Final Blog

Final Blog

When I was told that I was going to have to write a blog every week for English 101, I was like what’s a blog?  I have a friend who would blog every month but I never looked at them.  It took me almost all semester to figure out how to add pictures, song, and customize my page.  I actually really enjoyed blogging since it was all new to me and allowed me to open up.  I liked that we were able to write about whatever we wanted as long as it fell under the topic for the week.  Will I keep blogging? I probably won’t.  I can barely keep up with my Facebook.  But, it was interesting to read blogs from other classmates.  My favorite one was the truth and lies, since it was fun to read the others and comment on the ones that we thought were the truth.  To my other classmates, it was a pleasure to read all the blogs that you shared.  It is nice to see that so many of us come from similar backgrounds and are currently having the same difficulties with juggling school and our normal lives.  But, at the end as long as we don’t give up we will all reach our ultimate goals.  Good luck with all your future classes. 

Catalina Island

Catalina Island

     On August 26, 2012, my cousin and I went to Catalina Island for the day.  It was one of my most memorable days of 2012 for me.  Last year I was going through a lot and so I decided I need to get away for the day.  Since I am afraid of heights, I decided that I would buy a voucher from groupon to go parasailing in Catalina to help conquer my fear.  We got up early that Sunday morning and drove to Long Beach to take the Catalina Express to the island.  It was a nice sunny morning, so we knew it was going to be a nice afternoon on the island.  The boat ride was fun since we were able to enjoy cocktails, a Bloody Mary to be exact, and met some new people that we would eventually run into on the island.  As soon as we got to the island, we went to check in at the parasailing company.  As we waited for the captain to come get us, we got to talk to a few locals, which I always enjoy doing when visiting new places.  When 12 o’clock came along, we were on our way to the boat for our adventure.  We were both a little scared since we are both scared of heights.  But, there were two little girls who must have been like 11 or 12 years old who went up before us, so we were like if they can do it so can we.   And so up we went.  It was the best 15 minutes of our lives. 

     After parasailing, we hung out on the island until 5:30 pm.  We first went to have lunch on the pier.  After eating lunch we went kayaking, which was kind of scary.  I have been kayaking before but in Long Beach.  The water is very different in Catalina.  The water was very choppy which was so scary because we thought were going to flip.  I have never been kayaking in that type of water.  But it was still a great experience, especially for my cousin since she had never been kayaking.  After kayaking, we decided that we would go swimming since the water looked like it would feel so good.  The water looking like it would feel good was so different than what it actually felt like.  The water was really cold at first kind of like when you go to the beach here in Oxnard, but it looked as if it would be warm.  The water was so blue and clear that we were able to see the fish swimming.  After swimming and lying out in the sun, we decided to go for a walk and check out a few of the bars on the island.  That was also so much fun since we were able to meet more locals.  It is interesting to meet people who live in such a touristy place.  There are also people who are part-time islanders, which mean they only live on the island during the peak of the tourist seasons to work but live on “land” during the rest of the year.  I had such a good time during my trip that I want to go back soon to try zip lining and taking golf cart around the island just to sight see.  This is definitely a trip I will always remember.



 

Three Important People in My Life

Three Important People in My Life

                How do I decide which three people have been important in my life?  Well first off, my mom has been an important person in my life.  She was such a good, loving, and giving person.  She passed away a little over 12 years ago, but still plays a big part in my life.  She is important to be because without her I wouldn’t be where or who I am today.  No matter whom you were and what you did, she would always open her door to you.  It is kind of the same flaw I have since people tend to take advantage of your kindness, but I think it was just what she knew just like it is what I know.  She always put us kids first before herself.  Being a mother of five and raising us alone had to be rough for her, but she never showed us that.  She always made sure we had everything we need, shelter, food, and clothing.  Even though we would argue and had our differences, she always trusted me and allowed me to be my own person.  She will always be an important person in my life until the day I die.  I am grateful for all the years I had with my Mom and I will always miss her.

                Another person who is important in my life is my guy best friend Larry.  I have known him for 18 years.  I met him when I worked at my first job, Target.  We worked together for almost 4 years before I quit to start working at the company I currently work for.  He has been important in my life because since I’ve known him he has always been there for me through thick and thin.  He is the only guy that has been a constant in my life, and has shown me that he always will.  Last year, when I needed him most, he was there even when it was hard for him to be there.  For that I am so grateful that he is my “lifeboat friend”.  In life it is rare that we meet a person like that.  And here he was thinking he was failing me as a friend because he couldn’t fix what was wrong with me, and until this day he still feels as if he failed me.  But, at the end I don’t think he realizes that it makes me feel as if I failed him.  And that he didn’t fail me, it was me that needed to get myself through what I was going through, and he doesn’t seem to understand that.   I do hope in time he will realize that he did what he need to do, which was be there when I needed someone to talk to or to occupy my spare time, whether it was going to the movies or dinner and drinks.  He is the one person who knows everything about me, even from before he met me and full accepts me, flaws and all.

                The last person I think that is important to me is my three nieces.  I can’t just say one because they all in their own way play an important role in my life.  The oldest is SashaMarie, the second to the oldest (or second to youngest) is Sanaye, and the youngest is Sariyah.  They are important to me because they give me a purpose.  I have a relationship with all of them that is a little different from the other, but I love them all the same.  When I go through hard times, all I have to do is think about them and it helps me.  I spend a lot of time with them and enjoy every minute I have with them, even though they can be a handful.   I see it as a privilege that I am able to get to know them just as they are allowed to get to know me.  I know as they get older they probably won’t want to hang around with me, so I am going to take advantage of all the time I get to spend with them.  Sasha has been my little sidekick since the day she was born.  She always wants to spend time with me, even if it’s just to do laundry.  Sanaye is the daring one, who has such a good heart and always knows when I need a hug.  Sariayh, the wild and crazy one, is the one who can always make me laugh when I am having a bad or stressful day.  All three of them play an important part in my life in their own individual ways.  I hope that I will always be the cool aunt that they want to hang out with, even when they are older and when I have my own family. 

Century 16 Riverpark

Century 16 Riverpark

Who has been to the new shopping promenade they built in RiverPark called The Collection?  In the collection they built a new Century 16, and closed the one in Ventura at the Johnson Dr. exit.  At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this new theatre since I only went to the old Century 16 since I could remember.  But after seeing a few movies there I have come to like the theatre.  Compared to the old theatre, all seats are reclineable and have movable arm rest.  Also the seats are very comfortable, even though I am not too fond of the material they use for the seats.  But another bonus is that they have reserved seating just like Muvico for the same price as the normal movies.  They also have ticket kiosks, so you don’t have to wait in line to pay a person for your tickets.  You can actually buy them yourself using a credit card in the kiosk.  The snack bar area is somewhat self-service, but not really.  You go to a person to order popcorn but the plus is if you want to add more butter they have a station for butter and salt.  Also, you can get your own Icee’s and soda, along with pretzels, candy, and nachos without having to have someone give them to you, which is kind of nice since I am very picky when it comes to my Icee’s.  The restrooms are also nice and updated, but I don’t like that they don’t have any in the front.  Another feature that I like is that the doors have a window so you are able to see if someone is opening the door when you are.  Since I am such a klutz, which is a good thing for them to have.  So far, I would give this theatre an A, even though sometimes the parking can be bad on an opening night.  But, the reserve seating and the self-serve Icees’s make it all worth it for me.

FFN

Fast Food Nation

                Fast Food Nation was an interesting book.  It had a lot of details about the fast food industry from how McDonald’s was first franchised, details of slaughter houses and information on the additives that help make the food taste and smell so good.  Did the book change my mind about eating fast food?  I would have to say a little.  Since most of my meals are at fast food places or restaurants, it will be hard for me to say that I will never eat at those places again.  I guess the plus is that I am lucky that I’m not much of a hamburger or red meat lover.  I mostly eat chicken or fish.  And right now I am on a sushi kick and eat that a lot.  Eating out I guess has become my way of life since it is what I know.  It is a whole lot easier for me since I am single, work full-time and attend school full-time.  But, I do make healthier decisions when it comes to my meals.  Until last year, I wasn’t aware of all the calories, fat, and sodium that is in a single meal from a fast food place or restaurant.  So, when I order I tend to look at nutritional facts just to make sure that what I eat is a little bit more healthier, even though I know that if I was to prepare it myself at home it would be even more healthier because I would know exactly what I was using to prepare the meal.  I do hope that one day I will be able to say that I don’t eat fast food, but until then I will just be more consciously aware of what I choose to eat when I do go to a fast food restaurant. 

Spring Semester

Spring Semester

The one that was the truth on my last blog was #2.  I broke my wrist when I was 4 years old while playing on the jungle gym.  I fell while hanging from the top.  That’s what happens when you try to be a “big” kid.

So far, this semester seems to be going good for me.  At the beginning things seemed to be going smooth, but this month has been a little challenging.  I am currently enrolled in 4 classes: College Composition (Eng. 101), Women’s Conditioning (PE), Principles of Financial Accounting (Acct. 101), and Introduction to Business (Bus. 120).  Besides going to school full-time, I work full-time which also becomes a challenge.  Luckily, the women’s conditioning class isn’t all that bad, except for it being physically exhausting.  But, I am also not losing any weight or inches, which was the reason why I signed up for this class.  But, I know that it is due to me not eating the proper foods.  Since I come home exhausted from this class, it makes it hard for me to want to come home and do homework or even study.  For my accounting class, we had an exam just before Spring Break, and were due for another one today.  Luckily he postponed it for Tuesday and Thursday of next week.  But the problem now is that I will need to squeeze in study time this weekend, along with finish up my homework for English class.  I will need to discipline myself this weekend and focus on my homework and studying for all my classes.  Since it is Easter weekend, along with me going to Dodger’s opening day on the 1^st, this will make it difficult.  But at end this will all pay off, which helps keep me motivated.  I have come so far with school, so no matter what I’m not going to give up.  Two years ago, I never would have seen myself going to college, but now that I am here I can’t see myself not going.  I am working towards my associates in Business Management while attending Oxnard College, which I hope will help me get promoted within the company I currently work for.  Then, my plan is to transfer to a university to work on getting my bachelors in Accounting.

Truth and Lies

Truth and Lies

 

1.        My first job was at a McDonald’s.

2.        I broke my wrist when I was 4 years old while playing on the jungle gym. 

3.        English was my favorite subject while attending Jr. High and High school.

4.        I love to dance. 

 

5.        I went to Arizona to see the Dodgers and Diamondbacks play.

 

6.        I got my first tattoo when I was 18.