Give me the BC

Best birth control ever - have teenage children in the house. For a month. And have them play piano and do Chinese homework on top of regular school homework. We'll see how much you want kids after that. Attitudes running wild. NO THANK YOU.

I thought babies and toddlers in their terrible 2s were bad. Noooooooooooooooo. Teenagers. Crazy, hormonal, psychotic, attitude filled, back-talking, wild creatures.

So tie those tubes, pop those pills, pull and pray, do it in the back door, put on the latex raincoat. Just please please please- NO BABIES.

3M and the J Word

3Ms = Movies, Music, Moleskins

The benefit to having younger sisters is I can watch an obnoxious number of Disney and other animated movies with them and not feel too immature. My favorites include:

• The Lion King
• Tangled
• Beauty and the Beast
• Aladdin
• Mulan
• Finding Nemo
• The Incredibles
• Monsters, Inc
• Rataouille

I love to shop. When I'm in West Africa, I will miss shopping. Well, shopping the way they do it here. I know it's materialistic and such. But sometimes it is just fun to shop. Therapeutic really.

I don't usually think I'm a very jealous person. But recently that may not be so much the case. Long distance makes me a little nutty. I mean, in the end, how do you really know how much you can trust someone? You can trust them, but long distance sucks. And there is more than 1 example in my life of long distance plus cheating.  So in the end, how do you avoid it? Do you become a hermit and never socialize with other people? What if you meet someone that you click with, even when you didn't want to? Then do you tell your significant other about everyone you met? "I met this really cool guy/girl today. He/she was super adorable and worldy or whatever. Etc etc etc." OR "I knew this really cool guy/girl from before and he/she's nice, awesome, cute, what have you."

New like: Bossa nova music- I like it.

Moleskin notebooks, day planners are great. All Moleskin products are great.

Do the stressed, pouty dance

So... it's another late night here in Boston. I manage to procrastinate just enough on the right things that lead me to stress, panic, and start chewing on my own hair. Last spring, I pulled an all-nighter. This spring, I do late nights, not enough sleep... on a rather regular basis. Healthy? I think not. But now let me do my stressed, pouty dance. (Why it's pouty? Who knows. I just feel like pouting, sulking, what have you. Let's just chalk up the pouting to: I'm tired and shouldn't have procrastinated so long.) Btw my boyfriend is sweet and delivered pretzels, Diet Coke, and Chex Mix to me as I freaked, whined, and pouted. I wonder why he puts up with my insanity, cuz it must be like dating a 4 year old sometimes.

I'm taking this biostatistic computer programming class. Learn biostats while you learn how to speak computer-speak. OMG. The best thing ever. NOT. I am the Asian that is incompetent when it comes to technology. I missed the boat on that gene... Thanks parents.

Oh right, I sprained my ankle last Monday. Now you might ask: how'd you do that? Well, you see, it's a funny story:

• I'm walking home (I made a quick trip home to see my mom- sorry I didn't see any of my Midwest lovers, but I spent my time with the fam) from the airport, pulling my luggage behind me. I'm thinking: I'm hungry, I need to work out this week, I'm REALLY going to start working out regularly. Then BAM. I'm on the ground. Rolled the ankle. I'm in so much pain I can't catch my breath. I sit down on the concrete sidewalk. Whimper. Cry. No one's around to see me. I can see my apartment building door like 20 feet away. Then a guy in a wheelchair rolls up. "Are you okay? Do you need me to get help?" I manage a I'm okay, I'm okay. He goes: I would help you myself... but I can't. I don't know about you but now looking back, I giggle a little. The one person who sees me is the one person who can't physically help me. Anyway, eventually he rolls away and I grit my teeth and hobble to my apartment. I then proceed to 1) call my mom and cry, 2) sit on the floor until my boyfriend arrives to help me, 3) stare at my other leg which is bleeding excessively from the knee. So yes, I'm the most graceful creature out there.
• And if you're concerned about me (which you probably aren't but that's okay, I understand): I'm doing better these days but I still have a bit of a hobble.

I have discovered the wonders of Sephora. It's fun. It's like a playground. I can't afford anything but looking and touching is still wonderful. It's drawing me in. It has put its spell on me. Too bad I'm still disabled and don't know how to put makeup on like all the pretty girls do.

Jobs. I need to find a job after graduation. Sigh. What if I can't find one and become a homeless person? Will you let me live with you?

Baby shoes are the cutest things ever. Teeny! But also the most impractical things. Actually baby socks are probably the most impractical. Shoes are next. Because: a baby is in the stroller. Kicks off sock or shoe. Has now lost one! There is no longer a pair. All that money you just spent on a pair of shoes. Gone. Just a thought.

I have nothing more to say at the moment since it is closing in on 3:30am and I desperately need sleep in order to make words become coherent sentences tomorrow in class. So I will close with this: I want to go back to Uganda because the weather here in New England is just not not not NOT okay.

Happy Valentine's Day

Alright people. It's Valentine's Day. I just spent the night celebrating/bonding with my roommate and the dog. I have a few things to share with you. (Please be warned: I've shared 1.5 bottles of red vino. I may be a little... whatever.)

• Pageants seem kinda fun! At least watching them is. Training for them is probably a whole other story...
• Roommates are awesome. End of story.
• The Midwest is still the frickin' best.
• Lady Gaga is a tad crazy but we still love her. Her in the egg = Kinder Surprise. Though you cannot eat the egg (it was not made of choco) and you cannot play with Gaga... at least I don't think so...
• My boyfriend is sweet and wonderful and way too good to me. He needs to find a new girlfriend. Or another one. Maybe I'll try the polygamous relationship thing... HELLO MORMONISM
• School is overrated. FML. I do school all the time. I have no friends. This is freakishly depressing.
• Valentine's Day is a tad overrated but please do remember to tell those you love that you love them.

Happy Hallmark Day of Love! 

Why isn't there passionfruit soda in the US?

Passionfruit soda is awesome. Enough said.

I'm moving in with a beauty pageant girl for the spring semester... yup you read that right, beauty. pageant. Well she's gorgeous, and I hear she's incredibly nice which I don't doubt... but all I have to say is: there goes my self-esteem. Glad all I ate for the last 5 months in Uganda was starch, starch, and more starch, and we tried to fry just about anything we could get our hands on.

I have no idea how to exist without the other intern anymore. We've been joined at the hip ever since she got here and now this connection will be severed... What will I do?! Wahhhhh!

I am really, really, REALLY going to miss Uganda. I'm going to miss chapati and rolexes like a missing limb. I wish I could get on a plane, go home for 2 or 3 weeks, and then come back here. I love this place. I really do. I even love the unpleasant, not so fun stuff, because it's an adventure. I can always look back on something and laugh or find something fun to make out of it.

I am looking forward to a few things back in the States:

• Constant and dependable electricity and internet
• Nicely paved roads
• Driving my own car once in a while
• Being able to drink water out of the tap
• Flushable toilets
• Running water and showers with great water pressure
• Seletively bred, steroid-fed, antibiotic-injected chicken that have more meat on their bones (free range Ugandan chickens just doesn't taste the same)
• Chinese food
• Pizza
• Beer (more specifically Spotted Cow, Sam Adams, Miller Lite, Leinenkugel)
• Getting a tad tipsy and having fun with friends
• Snow
• Talking to my family on the phone without racking up a giant phone bill
• The male species...

I cannot believe by Friday night, I'll be back in Wisconsin!!! I'll either be unable to sleep due to jet lag or I'll collapse in exhaustion. If it's the former, those friends who read this and live in Milwaukee, call me and let's hang out! xoxo

MASH

What do you do when you are bored at work? We play MASH. I barely remember how to play this silly game and didn’t remember all the categories you have to give, but I can now tell you: I am going to move into a pink mansion in Boston and marry JS when I’m 33. JS will be a professional racecar driver, while I will be an author. We will have 4 dogs and 18 kids. Yes, 18. Then I will die at age 54, probably from the exhaustion of birthing and raising 18 kids. So… that was my Tuesday morning. Fascinating and stimulating, I know. AND the folded fortune thingy I made told me that I’m going to get malaria. Awesome. Good thing these fortunes are total BS because having 18 kids boggles my mind.


Well I feel like this blog has not been as entertaining as it had in the past but I have really nothing entertaining to report. It’s not like: oh so I met this guy last night… cuz there’s no guy to meet. But all I can say is I’m super excited for this weekend because we’re going to Kampala. And I have like two weeks left in Uganda. TWO. THAT’S IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sigh… I’m going to miss this place and my significant other who I live and breathe with.

Here's the DL

So our office in Mubende is on a hill. Going up and down the hill is a workout in and of itself. And since I'm completely out of shape... oiy... Going down to buy more bread is a chorse. And then other intern had the unfortunate incident of eating it as we walked up the hill while it was raining. Part of me thought: I'm glad it wasn't me. And the other part said: Jess, that WILL be you next time.

Here's the DL on survival in the middle of Uganda:

• Pop music helps any and all situations. And any mood.
• Peanut butter is essential along with granola bars.
• Head lamps always save the day. Carry one with you. Always.
• Crystal Lite masks any weirdly colored or tasting water.
• Running out of airtime on your cellphone is never a smart situation.
• British guys are hot. The accent...
• British med students... even hotter.
• Finding the best coffee shop in Kampala is essential for maintaining sanity.
• Books. You need books. I would die without them. They are as important as oxygen.
• The ability to find your sense of humor and inner small child. Yes, the jumping around my room and playing with the settings on my head lamp are included.
• Finding the most delicious kind of crackers at the grocery store. Very important when you run out of American supplies.
• Addictions are easy to pick up. Mine currently include: Haribo gummies, games of Freecell on my laptop, and not having self-control.

I miss boys. The male gender. Abs. Boy hair. Boy deodorant. Boy sense of humor. sigh... This is why I will never become a lesbian.

A bit of ADD for today's post

I've been here over 3 months now. And I love it here. I look back and yes, it was really, really hard to adjust to being alone all the time and just living in a new place. But I am so happy I came back.

The other intern and I spend essentially 24/7 together, especially we're in Sembabule. We share a room, we work together, we eat together. The only time we really don't see each other is when we're showering or in the pit latrine. I wonder is she's sick of me yet... I'm not sick of her!! Having a fellow American to talk to is so nice. I never realized that before this experience but it is so true.

Food... yes I talk about this a lot but I miss food. Savory, delicious food... I just ate some instant oatmeal and a few crackers for breakfast. Very unsatisfying. I love food... I love being able to go to a grocery store or to a restaurant with a giant menu...

I think I'm just getting weirder the longer I stay here. I find the littlest things amusing: bugs, goats, chickens, throwing my leftover ramen into the garden as compost... Just a warning to those of you I will be seeing in December, I'm going to need a bit of help readjusting. Maybe reverse culture shock session.

My next goal for traveling is to go somewhere in South America. I think that's a pretty good goal for 2011, don't you think? There will also be at least 1 visit to DC during my spring semester, a San Francisco visit in the summer (family reunion)...

There's sun today, so SMILE!!!

It’s so easy to make a laundry list of complaints about Uganda, but in efforts to feng shui my soul and to find zen, I’m looking at the brighter sides of things (at least I am today).

My hair is growing (thank goodness). Remind me the next time I jet off to a country where running water may not be readily available, NOT to cut my hair, no matter how much easier I think it will be to manage. Remind me of depression and sorrow and the inability hairs like a dog that could be used to sew a new shirt with. I shaved my legs with deep concentration for the first time in a month. Last time I tried to shave, I did it in the dark and let’s just say I did a horrible job. This time, I actually had light and opened a new razor. I’ve been thinking about waxing. I tried getting my eyebrows waxed once. My facial skin was NOT having that one. I’ll never be doing that again. I am a big fan of the Brazilian, but I’ve never tried to get my armpits waxed. Thoughts? I think this would hurt more than the Brazilian!

Mefloquine. I wouldn’t give this drug up even if you tried to convince me to. I love the dreams, I hate the dreams. It’s like a grab bag of really bizarre and really messed up. There was the rape dream (I guess this would be a nightmare), the running a race carrying a watermelon dream, the friend hates me dream (still have no idea why K was screaming at me in my dream), the OMG there’s a giant spider crawling on me dream (didn’t wake up too happy with that one), and the ex dreams (those usually range from pretty normal to extremely messed up).

I’m pretty sure I have some crazy tropical disease or some bug keeps biting me because I keep getting these itchy bumps in random spots. Not mosquito bites, but just weird bumps that itch. I’m just waiting for the day one of these bumps gets itched open and a maggot crawls out (yes this is in reference to the maggot from 2 years ago that was dug out of someone’s shoulder). Either that or I’m getting some mutant form of the chicken pox.

Lake Bunyonyi

And in typical form, I will provide some commentary for my Lake Bunyonyi Weekend Vacation.

Overnight bus ride:
The bus we were supposed to get on left without us because people gave us poor instructions. We finally managed to get on a bus. Once we sat down, a man started selling something to the entire bus. At first we thought it was medicine, and since he was speaking Luganda, we had no idea. Then the words "for your girlfriend, for your boyfriend" were thrown in and we were able to figure out that he was selling lub. On a bus ride that would last 8 hours. Then the people in front of me bought some. Nothing happened... that I know of. Also the guy sitting across from us on the bus was rather creepy. Staring at my friend and I the entire bus ride. He kept smiling. Since it was dark, the only thing you could see was his white smile. Very strange and a little disconcerting. And finally, I had to pee at one point when our bus was stopped in the middle of nowhere. No bathrooms around, no rest stops available. Instead, I walked into an alleyway and peed. For a while I thought someone would come up behind me in the dark, screaming. Didn't happen though. Still... another disconcerting event.

Daytime on the Island:
We ended up laying out in the sun all Saturday and soaking up the warmth. Problem was that I didn't drink very much water. So by the time we went up for dinner, I wasn't feeling too hot. I thought I needed to throw up, so I walked to the bathroom. I passed my friend and realized I was about to pass out. Woops. Got very woozy, shaky, and had to sit down. Not a great move on my part. Oh and I have the strangest sunburn ever. Which just shows how poorly I put on sunscreen. The entire weekend was also spent cracking "that's what she said" jokes, discussing sex, and drinking. It was definitely a summer vacation with 20-somethings.

All in all though, Lake Bunyonyi was amazing. Well worth the 8 hour trip out there and back.

Random UG Thoughts

Going to the pit latrines at night are not as bad as I imagined the experience would be. There’s really nothing scary about it. The latrines are actually lit with light bulbs inside, so you don’t need a head lamp or anything (unless there is no power). Problem is bugs are highly attracted to these lights at night, so while you’re doing your business, all you can hear is the humming of bugs flying around and around. It’s unnerving. One last piece of advice that I tell myself every time I use them: DON’T LOOK DOWN! Ok, I promise to stop writing about pit latrines… soon.


Dust dust and more dust. Sembabule is very dusty whenever it’s not raining, which coats my clothing and skin with a beautiful layer of red African dirt.

But all in all, there is something great about living here, away from the city. It’s peaceful and life is very simple. I enjoy it.

Jessica vs. Bob the Frog (Details)

When I say I did a little screaming/shrieking/talking to Bob, it went something more like this (with a touch of whining):

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM? Ok… I really would prefer not to crush your guts all over the carpet. So get the F*** out! NONONONO don’t go over there! Where did you go, Bob? WHERE THE F*** DID YOU GO?! Oh crap I lost him. Now what do I do? Ughhh I hate nature! Maybe I should keep him… he probably eats bugs. But what if he jumps onto my bed net in the middle of the night?! Or worse, what if I mess up the net and he jumps on ME? Ew. Ok, BOB, GET OUT! Move move move! Why won’t you move? I don’t want to touch you. AHHHH don’t jump on me! GET THE F*** out! Ugh where’s a stork when you need it to eat frogs. OUT OUT OUT. GET OUT! Ew I’m getting frog-ness all over my spatula. Gross. AHHH GET OUT. DON’T JUMP IN MY PURSE! Ew. Out Out Out. Oh phew… you’re out the door. BYE!”

In other words, if there had been someone standing outside my room or if the guard understood more English, it would have been fairly embarrassing. If it had been a spider or a large bug, at least I would have crushed it. But it was cute Bob… so what else could I do but scream and shoo?

An update on the bathroom situation: I’m getting much better at using pit latrines. By the time I leave, I’ll be a pro.

Ugandan Issues

(Written July 22) Uganda is amazing, and I love it here. My only current issues are: bathroom use and the fact that matoke can only be eaten day after day a certain number of times.


To tackle the first issue, I’m slightly terrified to use the pit latrine for the reason that I’m petrified that I’ll miss the hole. Given, the hole is rather large and it’s not like I’m blind so I can spot myself. BUT still. And here’s the other thing, after you’ve gotten used to the porcelain throne, squatting to do your business is rather difficult. That is the one thing Americans don’t do, but the Ugandans do all the time: squat. Squat to peel plantains, squat to go to the bathroom, squat to bathe, children squat all the time. For me, after squatting for a while, my feet feel achy, my calves start to tingle, it’s not exactly the most comfortable position. But now that it’s Day 2 in Ssembabule, I’m getting a little more accustomed to it. One of my greatest fears in the world: falling into a pit latrine. You know, Slumdog Millionaire style, except that kid jumped. Just the idea gives me the heebeejeebies.

As for issue two, it is what the Ugandans call “green bananas.” As for the bananas we’re used to snacking on, those are called sweet bananas. Green bananas aren’t sweet and they are, obviously, green in color. In other words, they are plantains. One of the staples of the Ugandan diet is boiled/steamed and mushed bananas. Matoke. It really has no flavor and is always paired with meat, vegetables and/or g-nut sauce. To make it, you peel a bunch of green bananas, stick it in a pot, throw in some water, and boil. Tada. Eventually the bananas get soft, turn yellow, and get mushed together. It’s rather dense, so I can only ever eat so much. It’s pretty good. I just don’t exactly love it as a meal everyday.

Children look at me and either smile and wave OR they just stare. The young ones especially stare. Yesterday, I’m pretty sure this little girl was about to cry. The ladies around me were laughing, telling me she has never seen anyone so pale. Since I’m in such a remote area (the words of Ugandans, not me), I am one of not very many foreigners. I hear there’s one Peace Corps volunteer that works here, but I haven’t seen her yet. I haven’t seen any mzungus for 2 days now.

Well, off I go to start a day of work (this was written on my computer early in the morning but posted later). Next time you go to the bathroom, be thankful that your toilet flushes.

K'la adventures, the other version

In addendum to my other blog's post, I thought I would provide some Jess commentary:

First, I almost burned myself on the boda's exhaust pipe. I felt the heat and jumped really quick. Oops! My thoughts while on the boda went something like this:
AHHHHH!! I'MGOINGTODIE! OMGOMGOMGOMG! OMGSLOWDOWN! We are wayyy to close to that car. Oh crap, you started again too fast. I almost flew off the back. OMG. TRUUUUUUUUUUCK!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!! WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! YIKESSS!! OOOF! OUCH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! OMG WE'RE GOING TO DIE!! Please drive on the right side of the road (aka the left side)!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!! OH THANK GOD I'M HERE.

And I survived. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

My bowel movements are so normal, it's awesome! Sooo unlike last time.

MOSQUITOS SUCK! My 2 bites are so itchy!!!!!!!! I would cut my toe off right now if it would stop itching.

LEAAAVING ON A JET PLANE

TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am freaking out a bit. Lots and lots of packing. Lots and lots of junk to put into very small spaces. It's kinda like that last minute panic of "OMG I'm naked" or "OMG I overslept and missed that exam" or "OMG WHO ARE YOU?!?!" I feel like I'm forgetting something. I know I am. I've also been sucked into the vortex of home while I've been back in Wisconsin, aka being a homebody and hanging out with my family. I've barely seen anyone while I've been in the Midwest. But have no fear. I will return... when there is snow on the ground.

And yes, I will try to keep this updated along with the other "official" one. As always, side commentary and inappropriateness will be reserved for my fun side.

Here's a side note, genuine thoughts I've had all day and yes, you are allowed to make a joke on whichever ones you choose:
No condoms necessary to be packed.
My bag is as big as I am... pictures will be forthcoming.
Why am I doing this again? I kind of like hot showers.
WOOHOO Africa!
Where did I put ________?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Followed up with a: @#)($**&a$mp;^)(*@#!
That doesn't fit... oh shoot...
This thing is WICKED heavy.
Why are things so hard!
How is that going to fit in there?
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! (or in Midwest speak: MAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHM!)
What if my flight was today?!
Am I really leaving tomorrow?

I will miss you all! Hot water, clean water, the porcelain god, a/c, clean hair... AND all the people I'm leaving back in the USA.

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See you on the other side of the Atlantic! (We'll see if I get an entry in while in Amsterdam)

Help?

Hey all who read this blog,

I'm planning to start a travel blog but also keeping this one as a personal blog. The travel blog will be maintained as semi-professional, anyone can read it. This one will be my random thoughts, unnecessary comments, and all-out rants (when necessary), which I find funnier and more enjoyable to read. But not necessarily appropriate for oh... say... my parents and professors. So here's the deal. I have to name the travel blog. I have no idea what to call it. So HELP? Any ideas? Just throw some out there. I plan on keeping this blog for all my travels, not just my 6 month adventure interning in Uganda. SO...

Restless At Heart
Small Girl, Big World
Where My Feet Take Me
One, Two, Three, GO

I don't know... the more I think about it, the more ridiculous the names seem to get... so I could really use your help!!

Klutz, Kids, Etc

Today I managed to walk into a door and a sign hanging on the wall. Not at the same time. Door and doorknob were around noon. Sign was around 4pm. Klutz? Yes. And I have 2 bruises on my right arm to prove it.

Back in Boston... only a few weeks left. It's pretty crazy and intense. I have so much to do. But one thing I can officially cross off the list is buying my plane ticket. Yeeouch, clicking the pay button hurt. But I'm off to the continent of Africa!! I'm really excited, just a little stressed at the level of stuff that needs to get done as a result of me finally making a decision at the very last moment.

By the way, I hate children. A child sat behind me on my flight back to the East Coast. He kept kicking my seat, putting his feet up against the back and pushing. I really wanted to turn around and smack him. I restrained myself... his sister was sitting there wailing, screaming, and crying the entire flight. Awesome children in that family. Remind me never to fly with my own children if I have any, or if I do, I should drug them. 

Sleepy time... will write more again.

Drinks, Flying, Decisions

So there's this drink at a bar called Skip and Go Naked. But I always think it's called STRIP and Go Naked. Which is essentially what I like to do when I'm home alone or by myself in my room. I am currently BACK in Wisconsin (as I mentioned yesterday), blogging from the kitchen table as Dumb-Dumb stares at me lazily from the other chair. And all I want to do is strip and go naked. I probably will soon...

Some thoughts on flying:

• Being overweight is highly unfortunate for travelers.
• Sitting next to someone overweight is very unfortunate for travelers.
• Delayed flights are really no fun.
• Small children screaming and crying on flights make me want to pull the emergency escape and jump out the airplane.
• I have a love/hate relationship with the aisle seat. I like it cuz I get up and go to the bathroom without crawling over someone. I hate it cuz sleeping is slightly more uncomfortable as compared to sitting in a window seat.
• TVs on flights are awesome.
• Rocking chairs in airports make me happy and sleepy

Current fav song: California Girls by Katy Perry

So Here's The Deal:
Uganda

• Serious work experience
• Living in Africa... need I say more?
• Going back to Uganda, I love it there
• Chapati...
• Getting my hands in some serious experience, to see OVC/HIV/FP programs in the real world... to see development at work (if it's working at all)

Philippines

• Southeast Asia experience (seeing things from that perspective rather than an East Asian or African one)
  
• Finish school
• Finding an internship- but hopefully in something I'm interested in
• Traveling in SE Asia (S. Korea is one stop for sure)
• Something different and completely unknown

The problem is and always shall be Money. Finishing school... Yada yada yada... finding a job. Etc etc etc. My brain does not shut up. Can someone just give me a plane ticket and I'll go where it says to go?

Drums, a Guy & a Pair of Shoes

I haven't had anything good to write about in a while, but I do now.

Yesterday I saw an Asian drum show. The one main drummer dude... amazing. He was intensely ripped. Like whoa. He was Asian so I say this in the most platonic, observant way possible. At the end, the guys wore loin clothes and drummed. His a$$ was great. His entire body... whoa... I haven't seen someone that built in real life in a while. Aside from that, the show itself was sweet. Phenomenal. Fantastic. Any more words to describe it? Oh: powerful, intense, passionate, and super meditative. It was WOW! Loved!

Then I went to a club with my Asians. Just a few that I'm better friends with. And I clubbed... well let's just say I was there, had been sick with the stomach flu all week, and consumed nothing but the ambiance, guys' cologne, girls' perfume, sweaty air, and horribly mixed club music. While I was at said club, a guy who is friends with the Asian posse (who is also Asians- your red flags should already be going up) arrived. Greeted me with a little squeeze on the side and a nice hello with the eyes, along with a verbal hello. Mentally, I said oh no. Outwardly I said hi and ran away. (background about him, we'll call him... Shortie, cuz he was shorter than me when I was wearing 5 inch heels: at a friend's bday outing last month, he asked me if I was single as I walked by him. I said yes and kept walking, not thinking much of it. For the rest of the night, he just watched me from afar. Then as he left, he told me how nice I looked. I didn't think much of it but that's the background) Last night, the squeeze and the hello... I ran away. Then the night carried on. I didn't see him. I danced. My friend starting dancing with these other Asian guys we didn't know... I. did. not. The night wore on. All of a sudden, Shortie materialized by my side and was saying good-bye to all my friends. Then my dialogue with him went like this:

• Shortie: I'm leaving now.
• Me: Ok
• Shortie: If you ask me to stay, I'll stay
  
• Me: You should stay if you want to
• Shortie: Give me a reason to stay. I have to leave but I can stay 5 more minutes if you ask me to stay
• Me: You should stay if you want to...
• Shortie: You're breaking my heart
• Me: What? (pretending I didn't hear him over the music and people)
• Him: I'm going to go now
• Me: Okay, BYE!!

Yup. That's how it went. "You're breaking my heart"?!?!?! What does that mean? I mean, boy, I don't know you. We've never had a real conversation. I haven't done anything to you. I DON'T want you to stay but I'm too nice to tell you that. Who are you? I mean overall, I. am. not. interested. @(*@!&#^#&*^

But on a happier note, I got a free pair of Fergalicious by Fergie shoes at the bar. They were giving 15 pairs away at the bar and I got one! They're black gladiator heels, zipper down the middle, very cute! So much fun and FREE!! Then on our way home from the bar, we managed to squeeze 4 people in the back seat and 2 people in the passenger seat of a little Honda. No worries, no drunk driving, just an illegal number of passengers.

Recap of the night:

• Drums are awesome.
• Shortie = that was weird. I don't like you if you're weird. I don't like uncomfortable situations. I run away. Plus, I don't want to date right now, but that's a whole other discussion. And another thought, if you're Asian, I'm sorry but you better be able to knock my socks off, shoot stars out of your behind, and be able to outshine the sun before I consider dating you. AAAAND I will only reconsider if you look like a particular C-pop star I think is hot. Sorry... it's a slight problem I have. Let's just call it baggage and leave it at that. Soooooo the recap kind of went on a tangent. But was only supposed to say: Shortie, my answer is no no.
  
• I got a new pair of shoes for free.

See? Much better Jess post, wouldn't you say? Did you giggle a little? I did as I wrote it.

Being Zen

There's something to be said about accepting the way things are. Being happy with it. And just relaxing. Letting things flow and taking the zen attitude. So this is me: being zen