$100

$100 gets you nothing these days, or at the very least, it gets you very little.  I remember being young and opening up that birthday or Christmas card and seeing that crisp $100 bill or check; my heart would race, my face would flush, and I'd immediately start a pro/con list of saving VS spending that money.  Nowadays, while $100 is still a lot of money, it is so easy to spend it all in a heartbeat.  Gas, rent or groceries, and most of all, partying.  You could spend $100 in one night, much less in an entire day.  On a night out on the town, dinner could run you up maybe $40 at the least, including drinks, tip and tax.  Getting to the club, cover may be anywhere from $10 - $20.  Drinks themselves cost at least $5 (and that's if it's a drink special).  Depending on how much you drink, your night pretty much stops there.

So what am I getting at?  Am I giving up partying? Going out? Having fun?

Hail no.  I was just creating a budget for the rest of the year.  There is only 3 months left in the year (WHAT?!?!) and I'm just trying to be reasonable and not blow all my money.  I was also thinking about all the things I want to do next year and it's ridiculous how much it costs to have fun.

I'm gonna need a really good budget.

And a winning lottery ticket.

Please.

Home

It's where the heart is, or so I'm told.  It's funny how we pshaw cliches until we find one that might actually sum up our lives.

I live in a beautiful house and have been living here for just about 9 years now.  It's the longest my family has ever stayed put in one place, let alone in one country.  My life can be categorized by where we lived.  The years where I definitely don't remember were spent in Philippines, from when I was born to the age of 2.  The early years of my childhood, from 3 years old to 7 years old, took place in Bahrain.  I surprisingly have a pretty good recollection of my time spent there, thanks in large part to the dozens of beta max tapes my dad thought to preserve our memories on.  For the latter part of 7 years old up until I was 15 we lived in Canada.  Finally, when I was just about to turn 16, we moved to New Jersey.

In my 25 years of life, I have lived in 9 different cities, and resided in 5 different apartments and 3 different houses.  I have had plenty of places to call home.  The house I live in now is where I have lived the longest, and even though I lived away at college for 3 years, this house has always been my home base.

Until now.  I eat here, I sleep here, I live here.  But it no longer feels like home to me.  It feels more like it's my parents' house and I have overstayed my welcome.  Yes, I'm 25 and I still live at my parents' house.  It's never been an issue before.  In my culture, it's always been tradition for a child, especially a daughter, to live at home until it's time to get married and then she leaves her parents' home for her husband's.  In this day and age, financially speaking, I always thought it made more sense to move back home after college to save up money instead of letting it dwindle away on rent.

Now, however, I'm starting to feel like it might just be about that time to fly the coop.  Every time I head home after being out and about, I feel more like a tenant.  I've been itching for my own space for a few months now and I figure, I've been changing so many things in my life lately, what's one more?  I've talked it out with a couple of my nearest and dearest and they all agree it's about time.  I guess when you've made yourself comfortable, it's hard to notice when it's time to get going.

Is that why my dad kept us moving my entire life?

hmmmm.

And...breathe.

So it's been 12 days since I last posted...excuse me, no.  I actually pre-write blogs and time-post them for a later date, so it's been way more than 12 days.  The funny thing is, although there is a lot going on in my life right now, I'm not really that stressed out.

The first quarter of school has come and gone.  In a few days, a new one will start and I'll be even busier.  Even during my "break" week I have barely been home.  It's weird though, I don't really feel like this is like home anymore.  But...another post, for another day.

Today is the first day in a long time that I haven't spent time with you.  I think it's no coincidence that today is also the first day in a long time that I have lots of time on my hands for a change.  We've been spending so much time together that you're more than just a habit...you are a part of my everyday.  Not that we've been conjoined at the hip, or that we even need to be, but it's funny how much I dislike not seeing you everyday.  I know it shouldn't be like this but you are my best friend.  You are who I call when I'm bored, you are who I want to talk to when I need to talk.  It's weird knowing that I can't pick up the phone and just call you, even if it's just for a few days.  I mean, I can call you, I just won't.  

I don't think I've ever wanted a Monday to come as much as I do now.  It's a little disconcerting going from having something to do, or even yet, something that needs to get done, every minute of everyday, to having some spare time.  It's kind of like pulling over on the turnpike for a little while then trying to merge back in when everyone else is going 65 (or 75, really).

Yet, I'm not complaining.  I guess keeping busy is better than standing still, especially when there are no roses to stop and smell.

random.

Mission: 25, pt.II

Getting up the next morning was obviously hard.  We all slept in, although I woke up a bit earlier than the rest so I could shower and get ready.  The plan for the day was to have lunch by the shore, however, we didn't get going until around noon.  Due to a slow start getting ready, and traffic and parking issues, we didn't actually sit down to lunch until about 1:30pm.  I had chosen McLoone's Pier House in Pier Village, Long Branch.  It's a gorgeous setting, overlooking the beach.

Right on the beach

It was definitely worth the wait because the meal was scrumptious.  Peter, Erin and John joined us for lunch, so there were 9 people dining, and I didn't get a chance to see what everyone else ordered.  I just know that the buffalo chicken wontons and calamari were delicious! For my main course, I chose the warm lobster roll...words cannot possibly describe how delicious it was.

Post-lunch posing

After our meal, we walked around Pier Village, which really doesn't take long.  Food coma hitting hard, we decided to head back to my house to rest up before partying hard that night.  Plans changed rather quickly, though, when we got back to my house and Joe and Patrick decided they wanted to go to the outlets.  We decided to join them.  It was a quick shopping outing at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets, just under 2 hours, because we had to hustle back to John's to get ready for partying.

Strolling the boardwalk

After shopping we went straight to John's to get ready and to pre-game.  Honestly, the only word to describe the night was drunk.  Initially, we were going to go to Fixx but it was dead.  Downtown was our ultimate destination, and this worked out great because one of John's and my favorite cover bands from Jersey, Bitter X, were playing that night.  I didn't really appreciate their set list that night but it was a good time anyway.  I would say it was a fun night, especially when three of my friends stripped down to their boxer briefs, danced on top of a car and sang their little hearts out.  Just another day...

Friends <3

The next day my friends left for Toronto.  I can't begin to express how much my heart ached; even though we don't talk that much anymore, I honestly feel like we pick up right where we left off.  The weekend felt so short!  In any case, I had a blast.  This recap is not doing it any justice.  I'm sorry, I'm distracted by the first football game of the 2010 season, and it's a good one.

A bientot, mes amis!

hello, 25, glad you could make it.

Mission: A Moment of Silence

Time does heal all wounds.  It's just a matter of how much time it takes.  9 years is a long time, and still yet not long enough.  May they rest in peace, and may those who still suffer find their own peace someday.

we remember.

Mission: 25, pt.I

I said it before, and I'll say it again...25 is looking bright.  I know I'm less than 2 weeks into it and there's a good chance that I may be jinxing myself.  However, there couldn't have been a better way to celebrate my 25th birthday.

I knew something was up.  John was acting weird and Leo straight out said that I HAD to do something on my birthday and that I would have a great time.  I just never expected 3 of my closest friends from Toronto to be the big surprise.  After a long night of class and arriving home at around 10, I was so ready to just throw on some PJs and snuggle on up in bed.  Before I could do so, however, there was a knock knock knock on my door and in walked Joe, Patrick and Nicolette.  I was so worn out from the day that it took a while to register -- indeed, my friends thought that I had known all along and that's why I wasn't reacting.  After a few seconds, however, my brain registered that three people I thought were hundreds of miles away were actually right there in my bedroom.  And cue the waterworks.

Though it was late, we four stayed up well past 1am to talk and catch up.  I've known Nicolette and Joe for 11 years now, and I've known Patrick for 13.  Even though contact with them has trickled down since I moved to Jersey, they've visited me numerous times, more times than I've visited them, I am ashamed to admit.  In any case, even though we don't get to talk as much anymore, it's just like picking back up with them.  There's no awkwardness, there's no fake small talk...it's right back to where we left off.  I love that.

We slept in the next day and made it over to the city.  We walked around Chinatown for a little bit, then met up with John, Chris and Dana.  After catching a glimpse of Little Italy and SoHo, we made our way back up to Midtown where we decided to get something eat and drink at Pig 'N' Whistle on 2nd Ave between 50th and 51st streets.  It was standard bar fare.  I wouldn't call it authentic Irish Pub food because I doubt that you can find calamari somewhere authentic, and lo and behold, that's just what we ordered.  I also had a John Daly which was super strong, so I had to let the ice melt to water it down a little.  Dana, unfortunately, ordered a mojito which was, I quote, "The worst mojito i have ever tasted."  I second that, Dana.  It was great to see my Jersey friends mix it up with my Toronto friends.  There weren't any awkward silences, although I must say that the conversation was predominantly about sports, so there were times when I let my attention wander.

After a few rounds of beer, we made our way over to Traffic Bar on 52nd and 2nd.  I really don't understand why this place isn't as crowded as it should be.  They have good specials, good food, hot bartenders (girls AND boys) and pretty nice decor.  I'm not complaining though, because I chose that place exactly for its lack of patrons.  I wanted to be able to talk to my friends without yelling over loud, obnoxious music and without getting ripped off for drinks.  However, the later it got, the more my friends wanted to party it up, so we eventually left for Irish Exit, a bar just a few feet south of Traffic.

Seriously...love

To be honest, I don't remember much from that portion of the night onwards, except, maybe oh...MY NEXT SURPRISE.  My friend Peter and his girlfriend, Erin, surprised me at the bar.  Peter is also from Toronto and growing up, I considered him one of my best friends, if not the best.  As drunk as I was, I was so shocked because Peter had been telling me that he would visit me since I moved away and he had yet to do so...and it has been 9 years since I moved!  To see him was nothing short of fantastic.  It was also wonderful to meet his girlfriend, as he has been raving about Erin the past few times I spoke to him over the phone.

Booger!

I wish I could remember what happened the rest of the night but alas, I don't.  I just remember grabbing a cab to Port Authority, watching my friends sing the Canadian anthem while on line for the bus, and finally reaching home relatively early at 2.30 in the morning.

Having a blast

more to come.

Mission: 2 hours GONE

Couples Retreat is a BAD movie.

But it sure does get you thinking.

overwhelmed.