Bucket List (we all need one)

This list created on December 09,2008; details all of the things that I hope to accomplish before I'm 32. For each of these that I accomplish, there will be a photo documenting the completed action and put into a scrapbook. I recognize that some things may change (ie. new additions or subtractions) and I reserve the right to make such changes. Result in failing the completion of this list will result in a firm scolding from my older self. Goals on this list are listed in no specific order and can be completed in any order that I please.

- Eat 5 atomic wings from WingStop in one sitting | So far: 2

- Purchase and restore a 1965 Impala and thug it out

- Plan and complete a road trip in my car AND later in an RV across the U.S.

- Go to Hawaii

- Go on a cruise (Preferably not to Mexico)

- Trip to Europe

- Learn how to fluently speak FRENCH, ITALIAN, CHINESE, PORTUGUESE, and LATIN.

- Vegas when I turn 21| Didn't happen, but I still have 3-4 months to do it |Completed:

- Backstage with Mana

- See the Grand Canyon

- Go crowd surfing

- Go to Universal Studios

- Sky diving

- Scuba diving

- Snorkling

- Rock climbing| COMPLETED: March 14, 2009

- Strip club! | COMPLETED: January of 2006 (For Rigo's B-day)

- Complete a marathon

- Try all 31 flavors at Baskin Robins

- Visit all 50 states | Done: Illinois, Texas,

- See the 7 'wonders of the world'

- See MAMA MIA! on Broadway

- See Stone Henge

- Go to DisneyWorld

- Eat a meal good enough to be my last

- Ride in a hot air balloon

- Not get pregnant until I'm in a happy and committed relationship (i.e., marriage)

- Get killer abs!

- Learn to knit | COMPLETED: January 11, 2010

- Get my Ph.D.

- Own my own home before I get married

- Drive on Route 66

- Go skinny dipping

- Read the entire Bible

- Be debt free

- Eat something I'd never ever consider eating

- Write a song good enough to be sang at a coffee shop

- Be an extra in a major motion picture

- Be in a music video

- Learn to surf

- Learn to play the guitar (acoustic and electric) | In the PROCESS

- Learn to play the harmonica | In the PROCESS

- Learn to play the bass

- Play the maracas in a mariachi band | Does salsa group count? Cuzzz I DID it!

- Karaoke (I have never, but everyone else has) | COMPLETED: (w/Maricio Cifuentes, Melissa Chavez, Brittany Gonsalves, and Rigo Guzman)

- Put a message in a bottle and throw it out to sea

- Learn to drive a stick shift | COMPLETED: In 2004

- Build a snowman

- Go snowboarding | COMPLETED: JANUARY 2006

- Have something/someone named after me

- Visit Alaska

- Go to NBA All-Star Weekend

- Kiss or be kissed by a celebrity

- Spend an outrageous amount of money on one item so that I'll regret it

- Write a book

- Write an autobiography

- Get hypnotized | COMPLETED: AUGUST 29, 2007

- Get lost in the boonies and find my way

- Be a part of a live studio audience

- Learn how to DJ

- Have an English Bulldog | COMPLETED: OCTOBER 2009

- Learn how to breakdance

- Beat a gladiator in "American Gladiator"

- Have a pet snake

- Visit Burj Dubai in United Arab Emirates

- Study Abroad

- Ride a roller coaster tons of times and throw up

- Go rafting | COMPLETED: Summer of July 2011 @ American River

- Complete a triathalon

New Job

"Children and Youth Liaison" that is my title. Well...at least for one of my part-time jobs. You see, I consider this job to be my title versus "School Connections Home Tutor". Yeah, I know, the latter of the two is very wordy, but that's only half of the title because I still have to mention what program I tutor for and for what office. Have you noticed how long titles are now? And here I thought we were past "Hola, mi nombre es Norma Cassandra Cardona Bautista de Gallegos Heredia". Apparently not. For instance, I did a Monster search for a job and typed in the word "education" and here are some of the positions that are open:

Child Development and Education Classroom Manager (aka teacher)

Senior Technical Education Consultant (teachers selling computer programs)

High School Admissions Representative (no idea)

Sooooo "Children and Youth Liaison" is a lot shorter and dare I say sweeter?

Well that...

...didn't workout too well; so much for "Doing the Dinning Thing". Unfortunately for me, but luckily for my possible dinning explorations since now they don't have be alarmed when I walk into a restaurant claiming I'm a reviewer... well not exactly because I didn't even get to do a 2nd review. Cheers!

Doing the Dinning Thing

Currently, almost 1300 hours and I am in bed. However, my day did not start off this way, instead I was in a shuttle going to school--it's not important. I think I might just be rambling, so whatever, I came to the decision that I will be rating and commenting on different restaurants and food stands that I visit in Merced, CA. If this works out then when I leave Merced, so will this blog. But not in the literal sense, no. I will write about my daily food adventures in a different city. Wish me luck!

Because I am a student and the only place I've eaten all day is the Lantern inside the Library at UC Merced I think that this will be my first blog. OH! And perhaps I'll give you a little taste of my experience at Buffalo Wild Wings (pun intended).

Order: 1 veggie burrito and NO drink | B-

Although it was tasty, but only when I found myself chewing on the very colorful bell peppers mixed with the potatoes, I found that the scrambled eggs were too bland and the amount of cheese was excessive.

The potatoes and bell peppers are well cooked and they let the taste of the peppers really mix and mingle with the potatoes which are cut in squares and are fried to perfection. I for one think they should add more potatoes than eggs. Don't eggs cost more than potatoes? I really don't understand that. For instance, yesterday my boyfriend and I visited IHOP and a mistily amount of hash browns not bigger than 3 spoon fulls cost us $2.79. What the...?! I know, I know.

The Weekend Took it From me

Well, it's been a while since I published anything and although no one knows this blog exists, it's okay. I went rafting on Saturday which was tons of fun except when I jumped off a 30ft cliff into freezing cold water to only me slapped on my booty as I flopped-yes, a booty flop, not a belly flop. The whole day was an experience in itself because it tested my boundaries and what I thought was safe. Up until that day I did not think I had limits to experiences, but I guess I do. I hesitated jumping off when I first got there, but then strength and courage grew inside as I looked down at the dark green water with its' ripples taunting me to jump like an open hug. But that open hug turned out to hurt like I was slapped all across my backside with a whip as thick as an elephants trunk.

On Sunday I went out with a couple of friends from college, Joy and Marlene, to Joe's Crab Shack where I fell down some steps that ended up giving splinters on my hands, a sore and swollen ankle, and the steps took skin chunks from my knee. It hurt, but my ego hurt more and not because people laughed (because they didn't), but because I didn't laugh at myself which I usually do.

All in all, this weekend gave me a theme: taking. Saturday took my fear and Sunday took my ego.

Procrastination at its Worst

Although I have tried time and time again to begin and complete projects even tasks such as studying for tests (one of which I have on Monday) I always seem to go off on a tangent. I was successful enough to only, perhaps even deliberately, to study 30 minutes in the last six hours knowing that I have not attended this class for over five weeks (Yes! FIVE weeks), but to my defense it only meets once a week. My little rant is not the point, what is the point is my perverse AND religious procrastination. I am positively sure that 100% of those reading this have had an experience of wanting to do other irrelevant, but needed (whatever makes us feel better) things before starting to work on priority #1--for me, well, school. Because of my addiction to delay, I have found myself with an endless list of "hobbies" that I've picked up over my time as a student which range from meaningless/everyday tasks such as cleaning to learning how to play instruments. Here are some of diversions I have tried to master: knitting, playing the guitar, playing the harmonica, beat-boxing, break-dancing, Soduko-ing, playing chess, Scrapbooking, acting, singing and the list keeps going. All of these things take time away from what I'm "suppose" to be doing, but what if this is what I am suppose to be doing? The doctor learned how to be a doctor because he just did it. The poet is a poet because he did it. The mother mothers her child because she does. Aren't I just doing?