Happy New Year!

So today is the official day of the new year for my fellow Khmer, Thai, and Laos folks. This is another one of those times when I miss being at home and being with my family. My Parents are big Temple goers and its tradition for them to attend the many New Year events and festivities that are going on around this time back in my home town. Growing up, I would have a couple back to back performances each day for a couple of weeks straight. (Cambodian Classical and Folk Dancing) I miss those good ol' days.

I dream of having a daughter so that she would take part in the Cambodian ballet like I did when I was young. The experience opened my eyes to my people and the richness of my culture. I learned to appreciate the art that my ancestors worked hard in creating and my people fought to keep alive. Yes, it took time and dedication to learn all of these dances, but it was worth every sweat and sometimes, tear. The knowledge and confidence gained is priceless.

I know that there are a lot of events going on in the Long Beach area, also known as Cambodia Town. For some reason though, it just doesn't feel the same to me, being so far away from home and my Family. I must learn to embrace and enjoy.

Happy New Years! May this year and many years to come bring you nothing less than the best in health and happiness.

Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!

Did I ever mention that I made up a dance that goes with practically EVERY Christmas song? Seriously! I tweeted about it awhile back, but don't remember elaborating on it here. Well, its just a really simple and silly move that you just do in different paces depending on the beat and rhythm of the song. Sam is my witness that it goes with every Christmas song... and he is still trying to find one that it doesn't go with. I doubt he will find anything to prove me wrong with because... I am never wrong. If you are going on a drive and if you are ever bored or just want to see people's reaction, I suggest doing this dance to every car that passes you. Better yet, wait until you get to an intersection and then start doing it towards the people sitting and waiting adjacent from you and facing you. Or you can just do it if you really want to embarrass the driver. In this case, Sam is the lucky guy! :D

Sam already gave me my early Christmas present! How wonderful is he? Thanks sweetheart! He really is the best! He could have easily gotten me a purse, a pair of shoes, a pair of earrings, a jacket... oh wait... he already got me all those things regardless for no particular reason or occasion. (Oops!) This is far more thoughtful and useful for me... and I am forever grateful! Love that man with all my heart... *sigh*.

Procrastination is a... not a good thing. Christmas cards shall acquaint themselves with the mailbox and mailmen (or women) today! I love getting cards and was never really good at being a card sender, but I am determined to change that soon. We're all so caught up with technology and so dependent on it that it is always a pleasant surprise to get a thoughtful card in the mail (by that, I don't mean email) every now and then. I am inspired by my friend Judy from San Francisco. She never fails to put a smile on my face with her sweet and personal cards that obviously take a lot of time, effort, and thoughts. She's the sweetest... I miss her! Maybe one of these days, we'd pay her and Mike a visit? I hope that time comes soon!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great hustle and bustle before Christmas type of day today, tomorrow, and the day after that! Then, I hope everyone enjoys their holidays with the ones that they love. Though the ones that I love most are so far away, they are always closest to my heart and I know that I am to theirs. No doubt about it! I love my Family... I really do.

*hugs*

Good Times (as usual)

So yesterday, I was supposed to go to the temple with my Parents. That didn't happen because they got a bit busy and I wasn't trying to go to the temple all by myself (loner status). Anyway... we (parents, sisters, nephews, and I) ended up meeting with the rest of the FAM at my Aunt and Uncle's house. My cousins (my Dad's older sister's sons) were throwing another New Years party at Jumbo. I wanted to go check it out, but when I called my other younger cousins, they were like, "DUDE... we went last weekend and called you, but you didn't answer". Oops... that was when Sovina was in town and I went out with the girls instead... haha. Anyway... none of them were going to go again... they were all Khmer partied out from the weekend before. My Sisters didn't want to go (not their thing... boo!) and my Brother wanted to go, but he had kids and a b*tchy wife to look after. BLAH. I text a few friends (the ones that go to Khmer parties anyway) and most were busy and others had already gone the week before. FACK!! SO... I wasn't planning on going at all.

Finally around 7:30pm, my old good friend from high school, Nary, text me and told me that she was calling into work and she'll see me at Jumbo! OH MY! I didn't even drive myself to my Aunt and Uncle's house so I couldn't leave Tacoma to go back home to meet up with her. She was such a doll and came to pick me up right away... brought me to my house to grab my things... then headed to her place to get ready. It was a lot of driving, but she didn't even complain one bit... she's still the same sweetheart I used to hang out with all the time back in high school. It was so nice to finally catch up with her. She still cracks me up and we spent a good amount of time reminiscing about the good ol' days. :D

So we finally got to the party (extra late). We managed to take a shot together and for some reason, we were pretty much DONE for the night. HAHA! There, I saw lots and lots of familiar faces which reminded me of why I love going to Khmer social gatherings such as these. I was followed by a guy with a Barney doll (kind of cute), but Nary was at my rescue the entire night!

Oh... and then Samphy remembered that last new years when I first met him, I practically told the entire club that it was his birthday and these random girls kept dancing with him and giving him lap dances. So... it was pay back time! He went up to my cousins who were throwing the party and told them that it was my birthday. Clearly, they don't know my birthday because they made a freakin' announcement and the crowd sang the birthday song and I stood there like a dumbass in the middle of the dance floor while people sang to me. I felt sort of special, but had to giggle to myself because my friends and I all knew damn well it wasn't my birthday. So then... all the older cousins came up to me and were like, "you didn't tell us its your birthday!" I'm like... "Bong... its not. HAHA!" They laughed and said its cool... at least everyone had a good time. You wouldn't believe how many random strangers came up to me to wish me a happy birthday. I didn't feel like explaining the truth to any of them, so I smiled charmingly and thanked them like I was 16 again! HAHA!

Overall, what a great night! I can't wait to bring Nary out with the rest of us girls during our future outtings. I am really really craving a reunion like it was a dulce de leche cheesecake! Ahhhhh! Ranns and I are going to work something out. :D

Myself and Nga... she's so grown up now!!
(and perfect day to get a pimple below your nose, Thyda! WTF)


Nary, Pov, Nga... and ME tryin' to jump in the picture! LOL


Samphy and I... and that one guy put his Barney doll in our picture! LOL


Let me explain: Gio NEVER dances and the other girls tried to get him to go dance ALL night.
They failed, but I got him up there with only the sweat I already had before I tried. LOL... love Gio!


Pimpin' out the boys... Gio and Samphy.
Damn... we look SO thuggish, ruggish, BONE!


Damn... they're hott, huh? Hubba hubba!

Good Times...

So last night, Mary and I had a hot and steamy and sweaty date.... at the gym! Well, it turns out that I had to babysit my nephew and the kids' club hours at the gym closed earlier than I had expected and although I don't have a kid, I had to find a babysitter (WTF, right?). So... I couldn't find one in time and we couldn't work on our fitness like Fergie (lol). So Mary ended up hopping in my car and we sat there contemplating if we should find alternate ways to SWEAT since the gym was a no go... all while my nephew was in the car. We decided... we HAVE to sweat somehow. HAHAHA...!

I ended up calling my Mom and she was over at my Brother's house (just hanging out with the fam) in north end Tacoma and she felt sort of bad that I couldn't go to the gym as I wanted, so she told me to drop him off with her and my Dad and I can go wherever. (She was surprisingly so nice about it) SO... I had ten minutes to go home and change into club socially acceptable clothes (still VERY casual and the only things that were bare was my hands.... I had a wrap type sweater on... haha... I was cold and didn't have time to dress up nor shave my legs!!). Then, I had to drive out to north end Tacoma (about 30 minutes away), drop off Justin, then drive back right in time for Mary to pick me up.

We had a few options. Party at Spitfire, Parlor Room, or Tig's with the girls. We're like... VENOM because we are so loved there! We said that we wouldn't "eat candy" (drink alcohol), but for some reason, Zac ended up getting us three shots of Patron (not all together, of course)... Roth got us another shot, and two other random dudes who we didn't know ended up getting us each another shot. I couldn't take my last few, so I handed them off to Mary and Roth (secretively). I didn't realize how much I'm weak sauce now. I was pretty drunk and I didn't even take all my drinks, and Mary was barely drunk and she took all of hers AND a few of mine. Weird! Maybe I'm getting old?

I had sooooooooooooo much fun... even when it was just the two of us! We were about to leave to Parlor, but didn't make it out the door, so we stayed at Venom the whole night. We were supposed to leave early, but WHY were we still there when the clean up crew came? Oh yeah... Mary had to pee!

OH MAN... first time I've been out in awhile and it was perfect! What a way to get back into the game!

Now, I have to go make up for all those empty calories consumed and so I have to hit the gym (for real this time). I hope I'm not still hungover because that would NOT be a pretty sight on the treadmill. Yikes!

So Tired Of It...

SOOOOO tired of the cold nights all alone. So, so tired of it.

Time just isn't flying by fast enough at the moment. Ugh.

I wish I can move all my friends to California with me. A few of them say that they'll be willing and wanting! LOL! I know its easier for them to say than do though. Diane is there now... can't wait to hang out with her again!

I'm just so afraid that the friends I make in my new "home" wouldn't be the same as the friends I've had and held onto all my life. Even Sam said that my friends are hard to find. So, so true.

We're having a "Revenge of the Hot Nerds" party this weekend to kick off Jane's return back east. Very excited because its never a dull moment with them. I feel that I can totally be myself and they wouldn't look at me like I'm crazy or embarrassed by me. Thats what I love most! Well, they can't look at me weird or say that I'm embarrassing because they're the same as me... if not worse! LOL!

I didn't realize VisionShock entertainment was geared towards the Asian crowd. LOL! No freakin' wonder!!!

Dancing to: Bottle Pop by Pussycat Dolls... just can't help it everytime I hear it!