless others I have drafted. I know that once I start completing tasks on the list my anxiety will subside. As for right now I will take a deep breath, clear my head, and get a good nights sleep. Onward.

Down memory lane

This weekend I went home for a birthday party and found myself packing up my grandparent’s home.

My grandparents lived in a humble home near the downtown area of Calexico, which unfortunately was damaged during the April 4th earthquake. Growing up, the small yellow house in the middle of the block was full of life. My grandmother enjoyed sitting outside watering her plants and the house always smelled of home cooking. My grandmother passed away 5 ½ years ago, and although my grandpa continued to live there, that little house lost its’ twinkle.

As I walked through the empty house one last time I was saddened by what I saw. The home once filled with life was now a shell of its' former self, the walls once painted with laughter and stories were now cracked and bare. The house will soon be demolished, and with it its’ secrets will fade.

Since my family emptied most of the house last week I wonder what sort of things I missed, what secrets could I have uncovered? What I did realize this weekend and greatly appreciated was that my grandma saved everything! I found awards, school work, and miscellaneous gifts I had bought her over the years packed away safely in boxes; these items, which were once of little importance, suddenly meant the world to me.

I took with me some embroidered pillow cases and a blanket which I will keep and hopefully one day be able to give to my grandchildren. Most importantly I left with memories of simpler times, some of the happiest I've ever had.

Boiling point

The summer is quickly approaching, and as part of my masters program I am supposed to to find an internship for the summer. My head is spinning right now! I don't know where to apply, there are so many questions surrounding this decision: paid vs. unpaid, full time vs. part time, corporate communications vs. marketing, known company vs. unknown company, length of internship, and distance. While I'm interning for the summer I'm also supposed to be working on my thesis, which I still have no idea what I'm writing about. Not to mention this week as been hectic, and I don't expect anything less from the upcoming week. I'm overwhelmed to say the least. What to do, what to do...

By the way, my foot is healing nicely (not really). I've taken a picture everyday since the accident so I'll upload some pictures soon.

Lights, camera, action!

It's dark, and over the sound of the crowd there is a familiar song, it's faint at first but getting louder, soon eyes are blinded by a sea of lights. What is this remarkable sight? Disney's Electrical Parade. For years this awe inspiring parade has been a California staple, but yesterday the Electrical Parade lit its' last street, for a while that is. As of today, the Electrical Parade is being packed up and shipped to Walt Disney World where it will once again grace Main Street. The parade is set to remain in Florida at least through the summer, but I don't expect it back at California Adventures anytime soon.

As I watched the parade last night I couldn't help but reminisce about my childhood, when the parade was on Main Street at Disneyland. The parade looked much like I remember it back in the 90's, while I sat on my dad's shoulders watching floats covered with thousands of twinkling lights, an experience only Disney could produce. While I was watching the parade I couldn't help but take pictures of the beloved floats, and uploaded one of them onto Twitter. Then I realized what I was doing, I was watching most of the parade through a camera.

In the age of social media it is no surprise that people are taking more pictures now than ever before, especially since having a cell phone almost always means having a camera. People are quick to share their pictures with the world, and often want to capture every exciting detail. What we fail to realize is that the moment is passing us by; while we are busy trying to hold the camera still we are losing the memory. Sure a photograph will capture a moment in time, but that's all, a picture won't laugh with you, and after a while the people who were so eager to pose for the camera will seem like strangers.

So what I propose is that we live our lives now, and not worry about capturing every moment with a camera, but enjoying every minute. I promise everything looks better without the camera lens.

Worst day EVER!

So where have I been for the last week and a half? I was hit by a car….no, really. I was riding my bike back to my apartment on Friday after class, when I was struck by a car who failed to look both ways before turning. That’s really all there is to it, but I see the images over and over again in my head like a broken movie reel. Unfortunately for me there is no off button. I then of course had the added pain of having to call my parents and let them know what happened. I don’t believe any parent ever wants to hear their child start the conversation with, “I want you to know I’m okay, but…” Other than being shaken up, my only other immediate injury was a swollen left foot. In any rate, I was persuaded by both my Mom and Dad to have x-rays taken of my foot, so off to the ER I went.

To say I had difficulty walking would be an understatement. The majority of the bruising and swelling on my foot was near my two smallest toes, and I also had severe pain in my heel. After sitting and waiting for a while, I was finally taken to a room, where I sat and waited some more. After being evaluated by the ER doctor, who by the way didn’t look much older than I, the x-ray lady brought the machine bedside and took five x-rays*. I sat and waited for a while more, before a police officer arrived to take an incident report. Shortly after that I was pleased to hear that my foot was not broken BUT there was a possibility of tendon damage. Unfortunately I don’t think tendons repair themselves the way bones do, so let’s hope there is no permanent damage. The doctor wrote me an orthopedic referral and I continued to sit and wait for the release paperwork. After spending four hours in the ER I was finally released. In those four short hours, I would like to say that I found the problem with emergency care in the US, (drum roll please) the majority of the time in the ER is spent sitting and waiting. I'm aware this is not a new observation.

Overall I’m fine, and the extent of my injury was nothing more than soreness, a swollen foot and bruises. I am unable to take a picture of my foot that does my injury justice, but let me assure you it looks a lot worse in person. Also, those "shadows" in the picture are not shadows at all, I have a huge bruise on the entire left side of my foot. I feel fortunate, I know my injuries could have been so much worse. On a side note I’d like to point out that I don’t remember x-rays involving peeing in a cup, which was a horrible experience, but I’ll spare you all the details.

Oh my bike! My beautiful Paul Frank beach cruiser, which cost my dad more than anyone should ever pay for a bike, was slightly damaged in the crash (my bike looks very similar to the picture, only that my handle bars are chrome not black). When I got up off the street, I picked up my bike and the handle bars and front wheel were no longer facing the same direction. Luckily, Sam was able to fix the handle bars, but the wheel was bent beyond repair. It looked like the bicycle wheels in cartoons after a crash. I didn’t look at the likely new scratches and dents on the bike but I doubt it will be long before I spot them. I’d be lying if I said that I was not a little frightened about the idea of riding my bike to class tomorrow.

*I befriended the x-ray technichian, and she was nice enough to burn me a copy of the x-rays onto a cd. This apparently is unheard of. Anyways, those images are my actual x-rays.

Earthquake shakes up Baja, Imperial County

Happy Easter? I was having lunch in Anaheim yesterday celebrating the end of Lent with a mouthwatering mushroom swiss burger (oh how I missed hamburgers), when a small earthquake decided to crash the party. The small tremor provided Sam and I with a long steady shake; I enjoyed the small jolt and continued with my meal not giving the ‘quake a second thought. A few minutes later a man with his family sitting at the table next to us said, “Wow, a 6.9 earthquake hit Mexicali.” My heart literally stopped. I know Mexicali; in fact Mexicali is right across the border from my hometown. I then went into a panic and was desperate to get a hold of any of my family members. I was fortunate enough to reach my brother right away and he assured me that he and all of my family celebrating Easter Sunday at my aunt’s house were ok. Right after that call I was able to reach my dad who informed me that he and my grandfather were okay as well. The assurance of their safety was enough to ease my mind, until I started watching the news…

I have talked to them twice since then, and what they tell me does not match up to news stories. Overall, the cities involved fared well against this large ‘quake. My grandpa tells me the biggest damage came from broke windows in the downtown area, a few broken gas lines, and some cracks in the road. There have been over a hundred aftershocks since the earthquake, but after a 7.2 earthquake, a 5.1 aftershock hardly seems unbearable. I read today that Calexico has declared a state of emergency, with various power outages and broken water lines. If this is true, my house has not been greatly affected. Reports also call Calexico a city with 22,000 people. Where? I’ve lived there all my life and would never have thought the town was so populated. Calexico, CA, a town of little consequence to anyone except those who live there has been thrusted into the mass media. Enjoy your 15 minutes Calexico; I’m glad to hear everyone is okay.

I had planned on going home this past weekend, but expecting a lot of traffic coming back to LA on Sunday I decided not to. Part of me wishes I had, I would like to see all the damage first hand, been able to have taken pictures. It is strange, however, that all over the news there are pictures of Calexico, my hometown which I draw maps to, because apparently no one in California had heard of the Imperial Valley. Two hours east of San Diego, is the common direction given, and now this, a 7.2 earthquake.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that the small ‘quake I felt in Anaheim would have had its’ epicenter just outside of Mexicali.

Word Vomit - update

After having a day to reflect, and receiving an email from said middle aged person, I would like to add:
You never cease to surprise me with your pompous tone and self important manner of speaking. Get over yourself.