October

Hi friends! Its been a few weeks since my last post. I've been at my new job for 2 weeks now, and everything is going great! Actually it keeps getting better as I get used to my coworkers, kids, and figuring out where everything is. ;)

Sooo... life is pretty darn awesome. Can't believe how amazingly lucky I am, with the best boyfriend anyone could ever ask for, and the best job anyone could ever ask for, even in this stinky US economy. And I'm in good health, and my future in-laws are the sweetest people and have been great in helping me move. And I do really like the Cities - living close to but not *in* the city, love my little townhouse and sweet roommate. Midwesterners are the NICEST people on earth!!! Oh and the Vikings are on track to win the Super Bowl this year!! (keeping my fingers crossed) :))))

And my little Nissan is holding up well so far. Its tires were deflated last week because of the cold but then I pumped them up good. Hope it survives MN winters well. ;)

If the weather wasn't quite so cold (its only October and its already snowing?!!), and they actually finish the darn road construction, life would be perfect!

Its September!

Hello I haven't updated in a while.. but, GOOD NEWS!!!! After 3 long arduous weeks of waiting, I'm finally employed!! I'll be at Edina, southwest suburb of Minneapolis, really nice area, and I'm SOOOOOO excited to be moving down to the Cities. Close to the airport, Asian marts, Chinese churches, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods...!!!! :))

I'll spend half my time working at a private clinic, then the other half at Reuben Lindh preschools, which is nonprofit and serves the poor. It really seems like the perfect job and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way. ;)

Haven't been doing much lately. I spend most of my time reading, making my way through Troy's extensive movie collection (we watched the whole Star Wars series, yes I was THAT bored, and now we're starting on Lethal Weapon), and watching football (which I finally understand and actually like!!!) all day on Sundays. ;)) GO VIKINGS!!!! Oh and watching on demand TV, and some of the season premieres, which means....

Fall is upon us!! Weather is still manageable so far, and I'll probably have to get my car winterized soon. Poor little car, its been through so much. I'm hoping to find a house or apartment with a garage so I won't have to leave it outside to get buried under the snow and ice.

Its August!

Hello friends, I haven't updated in a while!

Good news is I'm done with my program, I've graduated!! Although commencement is not till August 8. I spent a couple of days in Effie, MN (population: 91 - not even kidding!!!!) at Troy's parents' house and hung out with their 3 big dogs, peacocks, chickens, and hummingbirds. It sure makes West Lafayette seems huuuuge in comparison. We had a blast! And we saw a REAL LIFE BEAR. It happily rambled across the highway in front of our car. It was cute. :) This must be what it feels like to live in the country. Unexpectedly fun. :))

Plus his parents have snowmobiles and they said we could take them out for a spin when the snow comes! Almost makes me wish it was winter. ;)

I've been pretty busy going to job interviews. Keeping my fingers crossed. :P Then on Wednesday my family arrives in Chicago and we'll be traveling for 2 weeks or so. ;)))) Yup my life seems to be constantly changing. Guess it keeps things exciting. :)

Happy 4th of July!

Hello friends! Can you believe I only have 2 more weeks left in Cali? And to think I finally figured my way around without my GPS too.... :P My roommate Suki had a party last night and we walked out to the fairway of the golf course thats just beyond her backyard and caught the fireworks. :))) Niiiiiice. Seriously, parking is my biggest nightmare in this city.

Anyway, today at church the guest preacher was the president of Singapore Bible College!!! WOW, strange coincidence or providence? Anyway he is SUCH a talented speaker, I felt really glad I was able to hear him preach.

What else? I'll miss Trader Joe's when I leave California. Wonder if they have that in MN? I reeeeeally like some of the stuff they have there, and prices are pretty good too. Aside from that I also shop at Ralphs which is just like Pay Less back home. Too lazy to drive to Walmart, its like 5 miles away. ;) Speaking of which, I realized today that I've driven 10,000 miles on my car in the 7 months that I've had it. :PPP And then its another 2,000 miles back to the Midwest in 2 weeks. Poor little car.

I'm sick

Had a great birthday weekend! Troy was here, we hit the beach and he even convinced me to swim in the ocean. ;) He couldn't believe that I've never done that before, having grown up in Singapore, but uhhhh the water's diiiiiiiiiiirty and I don't want it in my hair!! But well, I figure I have to try it sometime and I may as well be adventurous on my birthday. ;) Then we went to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner, which is my favorite pizza place EVER. Even better than Chicago deep dish pizza, in my opinion, but that could be cos I'm not a big cheese fan.

This morning... I woke up with a lump on my jaw that hurt when touched. And my cheek was all puffy too, soooo I freaked out thinking I had mumps or strep or a tumor. Since I don't have a PCP here in San Diego, I ended up calling Sharp Hospital for a referral to a doctor.. BUT it was 8:30 and they weren't open yet so I ended up going to Urgent Care. Turns out my lymph node is infected and there's nothing I can do except let the virus run its course, which could be a couple of days. Anyway I am totally delighted cos the doctor gave me 2 days off work, plus the visit was totally FREE - WOWWW!!! No co-pay even? Soooooooo I guess healthcare in the US is not as screwed up as everyone makes it out to be (although its probably just because I don't have any serious medical conditions). Works for me so far. :P

Hello June!

Hi Friends! Have not updated in a while... My poor neglected blog. I am (almost) 26!!! EEKS! Can you believe that?? It didn't feel too long ago that I updated this blog about my 25th birthday. :P

Anyway, life is busy busy busy busy. Yesterday I was at the hospital from 9-7:30, working nonstop. Seriously, patient after patient after patient. And the waiting list in moooonths long. And we have patients driving from 4 hours away because they think Rady's has the best services around. And they pay $120 per hour, which then makes me feel guilty because I don't know if I gave them their $120 worth. :P

I can't wait to get a job and get paid!!! This summer has been really rough since I don't have income and am living on savings and San Diego is sooo expensive to live in. And I got a $47 parking ticket on Friday because I didn't rotate my tires when I parked on a hill (Gee how was I supposed to know that???), AND I washed my cell phone in the washer yesterday!!!! Its actually kinda funny. But well, I figure its a sign that I should cancel my T-mobile line (I am really NOT happy with them, although the customer service guy I talked to was really nice and went NOOOOOOOOOO when I told him I wanted to cancel. ;)). Am going to switch to Verizon since that's what Troy has and I use 95% of my minutes and messages with him anyway so I may as well get it free since there's free Verizon-to-Verizon usage.

Ok gotta go. Bye!

Memorial Day

So, 33 hours of driving one one hubcap later (I have no idea when or how it fell off), I am here in gorgeous San Diego!!!!! It is AMAZING over here. Seriously the weather is sooooo perfect every single day, its unreal. And I love the tall palm trees, and the diversity. :) I keep seeing all kinds of mixed white/asian, white/black, white/hispanic kids in the hospital and its awesome. They're probably freaked out that I keep staring at them cos they are sooo darn cute.

Anyway, I like the hospital a lot, except that I see autism kids 90% of the time and its heartbreaking. Oh, and the house I live in is super cute, and Suki my roommate is really nice. And I'm sitting out in the backyard now, typing away on my little computer, while my laundry is being done so I can pack for tomorrow. Will be off to Minneapolis for the long weekend!! :)))))))) Have a great weekend people!

Hello from Albuquerque!

In case you haven't heard from Facebook.. I've made it driving 21 hours by myself. Indiana to Illinois, to Missouri, to Oklahoma, to Texas, and am now in New Mexico, which is really really isolated and boring (miles and miles of desert!). I think I drove 100 mile stretches without seeing any cities or houses and barely any cars! Geez.

Anyway, 11 more hours of driving today and then will be in San Diego tonight. Thank goodness for that!!!! And then I'll have the weekend to settle in and then start at the hospital on Monday. :P Busy busy busy. Ok gonna set off soon. Later!

Sneeze, wheeze

Check out the pollen count for today. Kinda explains why I'm feeling like @$*%^ huh? Have been having allergies all week.. good news is I'll be off in San Diego pretty soon. Am almost all packed up. Almost.

Sick at home

Called in sick today. The fever's been with me a couple of days, but then last night my throat started feeling really itchy and was giving me a bothersome cough. No, not the swine flu. I'm convinced that its my body's way of protesting against weather changes because I fall sick once every Spring and Fall. :P Thought about going to the Purdue Health Center, but then was too lazy since it'll probably be an hour's wait. Plus, they'll probably send me to get tested for strep like they did the last time, which I know I don't have. AND have to wait a couple more hours for drugs at the pharmacy. Its just not worth it.

Anyway, can't believe how people are overreacting to the swine flu. Mom called me twice about it and said they were doing health screens and the airport and everyone was wearing masks. And then I saw on facebook someone canceled vacation plans to the US, and another friend said she hopes the "travel restriction" to the US is lifted soon. Whaaa....tt???